Mo Lian lay collapsed on the floor of her room. Her face was pale, and her body was trembling. She gasped for air, trying desperately to breathe. Red liquid slowly trickled from the corner of her lips.
The poison had already burned through her entire body.
"Help… Someone please help…" she whispered weakly, trying to crawl out of her room.
The door opened. A beautiful young woman with a golden hairpin stepped inside. It was Roulan—the daughter of Mo Lian's father's concubine. She walked in gracefully and sat down on a chair as if she owned the room.
"Sister, what's going on? You're supposed to marry the Crown Prince tomorrow," she said mockingly.
"Roulan…" Mo Lian's voice was hoarse. She crawled forward, clutching her burning stomach. "Please… help me…"
She reached out for Roulan's leg, hoping her younger half-sister would lend a hand. But what she received was only more pain.
Roulan moved back with a disgusted look.
THUD!
She kicked Mo Lian's hand hard.
"Ah!" Mo Lian fell to the side, staring at Roulan in shock. "Roulan… you…?"
Roulan smirked. She leaned down and stepped on Mo Lian's hand, pressing her heel down with force.
The pressure made Mo Lian's fingers feel like they would break.
"Sister… I know you're kind, but I never thought you'd be this stupid," she whispered coldly.
"W-what did I ever do to you?" Mo Lian cried, struggling to free her hand.
Roulan leaned closer, her mocking smile widening. "How could you suddenly become the one marrying the Crown Prince? You're more suited for his useless brother. The Crown Prince is mine alone!"
Mo Lian froze. "But… didn't you refuse the marriage with him yourself??" Her voice shook.
"Idiot!" Roulan scoffed. "I only said one word and you believed me. Of course I didn't want to marry the Crown Prince now! When he becomes the Great King, all that power will be mine!"
Mo Lian coughed violently. Fresh blood spurted from her lips. She could barely breathe.
"Roulan… please… help me," Mo Lian begged, clutching her half-sister's leg.
Roulan crouched down in front of her, hatred flashing in her eyes. "My maid told me this poison works within three minutes. But you're pretty strong, Sister."
Mo Lian's eyes widened. "So… it was you? You poisoned me?"
Roulan laughed softly and lifted Mo Lian's chin with her finger.
"Hmm… what do you think?" she mocked.
She then covered her lips with her sleeve and laughed even louder, a sound that pierced Mo Lian's ears.
"Don't look at me like that, Sister… Fine, I'll admit it. Yes, this was my plan," she said in a fake panicked tone, glancing at her personal maid.
Mo Lian clenched her fists, her weak body trembling. Memories of the past flashed in her mind.
Back then, Roulan and her mother, Concubine Bai Suyin, had been rejected by the Mo family. Mo Lian was the one who fought for her grandparents to accept them. She was even the one who introduced Roulan to the Crown Prince.
And now… this was how Roulan repaid her?
"Sister," Roulan stepped closer again, smiling with open disdain. "Don't you realize how much the Crown Prince loves me? He only agreed to your engagement because he has to protect that useless old man's reputation!"
Mo Lian's heart sank. That useless old man… She knew Roulan was insulting their father, Mo Xianli.
"Hah, I regret it… Why did I have to be born from someone like Mo Xianli?" Roulan spat with disgust.
Mo Lian glared at her sister with bloodshot eyes.
"You… monster!" she rasped in fury.
"Shut up!" Roulan snapped, growing nervous. There were still royal envoys outside the room talking among themselves.
She stood up, her sharp eyes scanning the room. The poison should have killed Mo Lian by now, but she was still alive. Roulan spotted a large vase on the table.
With a cold smile, she grabbed it. CRASH! She hurled it straight at Mo Lian's head.
"AAAH!!" Mo Lian screamed as she staggered and collapsed to the floor. Blood dripped from her head, her vision blurring.
Roulan stood tall. "Burn this room down and make sure no one saves her!" she ordered Dayang Han.
The maid nodded quickly and began preparing oil and fire.
Roulan looked at Mo Lian one last time before leaving the room, a satisfied smile on her lips.
"Goodbye, Sister. My life will be perfect once you're gone."
She stepped out with Dayang Han following behind.
Mo Lian lay helpless on the floor, blood still seeping from her wound. Her breathing was labored.
She could only stare blankly at her sister's back as Roulan walked away without a second glance.
Is… this the end of my life?
"Cough… cough!" She coughed hard, trying to take a deep breath, but her lungs felt like they were on fire.
Thick smoke began filling the room as flames started to spread.
The fire crept closer. Mo Lian felt her skin burn from the heat. She covered her nose from the suffocating smoke.
"Please… I don't want to die here," Mo Lian whispered between sobs.
She gave up, her face pressed against the dirty floor.
She could see nothing but the flames dancing closer, as if mocking her life.
But then…
BANG!!!
The door was suddenly kicked open.
Someone rushed inside, running straight to her and pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Mo Lian! I'm sorry… I'm late…" The voice trembled with emotion.
Mo Lian slowly opened her eyes. That voice… she knew it well.
"You should have been happy after leaving me. But why did your fate turn out this tragic? Foolish girl!"
Mo Lian blinked. There was only one man who would call her foolish with such anger and affection at the same time.
"M-Master… Zhao…?" she whispered weakly.
Zhao Tiangseng, the handsome man with brown eyes, was the Crown Prince's older brother and the King of Jixian.
"Master, why are you here? You have to go…" Mo Lian pleaded.
But he hugged her tighter. "No… don't say anything. You won't be alone here."
Mo Lian coughed up blood again.
"Leave… you must survive…" she pushed at his chest with what little strength she had.
But Zhao Tiangseng shook his head. "No. I will never leave you!"
Tears streamed down Mo Lian's face. In her final breath, she hugged Zhao Tiangseng tightly.
"I really was foolish, Master… choosing the Crown Prince and leaving you behind…"
"But in the end… you're the only one willing to die with me."
The flames roared higher. The ceiling started to collapse.
If heaven and earth would give me another chance…
I will choose you, Master Zhao… and destroy them all.
With the sound of fire and falling beams, Zhao held Mo Lian tighter in his arms.
The crackling flames and distant shouts became the last thing Mo Lian heard as she closed her eyes.
Roulan… if I get a second chance, I will repay you a thousand times for this.
The room burned completely, consuming both Mo Lian and Zhao Tiangseng.
---
The roar of the flames grew distant. Mo Lian's breathing slowed. The burning sensation on her skin gradually disappeared.
Time seemed to move in reverse—going back!
Perhaps the heavens and gods felt pity for Mo Lian. They decided to let her fight once more.
"Haah…!" Mo Lian opened her eyes and clutched her stomach, which had felt like it was being crushed before.
She looked around, staring at her body. She slapped her cheeks hard.
"I'm… not dead???" she muttered, clenching her fists tightly.
"Sister, why are you here?"
Mo Lian turned toward the voice. "You???"
---