Yun Chu had visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion when she was very young.

But that was all from her past life. So many years had passed—she had long forgotten the route to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

She followed the young eunuch, and the more she walked, the more something felt wrong.

“Miss Yun, just around here and we’ll be there. The various ladies should have arrived long ago.” The young eunuch led her to the palace hall ahead.

Yun Chu saw that this was a main hall, with chrysanthemums of all colors blooming at the entrance, swaying in the autumn wind.

The Hundred Flowers Pavilion in her memory didn’t seem to look like this.

Her steps halted, her gaze sharp as a torch as she looked at the young eunuch before her. “Are you truly from the Empress’s palace?”

The young eunuch’s expression suddenly changed.

He abruptly shoved Yun Chu. She stumbled on the threshold and fell inside the palace gates.

Tingxue swiftly rushed over to help her up.

The short sword hidden in her sleeve instantly unsheathed. Pressing the red button, with a whoosh, a hidden weapon shot toward the eunuch’s face.

The eunuch blocked with his hand, and the weapon pierced straight through his entire palm.

He didn’t bother with his injury at all. He stepped forward and pulled the palace gates shut with a clang, then locked them with a large padlock.

“Miss, are you injured anywhere?” Tingxue hurriedly checked Yun Chu.

Yun Chu shook her head, quite regretfully saying, “What a pity about that hidden weapon.”

There were only three in total. It truly was a pity.

Tingxue surveyed their surroundings. “This palace looks like it hasn’t been inhabited for a long time. This servant will see if there are any chairs or similar things we can use to climb over.”

Yun Chu made a gesture indicating it wasn’t necessary.

That young eunuch had locked her in this long-uninhabited palace and left. He must have had something to rely on.

Something must be hidden within this palace.

She gripped the short sword in her hand and looked up at the towering hall. Looking in from the bright sunlight outside, she could only see pitch darkness.

Like a bottomless mouth in the night, spreading endless fear.

Having died once, Yun Chu naturally wasn’t afraid of such things.

But she also wasn’t foolish enough to directly climb the steps and walk into the hall.

She carefully avoided the main entrance, slowly walking toward the back. There were thick, sturdy trees there—perhaps she could use them to leave this place first.

Walking to the back, chrysanthemums bloomed everywhere, extraordinarily eye-catching.

“Miss, it sounds like there’s a noise…”

Yun Chu also heard the sound and signaled Tingxue to be silent.

She had Tingxue stand in place while she slowly moved her body along the palace wall. The sound became increasingly clear—she heard the sound of flowing water.

Rounding this wall, she saw that in the pavilion in the rear courtyard sat a man, pouring and drinking alone, cup after cup of wine.

She smelled the strong scent of alcohol.

She frowned slightly.

That young eunuch had brought her here—was the scheme for her to be caught with this drunk man, ruining her reputation?

“Hahaha!”

The man suddenly stood and walked toward Yun Chu’s direction.

Yun Chu immediately held her breath and focused, her finger on the hidden weapon, ready to strike at any moment.

However, she saw the man stop before the palace wall and pour the wine in his hand onto the autumn chrysanthemums blooming vigorously along the wall.

“What should I do… what should I do!”

The man raised his hand and smashed the wine cup against the palace wall with a bang.

The cup shattered, porcelain shards flying, nearly landing on Yun Chu’s face.

Her expression showed no emotion. She continued observing the man.

This man wore luxurious robes, his hair bound with an extremely rare mutton-fat jade crown. A jade pendant hung at his waist—she recognized it. This was a jade pendant that only imperial family members could possess.

She knew all the princes. The princes of the Emperor’s generation weren’t in the capital. So who was this person?

Yun Chu examined the man’s appearance. He looked very thin, with very pale skin, giving the impression of someone chronically ill… Wait, wasn’t there indeed a sickly person in the imperial family?

The legitimate son of the former Crown Prince, now the Grand Empress Dowager’s only blood grandson—Prince Zhuang, Chu Rui.

This person was Prince Zhuang?

Disbelief showed on Yun Chu’s face.

Who was scheming to put her together with Prince Zhuang, and for what purpose?

“Swish!”

Just as she was pondering, she saw the man, only three steps away from her, suddenly draw the sword from his waist.

She thought Prince Zhuang had discovered her presence.

Unexpectedly, Prince Zhuang pressed the blade against his own wrist, slowly, bit by bit cutting downward.

Blood quickly seeped out, dripping onto the brilliant autumn chrysanthemums.

He was still pressing the blade down.

Yun Chu could no longer hide.

If Prince Zhuang died before her eyes, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t wash her clean.

She suddenly stood up.

Chu Rui, standing before the palace wall, immediately froze.

His gaze fell on Yun Chu’s face as he murmured, “Elder Sister, you’ve finally returned…”

Yun Chu had heard her mother mention that the former Crown Prince had also had a legitimate daughter. Later, after the former Crown Prince died and the current Emperor ascended the throne, the former Crown Prince’s consort had lived in this palace with her son and daughter.

Not long after, the former Crown Prince’s consort had died.

As for when that princess had died, not many people knew.

“Elder Sister, Rui’er has missed you so much…” Chu Rui’s tears streamed down. “I’ve finally made up my mind to go see you. Elder Sister, please wait for me!”

As his words fell, he picked up the long sword and pressed it against his own throat.

“Prince Zhuang!” Yun Chu called out, immediately realizing something was wrong. She quickly changed her approach. “Rui’er, I am Elder Sister. I’ve come to see you. I won’t allow you to harm yourself like this. Give the sword to Elder Sister, won’t you…”

Her gentle voice made Chu Rui completely relax.

Chu Rui reached out his hand, slowly moving forward to touch Yun Chu’s face. When he touched something substantial, his entire expression showed astonishment.

Then, the drunkenness in his eyes dispersed somewhat, and he became clear-headed. “You’re not Elder Sister!”

Yun Chu took the opportunity to seize the long sword from his hand and bowed. “I greet Prince Zhuang. I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yun Family. The situation was urgent and required expedient action. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Chu Rui’s expression was as dark as water. “You… have offended this prince’s elder sister. What should your crime be!”

As he spoke, blood still dripped from his wrist.

Yun Chu extended her hand. Tingxue behind her immediately brought over a handkerchief. She lowered her head and tied the handkerchief around Chu Rui’s wrist, tying it tightly to stop the bleeding.

“It is indeed this subject’s offense.” Yun Chu looked up at him. “Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents. No matter what, Your Highness should not harm your own body. Furthermore, the Grand Empress Dowager is advanced in years. If Your Highness were to go, the Grand Empress Dowager would likely…”

In her past life, Prince Zhuang had indeed died early, probably after the Yun Family’s turmoil settled. He had died to atone, gaining the Grand Empress Dowager a chance to live.

This person could die whenever, but he couldn’t die before her eyes.

She still had many beautiful things to experience in her future. She wouldn’t allow herself to be dragged into such a quagmire.

Chu Rui’s lips tightened into a straight line.

He lived because of the Grand Empress Dowager.

He also wanted to die because of the Grand Empress Dowager.

Life was too contradictory.

“If I detest everything now, can I still not die?” Chu Rui’s voice carried emptiness. “What meaning is there in living wretchedly for a lifetime?”

“If you detest it, then abandon it.” Yun Chu looked directly at him. “What is lost must bring gain. Losing what shouldn’t be gained might bring something unexpected. Why doesn’t Your Highness try?”

“What is lost must bring gain… what is lost must bring gain…”

Chu Rui murmured.

Then, he suddenly looked at Yun Chu. “Why would you appear here? This is not a good place. Leave quickly!”