Just as Ji Wanxin was saying these words.

Ji Yunshu was extremely calm.

Because she no longer cared.

Everything had become the past, and moreover, she already knew all of this.

Just after Ji Wanxin finished speaking, she listened silently, then rose and walked to that screen, her fingers lightly brushing over the phoenix embroidered on it.

“Do you know why I did all this?” Ji Wanxin asked her.

She: “…”

A sinister, unwilling smile spread across Ji Wanxin’s lips. She also stood up and said, “Actually, when I was young, I truly sympathized with you and pitied you. But after growing up, everything changed. From the day Ji Pei came to our Ji family, everything changed. I was clearly better than you, better than you in everything, yet in Ji Pei’s heart there was only you, no room for me at all. Why? Why?”

She questioned loudly.

At the same time, she grabbed Ji Yunshu’s sleeve and pulled hard.

Ji Yunshu’s body turned, and the two stood face to face.

So close!

Ji Wanxin didn’t know where the strength came from, but she tightly gripped her hand and wouldn’t let go. That gentle face was gone, becoming extremely vicious as she said harshly: “You’re nothing but a bastard child, and your mother was from a brothel! Everyone says I’m beautiful, that I’m gentle and gracious, but Ji Pei never even looked at me properly. It’s all because of you—you stole what belonged to me! Then Prince Rong—I was clearly the one who first met him at the family banquet, so why did he, like Ji Pei, have only you in his eyes and heart? And what I couldn’t have, I didn’t want to see you have either. Only if you died could I take back what belonged to me.”

At that moment, it was as if Ji Wanxin’s mouth contained blood!

So vicious!

Ji Yunshu was not angry. Her eyes held only disgust and disappointment, even pity.

Finally, with a shake of her hand, she flung Ji Wanxin’s entire person to the ground.

That woman had probably exhausted all her strength just now, and with this fling, she sprawled on the ground.

At that moment, Ji Wanxin cried!

Ji Yunshu stood before her, looking down at the wretched, sickly beauty.

After a very long time—

She pointed to the cup of tea originally placed before herself and said to Ji Wanxin: “This cup of tea, and this cold, desolate courtyard—choose for yourself.”

Huh?

Having spoken, Ji Yunshu turned to leave.

“Yunshu!”

Ji Wanxin called out to her.

Her footsteps stopped, but she did not turn around.

After a long while, endless sorrow appeared on Ji Wanxin’s pallid face. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the cup of tea before her and said: “Can I ask you for one more thing?”

“Speak.”

“Second Brother is dead. In our family, only Elder Sister and Lingzhi remain. Can you take good care of them for me?”

“All right, I promise you.”

“Thank you.” Ji Wanxin solemnly expressed her gratitude. Her gaze moved from the teacup and slowly looked toward Ji Yunshu, her eyes full of longing as she said, “How I wish you and I were truly good sisters. If there is a next life, I still want to be sisters with you.”

Ji Yunshu never turned around. Her eyes were brimming with tears, her neck taut as she forced herself to hold on.

In the end, she said nothing.

And left.

Behind her, through that screen, Ji Wanxin shouted loudly: “Yunshu, in this life, I have wronged you!”

Her voice was hoarse and desperate.

Ah!

That apology had come many years too late!

Ji Yunshu’s body trembled slightly. Tears fell as she took difficult steps, leaving one by one.

Just as she went out, she ran into Shen Changqin, who had hurriedly rushed over, right outside the door.

“Where is she?”

Ji Yunshu glanced at him, said nothing, and left.

When Shen Changqin entered, what he saw was a corpse lying on the ground.

The blood from Ji Wanxin’s mouth had flowed onto her white mourning garments, appearing piercingly desolate. The full cup of tea before her was now empty.

She would rather choose death than spend her life in this empty, cold courtyard.

Death, for her, was perhaps a liberation.

Shen Changqin’s eyes widened as he stood there in disbelief.

After a long while, he finally moved his steps over and crouched beside Ji Wanxin’s corpse, reaching out to hold her.

“Wanxin, no… no…” Shen Changqin called out obsessively.

Utterly tragic!

After Ji Yunshu left the courtyard, she kept walking forward in the corridor along the palace walls.

At this moment, she herself didn’t know what kind of feelings she carried.

Suddenly—

A small cuju ball rolled out from around a corner, landing right at her feet.

Then bounced away a bit.

Hm?

She came back to her senses and picked up the cuju ball.

The cuju was extremely exquisite, with several very beautiful beads on it that made sounds when gently shaken.

The sound was very pleasant.

Just as she was wondering where this cuju had come from, a small figure suddenly darted before her.

“That’s mine.”

Ji Yunshu looked and discovered that standing before her was a boy with a completely childish face, wearing dragon robes.

Those large eyes were looking right at her.

Ji Yunshu smiled gently. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“No need for formalities. There’s no one else here.”

How true!

This young emperor’s heart was truly bold—having ascended the throne only a few days ago, he was already without eunuchs by his side.

Probably seeing the doubt in Ji Yunshu’s heart, Jing Cheng said: “I told them not to follow. I secretly ran here because I wanted to kick the cuju around.”

He explained earnestly.

Ji Yunshu asked: “Your Majesty is now the Son of Heaven of Da Lin. Shouldn’t you be studying diligently in the Imperial Study?”

She still held the cuju in her hands without giving it to him.

Jing Cheng wasn’t an impatient child either. When Ji Yunshu asked this, he followed along with her words to answer, saying: “I’ve already finished everything the Grand Tutor taught me. After studying for a long time, I ran out while the Grand Tutor was dozing.”

“Oh? How did the Grand Tutor fall asleep?”

“The Grand Tutor said he played chess with himself all last night, so naturally this morning he had no energy.”

Pfft!

Ji Yunshu’s originally heavy mood suddenly lightened considerably.

She lightly tossed the cuju in her hand up a few times and said: “Does Your Majesty really want to play that badly?”

“Mm. When I was at home, I used to play with them. But after coming to the palace, I’m in the Imperial Study all day and can’t go anywhere. Even when I want to go somewhere, many people follow me. It’s not good at all.” Jing Cheng’s small face puffed up.

Having just ascended the throne, he was naturally somewhat unaccustomed to it.

So—

Ji Yunshu said: “How about this—I’ll play cuju with Your Majesty.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Jing Cheng was extremely happy.

The two then began kicking the cuju around in the corridor within the palace walls.

They had great fun!

After a while, Shang Zhuo came looking with several eunuchs.

From afar, they saw that warm scene.

And heard that pure laughter.

It was rare to still hear such things in this cold palace.

A eunuch beside him asked: “Grand Tutor Shang, should we go over?”

Shang Zhuo raised his hand and said: “No need. Just watch from afar. When His Majesty is tired from playing, Miss Ji will escort His Majesty back to the hall.”

“Yes!”

The several eunuchs received their orders and waited over there.

In the distance, one tall and one short figure jumped about joyfully.

It was so beautiful. It was so harmonious.