"She'll kill you, just you wait, Zixue," she grinned, baring her teeth and claws as she lunged at me.
With a 'thud,' Jue shielded me with her chest, and Jie'er was slammed against the wall by Xiao Wu, crashing hard and falling to the ground.
"Xiao Wu!" I exclaimed.
"Master," Xiao Wan called out.
"Tell us who's behind this!" Xiao Wu's heart burned like a raging fire. She couldn't allow any danger to exist around her mistress; it was her responsibility as a subordinate, and also her duty as a sister to protect her.
"Hehe, you...you...wouldn't...know," Jie'er said, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she looked at Jue, who hadn't shown any expression since, with a sorrowful smile, like a flower about to wither.
"Xiao Wu, save her!" I looked at Jie'er in a panic.
"I won't...know," she murmured, then closed her eyes and never opened them again.
Xiao Wu immediately went to Jie'er's side, placed her hand under her nose, and said coldly, "Miss, she's dead."
My mind went blank, my limbs went weak, and I almost fell to the ground, but thankfully Jue caught me in time.
"Master!" Xiao Wan cried out in sorrow, "You are the ones who killed Master! You will all die a horrible death!" Her sharp eyes seemed to want to tear me to pieces.
"How dare you!" Xiao Wu flashed in front of Xiao Wan and held a sword to her neck.
"Never mind, Xiao Wu, let her go," I said weakly.
"Miss"
"Let it go."
"How did you know?" Fenglang's eyes regained their calm as he asked me, head bowed.
"I've always suspected you. Even when you shielded me from the snake, I never let my guard down," he explained slowly.
Xiao Wan didn't say anything more and was pulled out by Xiao Wu.
I broke free from Jue's embrace and staggered toward Jie'er. My steps felt as heavy as if they were weighed down by stones, each step pounding on my heart, causing waves of pain.
I actually let a beautiful young woman die in front of me. She was so young, she should have been enjoying the best time of her life, but now she's lying there, never to rise again. I hate this palace, I hate it so much!
I gently stroked Jie'er's face, my heart aching as I looked at this woman who had been like a sister to me in this palace. She shouldn't have died. Whom should I blame? Xiao Wu? But she hadn't done anything wrong. She was protecting me. Jue? But Jue wasn't wrong either. He didn't like her, so should I force him to? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have laid everything bare. But if I hadn't, I should be the one lying here with that cold body!
"Jie'er, from now on, never enter the palace again, and never fall in love with someone who doesn't love you back." The pain that had been buried for so long could no longer be suppressed. I felt tears dripping onto the back of my hand as I said these words, and I could feel the sob in my voice.
I'm so tired, so tired. All I want to do right now is rest. Just let me rest for a bit.
A warm body hugged me tightly, held me horizontally, placed me on the bed, and held me without saying a word.
After a long, long time, I finally exhausted all my strength and fell asleep.
When I woke up, Jue was still holding me.
"Wow!" I was shocked to find that my voice was hoarse and sounded terrible.
"Mmm," she patted my back reassuringly.
"I'm fine now." Looking at the person Jie'er loved so deeply, my heart ached again.
He held me tighter, knowing that what I needed now wasn't comfort, but a safe place to lean on.
With Jue's comforting words, I felt much better and less depressed than before.
"Miss," Xiao Wu, who was combing my hair, looked at me with concern.
"I'm fine, Xiao Wu," she patted the hand on my shoulder.
"Miss, I'm sorry," Xiao Wu said, lowering her head.
It's not your fault.
"But"
"Perhaps that was her fate." Gazing at the gray sky, I fell into deep thought. She didn't even know Xiao Wu had left.
What's meant to come will come, and what's meant to leave can't be kept no matter how hard you try.
Chapter 52
“Miss, the master said he will leave the palace in three days,” Xiao Wu said, supporting me.
Looking at the petals lying on the ground and the trees sprouting new leaves, I marveled at how quickly time had flowed. I had come here with the intention of playing and seeing the grandeur of the palace, but I had no idea it was so filthy. Everyone there carried a sharp sword in their hearts, constantly thinking of eliminating those who were against them to prevent future troubles. Their minds were full of conspiracies. Now, I had even fallen into this battlefield myself. I thought it would be very difficult to get out unscathed!
"Xiao Wu, go downstairs!" Her usual laziness was now tinged with worry.
I can't believe my optimistic self can be so sentimental. If Jia knew, she'd laugh at me again. How are Mom and Dad? How is Jia? Are they still grieving? Are they happy?
"Miss," Xiao Wu looked at me with concern.
"Miss, you must learn to protect yourself," Xiao Wu said to me earnestly.
My hand froze for a moment. Wasn't I protecting myself enough? I'd already risked a life to protect myself. Wasn't that enough?
He sighed and said, "Go ahead, leave me alone."
"But, Miss, it's not safe for you this way." Xiao Wu still didn't leave.
"Please, Xiao Wu, I need some peace and quiet." The melancholy in my heart is something that not everyone can understand. I hope Xiao Wu will give me some space so that I can figure things out on my own.
Listening to Xiaowu's footsteps as she exhaled and left, I tiptoed and plucked a leaf, carefully examining its outline and wondering how long the newborn could live.
I blew a breath into the leaf and watched it gracefully take flight; I felt a sense of disorientation.
I faintly smelled a fragrance, which grew stronger and stronger, filling my nostrils. Before long, I felt dizzy. Oh no! I wanted to call for Xiaowu, but it was too late. I collapsed.
I should have kept my distance from Xiaowu. It's such a huge loss! If I could turn back time, I would hold onto Xiaowu and never let her leave, even if it meant my death.
But when I thought about these things, I fainted, and I don't know what happened next.
I struggled to open my eyes, trying to suppress the dizziness in my head. I found myself tied to a pillar, my hands and feet bound. I struggled for a while, but the ropes didn't budge.
Looking around at my surroundings, I could see nothing in the pitch-black room except for the moonlight shining through the only small window, casting a reflection on a small spot on the ground, which told me that it was already night.
Where am I? I remember I was drugged. I shook my head, hoping to remember something.
I heard footsteps, and as they drew closer, I saw the circle of light illuminated by the fire on the ground gradually approaching.
The torches illuminated the entire room, allowing me to see the furnishings: a table, two chairs, and on a long table lay some horrifying torture instruments, which sent chills down my spine. (Author's note: You're scared too? Zi Xue: Of course! Let me show you what it's like to be tied up and tortured with instruments; who could remain calm then? The author is speechless...)
"Are you awake?" I heard a somewhat familiar voice.
He looked up, startled, and saw the woman before him. "It's you!"
"What, are you surprised to see me?"
"Bai Li Xinru, it's you!" I looked at the smug woman in front of me with amusement. Her appearance reminded me of the first time I confronted her. To be honest, I was very annoyed that time. Why did I risk my life to fight her? Actually, there are many ways to deal with her!
"You didn't expect that, did you!" She sat down in one of the chairs, looking at me with a gloomy expression. I felt like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Yes, I really didn't expect to have overlooked you," I said calmly, trying to control my fear.
"Hehehe, you're still so stubborn." Unperturbed by my words, she leisurely took the tea from the maid beside her and savored it.
Seeing her do this reminded me of my previous attitude towards the Empress Dowager, which seemed to be the same. Ah, now it seems that it could indeed infuriate people.
"I just don't understand how you captured me. If I remember correctly, you shouldn't be in the palace. As the daughter of the prime minister, you are not allowed to enter the palace without being summoned," I said, looking at her tentatively.
"Do you still think we're in the palace? I'm not that stupid," Baili Xinru said dismissively, giving the answer I wanted.
"It seems you've been planning this for a long time. But do you really think the palace will stand idly by while Lady Jue goes missing? Aren't you being a little too confident?" He gave her a cold laugh and looked at her mockingly.
"Heh. No matter how others calculate it, it won't affect me. What does the disappearance of Lady Jue, who lives in the harem, have to do with me, Baili Xinru?" Baili Xinru said smugly, then walked up to me, lifted my chin, and said, "Look, what a beautiful face. If only I could make a cut on it, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"You hate me?" I can be sure of that myself, but I'm just stalling for time.
"What do you think?" The hand gripping my chin tightened its hold, as if trying to crush it.
I frowned, enduring the pain in my jaw.
Seeing my pained expression, Baili Xinru happily released me, saying, "Zixue, you're in my hands now. You're no longer the powerful Lady Jue in the palace. You'd better behave yourself."
"Are you jealous?" The jealousy was palpable. I could hear it in her voice a long time ago; she was unhappy that I was the wife of a tyrant.
'Slap!' She reached out and slapped me hard across the face.
I feel like I'm always getting hurt and beaten up ever since I came to the palace. It seems like I'm destined to be incompatible with the palace.
I tilted my head slightly, my face felt burning, and I felt blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. I could tell she had used a lot of force; she must have been so angry!
I licked my lips and said, "What, you're getting angry because I hit the nail on the head?"
"You..." Her eyebrows furrowed, her hands clenched tightly, but after a moment she smiled brightly again. "Do you want to know why I was able to take you out of the palace?"
I didn't say anything, I just stared at her.
She said somewhat reluctantly, "Actually, if it were just me alone, I really couldn't get you out of the palace, but..."
"If someone in the palace could help you coordinate from the inside out, you could do it, right?" I forced a smile and gently answered her question.
"I didn't expect you to be so smart."
"No, I still don't understand. Not just anyone can play this role." The implication is clear: who is the person who is helping you?
"Hehehe, indeed. So, I just want to show you who that person is. You might be quite surprised after you see them." She dismissed the maid beside her, then sat back down, her voice low and menacing as she said, "Come out."
As a figure slowly walked into the room from the shadows, I stared wide-eyed, my gaze empty, and uttered, "You..."
Chapter 53
I couldn't believe what I was seeing, hearing "Youlan's" trembling voice.
She was still wearing that white gauze dress, still had that serene and indifferent face, and still possessed that gentle and refined nature. However, she seemed so out of place standing in this dark room. She should have been a fairy saving the world, but instead, she had become the most fallen angel.
I don't understand. I tried my best to protect her and not let her heart be tainted by the filth of the palace. But why, why does she look so terrifying now, so chilling to my heart?
"Why are you here?" I asked, unwilling to give up. Even though she was standing right in front of me, I still couldn't believe that Youlan would do such a thing. I preferred to believe that she had been threatened.
"You know very well, don't you?" Youlan's voice shattered all my hopes.