章 32: His Concubine
*Pa!!!*
YuLi was caught off-guard. She was busy scheming when she felt the stinging pain on her left cheek.
"You----!"
When YuLi turned her head, she saw YuYing standing in front of her. YuLi was rendered speechless. She saw that YuYing's hand was currently hovering near her face. Realization struck YuLi, she realized that the one who slapped her face was the timid YuYing who was always treating her like a big sister.
YuLi inwardly bit her lower lip. A hint of panic reflected inside her eyes. She was caught off-guard by YuYing's sudden action and was not able to be mentally prepared, thus, her emotions were clearly written on her face.
What happened?
Why did YuYing slap her?
Did she know something?
Was she discovered?
Many questions were floating inside YuLi's mind. A warning signal flashed inside her head as if telling her that everything was over.
'Impossible!'
YuLi forcefully suppressed the fear creeping inside her heart. The plan to assassinate XuanRong was only known to few people. Er Furen [1] sent her a massage saying that aside from her, no one should learn the assassination attempt. So, YuLi was sure that among all the servants inside the manor, only she, the one who was told by Er Furen, knew the treacherous plan and hidden scheme prepared by Xiao Lou.
So, why did YuYing slap her?
Did she eat leopard's guts and even dare to attack her in front of their mistress?
'Is she trying to flaunt her authority by acting arrogant, showing that XuanRong favors her more?'
YuLi snorted in disgust.
'How dare you slap me!'
Tossing her previous thought of being exposed, YuLi's face showed anger. She glared at YuYing who was also glaring back at her. She was older than YuYing by a year, which was why, between the two of them, she was the one acting as the head of all the servants in XuanRong's courtyard in the capital [2]. And since YuYing was now threatening her status, YuLi was angered to death.
She opened her mouth to rebuke YuYing's action, planning to scold her, when a second slap landed on the other side of her cheeks. Once again, YuLi felt the stinging pain on her face. It swelled like a steamed bun, making her look like a battered pig.
"You traitor!!"
YuYing screamed as she once again raised her hand to slap YuLi.
This time, YuLi was able to dodge YuYing's assault. She moved her face away from YuYing and took a step back, trying to create a distance between them.
"Y-YuYing.. what are you talking about?"
YuLi's countenance paled when she heard YuYing's words.
'It can't be!'
But no matter how YuLi denied it inside her heart, deep down, she knew that it was really over. The moment when YuYing uttered those words, YuLi almost fell on the ground. It took a great effort for her to remain standing and act oblivious to YuYing's scandalous remark towards her, like nothing was wrong.
"Liar! Don't pretend like nothing was wrong and everything was okay! XiaoJie treated us well but what did you do? You coerced with someone who was trying to harm XiaoJie! YuLi, don't you have any conscience left inside your heart?"
YuYing's chest was repeatedly rising and falling due to the strong emotion stirring her heart. Her heartbeat was erratic and fast, making her gasp as she tried to catch her breath.
YuLi shook her head, trying to deny everything.
"No! Who told you those lies??" YuLi whipped her head towards XuanRong who was currently standing near at the front door.
"XiaoJie!! This servant is innocent! This servant is being framed! How can this servant think of betraying XiaoJie? XiaoJie has been good to this servant! So, how can this servant harbor ill intensions and evil desires towards XiaoJie?"
YuLi hastily pushed YuYing away from her as she tried to explain everything to XuanRong.
When XuanRong heard YuLi's shamelessness, she laughed loudly.
'How shameless ah!'
When YuLi heard XuanRong's laughter, her body shivered. XuanRong's laughter was very cold. It could even freeze someone to death. Goosebumps started appearing all around her body.
"X-XiaoJie I-----"
"What? Are going to deny what YuYing said a while ago?"
YuLi kneeled in front of XuanRong. Tears were trickling on both of her cheeks. She was afraid, but she no longer had any choice. It was already too late, so, she could only continue denying YuYing's serious allegation.
"This servant has a clear conscience! Even if this servant will be beaten to death, this servant will not tell any lies! XiaoJie, please, listen to this servant. This servant is innocent!!"
"You are not telling the truth!!"
Before XuanRong could even say anything, YuYing already rebuked YuLi's shamelessness. When XuanRong told her everything, she could not believe it herself. Her XiaoJie was raised by Er Furen and was pampered to death. So, YuYing was shaken up to her core when she learned that the one who sent those assassins, the one who wanted to harm her XiaoJie, was their very own Er Furen of the Prime Minister's estate. Thinking of YuLi's betrayal, YuYing could not help but want to slap her once more. She hated the fact that she was oblivious to everything. She could only glare at YuLi while trying to suppress the anger she felt.
YuLi did not listen to YuYing but instead, she moved forward and continued kneeling on the cold ground. She raised her hand, trying to grab the hem of XuanRong's dress. Unfortunately, XuanRong moved, away from her grasp.
XuanRong walked and sat on the table inside YuLi's room. YuLi could only turn her head and look at XuanRong with grievance in her eyes.
If XuanRong was the same as before, she would really believe that YuLi was only framed by someone. Fortunately, she was given a second chance to correct everything.
"YuLi… let's just stop. Don't pretend anymore. I once asked you about giving you your freedom once you decided to marry someone, but you still wanted to be XuanHong's concubine."
When YuLi heard XuanRong's words, she froze.
She slowly looked at XuanRong's eyes. It was black, like a deep abyss void of anything. YuLi felt as if it was sucking her soul.
Before she could even utter any response, XuanRong once again spoke.
"Since you dreamed of climbing higher, then, This Lady will fulfill your wish. Tomorrow, you will be given to Fei Daren as his new concubine. Are you happy now? Finally, your dream will come true."
[PLEASE ADOPT ME \(T^T)/ and DONATE @ paypal.me/sayurihyuuga]
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[1]. Second Legal Wife
[2]. Ancient China values Seniority
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Edited and Proofread by: Prikkrang and Supremetobs
クリエイターの想い 
SayuriHyuuga
SayuriHyuuga Author's Side Note:
My mother said that someone from their school (her co-teacher) was reading my other novel, The Witch CEO. Holy macaroons!! I kinda feel.... weird. gosh! I hate it when people I know read my novel... it makes me feel anxious.. talk about being awkward, ya know? argh! I wanna evaporate and disappear! ma-kora man sad ta!
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