Lan Yue walked back slowly, her expression calm but her mind spinning.
The head maid's words still echoed in her ears. She didn't show it, but her heart felt heavy.
Madam Hua's task was simple—too simple. And that was exactly what made it dangerous.
Sigh, did she have a choice? Either betray the heroine or die a slow painful death.
She didn't dare show any change in expression when she stepped into Zhao Lingxi's courtyard again. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention.
As soon as she entered, Liu Ruyan looked up sharply from the corner. "Where have you been? You were gone for so long!"
Lan Yue smiled lazily, stretching her arms. "Nowhere special. Just wandered a bit and overheard some boring talk along the way."
Ruyan gave her a suspicious squint. "You? Wandering? You were probably slacking off again."
Lan Yue grinned. "You wound me, Ruyan. Can't a girl take a walk without being accused of crimes she didn't commit?"
When she looked at Zhao Lingxi, the young lady didn't even raise her head. She sat by the window, quietly reading through a pile of old books and scrolls, her face calm, almost indifferent.
That calm made Lan Yue relax a little. If Zhao Lingxi wasn't asking, she wouldn't say a thing.
Time passed quietly after that.
The sun climbed higher, flooding the room with soft golden light. The faint scent of ink and sandalwood filled the air. Zhao Lingxi remained buried in her reading, occasionally taking notes or pausing to think.
Meanwhile, Lan Yue leaned lazily against a pillar, half-dozing. Chen Mei was folding laundry for the third time that morning, and Ruyan sat by the door, nibbling on sunflower seeds like a bored cat.
The peaceful silence gave Lan Yue's thoughts too much room to wander.
Her lips twitched bitterly.
Those bastards must have taken over by now.
Her old world felt like another lifetime, yet the memory burned sharp. The organization she had built from nothing, the one she had bled and killed for, was probably in the hands of traitors.
Her "best friend," the one who had laughed beside her through blood and fire, had been the first to stab her in the back.
And the man she had once loved… he hadn't hesitated to sell her out either.
Lan Yue clicked her tongue softly. "Tch. Whatever."
At least she no longer had to deal with zombies and trying to protect ungrateful idiots who couldn't survive a day without her.
Her gaze drifted toward Zhao Lingxi. The young lady was still reading, her long lashes casting faint shadows under her eyes. Calm, distant, untouchable.
In a way, they were the same. Both betrayed by the ones they trusted most.
Before the thought could sink too deep, a soft voice floated from outside.
"Elder Sister~"
Lan Yue's head snapped toward the door, and her lips twitched instantly.
Oh great. Here comes the white lotus.
Ruoqing stepped in gracefully, dressed in pale pink, a picture of sweetness and innocence. Behind her trailed two servants holding trays covered with silk cloths.
"Elder Sister, I thought you might be hungry," she said with a gentle smile. "So I brought you some desserts. I remember you used to love the almond cakes from Yunxiang Pavilion."
Zhao Lingxi didn't even glance up. She turned another page of her book, her expression completely blank.
Ruoqing blinked, a hint of embarrassment flashing in her eyes before she quickly covered it with a laugh. "Still reading? You've always loved books more than people, haven't you?"
Lan Yue fought the urge to roll her eyes. The sweetness in that voice was enough to rot teeth.
Ruoqing motioned for the servants to set the trays down. "Be careful with that. The peach pastries are delicate—Father had them made fresh this morning."
Lan Yue crossed her arms.
Look at her, acting like she owns the place and Zhao Lingxi's just some distant relative dropping by.
Ruoqing sat down gracefully, her movements elegant and practiced. She started chatting away about meaningless things—new dresses, garden flowers, which noble lady had fallen from favor.
Zhao Lingxi kept her eyes on the text in front of her, unmoved.
Finally, after realizing her chatter wasn't getting any attention, Ruoqing gave a soft, pitiful sigh. "Please try some, Elder Sister. I had them specially made for you. They melt in the mouth and are so sweet you'll forget every worry."
Zhao Lingxi's hands paused. Slowly, she put her book down and picked up a piece of pastry. "Alright."
She took a small bite.
Ruoqing's smile brightened immediately. "Isn't it delicious? It's from Yunxiang Pavilion—the most popular bakery in the entire capital! They only bake a few trays a day, and people line up from morning to get them. But I made sure you had the freshest batch."
Lan Yue blinked, watching Zhao Lingxi closely.
The lady chewed once… then stopped.
She didn't say anything, but Lan Yue saw her fingers tighten slightly.
Zhao Lingxi could feel it—the faint, pulsing energy hidden inside the pastry. It wasn't ordinary food; it had been infused with spiritual energy. Why would Ruoqing bring something like that here?
"Elder Sister," Ruoqing continued, voice dripping with honey. "I know Father has been cold to you lately, but he's already forgiven you. He just needs time to show it."
"Mn." Zhao Lingxi gave a soft hum, expression unreadable.
Undeterred, Ruoqing leaned forward slightly. "You've always been so independent, but Father worries. You should visit him more often. After all, blood is thicker than water, right?"
"Right," Zhao Lingxi replied calmly.
Lan Yue bit the inside of her cheek to keep from snorting. Right, says the woman who probably replaced her sister's tea with poison last time.
Ruoqing smiled wider. "Oh, and do you remember Brother Wen? He's been hoping you'd return soon. He often asks about you whenever he visits. He said he regrets how things ended."
That name froze the air.
Zhao Lingxi's hand stopped midair. For a moment, the world seemed to go silent.
Brother Wen… Qin Wen.
The man she had once loved with her whole heart. The man who had betrayed her with this very sister sitting across from her.
In her past life, they had eventually married after she'd been cleared of her false charges. She had thought it was a new beginning. Instead, it had been the start of her downfall.
He had smiled as he pushed her toward death.
For the first time, Lan Yue saw emotion flicker in Zhao Lingxi's eyes. A flash of cold, terrifying bloodlust. Then, just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by her usual calm.
It hurts, doesn't it? Lan Yue thought silently. Being betrayed by the one you loved most.
Ruoqing smiled sweetly. "Brother Qin wanted to come see you. Should I tell him you'll receive him tomorrow?"
Zhao Lingxi's voice was calm, almost gentle. "There's no need. Tell him I'm busy cultivating."
The worrds were polite, but they carried the weight of a closed door.
Ruoqing's smile froze for half a second before she forced a laugh. "Of course. Elder Sister is always so diligent. Then, I'll take my leave."
When she finally left, the air in the room felt lighter.
Lan Yue sighed quietly, stretching her arms. White lotus, level ninety-nine.
That night, the moon hung high above the Zhao residence.
In the servants' quarters, Lan Yue lay squeezed between Ruyan and Chen Mei. Ruyan had an arm thrown across her chest, while Chen Mei's leg was draped over her stomach.
Lan Yue's eye twitched. "You two are impossible."
Carefully, she lifted Ruyan's arm and slid Chen Mei's leg away, moving like a thief escaping a trap.
Once free, she tiptoed toward the door. The courtyard was quiet, bathed in silver light.
Then..
A shadow flashed across the rooftop.
Lan Yue's eyes narrowed. "So it begins…"
Without a sound, she darted after it.
Tonight, something important was about to happen—and she wasn't going to miss it.