"Your Majesty, no, please stop... This concubine knows her mistake, truly knows her mistake..."

  Late into the quiet night, the woman lying on the dragon bed suddenly began sobbing softly, repeatedly begging for mercy, waking the emperor beside her.

  Pei Yan slowly opened his eyes. A few bronze mps burned throughout the night, casting dim illumination. He turned his head and saw Jiang Fei breathing rapidly in her sleep, cheeks flushed, brows tightly knitted in apparent distress.

  She must be having a nightmare.

  Pei Yan did not immediately wake her, curious to hear what wrongdoing his beloved consort was begging forgiveness for, even in her dreams.

  However, Jiang Shuyi soon quieted after repeatedly murmuring, "I know my mistake."

  Seeing no need to wake her, Pei Yan closed his eyes once more to sleep. Yet just as he was drifting off again, the person beside him suddenly shouted angrily, "Pei Yu! You scoundrel!"

  Pei Yan opened his eyes again.

  Staring at the bright yellow canopy overhead, a trace of confusion flickered in his eyes.

  Pei Yu was the prince born to Jiang Shuyi, now five months old, still an infant.

  Why was she cursing her own child in her dreams?

  As Pei Yan pondered this, Jiang Shuyi murmured hatefully, "Jiang Wanqing, if there is a next life, I will never forgive you..."

  He frowned.

  Jiang Wanqing was Jiang Shuyi’s younger sister, sharing the same mother.

  Half a month ago, during the consort selection, Jiang Shuyi had pleaded with him to keep her sister's name on the roster. Recently, she had enthusiastically prepared her sister’s pace chambers and chosen servants.

  With tomorrow marking the day new consorts entered the pace, what had happened to her tonight?

  Pei Yan was silent for a moment, then sat up, looking down at the still-frowning Jiang Shuyi, and reached out to gently pat her face.

  "Wake up."

  Jiang Shuyi’s eyeshes trembled slightly. When Pei Yan patted her more forcefully, she suddenly opened her eyes.

  "What did you dream of? Tell me."

  After Pei Yan asked, Jiang Shuyi did not respond, instead staring bnkly at him.

  After a long moment, she abruptly threw off the covers, climbed over him off the bed, and started looking around the chamber.

  This behavior was too bold. Even Pei Yan, who spoiled her endlessly, wouldn't tolerate such disrespect. His usually calm eyes darkened slightly, and he asked in a colder voice, "Jiang Fei, what are you doing?"

  Jiang Fei?

  Jiang Shuyi snapped back to reality, looking again at Pei Yan, the emperor, who suddenly appeared much younger.

  Her st memory was Jiang Wanqing madly strangling her. The intense pain and suffocation had overwhelmed her, and then everything went bck. When she opened her eyes, she found herself back on the dragon bed in Qianqing Pace.

  Jiang Shuyi wanted to find a bronze mirror to see if she had also become younger. Before she could find one, Pei Yan called her "Jiang Fei."

  She had been promoted to fei only after giving birth to Pei Yu and held that title for five years afterward.

  During those years, she eliminated Xue Shufei and Wu Guifei, yet received no further promotion. It was only when Pei Yu, at age six, argued fiercely with her and wished aloud that he had been born from his gentle and kind aunt instead of such a cruel, overbearing mother that Pei Yan, trying to comfort her, unexpectedly promoted her to Guifei.

  Afterward, Jiang Wanqing brought Pei Yu to apologize, crying pitifully that it was her fault Pei Yu had turned out badly. Pei Yu had been harshly punished on Pei Yan's orders and was carried in by two pace servants, kneeling and crying, "Mother Consort, I was wrong. Don't bme Aunt."

  One was her blood sister, and the other was her own son, whom she carried for ten months. No matter how much Jiang Shuyi's heart hurt, she couldn't hold true resentment against them.

  In private, Jiang Wanqing ter advised her, "Yu'er is still young and ignorant. Sister, just continue fighting for him. When he becomes Crown Prince, he will surely appreciate and be filial to you."

  Thus, Jiang Shuyi fought madly for Pei Yu's future. She suppressed every concubine in the harem, favored or not; those who showed displeasure towards her were swiftly dealt with. The eldest prince had the advantage of being the firstborn, so she frequently sndered him in front of Pei Yan, falsely accusing him of unfilial behavior, bullying his younger brothers, and tormenting pace servants for amusement.

  Pei Yan seemed to believe some of it, gradually growing distant from the eldest prince. But Jiang Shuyi still wasn't satisfied. Determined to eliminate future threats permanently, she resolved to poison the eldest prince under Jiang Wanqing's instigation.

  When the conspiracy was exposed, it was Jiang Wanqing who reported her to the Empress, clearly documenting every crime Jiang Shuyi committed over the years, painting an undeniable portrait of guilt.

  Even her own son testified against her, looking at her in disgust, "Mother Consort, the eldest brother never bullied me. You forced me to deceive Father. You've turned Father's harem into chaos. Do you also wish to destroy our brotherhood and ruin the court?"

  Pei Yu was eight then, a young boy standing upright, righteous and determined.

  Jiang Shuyi was so enraged that she trembled uncontrolbly, losing all decorum as she screamed publicly, "Everything I did was for you!"

  "For me? You never understood what I wanted! I wanted brotherly love, filial respect, yet you stopped me from getting close to my elder brother and even told Father to punish me!"

  Brotherly love? Long before Pei Yu was born, Jiang Shuyi was already engaged in an ongoing conflict with the eldest prince's mother. How could there ever be brotherly love in such circumstances?

  As for filial respect, without her, Pei Yu would never have been born!

  Overwhelmed with fury, Jiang Shuyi fainted. When she awoke, she learned Pei Yan had stripped her of her title and imprisoned her in Zhaoyang Pace, forbidding her from leaving without his express permission for the rest of her life.

  She assumed Pei Yan, upon discovering the truth, must despise her deeply, intending to let her nguish miserably until death. Unexpectedly, Pei Yan returned that very night.

  By then, Jiang Shuyi had no mood to please him. With hair disheveled, she sat bnkly on the bed, staring numbly outside. Pei Yan approached, gently lifting her chin to meet his eyes, calmly asking, "Jiang Shuyi, do you still remember how you lived before giving birth to Pei Yu?"

  Jiang Shuyi’s gaze flickered subtly.

  She had entered the Crown Prince’s residence the year before her coming-of-age ceremony, becoming Pei Yan’s concubine-in-waiting. Being the youngest among the women in the residence, Pei Yan initially treated her like a younger sister. When he learned she was a concubine-born daughter whose stepmother had forbidden her from studying and only taught her needlework and household skills, he began personally teaching her to read during his leisure time.

  Those were the happiest days of Jiang Shuyi’s life. The Crown Princess was gentle and kind, and although the other sisters schemed against one another, they treated her with friendliness since she was young and not yet called to the bedchamber. Occasionally, one of them would call her a little vixen, which would make her cry and compin to Pei Yan, who always stood up for her.

  Later, when the te Emperor passed and Pei Yan ascended the throne, she was granted the title of Guipin and soon after summoned to share his bed.

  It was strange, somewhat painful, and uncomfortable, but Pei Yan was always a patient teacher—just as he had taught her to write, he guided her gently, step by step.

  Jiang Shuyi, ever the quick learner, though embarrassed at first, soon felt a quiet sense of pride and even entertained bold thoughts of teasing her teacher.

  For half a month straight, she monopolized the Emperor’s favor. The looks from the other concubines changed.

  No, they were no longer sisters—each held their own rank now. They were her rivals.

  Realizing this, Jiang Shuyi was disheartened for a time, but she quickly picked herself up.

  After all, to be the cherished favorite of the Emperor, admired by all, who would trade that for the approval of others? Why should she live a lonely, miserable life just to please that crowd?

  If it came to it, she would fight.

  Jiang Shuyi had a passion for exquisite food, lively experiences, stylish clothing, and elegant jewelry. With a stack of books under her arm, she would visit Pei Yan, eager for his help in unraveling the complexities of the texts she loved.

  All of that came to an abrupt end after she gave birth to Pei Yu, and Jiang Wanqing entered the pace.

  She began to act strong for her son’s sake, pnning long-term for his future—so much so that, in the end, she forgot who she was.

  Now, with Pei Yan’s question hanging in the air, Jiang Shuyi felt tears slide from the corners of her eyes.

  But a person’s nature cannot change in a moment—especially not for a mother who had poured out her heart for seven years. It wasn’t so easy to return to the carefree girl she once was.

  She remained sullen and withdrawn.

  Pei Yan was in no rush. He would visit Zhaoyang Pace whenever he had time, and once he sensed her mood stabilizing, he resumed summoning her to serve him in bed.

  Once, she couldn’t hold back and asked about Pei Yu. Pei Yan’s face immediately darkened. He pinned her down and gave her a harsh scolding, warning her never to mention Pei Yu again, as if she had never given birth to him.

  And so, stripped of her title, Jiang Shuyi remained imprisoned in Zhaoyang Pace for two full years.

  During that time, no one but Pei Yan ever came to see her. Eventually, she grew indifferent to the outside world. Her days were spent reading, painting, and waiting for Pei Yan to visit. Thoughts of her son and sister gradually faded.

  Then one night, Pei Yan told her he would soon lead a military campaign in person. He promised that upon his return, her confinement would be lifted and her title restored.

  Jiang Shuyi hadn’t left Zhaoyang Pace in two years. She felt a mix of joy and nervous anticipation.

  But Pei Yan never returned.

  Soon after his departure, news arrived at Zhaoyang Pace: Pei Yu had fallen gravely ill and was at death’s door. He wished to see her one st time.

  Jiang Shuyi was surprised to find herself emotionally unmoved.

  In the past, if Pei Yu so much as scraped his knee, she would cry in distress and annoy him with her fussing.

  Still, she had brought him into this world—sending him off properly was the least she could do.

  She took out the token Pei Yan had left her and ordered the guards to escort her to Wenhua Pace.

  Pei Yu was now ten years old, noticeably taller than in her memories. Lying in bed with a high fever, his cheeks were flushed red. When he saw her, his eyes instantly welled up, and he called out tearfully, “Mother Consort.”

  Jiang Shuyi hesitated, then walked toward him, unaware of the curtain behind her swaying.

  As she reached the bedside and looked calmly at Pei Yu, someone suddenly looped a hemp rope around her neck from behind.

  Completely unprepared, she couldn’t even let out a whimper. She turned in panic and saw Jiang Wanqing—usually so pitiful and delicate—now twisted into something terrifying and monstrous.

  “Die, sister,” she spat.

  Like a madwoman, she tightened the rope with frightening strength, ughing manically by her ear. “You promised our mother you’d take care of me for life. So why wouldn’t you help me? I wanted to be the favored consort. I wanted to bear a prince. Why wouldn’t you help me?!”

  “You’ve been hiding away these past two years while I’ve been enduring humiliation and torment in your pce. You must be proud, huh? Did you know your son had a terrible time too? And now, he has to watch his own mother die. Hahaha...”

  Jiang Wanqing’s words became a blur. Jiang Shuyi tried desperately to pull the rope from her neck, but it had already cut deeply into her skin.

  Her vision darkened. At that moment, hatred surged within her heart to its peak.

  Did Jiang Wanqing truly believe that Jiang Shuyi owed her a life just because she’d promised to care for her?

  The events of the past ten years fshed before her eyes like a spinning ntern. Jiang Shuyi suddenly realized that from the moment her sister entered the pace, she had never truly cared for her.

  Always pretending to be timid, always whispering that this or that person meant them harm, that she feared for her sister and her nephew’s safety, so much so that she couldn’t sleep through the night. She’d infected Jiang Shuyi with that fear, making her paranoid, protective like a bristling cat, and eventually, turning her into a monster who shed out.

  And the result… ha.

  As consciousness slipped away, Jiang Shuyi gnashed her teeth and made one st vow:

  Jiang Wanqing, if there is another life, I will never forgive you.