Transmigration: The Fate of the Villainess

The two princes were gifted and brilliant, as expected of the sons of heaven. Hongxian, the older sibling, was adept at war. He had joined military training until he became the general of heaven at the exceptionally young age of under ten thousand years. As for his younger brother Feilong, he was interested in governing. He had been helping the Jade Emperor in his royal affairs since age.

The older brother, Hongxian, was dashing, dignified, and warm as the sun.

The younger one, Feilong, was beautiful and serene as the moon.

Only one of the two brothers would become Taizi. However, with their outstanding skills, the Emperor could not easily judge who was more suitable for the title. Originally, the decision could be made through the god of fate’s prophecy, but because the future of Taizi’s fate was entwined with the next empress of heaven, Jiuxian could not foresee it, for that was her own future as well.

Despite being the goddess of fate, tasked with seeing others’ futures, she could not know her own. The only thing she knew was the prophecy left behind by her father, the former god of fate, who had faded away.

In heaven, there were only a few gods in the same generation. Because of this closeness in age, Jiuxian, Feilong, and Hongxian quickly became friends. The two princes knew nothing of the prophecy, like others, and Jiuxian never thought to tell them for fear that her destined title would change the friendship between the three of them.

Time passed for many tens of thousand years more. The peace they had was starting to shake at its core. The Jade Emperor was often ill, while the devil army continued the attack on heaven. The Emperor wished to appoint a Taizi for the royal throne’s stability, the heavenly race, and other races under their rule.

At the time, heaven was divided into two. One was Hongxian’s side, in support of the multitalented eldest prince, who was known for his accomplishments as heaven’s general, who had led the army to defend against the devil countless times.

.....

The other side supported Feilong, the calm and collected younger prince. He had been helping the Jade Emperor govern heaven since he was young. In all, it had been tens of thousands of years since he had been acting as Taizi, all but in name.

Even though Hongxian would sometimes be assigned to royal affairs as well. The majority of them were still handled by Feilong. However, Hongxian had never made a mistake. His skills were not limited to the military alone but encompassed all areas. Feilong was also the same as he hid his ability in war, never revealing it to anyone.

Because they were brought up closely together, Feilong and Hongxian loved each other too much to fight for the throne. The older brother wanted to give his younger brother the title, and so he had always avoided being involved in the court. At the same time, the younger brother was leaving the seat open for his older brother, and so he had never gone into war once.

Jiuxian watched the situation in front of her with a heavy heart. She did not fear that the siblings would turn against each other. She was afraid that her feelings for Hongxian would be the chain to tie him to the throne he never wanted…

In the end, Feilong was anointed as Taizi on the same day that the news of an engagement between goddess Jiuxian and Taizi Feilong was announced throughout the four seas and eight directions.

Though Feilong did not want to be Taizi, his older brother loved freedom and fought too much to be tied down by the title. Hongxian became the god of war without having to worry about the duties of heaven.

And Jiuxian did not want this marriage at all. However, this was a fate that even she, the goddess of fate, could not struggle against. In order to let Hongxian go on the path he loved without worry, she hid the feelings she had in the depths of her heart. What she did not realize was that her feeling did not go unnoticed by her life-long friend, Feilong.

“I will beg Father to break the engagement.”

“That cannot be.” Jiuxian protested before Feilong went to meet the Jade Emperor.

“Why is it?” His brows were pulled together. The golden eyes that were looking at her were full of worry and care. Jiuxian could only lower her face and let out a melancholic smile.

She was born before them. She knew everything before they did. She understood the prophecy more than anyone. Oh, why did she not hide herself away from the two princes? That way, she would not have to face these feelings today…

“Jiuxian.” Her name was uttered again from the lips of Taizi. She said nothing in reply. She was never talkative, and with the current situation, it was even harder to get her to speak. Feilong grabbed the other person’s arm and pulled her closer so that he could lift her face to wipe the tear away.

His tone softened. “Jiejie.”

That’s right. To Feilong, Jiuxian had always been his older sister, and she, too, never thought of him as anything else other than a younger brother. How could they marry like this when her heart was with his older brother?

“Tell me.”

Feilong believed that this solemn goddess must have a reason not to object to the royal decree, even though she could with his support. Jiuxian had always been his father’s favorite. What could have made her force herself to this point?

“Fate…” Her voice trembled as she tried to suppress a sob. “…I cannot go against the fate that was already set in stone.”

Humans would always blame heaven when they were met with a terrible fate. She was a goddess who was both beloved and cursed at the same time. Now, fate was being cruel to her. And who could she put the blame on?

“There must be a way…” Feilong did not want to see the love she had harbored for over tens of thousands of years be ended by ‘duty’ and ‘fate.’

“Do it for me.” Jiuxian took the hand that had wiped her tears and covered them with her two hands. She begged him with both her words and eyes. “For your brother’s happiness.”

For Hongxian’s happiness, Feilong had to become heaven’s Taizi.

For Hongxian’s happiness, Jiuxian had to hide her love under the role of the royal fiancée.

“You love him so much.” Feilong pulled her into his arms. As soon as Jiuxian felt the warmth of the man who was known for his coldness enveloping her, tears poured from her blue eyes. Even with the power to change, she could not bear to do it.

Even though there were other ways, they both refused to consider them. It was all because of one thing.

Love had always made a fool out of everyone.

“Ahem.” A cough was heard from behind Jiuxian. The older sibling’s golden eyes watched the scene in front of him with an unreadable gaze. “Am I interrupting something?” Hongxian asked, amused. The closeness between them had long made him ignore status and formalities.

“Is something the matter, brother?” On the other hand, Feilong had never overlooked manners when with his brother. He loved and respected Hongxian too much to speak casually with him like he did with Jiuxian.

“I saw you two being lovebirds, so I decided to interrupt.” Hongxian was still smiling, not realizing that Jiuxian had cleanly wiped the tears and their remnants away from her face.

“If you’re jealous, then why don’t you find a goddess for yourself?” She teased. Her voice showed no trace of a sob.

Feilong watched Jiuxian’s smiling face and turned away… Could love truly make someone go this far?

“My younger brother has yet to marry. How can I do it before he does?” Hongxian said with a warm smile that made her heart race like always. She could not resist him even once.

“What kind of tradition is that?” Jiuxian joked back, attempting to hide the sound of her heart.

“It’s my personal tradition. Hahaha.”

“Then I cannot marry before my brother as well.” Feilong tried to apply that personal tradition to himself too.

“How come, little brother?!” Hongxian patted his younger brother’s broad chest multiple times. “You’re Taizi, and you’re still young. On top of that, you have a fiancée this beautiful. If you don’t marry now, when will you have a child?”

“I already have many subordinates. There’s no need for a child, brother,” he flatly replied.

Hongxian narrowed his eyes. “Jiuxian is much older than you. You may be able to wait, but have you asked her yet whether she can wait or not?”

“Hongxian!” The taciturn goddess exclaimed as her hand slapped onto his strong arm. “It’s only nine hundred years. I’m not that old!”

“Older than me, at least.” Hongxian waggled his eyebrow at his friend, who would soon become his sister-in-law.

“You dumb turtle!” Not only had he never noticed her feelings for him, but now he was also teasing her. Let him taste the palm of the goddess!

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

“Owowowowow.” Hongxian pretended to cry out. The glimmer in his golden eyes irritated Jiuxian even more. He ran, and she chased him until they were both farther and farther away from Feilong’s sight.

Feilong was used to seeing the scene. Be it the cold Taizi Feilong or the calm goddess of fate, Jiuxian, none of them could keep their composure when in front of Hongxian. Truly, his older brother was born to be loved.

Taizi of heaven turned around, intending to head to the Meihua garden he favored so much. He had built it next to his palace, and he suspected that from now on, he would not be able to come here as often as before since he had had to move to the east palace. His heart was full of turmoil today, and so he wanted to be in a quiet place while reading poetry to wind down.

However, the Taizi was chased out as soon as he reached the garden.

“This garden is off limits. It’s Taizi’s favorite place, so no outsiders are allowed!” The voice was unintimidating, though her tone was quite aggressive. A woman who he had never seen before was preventing him from entering the garden.

“You…” The golden eyes narrowed, watching the dark ones that fearlessly returned his gaze. “…Are the new caretaker?” Normally, this garden would be overseen by a minor goddess named Hong Fei, whom he had appointed as caretaker himself. This woman was not Hong Fei.

“That’s right!” The minor goddess, who had been cultivating and had only just recently ascended to heaven, nodded confidently. She seemed to be proud of herself, a mortal who had endeavored until she reached this point. “…My name is Bai Yu. What’s yours?”

Feilong could not suppress a smile. Was she trying to pick a fight or make friends with him?

“What’s funny?!”

Does this little fool truly not know who he is?

“Nothing…” If she did not know, then he would like to see how long she would remain a fool. “…You’re given this duty as caretaker for Taizi’s garden. But do you know what he looks like?”