“Greetings to the Fifth Princess! Greetings to the Fifth Princess!”
He had heard from his mother that, right now in the entire imperial palace, the Fifth Princess was the most favored.
She absolutely could not be offended.
Shangguan Sui glared at Xiao Feng. “I don’t want to see you! Get lost!”
In the original story, Xiao Feng, relying on the favor of his mother, Concubine Liu, often bullied Xiao Ziyuan.
When they were in the Imperial Academy, he would frequently knock Xiao Ziyuan’s food tray over, forcing him to attend class on an empty stomach.
He had been a bad child since he was young.
Xiao Feng didn’t know why the Fifth Princess disliked him, but he still quickly fled with his two little followers.
He even tripped and fell in his haste.
Xiao Ziyuan had already gotten up from the ground and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
Seeing Shangguan Sui, he turned and bowed.
“Greetings to the Fifth Princess.”
Shangguan Sui blinked and looked at the little boy before her.
Xiao Ziyuan was extremely handsome—his eyes were a beautiful phoenix shape, his pupils very dark, carrying a faint chill.
His skin was so fair it was almost dazzling, and his thick eyelashes lowered slightly, hiding his emotions.
【Oh wow, is this the male lead? So handsome~】
【Even as a child he’s this good-looking… tsk tsk, when he grows up he’s going to be dangerously charming!】
Shangguan Sui blinked and spoke to him.
“Hello, my name is Shangguan Sui.”
Xiao Ziyuan looked at the exquisitely cute little girl in front of him.
She only reached his chest in height, her hair tied into two little buns, her big bright eyes blinking at him.
She wore finely made Shu brocade clothes, clearly well-loved and cherished.
Unlike him…
Xiao Ziyuan pressed his lips together slightly. “My name is Xiao Ziyuan.”
Shangguan Sui continued trying to get closer.
“Is that person your brother just now?”
Xiao Ziyuan looked toward where Xiao Feng had left, and his expression immediately darkened, filled with hostility.
He said in a cold, eerie tone: “He is not my brother!”
“He is Xiao Feng. One day, I will kill him.”
Shangguan Sui did not expect him to reveal his hatred so directly in front of her.
Looking at Xiao Ziyuan’s gradually twisted expression, she instinctively slapped his arm.
Xiao Ziyuan snapped back to his senses in pain, his “darkening” forcibly interrupted.
He turned to her. “What are you doing?”
Shangguan Sui blinked. “Do you really hate Xiao Feng that much?”
Xiao Ziyuan didn’t understand why she was asking that.
Before he could respond, Shangguan Sui turned around and looked at the twenty eunuchs behind her.
Her voice was still soft and childish, but her tone was very serious.
“Do you remember what that chubby boy looked like just now?”
The eunuchs nodded.
Shangguan Sui continued, “After school today, block him for me!”
“Put a sack over his head, throw him into the bushes, and give him a good beating.”
The eunuchs dared not object and immediately bowed.
“We obey your command.”
Satisfied, Shangguan Sui nodded and turned back to Xiao Ziyuan, raising her eyebrows.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got your back from now on!”
Xiao Ziyuan, who had witnessed everything: !
A fiercer ruthless person had appeared.
But strangely… he didn’t feel as angry anymore.
Seeing the hostility in Xiao Ziyuan’s eyes gradually fade, Shangguan Sui finally let out a breath of relief.
【Phew~ looks like Xiao Ziyuan’s “darkening” has been delayed a bit.】
【But that’s not enough. The real turning point in his life this year is when his mother, Madam Song, dies of illness.】
【Only by saving Madam Song can we truly stop Xiao Ziyuan from turning dark.】
Shangguan Sui decided to find a quiet place to tell him.
“Qingping, wait here for me.”
Before Qingping could react, she grabbed Xiao Ziyuan’s sleeve and walked toward the lakeside.
Xiao Ziyuan didn’t understand, but quietly followed her.
Shangguan Sui walked too quickly and didn’t watch her step. She stepped on a raised pebble and almost fell.
Xiao Ziyuan reacted quickly and caught her.
At the moment he grabbed her small hand, he suddenly realized—
Why had everything around him become so noisy?
【Whoa whoa! I almost fell to my death! So close!】
【Stupid pebble!】
After Shangguan Sui regained her balance, Xiao Ziyuan let go of her hand.
But the voices did not disappear.
Instead, they became even livelier…
【Xiao Ziyuan’s hand is so big. Is he really only seven years old?】
【But thanks to him just now, otherwise I would’ve faceplanted hard!】
Xiao Ziyuan: …
Now he was completely certain.
He could hear Shangguan Sui’s inner voice.
Although it was a bit absurd, he quickly accepted it.
Shangguan Sui bit her lip, thinking.
【How should I explain this so Xiao Ziyuan will believe me?】
【I can’t just directly tell him his mother is going to die this year…】
Xiao Ziyuan: ?!
His mother is going to die this year?!
Shangguan Sui sighed.
【But his mother’s death isn’t an accident—it’s poisoning!】
Xiao Ziyuan: ?!
Poisoning!
【The one who poisoned her is Concubine Liu, the favored concubine of Prince Rui—Xiao Feng’s mother.】
【She bribed a maid beside Madam Song named Taohong.】
【She had Taohong secretly poison Madam Song’s medicine, which caused her long-term illness that never improved.】
Xiao Ziyuan’s heart tightened violently.
Taohong had served beside his mother for many years and had always been obedient and loyal.
He never expected she would betray her mother and side with Concubine Liu, even poisoning her!
A wave of fear surged through him, his hands and feet turning cold.
If Concubine Liu truly succeeded, he would lose his mother forever…