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Chapitre 2

"She's quite a formidable one..." Chu Xuyao murmured to himself, then, as if remembering something, teased, "The second young lady of the Liu family, on the other hand, is as gentle as water?"

"What? Xuyao is interested?" Dongfang Lie leaned closer to Chu Xuyao, teasing him with an incredibly ambiguous tone: "My second cousin is truly as alluring as a flower and as gentle as water. A beauty and a hero, a perfect match for all time! How about it? Why not consider it? As her junior brother, I don't mind reluctantly parting ways and being a gentleman who helps others achieve their goals!"

Chu Xuyao raised his eyebrows, his arrogant demeanor unmistakable: "There is no woman in this world worth me, Chu Xuyao, having to beg from anyone!"

"Tsk tsk, what a heartless young master! I really want to see what you look like when you fall for a woman... Haha, that would be very interesting!"

"Bang!" Chu Xuyao gave Dongfang Lie, who was lost in his daydreams, a sharp rap on the head, making him wince in pain: "You're trying to murder me!"

Chu Xuyao glared at him again, then asked in a serious tone, "How's your plan going?"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Lie's roguish smile vanished, his gaze sharpened, and he exuded an aura of domineering arrogance: "We've been raising an army for a thousand days to use it for one. All sorts of matters are proceeding at a rapid pace, and the time for acceptance is probably approaching soon! Success or failure hinges on this! If Uncle knows what's good for him, I will treat him kindly and grant him the title of a carefree prince, allowing him to enjoy his later years in peace; otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Three: The First Encounter

Liu Rongyue was, after all, a descendant of the Liu family. If Old Master Liu hadn't cared, it wouldn't have been so bad; she could have lived a simple, uneventful life in the cold palace of the Prime Minister's residence. But Old Master Liu was a high-ranking official. I, a modern person, don't understand the affairs of the court, but I haven't watched television for nothing! Using marriage alliances to win over colleagues, expand one's political alliances, and thus consolidate one's position in court is a common practice throughout history. Old Master Liu had no sons, so his path to consolidating power through sons was blocked. Therefore, if he wanted to maintain his foothold in court, the only option—a classic but extremely effective method—was political marriage. Now, the Liu family already had an Empress Dowager and a soon-to-be Empress. Logically, the Liu family's position should be rock-solid. The scary thing is, what if Old Master Liu one day remembered his unscrupulous daughter and wanted her to exert her last bit of influence? Wouldn't that leave him with nowhere to turn? Now, the only option is to plan ahead and think things through carefully. Leaving the Liu family is the right thing to do!

"Young Miss..."

"It's Second Miss!" Rongyue corrected sternly. "Remember that, don't call me that wrong again. If outsiders hear it, watch your tongue!"

“But in my heart, Miss will always be Miss!” Luo’er rarely argued back, her rosy cheeks flushed as she said seriously, “Miss, although I am of humble birth and don’t understand any grand principles, I know in my heart that Master’s actions are wrong! You were already wronged by the Second Miss stealing your husband, but Master’s favoritism is unacceptable! You are also Master’s own daughter, how can he bear to treat you like this… If Madam were still alive, Miss would not have suffered such injustice today…”

"Enough! Stop talking!" Rongyue's heart clenched violently, an indescribable pain washing over her. This was probably the original owner of this body's reaction; what had she gone through to cause such intense heartache...?

"Young Miss! Young Miss, what's wrong! Where does it hurt... Young Miss..." Rongyue lay on the dressing table, pressing her hand desperately against her chest, trying to suppress the unbearable, agonizing pain. Seeing her face turn deathly pale with pain, Luo'er was shocked and at a loss, and could only keep stroking Rongyue's left chest, anxiously watching the trembling Rongyue.

After a long while, Rongyue finally felt a slight relief from the pain in her chest. But just then, a gloating female voice rang out, causing Rongyue's chest, which had just begun to feel better, to convulse violently again: "Oh, sister, what's going on here?"

"Young Miss, you've got the wrong address! You should call me Second Young Miss!"

"Oh dear! Chun'er, look at my memory! Luckily you reminded me, otherwise I would have really been laughed at by my sister!"

"You flatter me, young lady. It is my duty!"

"hehe……"

Following the sound, Rongyue glanced sideways at the woman fawning over the doorway. Her skin was fragrant, her body jade-like, her figure ethereal and beautiful. Her eyebrows were delicately arched, her ears perfectly shaped, and her nose elegant. Truly, she was like a lotus blossom opening behind an embroidered curtain, her cheeks adorned with a precious duck ornament, her eyes sparkling with desire! Her hair was adorned with flowers and golden hairpins, her waist swaying gracefully like a willow! Although she was also fifteen years old, like Rongyue, she lacked Rongyue's youthful naiveté. Liu Ruxu, standing there, exuded the allure of a mature woman; one smile could captivate, two smiles could bewitch. Few men in the world could resist the allure of her eyes. In comparison, Rongyue seemed rather inexperienced, like a young girl not yet fully developed. Anyone unaware of the situation would have no doubt that Liu Ruxu was the older sister. Standing next to the breathtakingly beautiful Liu Ruxu, Rongyue was merely a weed used to highlight the peony! Unless a man goes out blind, any man would choose the noble and elegant peony over this neglected weed!

She walked in as if no one else was there, pulled out a chair and sat down directly in front of Rongyue, looking at Rongyue with a mocking expression as she gasped for breath due to chest pain.

Realizing Luo'er's anger, Rongyue was afraid that this ignorant little girl would suffer a loss, so she quickly pulled her back as she was about to rush forward, and said to the proud peacock in front of her in an unfriendly tone: "What are you doing here!"

A hint of displeasure flashed across Liu Ruxu's face, but she quickly put on a triumphant smile and said radiantly, "Look, little sister, aren't you being too polite? Now that I'm getting married, we'll be seeing each other less and less. You know how many rules there are in the palace, it won't be easy for us to meet again. So, while there's still some time before my sister's wedding, we sisters should get together properly, so that our sisterhood won't be in vain! Don't you think so, my dear little sister?" She emphasized the word "little sister" very much, which made Rongyue's heart ache again.

"Damn it, weren't you already dead?! You'd seen through this mortal world and returned to heaven, hadn't you?! Since you're already dead, why didn't you die completely? Why do you still have consciousness, why do you still feel heartache?!" Rongyue cursed under her breath, rubbing her chest with one fist, forcing herself to face the enigmatic Liu Ruxu. Just as she was about to speak, that little girl Luo'er couldn't hold back and blurted out!

"Second Miss! Can't you see that Eldest Miss is uncomfortable? Why are you provoking her like this! You..."

"Luo'er, shut up!" Rongyue was shocked and quickly shouted to stop her, pulling Luo'er behind her and looking warily at Liu Ruxu, whose face was ashen.

"Young Miss..." Luo'er pouted, feeling wronged, but after seeing Rong Yue's stern warning, she swallowed back what she wanted to say.

"Hehe, Second Miss? Chun'er, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and drag her out and cut out her tongue!" Liu Ruxu glanced at Luo'er behind Rongyue and ordered in a sinister tone.

"Yes, this servant will deal with this little slut right away!" Rolling up her sleeves, Chun'er strode over and made a move to pull Luo'er from behind Rongyue.

"Stop! How dare you touch my maid! Who gave you the audacity!" Rongyue was furious. She grabbed Chun'er's wrist and twisted it hard. With Chun'er's scream, there was a "crack" sound, and Chun'er's hand fell straight down.

Liu Ruxu stared at Rongyue in terror, a barely perceptible tremor running through her body. In fifteen years of knowing her, this was the first time she truly felt the terrifying power this woman wielded! Forcing herself to remain calm, she repeatedly told herself not to be afraid, not to be afraid, she couldn't lose face in front of her! Yes, she couldn't lose! Liu Rongyue, what are you?! Just a rat in the street, hated by everyone! Arrogant, huh, let's see how long you can be arrogant! My mother was killed by you, you vile woman! I, Liu Ruxu, have long ago sworn to heaven that once I gain power, I will make you wish you were dead!

Liu Ruxu's extremely sinister expression made Rongyue's heart tremble. What exactly did this woman intend to do to Luo'er? Rongyue couldn't figure out what Liu Ruxu was thinking at this moment, and looked at Luo'er, who was still cowering behind her, with great concern.

"Ouch, it hurts, it hurts so much -- Miss, you must do me justice..." Chun'er's screams pulled both of them back to reality.

Liu Ruxu glared fiercely at Rongyue and said hatefully, "Sister, you have to give your older sister an explanation for what happened today!"

"Explain what?"

"You injured my maid without cause..."

"Without cause? What a joke! If she hadn't tried to grab my maid first, why would I have hurt her?" With a slight smile, Rongyue glanced at Liu Ruxu with a mocking look.

Liu Ruxu was furious at being glared at, and snorted coldly: "That's your maid who broke the rules of the manor! I had Chun'er enforce the rules of the manor, what's wrong with that?"

"This rule was established relatively recently, so it's understandable that people can't change their ways yet!"

"But rules are rules! Without rules, nothing can be accomplished! Whoever breaks the rules must be punished!"

"Whoever it is?"

"right!"

"Then please, sister, pull out your own tongue first!"

With unwavering integrity, Liu Ruxu raised her slender hand to Rongyue's nose and cried out, "Why...why did you make me pull out my own tongue?!"

Gently brushing aside Liu Ruxu's hand, Rongyue's eyes flashed with disgust: "Because you broke the rules of the manor, sister! When you first entered, didn't you call me 'sister'?"

"I...I just blurted it out..."

"But my sister said that rules are rules, and whoever breaks them must be punished!"

Like a Sichuan opera face-changing act, Liu Ruxu changed from white to red, from red to green, and then from green to black, her gaze towards Rongyue now filled with undisguised resentment and venom.

Liu Rongyue, one day I'll make you grovel like a dog! Liu Ruxu gritted her teeth, mentally outlining countless revenge plans...

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Four: The Prince Who Arranged a Marriage