Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 31
She Has No Use for Belated Love
The darkness of night slowly receded, and the sky was just beginning to lighten, the breeze gently stirring the shadows of trees.
Before the morning court session, Su Qishi was already kneeling in the imperial study.
Tears glistened at the corners of her reddened eyes as she spoke with wounded grievance.
“Father Emperor, your daughter was ambushed during the spring hunt. Later, I encountered Miss Liu, but then another group came for my life. I had no choice but to flee with Miss Liu, all the way to Chuanzhou. Even after I exhausted myself to return to the capital, I was attacked again on the outskirts.
Please, Father Emperor, I beg you to deliver justice for me. Who is so bent on ensuring my utter destruction?”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks, falling silently onto the ground.
Emperor Su Sheng was momentarily speechless, swallowing the words he had intended to say. He stepped forward, personally helping Su Qishi to her feet.
Su Qishi bowed slightly. “Thank you, Father Emperor.” She then deliberately wiped her tears away beneath his watchful gaze.
Su Sheng turned his back to her, his deep-set eyes gleaming with calculation, though his tone bore a faint trace of concern.
“Shier, you’ve suffered. Your father will ensure justice is done. For now, rest in your manor and do not attend court for a few days. Once the Empress’s birthday passes, I will entrust the Northern City Garrison to your command.”
This was his way of appeasing Su Qishi.
Su Qishi lowered her eyes, masking the cold glint within them. In a respectful tone, she replied, “Thank you, Father Emperor.”
Su Sheng suddenly recalled something, and a complex look passed through his eyes. “Go and see your mother. During your disappearance, she was greatly distressed and could neither eat nor sleep.”
Hearing this, Su Qishi feigned softness in her voice. “So… in Her Majesty’s heart, I still hold some place.”
Su Sheng seemed lost in thought, his gaze heavy and unreadable. He waved his hand to dismiss her.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Su Qishi’s lips. She bowed and said, “Your daughter takes her leave.”
After exiting the imperial study, Su Qishi walked calmly and steadily toward Changchun Palace, composed and dignified.
Since the Emperor so desired an image of maternal affection and filial piety, she would grant him his wish.
You enjoy control, don’t you? Then I shall let the world you control crumble slowly in your hands…
The Emperor had long been subtly suppressing the noble houses. Su Hui was growing restless. This assassination attempt had likely caused him to fear the blame might fall on him. What if she fanned the flames—made the fire burn uncontrollably?
Passing between towering palace walls, Su Qishi finally arrived at Cining Palace.
In her past life, the palace maid Hongyuan, whom she had punished, once again tried to stop her. Su Qishi had braced herself for resistance, but to her surprise, the arrogant Hongyuan now stepped aside, bowing respectfully.
“Your Highness Prince Yue, Her Majesty the Empress has been awaiting your arrival.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Su Qishi’s eyes.
As she approached the palace doors, she saw Empress Xiao Yue seated upon the phoenix throne, her gaze fixed unwaveringly upon her.
With light behind her, Su Qishi’s figure cast a long shadow across the floor, her expression veiled in darkness. She lowered her head slightly and saluted. “Your daughter greets Her Majesty the Empress.”
Though Empress Xiao Yue’s face was calm, her phoenix eyes betrayed the tumult in her heart.
After a long silence, her voice echoed in the hall, steady and cool. “Come in.”
Su Qishi straightened. “Thank you, Mother Empress.”
A dense tension filled the air, turning it ice-cold. Neither of them spoke, as if uncertain what to say—or how to say it. Silence fell between them.
Empress Xiao Yue parted her lips. She had countless things to say to this daughter, but the words stuck in her throat. It was her fault. Had it not been for her…
How had they come to this—a mother and daughter so familiar, now so estranged?
Now she had come to her senses, longing for reconciliation—but the road ahead was long. How could she mend the heart she had wounded so deeply?
Memories surged like wild beasts. When her daughter was young, she had clung to her, seeking affection. But each time, she had met only coldness, evasion. Eventually, her daughter had stopped seeking love altogether.
She had seen the sadness and disappointment in her child’s eyes—every time—but had refused to comfort her. Only then did she feel at ease, only then could she convince herself she hadn’t betrayed her love for her senior brother.
And the more indifferent she was to her daughter, the more Su Sheng showered her with affection. At first, she believed Su Sheng’s love for their child was genuine—until the false charges in her past life. When her daughter was accused of treason and imprisoned, her heart clenched painfully.
Only then did she realize she truly loved her daughter—she just hadn’t wanted to admit it.
She had wanted to plead for her daughter’s life, but recalling everything that had happened, she believed if she requested punishment, Su Sheng would do the opposite and spare her.
She had been wrong.
When she looked up and saw the smile in Su Sheng’s eyes, she understood: Su Sheng was taking revenge on her. He never intended to let their daughter live.
After her daughter had been exiled to the frontier, Empress Xiao Yue had mobilized the forces of the Duke’s Household to search for her. But her daughter seemed to have vanished into thin air—there was no word, no trace.
By the time she wished to make amends, it was already too late. Her daughter’s heart had been engulfed by hatred…
When she was sent to Nan’an Temple, her heart was filled with endless remorse.
Now, by Heaven’s mercy, her prayers had been answered. In this lifetime, she was determined to cherish her daughter, to ensure she never suffered harm again.
But with all the time lost between them in youth, she no longer knew how to make amends.
Su Qishi’s gaze flickered, and she took the initiative to break the silence.
“Your daughter’s disappearance these past days has caused Mother Empress great worry. It was my fault.”
Upon hearing this, a mist of tears welled in Xiao Yue’s eyes.
“Shier, you’ve endured so much… I’ve already sent people to investigate thoroughly. Do not worry. If your father cannot bring you justice, I will!”
Shier? Could it be…
Su Qishi’s eyes swept briefly over Xiao Yue. That explained the strangeness—was her mother also reborn? Then why pretend to be a loving mother? Shouldn’t she hate her—for sending her away in the previous life?
Her mother had always been selfish, arrogant, and cold. Su Qishi could never reconcile how Xiao Yue, as she knew her, could be the kind and brilliant Senior Sister Xiao Yue that others at Tan Hua Sect praised so highly.
Can a person truly change that much?
In their past life, why couldn’t even a sliver of that “kindness” have been given to her?
To Su Qishi, belated love was utterly worthless.
At this thought, she lowered her gaze, hiding the flash of coldness in her eyes. Then, raising her head again, she looked at Xiao Yue with a face full of apparent surprise and gratitude, as though she had finally received the motherly love she had longed for.
“Thank you, Mother Empress.”
Xiao Yue’s gaze softened with affection. After a long pause, she sighed quietly.
She couldn’t afford to rush things. Her daughter’s wounded heart could not be mended with a few words.
What she needed to do now was find those who had tried to kill her daughter—and eliminate them.
Su Qishi, meanwhile, stood silently, her face blank. She waited for Xiao Yue to ask questions—or for punishment without cause.
She was used to it. Even knowing Xiao Yue had been reborn, so what? Love, once absent, remained absent—and such things were not easily changed.
After exchanging a few perfunctory words of concern, Xiao Yue seemed to realize there was little else to say and allowed her to take her leave. Su Qishi was happy to be dismissed.
Returning to Prince Yue’s Manor, Su Qishi headed to the study to arrange the next steps.
Gu Congran had been waiting there for some time.
Lying idly on the couch, Gu Congran grinned when Su Qishi entered and called out playfully,
“Come now—lie here with me.” She patted the space beside her, gesturing for Su Qishi to lie in her arms.
Nian Qi followed behind Su Qishi. Seeing Gu Congran—normally radiant and proud—lounging so shamelessly, she couldn’t suppress her amusement and lowered her head, laughing softly.
Gu Congran pointed at her and mock-complained to Su Qishi,
“Look at her! Nian Qi is laughing at me—and you’re not even stopping her.”
Su Qishi turned her head slightly and exchanged a glance with Nian Qi. A faint smile tugged at her lips as she lowered her gaze.
“Gu Congran, where did you even pick up behavior like this?”
She walked over slowly to the couch and lightly slapped Gu Congran’s raised leg.
“Move. Make room.”
Gu Congran scooted over, grumbling in mock protest, “Can’t you be a little gentle for once?”
Su Qishi smiled faintly. “Very well, your humble servant obeys, Young Lady Gu.”
Gu Congran gave a satisfied hum. “That’s more like it.” Then, as if recalling something, she asked, “By the way, the two people you visited today—did they give you any trouble?”
Su Qishi shook her head slightly and sighed. “Them? Truly, one is more exhausting than the other…” She didn’t need to elaborate—Gu Congran understood perfectly.
Her expression turned serious. “How’s the investigation on Li Yuande coming along?”
Gu Congran sighed with a trace of admiration. “That man is the textbook example of someone trying to avoid offending either side. Serving two masters without fear of exposure—he’s either stupidly bold or incredibly daring. Honestly, he’s got guts.”
Su Qishi fell into silent thought. She hadn’t expected Li Yuande to serve two factions. With his limited intellect, could he really manage to navigate between them smoothly? No—there must be someone pulling the strings behind him.
“Nian Qi,” Su Qishi said, turning her head slightly, “Tomorrow, send someone to find a few of the storytellers in the capital. Spread the contents of this letter through them. Make sure it can’t be traced back to us.”
Nian Qi received the letter with both hands and replied promptly, “Understood, Your Highness.”
Gu Congran clapped her hands in delight. “Brilliant! You’re forcing Yun Shouyue into a corner. Once rumors begin to spread, with your father’s suspicious nature and his deep wariness of the noble families, Yun Shouyue won’t be able to sit still. And your father? He’ll probably act even sooner.”
A cold gleam flashed across Su Qishi’s eyes.
“It’s not enough…”
Gu Congran looked at her, puzzled, and echoed, “Not enough?”
Su Qishi nodded, her tone low and decisive. “I want Yun Shouyue to completely lose control.”
After finalizing her plan with Gu Congran, Su Qishi returned to the General’s Manor.
As dusk fell, the golden rays of the setting sun bathed the land in a kaleidoscope of color. The glow of the sunset streamed into the room, casting warm light across the surface of the table.
Su Qishi sat silently in her chair, lost in thought. Her expression was unreadable, her eyes calm and emotionless.
It wasn’t until a voice rang out that she slowly returned to herself.
“Your Highness, Miss Yun requests an audience.”
Su Qishi’s eyes regained their clarity. “Invite her in, quickly.”
Yun Shouyue entered, dressed in a flowing purple gauze dress, her waist cinched with a simple, pale silk sash. Her slender figure was elegant and refined, untouched by heavy cosmetics—her beauty soft, serene, and graceful.
Seated upright on a chair, Yun Shouyue’s every movement reflected poise. Her gaze drifted subtly toward the doorway, as though she were quietly awaiting someone.
Suddenly, a flash of red entered her field of vision. Yun Shouyue’s eyes lit up slightly, and in a soft, almost whispering voice, she called,
“Qishi…”