She was buried alive at the start, but she's determined to smash her ex-husband's head in

Realizing this, Lin Xiuyao no longer wanted to stay here. She thought it better to go back to sleep and curse Lin Qingwei in her dreams to be abandoned by Qi Yanzhi.

Prince Duan, however, was not angry and ignored Lin Shuhui's words. He propped his head up and looked at Lin Xiuyao: "I am telling the truth. If the Second Miss does not like to hear it, I will not say it. Are you getting used to living in the palace?"

"It's alright," Lin Xiuyao replied perfunctorily.

Her thoughts had already wandered elsewhere. Before entering the palace, her mother had repeatedly emphasized how dangerous it was, but she was only focused on marrying someone better than Lin Qingwei, so she couldn't listen to any of it.

After what happened last night, she truly understood what danger meant. She had her own pursuit of wealth and status, and she was absolutely unwilling to be subordinate to Lin Qingwei, but perhaps her life was more important...

A white silk handkerchief floated past her eyes. Lin Shuhui exclaimed and chased after it to pick it up. Before she could react, Prince Duan pulled her to kneel on the ground.

"Greetings, Father!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!!!" Lin Xiuyao immediately lowered her head, so frightened that she stammered.

How could I possibly see His Majesty here at this time?! How terrifying!!!

Emperor Xuande picked up Lin Shuhui's handkerchief and handed it to her. Lin Shuhui accepted it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Xuande glanced at her, only seeing a section of her snow-white neck and slightly reddened earlobes. He beckoned for her to leave and looked sternly at Prince Duan.

"Your people in the palace said you were practicing swordsmanship by the lake. Is this what you were practicing?"

Prince Duan looked up with a grin: "Father, I'm tired. Can't I even rest for a bit?"

He was not afraid of Emperor Xuande at all. He walked directly to Emperor Xuande's side, helped him sit down, and beckoned the palace maids to set out the dishes again. Emperor Xuande snorted and slapped Prince Duan on the head, but did not say anything more.

Lin Xiuyao didn't dare to lift her head even once; her legs ached from kneeling on the ground.

"Father, please have the Second and Third Misses rise as well," Prince Duan reminded them.

Emperor Xuande hadn't eaten a single bite of food when he was interrupted by Prince Duan, who deliberately frowned and looked at him, saying, "I thought your mother was exaggerating, but it turns out you really have a sweetheart and have forgotten your father and mother! How long has she been kneeling?"

"Father, it's not someone I'm in love with, don't listen to Mother's nonsense!" Prince Duan hurriedly denied.

Lin Xiuyao was half moved, but then her heart sank again. She was right; Prince Duan was just teasing her...

Emperor Xuande laughed heartily a few times, and told Lin Xiuyao and Lin Shuhui to get up. At this moment, he smelled a faint fragrance on his fingertips and turned his gaze to the handkerchief in Lin Shuhui's hand.

He asked, "How did Miss Lin's handkerchief become scented?"

Lin Shuhui walked upright before Emperor Xuande, presented her embroidered handkerchief with both hands, and replied, "Your Majesty, I soaked the handkerchief multiple times in a solution refined from peony blossoms to preserve its fragrance."

Emperor Xuande nodded appreciatively and said to Prince Duan, "Your mother will definitely like this method."

Lin Xiuyao secretly rolled her eyes, expressing her contempt and disgust for Lin Shuhui. Unfortunately, Prince Duan saw this and couldn't help but laugh out loud, making Lin Xiuyao hate him even more.

Upon returning to Yongning Palace, Lin Xiuyao severely humiliated Lin Shuhui, then shut the door and angrily went to catch up on her sleep.

Lin Shuhui initially looked pitiful and wronged, but when she turned around, her face showed contempt and disdain. However, all of this was seen by Lin Qingwei.

Lin Qingwei saw two completely different faces, but Lin Shuhui showed no reaction whatsoever.

"Sister is really lucky to be alive."

Lin Qingwei said, "I can't compare to my sister's skills. In just a few days, she even managed to get close to Princess Huarong?"

Lin Shuhui walked up to her, putting on a fake worried expression, and gently ran her hand over Lin Qingwei's wound: "Yes, little sister has Princess Huarong to take care of her, and second sister is the apple of father and mother's eye and has also won the favor of Prince Duan. What will happen to you, sister, who is all alone?"

"Why don't you show me the way, sister? Let me see which path I take, so that you won't be too harsh on me."

The two of them were practically laid bare their conversation. Lin Shuhui wasn't afraid at all, and her eyes were filled with intense hatred as she looked at Lin Qingwei. The hand she placed on Lin Qingwei's neck slowly increased its pressure.

Chunqi appeared just in time, slapping Lin Shuhui away and shielding Lin Qingwei behind him.

"Unless you die." Lin Shuhui got up from the ground, glaring fiercely at Lin Qingwei. "Unless you die!!!"

She truly hated Lin Qingwei; the hatred in her eyes was far more genuine than that in Lin Xiuyao's.

"Don't think I don't know, it was your idea for Mother to suddenly arrange this marriage for me." Lin Shuhui smiled wickedly. "You want to ruin me, don't you! How could I possibly let you have your way?"

Lin Qingwei looked at her coldly: "You've been trying to kill me, I'm just retaliating."

“But you deserve to die! You should have died thirteen years ago!” Lin Shuhui appeared somewhat deranged.

"Why didn't you die? If you had died, I could have been recognized as the legitimate daughter by the madam, and my life over the past thirteen years would have been completely different!"

Lin Qingwei was completely confused.

"You didn't know, did you? Well, you were only five years old at that time, and after you turned three, you were sent to Qinglong Temple to remove the evil spirits. You only stayed in the mansion for two years."

At that time, a wandering master came to the family. He told my father and mother that I am a jinx and will kill Lin Xiuyao. If the evil aura on my body is not removed, it will also harm the entire Lin family. Only by sending you far away and letting you take the disaster for Lin Xiuyao can we avoid all the trouble.

Your father didn't believe it at the time, but he couldn't go against his wife's wishes, so he sent you away when you were three years old. Who knew that when you were five, you would fall seriously ill and almost die. Your father felt sorry for you and brought you back, but you went crazy and tried to strangle Lin Xiuyao.

It was me! I risked my life to protect her and pushed you away! The lady hugged me and said she would recognize me as her legitimate daughter and let me take your place as her child!

But then all their attention was on you! They were busy discussing what to do with you. I thought that as long as you died, your position as the legitimate daughter would be mine! But why aren't you dead? How could they forget what they promised me?

Lin Qingwei almost laughed out loud. How could such a ridiculous reason have made Lin Shuhui hate her for so many years?

That master was very likely found by the Ye family. She was afraid that as Miss Lin grew up, she would look more and more like Prince Yong, so she was in a hurry to send her away. At the time, she just said it casually to Lin Shuhui and didn't take it to heart at all.

But it became Lin Shuhui's obsession.

“Even if I die, my position will not be yours,” Lin Qingwei said. “Don’t use these as excuses to whitewash your evil deeds.”

Lin Shuhui wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and looked at her defiantly: "I have never done anything that I regret. If I don't take action against you, how can I gain the princess's trust?"

Lin Qingwei has nothing, but she has the princess's support. One day, she will make Lin Qingwei suffer a crushing defeat!