Jiang Shuyi knew Pei Yan had always been soft-hearted. Cheng Shouzhong might be ruthless and fond of saying harsh things, but Pei Yan never actually followed through with them. In the end, punishment would always be lenient.

  Even so, she had no intention of pleading for Jiang Wanqing.

  It was because of Sister that I said it.

  Heh—dragging your sister down even while begging for mercy? Then go die for your sister.

  Jiang Shuyi pulled back her sleeve in irritation and shuffled to the side, continuing to kneel.

  Jiang Wanqing was stunned.

  She knew her sister was angry with her, but she was about to be sentenced to death—how could her sister stay silent?

  In desperation, an idea struck her. She swayed a bit, then suddenly colpsed to the side with her eyes shut.

  Jiang Shuyi nearly got hit. When she snapped back to her senses, she just stared bnkly.

  So fake.

  Cheng Shouzhong had simir thoughts. He gnced at the emperor for instruction.

  Pei Yan said bndly, “Since she’s fainted, have her sent back to Xianfu Pace. Pass down my decree—demote Jiang Guiren to Changzai, dock her pay for half a year. Inform Shufei that if she can’t manage her own people, next time she’ll share in the punishment.”

  Cheng Shouzhong responded respectfully and signaled the attendants to follow orders.

  Jiang Wanqing was carried off by two eunuchs. Jiang Shuyi noticed her clenched fists. She could easily imagine the hateful, resentful look her sister would have worn—if only her eyes were open.

  “Jiang Fei.”

  The light but commanding voice brought Jiang Shuyi back to her senses.

  She looked toward Pei Yan and saw him watching her.

  His thin lips parted. “Come here.”

  Jiang Shuyi immediately sensed that Pei Yan was not in a good mood.

  Understandable. After that whole mess caused by Jiang Wanqing, who would be in a good mood?

  After a pause, she reached out her hand and said sweetly, eyes full of anticipation, “My legs hurt… won’t Your Majesty come help me up?”

  Pei Yan’s gaze swept past her soft, fair hand and nded back on her face. His tone was unreadable.

  “I helped you up once already. This time, get up yourself.”

  Fine. No help, then no help. Jiang Shuyi was good at picking her battles.

  She made a show of getting up with difficulty, then quickly walked to his side, her almond-shaped eyes bright as she looked at him.

  Pei Yan didn’t respond. He turned to Cheng Shouzhong. “Dismiss everyone. Close the hall doors.”

  Cheng Shouzhong, always quick to read the room, immediately understood.

  With a smile, he led the attendants out and personally shut the doors tightly behind him.

  The lighting in the hall dimmed at once.

  A few rays of sunlight streamed through the carved windows, falling just short of Pei Yan. He sat in the shadows, tapped his knee with a finger, and gave a low, calm order: “Jiang Shuyi. Lie across my p.”

  Jiang Shuyi rarely heard him call her by her full name.

  Unlike those affectionate emperors in pace pys who always called their favorites “beloved consort,” Pei Yan was colder. He always referred to his concubines by title.

  Only once before had he used her full name—back when she had first entered the Eastern Pace and was learning the Book of Songs with him. She had been distracted and inattentive, and he had sternly called her name before making her stand in the corner for a while.

  The second time was in her previous life, when she was imprisoned in Zhaoyang Pace. Back then, whenever she dared mention their son, Pei Yan would call her by her full name—and punish her.

  Now, hearing her name in full again, Jiang Shuyi’s heart trembled.

  Meeting Pei Yan’s calm yet commanding gaze, she felt a hint of disappointment.

  This wasn’t forepy. This was serious—an interrogation.

  Jiang Shuyi pressed her lips together and knelt quietly at his side, leaning her head against his p.

  It was a position they had shared countless times before, but now it filled her with unease.

  Is he angry at me because of Jiang Wanqing?

  She had gotten too carried away earlier and forgotten that this version of Pei Yan would no longer endlessly indulge her.

  She was the one who had begged to bring Jiang Wanqing into the pace—and now this. Of course, he’d be upset.

  What should I do…

  Pei Yan looked down.

  Jiang Shuyi was like a frightened kitten. Though she nestled obediently against his p, her fluttering shes betrayed her unease.

  He reached out and gently massaged the back of her neck in a soothing motion.

  “Jiang Shuyi, what I’m about to ask you—you are not allowed to lie. If you do—”

  If what?

  Jiang Shuyi’s heart clenched. She pricked up her ears.

  “I’ll punish you heavily.”

  Her body stiffened at the words, and suddenly her eyes stung.

  Two lifetimes. And this was the first time she had ever heard Pei Yan utter the word “punish” so seriously.

  Heavily punished, no less.

  In her previous life, even if she had sughtered the entire harem, Pei Yan would’ve only pressed his fingers to his brow, scolding her mildly with a “You’re being ridiculous,” then helped her cover it up.

  Pei Yan had always been the one she relied on.

  So how did things come to this…

  In that moment, Jiang Shuyi suddenly didn’t want to be reborn anymore. Wouldn’t it have been better just to die? At least she wouldn’t have had to come back to ten years ago and face this Pei Yan, one who no longer doted on her as before.

  “Did you hear me? Answer.”

  Just then, his voice pushed her back to reality.

  In her line of sight was the dragon-carved jade belt hook at the emperor’s waist.

  Jiang Shuyi was struck by the bitter realization—The man before her was no longer her husband. He was the Emperor.

  Choking back her sorrow, she answered obediently, “Your Majesty, I heard. I do not dare lie to you.”

  Pei Yan gave a soft “Mm”, withdrawing his hand from her nape as he said, “You resent your sister, not because of a nightmare, is that right?”

  His tone wasn’t a question, but a certainty.

  Jiang Shuyi’s heart lurched. How did he find out?!

  She was sure Pei Yan hadn’t been reborn—he wouldn’t say such harsh things if he had…

  “Still not answering?”

  His cool voice sounded above her. Jiang Shuyi didn’t have time to think further. She shut her eyes and answered as if facing death: “Your Majesty is right!”

  If she’d already been found out, what was there left to hide? She might as well confess and accept whatever punishment he gave.

  Pei Yan’s expression grew colder.

  So it was true.

  He grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him, no longer allowing her to hide against his p.

  Jiang Shuyi was forced to meet his gaze. As she looked at his stern face, she finally couldn’t hold it in—her eyes reddened, and the tears she’d been holding back poured down.

  Pei Yan wiped her tears with his thumb, his face impassive.

  “Why are you crying? Afraid I’ll punish you for deceiving your emperor?”

  Jiang Shuyi sobbed as she shook her head, then nodded. Between sniffles, she said brokenly: “Yes… I’m afraid… but I’m not crying because of that. I’m crying because… Your Majesty doesn’t love me anymore. I feel wronged… so I cried…”

  “How else do you want me to love you?”

  Pei Yan’s voice remained calm, but his hand wiping her tears pressed slightly harder.

  “Have I not treated you well enough? Not given you enough honors? And what about you? Have you ever said a single honest word to me? Yet you still dare to talk about feeling wronged.”

  At this point, Jiang Shuyi couldn’t do anything but cry.

  “Your birth mother passed away early. You had a hard childhood. It’s understandable to be guarded against others… but against me—shouldn’t you have let down your guard?”

  He gave up wiping her tears altogether and let her cry.

  At least she was crying—it meant she knew she was wrong.

  Looking down at her weeping breathlessly like a frightened child, Pei Yan’s phoenix eyes grew unreadable.

  “Since you’ve long been at odds with your sister, why pretend to be close in front of me?”

  “You begged me to let her enter the pace just to use my hand to get rid of her, didn’t you?”

  “Jiang Shuyi… After caring for you for five years, I never expected you to have such clever little schemes.”

  Huh?

  Jiang Shuyi’s crying paused. She was a little dazed.

  That doesn’t sound right…

  Hadn’t Pei Yan figured out she was reborn? Then what was he talking about?

  Jiang Shuyi began to calm down. After some careful thought, she realized—Pei Yan hadn’t been reborn. Even with his sharp mind, there was no way he could guess something so outndish as her reincarnation.

  Judging by what he said… he had only noticed her deep-seated resentment toward Jiang Wanqing.

  Jiang Shuyi, still tearful, bit her lip and tugged his sleeve, murmuring with guilt: “So even that little thought… Your Majesty could see through it…”