Chapter 20: Luo Wushuang’s Past

Shangguan Liqian knew the Empress was naturally suspicious, especially where she was concerned. Wushuang could overthink a single gesture a thousand different ways.

Because of this, Liqian didn’t attempt a total denial. She followed Wushuang’s lead and offered a partial truth.

“It is, and it isn’t.”

Before Wushuang’s expression could shift again, Liqian continued, “I don’t want to lie to you. Qingdai is the only one who has ever treated me with true sincerity, the only maid who truly saw me as her master. I am pleading for her life only to honor that bond of loyalty between us.”

Wushuang’s face remained dark, but she suppressed her temper, waiting to hear what else her sister had to say.

If Liqian continued to beg for the maid’s life, Wushuang wasn’t sure she could stop herself from ordering the girl buried in a hole right then and there…

“If you don’t want her in the palace, once we have her contract of indenture back, why don’t we just give her her freedom?” Liqian reached out and took Wushuang’s hand, interlacing their fingers and squeezing tight.

Wushuang lowered her head, her phoenix eyes tracing the line of Liqian’s slender fingers. After a long silence, she finally asked, “Can you really bear to let her go, Sister?”

Sensing Wushuang’s mood softening, Liqian reached out with her other hand and pinched the Empress’s cheek, her voice soft and tender. “But I can bear even less the thought of Wushuang being unhappy.”

Wushuang stared at her, unmoving.

A light breeze drifted through the courtyard…

Liqian’s dark hair fluttered slightly, her eyes as deep and brilliant as stars in the night sky. The gentle smile playing on her lips left Wushuang completely entranced, her heart lost in the sight.

“Really?” Wushuang murmured. “I am more important to Sister than that maid?”

Liqian gave an exasperated huff and flicked the Empress’s smooth forehead. “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Completely dazed by Liqian’s beauty, Wushuang felt the sting on her brow and reflexively raised a hand to cover the spot.

Before she could put on a piteous, wronged expression to gain sympathy, Liqian spoke with sudden gravity.

“Wushuang, you must remember—whether it’s now or in the future, you are the most important person in my heart!”

It was the answer Wushuang had dreamed of, spoken by the very person she had prayed for a thousand times, yet she felt a jarring sense of unreality.

In her memory, the words she heard most often from her sister were expressions of loathing and disgust.

Even though their relationship had improved recently, she hadn’t dared to hope such words would ever cross Liqian’s lips.

She even began to wonder if everything happening lately was just a vivid dream.

When she woke up, would everything return to the way it was?

Would her sister go back to loathing her presence, recoiling from her touch?

Back to seeking any way possible to escape the palace, to escape her…

Wushuang’s lips trembled. “I… I don’t believe you!”

Seeing Wushuang so devoid of confidence made Liqian’s heart ache with a sharp, suffocating pang.

Wushuang’s constant fear of gain and loss was entirely her fault.

To hide her own distress, Liqian deliberately huffed, “Fine, don’t believe me then!”

Seeing Liqian turn as if to leave, Wushuang hurriedly scrambled to follow. “Sister, don’t go!”

Even if this was a dream, she would stay in it forever. No one would be allowed to wake her!

Sensing the person behind her following closely, her every movement cautious and tentative, Liqian’s lashes fluttered as she blinked back tears. She simply tightened her grip on Wushuang’s hand.

This time, she would never let go. She would never push her away again…

As the two of them walked away, the imperial guards remaining in the courtyard leaned over and grabbed handfuls of small pebbles, tossing them carelessly at the “corpses” lying on the ground.

The servants, who had been lying peacefully a moment ago, began to open their eyes one after another.

“Huh, that’s weird. Why am I lying on the ground?” the first servant to wake muttered. He turned his head and saw people sprawled out in various poses all around him. Being a simple-minded soul, he grumbled, “Oh, everyone’s on the ground? Then I guess it’s fine.”

He stood up and went on his way.

The others were equally confused, but following the principle that ‘less trouble is better than more,’ no one dwelled on it.

Remembering the chores they hadn’t finished before their “nap,” they quickly scrambled up and got to work…

Soon, the quiet courtyard became bustling and lively once again.

Meanwhile, the two women who had left the Madam’s courtyard were both feeling a sense of complexity.

Wushuang didn’t ask where Liqian was taking her, and Liqian didn’t say—perhaps she didn’t even know where she was going.

She simply walked aimlessly through the back gardens of the Shangguan Manor.

They walked until they reached a dilapidated little courtyard. Looking at the familiar gate, Liqian hesitated for a moment before pushing it open and stepping inside.

Wushuang followed curiously. The courtyard looked long-abandoned, overgrown with weeds.

Why would her sister bring her here? Could this place be…

“This is where I used to hide when I was bullied as a child. It was the only place in the Shangguan family where I felt I belonged,” Liqian said softly, her eyes tinged with nostalgia and sorrow.

Wushuang’s brows furrowed instantly. Casting all other thoughts aside, she stepped forward and took Liqian’s hand, her heart aching for her.

“Sister suffered so much when she was young… you must have been very lonely.”

Just like her. Her father had hated her, and her mother had… ignored her.

Since childhood, Wushuang had known that if she wanted something, she had to fight for it with everything she had.

She had no one to rely on; she could only be her own support.

Otherwise… how could she have survived in that man-eating imperial palace?

Thinking of the past, a flash of resentment flickered in Wushuang’s eyes.

But then she remembered the time she had been schemed against and forced out of the palace, leading her to meet her sister, who had been visiting a temple to pray. The resentment in her eyes was instantly replaced by tenderness.

Because she met her sister, her past wasn’t entirely dark. At least… at least there was one shred of light worth holding onto, one memory worth cherishing.

At least her sister wasn’t like those other people. Back then, her sister truly cared for her.

It was because of that care that Wushuang hadn’t given up on herself when she was being framed.

It was also then that she had made the firm resolution to seize the throne.

Recalling the wind, frost, and hardships she had faced along the way, Wushuang felt no regret.

She had always known exactly what she wanted.

Usurping the throne was for power. With power, she could do whatever she desired.

For instance, she could snatch her sister away from this place.

Or, she could ignore everyone’s objections and keep her sister inside the Phoenix Hall, entwined with her day and night.

Or perhaps… once she had finally moved her sister’s heart, she would marry her and make her the Empress.

Everything required her to have absolute power. Without it, the fate awaiting the two of them would never be a happy one.

While Wushuang was lost in her intense thoughts, Liqian sighed softly.

“Yes. Back then, I used to think… it would be so nice if there was someone who could just stay by my side.”

Liqian turned to look at Wushuang, seeing the eyes filled with overwhelming devotion and pain, and suddenly she felt a sense of peace.

No one’s life was perfect. She was doing well now, and that was enough. Why dwell on a past that wasn’t beautiful?

If every tomorrow was better than the day before… that would be enough.