Chapter 2: Under the Bloody Phoenix's Mandate

Qin Xiuyi did not hesitate to confine her in the Fengrong Palace. Xue Shanxue's parents punished her for plotting against Xue Shanxue. They first burned her left hand in charcoal fire. It was the twelfth lunar month, and without careful treatment from a doctor, her left hand continued to fester until April of the following year. Standing there, the flesh on her hand fell directly to the ground.

Later, her left hand was completely disabled, leaving her with only one right hand. However, Duan Gexi's hand was exceptionally beautiful. Once, a palace maid "accidentally" spilled hot water on her, and from then on, both of her hands were disabled. Qin Xiuyi kept her imprisoned for five years, until the Fengrong Palace became a cold palace.

Now, just half a month ago, for some reason, the pregnant Lady Duan Youxi, Duan Gexi's sister, was suddenly conferred the title of Empress.

On the night of the conferment ceremony, Lady Duan Youxi, dressed in the attire of an empress, drank a cup of wine in front of Duan Gexi and ended up miscarrying.

Later, Qin Xiuyi did not hesitate to sentence her to death.

So now, Lady Duan Youxi stood in front of her, with a proud and provocative look in her eyes, wanting to see Duan Gexi kneel and beg for mercy, with a terrified look in her eyes.

Because in the Duan family, although Duan Gexi was not as talented as her, she had always been proud, like a bamboo that would rather break than bend.

So the literati of the capital gave Duan Gexi a nickname, "Bamboo Lady."

This title was not a praise for Duan Gexi, but a mockery. However, this nickname made Duan Gexi famous, and for a while, it even overshadowed her reputation.

Although Lady Duan Youxi was also talented, she had always been very restrained in character, and was accustomed to being shrewd and smooth, and could not find any fault. So even though she had the reputation of a talented woman, it was not as wide and deep as the meaning behind the two words "Bamboo Lady."

Lady Duan Youxi had always hated Duan Gexi, hated her to the extreme.

When they were very young, their father, Duke Duan, was an official of the first rank and also Qin Xiuyi's mentor.

At first, Duan Gexi was clearly a commoner, but one day, her "mother" Lady Lv Yueshu became a noblewoman, and naturally, Duan Gexi became the legitimate daughter.

It was very strange indeed. Lady Lv Yueshu was clearly Duan Gexi's birth mother, but she had always been good to Lady Duan Youxi, as if Lady Duan Youxi was her own daughter.

It turned out to be true.

Lady Lv Yueshu used all means to marry Duan Gexi to Qin Xiuyi, who had not yet ascended the throne, and made her a concubine in one step.

Later, Lady Duan Youxi was also made to serve by her side, saying that as sisters in the palace, they should take care of each other. Duan Gexi did not know the secret that she was not Lady Lv Yueshu's daughter, so she had to comply.

Later, at some point, the former empress died, and Lady Duan Youxi testified that Duan Gexi had killed the former empress Xue Shanxue, so Lady Duan Youxi was conferred the title of Lady of Virtue by Qin Xiuyi.

Soon after, Lady of Virtue became pregnant, and after the conferment, she was killed by Duan Gexi, causing Lady Duan Youxi to fall into this situation.

In order to crush the pride in Duan Gexi's eyes, Lady Duan Youxi leaned close to Duan Gexi's ear and said, "Lady Lv Yueshu is not your birth mother, she is my birth mother. The former Lady Xia Yu is your birth mother. My mother was just a concubine at the time, and she was pregnant with you at the same time as Lady Xia Yu. In order to be born before Lady Xia Yu, she used methods to induce labor, allowing us to be born together. In order to secure my position as the legitimate eldest daughter, Lady Lv Yueshu staged a swap, and you were supposed to be the legitimate eldest daughter, but unfortunately, you were not only born an hour late, but also changed from a legitimate daughter to a commoner. Haha, your birth mother is Lady Xia Yu, the former Lady, not the current Lady Lv Yueshu."

Duan Gexi's eyes remained calm, but a storm was brewing inside her. How could this be possible?

She raised her head slightly, looking at the triumphant Lady Duan Youxi without any concealment, and said angrily, "Lady Duan Youxi, don't talk nonsense."

Seeing the emotions in Duan Gexi's eyes, Lady Duan Youxi gloated, "Nonsense? I am not. Do you remember when you were thirteen, and I accidentally caused the death of the former Lady Xia Yu? How Lady Lv Yueshu, the current Lady of the first rank, cared for me and worried about me? To protect me, she personally pushed you out. In everyone's eyes, you were Lady Lv Yueshu's own daughter. At that time, for my sake, she sent you to the distant White Egret Nunnery at the age of thirteen. Do you remember?"

Remember?

How could she forget?

Duan Gexi's strength was almost completely drained. So that was it, that was it.

So Lady Xia Yu was accidentally poisoned by Lady Duan Youxi, and Lady Lv Yueshu found out and was very worried.

Under quick consideration, Lady Lv Yueshu rarely held Duan Gexi's face and told her to go to the family temple to pray for Lady Xia Yu's soul and repent, and to recite scriptures for three years.

Naturally, Duan Gexi was unwilling, but in order to win Lady Lv Yueshu's favor, she reluctantly agreed.

So Lady Lv Yueshu gained a reputation as a virtuous wife and mother, punishing her "daughter" for the sake of the former Lady, while treating her "stepdaughter" as a true treasure.

Hehe, cough, cough... cough, cough...

Lady Lv Yueshu, Lady Duan Youxi, you have made me suffer so much, so much. I have lived in vain in this life.

To pave the way for you, I flattered someone who didn't love me at all.

Duan Gexi let out a muffled sound, and a mouthful of blood spurted out. She raised her eyes, looked at the ever-changing sky outside, and then stared at Lady Duan Youxi, saying, "If there is a next life, I will make you pay for your blood debt."

To avoid touching the white silk with her hands and making the poisoned wine seem ridiculous, she lowered her wide sleeves tightly around her disabled hands.

Then she forcefully leaned against the pillar and died.

Dead, but the hatred did not die. Dead, but the hatred grew stronger.