Volume One, Chapter 19: She Once Looked Down on Me

After returning to the residence, Ruan Liuzheng summoned Qingye and handed her the clothes she had prepared in advance.

The first time Ruan Yingying met Lu Chengze, she was wearing this very outfit in shades of pink and purple.

At that moment, Lu Chengze’s gaze had remained fixed on her.

Qingye asked, “Is it just this outfit?”

“Yes,” Ruan Liuzheng replied confidently. She was certain that this outfit would work better than any sedative she could give him.

Though a bit puzzled, Qingye changed into the clothes.

Under the pretense of delivering soup, she went to the “Jingying Pavilion.”

Soon after, Ruyan reported, “Young Madam, there’s movement inside.”

Ruan Liuzheng acknowledged with a hum and took a sip of tea.

As expected, it really worked on him.

Ruyan added, “Isn’t that outfit yours, Young Madam? How did it end up on Her Majesty, the Empress?”

Ruan Liuzheng said, “When she first entered the Ruan residence, she liked this outfit, so I gave it to her.”

——

The moment Lu Chengze saw Qingye, he recalled Ruan Yingying, who had once saved him.

At that time, he did not know he had a cousin.

Once, while gathering herbs at a village, he had accidentally fallen from a mountain. It was she who had painstakingly dragged him to a cave and saved his life.

Although he couldn’t see her clearly then, he remembered the pink and purple outfit.

Later, when he saw her at the Ruan residence, he recognized her immediately.

Tonight, Qingye once again immersed him in those memories. Her burning body pressed against him, and he couldn’t help but claim her.

The next morning, upon waking and seeing the woman in his arms clearly, Lu Chengze suddenly recalled what he had said to Ruan Liuzheng on the carriage.

“Let’s just live like an ordinary married couple.”

Pain pierced him like a knife. He knew it was impossible now. Guilt surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown him.

An overwhelming panic spread through his body. He abruptly pushed Qingye away and hurriedly dressed.

Qingye embraced him from behind.

“My lord, it’s still early. Where are you going? Let me serve you.”

Lu Chengze shoved her aside.

“Hurry, get out!”

He must not let Ruan Liuzheng see her!

However, upon opening the door, Madam Lu appeared, with Ruan Liuzheng following behind.

Madam Lu, seeing who was inside, naturally understood what had happened and cleared her throat.

Ruan Liuzheng quickly said, “It’s my fault. Thinking my husband was unwell, I disturbed Madam.”

——

Madam Lu said, “Since there’s nothing wrong, Liuzheng and I will leave first.”

She glanced at Qingye, admiration flickering in her eyes.

Lu Chengze thought, “It’s over.”

He looked at Qingye with disgust, while Qingye wore an innocent expression with a triumphant glint in her eyes.

It seemed Ruan Liuzheng wasn’t lying; she really wanted a divorce. Qingye might as well help her.

Ruan Liuzheng followed Madam Lu, who said, “As a woman yourself, you’ve been married to Chengze for two years, yet he hasn’t touched you. That Qingye has only been here a few days. She’s utterly useless.”

Ruan Liuzheng listened silently. Ever since she ordered Qingye locked in the snake pit, she knew Madam Lu’s heart was cruel beyond measure.

Even now, just thinking of that snake pit made her shiver.

Seeing that Ruan Liuzheng did not retort, Madam Lu lost interest in arguing. After all, whoever bore the first grandchild of the Lu family would become Madam Lu.

As for Ruan Liuzheng, she would be demoted to concubine and dismissed.

That very day, Ruan Liuzheng went to the palace to tell Ruan Yingying everything.

“Just a few days, and Chengze has allowed that woman so close? Sister, you haven’t been near him for two years.”

Her words were as mocking as Madam Lu’s.

This time, Ruan Liuzheng did not tolerate her and threw the remnants of medicine before her.

“Your Majesty, this medicine residue came from your own pot. So you’ve been secretly using drugs to induce miscarriage all along. Tell me, what would Father, Mother, or His Majesty do if they knew?”

Ruan Yingying’s expression changed slightly but then she laughed, “What do you want?”

“An apology.”

The two sisters had fought for years, yet this was the first time Ruan Yingying saw her so serious.

“You’re still so foolish. What good is an apology? Instead of doing useless things, why not learn to play the guqin at the opera troupe? Qingzhi, you must supervise her well. Don’t let her slack off.”

Ruan Yingying was not intimidated; she bet the secret wouldn’t be revealed, for the sake of the Ruan family.

Her sister was always weak that way.

Ruan Liuzheng had long expected no apology.

She desperately wanted to tell Ruan Yingying about Lu Chengze and Qingye.

Ruan Yingying cared about Lu Chengze, so hearing that he consummated with Qingye was unbearable for her.

Sure enough, the sound of things being smashed echoed from within the hall.

Ruan Liuzheng’s eyes were calm. She guessed that in a few days, Lu Chengze’s visit to the palace would not be pleasant.

Qingzhi came to her side, saying, “The palace invited a famous opera troupe from the city. Madam Lu, please come with me.”

The troupe was filled with all sorts of people, many of whom looked at her with curiosity. Ruan Liuzheng felt no shame.

She earnestly began learning, though her hands were truly useless—whenever she touched the strings, they trembled.

After several attempts, a woman who played the guqin, Zhuyan, said, “Madam Lu, your hands need more rest. You can’t force it...”

Qingzhi interjected, “Her Majesty asked me to supervise Madam Lu’s practice. Madam Lu must be diligent.”

It was clear they intended to ruin her hands completely so she would never play the guqin again.

Ruan Liuzheng gritted her teeth and plucked the strings, each attempt a torment.

Helplessly, she stared at her own hands, tears welling in her eyes.

When her fingers were stained with blood and flesh mangled, Qingzhi finally left with a cold face.

Zhuyan gently held her hands.

“Madam Lu, let me apply some medicine for you.”

Ruan Liuzheng’s fingers trembled. “Thank you.”

After leaving the troupe, she walked alone along the palace path.

Though not of royal blood, she had been trapped in the palace for two years; to her, it was a prison.

Once she divorced, she would never return.

Her figure looked extremely lonely. When she first entered the palace, she had always been happy.

Because she could see the one she loved there.

As she thought this, Chu Yunze suddenly appeared before her.

He stood alongside the Second Prince, Prince Ling, and the Fifth Prince, Prince Xuan.

All three were imposing and graceful. The new emperor wore a dazzling dragon robe, radiating supreme authority and kingly aura.

Ruan Liuzheng, accompanied by eunuchs and maids, bowed to them.

Prince Xuan saw Ruan Liuzheng and suddenly said,

“Your Majesty, is this the Miss Ruan you mentioned?”

Ruan Liuzheng lowered her head, too afraid to speak.

Chu Yunze cryptically said, “What nonsense? She is my elder sister-in-law.”

Prince Xuan, stationed in Yanzhou for many years and unaware of these affairs, was surprised.

“Back then, she rejected me and married another. Isn’t that right, Madam Lu?”

Each word stabbed her heart. It felt as if steel needles pierced her chest, agony unbearable.

Prince Xuan laughed.

“So even Your Majesty has been rejected. Madam Lu, you’re quite formidable.”

Ruan Liuzheng’s lips turned pale, her mind a complete mess, and she stood there stunned.