Chapter 2: Heaven Shifts, Memories of the Past

After laughing heartily a few times, Liu Yan'er noticed the mocking and disdainful look in Chu Junhan's eyes. Displeasure rose in her heart—how could someone who was already a prisoner still possess such a proud and aloof gaze?

“Chu Junhan, do you know what I hate most about you?” Liu Yan'er waved her fan, swaying her slender waist as she leaned toward the bars, nodding slightly with the smug expression of someone reveling in success.

“I hate that you were born betrothed to the Crown Prince, destined to become the future Empress. I hate that your courtesy name is Ruyan; everyone knows the talented woman of Pingzhou as Chu Ruyan, yet no one knows me, Liu Yan'er. I am clearly superior to you, but simply because you are the daughter of General Chu, you always steal the spotlight. All of this should have belonged to me!”

Her last words were almost a shout, the outpouring of years of pent-up resentment, the bitterness of living in Chu Junhan’s shadow since childhood. Today, she intended to release it all.

“But it doesn’t matter anymore. From now on, there will be no Chu Ruyan in Pingzhou, only Liu Yan'er.” She spoke through gritted teeth, then exhaled a long breath, finally releasing the hatred she had harbored for so many years.

Chu Junhan remained silent.

The most talented woman in Pingzhou? The Crown Princess? The future Empress? If she could live her life again, she would want none of these things.

“The Emperor has arrived!”

Chu Junhan, whose heart had long grown desolate, heard this booming announcement, and for the first time, a spark of hope flickered in her eyes. She knew—he would not abandon her.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty,” Liu Yan'er said, startled at first, then quickly bowed respectfully to the man in imperial robes who had just entered.

The man in the dragon robe reached out to help Liu Yan'er up, his voice gentle: “Yan'er, how did you end up in such a filthy place? Be careful not to harm the imperial heir. I will not forgive you if you do.”

Liu Yan’er lowered her head shyly, a sweet smile at her lips. “Your Majesty is right. I won’t dare do this again.”

Throughout the entire exchange, the man in imperial robes did not so much as glance at Chu Junhan.

“Xiao Shengjie, why?”

“Insolent! How dare you address His Majesty by name!” Before the man could reply, the young eunuch who accompanied him shouted fiercely at the prisoner’s cage.

Chu Junhan remained kneeling within her cell, unmoved by the eunuch’s scolding. Her gaze was as fierce as a wolf's, fixed intently on Xiao Shengjie.

“Why?” The girl in the cage, her hair disheveled, her wan face unable to mask the bloodthirsty light in her eyes, spoke with all the strength left in her body. From the way Xiao Shengjie treated Liu Yan’er, she should have understood long ago: this man had never truly seen her, nor the Chu family.

Yet she was unwilling to let go. She needed to know why.

Xiao Shengjie felt locked in place by Chu Junhan’s gaze. He hated the sensation of being regarded as prey by a wolf, as if even his throne was being coveted by the beast’s eyes.

“The Chu family sought to rebel. Such a crime is punishable by death.”

“Rebellion?” Chu Junhan could not believe it. This man, who had often visited the Chu household, who had debated and conversed at length with her father, who knew the Chu family better than anyone, could say something so absurd.

The girl’s tone was so cold that Xiao Shengjie could not help but look at her again. Meeting her eyes, a faint pang of guilt flickered in his heart.

“The Chu family’s merit overshadowed their sovereign. I had no choice but to eliminate them.” Xiao Shengjie did not know whether these words were meant to comfort himself or to explain to her.

Chu Junhan continued to fix her gaze on the young emperor before her. Once, he had sworn eternal love to her. Once, she had loved him with all her soul.

Now, the Chu family had been annihilated, her parents had died tragically, and she herself had become a prisoner.

How laughable those vows of undying love seemed now. Perhaps, in Xiao Shengjie’s eyes, she had always been nothing but a joke—a pawn to be used in the struggle for power.