Chapter 2: 2. Chapter 2: You Only Have One Life, But There Is More Than One Life-Threatening Matter

Chapter 2: You Only Have One Life, But There Is More Than One Way to Lose It

Cheng Jin groaned inwardly. The original owner had relied on her family’s power and influence—her father being a high-ranking official in the imperial court—to stubbornly compete with the female lead, who held a lower rank than her.

Having been framed for no reason, the original owner had exhausted herself trying to clear her name, even causing a scene at that evening’s banquet.

She had happened to be kneeling before Chu Chengye when she saw blades flying toward them. Chu Chengye had used her as a human shield, causing her to fall into a coma for several days.

The blades were poisoned. She didn't die, but the original owner was left with a lifelong disability.

Her father had wanted to seek justice and an explanation for her, but this tyrant despised nothing more than people using past favors to demand things. Furthermore, because Cheng Yishou was known in court for his tendency to defy superiors and risk his life to offer remonstrations, he was stripped of his rank and demoted.

It was a pity that Cheng Yishou had sworn to protect Chu Chengye until his dying breath before the Emperor was captured, even dying right in front of him.

If they were to meet again, Cheng Jin would definitely advise her father not to meddle in this tyrant’s affairs, lest the whole family die in vain without gaining a single benefit.

There was simply no justice in this world.

Thinking of this, Cheng Jin bowed to Chu Chengye once more. "Your Majesty, all the faults are mine. It was I who was possessed by a ghost, which is why I did such a foolish thing."

Right now, the further she stayed away from this tyrant, the better.

Cheng Jin looked up at the right moment and noticed that Chu Chengye’s gaze was fixed on her eyes without wavering, though his brows were furrowed even deeper.

Chu Chengye knew his path to the throne had not been legitimate, and his style of governance was swift and ruthless; there were plenty of people who couldn't stand him.

However, he truly hadn't expected that his own confidants would want to kill him, and that the person who had shielded him before his death was the very Cheng Taifu he detested most.

But there were so many people in the palace now, and the evening banquet was hosting many of the brothers and soldiers who had fought through life and death alongside him.

Which one of them would strike such a vicious blow?

Chu Chengye couldn't figure it out, so he glanced at Cheng Jin before him.

He didn't have the ability to foresee the future, but the person in front of him did.

Regardless of how she knew these things, her words seemed to have logic and evidence; they didn't sound like mere fabrications. While he couldn't trust her lightly, he couldn't afford to be unprepared.

Cheng Jin wanted to add more fuel to the fire so that Chu Chengye would convict her. "Your Majesty, I feel that while the death penalty may be avoided, the living punishment is inevitable. Why not let me..."

After only a moment, the young eunuch who had just left returned.

Wei An had indeed found a piece of paper by the lake, but before he could get a close look, a palace maid had suddenly appeared and shredded it in the water, making it impossible to see its original state.

This maid was from Qu Wanxin’s palace. Seeing her panicked state, it did indeed look like she had done something shameful, which matched what Cheng Jin had said perfectly.

He leaned over and whispered something into Chu Chengye’s ear. Chu Chengye gave the eunuch beside him a look, and the eunuch stepped forward and slapped the little palace maid.

"Spouting nonsense! How dare you frame the Noble Consort! Speak! Who ordered you to do this?"

The maid stumbled and fell to the ground, then immediately crawled on her knees, kowtowing incessantly.

"Your Majesty, please investigate! This servant is not lying! I still have the Noble Consort’s personal item on me—it is exactly what I picked up by the lake that day."

Trembling, the maid took a jade pendant from her bosom. Looking closely, the character "Cheng" carved on it was particularly conspicuous; it certainly looked like something belonging to Cheng Jin.

*So this is how they’re waiting for me?*

Cheng Jin curled her lips in a way that was barely noticeable.

*[Just look at this thing. One look and you know it’s fake.]*

*[What is my status? Would I use this kind of jade for a personal item?]*

In the book, this so-called "personal item" was what confirmed that Cheng Jin had pushed Qu Wanxin. Cheng Jin’s jade pendant had indeed been lost, but whoever handed this item over was either stupid or foolish.

Instead of using the real one, they had made a replica using low-quality jade that could be spotted at a glance.

The eunuch handed the item to Chu Chengye, whose fingers rubbed slightly over the pendant.

Sure enough, it was not at all the kind of jade material a noble family would use. It was clear that the inner thoughts he had heard from Cheng Jin were true in every word.

Immediately, Chu Chengye’s gaze fell upon Cheng Jin.

Although Cheng Jin knew there was a problem with the pendant, she didn't say a word, instead putting on a look of panic and anxiety, pretending to deny it twice.

"No, this is not my pendant. How could my pendant be with you?"

Cheng Jin thought her acting was fake enough—it was the complete state of a thief with a guilty conscience.

Who would have thought that Chu Chengye would suddenly laugh a few times, his voice full of vigor.

"Good. Since the Noble Consort says it is not hers, then it is not hers."

Cheng Jin: "???"

*Huh?*

*Trusting me this much?*

*What if I was just spouting nonsense?*

"Someone, drag this lowly maid who framed the Noble Consort out and beat her to death!"

The words "beat to death" made Cheng Jin’s legs go soft.

*Oh my god, he really is a tyrant.*

*Human life is like an ant in his hands.*

*But what is going on with the plot now? Why does this tyrant trust me so much?*

*According to the plot, shouldn't he be dragging me away now?*

*She had already prepared to put on a show of struggling just enough to make people carry her away.*

*She remembered the book describing her palace as being quite far from the Cold Palace.*

*If others have to suffer, she shouldn't have to.*

After thinking this through, Cheng Jin looked at Chu Chengye with eager eyes and continued to quibble

"Your Majesty, although I was framed, there were only Lady Hui and myself in the palace. Since she was pushed into the lake, I also bear some responsibility."

"I know I am at fault. Why not let me stay in this palace and reflect on my mistakes behind closed doors?"

Although she couldn't go to the Cold Palace, settling for the next best thing—staying in her own palace and not going anywhere—was better than going out to be a human shield for the tyrant.

This tyrant hated nothing more than the women around him causing trouble and giving him a headache.

*[Is it my turn? Is it my turn?]*

Chu Chengye had black lines on his forehead as he listened to Cheng Jin’s inner voice, and he waved for her to get up.

"Since you already know you were wrong, then..."

*[Confinement, confinement, reflection, reflection.]*

Hearing Chu Chengye speak, Cheng Jin was already waving little flags in her heart.

"Then forget it. Tonight, accompany me to the Dahe Palace to attend the banquet."

The face that had been somewhat joyful just a moment ago instantly collapsed.

The evening banquet—although the book described that the sword strike wouldn't kill her, the poison on that sword would become a sequela that would follow her for half her life.

Cheng Jin felt life was meaningless

*Those things that can't kill me might as well just kill me.*

Cheng Jin wanted to struggle a bit more. "I heard that this banquet is specifically for the generals and soldiers who fought in the war. How could I go?"

Chu Chengye gave Cheng Jin no room to refuse.

"I said you are going, so you are going."

The corner of Cheng Jin’s mouth twitched imperceptibly.

*[Hahahaha, so overbearing.]*

*[You only have one life, but there is more than one way to lose it.]*

*[You insist on me going? Believe it or not, I’ll just go crazy and ram into you, and we can both die together. Let’s just end it.]*