Chapter 1 Nirvana

Xia Ziwu arrogantly turned around the Moon Gate, with a purple crystal hairpin swaying in her hair, creating a dazzling glint under the scorching sun after the rain, emitting a clear and crisp clinking sound.

In the large blue-and-white porcelain vat, two koi leisurely swallowed the pomegranate petals, suddenly startled and sank.

"Miss San is here?"

The tall and burly servant hurriedly got up, wearing a greasy smile.

Xia Ziwu disdainfully snorted, and the embroidered golden skirt blossomed into a graceful lotus on the floor, reflecting her figure on the shiny blue stone floor.

Xia Ansheng, who had been drowsy, suddenly woke up, opened her swollen eyes, and tightly gripped the scissors hidden in her sleeve.

Xia Ziwu furrowed her sharp brows and reprimanded the servant behind her, "Why hasn't Miss Er finished dressing up? The sedan chair from the Wen family is about to arrive!"

The servant looked at Xia Ansheng, who was dressed in plain white, and explained, "Miss Er insists on mourning for Miss San and refuses to change into festive attire."

"If she refuses, then strip it off. If that doesn't work, tie her up. I've already starved her for three days. Can't she behave herself? The Wen family's methods of training and educating women in the palace are well known. If she doesn't know her place, she should taste some bitterness."

Xia Ziwu's voice was sharp, like the scraping of broken porcelain, making people inexplicably disgusted, giving rise to goosebumps.

Xia Ansheng suddenly raised her haggard and pale face, glaring fiercely at Xia Ziwu, and her gradually scattered gaze gathered into a sharp sword.

"Xia Ziwu, how did my sister really die?"

Xia Ziwu was taken aback, then sneered and said indifferently, "She died from postpartum hemorrhage, I've said it a thousand times."

"Nonsense!"

Xia Ansheng suddenly stood up, her eyes wide open, holding back the tears welling up in her eyes.

"After my sister's death, her body was covered in wounds, old and new. How did you mistreat her during her time in the Meng family?"

Xia Ziwu sneered, "She was just a lowly concubine. I was just teaching her some manners and boundaries, it's only natural."

"Shame on you!" Xia Ansheng glared, almost spitting out flames of anger from her eyes. "Xia Ziwu, do you have no shame? The marriage to the Meng family was arranged by my mother for my sister when she was still alive. Three years ago, you, as her own sister, took her place and married into the Meng family. How dare you call yourself the rightful wife?"

Xia Ziwu giggled coquettishly, "Xia Ansheng was never worthy of the wealth and status of the Meng family. I did her a favor by marrying her off. As expected, she was unlucky, even losing her life giving birth to a child."

Xia Ansheng gritted her teeth, and the scissors in her sleeve were already sweaty. Despite her weakness, her body tensed with anger, shaking like dry leaves in the wind.

"Everyone knows that you couldn't bear children of your own, so you deceived my sister and sent her to the Meng family. After my sister gave birth, you immediately had someone give her a bowl of safflower soup, causing her to hemorrhage to death. And then you shamelessly became the mother of her child, solidifying your position as the rightful wife!"

Xia Ziwu was taken aback, facing Xia Ansheng's furious gaze, she couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. "Who told you that?"

"Actions speak louder than words! Xia Ziwu, not everyone in the Meng family is as heartless as you! My sister always endured and obeyed, and yet you dared to do this to her, despite her treating you as a sister!"

Xia Ansheng tearfully accused, her excitement and weakness making her breathing visibly rapid and erratic, causing Xia Ziwu to regain a sense of superiority. She chuckled, her sharp eyes filled with satisfaction.

"So what if I killed Xia Ansheng? Can't tolerate it, so what? You, Xia Ansheng, are already in a precarious situation, yet you still have the leisure to settle old scores? I advise you to obediently marry Wen Gonggong as a concubine and stop being so unruly. Wen Gonggong might take pity on you and let you live a little longer."

Xia Ziwu's sinister words made Xia Ansheng shiver suddenly. "To let Xia Zixian enter the palace and be favored, you sold me to a eunuch. Aren't you afraid of my father's inquiry or public condemnation? What goes around comes around!"

Xia Ziwu smirked, glanced at Ansheng, and coldly snorted.

"I heard that no woman in Wen Gonggong's harem has lived for more than three months. When the time comes, a roll of reed mat will be thrown into a mass grave. Rest assured, when father returns, my mother and I will tell him that you eloped with a man without proper marriage arrangements. Father is already thoroughly disappointed in you, do you think he will inquire?"

Xia Ziwu's lips curled into a cold smile, her sharp eyes filled with satisfaction as she looked at Xia Ansheng, causing a sense of disgust and resentment to rise in Ansheng's heart.

Ansheng was fed up with this arrogant face, especially today, it was particularly glaring, burning her eyes.

She suddenly lunged forward like a hungry wolf on the grassland after a harsh winter, the sharp blade of the scissors hidden in her sleeve aimed at Xia Ziwu's throat, fiercely stabbing.

"Go to hell!"

Xia Ziwu screamed in terror as the scissors flew past her neck, splattering a string of blood droplets.

Xia An's overwhelming hatred was all concentrated in the scissors in her hand, her eyes crimson, wild and resolute, almost hysterical.

Xia Zi Wu was so frightened that she grabbed the sturdy Lian Pozi as a shield, dodging and screaming.

Lian Pozi, fierce and agile, dodged the blade and seized the opportunity to kick Xia An squarely in the chest.

Xia An hadn't eaten for three days, her limbs were already weak, almost on the verge of collapse, supported only by her intense hatred. Lian Pozi's kick sent her flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground.

Lian Pozi stepped forward, her fat foot pressing down on Xia An's hand holding the scissors, crushing it mercilessly.

Xia Zi Wu, with a fierce expression, approached Xia An, snatched the scissors, and menacingly leaned down.

"How dare you hurt me? I swear I'll skin you alive and make a lantern out of your flesh for your little nephew in the future."

Xia An, firmly restrained by Lian Pozi, struggled in vain, her anger burning in her eyes.

"You wicked woman! When my resentment turns into a vengeful ghost, I will come back to seek revenge for my sister and make you pay with your life!"

The sharp scissors in Xia Zi Wu's hand slowly slid across Xia An's taut chest, cutting through the skin, causing blood to flow and stain her white mourning clothes.

"Since that's the case, you cannot be allowed to live. Before you die, let me tell you a secret. Your mother, Lady Qin, didn't suffer from a chronic illness, but rather, Lian Pozi meticulously concocted her ailments according to the recipe my mother provided!

Your noble mother always looked down on us, didn't she? She refused to let us enter the Meng family's gates, didn't she? You made us, along with my siblings, endure so much disdain and ridicule outside the mansion. Did you think we would let your mother enjoy wealth and luxury at the Xia family's expense forever?

We wanted to trample both of you sisters in the mud, and let you and your deceased mother taste the bitterness of being mocked and bullied."

Xia An's eyes widened in shock. She never dreamed that behind her mother's passing a few years ago and her father's unimpeded entry into the main residence, such a bloody truth was hidden.

Her breathing became rapid, her body convulsed with hatred, and she even felt no piercing pain.

With all her strength, she lunged forward, the scissors plunging into her chest, as she viciously bit down on Xia Zi Wu's arm.

Blood splattered, and tears of rage and pain filled Xia An's eyes, mingling with the hot blood, turning everything a deep crimson.

The mandala flowers leading to hell blossomed one by one, and the young girl, bathed in blood, returned from purgatory.

Every step gave rise to a lotus flower.