She hated, hated this woman to the core. Why did she get the master’s gaze, the master’s heart? Why?
She was just an ordinary woman, with no family background, no status. How could such a person be worthy of the master?
She was unwilling, and could not let go of the anger in her heart. So when Zhao Xiuzhu approached her, she agreed without hesitation. She didn’t want such a woman standing side by side with the master. If there was a choice, someone like Zhao Xiuzhu, the number one beauty of Yu Country, would be the most suitable for the master.
“Is that so? But do you think you have the strength?”
She stood there, her figure slender yet possessing an unshakeable presence.
She was like a statue standing tall, her delicate and beautiful face fresh and refined. Her gaze was clear yet as cold as ice, at this moment, she was like a goddess on an icy mountain, noble and unprofanable, to be admired by all mortals.
She looked down at them, as if they were ants. That feeling originated from the depths of her heart.
Yu Yun couldn’t help but tremble. She had only seen a woman like this once. Back then, the master was ordered to attack a country that was then known as Xingchen Country. At that time, no one in Xingchen Country could match the Ghost General, except for the master. Later, she learned that the Ghost General was a woman, and she was the princess of Xingchen Country, Princess Xingyue.
Only a woman like that could be worthy of the master. It was a pity that Princess Xingyue had lost her sight and fallen for that ambitious man, only to wither away in the end.
She had felt it was a great pity at the time, and now, feeling such a gaze again, she felt as if she were in a different lifetime.
But even if she resembled her, she could not be Princess Xingyue.
Thinking of this, she let out a cold smile, “Whether I have the strength or not, you won’t be able to leave here.”
“Since you’re so sure I can’t leave here, let me guess your plan. You want to replace the beams and pillars, don’t you?”
Xue Xingyue saw Zhao Xiuzhu’s expression flicker slightly and knew she had guessed correctly.
But why were they so confident that she would obediently let them have their way?
Zhao Xiuzhu said coldly, “So what? You don’t deserve cousin. Only I do.”
“But I don’t think you do either.”
“You…”
“Although you are the most beautiful, you are brave but not strategic. Now you’re thinking of swapping them, don’t you think it’s too late?”
“It’s not too late. As long as you obediently surrender, everything will be natural.”
Xue Xingyue said with a laugh, “Zhao Xiuzhu, I don’t know who gave you the courage and audacity. Do you think I’m an idiot? Why should I let you control me?”
“Do you think you can still get out of here?” Zhao Xiuzhu said confidently.
The second gong sounded outside. After three gongs, someone would escort Zhao Xiuzhu to the sedan chair.
“Whether you can get out or not is not for you to say.”
“Yu Yun, what are you waiting for? Hurry and capture her!” Zhao Xiuzhu shouted coldly.
Yu Yun moved and attacked her. She dodged, evading Yu Yun’s attack. After a few exchanges, neither of them had the upper hand.
Yu Yun really didn’t expect this Xue Xingyue to have such good martial arts skills, even matching her. If this continued, she wouldn’t be able to capture her. Time was pressing, and she absolutely could not delay any longer. If she failed, the master would definitely not spare her.
If she succeeded, there would still be a chance to return to the shadow guards.
Zhao Xiuzhu was the most anxious. She also didn’t expect an ordinary woman to have such good martial arts skills. She knew Yu Yun’s strength, and to be evenly matched with Yu Yun, such a person was not to be underestimated. However, having such a person by her cousin’s side made her feel very insecure. Therefore, for her cousin’s sake, she had to eliminate this unsettling factor.
“Miss, your servant is here to help you with your makeup. Have you woken up?” A voice came from outside the door. Zhao Xiuzhu’s eyes turned cold. One of the men in black walked out, and soon there was no movement outside.
“Xiuzhu, someone from the palace is here,” Zhao Shiming’s voice came from outside.
Zhao Xiuzhu replied, “Father, I know. I’ll be ready soon.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a coolness on her neck.
“Miss Zhao, obediently tell them all to stand down.”
Zhao Xiuzhu suddenly attacked the person behind her, but the person behind her was like a nimble snake, making it impossible for her to grasp.
“Miss Zhao, you can’t catch me.”
Seeing that Qin Erniang had captured Zhao Xiuzhu, Xue Xingyue said, “Qin Erniang, put makeup on her and send her to the sedan chair.”
To dare to plot against her, she had to see if she agreed.
Qin Erniang casually pressed Zhao Xiuzhu’s acupoints. Zhao Xiuzhu could only stare blankly, helpless, as she couldn’t move at all. She could only let Qin Erniang smear and paint on her face.
“Yu Yun, save me!” Zhao Xiuzhu could only call for help from Yu Yun, who couldn’t be distracted at this moment.
Because Yu Yun had already been subdued by someone. This person was none other than Feng Qing.
“Yu Yun, you’ve disappointed me greatly. I used to blame myself for not taking good care of you, but now, I have no such self-reproach. You brought it all upon yourself.”
Qin Erniang then pressed Zhao Xiuzhu’s mute acupoint, “To think of your rotten idea, wanting to have the young lady replace you. You really have a vivid imagination. I will definitely paint you as the ugliest bride.”
“Qin Erniang, you shouldn’t do that,” Xue Xingyue said.
“Look how good my young lady is, she even told me not to paint you ugly. If it were me, I’d paint you uglier than a toad. Do you know what a toad is? It’s…”
“Qin Erniang, are you done?”
Qin Erniang nodded, “It’s done. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”
Xue Xingyue walked forward and saw that Zhao Xiuzhu’s already beautiful features had become even more exquisite with the current makeup.
It was admirable.
Indeed, she lived up to the title of the number one beauty of Yu Country.
However, her gaze was unusually fierce, as if she wanted to swallow her whole.
Xue Xingyue walked forward, looked at Zhao Xiuzhu, and said in a low voice, “Your hatred is useless. It only shows that your skills are inferior to mine, so accept your fate!”
Accept her fate? Zhao Xiuzhu clenched her fists tightly, closed her eyes, and a line of clear tears fell.
If it were any other time, she might have pitied Zhao Xiuzhu, but now she felt no pity at all. She was being forced to be replaced in an unsatisfactory arranged marriage. If it were someone else?
She had clearly seen the gaze that the Crown Prince cast upon Zhao Xiuzhu, it was so fervent, proving that the Crown Prince liked Zhao Xiuzhu. If the Crown Prince discovered that his bride had been swapped, not to mention what would happen to the Zhao family, the Crown Prince would never let the person impersonating Zhao Xiuzhu off lightly.
Because seeing her would remind the Crown Prince that he was not loved by his fiancée, so his fiancée would try every means to escape him. Then, that person’s fate would be very miserable.
Zhao Xiuzhu, for her own selfish desires, went to frame others. Therefore, no matter how pathetic Zhao Xiuzhu was at this moment, she would not have the slightest sympathy.