Chapter 4: Focus on Interest First

"I, Lǐu Shìméi, mistakenly ingested a drug at the Lantern Festival and ended up in a marital relationship with Prince Dūn Yú. I am aware of my wrongdoing and have come to the palace to confess my sins!"

"I am willing to enter the prince's residence and serve him wholeheartedly, without seeking status. I implore Your Majesty to spare my life and allow me to spend the rest of my days atoning for my sins!"

Disturbing the Emperor in the middle of the night and making such statements in front of him, the Prime Minister did not reprimand her, and Lǐu Shìméi placed herself at the lowest position.

As long as she was not sentenced to death by drowning, other matters could be dealt with slowly. No rush!

As she finished speaking, she looked at the Emperor, and the young prince Huángfǔ Lìngyáo, who had been smiling foolishly all along, picked up on the information he was willing to accept: "Sister Fairy, if you move into the prince's residence, can you play with me every day from now on? Right?"

He then said to the Emperor, "Father, I want Sister Fairy to play with me. Please agree quickly!"

Even after changing into their court attire, he still held her hand tightly.

Lǐu Shìméi looked at him, her lips slightly pursed, refraining from causing a scene in front of the Emperor.

Tonight's events had tarnished the proud daughter of heaven, and she could only compromise for now. All she wanted was to stay alive, regardless of anything else!

After all, she was the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister and had the talent to become the Crown Princess. After inquiring about the situation, the Emperor, after careful consideration, made a decree: "Prince Dūn Yú is already twenty years old, and it is time for him to marry. Since the legitimate daughter of the Lǐu family is willing, and the prince is also pleased... There's no turning back. We grant you marriage. But we hope that you will not deceive him due to his simplicity, and in the future, you will abide by the duties of a wife and be of one heart with Prince Dūn Yú."

The marriage was approved, and the latter part of the decree was a warning to Lǐu Shìméi.

In essence, it meant: You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you bring shame to the royal family in the future, there will be no mercy!

After expressing their gratitude and leaving the palace, the foolish young prince was reluctant to part ways, and it took a lot of effort to coax Lǐu Shìméi away.

No mention of it.

Back at the Prime Minister's residence, the Prime Minister's face, which had been dark all the way, finally showed some emotion. He led Lǐu Shìméi to the ancestral hall and angrily shouted, "Lǐu Shìméi, kneel down before me!"

The other members of the Lǐu family gathered around the ancestral hall to watch the show.

The Prime Minister roared, "Bring the family punishment!"

A well-thought-out move had been ruined. From marrying the Crown Prince to marrying the foolish prince, the Prime Minister's intentions were clear to Lǐu Shìméi.

She gritted her teeth and thought to herself: Although it was for her own benefit, she had been raised and nurtured by the Prime Minister. Since she had taken on this identity, she would accept the punishment, sever ties with the past, and take control of her own life from now on!

But...

How could she swallow this injustice?

The family punishment of the Lǐu family was a cane with inch-long thorns densely covering its surface, resembling a wolf's fangs.

The cane was brought forward.

"Why aren't you kneeling down?" Without any warning, the Prime Minister viciously struck Lǐu Shìméi's back with the cane, and numerous thorns pierced through her thin clothing and into her flesh!

The pain caused her to break out in a cold sweat and gasp for air!

"Firstly, you are shameless for desiring a man at the age of sixteen!" The Prime Minister raised the cane again, ready to strike once more.

"Father, I have something to say!"

Lǐu Shìméi shouted loudly, locking eyes with the Prime Minister's furious gaze. "Today's events were caused by someone plotting against me!"

After all, she was his daughter, and the Prime Minister hesitated for a moment before asking, "Who plotted against you?"

Before Lǐu Shìméi could speak, Lǐu Yán'ér suddenly threw herself at her, crying, "Big sister, I knew you were being plotted against! These people have the audacity to make Miss Lǐu commit such disgraceful acts. We cannot let them off lightly! You must quickly tell Father who did this to you, so he can intervene on your behalf!"

Her words shifted the focus from being "plotted against" to "committing disgraceful acts"!

The Prime Minister was momentarily stunned.

Indeed, the cause and process were not important; what mattered was the result: Lǐu Shìméi's reputation was ruined!

Lǐu Shìméi's eyes turned cold, and in the face of self-interest, reasoning was irrelevant! She abandoned her plan to reason with them and, with all her strength, slapped Lǐu Yán'ér across the face!

"Smack!"

Using all her strength, Lǐu Yán'ér was knocked to the ground by the slap, and her cheek quickly swelled up.

This was the interest she had demanded for the slap she received tonight!

"Big sister!" Lǐu Yán'ér got up from the ground, holding her swollen cheek, her eyes filled with accusation. "You did wrong, and yet you still hit me?"

Her big watery eyes were so pitiful that it was hard not to feel sorry for her.

But Lǐu Shìméi was not one of those who pitied her!

"You either confess on your own, or should I do it for you?" Lǐu Shìméi stared at Lǐu Yán'ér with eyes like sharp arrows!

How could Lǐu Yán'ér possibly admit it? "Big sister, you have really misunderstood me. Our sisterly bond runs deep, how could I plot against you?"

"Oh, our sisterly bond runs deep?" Lǐu Shìméi revealed what she had in her palm!

It was a delicate silver earring with a small piece of jade embedded in it!

Lǐu Shìméi's eyes were sharp as she placed the earring next to Lǐu Yán'ér's right ear, where she was wearing an identical earring on her earlobe.

She smiled menacingly, "Lǐu Yán'ér, this is the earring I tore off your ear when you drugged me. You've lost your beloved earring, haven't you noticed? I suppose you were too busy plotting to catch me in the act and instigate others to drown me and kill me, so you didn't pay attention to this detail, right?"