Ivy Shen shook her head and spoke of the things that hurt Song Zhijue most.
"She... was really so heartless?" He couldn't imagine it—after all, Master Silver Consort had always doted on him since childhood, worried he’d catch cold or get overheated, always so careful. How could she possibly be so cruel?
"Isn’t that right? Maybe Silver Consort regretted it once, but by then everything was set in stone—even if she wanted to, it was too late to go back." Honestly, Ivy could feel it deep down: Silver Consort truly loved Song Zhijue. She must have regretted it later, but once things were decided, regret just wasn’t an option anymore.
"Cao Wan’er... it’s all her, isn’t it? She planned everything, didn’t she?" Song Zhijue suddenly looked up, eyes rimmed red. "Gordon Gao was definitely her setup too!"
Ivy watched Song Zhijue getting so worked up but didn’t answer right away. Honestly, anyone with half a brain could figure it out: Gordon Gao was already in his thirties when he met Silver Consort, and he’d always been honest and kind. Otherwise, why would he have saved her in the first place?
Plus, he treated Silver Consort genuinely well, and was good to all his wives and concubines too. If you put it in modern terms, his family was basically middle class—wives got along, parents were alive, nobody worried about food or money. That’s pretty much the dream life.
And from what everyone knew, Gordon Gao used to be a schoolteacher. How could a guy like that suddenly get hooked on gambling? It’s just bizarre!
So honestly, the real story behind all this—only those people actually know what’s up.
Song Zhijue had inherited Gordon Gao’s sharp mind. It didn’t take him long to piece everything together. Fury and resentment rose in his heart—it had to be Cao Wan’er’s scheme, no doubt! But what he still couldn’t figure out was: why target Silver Consort? Why her?!
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you—Silver Consort is actually Lan Moxuan’s aunt, and Lan Moxuan himself is the Crown Prince of the Endless Indulgence Kingdom!" Ivy dropped this info bomb just as Song Zhijue was stuck on the question.
On hearing that, Song Zhijue’s eyes went wide. Wait—was it all because Silver Consort’s brother was the royal son-in-law of the Endless Indulgence Kingdom?
He’d always thought it was weird how Cao Wan’er managed to get into the Endless Indulgence Kingdom and ask for those poisons, but he never imagined it was because of this family connection.
Ivy watched his tangled-up expression and just smiled, saying nothing—she could totally guess what Song Zhijue was thinking.
Too bad Song Zhijue only got half the picture. In reality, Lan Moxuan’s identity was only passed down to him by the queen’s younger sister, so he couldn’t possibly be the royal son-in-law. But Ivy couldn’t be bothered to explain—watching him suffer was honestly kind of fun.
“Ahhhhhh—!” Realizing the whole chain of events, Song Zhijue clutched his head and wailed in agony.
“If things had been different, you’d probably be a super happy person—with siblings, able to walk, able to train in martial arts, living your own life, not constantly scheming. I bet you wouldn’t be half so exhausted.”
Song Zhijue didn’t reply.
“I don’t even know if you should call all this karma or just tragedy. Losing your legs is awful, but having to endure that stabbing pain every month? That’s even worse. I really wonder how Silver Consort felt seeing you like that.”
“You know about that?” Song Zhijue looked at her in shock, then gave a self-mocking laugh. “If you’ve made it this far, you’re obviously smart enough. How could you drink knockout drugs and not notice?” He gave an awkward little smile.
“Song Zhijue, you’re just a lowly guy—not even worth comparing to my seven husbands. If you were anywhere else, you’d just be some random commoner. You’ve spent all these years pretending to be a prince and living in luxury—still not satisfied? Most people never get a taste of that in their whole lives,” Ivy said with biting sarcasm. “Aww, but in the end, you’re just a stand-in!”
“Enough!” Song Zhijue yelled, on the verge of a breakdown. With so much piling up at once, he just couldn’t take it anymore.
See? You were never really royal—you’re just an ordinary guy, so ordinary you’d get lost in a crowd of serpents. If Silver Consort hadn’t dragged you into the palace, maybe you could’ve lived happy and normal. No need to get your legs chopped off for your low status, no need to be denied walking, training, or having kids. Oh, and by the way, I fought Cao Wan’er once—she admitted she poisoned the Crown Princess’s unborn child herself!
Hearing that, Song Zhijue stared at Ivy in horror and roared, “No way! My mother loved me—how could she?!”
He knew she’d done all those evil things, but he still clung to a shred of hope. Cao Wan’er had always doted on him—surely she’d love his child too. But...
Impossible. It just couldn’t be!
“How is it impossible?” Ivy shot back. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? You’re just a fake. Even without a tail, your genes are still there. If the Crown Princess had given birth safely, that ugly silver-gray tail would’ve shown up, right? Then everyone would know you’re an impostor!”
Ivy gave a sarcastic smile. “You’re honestly pathetic. Maybe, in Cao Wan’er’s mind, you were never meant to have kids at all. Think about it—once you’re old, no heirs, no one to take the throne, she can just pick someone from the Cao family. Grab a nephew, problem solved! Your fake identity stays hidden, and the Cao clan gets to rise to the top. Am I wrong?”
Song Zhijue froze. Every word Ivy said hit the mark—was it really his mother who kept his women from getting pregnant? Was it all just so the Cao family could end up with the throne?
“Don’t go thinking Cao Wan’er ever truly cared about you. You saw how she finished off your mother, and how she sucked the life out of that maid. With methods that cruel, you really think she has any conscience left?” Ivy kept piling it on, watching his terrified face.
“Stop it, just stop!” Listening to her analysis, Song Zhijue felt like his head was about to split open.
You were doomed to be a tool from the moment you were born. I don’t know what Silver Consort was thinking, but a mother like that isn’t much better—teaming up with Cao Wan’er, letting her own son lose his legs as a kid. And what did that get her? Cao Wan’er sucked her dry and left her to die in agony. So really, you and your mother are both idiots, through and through!
That’s enough! Kill me, chop me up, whatever you want—just stop humiliating me!” Song Zhijue clenched his fists, eyes bloodshot with rage.
Kill you? If you want to die, do it yourself. I’m done killing people—especially idiots. You’re not even worth the effort.” She was determined to provoke him; better he live in misery than die quickly.
Hearing that, Song Zhijue scrambled to grab a knife off the floor and go for his neck. Ivy casually flicked a peanut from the table at his shoulder—he froze instantly, and the sword clattered to the ground.
Want to die? Ha, not so easy. I’m not letting you off that quick—I’ll make sure you stay alive, and live well.” With that, she shouted, “Tong Kun!”
A voice answered from outside right away: “Your soldier is here!”
“From now on, seal Shou’an Hall for good. Keep Song Zhijue locked up in here—don’t let him die. If he refuses food or water, force-feed him.” She shot Song a frosty glare. “You people kept my sister prisoner for over twenty years—so now, I’m collecting every last debt.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Tong Kun replied at once.
Good. Find some capable people to watch him. Oh, and go to the brothel and hire two madams—I’m worried he’ll get all pent up on the fifteenth of each month!” She turned to Song Zhijue with a mocking smile. “See, I’m being nice to you. Those brothel madams are pros—no matter how much you struggle, they’ll make sure you’re in heaven and hell at the same time.” She finished with a sneer.
“You lunatic, let me go!” Song Zhijue shouted, still paralyzed but cursing at the top of his lungs.
Ivy glanced at him and gave a cold smile. “There’s an old saying: ‘If someone beats me, scolds me, insults me, tricks me, slanders me, mocks me, bullies or humiliates me—what should I do? The answer: just endure, respect, avoid, let it go, ignore, be humble, pay no mind, and after some time, see what happens to them.’”
Song Zhijue had no idea why Ivy was saying this—he just stared at her, dazed.
But Ivy just sneered. “But for me? I say, endure him, let him be... then find a chance to stomp him down! And right now? Couldn’t be a better opportunity!” She flicked her sleeve and strode out, leaving Song Zhijue screaming behind her.
Now that he knew so much, Ivy was sure his days ahead would be pure agony. That was exactly what she wanted—for him to live in endless torment.