"Little sister has brought a gift for big sister today."
Zhao Sulan was dressed in splendid brocade. She lowered her head to look at Zhao Yuanqing lying on the bed, who had only a few days left to live, a perfectly gentle smile playing on her lips. She signaled to the guard at her side, and the guard stepped forward carrying something wrapped in a red cloth.
When the guard released his grip, the red cloth slipped away, and its contents tumbled to the floor with a dull thud, rolling under Zhao Yuanqing's bed.
It was a human head, eyes staring blankly as if unwilling to close forever
"Since you're trapped in the back residence and cannot see the old general off on his final journey, little sister specially brought you the old general's head. Sister, are you pleased?" Zhao Sulan pursed her lips and let out a light, mocking laugh.
Zhao Yuanqing's mind went blank as she looked at her own grandfather's head. "Zhao Sulan!" she said through gritted teeth, wishing she could tear her to pieces.
Zhao Sulan smiled gently: "Sister, don't rush. Now, it's your turn."
"The Crown Princess of Qingyuan Hou's household committed adultery with an outsider and failed to uphold a woman's virtue; she is now divorced, and the two are no longer related." Zhao Sulan held a piece of paper, which drifted down as she released it.
Zhao Sulan was now a Consort, and her private dealings with the Qingyuan Hou's Crown Prince could not be revealed. She sighed softly again: "It's a pity I can't see sister's final end. Sister, have a good journey."
After speaking, her tone turned cold: "Throw her out."
The guards quickly stepped forward and dragged Zhao Yuanqing directly from the bed. She was like a dog, stripped of all dignity, disheveled, and dragged all the way to the gate of Qingyuan Hou's mansion.
A spring thunderclap sounded, and heavy rain followed. Zhao Yuanqing used all her strength to stumble and crawl up from the ground. She wanted to laugh. And she did laugh.
"Heaven's principles are clear, and karma always returns! Today, I shed my blood here and will surely become a vengeful ghost, drinking your blood, gnawing your flesh, disturbing your peace day and night! In the Yellow Springs and the Azure Heavens, forever and ever!"
Before the guards could approach, she slammed herself against the gate pillar in front of Qingyuan Hou's mansion.
Bang. Blood splattered on the spot.
"Sister, grandfather is dead, I angered him to death."
"Sister, news just arrived from the border, eldest brother is missing, probably more ill than good."
"Sister, mother committed suicide, if only she had begged me, I wouldn't have been so cruel."
"Sister, the Emperor raided the General's mansion, saying the General's mansion conspired in rebellion and ordered the execution of the entire family."
"Sister."
Everything in this life flashed by like a revolving lantern. The burning hatred consumed her heart, incinerating her sanity completely. In Zhao Yuanqing's mind, only two words remained:
Revenge.
She wanted them dead!
Hatred surged through her mind, and Zhao Yuanqing suddenly opened her eyes, her pupils burning red with hatred, like a vengeful spirit descending upon the world.
"Miss?" A familiar voice came from beside her ear. Zhao Yuanqing slightly turned her head, looking at the person in front of her, and paused: "Sannian?" Her Sannian, wasn't she already dead?
Sannian smiled and helped Zhao Yuanqing up from the bed: "Why is Miss looking so pale? Did you have a nightmare?" Zhao Yuanqing felt somewhat bewildered.
A sound of conversation suddenly came from outside, and then a girl in pink entered. As soon as she entered the room and saw Zhao Yuanqing, she smiled and spoke to someone: "Yuanqing, the peach blossoms in the backyard of Guoen Temple are blooming beautifully, shall we go admire them together?"
Zhao Yuanqing looked at the girl in pink, and those chaotic memories surged into her mind again...