Chapter 1160: The Princess Consort Whose Memories Were Altered (35)

By the time Shangguan Jing wanted to take another look, that smile had already vanished.

At that moment, a thought surfaced in his mind.

That smile—

Wasn't it like the fleeting bloom of an epiphyllum? Something that appeared only for an instant, precious beyond measure?

Tang Guo's expression had already returned to that faint smile of hers, but he could still tell that she was truly happy.

He had never seen her so happy before.

“Enough. You may go back. Standing under this blazing sun—is it really that comfortable?”

“It's not too bad.”

She smiled at Shangguan Jing and bowed slightly.

“Your Highness, this concubine likes the bracelet very much. This concubine shall take her leave.”

Before Shangguan Jing could say anything, she turned and left with the box, the jade bracelet already adorning her wrist.

Her footsteps were light and lively. At the corner, he caught a glimpse of her profile as she smiled, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

“A mere jade bracelet, and she's this happy.”

Standing where he was, Shangguan Jing muttered coldly, “What a fool. I merely felt I owed you a little and gave it to you as compensation.”

With that, he turned and headed back to his study.

Yet all along the way, his mind kept replaying that smile.

It had truly been enchanting.

To say it could steal one's soul would not be an exaggeration.

So this proper noble lady could smile like that as well.

And the reason behind that smile…

How laughable.

It was merely because her husband in name alone had bestowed upon her a jade bracelet he himself didn't even care for.

Foolish.

Stupid.

Naive.

Ignorant.

She embodied all of it.

After returning to her room, Tang Guo glanced disdainfully at the bracelet on her wrist.

“If this bracelet weren't still useful, I'd really like to smash it.”

Host, I support you. Smash it! Once it's broken, I'll exchange it for a few fakes.

The System eagerly encouraged her.

He had long disliked Shangguan Jing and had been looking forward to the day when his Host would thoroughly torment him.

In the end, however, Tang Guo didn't smash the bracelet.

Instead, she wore it every day, deliberately showing it off in front of Shangguan Jing. She would express her delight and occasionally offer words of concern, subtly deepening her impression in his mind.

Over the next several days, Shangguan Jing couldn't ignore the sight of that woman carefully wearing the bracelet on her wrist and cherishing it as though it were a priceless treasure.

He found it laughable.

Still, he didn't take it to heart.

In a few days, Tang Jiao would come to the manor again.

He intended to create some trouble that would prevent Shangguan Yi from accompanying her.

Then—

He could keep Jiao'er forever within Prince Jing's Manor and make her his Princess Consort.

Thinking of this, he made his way to the secluded courtyard where the old man resided.

The old man was known as Daoist Yang, a master skilled in the healing arts.

Shangguan Jing had spent countless resources and searched for an entire year before finally locating him. Then he had paid an enormous price to invite him here.

At long last, his wish was within reach.

“Daoist Yang, in a few days, Jiao'er will come to the manor. At that time, everything will depend on you.”

Daoist Yang stroked his long beard, his tiny eyes narrowing as he smiled.

“Your Highness may rest assured. With this humble Daoist acting personally, the matter Your Highness seeks will certainly succeed.”

“That's good.”

After a brief pause, Shangguan Jing asked,

“Daoist, I wish to ask—after the memories are exchanged, is it possible for them to recover?”

“That depends entirely on what Your Highness desires.”

“What do you mean?”

Daoist Yang smiled, a gleam flashing through his tiny eyes.

“If Your Highness wishes for a reversible exchange, then the altered memories will last ten years. After ten years, the person will remember everything from before, as well as everything that occurred afterward while the memories were missing.”

“But if Your Highness desires an irreversible exchange…”

“Then for the rest of their lives, they will never regain their original memories.”