Chapter 29: The Innocuous Princess Consort of Beiyang Versus the Beiyang Prince Who Maims His Own Siblings

Upon hearing these words, Wen Yurou deliberately feigned a look of panic, though she quickly masked it. She composed her expression and said coldly, "Do not try to threaten me with such things."

"I am merely speaking the truth. After all, if news of your affair with the Crown Prince reaches the Prince's ears, let alone what happens to us, whether you yourself remain alive is another matter entirely."

This logic clearly frightened Wen Yurou. "What exactly do you want me to do?"

"You must plead with the Prince to spare Ruowei."

Wen Yurou had not expected Mother Wen to make such a simple request. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded in agreement: "Very well, but on the condition that you never mention our meeting or the matter regarding the Crown Prince to anyone."

"Of course."

With that, Mother Wen turned and walked away. Wen Yurou watched her retreating figure, her eyes flickering as the corners of her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. "Mother, you shall soon have exactly what you desire."

Inside the dungeon, the air was dark, damp, and thick with filth. Wen Ruowei sat in a corner, her face devoid of color, making her look like a specter. Suddenly, the cell door in the distance creaked open. She lifted her head slightly and saw a dark figure approaching.

Who could that be? Why did the person look so familiar?

Wen Ruowei tried to discern the visitor's face, but the woman wore a veil. As the figure reached her, she grabbed Wen Ruowei’s wrist with immense force. The pain caused Wen Ruowei to shriek, yet the woman did not stop. Instead, she tightened her grip, the agony becoming so intense that stars began to dance before Wen Ruowei’s eyes.

"Ugh... ah..."

Just as she felt she might perish from the pain, she heard a melodious yet slightly raspy voice whisper in her ear: "Forgive me, sister, I was a bit too heavy-handed."

As she spoke, the woman released her wrist and removed her veil. Wen Yurou looked down at her with eyes full of cruelty and disdain. Seeing who it was, and hearing the word "sister," Wen Ruowei was stunned. "You... why have you come?"

"I have come to take a good look at your downfall."

Wen Yurou sat on the wooden bench beside her, crossed her legs, and tossed a crumpled piece of paper at her. Upon seeing it, Wen Ruowei went blank.

"Did Mother send you to save me?"

"Indeed," Wen Yurou replied, her gaze fixed on the girl's snow-white, bloodless face. She arched an eyebrow and sneered, "Do not think I do not know what you are plotting. Even if you did not kill Liu Wenyu, why should I help you? Do you still think I am the same Wen Yurou you could bully and manipulate at will?"

"..."

"How does it feel to taste the fruit of your own malice?"

Wen Ruowei was taken aback, unable to find a retort.

"Did you think I would surely come to your rescue? Let me tell you, I will not. I am only here because the suffering you are enduring now does not compare to even a fraction of what you put me through."

Wen Yurou smiled, but the smile was chillingly cold, enough to make one’s blood run cold. Her gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced straight into Wen Ruowei's heart.

"What... what do you mean?"

"Don't you understand what your sister means?"

That winter had been exceptionally cold. In the second month after Wen Ruowei arrived at the Wen estate, she had clamored to pick plum blossoms. The tree stood dangerously close to the pond, where many had fallen in before. The original owner of this body had warned her against it, but she insisted, forcing the original owner to accompany her. Once there, she sent all the maids away and jumped into the pond herself, screaming, "Sister, I know you don't like me, but there was no need to push me into the pond... Sister... I'm so cold..."

By the time the original owner realized what had happened, Wen Ruowei had vanished into the water. In a panic, the original owner jumped in to save her, but the water was freezing, and she could not find her. In the end, Wen Ruowei climbed out on her own, while the original owner was left behind, shivering in the pond. When she finally crawled out, before she could even catch her breath, her own mother, twisting the truth, dragged her to the ancestral hall, forcing her to kneel all night until she was consumed by a high fever. Had it not been for the Third Concubine, she would surely have died.

As these memories flooded her mind, a sharp, cold glint flashed in Wen Yurou’s eyes.

"That day was so terribly cold. Not just the weather, but the human heart was colder still!"

Seeing the chilling smile on her lips, Wen Ruowei felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver run down her spine. Panic-stricken, she stammered, "About what happened back then... I... I didn't mean to do that to you. Please, forgive me! I had no ill intent; I was just jealous of your family and your looks, I was young and foolish... please, sister, forgive me!"

Wen Yurou looked at her. The girl’s face was filled with terror, a far cry from her once arrogant and domineering self. Yet, how could a villain truly repent? She was merely trying to buy her way out of this situation. Bullies only grow worse when they are indulged.

"Is that so? Is that truly what you think?"

Wen Ruowei nodded repeatedly. "Of course that is what I think! Sister, you must believe me!"

Wen Yurou raised an eyebrow. "Very well. Chunmei, let us begin."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Chunmei stepped forward with a tray holding thin silver needles, various tools, and a bowl of liquid. Wen Yurou slowly drew a sharp, small blade from her sleeve, offering Wen Ruowei a bloodthirsty, eerie smile. "Was that wine at the Spring Hunt delicious?"

"You..." Wen Ruowei’s face turned deathly pale as she scrambled backward.

"Destroying a sister's purity and reputation—did you find that satisfying?"

"What... what are you doing?!"

Wen Yurou toyed with the small knife, walked over to her, crouched down, and grabbed her hand. "I am merely returning the favor. Are you afraid now? When you did those things to me, did you ever think I would be under your control forever? Did you ever imagine you would end up like this?"

Wen Yurou gripped her hand and slashed down firmly. Blood immediately welled up, dripping from her fingertips.

"Ah!!!"

Wen Ruowei screamed, her face contorted in such agony that she nearly fainted.

"Do you know what it feels like to be cut by a blade now? How pathetic—you cannot even endure this small amount of torture! Where is that arrogance you had when you forced me to kneel on broken glass all those years ago?"