Chapter 1 Rebirth Awakening
When I stabbed the knife into Qi Wanwan's belly.
I forced a smile on my numb face.
She died in my hands without any defense, and I couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, dying from the poison.
The last scene in my memory.
Was Imperial Brother pushing open the door of You Ting.
His eyes cracked wide, shouting in heartbreak.
"Tangyue—"
How ridiculous.
I saw him as the closest person in the world, willingly drank that bowl of poisoned fish soup for him, and schemed to eliminate Fourth Prince.
But he believed Qi Wanwan blindly.
Trapped me in You Ting for ten years, my heart like dead ashes, tormented and wasted.
In this reborn life, Imperial Brother, I won't do so much for you anymore.
...
Cool tears fell on the back of my hand.
When I opened my eyes again, I really returned to thirteen years ago.
Imperial Consort Mother shed tears while holding my hand.
"Tangyue, Fourth Prince's power is growing stronger. If we don't find a way to get rid of him, even for the sake of his birth mother Consort Ning, he won't let us go."
Consort Ning was Imperial Consort Mother's archenemy.
Imperial Consort Mother fought her for many years and finally brought her down.
Now Fourth Prince was rising.
If he became crown prince and ascended the throne, my and Imperial Consort Mother's fate was obvious.
"So..."
Imperial Consort Mother handed me a packet of poison powder.
"For Imperial Consort Mother, for your Imperial Brother, Tangyue, sacrifice a bit for now."
"The emperor dotes on you the most. If he knows Fourth Prince poisoned you, he will surely unleash thunderous rage. Then we can eliminate him without worries."
Imperial Consort Mother was right.
But.
I looked at her teary eyes, remembering in the previous life, when I was imprisoned in You Ting, she never visited me once.
So I was just her tool to clear obstacles for Imperial Brother.
Once used, no longer needed.
There was no trace of pity for me in her eyes.
Only hatred and calculation.
But I once loved her so much.
My heart felt like pricked by needles, and I asked seriously.
"Imperial Consort Mother, have you thought about what if I really get poisoned to death?"
"It's fine." Imperial Consort Mother assured confidently, "This poison won't kill immediately. As long as treated in time, life can be saved."
Indeed, I survived in the previous life.
But the cost was, I could no longer ride horses or shoot arrows.
From a proud daughter of heaven, turned into a frail invalid.
It was this irreversible cost that made Father Emperor completely furious, banishing Fourth Prince from the capital.
On the way south, he was ambushed and killed by Imperial Consort Mother halfway.
It only required sacrificing me.
I curved my lips, took the poison, and bowed obediently.
"Okay, I'll listen to Imperial Consort Mother."
I would definitely administer the poison.
But the one ingesting it wouldn't be me.