Chapter 1

Chapter 1

When I died, the entire palace was celebrating the New Year for Xu Qingqing.

My soul was pulled to Xu Qingqing’s side, and I saw the System attached to her.

The System said proudly, “Only one person left, and all capture targets will be successfully charmed. The host has created a miracle; no one has ever achieved such a brilliant victory.”

A smile played on Xu Qingqing’s lips.

“Only Jiang Yi is left. As long as he proposes to me, the mission will be complete, right?”

“Correct.”

She smiled complacently, downed the wine in her cup, and then collapsed unsteadily.

The entire palace fell into chaos.

My Imperial Father, Mother, Crown Prince brother, younger brother, and Jiang Yi all rushed toward her.

Someone called for the imperial physicians.

Someone ordered everyone to stay put.

Jiang Yi scooped her up and sprinted toward the inner palace.

The eunuch in charge of the Cold Palace hurried over, likely intending to report my death.

Seeing this scene, he quietly retreated, shrinking his neck and standing there like a frightened quail.

I felt a small pang of sadness.

They were my family.

But at this moment, they probably couldn’t spare a thought for my affairs.

That was fine, too.

My death shouldn’t make them sad anyway.

Xu Qingqing was saved by the imperial physicians.

She had been poisoned and would need a long time to clear the toxins from her body.

The officials from the Dali Temple also uncovered the truth.

A palace maid said with eyes full of hatred, “If not for you, Princess Zhaohui wouldn’t have been cast into the Cold Palace. Only if you die will they finally see Princess Zhaohui. What a pity-I was just one step away. If there is a next life, I won’t let you go then, either.”

After saying this, she struck her head against a pillar and died, blood splattering on the spot.

I was Princess Zhaohui.

But I didn’t know her.

Then again, in this palace, one could be framed and slandered even by a stranger.

Imperial Father and Mother were furious.

“Even in the Cold Palace, she remains restless. What a wretched creature!”

Crown Prince Song Tingye slammed his hand on the table.

“Today, I must teach her a proper lesson.”

My younger brother Song Jingxi and Jiang Yi followed closely behind him. The group marched aggressively, causing the passing maids and eunuchs to kneel in terror.

They walked all the way to the Cold Palace and kicked the door open, shouting angrily:

“Song Zhaohua, get out here!”

I couldn’t come out.

I was already dead.

The eunuch of the Cold Palace tremblingly tried to speak, but Jiang Yi kicked him aside. He flew back and spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground.

I was stunned for a moment.

Jiang Yi hadn’t been this violent before.

Care leads to chaos.

He really must love Xu Qingqing.

They swarmed into the hall.

My corpse lay flat on the couch, looking quite peaceful. This was probably the most tranquil I had ever been in the Cold Palace.

Over the past few years, I hadn’t eaten or slept well, living like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow.

In death, I could finally lie down calmly.

Song Tingye stared at me coldly. “Bastard. To think she’d be so arrogant. Drag her down for me.”

Song Jingxi acted immediately, grabbing my hand and giving it a tug.

However, he quickly flung my hand away and recoiled in horror.

My corpse fell from the couch, landing in a twisted heap on the floor.

Song Tingye stepped forward and delivered a sharp kick.

“Get up! What are you doing, playing dead?”

Song Jingxi grabbed him in terror. “Brother, she… something’s wrong with her.”

“Hmph! She always loved using tricks to deceive people. What kind of game is she playing this time?” Song Tingye kicked me twice more.

I watched quietly, feeling somewhat relieved.

Luckily, I was dead.

Otherwise, how much would that have hurt?

Song Tingye was skilled in both letters and martial arts; his kicks were formidable.

If I were alive, those few kicks would have left me bedridden for a long time.

Jiang Yi likely sensed something was amiss. He held Song Tingye back, leaned over to flip my body over, and then saw my pale, gaunt face.

He was taken aback. He let go of my body and retreated rapidly, a trace of pity surfacing amidst his dazed expression.

“Song… Zhaohua…” he called out.

But I could no longer answer him.

The air was filled with a suffocating gravity.

I admired the expressions on their faces, feeling a slight sense of gratification.

I’m dead, you see.

You can’t cause trouble for me anymore.

Disappointed?

Yet, their eyes turned red.

The first to explode in rage was Song Tingye. He roared:

“Get over here! How could she be dead? How could Song Zhaohua be dead?”

The eunuch who had been kicked earlier clutched his chest and knelt tremblingly to answer.

“A few days ago, the Princess was unwell. This servant went to request a physician, but all the imperial physicians were with Commandery Princess Mingjia…”

He was lying.

I had never asked him to fetch a physician because I had asked before, and they never came.

He likely said this to protect himself, shifting the blame onto Xu Qingqing so that Song Tingye wouldn’t punish him.

Sure enough, Song Tingye’s face darkened.

Because on that day, Xu Qingqing had sprained her ankle.

To make her feel pampered, he had summoned every single physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine to treat her.

He barked, “Scoundrel! Then why wasn’t her death reported?”

“This servant went, but Commandery Princess Mingjia happened to be poisoned. This servant didn’t dare to add to the chaos and thought to report it later.”

Song Tingye’s face was like frost, looking incredibly frustrated.

Song Jingxi had already composed himself. “Brother, isn’t it better that she’s dead? Now no one can ever harm Sister Qingqing again.”

Song Tingye lowered his gaze. “You’re right.”

Jiang Yi leaned down and lifted my corpse back onto the couch. He remained silent for a while.

After a long time, he used his hand to gently close my eyelids and whispered, “Zhaohua, in the next life, be born into a good family. Don’t make mistakes again…”

The last bit of resentment in my heart dissipated.

In the next life, I could be a flower, a blade of grass, or anything at all-just as long as I am not born into the imperial family again, and as long as I never meet them.