"She had returned; she was no longer the timid woman who was once bullied, blamed, and disintegrated. She was now Xu Ruyi; her status had changed; she was no longer insignificant. Life had offered her a second chance for a reason, and she would seize it, even if it meant going against the law of natural order; she no longer cared. Those who had wronged her would pay."
"You must prepare," Xu Huai asserted.
"Yes," she bowed in response, lowering her gaze.
Ruyi sat in front of the bronze mirror while Xiao Lan helped her prepare for the day. She wore a jade-green robe, with a white inner linning; Xiao Lan had carefully selected the colour to match her white, luminous skin. A tiny hairpin shaped like a peony and crusted with pearls held her dark, elegant hair in place.
Lady Ling entered the room wearing a proud smile.
Ruyi sighted her from the mirror and uttered gently, "Mother, how do I look?"
"You look beautiful," Lady Ling complimented her.
Ruyi turned to face her mother and took her hands in hers. "Thank you, Mother."
Lady Ling sighed and tenderly brushed a stray hair behind Ruyi's ear. "Just stay close to me," Lady muttered to her.
"Alright," Ruyi replied. Then Xiao Lan placed a white veil over her head to shield her face away from prying eyes.
Yet, Ruyi wished her Mother knew the turmoil ragging within her.
Esteemed guests were already settling into their assigned seats in the vast palace hall.
"High-ranking officials, Ministers, and Nobles turned to each other to greet, whisper, laugh, or discuss matters."
Lady Ling and Ruyi were escorted to their seats among the Noblewomen, while Xu Huai took his place among the court officials. Ruyi held her Mother's hand, her fingers tightening around her sleeves.
The Chief eunuch dashed into the room and declared the arrival of the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort, and the once lively room became silent.
The Emperor, wearing his five-clawed dragon robe, walked into the room with the Imperial Noble Consort, whose phoenix hairpin shone brightly and glittered in the light. Their gowns dragged on the floor as they walked graciously into the room
Everyone immediately fell to their knees and bowed deeply, placing one hand on the other in veneration and bending their backs slightly.
"Long live Your Majesties," they chorused in harmony, their voices resonating down the hallway.
They took their seats at the forefront of the room and the Emperor nodded slightly in approval, while the Imperial Noble Consort acknowledged the greeting with a calm smile. She was beautiful, her fair skin glowing radiantly, her expression unreadable.
"Rise!" The emperor ordered, and they all rose in a controlled and graceful manner, being careful not to appear too hurried or too slow.
From beneath her veil, Ruyi glared at the Imperial Noble Consort with cold hatred. "She was part of it too—tearing her dignity apart, forgetting she was a woman too. It was her voice that delivered the final judgment, condemning her to death."
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled warmly as she addressed the guests.
"Everyone, today we celebrate not only my birthday but also the bond that holds our empire together. Thank you for your presence."
Servers moved from one table to another, pouring the jars of plum wine into small cups for each of the guests.
"Everyone, let's raise our cups," the Emperor's voice called out, and he raised his cup, turning to the Imperial Noble Consort, who also raised hers. "My Noble Consort," he called affectionately.
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled brightly, and they both downed the content.
"May your Grace live for ten thousand years!" the guests chorused and raised their cups to the Imperial Noble Consort before following suit.
"Thank you, everyone," the Imperial Noble Consort said, smiling genially. The Head Maid clapped her hands together softly, and maidens, in a single file, walked poisedly into the room, each holding a tray of different kinds of foods, placing it on every table. There was Braised Pork Belly, Mapo Tofu, Peking Duck, Bird Nest Soup and also varieties of fruits including Lychees, Mandarin Oranges, Pears, and Pomegranates.
The Imperial Noble Consort's voice shot up as she addressed the guests again. "Before you are dishes from my hometown; I have really missed them, please enjoy."
Dancers appeared in the hall as guests feasted, their sleeves flowing freely in the air. Every movement they made was flawless, dignified, and captivating, each step corresponding to the other. The guests were mesmerized by the performance, whispering excitedly to one another. The emperor and Imperial Noble Consort also watched in enjoyment, nodding in agreement as the dancers showcased their talents.
One after the other, noble families went up, presenting their gifts to the Imperial Noble Consort—delicate jade hairpins, earrings, and trinkets symbolizing purity, beauty, and good fortune; rare medicinal plants and supplements to promote well-being; calligraphy and paintings representing good wishes.
The atmosphere was a joyous one until two figures appeared.
Sun Jun strode into the hall, his shoulders held high, with Jing Yan closely beside while a maid followed behind carrying a carefully wrapped gift in both hands.
They knelt before the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort.
"Greetings Father, greetings Mother." Then they added, "Mother, Happy birthday, may your happiness be as vast as the East Sea, and your longevity as high as the Southern Mountain." (fú rú dōng hǎi, shòu bǐ nán shān)
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled deeply, "Sun Jun, Ying Yan, you've arrived."
Ruyi clenched her fist and gritted her teeth underneath her veil. Them.
"Thank you, please rise," The Imperial Noble Consort said, and they rose slowly.
A sack of stone settled on Ruyi's heart, making it feel heavy. The last people she ever wanted to see. The ones who had driven her to her death.
Ruyi's eyes followed them as they took their seats; her breath hitched, and she could hear her own heart beating rapidly. Her entire body shook in anger, but one could hardly tell, thanks to the veil.
Jing Yan laughed softly as she picked a dish for Sun Jun, her movement delicate and tender.
Then her eyes landed on another figure—Linglong; she was smiling at Sun Jun with affection in her eyes. She was part of it too. Everything about her made Ruyi feel disgusted.
"I hate you all."
"I won't let you go. I promise," she muttered gently.
At that moment, a young boy, perhaps four years old, ran into the room with a maid rushing after him.
He knelt down and greeted the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort, pressing his forehead against the ground. "Greetings grandfather, grandmother."
The Emperor's voice filled the room with laughter, "Stand up," he said firmly. "Come," he gestured towards his grandson. His face lit up with love as he placed the boy on his lap. Then the boy faced the Imperial Noble Consort and murmured, "Happy birthday Grandmother, may your days be long and filled with happiness."
"Awwww, Thank you Hao'er," The Imperial Noble Consort said happily, touching the little boy's cheeks.
This drew a hearty laugh from the emperor again, "My grandson is growing into a fine young man," his laughter echoed throughout the room as the guests joined in. After a while, he put the boy down.
Sun Jun and Jing Yan smiled satisfactorily, their proud faces shining brighter than the stars in the sky.
"Come here," Jing Yan said softly and opened her arms widely.
"Mother!" The boy shouted In excitement and ran into her arms; she then held him close and fed him a piece of fruit, a warm smile on her face.
"Ruyi reflected on the child he had never wanted with her, but now has with Jing Yan. He had utterly ruined her life, damaging her hope for motherhood; her past life had been all about him. The life she lived as Li Mei had never been hers, but Sun Jun's. All she could think of was revenge: how to destroy his entire family, how to make him suffer a thousandfold. She would have her revenge, and she would spare none of them.
Ruyi trembled with rage as she watched their display of affection.
"Five years." She scoffed, the words bitter as tears streamed down her face.
"In five years, you built a life, a family together while I rotted away unjustly."
"Jing Yan. Sun Jun!"
"I will make you suffer."
"I will take back everything you stole from me, piece by piece."
"And I'll destroy everything you love."
"This, I swear."