The legend begins with becoming a white deer.

After informing Yan Lie, Ji Zhu immediately rushed back to the capital, Jinhua City, and entered the palace through a side gate, quietly entering the depths of Yuan Shuying's bedroom.

Only one ram's horn lamp was lit inside the hall, its candlelight flickering dimly.

Yuan Shuying sat at the table, a thin silver needle between her fingers, and was sewing a palm-sized rag doll.

The doll, dressed in plain brocade and filled with silk floss, has two small pigtails and a faint smile on her lips. Her eyebrows and eyes bear a striking resemblance to her younger sister, Yuan Yao.

"The Eldest Princess."

Ji Zhu knelt on one knee and reported back in a low voice.

"Yan Lie has agreed to cooperate with us and come to the capital. He also promised to behave himself on the way. However, I am worried that Yan Lie is too unruly and wild. Although he has verbally agreed, he may not obey orders and there is a possibility that he will cause trouble."

Yuan Shuying didn't even raise her head as the silver needle pierced through the brocade, making a soft sound.

Her tone was indifferent, as if she were talking about a trivial matter: "It doesn't matter. I never expected him to obey. The Ten Villains of the Jianghu, humph, they are just a bunch of lawless and willful fools. As long as he is willing to come to the capital, I only need to use his title of the Ten Villains as a fig leaf to attract attention."

After Yuan Shuying finished the last stitch, she bit the thread off and then examined her masterpiece.

After a long pause, Yuan Shuying looked up at Ji Zhu and asked, "How's the search going with that group of people I asked you to gather?"

"Your Highness, we've almost found them all. There are 157 people in total, all of them outlaws from various counties and prefectures, both domestic and foreign. Most of them are only interested in money and will take any dirty work."

Ji Zhu paused for a moment, then added, "But there aren't many truly skilled ones among them; most are second- or third-rate amateurs."

"Having the guts and the courage to fight is enough."

Yuan Shuying gently brushed her fingertips across the top of the doll's hair.

"In a few days, the Wanhua Merchant Guild will hold an auction in the capital. Father and Mother will attend, as will my dear sister Yuanyao, along with many other dignitaries and their accompanying guards. This is an excellent opportunity. You should send a message to Yan Lie and have him wait outside the auction with his men."

"Your subordinate obeys, however..."

Ji Zhu frowned slightly and couldn't help but say, "I have a concern. Yan Lie's goal on this trip is to kill the auspicious beast, the white deer. Also, he wants to kill a royal guard named Lin Qin. Based on my assessment of Yan Lie's character, he might not be willing to make a move against the little princess first, as we suggest."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shuying suddenly chuckled softly.

Standing up, Yuan Shuying walked to the ebony cabinet by the wall and took out a tightly sealed sandalwood box.

The lid was lifted, revealing a lustrous and translucent medicinal herb lying quietly inside. Its fragrance was refreshing and subtle, and even from a distance, one could detect a faint spiritual aura.

"I know Lin Qin; he's a young commander of the royal guards. Don't worry, he'll be accompanying you at the auction. As for the auspicious white deer..."

Yuan Shuying lightly tapped the rim of the box with her fingertips, her tone tinged with mockery.

"This is indeed a factor that is difficult to control. It appeared in the State Ceremonial Office before and caused quite a bit of trouble. Although it gave me a headache and added some unnecessary work, it also revealed a small weakness of this strange beast."

Yuan Shuying looked at the precious medicine in the box and recalled Su Yanji's angry expression when she mentioned that her family's merchant guild had stolen five precious medicines from a white deer.

"Hehe, even if that white deer is very intelligent and has great skills, it is still just a wild beast. As long as it is a beast, it cannot control its instincts. It cannot be suppressed by a little cleverness. This precious herb is a bait that can drive it. I will send someone to lure it to the auction house at the right time. When the white deer arrives, Yan Lie will rush there faster than anyone else."

Upon hearing Yuan Shuying's plan, Ji Zhu suddenly understood, and a hint of admiration appeared in her eyes.

As expected of the eldest princess, she is far-sighted and even included the auspicious white deer in her calculations.

However, Ji Zhu's cautious nature still made her say, "But Princess, although this plan is ingenious, it is still not guaranteed to succeed 100%. Although Yan Lie will take action, it is possible that this arrogant fool will only be concerned with chasing the white deer and ignore your target, Princess."

"There is no plan in the world that will succeed 100%. It would be best if Yan Lie would listen, but it doesn't matter if he doesn't. As I said, I never expected him to listen. Whatever he chooses in the end, it's enough as long as he can show up with those hundred-odd desperados."

Yuan Shuying closed the wooden box, turned around, and looked at Ji Zhu: "The real pawns to kill Yuan Yao are never outsiders, but our own people caught in the chaos. Ji Zhu, you will be the one to make the move."

Yuan Shuying stared at Ji Zhu with eyes as sharp as knives.

"So, Ji Zhu, do you dare?"

Ji Zhu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately lowered her head: "Your subordinate obeys and will do her best, but... please understand, Your Highness, although I may have the opportunity, I may not be able to succeed in one strike."

"If it doesn't work the first time, there's always next time."

Yuan Shuying walked slowly to her, gently placed her hand on her shoulder, her voice softened, yet carried an undeniable pressure.

"All I want you to remember is that when it's time to act, don't hesitate."

Ji Zhu lowered her head abruptly, her tone resolute: "I will show no mercy. I have followed the Princess since my early years, and my life belongs to you. I will not hesitate for a moment when the time comes!"

"That's good. You've stayed here long enough. You may leave."

"Yes, sir."

After Ji Zhu left, Yuan Shuying turned around and picked up the sewn rag doll on the table again.

As her fingertips caressed the smiling face embroidered on the doll, Yuan Shuying's gaze gradually turned cold.

Last time, due to a strange blood bond, she softened her heart and only sent people to kidnap Yuan Yao without killing her immediately, which allowed Yuan Yao to survive by chance.

"This time, it won't happen again."

Yuan Shuying tightened her grip on the rag doll's neck, then twisted and pulled her wrist sharply.

"Sizzle—"

The soft sound of tearing brocade was exceptionally clear in the silent hall; the rag doll's head was ripped off and rolled to the ground.

Yuan Shuying casually tossed her hand, and the severed head and mangled body fell together into the blazing charcoal stove beside her.

Flames shot up, and the brocade ignited instantly. The smiling pigtail doll quickly curled up, charred black, and turned into fine ashes, scattering among the sparks.

... ... ...

At the same time, in the Royal Garden of the Royal Palace.

Winter is fading, and although the snow has stopped for several days, the remaining snow on the ground has not yet melted.

The eaves, stone paths, and plum branches were all covered with a thin layer of white, making the entire palace look like it was draped in a soft snow coat, clear and quiet.

Yuan Yao skipped and hopped ahead, acting as a little tour guide, turning back to talk to Qi Ji as she went, her little voice crisp and clear.

"Little Bai, look, that's Taiye Pond. In summer, it's full of lotus flowers, it's so beautiful."

"Over here, over here, the wintersweet in the corner is blooming, it smells wonderful, let me take you to smell it."

The little girl chattered on and on, but Qi Ji wasn't annoyed and leisurely followed behind her.

The deer's hooves crunched softly on the snow, and its long, whisk-like tail swept gently behind it, occasionally brushing away snowflakes from the branches.

Under the covered walkway not far away, the palace painter was holding his breath, brush in hand, meticulously depicting the snow-covered palace, the white deer, and the image of a young girl on the rice paper, stroke by stroke...