Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The next day, I went to Ji Zhi’s courtyard the moment he left for the morning court session.

She was reclining on her couch, looking lazy and content.

When she saw me barge in with my attendants, her initial shock quickly turned into a smirk. She stroked her lower abdomen and giggled.

“You’ve come at an inconvenient time, Sister. The Lord Heir pities my condition and told me to get plenty of rest.”

The servants behind me stepped forward in silence, swiftly restraining her maids.

Ji Zhi’s expression shifted instantly. She stood up. “What are you doing! I am carrying the Lord Heir’s flesh and blood-”

The servants moved in and seized her.

Lianxin brought forward a bowl of thick, dark brown liquid.

I took it and walked toward her with slow, steady steps.

Ji Zhi’s pupils constricted. She scrambled backward. “You wouldn’t dare! The Lord Heir will never let you get away with this-”

I looked down at her.

I watched her panicked face.

It was flushed with terror.

She looked like a helpless little rabbit.

She struggled desperately, changing her tactics as tears and snot streamed down her face in a frantic plea.

“Sister… I was wrong… I beg of you… This is the Lord Heir’s first child-”

“No, Sister, I’m begging you!”

“Let me go, I won’t compete for his favor with you anymore-”

“Sister, please-”

I gripped her jaw and forced the entire bowl of medicine down her throat.

I didn’t let her spit out a single drop.

The porcelain bowl shattered against the floor with a crisp crack.

She curled up and rolled off the couch, pounding her abdomen with all her might.

She retched uncontrollably.

But she couldn’t bring anything up.

Her skirt was gradually stained a deep, visceral crimson.

She thrashed about, her screams shrill and piercing.

“My child-”

My eyes crinkled as I smiled at her.

My voice was soft and gentle.

“It seems that ritual wasn’t enough to suppress the demon in my heart.”

Father always said I was possessed. He had invited masters to perform exorcism rituals twice.

The last time, the master claimed the evil spirit had been purged.

But he didn’t know.

I was born a monster.

Father’s second ritual took place after I castrated my half-brother (concubine-born).

Concubine Yun enjoyed her favor largely because of that eldest concubine-born son.

Later, after I caused his mother’s ruin, he harbored a deep grudge against me.

He had been raised to be insidious and never missed a chance to trip me up.

I didn’t want anyone making my life unpleasant.

That day, I obtained evidence that he had forced himself on a commoner girl and incited his servants to violence. I led my family guards and stormed into his courtyard.

I had him pinned down and his trousers stripped off.

He struggled too, his mouth full of filth and curses.

I ignored him. I looked at that limp thing of his.

I raised the blade and brought it down.

Perhaps the craftsman hadn’t sharpened it well enough.

The knife was a bit dull.

It caught halfway through, so I had to use some force to finally hack the thing off.

He let out a blood-curdling scream.

It sounded like a pig being slaughtered.

I stepped aside to ensure the blood didn’t soil my dress.

As he shrieked and rolled on the ground, that piece of flesh tumbled into the dirt.

When Father arrived after hearing the news, I was standing amidst the carnage, holding a dripping knife.

My half-brother (concubine-born) wailed his accusations. Father’s eyes were nearly bursting with rage as he raised his hand to slap me.

I didn’t flinch or dodge. I simply stated his crimes, one by one.

“If this evidence were presented to the Emperor, it would implicate the entire Ji family…”

“Is Father truly willing to gamble his entire career for the sake of a concubine-born son?”

His hand froze in mid-air.

Father turned to look at my half-brother, his gaze turning cold.

My brother panicked. “Father! I only…”

The slap landed on his face instead.

Father closed his eyes.

“A wicked servant in the inner court held a grudge and committed this assault. As for the Eldest Miss-”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a chilling depth.

“She has been invaded by an evil spirit. Confine her to her quarters to drive out the demon.”

While the sound of monks chanting sutras echoed through the small courtyard, he stood outside the door, looking at me.

He said wearily, “Your mother was kind her whole life… how could she give birth to a wretch like you?”

I stood with my hands at my sides.

I only lowered my head and smiled.