Each day, Shen Chun knelt in the courtyard, imploring Emperor Hong to release Sun Jingxuan, enduring both rain and sun. Cui Hua, ever-present, shielded her with an umbrella, urging her to stop, mindful of her health.
"My Lady, please, come inside. The weather will affect your health," Cui Hua pleaded, her voice laced with concern as she held the umbrella in the downpour.
"I'm alright, Cui Hua. Go, leave me," Shen Chun insisted.
I'm not leaving," Cui Hua refused stubbornly.
"I told you, I'm the only person who can help you," Ruyi's voice broke the stiffness as she walked towards Shen Chun, Xiao Lan holding one umbrella over her head and the other for herself.
Cui Hua got on her knees, her voice breaking. "Miss Xu, please help me persuade My Lady; she's been doing this for days now, I'm afraid her body can't take it anymore."
"If she wants to kneel, then let her kneel; it means she has the strength, leave her alone," Ruyi said.
"You—" Shen Chun snapped.
"You really think His Majesty will listen to your pleas? You're only wasting your time," Ruyi continued.
"Miss Xu, I'm begging you, please help My Lady; she knows she was wrong, please help her!" Cui Hua cried.
Shen Chun broke down, finally conceding, her tears flowing like a river. "I was wrong, help me," she cried. "Brother Jingxuan's health is poor; I'm scared if he stays in the cold prison for a long time, it would affect him permanently."
"She actually cares a lot for Sun Jingxuan," Ruyi thought, this is the first time she saw a vulnerable side of Shen Chun and Ruyi pitied her.
"Get up," Ruyi urged, helping her up. "I'll speak to His Majesty and Her Grace tomorrow; I'll try my best to get him out, I promise."
"Thank you," Shen Chun cried softly. "I promise, I won't cause any more trouble for you."
"Thank you, Miss Xu," Cui Hua added.
"Don't thank me yet," Ruyi muttered. "I haven't spoken to His Majesty yet, so, I don't know if he'll agree."
---
Ruyi, leveraging Emperor Hong's name, gained entry to the cold prison. Her reputation with the Emperor ensured swift access; everyone knew his fondness for her.
"You're here," Ruyi's voice echoed through the stone walls, "while your sister suffers under the harsh rain and sun."
Sun Jingxuan turned, his movements smooth despite his disheveled appearance. His hair flowed as he moved, and though he was rough and dirty, he still possessed an undeniable agility.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
"Poor Shen Chun," Ruyi said, her voice laced with a hint of scorn. "She's out there, begging His Majesty for your release, and yet... you're here, drinking wine?" She gestured dismissively.
"I'm here because of her. Don't you think she deserves to be punished?" he asked, rising slowly from his wheelchair, each step deliberate as he approached her. "But I have a question for you: Why are you doing all of this?"
His gaze made her uneasy, and she stammered, "I... I..." Before she could finish, she lost her balance. He caught her, their eyes meeting, and the world seemed to slow. It echoed the first time they met, at the fabric store, when she'd disguised herself as a man. She was radiant. He found himself staring at her lips, swallowing hard. But she pushed him away, regaining her composure. They both cleared their throats, searching for anything to break the intense connection between them.
"I came to see how you're coping," she said, covering herself properly with her fur coat. "I can see you like it here. I'm here to tell you, your sister is worried about you, and she asked for my help."
"Oh? She still trusts you after setting her up?" Sun Jingxuan chuckled.
"I didn't set her up; she was the one who chose to get back at me, and it backfired. How am I wrong?" Ruyi defended.
"Whatever game you're playing, It'd be better not to get involved with my family," he advised. "Do you think Consort Yao truly likes you? You don't know her. She's just using you to get what she wants."
Ruyi offered him a bright smile, "You think I'm afraid? She's using me? How do you know I'm not also using her?"
He smiled, "So far as I know, you've never made any acquaintance of her before now, why are you targeting her?"
"Who says I'm targeting her? Her, her son, and her daughter-in-law, I want them all dead!" She declared with an air of pain and disgust. "So, don't worry, you're not in my plan."
"I don't understand. Miss Xu was rumored to be slow, timid, and lacking in different aspects. Her first time entering the palace was when she recently recovered. How come you suddenly want them dead?" Sun Jingxuan asked.
"You can't understand," she spelt it out. "I heard you became crippled ever since the Empress died. I suspect you pretended not to walk because you suspect it had something to do with someone at the court, isn't it?" Though she wasn't sure if she was right, she had heard the rumors that Consort Yao loathed the late Empress for coming between her and the Emperor.
His demeanor changed immediately she uttered the word Empress. "Miss Xu, please leave," he said, sitting back on his wheelchair and holding his cup of wine.
Ruyi chuckled and retrieved the cup of wine he was holding, "You want revenge, right? I can help you, but you have to work for me."
Sun Jingxuan burst into laughter as he looked at her.
"Truly, I don't know what happened, but I can sense her hatred for you. You are trying to find out what happened to the late Empress, while I want revenge; we already have something in common," she explained.
"What is it that you want?" he asked her.
She gulped the content of the cup and spoke. "I want to be the Empress."
He smiled faintly and shook his head. "Consort Yao has been trying to become the Empress for a long time, but King Father doesn't think she's worthy enough," he pointed out. "You think you're worthy?"
"You don't have to worry about that; you just need to do what you have to do, what do you say?" Ruyi asked.
"Go back, Miss Xu," he dismissed her.
"She let a faint smile grace her lips, you think I'm not capable, how about we make a deal? If I get the Emperor to let you go, that means I have the ability, if I can't, forget everything I ever said today."
He looked up at her, smiled but said nothing.
She turned from the cold room, the chill of it clinging to her skin. Revenge was her goal, and she didn't care to get it through any means possible. To bring down her enemies, she needed to climb the social ladder, step by step, until she held the power to destroy them. But to do that, she needed him: Sun Jingxuan.
---
"Sun Jun grew more interested in Ruyi after their last encounter. He began sending Ao Min with messages for her, which didn't go unnoticed. Gossips spread like a ripple, everyone talked about how nice he treated her and was considered lucky but Ruyi kept turning him down each time, aware of how he could slip up when he got impatient. One evening, Consort Yao invited Ruyi to spend time with her. They played a game of go, and Ruyi taught Consort Yao some embroidery, as she wanted to create embroidered shoes for Emperor Hong. As the day ended, Ruyi said her goodbyes and left. Finding a peaceful spot, she admired the flowers arranged around the cooling area. "Do you like them?" a voice suddenly asked from behind.
She turned and was face to face with Sun Jun, standing behind him was Ao Min and two maidens.
She bowed, bending her knees lightly. "Prince Jun."
"I can gift them to you if you want," he said, pointing to the flowers.
"No need," she responded in a cool manner. "What are you doing here?" she pressed further.
"What? I can't come here?" he asked, leaning in.
She took a step back, "please mind your behavior Prince Jun."
"Do you hate me? Why are you always angry when you see me? Have I done something wrong?" he inquired.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Ruyi responded, her face showing no emotion whatsoever.
Wangfei Niángniang (Your Highness the Princess Consort), don't go, I'm sure they were only having a conversation," Linglong hurried after Jing Yan as she walked towards the cooling area.
"You sure?" Sun Jun asked, taking a step towards her. "Why do I feel like you're pretending?"
Jing Yan watched, her eyes growing as dark as a thundercloud. She gripped her robes, the fabric twisting in her tightening fist.
Ruyi sighted her and closed the gap between herself and Sun Jun. A secretive smile touched her lips as she asked, "What gave me away?"
"Don't worry, you're different from all the other ladies who pretend. You're real." He touched her face, and she let him, but she found it vile. If only she could put a knife through his heart the same way he had done to her, but she couldn't for now. She had to let him suffer, bit by bit, starting with the very reason he had betrayed her: Jing Yan. That is the perfect revenge.