Saving the Obsessive Villain Boss [Quick Transmigration] (GL) - Chapter 19

Everyone silently retreated, and the vast palace was left with only the two of them looking at each other in silence. The Lady Monarch’s black skirt covered the floor, and she stepped back slightly. Something like a dangerous flame flickered in her eyes as she gazed at the person before her.

After a long time, she quietly closed her eyes: “Forget it, if you are unwilling…”

The words sounded so magnanimous, but her hand involuntarily rested on the table, agitatedly wanting to smash everything there clean, pretending this sentence was never uttered, so as not to have such an embarrassing moment.

Didn’t she already know? She didn’t like her, maybe that poem was never written for her, she approached her with ulterior motives, and was not truly enamored with her…

In just a moment of hesitation, Xu Zhaosu had thought of countless possibilities, each with an extremely terrifying outcome. She had even thought of forcibly—

Shi Qingyi was silent for a long time before she reached out and grasped the mask. Her fingertips hesitated for a moment on the wooden mask, but she finally took it off.

“Even with a face like this, is Your Majesty still willing?”

Her voice was like a sigh. Her exquisite and captivating features were no longer as stunning as they once were. Half of her face was still breathtakingly beautiful, but the half hidden under the mask could be described as hideous. Mottled scars wound from the corner of her eye to her cheek, ruinously destroying a face that could have toppled kingdoms.

This was a clear reminder of the chasm between them, the insurmountable grievances, hurts, and endless suspicion that lay across their path.

An arrow had once pierced her heart, and a fierce fire had once scorched her soul, but now they were embracing, only an arm’s length apart.

Xu Zhaosu’s hand, hidden beneath her wide sleeve, trembled inexplicably. No wonder, no wonder. It wasn’t that she was unwilling to see her, but that her face was disfigured. But even so, didn’t she still return?

The monarch, standing at the pinnacle of the world’s power, tremblingly raised her hand to caress her cheek. Her cold fingers moved inch by inch across those hideous scars. Shi Qingyi closed her eyes, seemingly silently accepting this moment of judgment.

That person held the butcher’s knife and could pronounce life or death at any moment. She offered her neck for the slaughter.

A long time later, when two cold hands cupped her face, Xu Zhaosu leaned closer, kissing her wound with pity and heartache. Her movements were light, as if afraid of hurting her.

“So beautiful…”

The monarch who had seen all the beauties in the world, who had met alluring courtesans, gentle Southern beauties, and uninhibited, passionate women from the borderlands, had never been so profoundly moved as by the person before her.

—Just like that first meeting on the snowy mountain years ago. She merely looked back at her, and without a sound, caused her heart to tremble.

How could she find her anything but beautiful?

Since so many years ago, she had been the most beautiful girl in her heart.

Shi Qingyi sighed silently, reaching out to stroke the waist of the person beside her. This was the first time she had taken the initiative in all these years.

Her eyes were clear, like snow after a clearing storm, yet a rare tenderness, like moonlight, flowed from the corners of her eyes and brows: “Then, naturally, as Your Majesty wishes.”

Outside the study, everyone quietly withdrew. In the hazy, amber light, a subtle fragrance wafted, and the shadows of the curtains were deep. The woman in white carried the girl in the elaborate palace dress toward the inner room. With a wave of her hand, the sash of the skirt fell, spreading on the floor.

The monarch, who now held sway over the entire realm, was nestled in her arms, passionately kissing her neck and earlobe, leaving her own unique mark.

The unreachable high mountain flower, once standing on the snowy peak, finally fell into the mortal world because of her, tainted by worldly smoke and fire.

Xu Zhaosu’s body was already in very poor condition after multiple rounds of torment. In the past six months, because of Shi Qingyi’s death, her heart had also died, and she no longer cared for her health, making her appear even weaker.

She could only hold Shi Qingyi tightly, refusing to let go, to confirm that she was still by her side.

Shi Qingyi could only console the anxious girl, one soft word after another.

“Don’t be afraid, Your Majesty, I’m here, I’ve always been here…”

Regardless of the past, from now on, she would never leave again, until death did them part.

The cold night lingered outside, but inside, it was as warm as spring. The long, lingering scent of plum blossoms faded, the furnace fire died out, and they slept soundly through the night.

Xu Zhaosu kissed the scars on her face meticulously, calling the same name repeatedly: “Qingyi, Qingyi…”

“Your Majesty,” Shi Qingyi pulled away slightly, correcting her before her expression could turn gloomy: “This subject is not her.”

The Lady Monarch seemed to be stumped. The infatuation and desire in her eyes lessened slightly, and she kissed her temples again, gently coaxing as if agreeing with her: “Yes, you are not her…”

The past Shi Qingyi was gone, having died in a great fire six months ago, with no body left. The person whose name was now Caozhu was just an obscure, orphaned girl, summoned to treat the Emperor’s heart ailment.

Wasn’t it better if she wanted to think this way? The past identity belonged to the past. The current orphan was helpless, powerless, and willing to be confined within a small area by her, unable to resist.

How wonderful—

Having received a satisfactory answer, Shi Qingyi leaned over and contentedly kissed Xu Zhaosu’s sweaty temples. Just as she was about to get up, she was encircled around the waist. The grip was tight, and the voice was cold, carrying a sense of warning and threat: “Where are you going now?”

The lotus-embroidered bed was warm, but she was trying to slip away.

Shi Qingyi turned back and pulled the brocade quilt to cover the spring scene, her ears unconsciously flushing. She tucked the quilt in around her: “I’m going to call for some hot water to bathe. Your Majesty, please stay put and don’t catch a chill.” After a pause, she added, “I’ll be back soon.”

Only then did she manage to appease the deeply suspicious person to let go.

She only put on a simple cloak when she went out to call for hot water. It would have been fine to let the palace servants come in, but she had severe cleanliness issues, and—

In short, she couldn’t let others see what shouldn’t be seen. Any palace servant who saw her immediately lowered their heads. She hadn’t known why initially, until the next day when she stood in front of the bronze mirror to dress and noticed that, at some point, Xu Zhaosu had left large patches of red marks on her neck.

“…” Speechless for a moment, her mouth twitched slightly.

In the height of passion, she let her do as she pleased and didn’t feel the bites were that painful. Now she realized the bites were very hard, and they were deliberately placed in a spot where everyone could see at a glance.

A new little palace maid was quite clever and quickly offered a powder box to win favor: “Would the adult like some powder to cover it up?”

“No need. If His Majesty likes it, just leave it.” Although in this secluded deep mountain, the declaration of ownership would be seen by no one, it was naturally fine to let her be happy. She herself was just…

The System silently completed the rest of the sentence: “Shameless and brazen.”

“…Shut up!”

The System, which was routinely forced to power down: Trash host, with a wife, you forget the System—

Shi Qingyi, having silenced the System, raised her eyes, feeling the world instantly quiet. As expected, she saw Xu Zhaosu in the bronze mirror, who had been sleeping soundly moments ago. She rested her head on Shi Qingyi’s shoulder, lazily kissing her hair, and said faintly to the little palace maid: “You may withdraw.”

Shi Qingyi understood. It was likely she would never see this little palace maid again. Xu Zhaosu wouldn’t harm her, but she would probably be transferred away and never allowed to appear before her again.

“Don’t you have the heart?” She seemed not fully awake, her voice tired, a half-smile playing on her lips.

It would be strange if she could answer that question. Shi Qingyi squeezed her palm. It was a little cold, and she couldn’t help but frown slightly: “Why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

The person behind her yawned, wrapping her arms around Shi Qingyi’s waist, and whispered in her ear: “Shouldn’t that question be asked of you? Why are you up so early? I can’t sleep once you leave.”

Her arms formed a circle in front of her, tightening like a snake constricting its prey.

“To brew medicine for Your Majesty,” Shi Qingyi placed her hand over the back of Xu Zhaosu’s hand, moving it away slightly, and whispered in her ear: “Your Majesty worked hard last night. Go back to sleep for a little while.”

“Why must you do those things yourself? Let others do it.” She refused to let go.

“I don’t trust others with it,” Shi Qingyi shook her head. “Has Your Majesty found out about the poisoning in the lamp?”

She had just found a few clues about the matter when she fainted. She only woke up to find herself virtually under house arrest by Xu Zhaosu in this place, and the investigation had been shelved.

Xu Zhaosu’s originally sleepy eyes opened slightly. Through the blurred light of the bronze mirror, her clear gaze met Shi Qingyi’s, a silent confrontation.

In the end, it was Shi Qingyi who yielded. Her fingers stiffened as if she understood something, but she only offered a bitter smile, comprehending her meaning: “This subject overstepped. I won’t ask again.”

Given the things she had done to Xu Zhaosu, perhaps she thought it was power-driven. It was natural for her to be cautious now, and she truly shouldn’t have asked more.

Xu Zhaosu did not stop her, allowing her to leave. But just as she reached the door, Xu Zhaosu suddenly spoke: “What if I told you it was related to the former dynasty’s remnants?”

The wind outside was bleak, blowing out a few drops of lamp oil. The wax tears of the candle, which had burned all night, quietly fell.

She waited quietly for the person to answer. After a long time, the person turned her head and asked: “Your Majesty, would you like to eat some plums?”

She avoided the question.

Xu Zhaosu didn’t know whether she was disappointed or happy, only that she felt a sense of relief. She curved her lips and whispered: “I want sweet ones.”

They had both tasted too much bitterness in this life.

That person responded gently, saying yes, and closed the door.

The Lady Monarch leaned back on the couch, waiting quietly. The scent of the person still lingered on the couch, a faint aroma of cold plum blossoms. Her long-held wish was fulfilled in a single night. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to live out the rest of her life like this, no longer thinking about love, hate, and betrayal, staying nestled in the mountains and living a quiet, stable life until the end.

But why was her heart still so uneasy, as if—

She couldn’t dwell on it anymore. The door was pushed open, and the girl she had admired for years looked at her with a rare sense of awkwardness. A smudge of soot was on her usually cold face.

Her expression was still composed and steady: “When I was brewing the medicine just now, I made some porridge on the side. Does Your Majesty want to try some?”

The implication was, if you don’t eat it, I’ll pour it away.

Xu Zhaosu leaned forward, not speaking, just watching her.

Shi Qingyi: “…”

“My body aches, and I feel weak all over…”

The culprit was self-evident. Shi Qingyi choked, but still indulgently picked up the porcelain bowl and spooned a mouthful to the person’s lips. Xu Zhaosu took a bite and frowned slightly: “It’s hot…”

How could it be hot? She had clearly let it cool. Shi Qingyi, suspicious, scooped up another spoonful and fed it to herself. Because of Xu Zhaosu’s words, she held back a little, not finishing the spoonful, only taking a small taste. It was warm. Although it couldn’t be described as melting in the mouth with a lingering fragrance, it was at least a balanced blend of flavors.

“Your Majesty, it’s not hot—” Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Xu Zhaosu lean over and eat the remaining half spoonful of porridge. Her expression was calm and composed, showing no sign of anything being amiss, only a hint of a teasing smile in the corner of her eye.

“Hmm, I made a mistake just now.”

Shi Qingyi: “…”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Xu Zhaosu smile like this in a long time. It seemed that ever since they first met many years ago, there had never been such a warm and tranquil atmosphere between them.

She carefully fed Xu Zhaosu the medicine and then some porridge, finally speaking softly: “If Your Majesty is unhappy, this subject will never ask again.”

Xu Zhaosu’s hand, which had just been cleaned, paused slightly, suspended in mid-air.

“This subject will stay with Your Majesty.”

Life in the mountains without the passage of time was actually quite good—quiet, peaceful, with all grievances fading away. It was very suitable for her to spend her last days.

Xu Zhaosu put her hand into Shi Qingyi’s embrace, her eyelashes trembling slightly, shrinking into the warmest spot in the embrace: “I’m cold.”

They were both avoiding those problems, those pains that, if laid bare, would be agonizing and soul-crushing.

Xu Zhaosu’s political affairs were not going smoothly. The Empress was trapped deep in the palace, and everyone was racking their brains to rescue her. The frontiers were in distress, and countless worms and ants were eating away at the foundations of the empire.

She doted on Shi Qingyi to the extreme. Even in such a difficult situation, she visited her daily. Her inexplicable possessiveness made her desire for exclusive ownership of Shi Qingyi terrifyingly strong.

Occasionally, when Shi Qingyi, out of concern for her fatigue, lessened their intimacy, Xu Zhaosu would secretly remember it. Later, in the heat of passion, she would bite her ear.

“Are you disgusted with my body and therefore unwilling…”

She was actually born beautiful, with skin like ice and jade, a natural beauty, both bright and arrogant, yet carrying the noble and elevated aura of a superior. However, her beauty was usually suppressed by her status. Few people dared to look directly at the monarch’s face, which ironically led to her appearance being overlooked.

She was the former emperor’s only child, pampered since childhood, and had never suffered any harm. The scars on her body were all left during that year in the dungeon. They were particularly clear on her waist and legs, turning purple in winter, making even standing and walking incredibly painful.

Another injury was on her chest. An arrow piercing her lung had left a wound that made her cough from time to time. The arrow was poisoned, and later, a large portion of her flesh had to be cut away to save her life. There was a large scar on her fair skin, destroying all her beauty.

She placed her arm over her eyes and said hoarsely: “If you truly mind, I will go to the imperial physician tomorrow for skin-grafting medicine and replace all this skin and flesh, alright?”

The skin-grafting procedure was incredibly cruel and painful, equivalent to having a layer of flesh peeled off alive. Shi Qingyi’s forehead twitched. She forcefully pulled down her arm and saw that her eyes were wet. She leaned down and kissed the corner of her eye, then followed the line from her eye to the bridge of her nose, to her moist red lips, and finally kissed the scar on her chest.

It was as devout as a pilgrimage.

Xu Zhaosu dared not look down. She could only silently tighten her arms, trapping Shi Qingyi within the small space.

“Does it hurt?”

She asked whether it was about the past or the present, Xu Zhaosu didn’t know. It did hurt back then, how could it not hurt? She had promised to leave with her, but she broke her word and set up a trap in advance. One wrong step led to eternal damnation, a pain that made her lose her mind, desperately wanting revenge, wanting her to feel a thousand times the pain she had suffered, wanting her to suffer a fate worse than death, wanting her to endure torment—

So she spared no effort to attack the Imperial City, violently burning the Yuming Palace.

Yet, the one thing she never wanted was for her to die.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she replied with a hoarse voice. All those things were fleeting clouds, the past carried away by the wind. “It hurt at first, but it doesn’t hurt now…”

She was referring to the wound that had not healed for a long time, and also the once shattered heart. She vaguely guessed Shi Qingyi’s background and past, which was an unspeakable taboo. She was the one who first conceived an extravagant desire, forcibly pulling the unblemished person into the mortal world.

Dense kisses rained down continuously. She whispered softly in her ear: “It’s beautiful, and also…”

The rest of the words were bitten into her ear. Even Xu Zhaosu, who considered herself thick-skinned, couldn’t help but blush a little.

The matter of a country’s ruler doting on a mere orphan girl to this extreme naturally couldn’t be concealed for long. The entire Imperial City was rife with rumors, with various versions circulating.

Some said the woman had a face extremely similar to the former State Preceptor. Some claimed the woman was inherently seductive and skilled at charming people, an incarnation of a Nine-Tailed Fox. Even more outrageous rumors suggested she was ugly, with a repulsive appearance, and the Lady Monarch was misled by an illusion, thinking she was a peerless beauty.

Such gossip spread very quickly. Coupled with the Lady Monarch’s past relationship, with the State Preceptor, such a stunning beauty, before her, comparisons were inevitable.

Countless people lamented, the love of a monarch was nothing more than this. She had once pampered the State Preceptor, giving her whatever she wanted, never refusing anything. Now that a newcomer had arrived, the true face of the monarch could be seen.

As these rumors spread, they naturally reached the ears of the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess, who had finally outlived His Majesty’s bastard lover and was busy looking for an Imperial Husband for His Majesty: “…”

For a moment, she was careless and let someone slip through. Immediately, she trembled with anger and instructed her officials to submit several memorials, stating that the suburban palace was not conducive to handling state affairs, and pleading with His Majesty to return to the palace temporarily for the sake of the greater good.

The constant urging made Xu Zhaosu unable to sleep well at night. In the middle of the night, officials would unexpectedly come seeking an audience, braving the snow. After several such nights, after being woken up in the middle of another night by wailing, Shi Qingyi was the first to give in. She pressed her temples and leaned back against Xu Zhaosu’s arms: “Your Majesty, why don’t we go back?”

Soft jade and warm fragrance, but she was so sleepy.

This kind of life was truly unbearable.

“If you don’t want to bring me back, you can go by yourself—” Anyway, this life was truly not for humans.

Xu Zhaosu rubbed the corner of her eyes, a half-smile on her face, but her voice gradually turned gloomy: “What? You’d rather stay here alone than come back with me?”

I didn’t, I’m not.

Shi Qingyi struggled to open her eyes, not wanting her to continue suspecting. She leaned in to kiss her rosy lips and sighed: “I’ll listen to whatever Your Majesty says, alright?”

—It was too cruel. This life really couldn’t go on.

“If you’re tired, then sleep…” Someone spoke softly by her ear, but she could no longer clearly hear what was said. For some reason, she had become increasingly sleepy recently, spending most of the day in slumber, and had no strength left in her body.

Although her body had no strength, her soul was clear. Even though her face was deep in sleep, her mind, with the System’s enhancement, was wide awake. She clearly heard someone walk slowly in and kneel to pay respects.

“Is this medicine truly as you said, with no side effects like Domperidone?” The Lady Monarch held the girl in her arms, her slender jaw casting a sharp shadow in the lamplight.

“Generally, there are none.” The person’s voice was low, seemingly aware that the sleeping person was currently highly favored. He was afraid of disturbing her sleep, although he knew clearly that she would never wake up.

“What do you mean by generally?”

“It means, it means that if the previous dosage is continued, the person will at most only be weak and fatigued, easily prone to sleepiness, and have a poor appetite. But if the dosage is increased further…”

The Lady Monarch slightly closed her eyes and said coldly: “Go on.”

“If the dosage is increased further, exceeding the body’s capacity, it might cause harm to the body.”

“What kind of harm?”

The physician was sweating profusely: “It might, it might impair her mental faculties. Using too much of this medicine, coupled with excessive sleepiness, will inevitably affect her mind, causing memory damage. If it becomes more severe, she might even… become an imbecile…”

Such a vicious method. He had only seen it used in the vicious infighting among women in the inner court against mortal enemies. He had never seen someone like His Majesty, who administered a heavier dose the more she doted.

Perhaps this was the legendary ‘serving the monarch is like serving a tiger.’ The monarch’s mind was unpredictable, nothing more. It was a pity that the outside world was full of rumors that this unfortunate girl was living a good life.

As a physician, he couldn’t bear it and couldn’t help but ask again: “Your Majesty, have you truly thought this through?”

Was there no turning back?

After a long time, he seemed to catch a glimpse of the Lady Monarch kissing the person’s forehead, treasuring her, but her voice was one of profound loneliness: “Use it—”

Cruel and ruthless.

What if she became a mentally impaired fool? Wouldn’t it be better if she was by her side?

A fool couldn’t run away or betray her. It would be perfect to have her constantly by her side, and there would be no need to worry about someone trying to scheme to take her away.

Who would want a lunatic? Even the former dynasty’s remnants wouldn’t want a fool. Only she, only she, would never abandon her, no matter what she looked like.

The physician closed his eyes in despair, knowing that he couldn’t convince her. He could only kowtow twice and retreat, saying bitterly: “This subject will go and prepare the medicine immediately.”

The vast palace was once again left with only the two of them. Xu Zhaosu kissed the corner of the sleeping person’s eyes and eyebrows along the edge of the mask, murmuring to herself: “You will never leave me, right?”

A moment later, she laughed at herself: “Even if you want to leave, I won’t let go.”

“You can’t leave.”

It was a sigh, and also self-mockery.

“Are you still awake now? If you are, you should hurry up and hate me, hate me enough to come back for me in the next life, so I can atone to you for all eternity. In this life, just let me wrong you…”

It was the ruthlessness and loneliness that Shi Qingyi, when awake, had never seen her display.

But she had forgotten that the person in her arms was deeply asleep.

—

System: “I told you long ago that she has completely turned dark, otherwise she wouldn’t have directly killed the female and male leads.”

Shi Qingyi felt complicated and wasn’t in the mood for its stirring: “If you could say anything useful, I wouldn’t have reached this point.”

“Host, you have to believe in my loyalty.” It sounded genuine, but then it immediately sent a pile of information: ‘How to pretend to be a fool,’ ‘One hundred questions about the personality of a lunatic,’ ‘The difference between a lunatic and a normal person’…

Shi Qingyi just wanted to smash its dog head.

—She woke up again on the way down the mountain. Xu Zhaosu was so busy with state affairs that she couldn’t rest even in the carriage, still reading memorials. Seeing her wake up, she held her hand and said softly: “We’re going into the palace soon. Don’t be afraid. We’ll be back soon, and we won’t come here again.”

In reality, it was Xu Zhaosu who was afraid, wanting to take the person into the mountains and keep her there, but the burden of her responsibilities forced her to return.

Shi Qingyi took a sip of tea, easing the throbbing pain in her forehead, and nodded.

It didn’t matter what she said anyway.

There was no difference after entering the palace, except that the place they stayed changed from the suburban palace to the Mingze Hall. The Taoists and monks finally lost their lucrative, easily fooled job with the Lady Monarch and were all expelled from the palace. They were replaced by layers of Imperial Guards, surrounding the entire Mingze Hall like an iron barrel.

Not even a moth could enter, escape was impossible.

Xu Zhaosu was becoming more and more prone to sudden ideas. One afternoon, she woke Shi Qingyi from her sleep, pinching her nose to show her a blueprint. The grand palace was imposing, with meticulously designed rockeries, flower trees, small ponds, and towers within it. The exterior, however, seemed somewhat familiar.

Shi Qingyi reached out and touched the paper, murmuring with some uncertainty: “Is this the Yuming Palace?”

The palace that was destroyed by fire and burned to ashes along with the State Preceptor Shi Qingyi was once so magnificent.

“It is,” Xu Zhaosu slowly unfolded the blueprint, spreading it before her, her eyes unusually bright and gleaming. “I want to rebuild the Yuming Palace and give it to you.”

That was once a gift her father had given to her mother. The two palaces were connected, embodying an extraordinary affection and meaning, but unfortunately, it was later destroyed by suspicion.

Things remained, but people did not.

Shi Qingyi managed to stay somewhat clear-headed. Knowing it definitely wouldn’t be built, she found some interest and began to discuss it with her. The courtyard walls would be covered with plum blossoms. She liked green plums, which were rare and could be an exception to be planted in the center of the garden. There should also be a lotus pond nearby, perfect for enjoying flowers in the summer…

After rambling on like this, the night deepened. Shi Qingyi felt sleepy again and quietly nestled back: “Your Majesty, let’s discuss it later. I’m tired.”

Xu Zhaosu’s hand suddenly froze. She felt this person’s vitality slowly draining away, more clearly than ever before. Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before she would—

It shouldn’t be. Returning to the palace made her too uneasy, far less reassuring than the suburban palace. So she increased the dosage, from once a day to three times a day, added to her meals.

“Alright,” the tremor in her heart was invisible to others. The Lady Monarch just smiled gently, rolled up the blueprint, and held her as she nestled back into the quilt.

Everything was going well, just as she had expected. But why was her heart so filled with dread?

She didn’t know if she was doing the wrong thing. She was so afraid of Shi Qingyi leaving her. Who was it whose mind was impaired?

Even she herself didn’t know.

The next afternoon, Shi Qingyi was taken out by Xu Zhaosu, who was rarely free. The biting wind on her face helped her sober up a little. She held Xu Zhaosu’s hand and yawned, asking: “Your Majesty, where are we going?”

This was the first time in a long while that she had left the Mingze Hall and seen the daylight outside, although she was held by Xu Zhaosu, and countless Imperial Guards surrounded them.

The wind and snow were fierce, blowing her hair into disarray, making her look prematurely aged.

“I’m taking you to retrieve something.”

While she was still in a daze, Xu Zhaosu had personally dug out a porcelain jar from the ruins and wreckage—Shi Qingyi’s ashes jar from before.

Xu Zhaosu used to hold it constantly. Later, when she arrived, she was sternly warned when she tried to touch the jar. Even later, when Xu Zhaosu got what she wished for—the person herself—she never saw the jar again.

“Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?”

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, shaking off the falling snow. She had a vague, ominous premonition.

With a crash, Xu Zhaosu smashed the ashes jar into pieces. In the winter snow, it looked like a great joke, wantonly mocking something. Before Shi Qingyi could react to what she was doing, Xu Zhaosu had already turned and embraced her. The snow was falling heavily, but it couldn’t hide the almost frightening joy in her eyes.

She said: “The Yuming Palace is about to begin construction. This is the last thing that needs to be removed.”

Shi Qingyi finally understood why she had felt strange. It turned out that Xu Zhaosu wanted to build a meticulously designed cage on the ruins of the Yuming Palace, to imprison her in a golden cage—

She instantly felt a chill. She was in such a hurry perhaps because she wanted to ask about all her preferences while she was still conscious, so that by the time it was built, she would have become an imbecile.

The person in her arms was clearly warm, but she only felt coldness emanating from her heart.

But she had no choice. She could only embrace the girl and tell her with a smile: “Alright.”

—I’ll listen to everything you say, even if you ask for my life, I’ll give it to you.

The incident caused even more intense discussions. Some even pitied the State Preceptor, saying that the Emperor had a new favorite and had bestowed the palace and everything else upon the newcomer. The past promises of ‘her and no other’ and ‘until the seas run dry and rocks crumble’ were all lies. This was the so-called fickleness of the monarch.

They even suggested that the ashes were used to amuse the newcomer, which was truly a heartbreaking sight.

Shi Qingyi: “…”

I scattered my own ashes.

Xu Zhaosu had always ignored such frivolous talk, but the rumors became too rampant, finally disturbing the Eldest Princess’s peace of mind.

As the Eldest Princess, second only to one person in the realm, she didn’t think it was a major issue for His Majesty, the ruler of the world, to favor one or two women. But the prerequisite was that it shouldn’t be so excessive and publicly displayed. Her late brother rebuilding the Yuming Palace for his Empress was one thing, as they were the legitimate Emperor and Empress. But what was this woman? How dare she aspire to such a position?

A mere clown.

Thus, Shi Qingyi, this clown, was dragged out of the Mingze Hall one winter day and forced to kneel on the ground, utterly confused.

The medicine was too strong. She only woke up abruptly when the mask on her face was lifted.

“Raise your head.”

The Eldest Princess lifted her chin with two fingers, scrutinizing her face.

The burn scars made her involuntarily think of someone who should have died long ago. It had been nearly a year. Her remains were burned to ashes, and yesterday, her ashes were dug up and used for amusement.

The bright palace dress was like a blazing fire in the cold wind. She wore a crimson xiapei (scarf-like shawl), and a golden phoenix hairpin, holding a piece of sheep fat white jade, a tribute from a foreign land, was in her hair. When she looked over, her eyes were solemn, showing full authority. Her majestic gaze swept over every inch of the woman before her.

But the aura was different. How could Shi Qingyi be so cold, aloof, and pure as frost and snow? She was utterly unlike this current exhausted, resigned-to-slaughter, confined woman, who even made her feel a little desolate.

After a long pause, she offered an evaluation: “It turns out the so-called beauty that the outside world is abuzz about, the one who could ruin a nation, is nothing more than this. I overestimated you.”

Her eyes were deep, looking down from above.

The System quietly translated: “She said you’re ugly.”

Shi Qingyi: “…Please stop coming out at the wrong times to rub salt in the wound.”

Seeing this face inexplicably reassured her. Perhaps it was just a passing fancy for His Majesty. It was impossible for her to genuinely like her. To go from the stunning Shi Qingyi to a disfigured orphan girl, her taste shouldn’t have fallen so low.

But she still sneered, her voice deep: “Do you know the former State Preceptor, Shi Qingyi? That is the fate of a plaything.”

They even scattered your ashes.

—

The palace servants dared not disobey the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess was His Majesty’s only bl00d relative and held an exceptionally honored status. They had no choice but to wait outside the Xuande Hall until dusk before seeing Xu Zhaosu emerge. Immediately, they rushed to her like she was a lifesaver: “Your Majesty, you’re finally out. That person offended the Eldest Princess and is currently being punished outside the Mingze Hall!”

His Majesty had previously instructed them to protect that person at all costs, but the current situation was something they had neither foreseen nor could prevent.

Xu Zhaosu suddenly froze, her bad legs nearly causing her to stumble: “How long has she been kneeling?”

“Almost three hours. She has been kneeling since you entered the hall. We heard she angered the Eldest Princess and was ordered to keep kneeling…”

Before the sentence was finished, the person, still in her court attire, dashed toward the distance like a gust of wind, hastily stepping over the snow, afraid she might suffer even the slightest grievance.

There had been continuous heavy snow in recent days. The outside of the Mingze Hall was like an iron wall, but few people were inside. Xu Zhaosu was afraid of others seeing her, so she only kept a few trusted confidantes inside. The heavy snow had not been cleared. Kneeling on it now felt incredibly cold. The snow melted from the warmth of her body, and the icy water quickly soaked through her clothes.

Later, she became so cold that she lost all feeling, only numbness. She couldn’t even feel the discomfort.

She didn’t remember how much time had passed. The System dutifully gave her occasional time updates. She closed her eyes, trying her best not to simply collapse.

By the time Xu Zhaosu arrived, it was late at night. She had been held back by a series of trivial matters. Upon arriving, she saw the person kneeling in the empty snowy ground, like a withered branch about to break under pressure, with a thick layer of snow on her shoulders, looking lifeless.

It was as if her numb and hardened heart was fiercely stabbed by something, boiling and surging. She didn’t care about the falling snow at all, trembling as she rushed forward. The speed was so fast that the palace servant holding the umbrella behind her couldn’t even react, stammering: “Your Majesty, be careful, slow down…”

But she paid no attention, only rushing over and tightly pulling the person into her embrace. Shi Qingyi was frozen solid, shedding thick snow from her body. With great difficulty, she opened her eyes, her voice so faint it was barely discernible: “You came?”

“I’m here, I came, I came—” She couldn’t say anything more. Only countless scalding tears rolled down her eyes. She tried to lift her up, but her own legs were bad and she couldn’t pull her up. Shi Qingyi then reached out to touch her face. Her hands were so frozen and numb that it didn’t feel like she was wiping away her tears, but rather roughly rubbing her cheek.

Again and again, she murmured anxiously and urgently: “Don’t cry… don’t cry…”

Her appearance at that moment was no longer like a normal person—dim-witted, obedient, just like a child inexperienced in the world.

Xu Zhaosu suddenly understood.

Having knelt for so long and not taken her medicine on time, the effects of the medicine were starting to show. Perhaps she could no longer recognize her.

This realization was so alarming that it instantly dismantled all her armor. She turned back frantically, her eyes bloodshot: “Imperial Physician, Imperial Physician, summon the Imperial Physician!”

She turned back but couldn’t utter a sound. At some point, the Eldest Princess had quietly positioned herself on the steps. She walked down slowly, holding an umbrella over Xu Zhaosu’s shoulder, shielding her from the fierce wind and snow.

Her gaze, however, was filled with pity and a long sigh: “Your Majesty, is this what you wanted?”

What did she want? She wanted Shi Qingyi to stay by her side forever, for a lifetime, never leaving, even if she went mad or became an idiot. As long as the person was by her side, that was all that mattered.

But did she truly not care?

When the person couldn’t recognize her at all, following her around like a fool, yet unable to even speak her name.

She suddenly closed her eyes, not daring to think. The hand hidden beneath the wind and snow nearly fractured the other person’s arm.

She finally spoke again, word by word: “Summon the Imperial Physician—”

She thought she might have finally regretted it.

The Eldest Princess never came again after leaving. Perhaps this incident revealed some secret, or perhaps she finally figured something out. Outsiders didn’t know the reason, only that she had temporarily given up on interfering with the Lady Monarch’s harem and abandoning her intention to marry in aristocratic young men.

Shi Qingyi took cold medicine for several days before she recovered a little. The dosage of medicine in her food had been reduced slightly during these days. Aside from occasional sleepiness, poor memory, and a tendency to stare blankly, she was no different from her usual self. Xu Zhaosu finally felt relieved.

However, even so, Shi Qingyi wasn’t awake for too long. One day in winter, when the weather was rare and clear, she was unusually clear-headed and accompanied Xu Zhaosu to bask in the sun.

The plum blossoms in the courtyard were vibrant and lovely. Xu Zhaosu personally broke off a branch for her.

Shi Qingyi closed her eyes and said softly: “If one day, Your Majesty tires of this, then let me go.”

The flower branch that the Lady Monarch had just broken for her snapped in response.

The cold wind blew the red plum blossoms off the branches, and they fell to the ground like bl00d.