The story of a bullied daughter's rise to power

"But my sister-in-law still treats her as her own daughter." Situ Lu said.

"Well, because she's also very cute. At least she's genuinely respectful to me. Or maybe, my mother saw through my clumsy desire to atone for my sins. So, I couldn't help but regard her as my own daughter. But, that's just an assumption. She's not the real Situ Yaorao, and she shouldn't be burdened with a debt that doesn't belong to her."

Situ Ruobai frowned and said, his vigilance towards Situ Lu had reached an extreme.

Situ Lu finally understood why Situ Ruobai said this to him. Was he afraid that he would harm Situ Yaorao?

This made Situ Lu laugh: "Your worries are unnecessary. I never intended to harm her from the beginning. I just wanted to atone for my sins. But I didn't expect that she was not Yaorao."

"She is not enchanting, but she has endured pain that she shouldn't have. So, uncle, it's better for you to stay away from her. We all owe this person." Situ Ruobai frowned.

"I see." Situ Lu couldn't help but think back to the first time he'd met this person. He'd assumed this was the Yaorao he knew. But that wasn't the case. Then, when she came back, she'd already known he'd poisoned her. Yet, she wasn't angry. Perhaps it was because she wanted to shoulder the responsibility for her sister-in-law's mistakes? Taking on everything seemed to be this unknown woman's way of repaying a favor. It was so clumsy it was heartbreaking.

"She is a good woman. If possible, I will take care of her." Situ Lu said.

"She is the Crown Princess and will only be the Crown Princess. Uncle, please don't add to her troubles." Situ Ruobai frowned and said coldly.

"I understand. But, Ruobai, do you think it doesn't matter?" Situ Lu looked at Situ Ruobai with interest. When he mentioned Yaorao, there was a glint of admiration in his eyes.

"It's over. I've already accepted reality. It's time for my uncle to learn to accept it, too," Situ Ruobai said. Situ Lu listened, lost in thought. Finally, without saying anything, he quietly left.

When Situ Yaorao woke up, the sky was already turning white. When she opened her eyes, she saw the man's long black hair falling before her. Situ Yaorao blinked and looked at the man who was guarding her in front of her. She was completely stunned: "Brother?"

Situ Yaorao's polite yet intimate way of addressing her startled Situ Ruobai. Seeing Situ Yaorao awake, Situ Ruobai stood up from her bedside and said, "Are you awake? Next time your uncle sees you, remember to be alert. He's not a good person."

"Uncle?" Situ Yaorao was confused for a moment, then understood: "Why did I behave like that? Was it Uncle's doing?"

"Hmph! Who else could it be but him? You too, don't have any vigilance at all." Situ Ruobai said with a frown.

"I was just too tired. So, when I saw him, I let my guard down." Situ Yaorao recalled what happened last night and felt that this uncle was a scary person. Just a few words could make people let down all their guard.

"My uncle is always very good at judging people. He understands others too well. He can see through your cowardice at a glance. Thus, he makes you feel close to him. When you meet him in the future, it is best not to believe anything he says. Not a single word that that man says is true." Situ Ruobai did not hide his disgust for Situ Lu.

Situ Yaorao blinked when she heard this and then realized, "Why is my brother here?"

"I..." Situ Ruobai was embarrassed. Should he say that he came back to pay respect to his mother, and saw his uncle coming here, so he came here out of worry?

"I came back to pay homage to my mother, and then came to see you on the way." Situ Ruobai looked at Situ Yaorao and directly hid the part about seeing Situ Lu.

He really wanted to come and see Situ Yaorao, that was true. So, Situ Yaorao naturally couldn't sense that he was lying in the slightest.

"Mother's matter..."

"Mother's matter happened suddenly, so it's normal that you can't accept it, but don't be too obsessed with it. Otherwise, you will be the only one who suffers." Situ Ruobai interrupted what Situ Yaorao was about to say.

Upon hearing this, Situ Yaorao gave him a deep look. How could she not understand what Situ Ruobai meant? "Don't meddle in other people's business!" This was Situ Ruobai's attitude. Although it was indeed for her own good, Situ Yaorao still felt unwilling: "In your eyes, am I that kind of heartless and ungrateful person? She treated me like her own daughter, and now she's gone in such an unclear way. How can I accept this if I don't investigate thoroughly and avenge her?"

"In this world, not everyone can do what they want, and not everything will have an ending. Even if you find that person, even if you give up everything for your mother's revenge, it is often in vain. She has been too kind in her life. She can't stand others doing anything for her. Besides, she treats you like her own daughter, but you are not her real daughter. Don't be too nosy. Isn't it good for you to be a good Crown Princess? Just like before." Situ Ruobai said coldly.

"It seems that you and I can't agree on anything." Situ Yaorao frowned.

"I'm just telling the truth, but this truth is not what you want to hear." Situ Ruobai said indifferently, without looking at Situ Yaorao again, as if he didn't care what she was like.

"I really don't like what you say, and you don't take what I say seriously either. In that case, it's better not to meet again in the future. Now that my mother is gone, there is no relationship between you and me. Isn't that right?" Situ Yaorao said with a smile, which was too cold.

Situ Ruobai looked at her deeply, then withdrew his gaze and said vaguely, "Ah, that's fine. This way, I can stop worrying about you. Whether you live or die in the future, it has nothing to do with me. I will leave Lanlin."

"leave?"

"Yes, I will leave Lanlin after I finish my mother's business. Staying in the Situ family was not my intention from the beginning. I wanted to repay my mother for raising me, but now there is no need for it." Situ Ruobai said.

Situ Ruobai's choice was perfectly reasonable. There had never been much affection between the Situ family and Situ Ruobai, and now that Madam Situ, the only thing connecting him to the family, was dead, he had no reason to stay and serve them. And staying in Lanlin, a place that had brought him so much sorrow, wasn't a good option either.

The woman he loved died, and his adoptive mother who raised him also died.

"Well, goodbye." Situ Yaorao said.

Situ Ruobai nodded, but before leaving, he couldn't help but say, "Remember to stay away from your uncle. That man is not a good person. Although your life or death has nothing to do with me, I still hope that this body is alive and will not be buried underground forever." After that, Situ Ruobai left Situ Yaorao's yard.

Situ Yaorao watched the man leave...