Chapter 2: I'd Rather We Never Met

Due to the effects of the alcohol, Jun Liuyi looked toward Sikong Qimo with emotions that were somewhat difficult to conceal, her exquisite face filled with a mocking expression.

However, such an expression only caused Sikong Qimo's fury to burn even more fiercely.

"Infiltrating the Imperial Palace in the middle of the night—what are your ulterior motives! Throw her into the Heavenly Prison."

Having spoken, Sikong Qimo turned his gaze toward Yu Xin'er and dropped a cold sentence: "If you wish to see the Spirit Sect leveled by me, feel free to resist."

Yu Xin'er, who had originally been preparing to resist because the secret guards were about to move, also saw her expression darken. Knowing full well that there was absolutely no benefit in provoking the Emperor regarding this matter, Xin'er had to bow her head and say, "Your Majesty, Xin'er was merely worried that the matter of the imperial selection would cause Her Imperial Majesty the Imperial Concubine to grieve in solitude; thus, I came in haste. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."

But her only response was Sikong Qimo staring at the profile of Jun Liuyi's face, without saying a single word.

Yu Xin'er already understood his intention perfectly.

In the end, it was all to force Liuyi to respond to him. Yu Xin'er sighed inwardly; what could these two stubborn people actually gain from this mutual torment?

As the saying goes, "a ruler's heart is hard to fathom," but the one thing about Sikong Qimo that was not hard to guess was his heart for Liuyi. It was just a pity that the directions of the love they both pursued were destined to be different.

In the silence, Jun Liuyi let out a soft laugh. "I remember seven years ago, Your Majesty once said that forcing me into the palace was only because you did not want to lose me or miss out on me; that even if I were in the palace, you could still allow me to see my dearest friends, as long as it did not involve the safety of the state?"

Staring unblinkingly into Sikong Qimo's eyes, the chill in her gaze grew deeper and deeper. "If I were to say that my heart was indeed moved back then, then at this moment, my heart feels only one thing."

The air seemed to freeze even further because of Jun Liuyi's words. Watching the expression on her friend's face, Xin'er cried out inwardly that things were going badly. But before she could stop her friend from impulsively saying words that were too hurtful to both herself and him, she heard her friend's low laughter, laced with sarcasm, ring out.

"If life were only like the first time we met, I would rather we had never met seven years ago."

As these cruel words were uttered, Sikong Qimo's lips pressed into a straight line. Though his face appeared expressionless, one could feel as if it were coated in a thick layer of frost.

*If life were only like the first time we met, I would rather we had never met seven years ago!*

Sikong Qimo's ears echoed with Jun Liuyi's words. Their seven years ago was the warmest and most precious sanctuary in the depths of his heart, yet at this very moment, she had cast it aside like a worn-out shoe. All those past memories suddenly seemed somewhat ridiculous.

Kneeling to the side, Chunliu and the others were trembling with worry for their mistress. Some things could be said, but some things absolutely could not. Now, with her mistress taking such a "rather be broken jade than whole tile" approach, she might just extinguish the Emperor's heart entirely.

Seeing that the situation was going south, Yu Xin'er hurriedly spoke up, "Liuyi, this matter was originally my fault. How can you be so foolish as to say such angry words just to save me?"

Hearing this, the man consumed by rage calmed down slightly and felt a secret sense of annoyance. She could always easily provoke his emotions.

His protective nature had always been this way; he had actually made the most unwise threats and commands simply because he was displeased.

Fearing that if he stayed any longer he would hear even more infuriating words and subsequently commit even more crazed acts of mutual harm, Sikong Qimo exerted all his strength to restrain his fury, maintaining a superficial calm as he said, "Return to the palace!"

"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty!" The people within the Lianyun Palace could not hide their excitement at the relief, hurriedly watching as Sikong Qimo departed.

Once the Emperor had walked far away, Chunliu hurriedly helped up the woman who was kneeling foolishly on the ground, calling her softly, "Mistress..."

Meeting her worried gaze, Jun Liuyi pulled up a smile and gently patted the back of Chunliu's hand, saying, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

However, such comfort did not ease the furrow in Chunliu's brow. After exchanging a glance with Xiahe, the anxiety and worry in both of their eyes deepened.

"Liuyi," Yu Xin'er also said with a tightly knit brow, "the words you just said were too hurtful."

Even though she understood her friend was acting out of anger to save her, and understood there was an element of pique between her and Sikong Qimo, she still could not agree with her.

Jun Liuyi lowered her eyes and said nothing, only to hear Xin'er let out a long sigh and say, "Perhaps his methods of forcing you into the palace were a bit cruel and overbearing, or perhaps your heart has suffered more wounds during these years in the palace. Even though those past beauties have gradually turned into pain because of these years...

But hearts are made of flesh. You cannot deny that he once disregarded even his own life for you, nor can you deny that if not for that sense of responsibility, he would have resolutely stayed by your side for a lifetime. Naturally, I am also very angry at what he did to you later, but that is not a reason to hurt the person we care about and who also cares about us."

Chunliu and the other attendants, listening from the side, also looked toward Xin'er with excitement.

Miss Xin'er had a straightforward personality; she dared to directly argue and expose many things, just as she was doing now.

The Emperor's patience was limited. If the mistress continued to be so stubborn with her own ideas, who could guarantee what would happen in the future?

Listening to her friend's words, Jun Liuyi's lips twitched bitterly, but the sorrow in her eyes seemed so thick it could not be dissolved. "The fact that things remain but people change is my greatest lamentation over these years. In truth, I know very well that he is still him, and I am still me."

Picking up the wine cup that Xin'er had just taken away, she let out a long sigh and once again drained the wine in the cup in one gulp.

"It was once because we were just us, with no other external environments, people, or matters entangling us. Because of that, we could have the truest indulgence and follow our hearts. But eventually, one must return to reality." Only a look of exhaustion remained on her fair face; Jun Liuyi's eyes were hazy with intoxication.

Seeing her friend's painful state of being drunk, Xin'er's brow furrowed deeply.

"Stop drinking." Xin'er snatched the wine cup away once more and helped her up. "Get a good sleep. What has happened has happened. No matter how much pain or regret you feel, it is all in vain. Even if you were to start over, your choices might not necessarily avoid the same mistakes."

Xin'er's words made her frown uncomfortably. If she were to start over, what would her choice be?

Did she really have to enter the palace because of his coercion?

In her dazed state, she seemed to hear her Eldest Senior Brother's piercing words echoing in her ears: *If you truly didn't care about the consequences, would he really have forced you into a dead end?*