Julia Zhu knew that, with the poisoned wine knocked to the ground in front of so many witnesses, Her Majesty the Empress would soon hear of it.
She had already botched one task—this time, she could not afford another mistake.
Serena Feng must die!
As the Empress’s personal lady-in-waiting, Julia Zhu understood better than anyone just how ruthless the Empress could be.
Only if Serena Feng died would the Empress possibly spare Julia’s life.
Thinking of this, a cold smile crept onto Julia Zhu’s lips.
Better her than me, after all. Serena Feng was doomed either way—if her death could save Julia’s own life, why hesitate?
When a ruler commands a subject’s death, the subject has no choice but to obey.
If the Empress wants you dead by midnight, then you cannot live past dawn.
When you meet the King of Hell, don’t blame me—blame the Empress, or blame yourself for ending up in this mess.
Julia Zhu lowered her head, picked up the white silk from the ground, and walked toward Serena Feng with an elegant, bloodthirsty smile.
Step by step, Julia Zhu drew closer, her smile hungry for blood. Serena's fingers turned icy cold; she bit her lip so hard that the tender flesh was torn and bleeding.
Does it hurt?
It hurts!
But she was already numb from the pain.
Her forehead throbbed, her cheeks stung, and the wounds on her body ached all the way down to her bones, all the way to her heart, until she wanted to cry.
But compared to the threat of death, none of this pain mattered.
In that moment, Serena Feng truly felt fear—and hatred.
In this era where lives are as cheap as grass, when the Empress decrees death, there is truly no chance of survival.
As a doctor, she had seen death countless times, but that only made her crave life more fiercely.
She wanted to take a gamble—a gamble that the Empress would never say outright: 'I order you to die.'
As long as the Empress didn't speak plainly, she could pretend not to understand and wait until she left the palace to act. She'd already offended both the Empress and Prince Rowan; one more offense made no difference.
When a ruler commands a subject's death, the subject has no choice but to obey!
Hmph, how ridiculous.
Not everyone in this world is so blindly loyal, dying for so-called duty between ruler and subject. Others she couldn't speak for, but Serena Feng absolutely refused.
What is a ruler, what is a subject?
Nobles and generals are made, not born. Even the Eastlyn throne was seized from someone else less than a century ago—why should she die twice in one day for such a ruler?
Julia Zhu's lips curled into a cold, ruthless smile. With the poisoned wine, the Empress never needed to say anything. But now, with the poison gone, some things had to be made clear...
Clearing her throat, Julia Zhu said proudly, 'His Highness Prince Rowan declared that Miss Feng is impure in body and form. Her Majesty the Empress orders you to study the Admonitions for Women, and from now on, your conduct must follow its rules.'
According to the Admonitions for Women, a defiled woman has no right to live. Julia Zhu was certain these words were enough for Serena Feng to understand.
Serena Feng finally relaxed her clenched fists. Her face, pale from blood loss, regained some color as she bowed her head to accept the white silk from Julia Zhu. 'Serena thanks Her Majesty the Empress for her guidance.'
There's no imperial edict for me to die, so why should I?
The Admonitions for Women? Maybe I'll read it if I have time, though I doubt I'll ever need to.
As for this three feet of white silk...
White silk isn't just for hanging oneself—it has plenty of other uses.
'Hmph!' Julia Zhu raised her chin arrogantly. 'Serena Feng, you'd better know your place. Don't think you can defy the heavens.'
'Yes, Lady Official,' Serena replied good-naturedly.
'Hurry up and leave! The sacred palace is no place for filth like you.' Seeing Serena's apparent confusion, Julia Zhu grew even more cutting.
Serena Feng, hurry out of the palace and find a tree to hang yourself. Maybe, if Her Majesty the Empress pities you, she'll give you a straw mat and toss you into the mass grave.
Filthy creature!
Serena Feng said nothing, silently turning away.
In a single day, she'd suffered more humiliation than in her entire previous life.
In her last life, if someone cursed her, she could curse back. If someone hit her, she could hit back.
But now, that's no longer possible.
Powerless, without protection, she had no room for defiance in this world.
Her life was truly regressing.
Serena Feng looked up, blinking at the gloomy sky... She blinked away the tears in her eyes.
Serena, don't cry. You survived so much hardship in your last life—what's a little humiliation now?
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—fortunes always change.
There's still plenty of time. Serena Feng won't be unlucky forever.
One day, she'll repay every humiliation inflicted on her today.
As she stepped forward, Serena Feng loosened her grip—the twisted white silk suddenly unfurled into a half-meter-wide strip of cloth, startling everyone.
'What is she doing?'
When the crowd saw Serena Feng spread out the white silk, they murmured in confusion. But in the next moment, they understood.
Serena turned gracefully, transforming the white silk into a shawl and draping it over her shoulders. The pure white layered over her red gauze dress—striking and beautiful...
'How bold!'
The eunuchs and maids thought to themselves: Her Majesty's intentions were so obvious, yet Serena Feng dared to...
But in the next second, they realized what true boldness meant. Serena Feng, wrapped in white silk, knelt toward the Empress's palace and called out loudly:
'Her Majesty the Empress is merciful and compassionate, pitying Serena Feng's lack of proper clothing and bestowing three feet of white silk to cover her. Serena thanks Her Majesty and wishes her a thousand years of longevity!'
She kowtowed, her bloody forehead staining with dust, but Serena didn't care—she brushed it off lightly and rose with effortless grace.
Julia Zhu's face alternated between pale and green, while the crowd stared in shock as Serena Feng strode away, proud and unyielding.
A breeze lifted the white silk on her shoulders, and with her bold, elegant stride, Serena Feng looked almost ethereal...
Inside the palace, Prince Rowan watched Serena Feng's determined departure, torn between admiration and disgust—yet he couldn't take his eyes off her red and white silhouette.
That red dress was filthy, but the white silk was flawless.
Serena Feng, are you telling the world you're innocent?
Hahaha...
Serena Feng, you're so naive.
Your innocence—does it have any value?
After today, will anyone in this world still care about innocence?
Prince Rowan turned away arrogantly, leaving Serena Feng behind.
A woman like her isn't worth his attention...