Chapter 12

Chapter 12

It took a long time for him to wake up, and when he did, he looked dazed.

“Shisan Niang?” he asked blankly.

I snapped back to reality, deciding to have one last talk with him.

“Whether you believe it or not, I am indeed a princess.

“I have always been sincere with you. When I said I wanted us to be together for a lifetime, just the two of us, I meant it.

“However, I have a great debt of vengeance to settle. I cannot keep playing these games with you here.”

I told him that my mother was the Empress, my brother was the Crown Prince, and my Elder Sister had volunteered for a political marriage to maintain peace.

No family in the world was more noble than mine, and none more loyal or filial.

And yet, what of it?

It took only a single night to fall from the heights of glory to the wretched state of a stray dog.

“One’s birth decides some things, but it does not decide everything.

“In the future, stop wallowing in self-pity. Though our feelings as husband and wife have reached their end, I have already paved the way for your future career.”

I felt a twinge of sentimentality after saying that.

Xie Canghuai covered his face and slowly crawled toward the door.

Me: “?”

“Mother! She hit me-!”

Me: “…”

Cui Tao, whom I had sent out to buy flatbreads, returned just then.

She arrived right in time for the spectacle!

Xie’s Mother had already gathered everyone in the manor to block my door.

Cui Tao immediately rushed over to block the entrance from the outside, trading insults with the crowd.

Xie’s Mother screamed, “How dare you attempt to take my son’s life!”

Cui Tao was overjoyed. “Has Her Highness finally ordered that useless loser’s execution?”

A servant woman chimed in, “You wild brat, your heart must be clouded by lard!”

Cui Tao retorted, “I think your eyes were smeared with dog shit first, and then you stuffed it in your mouth to chew on until it smelled ‘fragrant’!”

Xie’s Mother was stunned for a moment before shrieking, “Lady Lin of the Xie family, get out here!”

A loud slapping sound echoed from outside the door.

“How bold! How dare you address Her Highness like that!”

Cui Tao grabbed two people and started spinning them around in circles, laughing loudly as she did.

“I’ve finally lived to see this day!”

“This feels so good! Hahaha-”

I didn’t stop her.

She was just a young girl.

What was wrong with letting her have a moment of joy?

Things had reached this point, after all.

Xie Canghuai finally rushed out to protect his mother, who had been beaten into a daze.

He cursed at me with slurred speech, “How could you treat my mother like this…”

Cui Tao seemed to still be savoring the moment and couldn’t hold it in. “Haha.”

It was so manic it was frightening.

Xie Canghuai: “!!!”

He declared that he would lock me away at a rural estate to reflect on my actions.

I didn’t hesitate, immediately telling Cui Tao to pack our things for the journey.

Cui Tao’s rush of excitement seemed to have passed.

She began to look dejected.

She didn’t understand.

She didn’t understand why we were still lingering around the Xie family at all.

She even looked like she was about to cry.

“How can a princess be driven out like this, like a stray dog…”

She seemed to have forgotten.

I had already been in exile for thirteen years.

Seeing her like this, I simply smiled. “Don’t be sad. Let me tell you a story.”