Long Hanjie hated himself for destroying a girl’s life, but thoughts of Qing’er made him feel justified. He squatted down and grabbed Xu Qiu’er’s hand.
“Only by your death can I marry Qing’er. You… go die.”
Long Hanjie knew the stab wound wouldn’t kill her but wanted to provoke her, wishing for her to feel pain and helplessness.
He turned and left, leaving the Xu residence in silence. The once jubilant courtyard had been stripped of everything red.
Long Hanjie was right; Xu Qiu’er was saved, but something had changed. She moved as if nothing had happened, greeting everyone.
Her first words were: “I want to marry Long Hanjie.” [Text: Determination 3]
Madam Xu looked at Xu Qiu’er in disbelief.
“What did you say?”
Qiu’er laughed, ethereal and charming, and simply repeated, “I want to marry Long Hanjie.”
Lord Xu, seeing his daughter’s radiant face, expressed concern:
“Qiu’er, you don’t have to be afraid. If you don’t want to marry, Father…”
Xu Qiu’er glanced at her parents.
The joy in Xu Qiu’er’s eyes transformed into ferocity, with resentment burning in her gaze.
“I am ruined.”
Madam Xu’s heart went cold. Her daughter was filled with hate, the same hate she felt for the man who had caused her suffering.
Lord Xu pulled Qiu’er’s hand, tears streaming down his face. “My good Qiu’er, we won’t marry. Even if it means losing our heads, we won’t marry.” He held her close, crushed by the realization that his cherished daughter, whom he had protected for seventeen years, was now shattered. He wanted to confront Long Hanjie but refrained, knowing the stakes for the Xu residence were too high for impulsive actions.
However, Qiu’er’s declaration of being “ruined” made him disregard the consequences.
Madam Xu also embraced her, aware of the injustice her daughter faced.
“Good Qiu’er, we won’t marry. Mother will stand up for you.”
But Qiu’er pushed her parents away and knelt on the ground, accepting their embrace yet refusing to rise.
“I want Long Hanjie to suffer worse than death.”
Qiu’er gritted her teeth, her hatred no longer hidden. Madam Xu, frightened by her daughter’s gaze, stepped back.
When had her daughter fallen to this point?
She pushed Lord Xu, cursing, “It’s all your fault. Wouldn’t Qiu’er be like this otherwise?”
Madam Xu attacked with both hands. Lord Xu knew his wife resented him for Qiu’er’s situation but didn’t expect her to mention Qing’er. Despite their estrangement, he didn’t want the two sisters to be enemies.
“Stop…”
But it was too late. Madam Xu continued, “If your good daughter hadn’t been secretly connected with the Crown Prince, would he have treated Qiu’er like this?”
Xu Qiu’er finally understood. Tears flowed as she realized the path her sister had chosen for her.
She pushed away her mother’s hand and left without a glance, feeling like a fool who had walked into a trap.
The sunlight was so dazzling. She shielded her face, thinking, why was it so piercing? Was it meant to blind her?
All strength drained from her, and she sat powerlessly on the ground, feeling a cool sensation beneath her.
It wasn’t until Xiao Ju found her that Xu Qiu’er shakily walked into her room with Xiao Ju’s support.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, Xu Qiu’er wished she could burn the entire room down. A fire burned in her heart, demanding to be vented.
Xu Qiu’er asked, “Am I particularly stupid?”
Frightened, Xiao Ju knelt on the ground crying, trying to comfort her and telling her not to overthink. Xu Qiu’er hated herself for being so foolish. Xu Qing’er was her sister; weren’t they supposed to be connected? How could she scheme against her? If she wanted Long Hanjie, would she compete with her?
And then there was Long Hanjie. Xu Qiu’er thought she had never loved or hated anyone before, but now she had found someone she wanted to tear apart. Long Hanjie—why did she hate him so much? Would she let him be happy with Xu Qing’er? He liked Xu Qing’er? Fine, I’ll let you be together and see if you can be happy after hurting me.
Lost in thought, she crushed an object in her hand, fragments piercing her skin and causing blood to drip onto the floor. Xiao Ju cried out, bringing Xu Qiu’er back to her senses. She looked at her hand, realizing what had happened, and let Xiao Ju tend to her wounds. Strangely, she felt no pain at all.
She who had always been afraid of pain, how could she feel nothing? Then she realized: this little pain was nothing. She would make them understand true pain. Xu Qiu’er sat in the chair and suddenly burst into bright, radiant laughter.
But Xiao Ju was terrified, her heart trembling. Something was wrong with her mistress – she seemed unhinged, laughing in a way that made her fear for what would happen when they entered the palace.
The Third Miss would eventually enter the palace, and her strategy regarding the Crown Prince was truly brilliant. Xu Qiu’er began frequently traveling between the Chancellor’s residence and the palace, dedicating herself to learning etiquette, following opera performers to master the Empress Dowager’s favorite operas. The Xu residence had never been so quiet, and no one knew what Xu Qiu’er was planning.
Xu Qiu’er quickly won the favor of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Though the Empress still disliked her, it didn’t matter. Qiu’er would enter the palace early each day to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, sometimes encountering Long Hanjie, her demeanor perfectly natural.
Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Emperor knew what had happened between Xu Qiu’er and Long Hanjie. Long Hanjie wouldn’t be foolish enough to speak, and Xu Qiu’er wouldn’t either, so naturally, no one knew. Long Hanjie was surprised.
He had expected Xu Qiu’er to cry and make a scene, but she calmly paid her respects to the Old Buddha and the Emperor. Increasingly, he heard discussions about her in the imperial court.
He thought she was just a vain woman. After she had once seemed to want to kill him, he felt more disgusted as he reflected on it.
Xu Qiu’er passed by Long Hanjie daily, always smiling, but her downcast eyes betrayed her, burning with intense hatred.
One day, she would make them wish they were dead.
Xu Qiu’er stood before the Empress Dowager’s palace, her skirt dancing in the wind.
The Crown Prince’s wedding day was approaching, and the palace buzzed with excitement. The joyful atmosphere echoed through the court. Such a joyous event required meticulous preparation.
The day had arrived.
She knew Long Hanxie would seize this opportunity to speak out. The empress dowager loathed heartless men. Would Long Hanxie be able to keep the crown prince position? Xu Qiu’er had already knelt in readiness.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It’s all Qiu’er’s fault.”
The empress dowager genuinely loved this fairy-like daughter-in-law and never expected that on their wedding day, the crown prince would cause such embarrassment to Qiu’er.
The empress dowager held Qiu’er’s hand and comforted her, “Qiu’er, don’t be afraid. I’ll stand up for you.” She turned to Long Hanxie, her eyes icy cold. “Crown Prince, don’t think you’re the emperor just because you’ve been appointed. The emperor who can appoint you can also remove you.”
Every word from the empress dowager struck the empress hard. Feeling her heart squeeze, the empress hurriedly kowtowed.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. I will discipline the crown prince properly.”
Xu Qiu’er watched the empress, whose forehead was bleeding from kowtowing, and inwardly laughed. Blame Long Hanxie, her son. Seeing Long Hanxie unable to express his anger, Qiu’er felt relieved, a brief smile crossing her face.
While everyone was focused on the empress dowager’s anger, Long Hanxie noticed Xu Qiu’er’s smile and clenched his fists, staring at her.
