The Cold-Hearted Princess Who Transmigrated Here

"I only remember saving one child before I died! How can it be two lives?" Wang Xiyue asked the judge blankly after summarizing the most fortunate part of her unfortunate life.

"Have you forgotten? There was once an old lady who was hit by a car and was seriously injured and unconscious. The driver then took her away from the accident scene and dumped her on a deserted side street. You happened to be passing by and called for an ambulance. Although you didn't save her yourself, that one call was equivalent to saving a life. If you had been any later, the old lady wouldn't have survived." The judge of the souls had been calm in his eyes, but when he looked at Wang Xiyue, there was warmth, praise, and a hint of regret in his gaze.

Wang Xiyue then remembered that such an incident had indeed occurred. On her way home from get off work, she passed a secluded alley and saw an elderly woman, her face covered in blood, unconscious and slumped against a small tree beside a greenbelt. Passersby occasionally walked by, avoiding her and ignoring her. Wang Xiyue couldn't bear to leave her to die, and since she had nothing to lose, even if it was a scam, she wouldn't suffer any loss. So, she decisively called for an ambulance. Half an hour later, the elderly woman was taken away by the police and an ambulance. Later, the police even took her statement; it appeared to be a serious hit-and-run case.

Xi Yue had only done a small favor and didn't think it was a big deal, so she didn't think much of it. A month later, the old lady was discharged from the hospital, and her son and daughter-in-law even went to her workplace to deliver a banner, flowers, and a stack of cash. Xi Yue was excited for a while, and because she didn't know how to refuse, she inexplicably accepted all the gifts without a second thought. The banner was still carefully hung on the wall of her parents' living room in their old home, and they proudly told relatives and friends who came to visit about their daughter's "heroic deeds." Xi Yue felt a little embarrassed about receiving the money, so she eventually forgot about the small incident.

After careful recollection, Wang Xiyue confirmed the incident. She looked intently at the judge, quietly awaiting her choice. The judge smiled back, and Wang Xiyue sensed in his eyes the same deep affection and love she felt for her grandmother. In an instant, her sorrow poured forth. For over ten years, she had almost forgotten how to cry. Because no one cared for her, she had always been impenetrable, completely guarded, never showing her inner vulnerability to others. Even with her parents, she only shared good news, never bad. But the moment someone genuinely cared for and loved her, that facade of strength shattered instantly. Even the slightest warmth could break her defenses; how desperately she craved love.

Wang Xiyue misses her maternal grandmother now, she misses her very much. When she was 7 years old and in elementary school, her parents went out to work, and her mother was too sick to take care of 3 children at the same time. Her grandparents were selfish, so her mother had no choice but to send her and her brother to live with her maternal grandmother, who lived more than 100 miles away.

In the 80s, when countless people couldn't get enough to eat or wear, my maternal grandmother's family, ordinary farmers, were able to have white rice and pork all year round. Compared to my grandparents, who couldn't even afford cornmeal and had to borrow grain to survive, it's clear how hard my maternal grandmother's family worked to earn enough to eat and wear.

Grandma didn't even finish second grade, but her refinement and temperament were comparable to those of great scholars. She didn't know what leisure was; she only knew that to live a good life, one had to work tirelessly from dawn till dusk. Visiting Grandma's house was Xiyue's happiest time. It was the first time she ate stir-fried white rice with cured pork, the first time she ate plums, chestnuts, walnuts, and other fruits, the first time she ate more than ten kinds of delicious pickled vegetables, the first time she ate fresh mushrooms and glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in wild bamboo leaves, and the first time she truly experienced the deep care and love an elder has for their grandson.

Although my grandmother was thrifty and hardworking, she was very generous to her and my brother. She asked for nothing in return, and her love was quiet yet omnipresent. She always gave the best food to her and my brother first. Although she only took care of her and my brother for a year, that year of happiness became a lifelong comfort and salvation for them.

Society is so cruel, only the fittest survive. Whenever Xiyue is rejected by others, bullied and powerless to fight back, she always thinks of her grandmother's kind face when she is sad and desperate. She always thinks of every night that year, no matter how cold her feet were before falling asleep, her grandmother would insist on pressing her warm chest against her feet until they were warm before she would let go.

My grandmother was the kindest and best old woman in the world. She never said a bad word about anyone. In her eyes, all her children and grandchildren were obedient children who needed love and care. She always spoke with kindness, gentleness, and tolerance. She worked hard all her life, yet remained clean and dignified. Even when she was old and hunched over, she insisted on going up the mountain to chop firewood. In the end, she injured her leg, and none of her three sons were willing to spend money or time to take her to get treatment. When she became immobile, no one helped her cook, no one washed her dirty clothes, and no one kept her company or talked to relieve her loneliness. The woman she loved so much was only focused on her work and could only see her about once a year. She passed away without even seeing her one last time. Xiyue blamed herself for being powerless to give her a better life, leaving her grandmother to die sadly and desperately in the torment of illness.

She felt sorry for her grandmother's desolate old age, for her own failed marriage, for the child who was separated from her right after birth, and for the countless elderly people and children who toiled and struggled for food, all alone and helpless.

Despite her own unhappiness, she couldn't bear to see human suffering and was furious at the injustice of the world. Bad people lived recklessly, while ordinary people at the bottom of society had the hardest lives. Those with power and influence could do whatever they wanted, indulging in food, drink, and entertainment, while those impoverished families, despite their best efforts, could only slowly erode in endless torment. She deeply resented the social norm of the rich feasting while the poor froze to death on the streets.

Hell is empty, but the devils are on earth.

Xi Yue resented herself even more for being as ordinary as an ant, and was in utter despair.

The soul had no tears or emotions, but everyone else in the hall could clearly feel that Xi Yue was filled with intense sorrow and anger, as if she was about to fall into the demonic path and destroy the world at any moment.

King Yama snorted coldly and raised his hand, preparing to unleash his thunderous power to suppress Xi Yue.

"Child, calm down." The judge's expression turned serious, and he swiftly pointed the tip of his brush at Wang Xiyue. A red flame mark immediately appeared on her skin between her eyebrows at the tip of the brush, and the aura of grief and indignation in her body instantly dissipated.

"I'm sorry, I..." I haven't been this sad in a long time. Because there are so many unpleasant things in life as you grow up, a single glance, a gesture, or a word from someone can make my insecure self grieve for a long time. After crying so much in a secluded corner, I slowly learned to get used to it, to not care about other people's opinions, to treat others with indifference, to protect myself, to be strong, and to be rational.

You only learn what calmness is when you're hurt to the extreme.

"You are kind and sincere, and your emotional outbursts stem from self-blame for not being able to protect those you care about. This is your inner demon. Remember, child, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural course of life. As human beings, we suffer the seven kinds of suffering. Doing good and giving alms depends on one's ability. No one in this world can have everything they desire. You have already done very well, so there is no need to blame yourself." The judge patiently guided him.

"You now have two choices. One is to be reborn into your past life and start over; the other is to be reincarnated and start a new life."

"Hmm... If you choose the second option, you will temporarily lose your memories of your past life. Once you have fully integrated into your new life, your memories of your past life will naturally be returned to you."

The judge paused noticeably before adding, "Actually, not every soul entering the cycle of reincarnation needs to drink the Meng Po soup. They can choose to forget or not forget based on their own circumstances. The judge personally doesn't want Xi Yue to have memories of her past life because those memories are too painful and oppressive. Living with such memories would be very tiring for her, and it would be difficult for her to open her heart and accept others."

Moreover, he felt that she would choose the second option. Her personality was very similar to the person he could never forget. She appeared strong and indifferent but was actually extremely soft-hearted. She would rush headlong into things she liked and hate things she disliked for eternity.

King Yama frowned deeply upon hearing the judge's words, wanting to object, but ultimately could only remain silent, coldly staring at the judge to prevent him from further altering the rules. He worried that the judge would be punished for acting on his own; even the underworld had its laws and wasn't a place where one could do as one pleased. However, the judge had been his partner for tens of thousands of years, and they were now close friends. It was rare for him to have such emotional fluctuations in these endless years, and he could only protect this small act of affection. Even if a mistake was made and the judge was caught by the laws of heaven and earth, he would willingly share the punishment with him.

Sincerity is rare these days; people are driven by profit, and this is a daily occurrence in the human world. The underworld, having witnessed so much of the world's vicissitudes, has long since developed an indifferent attitude.

It's a sad thing that one is neither born nor dies in the underworld.

The judge waited patiently for Xi Yue to make her choice, without urging her.

If you were given another chance to start your life over, what would you choose?

This problem is now facing Xi Yue.

How do I choose?

Many people would probably choose to start over on their original life path, taking advantage of their success and avoiding risks in advance!

Xi Yue felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. She no longer had the energy to relive her 30-plus years of life. She could no longer give it her all. Even if she could do it all over again, she might not be able to do better than before, and might only be worse. She didn't like looking back. Since she had made her choice, she accepted the outcome, whether good or bad.

There are only a few people who can accompany you through this life. Whether they are parents, spouses, or children, they will all part ways, it's just a matter of sooner or later. The direction you choose is different from the direction others choose. It's good if you go the same way, and it's okay if you don't. Fate determines the future, there's no need to force it.

The lifestyle you choose is one you do willingly; no one forces you to. Whether you want something or not, there are always ways to resolve it. The reason you don't dare to do it is simply because your willpower is not strong enough.

When someone always says they are doing it for their parents, children, and family, they are actually just making excuses for their own cowardice and finding reasons not to work hard.

Therefore, Xi Yue had no intention of starting over from her past life. Her parents were still in relatively good health, and her older and younger brothers were quite filial. With them taking care of her parents, she could rest assured. Her marriage was a complete mess, and being alone would only make her parents worry. She didn't have many true friends either. True friendships are like water; they would do their best to help when needed, and when not needed, they would go their separate ways. Everyone has their own life, and they would all be forgotten over time.

If there's no second chance, perhaps the most regrettable thing is the first love from your youthful days. You liked someone so much but didn't dare confess or fight for them, even though you knew they still cared. But what's lost can never be regained. Missed opportunities are gone forever; it was your lack of effort and their lack of courage. Since you both let go, don't dwell on it. Even if you could start over, you wouldn't be the same person. Besides, who can guarantee love will always exist? We only yearn for what we can't have; how many people truly cherish what they have?

Nothing in this world is permanent. Time is the best medicine; all wounds will heal, and everything will disappear.

Wang Xiyue had figured it out. She let go of all the past experiences, whether they were happy or sad, and her heart was as still as water.

She decided.

“I choose the second option to start a new life,” she answered the judge firmly.

The judge sighed softly, feeling both heartache and helplessness.

The King of Hell remained silent.

The ghost messengers were all astonished.

The remaining three souls thought Xi Yue had lost her mind.

The Black and White Impermanence were full of surprise. Countless people had chosen the first option before because they knew that they could only thrive in an environment they were very familiar with. No one had ever chosen the second option.

They didn't understand Xi Yue's thoughts, they just thought she was a fool, and they all guessed that she would suffer a lot in the future.

"Let's go! I'll take you there. This is a memory bead. Wear it, and your memories will naturally return when the time is right." The judge waved his hand, and Xi Yue was already wearing an exquisite necklace around her neck, teardrop-shaped, made of sapphire-like material. For some reason, she particularly liked blue.

At this moment, Xi Yue had completely forgotten her past and could only look at the judge with an indifferent expression, following his every command and action.

"My child, in your next life you will not have to suffer. May you find someone to love you and stay with you until the end. Remember, only by letting go of the past and moving forward can you find happiness."

After the judge finished speaking, a halo appeared in front of Xi Yue's eyes. It was pitch black inside, and it felt like anyone who entered it would disappear.

"Go quickly! The time is just right," the judge urged gently.

Looking at the judge's kind face, Xi Yue believed he wouldn't harm her, and resolutely stepped into the circle of light...