The Crybaby Always Wants to Redeem the Villainess - Chapter 10

After returning from the General’s Estate, the Emperor’s spirits plummeted. A sudden, severe illness struck him, forcing him to remain bedridden and unable to attend morning court.

This only deepened the hatred of the court’s senior officials toward Xiao Yi. They saw her as utterly shameless, daring to covet the Son of Heaven himself!

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi lived a carefree life outside the palace.

One day, as she passed a cosmetic shop selling rouge and powder, she overheard a heated argument inside.

“Xiao Yi is utterly shameless, seducing the New Emperor and even trying to climb into his bed! I’ve never seen such a brazen woman in my life!”

A timid voice piped up, “Xiao Yi isn’t like that at all! She’s the great general of our Celestial Profound Kingdom, not the person you think she is. You’ve misunderstood her—she’s truly a good person.”

“Just because you say she isn’t doesn’t make it true! Her misdeeds are plain as day. Do you think we’ll believe she’s innocent just because you claim she is? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“And her? A great general? Don’t make me laugh, Miss Gu! Don’t let that female bully fool you!”

“Exactly!”

“Right! You’re just too kind, seeing good in everyone. Maybe everyone else in the world is good, but she’s the exception.”

Hearing the conversation inside, Xiao Yi couldn’t help but frown. But it was just a fleeting frown.

These women are truly absurd. Are they just bored?

Just then, another woman’s voice rang out: “I’m telling you the truth! If you don’t believe me, go investigate yourselves. She’s nothing but a vixen!”

“My cousin’s uncle’s brother-in-law’s younger brother works at the General’s Estate. He claims to have witnessed Xiao Yi seducing His Majesty the Emperor with his own eyes!”

“Really? I can’t believe it’s actually true! I thought it was just a rumor!” Another young lady feigned disbelief.

“How could it be just a rumor? Of course it’s true!”

Xiao Yi: “…………!”

“That’s impossible! You’re lying!” Gu Zhirou retorted, but she couldn’t win the argument and eventually burst into tears out of frustration.

After hearing enough, Xiao Yi turned and left. She couldn’t be bothered with such rumors, and in fact, she welcomed them. She knew exactly what she was doing, and that was all that mattered.

Just then, Xiao Yi suddenly realized someone had grabbed her wrist.

She turned to see a familiar face, innocent eyes blinking at her.

“Little crybaby, what are you doing here?! Let go!” Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow at Gu Zhirou.

“Why aren’t you defending yourself?” Gu Zhirou asked, her eyes red-rimmed.

“What’s there to defend? They’re right—I am that kind of person. Stay away from me from now on,” Xiao Yi said, half-joking, half-serious.

Gu Zhirou glared at her angrily. “That’s because they don’t know the truth! Stop pretending! Why aren’t you clarifying things? You’re clearly not that kind of person! You’re clearly the great hero everyone admires!”

“Gu Zhirou…” Xiao Yi frowned. “Gu Zhirou, this is none of your business.”

She didn’t want Gu Zhirou getting involved.

“Why?”

“Because you’re meddling too much,” Xiao Yi said coldly.

Rejected by Xiao Yi, Gu Zhirou felt deeply hurt but refused to give up. “Fine, I won’t say anything more. I was wrong, okay? Sister Xiao Yi, don’t be angry.”

Gu Zhirou pleaded pitifully. She didn’t want Ayi to hate her.

“Miss Gu, you’d better stay away from me in the future,” Xiao Yi said coldly, her tone threatening. “Or I might just bully you.”

“Rou’er isn’t afraid,” the soft-spoken girl replied in her sweet, gentle voice, completely disarming Xiao Yi. “Rou’er believes Sister Xiao Yi wouldn’t bully her.”

Xiao Yi… Heh, this girl really is as kind as everyone says. How could I possibly bully her? I’ll definitely bully her!

“Sister Xiao Yi, where are you going? Can I come with you?” It had been days since she’d seen Ayi, and she missed her terribly. She just wanted to stay by Ayi’s side.

Ayi will protect me well. I feel so safe when I’m with her!

Xiao Yi… “I heard bandits are passing by outside the city. Of course I’m going to do bad things. What else would I do?”

“I want to go too!” Being with Ayi would be so much fun. I’ll tell everyone in the city that Xiao Yi robs the rich to help the poor, so Ayi won’t have to endure so much criticism!

Xiao Yi was speechless. She reached out to touch the girl’s forehead, muttering, “No fever… why are you talking nonsense?”

This perfectly fine girl… why does she keep wanting to go rob bandits with me?

Sigh, I’ve corrupted her! I’ve corrupted her!

Afraid Xiao Yi would refuse, Gu Zhirou put on a pitiful act, making herself sound especially pathetic. “I’ve been so sickly since childhood that I rarely leave the house. I’ve never seen the outside world, never even been outside the city walls. Sister Xiao Yi, please take me out to see the world?

Sister Xiao Yi is the best! Please, Sister Xiao Yi, please? Pretty please?” Gu Zhirou blinked her eyes, giving Xiao Yi a miserable look.

Xiao Yi had intended to refuse, but the words caught in her throat. She suddenly changed her mind and nodded. “Alright, but you have to obey me perfectly. Otherwise, I’ll throw you to the bandits.”

Gu Zhirou thought, Ayi’s just trying to scare me again. But… she agreed!

Gu Zhirou had initially thought it would take a long time to persuade Ayi to take her along. To her surprise, a little coaxing was all it took for Ayi to agree.

Gu Zhirou nodded her fluffy little head vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes! I’ll be good, I promise!”

She raised two fingers above her head. “I swear, if Ayi tells me to go east, I’ll never go west!”

Xiao Yi chuckled softly and ruffled Gu Zhirou’s hair. This little girl is so amusing!

Then she remembered that Gu Zhirou was from the Gu Family. She must know at least something about what Grand Tutor Gu is up to.

Once we’ve gotten closer, I can probably pry some secrets about Grand Tutor Gu from her. This little girl is so easily fooled!

Xiao Yi’s mood brightened instantly. A little girl who practically delivered herself to my doorstep? I’d be a fool not to take advantage of that!

“So, where are we going now?” Gu Zhirou tilted her head to look up at Xiao Yi, who stood a full head taller than her.

At sixteen, Xiao Yi was already 1.72 meters tall, while the fourteen-year-old Gu Zhirou stood at 1.6 meters.

Xiao Yi stroked Gu Zhirou’s hair as if she were petting a kitten.

Xiao Yi had originally planned to walk, but with the little girl slowing her down and causing delays, she realized they needed a better solution. Since Gu Zhirou was ill and couldn’t walk far, Xiao Yi decided to find a horse-drawn carriage.

“We’ll buy a carriage now and leave the city,” Xiao Yi declared.

“Okay,” Gu Zhirou replied obediently, following closely behind Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi initially walked quickly, but noticing the girl struggling to keep up, she deliberately slowed her pace.

After purchasing the carriage, the two settled inside and headed toward Chao City’s main gate.

Throughout the journey, Gu Zhirou couldn’t stop staring at Xiao Yi, as if she couldn’t get enough. She couldn’t understand how the respected female general of her past life had become a local bully and female tyrant in this one.

And no matter how she tried to explain, no one believed Ayi.

Xiao Yi grew increasingly uncomfortable under Gu Zhirou’s intense gaze. Awkwardly, she asked, “Is there something on my face?”

“No,” Gu Zhirou replied instinctively.

“Then why are you staring at my face like that?”

“Sister Xiao Yi is so pretty! Rou’er likes looking at you!”

Xiao Yi’s face flushed crimson. No one had ever complimented her looks before.

Embarrassed, she turned her head away and gazed out the window.

As Gu Zhirou gazed at Xiao Yi’s face, she couldn’t help but think about how all her efforts to clear Ayi’s name seemed utterly futile.

In fact, because of her actions, Ayi’s reputation had only worsened, achieving the exact opposite of what she intended. Gu Zhirou felt utterly helpless, as if nothing she did could alter the inevitable outcome.

Lost in these thoughts, tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Xiao Yi felt something cool and damp on her hand. Turning her head, she saw the young girl beside her crying again.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying again?”

“Are you feeling unwell?” Xiao Yi mentally reviewed their conversation. She hadn’t said anything harsh, had she? Could her tone have been too stern?

Flustered, Xiao Yi awkwardly wiped away the girl’s tears while saying, “Don’t cry, I didn’t mean to be harsh! I didn’t mean to!”

“There, there, don’t cry!” She quickly pulled out a candy wrapped in paper from her pocket and offered it. “Here, don’t cry. Have some candy!”