So she picked up a knife and stabbed it into the heart of that woman and her father. Then she turned and fled desperately. When she thought she would die on the street, a little boy saved her. From that moment, the girl had only that boy, following his commands to become a maid in the home of his loved woman. She always considered the boy who saved her as the most important person in her life. She swore that no matter what he asked, whatever he wanted her to do, she would do it!
I listened to her quietly, but not a single ripple stirred in my heart. Perhaps my heart was truly made of iron; even though I knew Xiao Wu’s betrayal was unavoidable, betrayal was still betrayal, and nothing could change that fact.
I remained silent for a long time before speaking softly: “No matter the reason, once water is spilled, it can never be gathered back.” I would sympathize with Xiao Wu, knowing she had no choice, but the life-and-death bond we once shared was gone.
“Young Miss, please rest well. I will take my leave!” She said nothing more, just looked at me respectfully and withdrew.
I stared at her departing back for a long time, an inexplicable sadness continuously welling up in my heart.
“Since I’ve always been alone, let me continue to be so!”
“I said to the air, tilting my head, the pain in my heart now feeling completely numb.
Just as she had walked out, Wei Luo, who had been standing at the door, slowly walked in.
“Who says you’re alone! From the moment you met me, Wei Luo, you were destined to stay by my side, always accompanying me. We will never be alone!” The soft voice behind me was like a spring breeze brushing across my lonely heart, continuously spreading warmth.
I turned to look at this man with all the world’s wealth. He had the ability and power to control the world, yet he deliberately stayed away from conflicts, unable to escape them, as if unwilling to be involved in worldly disputes but also unwilling to completely withdraw.
“Why did you bring her before me today? I don’t think it’s because of Wu Han,” I looked up at him, not refusing his embrace. I had been too lonely, too solitary for too long. Now that someone offered me warmth, I just wanted to eagerly absorb it.
Wei Luo looked at me with a light laugh, his brow showing doting: “I said as long as you’re happy! Actually, I know that no matter whether you forgive her in your heart, you ultimately cannot let go.” He spoke softly, his handsome face always wearing an unassailable confidence.
Although I never wanted to admit that he was my father and had cut off all relations with him when I was eight years old, I still wanted to know what my sister was like! I stared at him unblinkingly, fabricating a story without changing my expression.
He looked at me silently, not responding. I continued to look at him and asked, trying to satisfy my curiosity.
“Yan’er was not favored by the Prime Minister since birth, and I was hidden in the backyard and raised like a servant. After my mother died when I was eight, I severed ties with the Ran family and left with Xiao Wu, meeting Yin Can on the way, who sealed all my memories and made me his puppet for eight years. I never knew I had a sister. Although I despise the Prime Minister, my sister is my only blood relative besides him and my mother.” I spoke half-truthfully, omitting some details.
He listened to my story seriously, his face showing no discernible expression, unusually quiet.
I looked at him calmly, my clear eyes steady. I knew I couldn’t show any hesitation, or I might lose this chance to uncover the truth.
We stared at each other, neither rushing nor demanding details.
“Ultimately, he compromised,” he said with a heavy sigh, his eyes filled with regret and heartache.
“My sister and I are different.
My fate won’t be controlled by others, and I will never allow anyone to control my freedom!” I responded, trying to extract the information I wanted.
He looked at me, dark liquid swirling in his eyes, taking a long time before speaking again.
I reached out to smooth his furrowed brow, saying softly: “It’s precisely such a fragile person that would make you three want to protect with your lives. If she were like me, she wouldn’t be so lovable!” I said this jokingly, trying to comfort him.
He continued to look at me intently, murmuring: “Yes, ultimately they are different. No matter how similar, they are ultimately different.” He kept repeating the same words, his dejected face making me feel uncomfortable.
I casually pushed him out the door: “Go rest, I think you’re tired today!” I couldn’t bear to look at his dejected appearance, and seeing him like this truly pained me.
His staggering figure slowly disappeared from my sight. Looking at his straight back, I suddenly realized that no matter who encounters love, they become very vulnerable and can be deeply wounded.
At that time, even though I harbored half a guard against Weilo, I never expected that the person who would use me so thoroughly would be him.
The article contains a lot of extraneous details in the side notes about Shui Zixi that do not contribute to the main plot. Here is the streamlined version:
Side Notes about Shui Zixi (Previous Life)
Previous Life
My name is Cang, king of the Cang Kingdom. I never thought I would pour out the entire world for a woman. I never thought that even if I used all possible methods, I could not win that woman’s heart.
During my reign, the country was called “Cang Xi”. That year, I met a woman named Ran YanEr under a Zihua tree. The moment I saw her, I was captivated. Even though I had already seen the man who doted on her by her side, I still tried everything to make her stay with me.
The first time I saw her, I confidently said to the woman drawing her eyebrows under the tree: “You will be my woman in the future!” She didn’t even raise an eyebrow at my words, continuing to sit quietly under the tree. The man in black clothing beside her looked at her with a gentle, doting laugh.
When I stepped into her palace, the serving maids joyfully came to report to me: “Congratulations, Your Majesty, the Noble Consort is with child.” At that moment, I was as happy as a child, but when I raised my head with a smile, Yan’er’s eyes were looking at me with a piercing gaze.
She said to me in an icy tone: “In this lifetime, I will never bear your child, don’t even think about it!” Her words were like a sharp knife constantly piercing my heart, wearing down the patience I had shown her for three years.
At that moment, my three years of forbearance and indulgence toward her completely erupted. For three years, everyone could see my love for her, even a wooden person could feel my affection, but Yan’er seemed entirely unaware of my love.
“What kind of woman are you? Haven’t I been good enough to you these three years? Haven’t I loved you enough? Even if your heart is made of ice, it should have been melted by now.” I completely exploded.
She coldly looked at my angry face, and after a long time, she spat out a few words through gritted teeth: “For me to love you, you would have to die!”
When I saw Yan’er again, it was the night before I was going to let her leave the palace.
For two years, after losing the child, I had not taken a single step inside here, even though I wandered by the door every day.
As soon as I stepped through the doorway, I saw a figure half-leaning, with hair black as silk, mostly gathered up with a silver ribbon, the remaining dark hair draped across her shoulder. Yan’er wore a red fur coat. I carefully approached her, knowing that the Yan’er usually bristling with thorns, full of resentment towards me, could never be as serene as she was at this moment.
