Chapter 21: Liu Ruyan's Confession

Shen Yi leaned her back against the door, her expression deeply complex as she stood in the shadows. Was Xiao Huaijin truly the kind of person Qin Xuanbai described? Qin had claimed that Xiao intended to marry her off to the Qin family to secure their support. If that were true, he had shown no regard for her at all. She had only met Qin Xuanbai twice, both times on the same day, and she felt absolutely nothing for a man so full of himself. The thought of marrying him had never even crossed her mind. This realization only strengthened her resolve to leave the Prince of War’s estate.

A few days later, Liu’er brought news: Liu Ruyan, once the most beautiful woman in the capital and the presumed future empress, was getting married. It was not to the young Emperor to become the mother of the nation, but to Xu Zhilin, the top scholar of this year's imperial examinations. Xu Zhilin was not only exceptionally talented but also strikingly handsome; Shen Yi recalled that in the original story, he eventually rose to become the Grand Chancellor. He was, in short, a man of immense intellect and strategic skill.

Shen Yi was astonished. "Even though Ruyan’s reputation has suffered, the threshold of the Duke of Liu’s estate remains incredibly high. How could they accept Xu Zhilin?" It was a valid question; the Duke’s status was extraordinary, especially as the brother of the Empress Dowager—true imperial kin.

Liu’er replied, "I heard that Xu Zhilin went to the Duke’s estate to propose. Though the family refused, Ruyan disregarded their objections, accepted him herself, and severed ties with the Duke’s household."

Shen Yi had never imagined that the "Empress Ruyan," who shone so brightly in every novel, would end up in such a position. Yet, if the plot followed the original book, her becoming the wife of the Grand Chancellor might still lead to a happy ending. Besides, in a few years, who would remember these sordid rumors? After all, they were only rumors, and very few had actually witnessed her innocence being compromised. Her purity remained intact, and once married, Xu Zhilin would surely discover the truth and cherish her even more, likely dismissing the gossip as the jealous spite of others.

"Regardless," Shen Yi remarked, "perhaps this is the best ending for her." Liu’er nodded in agreement; marrying a top scholar was the dream of many.

Just then, someone announced that Liu Ruyan had arrived. When Shen Yi saw her again, she found her looking far more weary and disheveled than before. Liu Ruyan was overcome with emotion at the sight of Shen Yi; those who had once called themselves her friends now shunned her, yet the very person she had tried to harm remained unchanged toward her.

Seeing the crowd whispering and pointing, Shen Yi took Ruyan’s hand and said, "Let’s go inside."

Once in her room, Shen Yi expected Ruyan to sit, but instead, Ruyan sank to her knees. Shocked, Shen Yi quickly dismissed Liu’er and Ruyan’s maid. With the door closed, Ruyan lowered her head, unable to meet her gaze. "Shen Yi, I am sorry."

Shen Yi tried to help her up, but Ruyan refused. She felt unworthy of forgiveness, yet there were things she had to say. "You always treated me as your dearest sister, but I have been deceiving you all along."

Shen Yi stopped reaching for her and stood silently before her.

"This disaster I suffered," Ruyan continued, "I know it was orchestrated by the Prince of War and my cousin. The original plan was to destroy Jiang Nansheng’s reputation. I don’t know why they changed it and replaced her with you. Fortunately, you are unharmed. As for my downfall, I brought it upon myself. I don’t resent you; I only hate that I allowed myself to be a pawn, chasing dreams I never should have harbored."

Shen Yi was bewildered. She understood the words, but the meaning escaped her. What did it mean that the Prince of War and the Emperor were behind this? And why was she a substitute for the target of a smear campaign? She felt the world was terrifyingly dangerous, and her own intellect was simply insufficient to grasp the depths of these schemes.

"Please, get up," Shen Yi urged, feeling the situation was becoming absurd.

Ruyan did not say she would only rise if forgiven; perhaps she knew this was the last time she would ever see Shen Yi, as she doubted Shen Yi would consider her a friend after today. In truth, the original Shen Yi had valued her, but the current Shen Yi had never truly seen her as a friend. Still, she had questions.

Once Ruyan stood, Shen Yi asked, "You said this incident was orchestrated by Brother Jin and the Emperor? You mustn't speak lightly of such things."

A bitter smile touched Ruyan’s lips. "Shen Yi, do not give the Prince of War the Purple Gold Pill I gave you. It is laced with poison. My father instructed me to give it to you so you would feed it to him."

Shen Yi feigned shock, though she felt a cold calm. "Why would you do that? And why would the Duke do such a thing?"

"Because my father ordered it, claiming it was the path to becoming Empress," Ruyan replied. "As for why—it is because of the Empress Dowager, my aunt. As long as she lives, she will never allow the Prince of War to survive."

Shen Yi felt dim-witted. Despite her knowledge of court dramas, the logic eluded her. Why would the young Emperor target his own cousin, Ruyan? Even if he disliked her, there was no need to ruin her. He could have simply made her an ignored concubine. Her mind felt as though it were about to shatter.