Chapter 2: Devil, Viper, His Future Retribution
Two young maids were helping Xiao Li dry her hair when Hong Yue came in from outside to report, "Princess, the Prince Consort has returned."
Xiao Li’s hand, which was stroking her temple, froze, and her gaze turned chillingly cold.
"The Prince Consort..." She slowly picked up a comb and began to brush her loose hair, her long lashes half-lowered to conceal the bloodthirsty malice in her eyes.
’Although the original owner of this body was a princess, her birth mother was of low status and lacked influence, dying early in that man-eating Imperial Palace.’
’As the first daughter, she received a sliver of pity from the late Emperor, who had her fostered under the Empress’s name.’
’It seemed she had gained a noble status, but she was merely living under someone else’s roof, enduring endless scorn. She had to cautiously curry favor with the Empress, humbling herself just to survive.’
’After her imperial brother ascended the throne, she was immediately used as a pawn in a political marriage to keep the aristocratic civil servant families in check.’
’The Prince Consort was the legitimate second son of the noble Lu family. A well-read scholar from an aristocratic background and an uncommonly handsome man, he lacked the frivolity, arrogance, and debauchery typical of the sons of the powerful.’
’Indifferent to fame and fortune, with an otherworldly air, he was the man of countless young ladies’ dreams.’
’If not for the fact that the Lu family had no daughter of a suitable age to enter the palace, and the new emperor wanted to constrain the civil servant Lu family, a man like him would likely never have fallen to a weak-willed princess with a low-born mother.’
’It was only natural for the original princess to fall for such an outstanding man. Even though he was cold, indifferent, and seemingly devoid of desire, she tried to win his heart, wanting to become a true husband and wife with him.’
’But her humble pleas could not warm the Prince Consort’s heart, which had long been given to another.’
’She got drunk and tried to seduce the Prince Consort into consummating their marriage, only to be thrown by him to a guard who coveted her. She was defiled, and then she became pregnant.’
’After losing her chastity, she began to go mad. Not by lashing out at others, but by tormenting herself. She bathed and scrubbed her body incessantly, clawing at herself until she was covered in wounds. Yet, bucket after bucket of bloody water could not wash away the filth and disgust she felt.’
’When she discovered she was pregnant, she wanted to abort the child, but someone replaced her abortion medicine with pregnancy-preserving tonics. Bowl after bowl, her belly grew larger each day, and she descended completely into madness. In the end, she gave birth prematurely and died from hemorrhaging.’
’Ah, the Prince Consort. A transcendent gentleman, untouched by worldly dust, as pure as a gentle breeze and the bright moon.’
’What did he do wrong?’
’He only pushed away a woman he detested. And because his beloved childhood sweetheart couldn’t bear to see a living soul extinguished, he was even willing to be cuckolded, replacing bowl after bowl of abortion medicine so the Princess would give birth to that bastard child.’
’How good of him! He never took another woman, remained in the Princess Mansion, and meticulously raised that bastard son.’
’From beginning to end, he immaculately guarded the childhood sweetheart he treasured in his heart. So devoted, so unwavering—who could see that and not be moved?’
’But... what does any of that have to do with me?’
Xiao Li pressed both hands to her face to keep the bronze mirror from reflecting her savage, vicious expression. But the hatred could not be contained; it was almost tangible, seeping out from between her fingers like threads of smoke.
’The original owner was meek and lovesick. What did her tragic end have to do with me?’
’The devotion and obsession of the second male lead in the story—what business was that of mine?’
’Why did I have to transmigrate into this book, to personally experience such pain and despair?’
"Prince Consort."
A transcendent figure in white appeared at the doorway. The maids hurriedly bowed.
The newcomer strode in but stopped just outside the screen, unwilling to take another step.
"I heard there was trouble here..."
His cool voice was clean and crisp, quite pleasant to the ear, but he was too stingy to utter more than a few words, his tone impatient, arrogant, and indifferent.
Xiao Li slowly lowered her hands, looking at her reflection in the mirror by the bright light of the lamps.
For some reason, this face was identical to her own. Before, however, it had always been marred by meek cowardice, or else twisted with jealousy, fear, and madness—too ugly to look at.
Now, her features were picturesque. Her phoenix eyes tilted upward, exuding a beauty as rich and vivid as a heavily-inked painting. She radiated the confidence of someone in complete control, and a madness that could slaughter anything in its path.
’This appearance satisfied her greatly.’
"All of you, leave."
The faint scent of blood still lingered in the room. The maids, still shrouded in fear, were more obedient and respectful to this princess than they had ever been.
Watching the maids exit in an orderly fashion, Lu Yanzhi frowned slightly. He had no desire to be alone in a room with the Princess, but he desperately wanted to know what had happened.
’It was all the Princess’s fault,’ he thought. ’If she hadn’t shamelessly tried to force me to consummate our marriage, I wouldn’t have casually sent a guard over in a fit of anger.’
’At the time, my thought was, "Since the Princess is so desperate for a man, I’ll give her one." But after leaving, I started to regret it.’
’I despise the Princess, but we are husband and wife, after all. If the Princess were to be defiled by another man, what would become of my dignity?’
’This was why I rushed back. For once, I felt a rare sense of unease, only to hear news of Zhang Jing’s death.’
’The charge was theft, but I knew instantly that it was a cover-up for the truth.’
’So, did he succeed or not?’
The Prince Consort had rushed over as soon as he heard there was trouble on the Princess’s end. Anyone else would have said he still seemed to care for the Princess.
Only Xiao Li knew he had come back to survey the crime scene.
The bronze mirror reflected his figure standing beside the screen. He was tall and slender with handsome features. He possessed the elegant and proper bearing of a gentleman, as refined as an orchid. The cold indifference in his eyes made him seem like a demigod who had renounced the world, untouched by the fires of mortal life.
’What a wonderful, lovesick second male lead.’
’Too bad I’m not the female lead, nor am I a reader moved by his devotion.’
’Me... I am a demon, a viper, his future retribution!’
At this thought, she couldn’t help but curl her lip. "How strange. He was just a thief. It’s hardly a major incident. Why would it warrant the Prince Consort coming to ask about it himself?"
Her tone was normal, but to someone with a guilty conscience, it sounded laden with hidden meaning.
Lu Yanzhi’s hand gripping his folding fan tightened. Maintaining his cool composure, he said, "As long as the Princess is all right, that’s what matters. I’ll be leaving now."
More than an insignificant truth, he feared the Princess entangling him again.
He turned to leave, but Xiao Li’s voice came from within. "Before Zhang Jing died, he said he wanted to tell me a secret about the Prince Consort. A pity..."
Lu Yanzhi’s heart leaped into his throat. His feet felt rooted to the spot. "What did he say?"
Xiao Li regretfully finished her sentence, "A pity he died before he could finish."
Lu Yanzhi’s mind was in turmoil. He prided himself on being an upright gentleman who had never done anything shameful. But tonight, as if possessed, he had actually sent a guard to defile the Princess.
He wasn’t afraid of the Princess’s embarrassing questions, but that this affair would leave a stain on his reputation. If Xue Yin found out, she would surely be disappointed in him. The thought of Xue Yin’s disappointed and disgusted gaze felt like a hand viciously squeezing his heart.
Still, the fact that Zhang Jing hadn’t said anything was a genuine relief.
’Right,’ he thought. ’If the Princess knew I was involved, she wouldn’t be sitting there so quietly.’
At this thought, he couldn’t help but resent the Princess again. ’If she hadn’t insisted on consummating our marriage, how could I have made such a mistake?’
’It’s all her fault!’
Thinking this, his disgust grew even stronger. Unwilling to say another word, he turned to leave.
SWOOSH!
The sound of something whistling through the air rang out. A porcelain pillow landed on the floor. It was of excellent quality and didn’t break.
Lu Yanzhi’s body swayed twice. He raised a hand to the back of his head and brought it back covered in sticky, scarlet blood.
"You..."
His head was still spinning, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. The next moment, another vase came hurtling viciously toward him.
THUD!
Watching the man collapse heavily to the ground, Xiao Li smiled.
"A paper-thin character from a book, and you think I can’t handle you?"
’I can’t do anything about Princess Xuanyang being lovesick, and whether he felt forced has nothing to do with me. But I am very clear on one point: it was because he had that guard defile Xuanyang that I was brought into this world, trapped in this shell, and forced to experience all that disgusting pain and suffering.’
’I really want to kill him...’
Xiao Li’s eyes were filled with madness, but also with regret.
She wished she could grind Lu Yanzhi’s bones to dust, but she couldn’t leave this world yet. Lu Yanzhi’s status was special; killing him would bring enormous trouble upon herself.
’I’ll let him live for now. Right now, I’m quite in the mood to play a long, slow game with them.’
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