Dawn arrived quietly over the Lei residence.
But peace did not.
Lei Hua sat on her bed wrapped in a blanket like a frightened dumpling.
Her room was still broken.
Her pillow was still dead.
Her heart was still not okay.
Bo Qiang stood outside with his armor half-removed.
A faint line of blood stained his sleeve.
Lei Hua pointed at it in horror.
"YOU'RE BLEEDING—!"
Bo Qiang looked down.
"…It's nothing."
Lei Hua almost cried.
"WHY DO ALL STRONG PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY IT'S NOTHING WHEN IT IS CLEARLY SOMETHING?!"
Lei Yue stood beside the window, calm as ever.
"You delayed your reaction by three breaths last night," she said.
Bo Qiang stiffened.
"I apologize."
Lei Hua blinked.
(*WAIT— A WAR GENERAL JUST APOLOGIZED—*)
Lei Yue continued coldly.
"If you had been slower, she would be dead."
The room dropped to freezing silence.
Bo Qiang bowed his head.
"…Yes."
Lei Hua suddenly rushed forward and grabbed his sleeve.
"You still saved me!! That's what matters!!"
Bo Qiang froze.
No one had ever grabbed his arm like that before.
His ears slowly turned red.
Lei Yue glanced at their hands.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Lei Hua released him instantly.
(*SORRY SORRY I FORGOT HE'S A MALE LEAD—*)
Lei Yue turned away.
"Today, the enemies will test us again."
Lei Hua swallowed.
"Again?? Already??"
Lei Yue said calmly:
"Bin Rin moves first."
Lei Hua's heart dropped.
(*THE RICH PRETTY EVIL ONE—*)
The Gossip System chimed.
[DING. Host. Bin Rin has invited ministers' daughters for tea tonight. A trap is forming.]
Lei Hua gasped.
"They want to ruin my reputation, don't they?!"
Lei Yue's lips curved faintly.
"Not only yours."
Bo Qiang's eyes sharpened.
"Then we counter."
Lei Hua looked between them.
(*WHY DO I FEEL LIKE I JUST JOINED A WAR MEETING—*)
Lei Yue walked out.
"Prepare."
---
CHAPTER 15 — THE TEA PARTY TRAP
The banquet hall bloomed with silk and laughter.
Perfume floated in the air.
Bin Rin sat at the center in golden robes, smiling gently like a saint.
Ku Lan sat beside her, quiet, nervous.
Lei Hua entered slowly.
All eyes turned to her at once.
Whispers spread like fire:
"That's her…"
"The Emperor's blade…"
"The girl who exposed Minister Qian…"
Bin Rin stood.
"Sister Lei Hua, welcome~"
Lei Hua smiled stiffly.
(*YOU CALLED ME SISTER AFTER TRYING TO BURY ME?? POLITENESS IS TERRIFYING—*)
Tea was poured.
Music began.
Everything looked gentle.
Too gentle.
The Gossip System whispered:
[DING. The tea in front of you is harmless. The tea behind you is not.]
Lei Hua froze.
(*BEHIND ME??*)
She turned slightly.
A young noblewoman lifted her cup—
And suddenly collapsed.
Gasps exploded.
"POISON—!"
Chaos erupted.
Guards rushed in.
Everyone turned their heads at once toward—
Lei Hua.
"She was near her!!"
"She exposed corruption— she must be ruthless!"
"She poisoned her!!"
Lei Hua panicked.
(*NOT AGAIN— I DIDN'T TOUCH IT I SWEAR—*)
Ku Lan suddenly pointed with shaking fingers.
"I… I saw her switch the cups…"
Lei Hua stared.
(*YOU LIED—*)
Bin Rin covered her mouth in fake shock.
"This… how tragic…"
Just as the guards stepped forward—
A calm voice cut through the hall.
"Step back."
Everyone froze.
Lei Yue walked in.
Cool.
Sharp.
Untouchable.
Behind her—
Zhen Wu had arrived.
So had Bo Qiang.
And Jun Hao stood quietly at the back.
The atmosphere exploded.
Lei Yue looked at Ku Lan.
"One question," she said.
"Which hand did you see move?"
Ku Lan hesitated.
Lei Yue smiled thinly.
"Wrong answer."
The Gossip System chimed loudly.
[DING. Poison was poured by Bin Rin's maid under her orders.]
Lei Hua gasped.
(*SHE SET HER OWN TRAP AND FRAMED ME—*)
Lei Yue lifted her hand.
Guards instantly seized the trembling maid.
The maid collapsed screaming.
"I—I was forced! Miss Bin Rin ordered everything!"
The hall erupted into chaos.
Bin Rin's face turned white.
Zhen Wu spoke calmly:
"So this is how Minister Bin's daughter entertains guests."
The room fell into deadly silence.
Bin Rin fell to her knees.
"No— I was framed—!"
Lei Yue walked past her.
Cold.
Uninterested.
"You are not clever."
Lei Hua's heart raced.
(*THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SIDE VILLAIN AND THE FINAL QUEEN—*)
As Bin Rin was dragged away—
From the shadows,
Jun Lin smiled softly.
"So she crushed the first chess piece…"
Far away—
Zhen Ruo clenched his fist.
"And still you survive again, Lei Hua."
Shen Wu leaned closer.
"Then it is time for war."
Lei Yue looked out at the sky that night.
And spoke softly:
"Good."
END OF CHAPTER 13