Two young maids attended to Xiao Li, drying her hair, when Hong Yue entered from outside to report: "Princess, the Imperial son-in-law has returned."
Xiao Li's hand, which had been smoothing her temples, paused mid-motion, her eyes turning deep and cold.
"The Imperial son-in-law…" She slowly picked up a comb to arrange her cascading hair, her long lashes lowering to conceal the bloodthirsty malice within.
Although the original host was a Princess, her biological mother came from a lowly background and lacked the capability to survive, having perished early in the merciless imperial palace.
As the first daughter, she received a sliver of pity from the late Emperor, who arranged for her to be raised under the Empress's name.
While this seemingly granted her a noble status, it merely meant living under someone else's roof—enduring countless scornful glances, cautiously currying favor with the Empress, and surviving through humble humility.
After her Emperor Brother ascended the throne, she was immediately used as a pawn in a political marriage to restrain the civil official families.
Compared to an insignificant truth, he feared even more the Princess's potential entanglement.
Truth be told, it was all the Princess's fault. If she hadn't shamelessly tried to force him to consummate their marriage, he wouldn't have impulsively sent a guard to her in his rage.
"You…Yet, her humble pleas could never warm the Imperial son-in-law's heart, long since pledged to another.
Xiao Li covered her face with both hands to prevent her ferocious, sinister expression from being reflected in the bronze mirror, but the hatred seeped out uncontrollably—tangible threads of malice leaking through her fingers.
Impatience, arrogance, and indifference.
His cool voice was clear and crisp, pleasant to the ear, yet he was too stingy to utter more than a few words.
This was also why he had rushed back—a rare moment of inner unease, only to be met with news of Zhang Jing's death. The charge was theft, but he knew immediately it was a cover-up for the truth.
"A mere paper character from a book, and I can't handle you?"
Now, with features as exquisite as a painting, her Phoenix Eyes slightly upturned, she radiated a beauty like bold ink strokes—confidence that held everything in her grasp, and a madness capable of destroying all.
Aloof from fame and fortune, with an ethereal demeanor, he was the dream lover of countless noble young ladies.
Lu Yanzhi's heart was in turmoil. Priding himself as an upright gentleman who had never done anything underhanded, he had been bewitched tonight, actually sending a guard to defile the Princess.
At this thought, he couldn't help but resent the Princess. If she hadn't insisted on consummating their marriage, how could he have committed such a wrong?
The original host was humble and love-struck, meeting a tragic end—what did that have to do with her? And the male lead's infatuation and obsession in the story—what concern was that of hers?
"Whoosh!"
A sharp sound cut through the air as a porcelain pillow landed on the floor—of excellent quality, it didn't break.
The Imperial son-in-law had hurried over upon hearing something had happened to the Princess. Anyone seeing this would surely say he seemed to care for her after all.
How she wanted to kill him… Xiao Li's eyes were full of madness and regret.
He loathed the Princess, but they were husband and wife after all. If the Princess were defiled by another man, where would his dignity lie?
Yet, Zhang Jing had said nothing, which indeed relieved him.
Lu Yanzhi tightened his grip on the folding fan, maintaining his aloof demeanor: "As long as the Princess is unharmed, I shall take my leave."
An ethereal figure in white appeared at the doorway, and the maids promptly bowed.
Why did she have to experience Transmigration, to personally endure such pain and despair? "Imperial son-in-law."
"Thud!"
What a wonderfully devoted second male lead.
Xiao Li regretfully completed the latter half of the sentence: "What a pity he died before finishing."
The room still carried the faint scent of blood. The maids remained shrouded in fear, showing unprecedented deference to the Princess, obeying her every word without question.
The Imperial son-in-law—an ethereal gentleman pure as the clear breeze and bright moon, untainted by worldly dust.
Only Xiao Li knew he was actually here to revisit the crime scene.
This situation pleased her immensely.
How wonderful he was—he never took any other women, guarding the Princess's residence while carefully raising that illegitimate child.
She was the devil, the venomous serpent, his future retribution!
At this thought, her disgust intensified to the point where she didn't even wish to speak before leaving.
The visitor strode in but halted beyond the screen, unwilling to take another step forward.
As he turned to leave, Xiao Li's voice came from inside: "Before Zhang Jing died, he said he wanted to tell me a secret about the Imperial son-in-law. What a pity…"
Such an exceptional man—the original host naturally couldn't help but adore him. Even though he was aloof, indifferent, and seemingly desireless, she had tried to move him, hoping to become true husband and wife.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the female lead, nor was she a reader touched by his devoted affection.
For some unknown reason, this face was identical to her own, yet it had always been either meek and timid, or twisted with jealousy, frantic with fear—too ugly to behold.
Once, drunk, she attempted to seduce the Imperial son-in-law into consummating their marriage, but he threw her to a guard who coveted her, leading to her violation and subsequent pregnancy.
Lu Yanzhi's figure swayed slightly as he raised a hand to touch the back of his head, his fingers coming away sticky and crimson.
Indeed, if the Princess knew this matter involved him, she probably wouldn't be sitting here so quietly.
What he feared wasn't the Princess's awkward questioning, but that this incident would stain his reputation. If Xue Yin found out, she would surely be deeply disappointed in him. The mere thought of Xue Yin's disappointed, disgusted gaze made his heart feel as if gripped by a vicious hand.
From beginning to end, he remained pure, guarding his beloved childhood sweetheart in his heart—so profoundly devoted and unwavering. Who wouldn't be moved seeing this?
"I heard there was trouble here…"
What wrong had he actually committed? He merely pushed away a woman he detested. Only because his beloved couldn't bear to see a living life extinguished did he even willingly wear the cuckold's horns, replacing bowl after bowl of abortion medicine to let the Princess give birth to that bastard.
His head still swam dizzily, his face a mask of shock and disbelief, when suddenly another vase came flying violently into his view.
It was all her fault!
Lu Yanzhi's chest tightened, his feet rooted to the spot: "What did he say?"
But what did this have to do with her?
Xiao Li slowly lowered her hand, studying her reflection in the mirror under the bright lamplight.
At this thought, she couldn't help curling her lips: "How peculiar. Just a petty thief—hardly worth the Imperial son-in-law coming to inquire about it personally?"
"Everyone may leave now."
Though her tone was normal, those with guilty consciences always heard hidden meanings in her words.
The Imperial son-in-law was the second legitimate son of the prominent Lu family—a noble scion, well-versed in poetry and literature, a top-tier handsome man. Despite his exalted status, he lacked the frivolity, extravagance, and promiscuity common among sons of powerful families.
The bronze mirror reflected his figure standing by the screen—tall and slender, with handsome features and the refined elegance of a gentleman like an orchid. His brow carried an aloof coldness, as if he were an immortal detached from the mortal world, untouched by worldly desires.
She discovered she was pregnant and wanted an abortion, but someone had replaced the abortifacient with medicine to protect the pregnancy. Bowl after bowl, her belly grew larger day by day, and she descended into madness. In the end, she gave birth prematurely to a child, while she herself died from postpartum hemorrhage.
Xuan Yang Princess's lovestruck tendencies were beyond her control, and whether he was coerced had nothing to do with her. Yet she was absolutely certain: it was because he had allowed that guard to defile Xuan Yang that she was brought into this world, trapped in this body, forced to endure all that disgust and agony.
After losing her chastity, she began to spiral into madness—not by lashing out at others, but by tormenting herself. She bathed and scrubbed incessantly, clawing at her skin until it was covered in scars, yet bucket after bucket of bloodied water could never wash away the filth and revulsion she felt.
Watching the person collapse heavily to the ground, Xiao Li smiled.
Observing the maids retreat in an orderly manner, Lu Yanzhi frowned slightly. He had no desire to be alone in the room with the princess, yet he was genuinely curious about what had transpired.
If the Lu family had had a suitable daughter to enter the palace, and if the new emperor hadn’t sought to restrain the civil official Lu family, such a man would never have been matched with a princess of lowly birth and timid character.
She wished she could grind Lu Yanzhi’s bones to dust and scatter his ashes, but she couldn’t leave this world now. Lu Yanzhi’s status was unique; killing him would bring immense trouble upon herself.
So, she would let him live for now. She had plenty of interest to play with them slo~wly~ and stead~ily~. — Female lead setting: insane, Evil Woman, essentially a villain, the great antagonist.
Of course, her madness wasn’t without cause—it was all forced upon her, and she had always viewed everyone as mere paper cutouts.