Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Song Tingye stood frozen, stunned into silence for a long time.

I let out a cold sneer.

He had heard it too.

The Bodhisattva’s promise had come to pass.

Excellent.

Simply marvelous.

I wanted to see if Song Tingye would still protect and cherish Xu Qingqing now that he knew she had deliberately approached and flattered him with an ulterior motive.

Before Song Tingye could react, I threw the very insults he had once hurled at me right back in his face.

“Song Tingye, you are truly malicious. You and that woman make a pair of disgusting adulterers. You make me sick to my stomach.”

I turned and strode toward the exit.

Song Tingye flew into a rage. “Make yourself clear! Who are you calling adulterers?”

I sneered. “The moment Xu Qingqing cries, you come running to settle scores with me, desperate to stand up for her. If you two aren’t adulterers, why are you in such a hurry? Song Tingye, you aren’t even that good to your own future Crown Princess. You tricked Sister Xie into falling for you, only to cast her to the back of your mind. You’re nothing but a beast, lower than a common animal.”

The Xie Family was a renowned noble house.

Back then, Song Tingye had followed Sister Xie around like a lost puppy, terrified she might marry someone else.

Now, with the engagement barely settled and the wedding yet to take place, he was already trailing after Xu Qingqing, acting as her personal guardian.

Since ancient times, men have always been fickle.

Song Tingye was no exception.

And neither was Jiang Yi.

In this reborn life, I would never rely on them again.

I left the palace quickly and rode straight for the Censorate.

The Censors had just returned from the morning court session to handle government affairs; it was the time when the office was most crowded.

I sat down in the middle of the office, covering my face, and began to wail piteously.

Several elderly Censors looked at each other in bewilderment and had no choice but to ask what had happened.

I looked up, revealing my cheek which still bore the mark of a handprint, with crystalline tears still clinging to my face.

It wasn’t long before the Censors learned that the current Crown Prince had conspired with Xu Qingqing to slander his own younger sister with rumors of an illicit affair, and had even beaten his sister for Xu Qingqing’s sake.

One of the elderly Censors, known for being the most upright and unafraid of authority, roared in anger upon hearing this, “This old official will certainly submit a memorial to impeach him!”

“Thank you, Minister. Just now, I wanted nothing more than to end my life, but I simply cannot accept this injustice!”

I wept as if my heart were breaking. Later, under everyone’s consolation, I gradually stopped my tears.

With eyes still red, I bowed repeatedly to the crowd and then summoned my courage to say, “Thank you for your kindness, Ministers. Zhaohua will remember today’s grace in her heart. If you should ever have need of me in the future, Zhaohua will do her utmost to repay this great debt. I have troubled you all for too long; Zhaohua shall take her leave now.”

The old Censor said worriedly, “Princess, please stay. This old official will have someone escort you back.”

I looked back with a tearful smile. “Minister, Zhaohua must go to Punian Temple. I want to ask Bianshan why he framed me. If he cannot give me a proper explanation, I shall dash my head against the temple walls and die there today.”

I immediately stepped out and rode away.

A frantic commotion broke out behind me.

“Princess, you mustn’t!”

“Quick, stop her!”

“Heavens, how could it come to this?”

Everything behind me was in total chaos.

Some people chased after me.

Others rushed to the palace to report the situation.

But I didn’t care; the bigger the scene, the better.

In my past life, for the sake of appearances, I had allowed Song Tingye and Xu Qingqing to quietly splash dirty water all over me.

In this life, I wanted to see what face they would have left to continue their shameful collaboration under the watchful eyes of the public.

I rode to the foot of Cihui Mountain, climbed the stone steps, and soon arrived at Punian Temple.

It was now noon, exactly when the pilgrims and monks were having their meal.

Clutching my riding crop, I stormed into the dining hall. I cracked the whip in the air with a sharp snap, drawing everyone’s attention to me.

Only then, with tears in my eyes and looking like the victim of a great grievance, did I shout, “Bianshan, come out! Why did you frame me? If you don’t explain yourself clearly today, I shall die right here!”