Mr. Yaqi sighed, knowing that each person had their own destined fate. He said, "Very well, I will save her. Her poison isn't difficult to cure—it's merely a toxin refined from a poisonous flower native to the Eastern Barbarian Country. This flower has the effect of deluding the mind. If one harbors unresolved grievances or inner demons, even the slightest misstep in daily life would force them to endure relentless torment, witnessing their deepest fears every moment of every day. Though the poison does no physical harm, it tortures the mind, eventually leading to death from exhaustion—a demise caused by being slowly consumed by one's own inner demons."
Xiao Shao was momentarily stunned before frowning. "So it really is from the Eastern Barbarian Country!"
"Her inner demons are too heavy," Mr. Yaqi remarked meaningfully. "In fact, she is at her most vulnerable now. The answers you seek can be obtained from her in this state. If you wish to uncover her secrets—"
"No need, Master," Xiao Shao interrupted. "Even if I wanted to know her secrets, I would wait for her to tell me herself. Such methods—I would never resort to them, nor do I stoop so low."
"She won't willingly tell you," Mr. Yaqi pressed. "What if she refuses to reveal this secret for the rest of her life? What will you do then?"
"Then I will spend my life guarding this secret with her," Xiao Shao replied.
Mr. Yaqi was taken aback before suddenly adopting a solemn expression. "A-Shao, I once thought you were not the world's top assassin. Now, as your master, I realize your inner demons are no fewer than hers. Her demons are her secrets, but yours—are her."
Those who appear heartless, once they love, become more devoted than anyone else in the world. Seeing Xiao Shao like this only deepened Mr. Yaqi's sense of life's unpredictability. Otherwise, why would events from years ago repeat themselves now? He prided himself on glimpsing the workings of fate, yet destiny remained fickle—why else would he have secluded himself on Mount Canaan for life? Revealing too much of heaven's secrets would inevitably invite retribution. Though countless things in this world could be foreseen, the one thing that defied prediction was love.
"If she is my inner demon, then I would rather never break free from it in this lifetime," Xiao Shao declared.
...
Jiang Ruan felt a throbbing headache, her entire body light and devoid of strength. She struggled to open her eyes but was met not with bright daylight but a damp, cloying scent that filled her nostrils—both unfamiliar and eerily familiar. Straining to recall, she realized with a start that it was the smell of blood.
She shifted slightly, slowly pushing herself up from the ground.
This was a dark, damp place, with black worms crawling across the floor—rotting, repulsive creatures. Something flickered in her mind, too fleeting to grasp. Her hand brushed against something hard, accompanied by a sticky liquid, as she laboriously tried to lift her head. Suddenly, a creaking sound echoed, and voices drifted in from outside. A blinding shaft of sunlight pierced through, forcing her to squint.
A woman's voice rang out, "Hurry! Her Majesty wishes to see for herself. Move faster—don't keep the Empress waiting, you useless wretches!"Then, several palace maids entered, their expressions a strange mix of fear and disgust as they cautiously carried oil lamps and walked inward until they reached Jiang Ruan. Strangely, they seemed to ignore her completely, not even glancing her way. Instead, they bent down as if picking something up from the ground. Jiang Ruan slowly furrowed her brows, watching them warily. Yet these women acted as though they didn’t notice her at all, as if she were invisible. Tentatively, she stood up, but no one stopped her. After a moment’s thought, she lowered her head and followed the maids outside.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, the glaring sunlight outside struck her—it had been so long since she’d seen such brightness. Turning around, her gaze met what the maid was holding, and she was so startled that she stumbled back, nearly falling.
The maid was carrying a wooden basin, inside which lay a monstrous thing. Limbs were indiscernible, only a basin full of blood, barely recognizable as human. To anyone else, it would have been impossible to identify, but to Jiang Ruan, it sent shockwaves through her heart—that thing was none other than her past self! The version of her who had been turned into a human pig and beaten to death in that very basin!
Now, the "Jiang Ruan" in the basin was already dead, just a cold corpse stripped of all dignity. Jiang Ruan stood to the side, gritting her teeth as she watched the maids lift the body. The leading maid was none other than Butterfly.
Hadn’t Butterfly been expelled from the Jiang residence by Jiang Susu long ago and sold to a brothel? How had she become a high-ranking palace maid now? As Jiang Ruan watched, a thought suddenly struck her—in her past life, she had been beaten to death with clubs, only to be reborn back to her time in the countryside. What happened afterward, she had no way of knowing. Now, with the corpse still here and old acquaintances appearing unchanged, could it be that the heavens had granted her a chance to witness the final outcome of her past life?
Butterfly led the maids, carrying the basin, all the way to a garden. Jiang Ruan recognized it clearly—it was the garden behind the Kunning Palace. Kunning Palace —her heart trembled. Could it be…? Indeed, just as they reached the garden’s entrance, a familiar voice spoke:
"This consort cares for nothing else—only that they never reincarnate, never be reborn in any lifetime. Can you do that?"
"This humble Taoist shall obey the Empress’s command and spare no effort."
Jiang Ruan let out a cold laugh. Since no one could see her, she walked inside. Sure enough, seated on the high throne was a woman in full empress regalia, exuding wealth and nobility, her face as beautiful as a fairy’s yet carrying an air of restrained elegance. The nine-tailed phoenix hairpin on her head gleamed golden in the sunlight, its wings seeming ready to take flight. Every movement radiated the dignity of the Empress of the World —it was Jiang Susu.
At this moment, Jiang Susu reclined lazily on a cushioned chair. In the vast garden, she was the only one seated, while rows of palace maids and eunuchs stood by, their faces tinged with fear. And standing before Jiang Susu was a man in a blue robe, dressed as a Taoist priest—none other than Void Taoist Priest.It turned out that in her past life, Void Taoist Priest had always maintained some connection with Jiang Susu. He hadn't merely helped fabricate her reputation as someone who brings misfortune to husbands and mothers during their time at the estate. Clearly, Jiang Susu had promised him considerable benefits—otherwise, how could a wandering Taoist from the wilds have gained entry into the palace? The question now was, what was his purpose in coming this time?
"Your Highness, I've brought the items," Butterfly said cautiously as she stepped forward.
Jiang Ruan stood to the side, watching coldly. Upon hearing this, Jiang Susu began to laugh softly. Her laughter was extraordinarily beautiful, as if brimming with genuine joy, so carefree that it echoed throughout the entire garden. She was naturally stunning, and her laughter was enchanting, yet no one in the courtyard appeared entranced. Instead, they wore expressions of unease. The creature in the wooden basin was simply too horrifying—most people would feel fear after just one glance. Yet Jiang Susu gazed at it with immense satisfaction, as though it were the most fascinating thing in the world.
The crowd remained silent. After a long while, Jiang Susu seemed to have laughed her fill and finally straightened up, pointing languidly to one side. "After all, she and I were sisters in name. For the sake of having once lived under the same roof, I don’t wish to be too ruthless. I’ve always been soft-hearted, so I’ll grant them a mother and child reunion."
Her words were light, almost weightless, but Jiang Ruan's heart lurched. A chill washed over her from head to toe, freezing half her soul. Dazedly, she followed Jiang Susu's gesture and saw a small, familiar body lying carelessly on the ground. The moment she laid eyes on it, tears welled up uncontrollably.
A hoarse cry tore from Jiang Ruan's throat—a sound so despairing, so filled with hatred, it scarcely seemed human. She had thought watching Pei Er being tormented in the wooden basin while she herself was beaten with clubs was the pinnacle of despair. But now, seeing Pei Er's lifeless body with her own eyes, she realized just how deep the pain could cut. Memories she had sealed away surged back to life—she had never truly forgotten that agony. Jiang Ruan collapsed beside Pei Er, wailing uncontrollably. Yet her cries reached none of them. The outcome of this lifetime would not change—she was already dead, and so was Pei Er.
The small body on the ground was covered in crisscrossing wounds, each more gruesome than the last. The sight alone was enough to horrify anyone—how could they inflict such cruelty upon a child? Jiang Ruan felt as though her heart were being shredded. What unspeakable torment had Pei Er endured before death?
"Your Highness is most merciful," the hypocritical imposter, Void Taoist Priest, fawned. He strode over to Jiang Ruan, roughly lifting Pei Er's small body from the ground. His strength was clearly immense—Pei Er's fragile form seemed utterly defenseless in his grasp. Jiang Ruan lunged forward, but her hands passed right through Pei Er—she couldn't even touch him.Void Taoist Priest lifted the bodies of Pei Er and Jiang Ruan together and placed them into an agarwood box, then shut the lid. Immediately after, several strong guards came forward and nailed the lid shut with long spikes. The lid was densely covered with yellow talismans inscribed with blood-red cinnabar spells, making them nearly illegible. Void Taoist Priest sat cross-legged before the box, closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and muttered incantations for a full quarter of an hour before suddenly opening his eyes. He reached for a bowl of chicken blood prepared on the nearby altar, took a mouthful, and spat it all onto the coffin-like box. Then, with a long exhale, he ordered the box to be thrown into a dried-up well in the southwest corner of the garden.
After completing all this, Void Taoist Priest approached Jiang Susu and spoke as if seeking praise: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble priest has completed the ritual. That demoness and the baleful star are now sealed within the Nine Stars Array, eternally suppressed beneath this dried-up well, unable to reincarnate or find release. They will never again emerge to bring chaos to the mortal world."
"Excellent," Jiang Susu smiled with satisfaction. "As the Empress of the Da Jin Dynasty, I must uphold my responsibilities to the empire. Even if it concerns my own flesh and blood, I cannot allow personal feelings to jeopardize the entire dynasty. Since they are a demoness and a baleful star, we naturally cannot let them wreak havoc. You've worked hard, Taoist Priest. I will report this matter to His Majesty and ensure you are duly rewarded."
Void Taoist Priest was overjoyed. "Many thanks for Your Majesty's favor."
While they spoke cheerfully, Jiang Ruan felt alternating waves of chills and fever throughout her body. Jiang Susu's hatred for her ran so deep that even in death, she refused to let go. She had Void Taoist Priest perform this ritual to trap her soul here forever, condemning her to endless torment! If not for Void Taoist Priest being nothing more than a fraud, everything would have gone exactly as Jiang Susu wished. People say a woman's heart is the most venomous, but Jiang Susu's malice was truly beyond measure!
Jiang Ruan gazed at the pitch-black dried-up well. So, in her past life, her final resting place—along with Pei Er—had been this bottomless well in the depths of the palace, buried alongside rotting leaves. She felt the urge to cry, but also to laugh. So this was how she had died in her past life—utterly wretched, without even a shred of dignity in her final resting place.
Then, her vision blurred, and before she could move, the scene before her shifted abruptly. The familiar gates—where else could they be but the Minister's residence?
Jiang Quan sat in his study, while Jiang Susu, dressed in luxurious robes, carried an air of barely concealed arrogance. Jiang Quan, however, did not look pleased. "How could you act so recklessly! I told you long ago not to act rashly in this matter. With her paving the way for you, why would you take such unnecessary risks? If this invites criticism, all my careful planning will have been for nothing!"
Xia Yan, with her delicate features and graceful, gentle movements, smiled soothingly. "Don't be angry, my lord. Calm yourself and hear what Su Su has to say. She's never been one to act without reason. You know better than anyone what kind of person she has been since childhood."Jiang Susu swiftly concealed a trace of impatience in her eyes, speaking with respectful innocence, "Father, your daughter knows she was wrong and will never make such a mistake again. I only meant to frighten her a little, never expecting my subordinates to act on their own and reduce her to such a state. Father, please don’t be angry with me—it’s not worth harming your health over. I truly won’t dare to do it again."
Her demeanor was the picture of meek submission, and the anger on Jiang Quan’s face gradually dissipated. He merely sighed deeply and said, "Originally, I only intended to use her to pave the way for you. The Jiang family could uphold justice by severing ties, earning a good reputation outside, and solidifying your position as Empress with greater public support. Now that you’ve secretly disposed of her, it’s fortunate no one outside has noticed—we can simply claim she committed suicide out of guilt. Su Su, if you’re going to act, you must do it cleanly. Don’t leave any evidence for others to seize." His tone was entirely that of a doting father, every word spoken out of concern for Jiang Susu.
Jiang Susu smiled faintly. "Father, you needn’t worry. Su Su understands. Everything has been taken care of."
"That’s for the best." Jiang Quan exhaled in relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. Jiang Ruan stood quietly to the side, watching. There was no hatred in her eyes now, only a bone-deep coldness—a chill so profound that even the bitterest ice of winter could not compare. Her gaze was hollow, her crimson robes like a flame erupting from her very soul, ready to incinerate anyone who drew near until not even ashes remained.
So this was the truth of her past life. Her father, Jiang Quan, upon learning of her death—that she had been privately executed by Jiang Susu—had not uttered a single word of grievance or injustice on her behalf. Instead, his every thought was for Jiang Susu. He feared Jiang Susu might leave behind evidence that could jeopardize her position as Empress. As for his other daughter, his only remark was a dismissive "do it cleanly." How cruel.
Jiang Quan had treated her as nothing more than a stepping stone for Jiang Susu’s path to the throne, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yet he had forgotten that she, too, was a legitimate daughter of the Jiang family—one cast aside like worthless trash, while the other was cherished like a precious pearl. At this moment, Jiang Ruan felt not the slightest shred of affection for Jiang Quan. If she could, she would use every cruel and painful method to torment him, to treat him as a true enemy.
Jiang Susu seemed to suddenly remember something and said, "Jiang Dan has become increasingly unruly lately. Her husband merely serves His Majesty outside the palace, yet now she flaunts the prestige of a first-rank Imperial Mandate. It seems she doesn’t even regard me with respect anymore."
Jiang Ruan was taken aback. Jiang Dan’s husband worked for Ye Li? And Jiang Dan had been promoted to a first-rank Imperial Mandate?
Jiang Quan shook his head. "No matter how high she climbs, can she ever surpass you? Su Su, you must remember—whether in the Minister’s residence, the imperial palace, or even under the entire Da Jin Dynasty, she can never compare to you. The Minister’s daughter has always been you alone. Her husband is now favored by His Majesty and will be a great asset to you in the palace. Don’t act childishly; remember to maintain good relations with her.""I understand," Jiang Susu pouted in dissatisfaction. Standing to the side, Jiang Ruan suddenly had an epiphany—what she hadn't grasped in both her past and present life became clear at this moment. How could someone with Jiang Dan's temperament willingly serve as a pawn for the Jiang family to pave the way for Jiang Susu? It turned out her merchant husband had been working for Ye Li all along. Jiang Dan truly had her methods; after Jiang Ruan's death, she even managed to secure an Imperial Mandate through that husband. In the end, the only one sacrificed in her past life was herself.
Watching the ironic scene before her, Jiang Ruan felt a bitter, metallic taste rise in her mouth. Then, the scene shifted again—this time to a resplendent palace, a place unfamiliar to her. But the man sitting at the edge of the bed, clad in bright yellow robes, was someone she knew all too well.
That was Ye Li—her lover in her past life, her mortal enemy in this one.
The gentle, jade-like demeanor of before had been replaced by the solemn restraint unique to an emperor. Dressed in imperial robes, Ye Li bore little resemblance to the man Jiang Ruan remembered. He used to smile softly, his expressions as comforting as a spring breeze—even if it was just a mask, it had been pleasing to behold. But now, Ye Li's brows were tightly furrowed, his face haggard, with no trace left of his former radiant confidence.
"Eunuch Chen," Ye Li said to the young eunuch before him, "I couldn't sleep again tonight."
"Your Majesty, perhaps you should visit the Empress? Her gentle words might soothe Your Majesty's heart," Eunuch Chen suggested.
"No need," Ye Li waved his hand. "It's the same everywhere. I still have nightmares every night—they haunt me, leaving me unable to rest. Whenever I wake from them, I always feel... as if someone is watching me."
Jiang Ruan stood by the imperial bed, watching Ye Li's slightly disheveled state with a silent, cold laugh. So even he couldn't sleep peacefully? After all his scheming, after using her as the perfect pawn to enter the palace, now that his grand ambitions were fulfilled and he sat alone on the exalted throne—was he truly plagued by sleepless nights? What was the reason? Could it be that those who commit wrongs are inevitably punished? Did his nightmares feature her vengeful ghost coming to claim his life?
"Your Majesty is simply overburdened by state affairs," Eunuch Chen said.
"Only after sitting on this throne do I realize how exhausting it is. Just like how all the women in the harem seem equally dull—none compare to Jiang Ruan back then..." As if recalling something, a trace of regret flickered across his face. "What a pity. If not for her status, I truly did harbor some affection for her back then."
"You loved me?" Hearing this, Jiang Ruan couldn't help but laugh—though the mirth never reached her eyes. Even knowing Ye Li couldn't hear her, she still spoke coldly: "What you loved was nothing more than a fool who worshipped you as a god, obeyed your every whim, and asked for nothing in return. I was too naive back then, taken in by your lies. Now you bring this up—are you trying to deceive me or yourself? Ye Li, you only love the sacrifices made for your throne. You sacrifice them, then pretend to mourn—how hypocritical."The figure in the bright yellow robes gradually faded into the distance, and the scene before her blurred once more. Jiang Ruan walked through the thick white mist as if traversing a vast labyrinth. The sounds of a raging battle echoed in her ears—the thunderous crash of city gates being breached, the clashing of swords everywhere. Someone shouted in alarm, "Disaster! Disaster! The Brocade-clad Guards have breached the pass—"
The Brocade-clad Guards? The name felt so familiar, as though she had heard it somewhere before. Dazed, Jiang Ruan continued forward. She saw chaos reigning in the golden throne hall, the floors awash with blood. Black-armored guards wielding swords passed through the hall intermittently. Outside, the Imperial Guards lay dead or wounded. Inside the hall, a man and woman in bright yellow robes lay fallen at the foot of the nine-tiered steps, as disheveled as she had once been—except she had survived. They were already dead.
A man in a dark blue robe stood silently before the dragon throne. His jade-like features were breathtakingly handsome, yet his frosty gaze and the arrogance that clung to him like the thin clouds atop a mountain peak made him unapproachable. A guard at his side spat, "This illegitimate dog dares to spew nonsense! Who is the real Traitorous Subject here? General Guan has already sent that old dog Jiang Quan to his grave. My lord...?"
The handsome man turned and replied indifferently, "Let's go."
Ye Li and Jiang Susu—one spent a lifetime scheming to obtain the most supreme power in the world, while the other sought from the very beginning to ascend to the position of Empress of the world—yet both had their lives taken after their ambitions were fulfilled. Even Jiang Quan himself met a gruesome end, his head severed from his body. This man before her was clearly the future emperor who had emerged midway, and Jiang Ruan felt nothing but satisfaction in her heart. As she gazed at the figure clad in dark blue, her heart raced uncontrollably. She felt as though she had met this man somewhere before, yet she couldn’t recall where. Determined to uncover the truth, she followed behind him, walking steadily forward.
They arrived at an Imperial Garden, where a middle-aged man with graying hair approached and said, "Master, Grand Tutor Liu discovered something in the abandoned well. They fished out a chest from the well, and inside were two corpses. We’ve confirmed it—they are the legitimate eldest daughter born to the late wife of the Jiang family. The very one who was slandered by her own father as a Nation-destroying enchantress—" He shook his head and sighed. "Ah, how could there be such a heartless father in this world?"
The man and Jiang Ruan both looked down at the ground. Two corpses, one large and one small, had decayed beyond recognition, their remains a ghastly gray-black. Yet it was still faintly visible that the adult’s limbs were mutilated, clearly having suffered immense injustice before death.
Jiang Ruan watched her own corpse with indifference. A young man in purple robes approached. He was strikingly handsome, but the small mustache on his upper lip gave him a rather comical appearance. Gazing at the corpse, he sighed and said, "Born of the same root, why such haste to torment one another? This woman was once a beauty in the palace, and this child was the Thirteenth Prince, raised under her care. For mother and son to meet such an end together is truly lamentable." With that, he bent down, removed his outer robe, and draped it over the corpse. Then, he turned to the dark-clothed man and asked, "Third Brother, what should we do with these remains?"
(End of Chapter)
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