Yueyao stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky. On sumr nights, the stars twinkled with bright, sparkling light, one by one... flickering unpredictably.
Xiang Wei had been awake since Yueyao got up, she didn’t disturb her, letting Yueyao rise and make her way to the courtyard, then joined her to watch the stars together.
After a while, Xiang Wei walked over to Yueyao’s side and asked, "Miss, what’s wrong?"
It took Yueyao a mont before she said faintly, "Xiang Wei, I had another nightmare. I dreamt I was captured by Zhou Shu; he kept hidden in a magnificent mansion in Haikou." In her previous life, she hadn’t understood why Zhou Shu chose not to take her back ho but to station her in an external residence—now she knew. Zhou Shu didn’t take her back, certainly not for her to live quietly, but because he didn’t want others to know her identity. The bigger the tree, the more wind it catches. Coveting the Zhou Family’s wealth, the number was endless, hence he kept her confined. Once her identity was exposed, Zhou Shu too would face endless troubles.
The fierce light that flashed in Xiang Wei’s eyes was quick but transient. As she draped the coat she was holding over Yueyao, she said softly, "Miss, it’s just a dream."
Yueyao’s voice was so faint that Xiang Wei could barely hear it, "I was locked in that lavish mansion, living in luxury every day, just like a canary in a cage." After a pause, Yueyao continued, "I attempted suicide several tis, but unfortunately, I was always discovered in ti and saved. After that, I was watched around the clock—it was impossible to die." This was actually not a nightmare; it was her lived experience. It had simply replayed in her dreams that night.
Xiang Wei clenched her fists, her whole body radiating a thick murderous intent, "Miss, this ti was an accident. I assure you there won’t be another incident like this."
Yueyao turned her head, looked at Xiang Wei, and said, "Xiang Wei, it’s not that I don’t trust you. But there is a saying that one can be a thief for a thousand days but cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days. Xiang Wei, if Zhou Shu lives, I’ll never be at ease." Startled awake by yet another nightmare, Yueyao suddenly realized that Zhou Shu was the source of her nightmares. Without cutting off the source, she would live her life in constant fear. Zhou Shu had ruined her life once; she could not let him destroy it again in this lifeti.
Xiang Wei paused for a mont before nodding, "Miss, this matter cannot be resolved overnight." Zhou Shu had deep roots in Haikou, and killing him would not be easy.
A sneer appeared at the corner of Yueyao’s mouth, "I know Zhou Shu has a backer. Xiang Wei, who is behind Zhou Shu?" She had known back then that Zhou Shu had a powerful backer with significant influence, but she had not been in the mood to find out who it was at the ti. However, Yueyao believed Xiang Wei knew.
Xiang Wei looked at Yueyao, her voice much lower, "Miss, Zhou Shu’s backer is the Zhou Family, the Empress’s maternal family." The Zhou Family was the Empress’s maternal clan. Zhou Shu provided the family with substantial paynts, and in return, they protected Zhou Shu—mutual benefit.
A mocking smile crossed Yueyao’s lips as she had suspected when she saw Zhou Shu at the Zhou Family’s residence in the past, "The Zhou Family? Even with the Zhou Family as a backer, I still want him dead. If he does not die, my nightmares will never cease."
Xiang Wei did not obstruct Yueyao. If she had doubts the last ti, after hearing about Yueyao’s nightmare, she too was afraid; Xiang Wei also wanted Zhou Shu dead, "Miss, we need to plan carefully."
Yueyao responded with a hum, "In three days, we will return to the Capital City."
Xiang Wei had thought Yueyao would discuss with her how to deal with Zhou Shu or that she would be restless, but to her surprise, Yueyao began studying poetry collections the next day. Xiang Wei could not comprehend what Yueyao was thinking. Still, she thought it was good that this incident did not cast a shadow over things.
Witnessing the confusion on Xiang Wei’s face, Yueyao smiled, "Didn’t you say this incident was a kind of tempering for ? Why are you worried now?"
Xiang Wei was speechless.
Yueyao said softly, "Of course I’m afraid, but I can’t just stop living because of fear. If I lived in constant fear because of this incident, wouldn’t I be too cowardly? That would also be a disservice to your teachings all this ti." She had lived such a miserable existence in her previous life primarily because she was weak. If she were caught by Zhou Shu again in this life, she was determined not to resort to suicide.
Upon hearing this, Xiang Wei said, "Miss, once we return to the Capital, I will teach you how to use poisons. Poison is not to be feared, miss; it can be a ans of self-defense once mastered."
Yueyao hesitated for a second before nodding, "Alright. Xiang Wei, in addition to teaching about poison, teach how to wield a sword!" What Yueyao ant was for Xiang Wei to teach her how to use weapons to kill. Last ti, killing Xiao Qing was pure luck. She couldn’t possibly count on such luck next ti.
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