The twenty-third year of Jian'an, the Prince's Mansion in the Imperial City.
Dressed in a golden phoenix-tail gown, Ye Muxi wore a veil over her face. Her beautiful eyes looked worn out, as she desperately pounded on the locked door that wouldn't budge no matter how hard she tried.
"I want to see the prince, let me out! Our Ling Martial Marquis's residence is being wrongfully accused! My father did not plot a rebellion!"
Ye Muxi, who had been confined for three days without food or water, was running out of strength. But she insisted on seeing Prince Huangfu Sheng.
"Clang…"
Finally, accompanied by a clear sound, the vermilion gate was opened. A luxuriously-dressed woman walked in, surrounded by people. She was wrapped in sumptuous silk, a woman of incomparable beauty. It was none other than Ye Muxi's old rival, Prince Huangfu Sheng's concubine, Xu Qiongying.
"Princess Consort, don't waste your energy. The prince won't see you. His Highness has issued an order, the lowly concubine Ye and her family have conspired to rebel, and they are sentenced to death," Xu Qiongying looked at Ye Muxi with a triumphant gleam in her eyes. "Ye Muxi, you are sentenced to death, your whole Ling Martial Marquis's household will be executed, your position as the Duchess is mine, and the Queen of Great Qian will also be me. In the end, I am the winner."
Ye Muxi clenched her fists, staring coldly at her. "Xu Qiongying, my father did not plot a rebellion, you set us up! You set me up for the position of the queen! Your family set up mine for power!"
"What if I did? It serves your family right!" Xu Qiongying strutted up to Ye Muxi and slapped her across the face. "You're in this state and still dare glare at me. Aren't you reconciled? Do you think your Ling Martial Marquis's residence can still expect reinforcements? Don't be deluded. Look at what this is."
Xu Qiongying retrieved a Mei Flower Order from her sleeve.
At this moment, a woman dressed in brocade walked in from outside the palace gate. It was Ye Muxi's childhood friend, Ye Wanrou.
After the Marquis Residence of Lingwu was branded with the name of treason, Ye Muxi gave the Mei Flower Order to Ye Wanrou, asking her to pass it to her father. The origin of this order was exceptional, it was the only thing that could save their entire family.
But, at this moment, the Mei Flower Order was in Xu Qiongying's hand, and Ye Wanrou was standing right beside her.
"Cousin, why? Why did you betray me! I've treated you well, is Xu Qiongying's gold and silver more precious than our sisterhood?" Ye Muxi's nails dug intently into her flesh in disbelief. She didn't expect her most trusted person would hand the Mei Flower Order, which was to save her family's lives, into the enemy's hands.
Ye Wanrou said regretfully, "Actually, I also wanted to be your royal sister and continue living under your glory. But sadly, as long as you live, I'm on edge. I was afraid you would know about the past events. But now, I can tell you outright."
"Cousin, the fire five years ago was set by me, your mother was burnt to death by me, it was me who disfigured you and pushed your younger brother into the pond to drown him. If you remained naive, that would have been alright, but these years being washed in the battles for the throne, you've become more capable. The stronger you become, the closer I am to death. So, I had to kill you first." Ye Wanrou's every word revealed her venomous heart.
Ye Muxi had never doubted Ye Wanrou, but knowing the truth now, her heart ached as if being cut by a knife, she was almost crazy.
"I'm going to kill you! Ye Wanrou, I'm going to kill you!" Ye Muxi roared in pain, the veil on her face dropped, revealing a face full of scars, looking extremely frightful.
Her dear mother and brother were brutally killed, and she had been best friends for a lifetime with the woman who caused their deaths. How ridiculous! How hateful! How sad!