The original host came from a humble background. Her father had saved the severely wounded Shizi, and both her parents died for his sake, leaving her an orphan. By a twist of fate, when the Shizi was ambushed, she stepped forward and saved him with her innocence.
To repay this debt of gratitude, Jin Mozhi defied all opposition and brought the original host into Zhongyong Houfu as the Shizifei. The Houye was furious, and the Hou Furen despised her in every way.
Jin Mozhi and his father, Zhongyong Hou, were stationed at the border. Although the Hou Furen disliked the original host, she did not take her life. For a while, the original host even enjoyed some peaceful days after becoming pregnant.
But after giving birth to her daughter, Jin Suian, she was immediately sent to the most remote corner of the estate, where she lived for three years.
“Why have you come?”
When Liu Suyi saw her, she instinctively glanced at Nanny Wu. Hadn’t she sent Nanny Wu with silver notes to urge the mother and daughter to flee immediately?
“Naturally, I invited them!”
Cui Lie stood clad in golden armor that reflected dazzling light under the sun. A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips. “The Shizi is dead. How can his wife and daughter remain untouched by this?”
Cui Lie’s smile seemed laced with poison.
Liu Suyi staggered slightly. Her eyes burned with anger as she stared at Cui Lie, her nails digging tightly into her palms as she reminded herself to stay calm.
The Jin family had served two dynasties, earning illustrious military achievements and unwavering loyalty in defending the Great Xia Kingdom. The Houye was now elderly, and Mo’er was stationed at the border, returning home only once every three years.
Cui Lie, though born into a humble family, enjoyed the emperor’s deep trust and favor. He opposed the Houye at every turn. This disaster that had befallen the Houfu was almost certainly orchestrated by Cui Jia.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Suyi said, “Their names are not recorded in the family register, so they should not be on the exile list.”
Her voice trembled with suppressed anger. At this moment, she felt a flicker of relief—because everyone had looked down on Cheng Qiqi’s lowly status and the fact that she had only given birth to a daughter, her name had been deliberately left off the family register.
Upon receiving the news, Liu Suyi’s first thought had been to send Jin Suian away. No matter what, she was the only bloodline left by her son.
“Everyone in the capital knows that Zhongyong Hou’s Shizi married a country girl as his Shizifei out of gratitude and that they had a daughter together. Just because their names aren’t on the register doesn’t mean it never happened.”
With his sword, Cui Lie lifted a white cloth nearby, revealing the Shizi’s corpse covered in wounds. He raised his hand, pointing the tip of his sword directly at the back of the daughter in Cheng Qiqi’s arms.
Cheng Qiqi raised her hand, blocking the sword’s tip. She staggered backward a step, her gaze fixed on Cui Lie’s golden armor and his triumphant expression. She thought to herself: This man holds a grudge against the Shizi.
“Your Excellency.”
Cheng Qiqi spoke up. Her daughter was only three years old. Even with the Kongjian, the journey into exile would be fraught with danger. She had to fight for a sliver of hope for herself and her daughter.
“Shizifei?”
Cui Lei’s voice was mocking as he stared at Cheng Qiqi’s face. For a country girl, she possessed a certain charm.
“Today, with Your Excellency’s thunderous methods, you can certainly add my daughter and me to the family register and send us into exile with the Houfu. But in the future, won’t Your Excellency fear others using this as a pretext to impeach you?”
Cheng Qiqi’s voice was firm and resolute. She fixed her blazing eyes on Cui Lie and said, “Why not show mercy and grant this child a sliver of hope? In the future, Your Excellency will surely be rewarded for this kindness.”
Cui Lie’s silence filled everyone in the Houfu with tension. Liu Suyi prayed silently for the safety of Mo’er’s only bloodline.
“Cheng Qiqi, don’t be ungrateful.”
Lin Huilan spoke urgently: “Once entered into the family register, you will be the rightful Shizifei, and this child will be a noble daughter of the Houfu.”
“Lin Huilan!”
Liu Suyi eagerly interrupted her, looking at her with eyes that seemed to want to skin her alive!
“Have I said anything wrong?”
Lin Huilan, having nothing left to lose, decided no one should have it easy: “This child is indeed the Shizi’s daughter. Now we are simply giving her the rightful status she deserves.”
“Well said, very well said.” Cui Lie clapped his hands in applause.
Cheng Qiqi’s heart turned completely cold. She gently patted her daughter’s back to soothe her. Exile—it seemed unavoidable.
Liu Suyi closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them, looking at Cui Lie and saying, “Cui Lie, must you be so ruthless?”
Mo’er’s daughter, only three years old, would surely die if she followed them into exile!
“Madam Jin, I am helping the Shizi. How can you call this ruthless?”
Cui Lie grinned so widely his teeth showed, feeling utterly triumphant. Jin Mozhi, who had always overshadowed him, was now dead. His woman and his only daughter would also be exiled!
“The Shizi’s only daughter hasn’t even been entered into the family register. This is inappropriate. If the Shizi’s spirit watches from above, he would surely agree with my actions.”
Cui Lie looked at their furious expressions, feeling immense satisfaction.
“Cui Lie, you’re using public affairs to settle personal grudges!”
Liu Suyi, devastated at the thought of being unable to protect Mo’er’s only bloodline, lashed out recklessly: “You aren’t even fit to compare to Mo’er’s little finger!”
Hearing this, Cui Lie turned around angrily, raised his hand, and swung his sword at Nanny Wu, who was supporting Liu Suyi. With a single stroke, he slit her throat. Blood sprayed like a fountain, splattering over Liu Suyi.
The bright red blood was warm, sticky, and carried the metallic scent of rust.
Liu Suyi froze, glancing sideways to see Nanny Wu looking at her with reluctant eyes, as if saying: Madam, this old servant can no longer accompany you.
Cui Lie raised his sword, a drop of blood sliding from its tip. His eyes held a trace of cruelty: “A criminal who defied imperial orders and embezzled military funds—what right does he have to be compared to me?”
“Even in death, Jin Mozhi must go to hell to atone for his sins!”
Cui Lie suddenly moved his sword, stabbing it into the abdomen of the deceased Jin Mozhi. Blood flowed out.
He pulled the sword out, preparing for a second strike.
“Sir.”
Cheng Qiqi knelt down, holding her daughter, and said: “Although the Shizi is dead, his contributions to the nation—fighting in battles, pacifying the northwest, and guarding the border—remain. If people were to learn that you even mistreat the Shizi’s remains, it would surely damage your reputation.”
Jin Mozhi was brave and skilled in battle, a great hero in Jingdu. The accusations of defying imperial orders and embezzling military funds—their truth was uncertain. But based on his past military achievements alone, he should not be treated this way!
Cui Lie paused, the blood-stained tip of his sword stopping before Cheng Qiqi. Looking at her face, which feigned calm despite obvious fear, he clicked his tongue and sighed: “What a pity, to be widowed so young. How about you follow me instead?”
Liu Suyi, who was desperately pressing on her son’s wound to preserve his last shred of dignity, heard these words. Her pupils instantly contracted, and her gaze toward Cui Lie grew even more resentful. Her eyes fell on Cheng Qiqi, her expression turning somber.
“As long as you follow me, I can keep you off the family register. You won’t have to go into exile with the Jinjia clan. What do you say?”
Cui Lie’s voice was enticing.