Reborn in the Cold Palace: The Emperor's lie

Afterwards, Cui Yi wanted to go find trouble with the Xie siblings in the guest room, but Chi Ying dragged him back, persuading him until he reluctantly suppressed his anger.

But for several days afterwards, whenever Cui Yi saw Xie Yuchan, his face was as cold as ice, completely ignoring her. Every attempt Xie Yuchan made to get close to him was met with a ruthless rejection, not even touching the hem of his clothes.

Moreover, the servants in the mansion were instructed not to let the Xie siblings approach within three feet of Chi Ying, and absolutely not allowed to step into the main courtyard. If persuasion failed—"Just attack directly, any injuries will be on my head," Cui Yi said.

Thus, all the servants in the Wu Mansion were delighted, each showing a look of schadenfreude when they saw Xie Yuchan. The young servants were particularly eager, vying to be the first to beat up Miss Xie.

All of this was part of Chi Ying's plan. Cui Yi originally had no good impression of Xie Yuchan; it was only because she had taken care of him during his illness that he showed her some respect. But Xie Yuchan overstepped her bounds and actually made Chi Ying kneel and kowtow!

As the saying goes, a wife is a man's face. If someone rips off your clothes and slaps your face, how can you not retaliate?

It was naturally a good thing that Xie Yuchan couldn't come to her and show off anymore, but Chi Ying wasn't happy.

Because Cui Yi's reaction far exceeded her expectations.

She anticipated that Cui Yi would be very angry, sweeping away any good impression he had of Xie Yuchan, acting impulsively, and then being persuaded by her.

But she didn't expect him to say such words—"There is only one Princess of Wu in this world, and that's you."

In the previous life, Cui Jie also told her, "If I become king, you will surely be queen, walking hand in hand, our love lasting a hundred years." But ultimately, it was just empty talk. Cui Yi wasn't as eloquent as his brother, unable to say beautiful words like "Among the weak waters, I take only one dipper." But the simpler and more straightforward his words, the stronger the impact on Chi Ying.

Does he like me so much? Chi Ying repeatedly asked herself in her heart, trying to find evidence in their past interactions to refute this guess.

Without doubt, she failed.

From "Since she is Lord Zhangsun's daughter, I'll marry her" to "There is only one Princess of Wu in this world, and that's you," Cui Yi never saw her as a servant or a concubine, but rather as his legally married wife, a partner who shared both honor and disgrace, and after death, someone to whom he could entrust his affairs.

Thinking about her own purpose, Chi Ying felt deeply guilty.

"Sigh..."

"Puff~ What's wrong with you? You've sighed three times in less than an hour. Is there something unhappy bothering you? Tell me, maybe I'll be amused!"

Inside the elegant room of the Cheng residence, mint-scented incense burned. Cheng Fengyi, while embroidering a handkerchief, teased her.

Chi Ying put down her pen and lay flat on the desk, "If I tell you, you'll definitely laugh at me."

Cheng Fengyi smiled and threaded the needle, "I won't laugh. Go ahead."

Chi Ying slowly said, "I think His Highness likes me too much."

Cheng Fengyi was first stunned, then burst into laughter, "Hasn't anyone told you that showing off your love leads to quick deaths?"

"I knew you'd laugh at me. Forget it, I won't say anymore." Chi Ying sat up, flipped through a few pages of a book, and copied down a prescription for treating typhoid fever.

Cheng Fengyi stopped laughing and became serious, "Continue talking. Why should he not like you? Isn't it good that he likes you? What are you worried about? Do you want him not to like you?"

Chi Ying copied the thick medical book word by word, absent-mindedly saying, "But His Highness will eventually marry. If he can't tolerate another woman, what will happen?"

Cheng Fengyi put down her embroidery frame and sighed, "My dear sister, you are the only one who busies yourself finding a proper wife for your own husband. Zicheng told me that you and Mr. Baili wanted to match me with His Highness, right?"

Being reminded of her scheming, Chi Ying blushed, defending herself, "At that time, I didn't know you and Master Zhai were in love..."

Cheng Fengyi waved her hand generously, "Forget it. I really don't understand what you're thinking. To actively offer your own man to share with another woman—were I in your place, if Zicheng wanted to remarry, I'd hang myself with a rope and be done with it."

Chi Ying hesitated, "Sister, don't say that..."

"But I dare say he wouldn't dare." Cheng Fengyi lowered her head to embroider two stitches, then couldn't help asking, "What are you really thinking? His Highness likes you, so he doesn't want to bring another woman to overshadow you. Yet you keep trying to find him a wife. How do you think he feels? Now he indulges you, loves you, and lets you have your way. But what about later? When one day he loses patience and truly falls for someone else, you'll regret what you said today."

Cheng Fengyi's words struck Chi Ying like a bell, awakening her to a realization—everything she had accomplished so far, recommending strategists to Cui Yi, openly arranging his marriage, was all due to his indulgence. If one day he truly fell for another woman, she would become yesterday's leftovers, possibly kicked out, and all her plans would become mere illusions.

Even if Cui Yi ascended the throne, if his heart no longer belonged to Zhangsun Chi Ying, the fate of the Zhangsun family would remain uncertain.

Too hasty, Chi Ying took a deep breath. She had been fixated on her impending death six years later, wanting to achieve everything quickly, overlooking the most crucial element in this game—the heart of Cui Yi. Without securing his heart, no matter how meticulously planned, none of her strategies could be realized.

Her plan included everything except securing Cui Yi's heart.

From the beginning, she had gone astray, but fortunately, it wasn't too late.

Copying books until near the third watch, Cheng Fengyi needed to accompany her father in compiling pre-dynastic texts, so Chi Ying bade farewell, carrying a stack of copied prescriptions home.

Sitting in the carriage, Xiaoqiu said, "I think what Madam Cheng said makes sense. You need to secure His Highness's heart to have a good life in the future. You should quickly give His Highness a little prince! That way, even if he changes his mind, your status in the mansion won't change."

Chi Ying laughed, "You think I haven't thought of that? Marriage has lasted so long, and His Highness has only touched me once. Where will the child come from? Want to bear one for me?"

Xiaoqiu waved her hands, "Please don't joke with me, Madam. I'm still waiting for you to tire of me and arrange a good marriage for me."

Chi Ying couldn't help laughing, "Then wait, perhaps in a hundred years, I might tire of you."

The mistress and maid chatted happily in the carriage, heading back to the mansion.

Reaching a certain point, the surroundings suddenly became noisy, and the carriage slowed down, finally stopping.

Curious, Chi Ying pulled back the curtain and saw a sea of people blocking the road. "Xiaoqiu, go see what's happening."

Xiaoqiu jumped out of the carriage, and Chi Ying waited inside, looking out the opposite window.

By the roadside was a tavern with a sign reading "Donglai Tavern." Chi Ying felt an inexplicable familiarity.

Before she could ponder it, Xiaoqiu returned and reported, "Madam, there's a person selling themselves to bury their father at the intersection ahead, being bullied by a group of rich kids."

"What!" Chi Ying couldn't believe it. Nobles harassing commoners on the street without any officials intervening? She immediately got out of the carriage, "Where is it? Take me there."

After getting out, the street corner seemed strangely familiar. Chi Ying rarely went out, usually traveling by carriage or sedan chair, and she was sure she hadn't been here before, yet the strange familiarity persisted.

Xiaoqiu pushed through the crowd, "Excuse me, excuse me!"

Chi Ying followed, squeezing through the crowd with difficulty.

At a stone drum at the street corner, several well-dressed young men whistled and surrounded a person in mourning attire, kicking and shoving him, laughing wildly.

"Stop!" Chi Ying shouted angrily, stepping forward, "In broad daylight, under the emperor's rule, bullying a poor soul—where is justice?"

The young men, finding a new target for harassment, immediately surrounded Chi Ying, each lecherous and smirking. One even boldly tried to touch her chin, only to be slapped away.

Instead of getting angry, the young man laughed harder, rubbing his hand and continuing to approach, "Are you trying to catch our attention? I like bold women like you. Come here, give me a kiss." As he reached out to embrace her,