She Was Written to Die, So She Seized the Throne Instead

Jia Ruo advanced menacingly. Mu Bai stepped in front of Xiao Li. "Princess Jia Ruo."

Her line of sight blocked, Jia Ruo glared furiously at Mu Bai. "You stupid servant, get out of my way."

Mu Bai lowered his head, unmoved.

Jia Ruo reached out to shove him aside, but he didn’t budge. Enraged, she raised her hand and slapped Mu Bai across the face. "You dog of a servant, scram!"

Mu Bai said, "Forgive me, Princess."

He spoke without a trace of emotion, showing no intention of moving aside.

Xiao Li glanced at Mu Bai, then at the people approaching in the distance. She seemed to understand his plan.

’It’s not like I’m so weak I need him to use his body as a shield while waiting for reinforcements.’

Her contemptuous gaze fell upon Jia Ruo, her eyes filled with scorn. "You’ve become so useless. Is taking your anger out on servants the only thing you’re good for now?"

Jia Ruo gritted her teeth, seething with rage. "Xuanyang, if you have the guts, then why don’t you admit it?"

Xiao Li sneered. "I admit it. It was all my doing. So what?"

She gently patted Mu Bai’s shoulder, and he moved aside slightly.

Xiao Li stepped forward.

"Can you even condemn me for it? Where that drug came from, how it ended up in the food... You should know full well."

Jia Ruo shot back, "Do you have any proof?"

Xiao Li laughed at her foolishness. "So you get to slander me with nothing but your words, but when I say something, you demand proof? How can you be so disgusting?"

Disgusting?

With a bald patch on the top of her head, that was the last word Jia Ruo wanted to hear.

She glared viciously at Xiao Li. "Don’t you get cocky. I won’t let you be arrogant for long. I will make you kneel on the ground and beg me like an animal!"

Seemingly recalling the miserable state of Xiao Li’s original self, whom she used to bully as a child, her eyes glinted with triumph and provocation.

Xiao Li looked at her as if she were a clown. ’The one who was bullied was my predecessor, not me. I can’t feel a shred of anger over it. But since she’s provoking me to my face, I can’t just stand by and do nothing.’

"Oh, Jia Ruo," she chuckled.

She laughed. "You don’t seem to understand the situation you’re in."

Her smile deepened. Her cold, dark eyes appeared calm, but they betrayed a madness that was about to break free. "Me? I have no birth mother, no husband, and no children. I am all alone. All I have left is a complete disregard for my own life and a belly full of vengeance."

"This time, it’s not you bullying me. It’s me toying with you. Use any tricks you have. I’ll return them, one by one, to your mother and your brother. And of course, with interest. By the time I’m done, it might be ten or even a hundred times worse."

"I have all the time in the world to play this little game with you... You’d better keep up today’s energy. If you can’t take the heat and run away, I’ll be sure to laugh at you."

Staring directly into the profound darkness in Xiao Li’s eyes, Jia Ruo went rigid, as if something had caught in her throat.

Xiao Li effortlessly grabbed Jia Ruo by the collar and tossed her to the ground like a dirty rag.

"Good dogs don’t block the path!"

Watching Princess Jia Ruo fall to the ground, Mu Bai froze for a second before snapping out of it as if waking from a dream and striding to catch up.

His face remained tense, but inside, his world was turned upside down.

’Holy mother of God!’

’When does Princess Xuanyang ever need my help? With that kind of all-conquering power, who could possibly stand against her?’

’No wonder the boss is helping her! With that wicked, domineering spirit, she’s exactly the kind of master we should be following!’

He was so excited his face was flushed. ’As for that slap from earlier? Totally unimportant!’

When Hong Yue saw the fierce, almost man-eating glint in his eyes, she grew wary and scurried over to the Princess’s side.

Mu Bai noticed and turned his head, flashing what he believed to be a gentle smile. "My name is Mu Bai. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Hong Yue."

But this smile, forced in an attempt to look gentle, wasn’t gentle in the slightest. In fact, it was utterly bizarre.

The hair on Hong Yue’s arms stood on end. ’This eunuch... he’s so creepy!’

Mu Bai sighed to himself. ’Miss Hong Yue doesn’t know me well, so it’s normal for her to ignore me. But my attitude is so friendly, I’m sure she can feel my sincerity.’

The terrified Hong Yue: ...

Upon entering the palace, Xiao Li naturally had to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. But today, the Empress Dowager was surrounded by numerous noble women and had no time for her. Xiao Li curtsied, but the Empress Dowager simply waved a dismissive hand without even looking up, making it clear she held Xiao Li in no regard.

Seeing this, the other noble women naturally ignored her as well.

Xiao Li was not the Empress Dowager’s biological daughter, and her reputation was now tainted by accusations of killing her husband. These self-proclaimed dignified old princess consorts and noble women had no fear of her; they only found her to be vicious and inauspicious.

Xiao Li had just reached the door when the voice of an Old Princess Consort sounded from behind.

"The Empress Dowager is benevolent and virtuous, a woman of impeccable character, yet even she couldn’t properly guide Princess Xuanyang. I say it’s just her nature. She takes after that lowly birth mother of hers."

Xiao Li walked out without breaking her stride.

’As long as an old crone’s chirping causes no physical harm, I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear it.’

’Cursing her back would be disrespectful to my elders. Hitting her would be disrespectful, too. And killing her... that’s going too far.’

’It’s better to treat it as a dog barking and pretend I don’t understand, rather than argue, retaliate, and end up mired in filth.’

’But Lu Wangfei... I’ll remember that name.’

’I’ve been so respectful to the Old Princess Consort. So when I decide to go ’play’ with Prince Lu’s sons and grandsons in the future, I’m sure she won’t have any objections. Right?’

"Princess Xuanyang, the Empress requests your presence."

A palace maid approached Xiao Li. Her attitude was deferential and she seemed polite, but a hint of malice and disdain could be seen in her eyes.

Xiao Li thought of the Empress, a woman so low-key she was almost unnoticeable. ’Clearly, her palace maids haven’t learned their mistress’s detached indifference.’

’The Empress.’

’I don’t really see the need to meet with her. The Empress is probably calling for me now to talk about the Wang family.’

’I didn’t want to bring up the Wang family again, but... I’m actually quite interested in the Empress herself.’

’This is the first time the Empress has summoned me alone. I wonder what she wants to say.’

The palace maid glanced at Xiao Li, noticing she was smiling and seemed to be in a rather cheerful mood.

’?’

The Empress was in a side hall. The guests today were all senior Consorts who had come to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. She had spent some time there and had now come over to rest.

When Xiao Li entered, only the Empress and two Palace Attendants were in the room.

The Empress sat primly in formal, bright yellow robes, the picture of grace and nobility. Yet her expression was perpetually placid, dimming the splendor of her luxurious attire.

"Imperial Sister-in-law."

Xiao Li walked in and offered a slight curtsy.

"You may dispense with the formalities."

The Empress gestured with her hand. "Sit."

A palace maid served tea. Xiao Li did not touch it, her eyes fixed on the Empress.

The Empress met her gaze calmly. After some deliberation, she began, "There are some things that should not be discussed today, but leaving them until after the New Year would be even more inappropriate. The Wang family has been constantly sending me letters, disturbing my peace, so I have no choice but to speak with you about it."

Xiao Li replied, "Please speak freely, Imperial Sister-in-law."

The Empress said, "Shiqi attempted to harm you, but he paid for it with his life. However, he was led astray by that girl from the Jiang family; the rest of the Wang family was unaware. Back when he claimed his feelings for you were true, his mother even came to me, asking me to help arrange a match. I never expected things to end this way."

Even though the deceased was her own nephew, the Empress’s tone remained flat, conveying a peculiar indifference, as if to say, ’live if you live, die if you die.’

Xiao Li found herself growing more and more curious about this woman. "A life has been lost between us. There’s no meaning in discussing this now."

’Surely she doesn’t expect me to be moved by the Wang family’s ’sincere feelings’ now, does she? How absurd!’

The Empress said, "I have no ulterior motive. It’s just that the Wang family keeps pestering me about this, wanting me to step in and teach you a lesson. But rest assured, I will not involve myself in the Wang family’s feuds. I summoned you merely as a formality, to hear your side of the story."

Xiao Li was speechless. ’She’s not just putting on an act. This woman is truly zen about everything.’

The Empress seemed to realize she had just spoken a lot of nonsense. After a moment of silence, she added, "The Wang family will certainly seek revenge. Be careful."

Xiao Li was silent. Xiao Li was speechless. Then, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing with a snort.

"Hahaha..."

"Imperial Sister-in-law, you are truly fascinating! Hahaha!"

The Empress looked bewildered, not understanding what was so funny.

The smile never left Xiao Li’s face. "Rest assured, Imperial Sister-in-law. The Wang family is the Wang family, and you are you. I will resolve the matters between them and me on my own. It will not affect you in any way."

The Empress’s brow smoothed over slightly, and she seemed quite satisfied with this answer.

The palace maid who had led Xiao Li here wore an indescribable expression. ’What was that all about?’

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