Chapter 465

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Chapter 465: The Empress Anger Towards the Third Mistress

Chao Lu had a dream where she heard a woman with completely white hair speaking.

She sat on a luxurious dragon-shaped throne, inside a magnificent palace. The lights illuminated the surroundings just like daytime.

The woman’s white hair reached her waist, and the room wasn’t particularly quiet. They could hear the sound of flowing water, the faint breeze, and… silence after the cicadas stopped chirping, creating a serene atmosphere.

In front of the most revered woman of the country, another woman was kneeling below the raised bed. The Empress looked at her, revealing a hint of icy laughter.

"You might be curious as to why your carefully planned scheme failed after such a long time."

"But have you ever thought that this opportunity might be given to you by me?"

"After all, you are a person, and you are too anxious because your time is not that abundant."

"Three times in ten years is too frequent, each time the timing was precise. So the success of the first three times made you have a misconception. You thought I didn’t notice, but I was only waiting for you to give in."

The Empress with white hair lazily leaned back on the chair, lowered her gaze, and stared at the exquisite and intelligent maid.

It is widely known that the Empress of the Demon Kingdom’s harem is her group of advisers. It accommodates intelligent women from all over the world. Every maid has to go through layers of assessment and screening, as well as years of training.

This maid in front of us is personally cultivated by the Empress. She entered the palace at the age of fourteen, provided counsel, participated in government affairs, handled numerous memorials. The bond between the two has been as close as family in the past decade or so. Within the palace, only the former Empress, who was once a person herself, took care of and was closest to the maids. That’s why her betrayal astonishes people, and even more surprising is that the Empress is not surprised by it.

"Rise, no need to kneel. We understand each other without speaking. You have never shown much respect towards me, and I have never cared about these matters of hierarchy. Today, let us delve into some things that you don’t know… Do you know why I chose to bring you into the palace in the first place?"

The maid gracefully rose and said, "Because I am intelligent."

"You are indeed intelligent, a talented person at such a young age. But you think that I value these qualities. All the talented people in the world have fallen into my hands, and lacking a weak woman like you would not make much difference." The Empress sneered, "Perhaps you are intelligent, but you are by no means indispensable. Moreover, excessive intelligence will lead to harm. Your longevity depends on the carefully prepared elixirs I have been having people bring to you for proper care."

The maid asked, "Why is that?"

The empress said, "Because of your eyes… Since the first time I saw you, I felt like I’ve known your eyes before. You are like a companion to me, we are very similar…"

The maid frowned as if she had been greatly insulted.

"You don’t believe me?"

"I dare not…"

"You dare not believe, or you dare not not believe?" The empress lightly laughed, her appearance and posture resembling that of a young girl, "You think you sacrificed for the greater good and look down upon a woman who betrayed her country. But the person without a place to call home is precisely in that country. How could I not hate it?"

The maid calmly said, "Your Majesty, you can directly kill me or give me a cup of poison, I am willing to die here and return my life to you. But why do you need to say these words? If you want to follow through, you could say some comforting words, so that I, your servant, can leave in peace."

The empress laughed and said, "Do you think you are already doomed to die, so you want to stubbornly resist me to the end? But you have betrayed me, how can I fulfill your wish? I am not a gentle woman. I will now take out your heart and lungs to see what color your heart really is."

The maid softly said, "If that’s the case, there’s no need for Your Majesty to dirty your hands."

The empress sat up straight, her body soft and her movements gentle. She stood barefoot on a bed made of jade stones. Even the maids who were present held their breath slightly, staring at the mystical empress who stood just a few steps away. The empress lightly lifted the maid’s chin with her fingers, her nails gently touching the soft and fair skin.

"You look so beautiful," the empress whispered, "Look at you, in your twenties and still unmarried in the mortal world. Surely no one has come to propose. But you are still very pretty, just like me. The passage of time and the harshness of life cannot hide this beauty… But you are clearly dying, yet you intentionally dress yourself up so beautifully. The same happened before, every time before you took action, you always spent a long time in front of the mirror, applying makeup and decorations… Why?"

The maid remained silent, avoiding eye contact.

The empress continued, "I know that you hold someone dear in your heart. For this person, you are willing to die… I also know why you came thousands of miles away to be a spy and rebel within the palace instead of staying by that person’s side. It’s because that person doesn’t see you, he doesn’t include you. If you stayed near him, it would be better for people to worry about and miss you here."

The maid pressed her lips together, her eyes filled with courage as she stared directly at the empress, showing no sign of backing down.

The corner of the empress’s lips lifted. "Did it touch your heart? Does it hurt?"

The maid murmured, "So what if it does?"

The empress felt a pang of sympathy and sighed, "You are truly an adorable fool… Ruling a country and protecting a home, what does that have to do with you? Women in this world should just stay at home, be good wives and mothers, and live peaceful lives… What you see is not truly about the righteousness of the country. What you truly desire is just for that person, who is like both a teacher and a father, to look at you more. The driving force behind your self-sacrifice and dedication is nothing but the most selfish and self-centered love that humans possess."

"But you cannot obtain his love and attention. You want to be a good wife and mother, you want to wield a pen to kill, you want to share burdens and solve difficulties, and you want to become a beloved partner. But that person doesn’t see you. Yet, you embrace a love that asks for nothing in return. But you are clever, and you immediately realize what you should do. Instead of giving up like others, you decisively choose to burn yourself. Every time, you prepare yourself for the inevitable exposure and death, so you demand of yourself to maintain your beauty until the very end. If that’s the case, that person will remember you."

All her thoughts were struck, as if the Empress had said it, her heart was split open.

The maid, like a startled cat, quickly swatted away the Empress’s light fingers on her cheek, angrily saying, "What do you understand!"

The Empress stood up, with a dull expression, "We have said it before, from the very beginning, We knew what kind of person you are, what you hide in your eyes, We understand it too well. What do you ask Us to understand? We understand more than you. No one understands what kind of person he is better than Us. Ordinary methods cannot make him shed a tear, but it’s different for the dead. Your methods are clever, but also cunning enough."

"The dead are invincible, if you die, he will remember you for a lifetime."

"Guilt is the best weapon to use, this gentle and colorless sword cuts deep into the bones."

"This, isn’t acceptable…"

The Empress looked down at the maid, her eyes changing from mockery to icy cold in an instant.

"How can We tolerate another woman leaving a deep scar in his heart? Besides Us, no one has the qualification, neither do you."

The maid shivered, it was the first time she saw such a reaction from the Empress. Usually, she was a very generous Empress, not desiring wealth and power. But this time it was different, like a dragon protecting its treasure, she released an astonishing aura, the sense of oppression hit her, as a hand gripped her neck, not exerting too much force but making it difficult for her to breathe.

The empress grabbed the maid’s neck and lifted her up.

"I don’t care how many times you sent information, causing me to lose several cities and suffer many defeats… I don’t care how many soldiers died in the Demon Kingdom, they were just barbarians anyway, and I have no regard for them."

"I can tolerate you because I admire and sympathize with you. When I look at you, it feels like I am looking at myself. It makes me feel relieved and comfortable. This palace is too cold and empty. I don’t mind spoiling the next generation. You are his disciple and also my child."

"But this time, you have crossed the line. My tolerance is not limitless. Did you think you could just die and leave him with a scar without my permission? Are you worthy? Why don’t you do something good and become a loyal student?"

The empress’s voice was icy cold. She forcefully swung her sleeve and made the maid fall to the ground, gasping for breath.

The maid’s neck turned red. She hoarsely shouted, filled with deep jealousy and resentment.

"Liu Xiaowan！"

If it wasn’t for you! How could he end up like this?

If only I hadn’t been born twenty years later! How could I end up like this?

The empress listened to the crazy death longing hidden in his words, and responded with a cruel laugh, "There is a simple rule in the world, called first come, first served. If you’re late, you’re late. What doesn’t belong to you, will never belong to you. If you want to snatch it, I won’t give it to you either!"

"Don’t even think about dying. I know you won’t be able to live in peace. But remember, if I don’t kill you, then you won’t even have the chance to die. If you find a chance to end your life, I will find someone to pretend you’re still alive. You can live until old age, but don’t expect to live comfortably. You will never achieve what you desire, longing for a position that doesn’t belong to you. This is the price you have to pay."

The empress left, leaving the maid resentful and heartbroken.

…

Waking up from a dream, Chao Lu opened her eyes and got up drowsily, feeling a bit suffocated.

That empress… a fable? But she isn’t…

What’s with this dream? Why did I suddenly dream about all this… When did jealousy between women become such a big deal?

Confused by the dream, Chao Lu couldn’t help but feel restless and wanted to go outside for some fresh air.

Only when she stepped out did she realize that she seemed to have moved to a different place tonight. It wasn’t an inn, but a secluded courtyard.

She stood in the courtyard and caught a glimpse of a shade of green that was even greener than the bamboo leaves.

"Princess Chao Lu, are you unable to sleep?"

Chao Lu no longer pretended not to hear the voice. She approached and saw Nalan Qingshu eating a midnight snack.

Bi Fang was young and still looked like a delicate little girl, cute and lovely. However, she also carried a heavy burden, just like Chao Lu.

"Want to have something to eat together?" Nalan Qingshu invited. "You seem to have something on your mind. Why not talk about it?"

"Sure," Chao Lu agreed readily. She briefly described her dream, without going into too much detail, and asked, "What does this dream mean?"

Nalan Qingshu pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps this dream is suggesting… Princess Chao Lu is facing a formidable challenge?"

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