Chapter 1 Poison

"Fu Mingzhu, you are truly shameless, completely lacking in shame..."

The scent of alcohol on Yuwen You's breath blew onto Mingzhu's face, causing every hair on her body to stand on end.

She couldn't escape or call for help, so she could only close her eyes tightly and tremble as she pleaded, "Today is the seventh day of my father and brothers' passing. Can you please not..."

Before she could finish her plea, Yuwen You had already kissed her like a madman, pressing her onto the bed and tearing off her clothes...

Mingzhu felt like her whole body was burning, yet at the same time, she felt a bone-chilling coldness, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

She had never imagined that she would end up in this situation.

In the past, Fu Mingzhu was the only daughter of the Prime Minister and Grand Tutor, the niece of the Empress Dowager, and the cousin of the young emperor. She was a brilliant and favored figure, living a carefree and indulgent life.

But in Yuwen You's eyes, she was shameless, simply because she had fallen in love with him and insisted on marrying him.

During the peak of the Fu family's glory, she had no idea how much he hated her. She thought he was just too proud and stubborn, and as long as she treated him sincerely, he would eventually warm up to her.

Now that the Fu family had fallen, her father and brothers had passed away, she had no one to rely on, and only then did she realize that he hated her so much that he felt her death would be too easy, and he had to stay and humiliate her day and night to ease his hatred.

But what difference did it make even if she understood now?

It was all too late.

Mingzhu turned to look at the sleeping Yuwen You, her eyes filled with countless resentment.

Even if he didn't love her, he had used her affection to escape death, and then conspired with others to harm her father and brothers, and now he was humiliating her day and night. Did he really think of her as nothing more than a plaything?

Outside the window, the whispers of the night attendants could be heard, "What do you think the prince is planning? At this point, it would be better to give the princess a cup of poison and a white silk, and let each party be happy. What's the point of torturing her day and night like this?"

"Poor thing, the princess is such a noble person..."

"Noble? She's just an arrogant and ignorant daughter of a corrupt official. Although the Fu family was corrupt, they had some integrity. They chose death over surrender, but they never expected to have a daughter like her, who still has the face to live on.

If I were her, I would have hanged myself long ago, and I would have gained a reputation for filial piety. What's the point of lingering on like this, neither dead nor alive?"

Lingering on neither dead nor alive...

Mingzhu looked at the dim palace lamp. She was never one to fear death. The only reason she clung to life was to arrange the funerals for her father, brothers, sister-in-law, and nephew, and to find a safe place for her elderly mother and young nephew to live out their remaining years.

Now that her mother and nephew had found a safe place, what was there to cling to?

It all started with her, so it should end with her.

Mingzhu made a firm decision and reached under the mattress for a dagger she had prepared long ago. She fiercely stabbed it into Yuwen You's left chest, aiming for the space between the fourth and fifth ribs, a fatal blow.

As the blade pierced, Yuwen You, who had been deeply asleep, suddenly grabbed her wrist, flipped her over, and glared at her with bloodshot eyes, as if he wanted to devour her, and angrily shouted, "Fu Mingzhu, you are seeking death!"

It was all an act. What a pity. She had missed this opportunity, and it would be difficult to find another in the future.

Even though her assassination attempt had been exposed, Mingzhu was not afraid at all. She raised her body and glared at Yuwen You fiercely, "Since you conspired with others to harm my father and brothers and humiliate me day and night, you should have expected this day to come."

Yuwen You twisted her hand forcefully and sneered, "I didn't want to marry you, but you insisted on forcing me to marry you. I didn't conspire against your father and brothers. Should my mother have died in vain?

You should thank me. I didn't send you on your way with a white silk and a cup of poison, and I let you live in this world. You want my life?"

A sharp pain arose in Mingzhu's heart and spread throughout her body, making even breathing unbearable.

From the beginning, he and she were in a deadlock. Her aunt and father and brothers were his mortal enemies, but she had insisted on marrying him, unwilling to let him marry someone else, unwilling to let him die.

She was the one who had made the first mistake. She had been foolish and overestimated herself, so every step was a mistake.

Was there anyone in this world more foolish than her?

Seeing her trembling, Yuwen You became even more arrogant and pleased with himself. He leaned in close and whispered through gritted teeth, "Don't think I don't know where you've hidden your mother and nephew. Do you really think that by sending them away, you can avenge your father and brothers without any worries?

Let me tell you, I know exactly where they are! The Fu family has caused chaos in the court, and the whole Yuwen family wants to wipe out your entire family!

Why do you only hate me? If you have the ability, go and kill them all. If it weren't for me protecting you, could you still be alive? Your conscience has been eaten by dogs!"

"I was wrong. Please spare my mother and nephew. They have never done anything wrong. The only mistake they made was having me as a useless daughter and niece."

Mingzhu's face turned pale as she bowed deeply and pleaded in a low voice, "I know you hate me. Let me die, and we can all be free."

She had never been so humble to anyone in her life. Even with the blade pressed against her neck, she did not beg for mercy. But now, she had to bow her head. She couldn't let her loved ones suffer any longer.

Yuwen You looked at her in silence for a while before saying lightly, "It's rare to see you so devoted, but why should I let you off so easily? If you are freed, how can I be free?"

Mingzhu looked up at him, not understanding what he meant.

Yuwen You sneered coldly and turned to leave.

Mingzhu refused to let him go like that, she rushed over and grabbed him, asking, "Are you going to cause trouble for my mother?"

Impatiently, Yuwen You said viciously, "Yes, I am going to kill them. What are you going to do about it?"

"Then let's die together!"

Mingzhu pulled out the sharp hairpin from her head and thrust it towards Yuwen You's neck with all her strength. The hairpin was coated with a deadly poison, and once it pierced the skin, it would be fatal.

But how could she be a match for Yuwen You?

Yuwen You slapped her and knocked her to the ground. Caught off guard, the hairpin pierced into her chest, cold and icy. Her whole body felt as if it had been frozen, and she shivered, curled up on the ground.

Yuwen You stood by with disdain, saying, "What are you pretending to be dead for? Mingzhu, you are really regressing the more you live."

She laughed out loud, feeling that heaven wanted to destroy her.

She had intended to assassinate someone else, but ended up killing herself. This pathetic way of dying would probably be laughed at even in the afterlife.

As she laughed, blood seeped from her mouth, staining the snow-white silk carpet.

Yuwen You frowned and knelt down to look at her, his expression gradually changing. A layer of panic appeared in his eyes, and his voice became dry and tense, "Mingzhu, what are you up to again?"

Mingzhu glanced at him askew and said with a smile, "I want to be free."

She knew she was going to die soon, and not even a deity could save her.

Trembling, she pulled out the hairpin, and blood gushed out from her chest, staining the snow-white silk carpet a few shades of red.

"Quick, someone come!"

Finally, fear appeared on Yuwen You's face. He carefully grabbed her shoulders, trying to turn her over.

Mingzhu looked at him pleadingly, "I'm so cold... can you hold me one last time?"

Without any pretense, she was shivering uncontrollably, unable to express her pitiful state.

They had been married for eight years, and they had good times together. If she couldn't soften his heart, she would have no other way.

Without hesitation, Yuwen You held her in his arms and roared, "Get the doctor!"

Mingzhu had been waiting for this moment. Once she had the chance, she mercilessly thrust the hairpin at him.

His chest was exposed, the weakest spot. Even if she couldn't kill him, she wanted him to taste the pain. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to rest in peace.

"Murder!"

Someone screamed, their voice high-pitched and terrified. Yuwen You looked down at the hairpin deeply embedded in his abdomen, then at her, his eyes filled with complex and inscrutable emotions.

For a long time, he wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said softly, "This is also good, we owe each other nothing."

---

A strong wind blew open the window with a loud bang.

Mingzhu woke up from the nightmare, clutching her trembling heart. She anxiously checked the furnishings and her appearance, confirming that she was still living in her sixteen-year-old self and had not returned to the nightmare of her past life. She relaxed and stared at the small lamp in the corner of the room.

She had unintentionally dreamed of the unpleasant events from her past life again, and her heartache intensified. She couldn't lie down anymore, so she turned over and sat up, putting on the soft satin shoes adorned with pearls. She got up and walked out.

"Where are you going, Miss? It's not yet dawn."

The senior maid, Sulan, couldn't stop her and had to quickly grab a cloak and a lantern before chasing after her.