Chapter 5: The Honey Trap

Just as Luo Wushuang’s indignation was reaching its peak, a dark silhouette flickered past. With precise, rapid movements, a figure knelt before her.

“Master, a secret missive from the Shangguan Manor.”

Shangguan Liqian: “…”

She had been wondering why she could never escape. It turned out that every piece of correspondence between her and the Shangguan family had been conducted right under Luo Wushuang’s nose.

The irony was that the Shangguan family was audacious enough to collude with Prince An, plotting to drag Luo Wushuang off the throne. Did Luo Wushuang know about all those conspiracies as well?

Recalling how Luo Wushuang had wiped out the entire Shangguan clan in her previous life before immediately summoning Prince An to the palace, Liqian felt a chill of terror crawl up her spine.

This meant that back then, Luo Wushuang had known all along that Liqian intended to harm her. Had she actually been… playing along?

To what extent must one love to remain unfazed while facing the betrayal and harm of their beloved?

Thinking of how frequently she had hurt Luo Wushuang in the past, Liqian’s guilt reached a crescendo.

Meanwhile, Luo Wushuang was carefully gauging Liqian’s expression. Their relationship had finally begun to thaw, though she couldn’t be certain if her sister truly stopped hating her or if it was merely an act.

She was terrified that this discovery would make her sister loathe her even more.

Agitated, Luo Wushuang’s hand instinctively tightened. Her neatly trimmed nails dug deep into her palm, drawing small beads of crimson.

Sensing the oppressive atmosphere, the secret guard looked up, only to see the young lady of the Shangguan family standing beside her master. Miss Shangguan?

A crack appeared in the secret guard’s expressionless mask. Had she just botched everything?

Her master had kept this surveillance hidden for so long, and she had just brought it out into the open. Would she even live to see tomorrow?

Liqian snapped back to reality and immediately noticed the eerie tension. She was about to speak when her eyes fell on Luo Wushuang’s clenched fist. Her heart tightened instantly.

“Let go, Wushuang. Quickly.” Liqian reached out, trying to pry open the tight grip, but Luo Wushuang instinctively pulled away, trying to hide the wound.

“Give me the letter. All of you, dismissed.”

Upon hearing Liqian’s command, no one dared to move. It was only when they saw their Master give a slight nod that they vanished into the shadows without a sound.

Luo Wushuang took a deep breath, her white teeth biting hard into her lower lip. She lowered her gaze, hiding the shifting emotions in her eyes.

It’s been discovered. What do I do?

Will Sister find another way to run away? I can’t watch her every second of every day. What if she really escapes?

Maybe I should just break her legs. Or perhaps chop off her limbs entirely…

Just as the bloodthirsty light began to swirl in Luo Wushuang’s eyes and her expression grew increasingly manic, she was suddenly embraced from behind.

Luo Wushuang’s body went rigid. A moment later, a gentle yet firm voice sounded in her ear:

“Stop letting your mind wander. Come with me to the bedchamber to treat that wound.”

Luo Wushuang didn’t move. She was debating—between breaking her sister’s legs or chopping them off, which would cause her sister less pain?

She loved her sister so much; she couldn’t bear to let her hurt too much.

Unaware of these specific thoughts but knowing she was certainly up to no good, Liqian saw that she wasn’t budging and simply half-guided, half-pulled her into the bedchamber.

Once she had settled the dazed, overthinking Empress on the bed, Liqian pulled a jar of ointment from a hidden compartment—the same ointment Luo Wushuang had frequently used on her. She scooped out a generous amount and carefully applied it to the wounded palm.

As the cool sensation spread, the madness in Luo Wushuang’s eyes faltered. Her chaotic mind cleared for a moment. She looked at Liqian and spoke with terrifying sincerity:

“Sister, can I lock you up again? Please don’t be angry.”

Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself. I’m afraid I’ll truly hurt you.

Such wicked thoughts had surfaced in her mind countless times, but she could never bring herself to follow through. As long as her sister was safely locked away, her heart wouldn’t be so consumed by panic.

Looking at the earnest and unyielding Luo Wushuang, Liqian was speechless.

Did she even have the right to refuse? She didn’t even have the right to be angry. Hadn’t Her Majesty the Empress just said, “Please don’t be angry”?

Liqian was almost driven to laughter by Luo Wushuang’s bizarre logic. Lock me up, but don’t be angry? What is she thinking?

The problem was that she couldn’t refuse outright. There was no telling how Luo Wushuang would react if she did.

But if she allowed herself to be locked up again, their relationship would reset to zero. When would Luo Wushuang ever trust her again?

In a way, she was reaping what she had sown.

During her previous period of confinement, she had plotted her escape more times than she could count. Luo Wushuang had tolerated it with endless patience, but the Empress’s trust had been ground down to nothing.

Regaining the trust of the Empress Regnant was going to be a long and arduous journey.

But it didn’t matter. She would take it slow. She would eventually make Wushuang see her sincerity, let down her guard, and trust her once more.

Having been given a second chance at life, the things she lacked least were time and sincerity.

The immediate priority, however, was to avoid being locked up. Otherwise, all her previous efforts would go to waste.

But changing the mind of this stubborn woman was never easy.

Still, there was a way. It would just require a “Honey Trap.” This was a strategy Liqian had summarized after a long period of matching wits and will with Luo Wushuang.