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“Xie Weiying, I can guarantee that if you lay a finger on them, I will haunt you even in death,” Xie De Fei finally shouted in despair.
“Is that so?” I feigned a look of regret. “It’s a pity I’ve never believed in ghosts. Do you know? When a person dies, they turn to dust and become nothing. My dear aunt, I will wait for you to return as a vengeful spirit to find me.” I smiled brightly, leaving the basket behind as I prepared to leave under Xiao Quanzi's guidance.
Xie De Fei finally lost all pretense and cried out, “Xie Weiying, you’re truly heartless and ruthless for not sparing even a child! You will meet a terrible end!”
I paused, turned around, and smiled casually at her, as if her words were the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. “Am I heartless? Am I ruthless? What a joke! That’s the most absurd and tragic joke I’ve ever heard.” I stepped closer, locking my gaze onto her eyes, almost cruelly reminding her, “Who was it that caused my mother’s death? Who pushed me into the lake knowing how timid and foolish I was? Who didn’t spare even a child? Have you forgotten? Your ‘Soul Severance’ left me teetering on the brink of death for an entire month, my dear aunt.”
As she shook her head, urging me to stop, I wouldn’t let her off the hook. I grabbed her and leaned in close to her ear, whispering gently, “Aunt, do you remember how you died back then?”
Her face turned pale instantly; even her ears and neck lost all color. She stared at me blankly, murmuring, “Demon, demon—” Then she screamed frantically, “Demon!”
I brushed off my clothes and made a mock bow, smiling. “Thank you for the compliment, my dear aunt.”
Didn’t I say this was just the beginning?
Putting everything together, I had long suspected that my aunt’s death wasn’t an accident. It was likely someone’s deliberate act. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone killed my aunt to protect their own relationship with their lover after she learned too much. What had just been a test turned out to provoke such a strong reaction from her; my intuition had indeed been correct. Now all that was left was to find some old palace maids who had been around my aunt back then and ask them a few questions.
Beside me, Xiao Quanzi seemed to have held back for too long; his face was flushed with some unspoken question. Unable to bear it any longer, I asked bluntly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“Is it true that the master won’t spare the little princess and the little prince?” His serious expression made it hard for me to keep a straight face.
I chuckled lightly. “Do you really believe your master is that cruel? I just don’t want to make it too easy for her. At least let her worry herself sleepless for several nights. Let her lie awake at night and lose her appetite during the day. She deserves some punishment. The children are innocent; adults’ sins shouldn’t extend to the next generation. How could I bear to harm them?” Sighing, these matters shouldn’t concern me originally. But now that I had become the owner of this body and taken on the identity of Xie Weiying, I felt obligated to help that poor little girl avenge her mother—and perhaps even seek revenge for herself. I knew she could now be with her mother again. Hopefully, they could find happiness together.
Let me be the one to take on revenge and play the villain.
"Master, it is Shen Qing who has betrayed your trust. Shen Qing is willing to die."
Sima Rui looked at him calmly and replied coldly, "You were meant to die."
A look of shame crossed Shen Qing's face, but he gritted his teeth and said, "The guilty minister knows his sins are deep, yet he dares to remind Your Majesty that Xie Jieyu is not as simple as she appears. I implore Your Majesty to pay more attention."
"Mm?"
Shen Qing lowered his head deeply, not daring to look up again, and continued, "I once took advantage of Your Majesty's trust and poisoned the medicine given to Xie Jieyu. I thought the unresolvable poison would ensure her death, yet she acted as if nothing had happened and showed no signs of being poisoned. That day, Your Majesty also witnessed it; Consort Jie swallowed the medicine willingly, and to this day, I still do not understand why."
"Mm. I know this," Sima Rui replied without a hint of emotion.
"Your Majesty knows? Then why did you personally feed Consort Jie?" Shen Qing exclaimed in surprise. For the first time, he began to reassess this emperor. Unfortunately, he did not have much time left.
"I wanted to see what kind of play you two were putting on for me. But unexpectedly, there are things I do not know. Jieyu is not in league with you; this confuses me."
Shen Qing suddenly raised his head, eyes filled with rage. "We hate him."
"Hate whom?" Sima Rui finally looked at him directly.
Shen Qing gritted his teeth and said, "Xie Yushi." Closing his eyes for a moment, Shen Qing finally recounted an old story: "I grew up with Consort De, we were childhood sweethearts and loved each other dearly, promising to be together for life. But that Xie Yushi, for his own interests in court, forcibly separated us and sent Cheng'er into the palace. Unable to sever my feelings, I entered the palace myself. Everything was my own sentimental folly; Consort De never agreed and urged me not to harbor delusions. I beg Your Majesty to spare Consort De."
"Is that so?" Sima Rui seemed to already know everything but did not expose it: "You will depart tonight. Xie De Fei, having followed me for so many years, I will naturally give her a chance."
Moved to tears, Shen Qing knelt on the ground and repeatedly bowed his head: "The guilty minister thanks Your Majesty. Your Majesty's great kindness will be repaid in my next life. Thank you, Your Majesty."
Sima Rui spoke into the darkness, "Chen Wen, let’s go."
A shadow flew out, expressionless, following closely behind him as they made their way outside.
Inside the Imperial Hall.
Sima Rui leaned back in a reclining chair and asked lightly, "Chen Wen, what do you think about this matter?"
Chen Wen showed a troubled expression. "This subordinate does not dare to make rash judgments."
"Speak freely. I want to hear the truth."
Gathering his courage, Chen Wen replied, "Master, I feel that Xie Jieyu's behavior is strange. She is not simple."
"Is that so?" Sima Rui closed his eyes and fell silent. Chen Wen stood respectfully by his side, saying no more.
In truth, Sima Rui was not as calm as he appeared. On the contrary, he was shocked.
The extraordinary feeling from that night still lingered in his mind. He clearly remembered having no intentions; he simply held her and slept peacefully. Yet, why did he continue to recall moments of intimacy with her in his memories, as if they were real and as tender as before? It left Sima Rui unable to distinguish between reality and dreams. He could not have misremembered. After waking up, he felt bewildered and even took the opportunity to examine her body while she slept, but found no signs of any marks or blemishes that would raise suspicion. This only deepened his confusion over the past few days; no matter how he thought about it, he could not make sense of it. He had considered summoning her again to test the waters but felt it would be somewhat absurd. Perhaps that night was merely a spring dream of his own making; yet, was the dream truly so vivid? Vivid as if it happened every time.
Who exactly was Xie Weiying? What kind of person was she?
The questions in his heart multiplied. For the first time, Sima Rui felt unable to grasp a woman, and for the first time, he found himself curious about a woman—much like how he had felt towards Little Jin—addicted and unable to break free.
Xiao Tiao Palace.
"Your Majesty, you want me to get close to her?" Consort Huan looked at the troubled Sima Rui with a smile.
"You don't need to mock me; I just find her hard to read."
"Hard to read?" Consort Huan laughed even more joyfully. "I never expected there would be someone you couldn't figure out." This was the first time she had seen him take an interest in a woman. In the past, he had only spoken of that boy, An Jin.
"I—" Sima Rui felt a bit guilty under her gaze and didn't know how to continue.
"I promise you, Your Majesty. It is my honor to do something for you," Consort Huan said sincerely.
"Don't belittle yourself like that. You know you are different to me."
"I know," Consort Huan replied with a happy smile. "I'm very glad. Truly, you are starting to care about a woman."
Hearing her words, Sima Rui's eyes suddenly dimmed, filled with sorrow. "Unfortunately, she is not Little Jin."
"Rui, when one is too close, they often lose sight of the truth. I hope you don't blind yourself and fail to see your own heart," Consort Huan said with pain in her voice.
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