Volume One, Chapter 19: You Are Threatening Me

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Cui Xingze’s eyes darkened, his brows knitting slightly. “Your Highness, do you understand the consequences if you continue investigating? This is not something you can bear.”

Consequences?

Yun Yi tilted her head, gazing at the man before her. His bone structure was superior, his features clear-cut and profound, exuding an unassailable dignity. She often found herself distracted by that face.

But at this moment, she suddenly found his face utterly detestable.

Her once radiant white moonlight was ultimately slain by time, buried in the memories of her seventeenth year.

Chi Mei sighed, “Finally, you’ve come to your senses. Cui Xingze is thirty now, not twenty—you’ve learned to distinguish at last.”

“Don’t be too sorrowful. The adult world is all about weighing pros and cons; you need to let go a little.”

How could she not be heartbroken?

The youthful white moonlight was so dazzling, yet in the end, he turned into a selfish, despicable scoundrel!

She cast him a cold glare, a mocking smile curling at the corner of her lips. “So, is this a threat to me?”

Cui Xingze was taken aback. His clear, watery eyes rippled slightly. “No…”

“I did not mean to threaten Your Highness. It’s just that I was too anxious, and my tone was harsh.”

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, slowing his voice. “Your Highness, this matter is deeply entangled. I know you have long despised these things, but the powerful clans are intricately rooted. If you dig too deep, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

“Besides, His Majesty is involved in this. The law does not punish the many. The best way to handle this is to make a big problem small, and a small problem disappear.”

Yun Yi pressed her lips together, her expression calm. “Make a big problem small, and a small problem disappear? Pray tell, Prince Consort, how do you intend to make it disappear?”

Cui Xingze’s expression shifted slightly. His thin lips parted lightly. “Since the root of all this is the female assassin… then… executing the female assassin would suffice.”

No wonder he comes from a noble family; his approach is swift, precise, and ruthless.

Excellent! Truly excellent!

Yun Yi scoffed twice. “And what of the laborers imprisoned? What of those women forced to become playthings for the high officials? Shall we choose to turn a blind eye? Pretend we know nothing?”

Cui Xingze gently patted her shoulder, speaking softly, “For now, it can only be this way. It’s merely a delay tactic.”

“I know you’re furious, Your Highness, but this must end here. If you persist, not only will the noble clans not let you go, but even… His Majesty might treat you unfavorably.”

“Water too pure has no fish. When your wings are not yet full, Your Highness must endure.”

Endure? What a joke!

Why is it always her who must endure?

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Yun Yi shook her shoulders, disdain etched across her brow. “Remove your filthy hand. Don’t touch me.”

Cui Xingze’s pupils contracted sharply, pain flickering in his eyes.

He slowly withdrew his hand, clenched it into a fist, and took two steps back. “Just now, I was rude, forgive me.”

“But I hope Your Highness will consider the suggestion I just made.”

A faint smile tugged at Yun Yi’s lips, but inside she felt utterly stifled.

“I will not adopt it. I refuse to feign ignorance on this matter. If it comes to it, I am willing to fight them to the bitter end.”

Her gaze was resolute, radiating an unwavering determination.

Seeing her stubbornness flare up again, Cui Xingze bit his lip. “Are you sure, Your Highness? Have you forgotten how Yin Xin was torn apart by five horses? Will you repeat the same mistake for a fleeting sense of righteousness? Those people, when driven mad, are capable of anything.”

Yin Xin was torn to pieces by five horses? Dead?

Disbelief flooded Yun Yi’s eyes. Didn’t Chi Mei say Yin Xin had returned to her hometown to marry?

She lifted her eyes, staring at Chi Mei who hovered in the air, her gaze full of questions.

Chi Mei instinctively looked away, unwilling to meet her eyes.

A sharp pang tightened Yun Yi’s chest. Yin Xin had grown up alongside her, eating and living together. Though they were mistress and servant, their bond was like sisters.

Now to be told that Yin Xin was torn apart by five horses? How was she supposed to accept that?

She glared fiercely at Chi Mei, shouting, “Speak! Why are you silent? Explain yourself!”

Chi Mei remained mute, head bowed low.

Cui Xingze glanced in her direction; there was no one there. Who was she talking to?

Had grief overwhelmed her, leaving her delirious?

Yin Xin’s death had always been a wound in her heart. He had only brought it up to remind her of the painful lesson from the past.

But seeing her so anguished, he immediately regretted mentioning it.

“Your Highness…” His Adam’s apple bobbed; his voice was hoarse. “It’s my fault for causing you pain.”

“Leave!” Yun Yi didn’t want to hear any more from him.

“Get out! Just get out!” Her voice cracked with emotion.

Her eyes reddened, tears swimming but stubbornly refusing to fall.

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This endurance and strength were like a sharp blade, piercing his chest and squeezing his heart painfully. He felt an overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms, but instead, he clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the desire forcefully.

“I take my leave…” Cui Xingze bowed slightly, then turned and left.

The study fell into silence. Yun Yi continued to wait intently for Chi Mei’s response.

After a long moment, Chi Mei finally spoke slowly, “I’m sorry. I deceived you.”

At that admission, the tears in Yun Yi’s eyes could no longer be restrained. They slid down her cheeks, leaving faint tracks.

Chi Mei’s throat tightened, words caught in her throat.

Yin Xin died protecting Cui Xuan.

Three years ago, to crack down severely on the corruption among noble families, she had acted ruthlessly, punishing many scions mercilessly.

The great clans, to force her to stop, planned to strike at Cui Xuan to threaten her.

Yin Xin, to protect Cui Xuan, refused to reveal his whereabouts even at the cost of her life, and was ultimately torn apart by five horses.

To intimidate the Regent Princess, the noble families spread Yin Xin’s dismembered body parts at the gates of the Princess’s mansion.

Yin Xin was divided into four thousand four hundred and forty-four pieces—a warning from the noble clans: continue to be obstinate, and death is the only path.

“I’m sorry. I failed to protect her. If I hadn’t been so vehemently opposed to their evil, perhaps Yin Xin wouldn’t have died.”

Yun Yi closed her eyes, and after a long while, opened them. Despite the redness, her eyes were clear. “Is it wrong to abhor evil? When we are not at fault, why should we yield?”

Chi Mei pressed her lips tightly. For years, she had blamed herself for Yin Xin’s death.

Whenever midnight dreams came, she heard the harrowing screams of Yin Xin being torn apart.

After Yin Xin’s death, she both feared and hated the noble clans, afraid that innocent people around her might be hurt because of her.

“If you don’t yield, as Cui Xingze just said, those madmen in the noble clans will do anything for their interests.”

Yun Yi arched her brow. “But after all these years of your yielding, have they ever restrained themselves? You, as the Regent Princess, are so weak. The noble clans scare you, and you immediately back down?”

“Chi Mei, I truly despise you. Besides yelling at me, what else can you do? I am disgusted that we share the same soul. You hold power, yet do nothing. You are unworthy to be the Regent Princess.”