Chapter 15

The two went back and forth, neither willing to yield an inch. The black and white stones turned nimbly between their fingertips, and the surroundings were so quiet that the only sound was the crisp clack of the pieces against the board. Suddenly, the corners of Shangguan Qingyun’s mouth curled up slightly as he placed a stone. It seemed like an ordinary move, yet it held a hidden depth, directly severing a section of Luo Wuyan’s black-stone formation.

Luo Wuyan’s brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face at just the right moment. He then smiled, cupped his hands, and said,

“Your Excellency’s chess skills are superb; this Prince admits defeat.”

“Your Highness overpraises me.”

The battle on the chessboard concluded, and Shangguan Qingyun let out a long sigh. He patiently saw Prince An off in person before turning to head toward the guest hall.

At the thought of Shangguan Liqian, Shangguan Qingyun’s brow furrowed once more.

Ultimately, he still looked down upon that daughter of his.

She was nothing more than a bed-climbing wench, no different from her mother. Both were the type who would discard their dignity for the sake of wealth and status. If she weren’t still of some use to the Shangguan family, he would have long ago ordered this disgrace to be beaten to death.

Now that she had the chance to serve the family, instead of being profoundly grateful, she actually wanted to use the opportunity to make demands. It was simply preposterous!

Walking forward with a darkened expression, Shangguan Qingyun had no idea that his inner courtyard was already in a state of total chaos.

His plan was to leave her hanging in the guest hall, waiting until Shangguan Liqian grew anxious and uneasy before he would deign to grant her an audience, as if bestowing alms.

This way, he could maintain his paternal authority while continuing to sanctimoniously demand that she keep seeking benefits for the family.

However, neither the reborn Shangguan Liqian nor the Empress Regnant—whom he could not afford to offend—had any intention of following his arrangements during this visit.

While he was engaged in a match with Prince An, Luo Wushuang and Shangguan Liqian entered the inner courtyard and headed straight for Madam Shangguan’s quarters.

Shangguan Liqian returned to the manor this time for only two things: first, to reclaim the jewelry and ornaments Luo Wushuang had sent her after her enthronement; and second, to rescue Qingdai, the only maid who remained loyal to her, from this devil’s den.

In her past life, she had been trapped in the imperial palace and viewed Luo Wushuang as a demon she desperately wanted to escape. Thus, when she entered the palace, she naturally hadn’t brought her maid along to face certain death. She had assumed that once she left the Shangguan family, Qingdai would become a masterless servant and the manor’s steward would simply find her a new master.

Little did she expect that once she was no longer there to be their target for mockery and amusement, Qingdai would become the outlet for their rage. As Qingdai matured and grew more beautiful, that bastard Shangguan Shi set his sights on her. Ignoring her protests, he forcibly took her into his quarters and ravaged her to death… At the thought of Qingdai’s ultimate fate, a rare trace of gloom surfaced in Shangguan Liqian’s usually gentle eyes.

The Shangguan family was truly rotten to the core, from top to bottom. Their fate in the previous life was simply well-deserved. Wushuang had already avenged her for those past grievances.

However, if the Shangguan family continued to target her from now on, they could not blame her for being ruthless.

Emotions flickered in the depths of Shangguan Liqian’s eyes, yet her gaze was exceptionally calm as she looked at the woman in the main seat.

As soon as she appeared in the inner courtyard, Madam Shangguan had sent people to forcibly “invite” her here for questioning.

If Shangguan Liqian hadn’t stopped her, Luo Wushuang would have long ago ordered the execution of these servants who dared to bully their master.

She could not tolerate anyone showing disrespect toward her sister; those malicious gazes, in particular, made her itch to gouge out their eyeballs and stomp them into bubbles one by one.

By the time they reached Madam Shangguan’s courtyard and she heard the woman’s very first words, Luo Wushuang was pushed to the absolute brink of an explosion.

“Your elder sister lost her child just to see you. Since you were able to leave the palace today, why couldn’t you see her?”

As Madam Shangguan’s words fell, the murderous intent in Luo Wushuang’s eyes almost solidified.

What did she mean, “lost the child just to see her sister”?

How dare this vile woman pin the blame on her sister? To her, it seemed this woman was clearly tired of living!

Sensing her sister’s hand behind her back quietly tugging at her sleeve, the fury in Luo Wushuang’s eyes softened slightly, though her killing intent remained palpable. In her anger, she had almost forgotten her sister’s instruction not to reveal her identity for the time being.

Although she didn’t know why her sister said this, Luo Wushuang forced herself to hold back.

Her sister had promised that as long as she behaved, everything would be up to her tonight. For the sake of this sweet reward, she felt she could endure a bit longer, though it was a struggle.

Shangguan Liqian was unaware of her inner thoughts. Seeing that she had successfully soothed her, she turned to Madam Shangguan, who was sitting composedly in her chair, and spoke:

“I originally had very little freedom to speak of in the palace. That I was able to leave this time is entirely thanks to Her Majesty’s favor. However, I do not know for what matter my elder sister came to the palace to seek me?”

Luo Wushuang’s heart instinctively tightened upon hearing her say she had little freedom.

Is Sister still unwilling in her heart?

Luo Wushuang cautiously observed Shangguan Liqian’s expression. Only when she saw no sign of resistance on her face did she breathe a small sigh of relief. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to give her sister freedom, it was just… alright, she simply didn’t want to give her sister freedom. Her sister belonged to her alone, and could only ever belong to her!

Just as the gloom in Luo Wushuang’s eyes grew deeper, Madam Shangguan’s face also fell.

“What else would I be doing in the palace looking for you? Of course, I was worried about you.”

Madam Shangguan emphasized the word “worried” heavily, yet Shangguan Liqian felt an inexplicable urge to laugh.

Worry about her? How could anyone from the Shangguan family possibly worry about her?

They were only worried that she could no longer bewitch the Empress Regnant to secure benefits for them.

“I am fine, it is just a pity about Eldest Sister’s unborn child.” Shangguan Liqian sighed with feigned regret, deliberately lamenting the loss.

Hearing her mention Shangguan Qinglan’s unborn child, Madam Shangguan’s expression instantly turned even more unsightly. If this wretch had only obediently put in a good word for her precious son before the Empress Regnant, why would she have needed to sacrifice her eldest daughter’s child? Thinking of this, the gaze Madam Shangguan directed at Shangguan Liqian grew increasingly resentful.

“Since you are still able to leave the palace, it means Her Majesty still regards you highly. As her elder sister, you should show more concern for Shi’er’s affairs.”

Madam Shangguan spoke as a matter of course, not noticing the cold sneer surfacing on the lips of the usually submissive Shangguan Liqian.

Just as she expected, she had been met with the same demand in her past life when she visited Shangguan Qinglan after her miscarriage.

Back then, out of guilt, she had interceded with Luo Wushuang many times. Even if Luo Wushuang was disgruntled, she could only grant the requests to win her favor. Shangguan’s official rank rose time and again. As the power in his hands grew, his ambitions gradually became wilder.

Shangguan Shi had certainly put in a great deal of effort to persuade that cowardly fellow, Prince An, to rebel.

At this thought, the coldness in Shangguan Liqian’s eyes intensified, and she spoke playfully, “Of course. I will be sure to put in a ‘good word’ for Shangguan Shi before Her Majesty!”

Shangguan Liqian emphasized the last few words with extreme weight.