Xue Zining had a dream. In the dream, Xue Zixuan and Yan Zhao were gone, and all familiar people had vanished.
She stood alone and empty before the Zhaoyuan Palace.
Standing there, she suddenly realized that people had left, people had died, and only she remained.
She crouched down. Her great revenge was achieved, and her father and mother could rest in peace. But why didn't she feel the thrill of achieving her revenge?
"Your Majesty..."
A familiar voice reached her ears. It was Xue Yan's voice.
She opened her eyes and saw Xue Yan standing by her bed, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, you are awake?"
"Help me up." Supported by Xue Yan, she sat up.
Xue Yan said, "Your Majesty, Miss Nangong has been kneeling outside."
Xue Zining was stunned, her gaze flickered. "Let her go!"
All she could do was let her leave.
Xue Yan nodded and walked out. Nangong Yue saw Xue Yan and was surprised, asking, "Your Majesty, will she see me?"
Xue Yan said coldly, "Miss Nangong, you know best what you have done. I advise you to leave quickly and not anger Your Majesty, or you won't be able to leave then."
Nangong Yue's gaze froze. She bit her lower lip, stood up, and her gaze lingered on the Zhaoyuan Palace. She knew Ah Ning was inside. But from that night on, they had gone from being the most familiar people to strangers. She knew they had different paths and could not plot together. Ah Ning, farewell!
As Nangong Yue left the palace, a sack was suddenly thrown over her. She struggled, but a flurry of blows silenced her.
After an unknown amount of time, she saw the light again. When she clearly saw the person in front of her, her whole body trembled. Shen Yunxuan.
"Miss Nangong, long time no see!" Shen Yunxuan sat there, a sinister cold smile on his lips, his handsome and charming face etched with chilling coldness.
Nangong Yue trembled inexplicably. This person...
"You... you tied me up?" Nangong Yue asked.
Shen Yunxuan smiled, his smile tinged with chilling malice. "If not me, then who?"
"You... what do you want?" Nangong Yue stood up, intending to run, but found the door was locked.
She turned and saw Shen Yunxuan smiling at her, making her shiver. "You... what do you want to do?"
Shen Yunxuan withdrew his smile, revealing a chilling coldness. "Shall we settle the score between us?"
"What... what score do we have?" Nangong Yue stammered.
Shen Yunxuan sneered, "Miss Nangong, you truly have a forgetful nature. Have you forgotten how many betrothal gifts my Shen family sent?"
"I will have my father return them, all of them," Nangong Yue said quickly.
"What about you framing this young master?" Shen Yunxuan asked.
Nangong Yue was startled. At that time, she was eager to break away from the Shen family and had spread rumors that the Shen family's young master disliked women and was a degenerate.
For a time, the Shen family's young master's reputation was tarnished, and even Shen Congwen, the Prefect of Zhaoping, could not stop it.
Shen Yunxuan must have harbored resentment.
"I... I will clarify things," Nangong Yue said.
"Words are not evidence. Write down what you have done."
Shen Yunxuan threw paper and a brush before Nangong Yue. Nangong Yue was stunned. She didn't want to write, but she knew that if she didn't, she might not be able to leave this room.
"I'll write," Nangong Yue gritted her teeth and wrote it down.
After finishing, she threw down the brush and said, "I have done as you asked. Can you let me go now?"
Shen Yunxuan looked at the list on the paper and gritted his teeth. "I really should sell you to a brothel."
Nangong Yue trembled and looked warily at Shen Yunxuan, saying, "You can't go back on your word."
Shen Yunxuan sneered, "What can you do if I go back on my word?"
Nangong Yue froze. Shen Yunxuan stood up and said coldly, "However, this young master truly disdains to deal with you. It's too uninteresting."
After speaking, Shen Yunxuan left.
Nangong Yue slumped to the ground, her back soaked with sweat.
She stood up, opened the door, and walked out. Suddenly, her back ached, and her eyes went black.
Shen Yunxuan, you went back on your word.
"My lady, what about this person?" the man who had knocked Nangong Yue unconscious asked the girl in the black cloak.
The girl removed her hood, revealing a pale face.
"Take her back." She intended to use everyone she could.
"My lady, someone is chasing us." The man frowned.
"You take Nangong Yue and go first," the girl said.
The man nodded and left with Nangong Yue.
The girl turned and looked at the approaching people, standing there, waiting for them to approach.
"Nothing to run from?" The approaching person had a stern face and cold eyes.
The girl sneered, "Not running. Waiting for you to hand me over to Xue Zining?"
"My lady, I never intended to do that," Xue Yu said.
Xue Yunlan sneered, "Never? I heard your conversation. Feng Yu... Xue Yu, how long do you intend to lie to me?"
Xue Yu was startled. "My lady, that was just a temporary measure."
"I will not believe anything you say. From now on, I, and the child in my belly, have nothing to do with you."
Xue Yunlan retreated step by step.
Looking at the cliff behind her, Xue Yu's gaze tightened. "My lady, don't move."
As he spoke, he prepared to jump forward and pull Xue Yunlan back.
But the dagger in Xue Yunlan's hand pointed at her abdomen, and she said coldly, "Xue Yu, if you take one more step, I will kill this child."
"Xue Yunlan." Xue Yu's gaze turned cold.
Xue Yunlan laughed, tears in her laughter. "Do you think I will still believe you? Since the moment you betrayed me, I will never trust you. Do you think Xue Zining trusts you that much? Don't be delusional. You slept with me, Xue Yunlan. How much do you think she will trust you?"
Xue Yu's gaze turned completely cold. "Xue Yunlan, don't talk nonsense."
"Nonsense? Then look at whether Xue Zining has summoned you recently. That means she suspects you..."
"Xue Yunlan, if you keep talking nonsense, I won't be polite," Xue Yu said coldly.
Xue Yunlan sneered, "You don't need to be impolite to me. This life, I believed you and ruined my father's dream of the throne. I was foolish, I was stupid, but I will not let my child be born before her father who stands against me."
"Xue Yunlan, what are you going to do?" Xue Yu's expression became tense.
Xue Yunlan smiled. "Xue Yu, see you in the next life."
She leaped towards the cliff.
"Xue Yunlan..." Xue Yu rushed forward, only to see a deep abyss below, with no end in sight.
He clung tightly to the edge of the cliff, not caring that his fingers dug into the rocks, drawing blood.
"My lady, it's very dangerous," the man said to the girl in front of him.
Xue Yunlan stood before the cave entrance, hearing Xue Yu's voice from the cliff. She turned and said, "Cast yourself into death to find life. This time, Xue Zining and I are irreconcilable."