Chapter 77: The Sickly Prime Minister Poisoned to Death by Her Beloved

Alone in the darkness, the events of the past few years surged through her mind.

The year the Prime Minister met Shi Qingyi, she had just turned ten. Most ten-year-old girls wore their hair in two little buns, cute and dainty like flower buds.

Xiao Jinse was different. Her birth mother had been a lowly servant, merely a maid who came with the dowry. She was conceived one drunken night when a young master of the Xiao family made a mistake. She had never been raised with much care, and she had only come to the Capital City because the Emperor wanted to keep a hostage from the powerful Xiao family in the southwest.

The Xiao family, like the imperial family of that generation, had few heirs, and everyone doted on their children dearly—except for her, who was deemed useless. So, she was sent to the Emperor as a hostage.

She arrived in the Imperial City on an early summer day. The city was opulent and grand, utterly unlike the simple folkways of the southwest. Crimson palace walls stretched to the horizon. Led by hand by a palace maid, she walked through the Imperial Palace with her head bowed submissively.

Everything felt solemn and oppressive. She carefully counted each green brick underfoot, already imagining the days ahead.

That year, she was only eleven or twelve. After arriving in the Imperial City, His Majesty specially permitted her to study at the Imperial Academy. At first, her foundations were weak; even her official speech was halting and stumbling, and people often mocked her.

Later, her talent gradually revealed itself. She excelled in every subject beyond her peers and earned the tutors’ favor. Still young and naive, she didn’t know to hide her edge—and in that environment, hiding it might not have let her survive anyway.

Life at the Imperial Academy was long and regimented. Whether in the sweltering heat of midsummer or the biting cold of midwinter, they rose early to review their books—like a river whose end was visible at a glance, flowing silently onward.

The Eldest Princess was the only light in that silent grayness. Back then, she wasn’t yet the Eldest Princess but the palace’s pampered little princess.

In Xiao Jinse’s first winter in the Imperial City, the Xiao family stirred in the southwest. His Majesty intended to strip them of their military power, but convincing a great clan to relinquish their troops was no easy feat. Tensions ran high; the generals rubbed their fists in the front court, and even among the children, peace was absent.

The young heir of the Pingyang Prince pointed at her and said that if his father ever marched to war one day, he would kill her first to sacrifice to the flag.

The words were harsh, but not wrong.

Perhaps from enduring so much hardship, she was wiser and more mature than other children. From snippets of conversation, she realized her situation was precarious.

No one watched over her, and with relations between the Xiao family and the court so strained, she was in an exceedingly awkward position.

That winter hunt was one of the rare holidays from the Imperial Academy. A group of noble heirs chased her off her horse and whipped her forward through the ice and snow, the horse’s reins looped around her neck. The pony trotted and jumped ahead while she stumbled behind, plowing through knee-deep snow, thinking she might die there.

Even in death, it would be an “accident”—perhaps used to ignite conflict between the Xiao family and the Emperor, or simply forgotten in the dust, with no one caring about her fate.

As the rope tightened around her neck and suffocation closed in, she thought: If there was a next life, she would become someone above all others, no matter the cost. She would dismember those who dared bully her, draw and quarter them, and toss their corpses into the snow to be devoured by wild beasts.

But she didn’t die in the end.

An arrow struck the pony’s hoof. The pony neighed and fell, dragging her into a snowbank. Her vision went white, her bones cracked with agony. In the silent blizzard, she opened her eyes and saw the little princess not far away, bow drawn.

The eleven- or twelve-year-old princess rode her horse, clad in crisp red robes and black armor, a curved blade at her waist—heroic and dashing, her stunning brows frosted with ice. In that moment, something pierced deep into Xiao Jinse’s heart.

When the pony fell, it also injured the Pingyang Prince’s heir. As the heir clutched his arm, sniffling off to complain to His Majesty, Xiao Jinse sat in front of the little princess, trembling arms wrapped around her slender waist.

Warm, with a crisp, dry chill of fragrance.

When His Majesty questioned her, the little princess reached back to help her dismount. Though a girl, her archery and riding rivaled any boy’s. She merely furrowed her delicate brows.

“This daughter went hunting and saw a pack of dogs chasing a little deer. This daughter shot at the dogs but missed.”

Her voice was childish yet arrogant, infuriating the burly Pingyang Prince heir until his eyes reddened. His chubby hand grabbed at his mother’s skirt.

“Mother, she called me a dog!”

The Crown Prince calmly shielded the little princess and righteously frowned. “What do you mean by that, Heir? Qingyi has been studying so much these past two years her eyes are ruined. Father, in this son’s opinion, she should have some lessons lightened.”

The Crown Prince spoke so earnestly that even His Majesty sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead. The little princess stuck her tongue out at the Pingyang Prince heir from behind, making him stomp in rage.

But there was nothing to be done. His Majesty had gained a daughter late in life, with only this one son and one daughter. The Crown Prince, many years her senior, doted on her like a treasure, as did everyone—afraid to wrong her even slightly.

This family’s indulgence spoiled her temperament. She wouldn’t speak properly, was thin-skinned yet willful and unruly. To the end, her late imperial parents worried about her. After they were gone, who would dote on Qingyi, treat her well, indulge her whims?

When the Eldest Princess’s father passed, he stroked her hair and sighed, “We spoiled you too much. Who will find a good husband to pamper you like this in the future?”

Who could treasure her like a jewel for a lifetime?

Yet her luck had always been good. In her youth, she had her father, mother, and brother. Later, she met Xiao Jinse.

Except for her freedom, Xiao Jinse truly pampered her for life—even willing to give up her own.

Xiao Jinse was happy to indulge her. In youth, she copied books for her; grown, she conquered the world for her.

That winter day, Xiao Jinse was brought into the little princess’s tent. The little princess held her hand and breathed warmth on it, gave her own little bed, stuffed a handwarmer into her arms—and later, removed her clothes.

Her garments were soaked through with snow and had to be changed, but her hands were frozen stiff, and she shrank from others like a startled bird. In the end, the little princess did it herself.

Curled in the princess’s bedding, tears flowed silently. It was the first time in her life someone had been so good to her—so very good.

Much later, when they had been together a long time and the forgetful Eldest Princess vaguely recalled it, Xiao Jinse whispered in her ear.

“In the place where I was born, once a girl shows her body, you have to be together for life.”

So she remembered Shi Qingyi for life—and trapped her for life.

She and the little princess had actually been close for a long time. The princess was lively and often sneaked out of class to play. The Crown Prince waited outside the Imperial Academy to pick her up. Once, her red skirt caught on a tree; she couldn’t go up or down, sweating in frustration.

Xiao Jinse watched from the window, saw she was stuck, and sneaked out—no calling the tutor, just reaching to untangle the fabric from the branches.

So when the little princess returned from outside the palace, she slipped some apricot blossom candy into her palm. Xiao Jinse loved the candy even more than the princess’s soft, warm hand, scented with a girl’s fragrance.

The little princess loved sleeping in. In winter, she’d be late, punished by the stern tutor to copy books—no exceptions for a princess. Her hand ached, unfinished, and she fell asleep slumped over the desk.

When she dozed off, Xiao Jinse draped a blanket over her, took the brush, and copied for her. She wrote quickly, imitating the princess’s script perfectly. Finishing past midnight left her dizzy-eyed.

Before leaving, feeling dissatisfied—such hard work deserved interest!—she sneaked a kiss on the princess’s forehead and fled in a panic, heart pounding wildly.

The next day, the princess found her assignment mysteriously done, assumed her imperial brother had done it, and hugged him tightly after getting away with it.

Xiao “Clingy Snail Girl” Jinse: “…”

So wronged.

His Highness doesn’t hug me.

Prime Minister Xiao had a good memory and held grudges—even over something so trivial, she remembered it for two lifetimes. Later, she made the Eldest Princess repay it in the flesh.

Little Princess: “…”

She always felt it was just an excuse to take advantage.

The next autumn, after nearly two years of deadlock, the Xiao family finally surrendered their military power. The Emperor relaxed at last. This superfluous hostage could finally go home. But when releasing her, he felt uneasy.

She knelt on the steps below. The sovereign above pondered silently for a long time, the decree to free her never approved.

The little princess hiked her skirt and leaned on her father’s desk, yawning sleepily. “Father, when are you dining in Mother’s palace? Let the little deer go.”

A timid little deer—the Xiao family probably wouldn’t care much even if they sent her back.

The Emperor smiled and patted the princess’s head. Soon after, the decree releasing her was issued.

As she left, she didn’t know what to feel. The princess didn’t come to see her off. Watching the city gates shrink in the distance, she thought: One day, she would return.

So, Your Highness, wait for me.

The Xiao family, despite few heirs, had no place for a woman in office. To take her brothers’ place, she did many dirty deeds in secret. One brother crippled, one mute and deaf—both her doing.

She had endured endless bullying, and her revenge knew no mercy. To return to the Imperial City, she had to reach the pinnacle.

But when she schemed her way back, Her Highness had forgotten her.

Forgotten completely, without a trace. Her gaze was cold and distant.

Fortunately, she held great power. That night she forced Her Highness, calling her name over and over, but Her Highness resisted, pushed her away, even told her to die.

How terrifying— the person she’d cherished half her life didn’t even remember her.

She truly hated. Hated enough to utterly destroy her, burn her to ash, devour her flesh raw.

How had it come to this?

The Eldest Princess was always proud and aloof, yet she always fantasized about stripping off that red robe one day, clipping her wings, making the world see only herself in her eyes—then slowly peeling away her garments, kissing every inch of skin, branding her body with her marks.

Just thinking of it made her cooled blood boil.

She never imagined the scenario she’d envisioned for so long would become her own retribution.

Sturdy profound iron chains bound her hands and feet—priceless profound iron, forged by the world’s best craftsmen. No one knew better than her that escape was impossible.

The chains’ ends were embedded in the stone chamber’s walls. A high bed with soft pillows surrounded by a few massive night pearls for light. A black chain collared her neck; she wore only a thin gauze, nearly naked.

Her arms suspended by chains, raven hair cascading behind—if anyone came, they’d see the Prime Minister in such a lascivious pose.

But no one did. The chamber was silent as a tomb. Alone for so long, her memories exhausted, the stone door creaked open. At its end stood the Female Emperor, above all under heaven.

By now, Xiao Jinse didn’t even bother struggling. She stared deathly at Shi Qingyi, the girl she’d adored since youth, as if to etch her into her soul.

She was still breathtakingly beautiful. Brocade robes were mere adornments, worthless before her radiance.

The Female Emperor seemed fresh from court, her dragon robe supremely dignified, buttoned to the collar. Looking down imperiously, her gaze swept unmasked over Xiao Jinse’s body, eyes mocking: “Do you like it?”

Leaning to her ear, her voice turned chilling: “The chains, the secret chamber, the clothes—you prepared them all yourself. Now used on you. Do you like it?”

All this was what Xiao Jinse had prepared for her—even this useless gauze that hid nothing. When Shi Qingyi had first seen it, she’d laughed in fury.

No clothes? Fine. Yet this self-deceptive fig leaf.

“I like it…” Xiao Jinse smiled, tears shimmering in her eyes. Though choking back sobs, she still smiled. “Everything from Your Highness—I like it all.”

Even if it takes my life, I’m delighted.

“Do you think you’re the only one who wants this? Don’t I want it too? When you imprisoned me, Xiao Jinse, I thought about locking you up like this every single moment,” the Female Emperor seemed to laugh, though it was impossible to tell if it was out of revenge or cold indifference. “I’ve already announced to the outside world that the Prime Minister has passed away from illness. All your close aides have been exiled. No one will come to save you anymore.”

“Mm…”

She was bullied by Shi Qingyi, but upon hearing this, she merely smiled, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes yet still forcing a laugh. “Do as Your Highness pleases…”

These were all mere external possessions, after all.

Shi Qingyi bullied her in all sorts of ways, and Xiao Jinse simply let her. In the end, as she turned to leave, Xiao Jinse couldn’t help but grab the hem of her clothes, choking back a sob.

“Your Highness, are you going to kill me?”

Shi Qingyi: “…”

Xiao Jinse looked at her with utmost understanding, her gaze filled with sorrow yet also relief. After a long moment, she closed her eyes.

“The cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. This subject understands. This subject understands it all.”

Such were the techniques of an emperor—no wonder.

Shi Ji had been defeated. Your Highness no longer needed to compromise or yield. She knew it all. When Xinyi had urged her to rebel, she hadn’t. This outcome had been within her expectations all along. Across two lifetimes of back-and-forth, she had still fallen into her hands in the end.

But…

She leaned forward and grasped the Female Emperor’s slender fingers, her voice very soft. “I won’t live much longer anyway. There’s no need for Your Highness to dirty your hands. Just let me accompany you a little more.”

The Female Emperor’s lips twitched, her tone mocking yet laced with exasperation. “Accompany me like a plaything in bed?”

“That works too. Do as Your Highness pleases.”

She was willing to bare her neck for the blade.

The Female Emperor fell silent for a moment before suddenly reaching out to tug at the silver-white chains. The chains connected to Xiao Jinse’s delicate neck, forcing her to slowly lift her head and gaze up. “…Who said I want to kill you?”