Chapter 21: Double Scheming (6)

With those words, she bowed low and knocked her head loudly against the floor before Yun Zui. Yun Zui remained silent, so Chi Xuan continued, "Why have you stopped? That seems rather lacking in sincerity."

At this moment, Yun Zui finally spoke. "There’s no need," she said. "It’s enough that Yun Yao recognizes her mistake. Her health is so fragile—if she cannot bear it and meets a tragic end, not only will Your Majesty grieve, but people will gossip behind my back that I am a heartless, venomous woman. All because Yun Yao herself uttered vulgar insults and paid with her life—it’s much too excessive. Besides, if Yun Yao is bowing merely to avoid punishment and not out of true remorse, what use is it for me to accept her kowtow?"

With just a few words, Yun Zui placed Yun Yao in the same predicament as before, and now Yun Yao seemed even more unforgivable! Yun Yao’s resentment grew deeper, but in the end, she could only swallow her indignation and hurriedly replied, "I sincerely admit my fault; there is no falsehood in my words."

Yun Zui, as if casually, immediately asked, "Will you swear to it?"

Uncertain whether she would fall from favor in the future, Yun Zui decided to take advantage of her current authority to secure herself a way out. Yun Yao didn’t hesitate and declared, "I, Yun Yao, swear that if I ever show disrespect to the Lady Dowager again, may thunder strike me dead, and may I meet a terrible end."

"The Lady Dowager was merely making a casual remark—why are you so inflexible and take it so seriously? If others hear you swear such a curse, they’ll think I forced you," Yun Zui retorted sharply, nearly causing Yun Yao to spit blood in frustration.

Yun Zui appeared utterly at ease, as if she were merely practicing her eloquence in her leisure time. Yun Yao was filled with confusion—how had Yun Zui become so formidable? Not only was her speech sharp and incisive, but her words pressed relentlessly.

Yet now, with Chi Nie supporting Yun Zui, Yun Yao could only show utmost obedience. "No, Lady Dowager is very merciful—it was my own foolishness to mistake your jest for earnest," she said, though resentment simmered within her heart. Still, she had to appear genuinely repentant, lowering her gaze submissively.

"Admitting your own foolishness surely takes courage. Kneeling must be uncomfortable, no? Your Majesty, aren’t you the one who treasures Yun Yao most? How could you bear to let her kneel?" Yun Zui’s light remark deftly shifted all responsibility to Chi Xuan, making herself seem even more innocent.

In her previous life, Yun Zui had never been so talkative; she had always acted rather than spoken. But now, the tables had turned, and she found that mocking others was rather satisfying.

Chi Nie, who sat quietly by, nearly spat out his tea upon hearing this. He had seen shamelessness before, but never anyone so brazen as Yun Zui.

Chi Xuan hadn’t expected Yun Zui to be so quick-witted. He recalled that the fifth young lady of the Prime Minister’s household had once been extremely timid, unknown to the world, and it was only the words of the National Master that had brought her into the public eye. At the time, she was so insignificant that, after her execution, no one remembered her. But now, her brilliance was dazzling—why had no one discovered it before?

"Ahem, it is my fault, Yun Yao. You should thank the Lady Dowager," Chi Xuan said, admitting his own error. Otherwise, who knew how Yun Zui might twist things to punish Yun Yao again?

Yun Yao bit her lip, suppressing her anger, and kowtowed. "Yun Yao thanks the Lady Dowager."

Chi Xuan, aware of Yun Yao’s frail health, could finally let her leave. He promptly said, "You may withdraw."