The Wheel Of Transmigration - Chapter 17: 01.16: Weimin Ru

“Are you ready to meet your fianc?” Murong Jieli whispered to Ai Zingxiu playfully. Ai Zingxiu mustered up a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. After her fiasco meeting with the stranger man three days ago, he didn’t appear.

Ai Zingxiu didn’t breathe a breath of relief as she knew he was most likely planning something. As she tilted her neck to the side, she winced from the pain. She had purposely worn a scarf-like cloth around her neck to prevent her cousin and future cousin-in-law from worrying. Since she was going to destroy their relationship, Ai Zingxiu didn’t want the guilt to be harder than necessary.

Their concern tugged at her heartstrings. Such pure people, why was she forced to break them? For the sake of her five-year-old brother, Ai Zingxiu clenched her small fists and hardened her gaze. Even though they may not forgive her and say she betrayed them, at least she’ll know the real reason behind her betrayal. For the sake of Ai Luoyang, her smaller brother, she would endure everything, including the scorn of the man she loves and the woman she had befriended.

Ai Zingxiu gripped her hanfu as she stared at the approaching face, Prince Shen Zihao. With his dark and sinfully beautiful almond eyes, he was extraordinarily handsome. She felt her breath hitch as she regarded her future husband. He smiled kindly and Ai Zingxiu felt a type of familiarity with him, although she couldn’t quite recognize where from.

Meanwhile, Murong Jieli and Xiao Fu were both scrutinizing Shen Zihao. He was extraordinarily handsome, but for some reason, the duo felt like they knew the man. Such an idea was impossible as it was the first time Murong Jieli was meeting him, the man that wasn’t a villain in this lifetime due to her interference.

He noticed her gaze and flashed her a grin. His cocky attitude might’ve been cute to other women, but to Murong Jieli, they sent danger signs and she couldn’t help but be cautious. She ignored him and turned to Ru Weimin, whispering in his ear, “Is this guy really the best choice?”

Even though the couple was not aware of their position, but to other spectators, they looked like a flirtatious couple sharing secrets. Ai Zingxiu felt her heartache, but she reminded herself that she must get used to it from now on.

That woman, Murong Jieli who is coincidentally her friend as well, is going to be her cousin’s wife and empress. That man, Shen Zihao, despite the warning alarms in her head, she still had to go stand near him due to her position as his bride-to-be.

“You two look so lovely next to each other.” Murong Jieli bluffed with a beautiful smile. Shen Zihao chuckled as he used one arm to wrap around his future wife. Despite his action breaking protocol and traditionnot having physical contact with the bride until marriagenobody could muster the courage to tell the foreign prince to keep his arms away due to their treaty that was like walking on thin ice. Easily breakable and destructive.

Finally, Ru Weimin no longer able to stand watching his cousin squirm, spoke up, “Prince Shen, please keep customs and modesty in mind and keep away from physical contact until marriage.”

Shen Zihao widened his eyes in mock-surprise as he quickly released Ai Zingxiu. “I’m sorry. It looks like Shen customs and Ru customs are very different.” His tone was apologetic, but it didn’t fool Murong Jieli, especially since she knew the man was intending to embarrass Ai Zingxiu.

Nonetheless, she remained quiet and pretended to be gullible like everyone else here, except for Ru Weimin who had a hard look in his eyes.

Ai Zingxiu excused herself to go back to her room and get ready for the welcoming banquet for the prince.

According to the matchmakers and her parents, their wedding would be the day after her cousin’s wedding, which meant as much as she wanted to avoid seeing the man she loves to get married, there was no possibility.

Ai Zingxiu sighed as she pulled off her scarf. She stared in the bronze mirror and massaged her aching neck. The stranger had truly left a mark for her not to forget.

“It seems like you’ve forgotten your mission,” the eerie voice commented. Ai Zingxiu whipped her head in the direction and gasped. It was the stranger man again! Except for this time, his black mask was off and Ai Zingxiu couldn’t help but admire his facial features. Such a beautifully carved face, why did it belong to such a scoundrel?

“Zingxiu,” the man called out intimately like they had relations to each other. He cupped her face with his large hands and whispered in her ear, harshly, “what were you doing these past three days!? Their wedding is in less than four days, you foolish girl!” He chuckled and muttered, “Looks like you do not care for your little brother, huh?”

“No!” Ai Zingxiu cried with tears, “Please don’t hurt him. Please.” Her pleas were ignored by the cruel man as he whisked out a small vial of deep burgundy. “Feed this to the lovely couple… Especially your pathetic cousin.”

Ai Zingxiu nodded as she shakingly reached for the small vial of death, at least to whomever it is fed to. “H-How do I f-feed it to them?”

The strange man burst out laughing, but his laughter brought a sense of trepidation to Ai Zingxiu that heard it.

“Figure it out.” And with those words, he leaped out of the window, swiftly and silently. Deadly and dreadfully.

Ai Zingxiu clenched the vial of deep red and sighed as she slipped it in the security of her hanfu. Years ago, she learned to bake and cook to please her cousin in hopes of her affections to be returned, but now, she would use those same skills to bring him the grim reaper.

***

Murong Feili sighed she played around with the chain of her extravagant phoenix necklace. It was a ‘gift’ that Fan Yishin forced her to wear once they visited her parents after their wedding as tradition suggested. Seeing how beautiful it made his empress look, he insisted on her wearing at all times.

To others, it was a gesture of his sincerity, but she knew better. It was keeping a leash on the dog, which in this case, would be her. Fan Yishin was reminding her that she could never escape, no matter what.

That she was only his brothel whore that he could abuse at any time without the notification of anyone. He was an emperor and she was a mere woman in the times that women were considered objects. What rights did she have to complain? Thus, Murong Feili allowed Fan Yishin to treat her worse than a servant, in exchange for her family’s safety and happiness and all the jewels that the imperial treasury offered.

Once, she was envious of her sister for being rewarded a rare green jade from the imperial treasury. Now, she cursed all jewels that came from the place that belonged to that bastard that forced her.

Murong Feili placed her hand on her lower abdomen, where her soiled womb lied. She sighed. She was sure by the times he had forced her, she was bearing his forming child. But the question was, why did such a horrendous man have to be a father? Such a man belonged in the demon’s realm, along with the rest of the vulgar scum like him.

She glanced at the starless night from her window and sighed melancholically. She gasped when it was forced open and a figure leaped inside. Once realizing who it was, she sighed, relieved, “You scared me!”

The man laughed softly as she bowed his head, mocking her with his insincere apology, “Sorry, but you know why I can’t use the door.”

Despite their platonic friendship that had bloomed ever since her wedding, if she, the empress, were to be caught with a strange man in her room, death was inevitable. No explanation was needed nor was allowed to be given, she would be immediately suspected for adulterous behaviors.

“Zao,” Murong Feili rolled her eyes, “what do you need?”

Zao’s face twisted into concern, albeit deep in his heart, he despised being with this fool at the moment, “Are you okay?”

Those three words finally asked by someone broke down her walls and made her cry. Zao grabbed her waist and pulled her to his masculine chest. The sounds of her whimpers didn’t make Zao feel guilt or sympathy at all. She was only an asset that needed to be convinced in order for the mission to be completed.

“Zao…” Murong Feili said tearfully as she lifted her head and stared at his sinfully handsome face, “what can I do to end this disgusting life?”

Zao sighed and avoided her question, “Your sister…” immediately, he received the expression he needed and expected as her face contorted into hatred, “Your sister is getting married in less than four days.”

He continued, “I saw the way that Ru Weimin doted on her… Xiao Li, why must you suffer like this as she gets to enjoy life with a loving husband as a powerful empress? Xiao Li, tell me, how is that fair?”

Noticing her fists clenched, he smirked to himself and extended his words, “May it be because she’s more beautiful? More talented? More graceful? Xiao Li didn’t your husband also say he wanted her”

“Enough!” Murong Feili snapped as she couldn’t stand hearing him praise the harlot. Her husband, her family, Ru Weimin, and now, even Zao, were spelled by that whore. She couldn’t stand hearing about her delightful life for a second longer!

It wounded one’s pride to know that one’s husband preferred another woman and openly admitted it, no matter how villainous he could be.

“Xiao Li…” Zao said gently, but Murong Feili slapped his hands away like a madwoman. “No! You probably love her like everyone else! Go away and leave me alone to my misery!”

Zao ignored her resistance and pulled her into a comforting hug, “Xiao Li, I don’t like her. Xiao Li, I am only your friend, not hers.”

Hearing his comforting words only then did Murong Feili calm down. She felt deep gratitude for the man that had his arms wrapped around her as he was her friend and belonged to her and not that thief that stole everything from her.

“Xiao Li, how would you like revenge?” Zao whispered in her ear with a smirk. Murong Feili didn’t think of the consequences as she nodded, “I want revenge! I want her to suffer in the deepest depths of the underworld!”

Zao nodded at her enthusiasm, “Xiao Li, you must visit the empire of Ru on her wedding with your husband and this is what you must do…” And he began to explain to her his plan.

Murong Feili widened her eyes as a sinister look flashed through them. This plan of his, she loved it!

‘Murong Jieli… May the heavens help you for what’s going to happen.’