Xin Meng reached out her hand to take the Heavenly Decree scroll, signifying her sincere acceptance of it.
Once the scroll was handed over, the Heavenly troops immediately returned to the Celestial Realm.
"Xin Meng..." Yuan called out.
Xin Meng, who was holding the decree, stood still. Hearing her friend's voice, she turned to look at Xin Yuan.
"Xin Yuan... Can we talk alone?"
The two of them walked together to the backyard of the residence.
"Ah-Yuan, you know I've never been interested in becoming a goddess or cultivating—"
"Yes, of course I know."
Both fell silent. On one hand, Xin Yuan desired the position given to Xin Meng, while on the other, Xin Meng longed for a peaceful life but was hindered by the Heavenly Decree.
"Ah-Yuan... This decree states that I must ascend to the Celestial Realm tomorrow. Can you postpone your departure to the sect?" Xin Meng asked.
"Alright... I'll delay my journey until after you leave for the Celestial Realm."
"Ah-Yuan, I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine, I understand. Everyone's fate and path are different. If my destiny is to thrive in the sect, then I shall devote myself to it wholeheartedly," Xin Yuan replied with a weary voice.
She left the place with a heavy heart, forcing herself to watch as her friend—who had no interest in cultivation—was chosen to become a candidate for the Heavenly Empress.
Xin Meng, still conflicted by the choices before her, knew full well that deep down, Yuan was deeply saddened. Yuan had to force a smile while watching her friend obtain what she herself had desired.
After the Heavenly Decree incident, the atmosphere in the residence became even more awkward. The two friends, who used to chat freely, were now distant, making the servants acutely aware that their friendship was being tested.
"Miss Yuan... Lady Yue made your favorite peach cookies..." said Yuan's personal maid.
"Just leave them on the table. I'm reading and don't want to be disturbed."
These words didn't sound like Yuan at all. No matter how angry she was, she would never speak so coldly to the servants.
"Understood, Miss..."
Meanwhile, Xin Meng, who had just received the decree, walked out of the Xin residence with the scroll in hand. She strolled through the streets of Sifei City toward her own home.
"Father, Mother, I'm home."
Xin Meng entered the house and stood before the altar of her parents. Since childhood, she had been supported by the Xin family, as her own parents had passed away.
She knelt before the altar, placed the decree scroll down, and poured a cup of cold tea as an offering.
"Father, Mother. You would surely be shocked to learn that your daughter has been chosen as a candidate for the Heavenly Empress."
In the silence, she let out a tired smile.
"To be honest, my heart is heavy accepting this. This honor should have gone to Xin Yuan, the true daughter of the Xin family. Not me, who is merely her friend."
"Father, Mother... What should I do?"
Xin Meng rested her head on the table, propping it up with her hand, and closed her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
Time passed—morning turned to noon, noon to night. That night felt different. Xin Yuan barely spoke, spending the entire day in the garden reading cultivation manuals.
"MISS XIN YUAN!!" a servant suddenly shouted.
"I already said I don't want to be disturbed. Leave. I'll go inside soon."
"Miss Yuan... Miss Xin Meng... She's gone!"
"What...? WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Xin Yuan snapped.
"Please don't be angry, Miss! We just received word from the main hall that Xin Meng has disappeared..."
"Impossible!"
Xin Yuan rushed to the main hall, where her parents were waiting, as if they knew she would come upon hearing the news.
The wind howled from all directions. That night, the cold was bone-piercing, as winter was approaching. The corridor lanterns flickered weakly against the chilling gusts, and decorative wind chimes tinkled faintly.
Xin Yuan's hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. Her breath was ragged, her thoughts chaotic, and her heart filled with worry.
Of course she would come. No matter how disappointed she was in her friend's success, she couldn't deny their thirteen years of friendship.
"Father! Mother!" Xin Yuan called from outside.
"Ah-Yuan..." her mother responded.
"That news about Xin Meng—"
"She's missing," her father finished.
"Impossible... I know Xin Meng well! She would face her fate, not run away!" Xin Yuan shouted.
Tears welled in her eyes. No matter how resentful she felt, she couldn't bear to see her friend hated—or worse, gone.
"Father! Please send all the guards to search for her!" Xin Yuan pleaded.
Her voice was thick with sorrow. Her heart felt shattered. Disappointment and worry swirled together, suffocating her.
"Father has already dispatched the troops. The bigger problem is... Xin Meng was supposed to ascend to the Celestial Realm tomorrow."
Hearing this, Xin Yuan grew even more anxious. She knew full well that Xin Meng had to go to the Celestial Realm to fulfill the decree. If she wasn't found by dawn, wouldn't that be considered treason against the Heavenly Emperor's will?
"Ah-Yuan... Your father and I have a request..." Her mother gently took Xin Yuan's hand.
"If Xin Meng isn't found by dawn... Could you go in her place? Pretend to be her...?"
Boom. It felt like a nuclear explosion went off in Yuan's heart. Her legs weakened, her eyes widened in shock.
Replace Xin Meng?
Her mind might agree, but her heart hesitated, leaning toward refusal.
"Mother, I—"
"Please, Xin Yuan... This is for the family's honor... I know you don't want to steal a destiny that isn't yours, but can you at least consider our family's reputation...?" her mother pleaded.
"I can't, Mother... I can't. This path belongs to Xin Meng. I don't want to take what's hers."
"Ah-Yuan, we beg you...?"
Xin Yuan clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the guilt of betrayal she would feel if she agreed.
"I..."
She trailed off, thinking deeply.
"Only if she hasn't returned by dawn..."
Ah-Yuan reluctantly agreed. The two looked nearly identical in appearance—the only significant differences lay in their hobbies and dreams. Other than that? They were practically twins.
Xin Yuan left the bustling main hall, where servants were still scrambling under the Master's orders. The corridors of the residence felt colder and emptier than ever.
The wind whispered softly, the chill gently brushing against her skin. The dim lantern lights barely illuminated the path. It felt like just yesterday she had been running through these halls with Xin Meng.
"Xin Meng... If you still haven't returned by tomorrow... I don't think I'll even dare to look in the mirror. I won't be able to face myself—this wretched version of me who stole your path..." she thought.
As she walked, she could only gaze at the quiet, starry night sky. Tears welled up, but she had to stay strong. From this moment on, the burden she carried was immense.
She entered her room. The cold wind still accompanied her. The silence in the chamber was piercing.
She feared regret. She feared failure. She feared everything now. All she wished for was to return to her childhood, to never grow up.
But this was life. Growing older meant understanding sacrifice.
Exhausted, Xin Yuan lay down on her bed, staring blankly at the empty ceiling. The candles had burned out, leaving only the moonlight streaming through the window.
Her eyes slowly closed, though her heart still pounded fiercely.
Now, she was gambling with fate.
Would dawn bring Xin Meng's face back to her—or a fake "Xin Meng" wearing her own?