Chapter 10: Chapter 183: The Only Woman I Deeply Love

Chapter 183: The Only Woman She Ever Loved

"Wrong. The previous note was written by Ye Zixiao's own hand. In this entire matter, Mo Wan only did one thing: she wrote that note and saved your life, Yao Sulluan." Yao Mo Wan's expression was solemn, her clear eyes as calm as an ancient well.

"You expect me to believe you just because you say so? Ye Zixiao had no reason to harm me or my father!" Yao Sulluan replied dismissively.

"You killed the only woman he ever truly loved in this world. It wouldn't be surprising if he turned against you like this!" Yao Mo Wan shrugged, a cold sneer curling her lips.

"It's impossible... even if he knew, he wouldn't destroy his own future! He doesn't want to be Emperor anymore!" Yao Sulluan no longer cared about those so-called secrets; she only wanted the truth. Ye Zixiao was her last path; if that path were severed, what was she to do!

"And so, Second Sister, you were careless. You certainly calculated Ye Zixiao's ambition, but you miscalculated his deep affection for Duan Zirou. Rumors don't arise from nothing; since the entire Imperial City is spreading tales of the profound love between Ye Zixiao and Duan Zirou, why did Second Sister feel the need to take such a risk?" Yao Mo Wan looked at Yao Sulluan with a mocking laugh, her eyes shimmering with a brilliant, colorful light.

"He actually... I was helping him! With Duan Zirou around, he will never be able to become Emperor!" Yao Sulluan growled at Yao Mo Wan, her eyes filled with indignation.

"Second Sister was helping him? Or was she helping herself! Mo Wan does not know if Duan Zirou's existence would hinder Ye Zixiao's desire to ascend the throne, but she will certainly become an obstacle to Second Sister's path to becoming Empress. It's just that, Second Sister, why can't you learn to hide your light and bide your time? If you had just endured for a moment, you could have plotted your little schemes after Ye Zixiao attained the throne. But now, look at you—because of one momentary lapse in judgment, not only has Yao Zhenting been thrown into prison, but you have also severed your only way out. If Mo Wan hasn't guessed wrong, Ye Zixiao will likely remain quiet for a short while." Yao Mo Wan shook her head as she looked at Yao Sulluan, letting out a long sigh.

"Yao Mo Wan, you didn't write that note to save me, but to make me live in suffering. You want to see how I fall, how miserable I become, even how I die, don't you?" Yao Sulluan instinctively took several steps back, her eyes flashing with panic.

"Mhm, Second Sister understands my intentions perfectly!" Yao Mo Wan nodded slightly in approval.

"Yao Mo Wan, you are not human! You are a devil! You are nothing but a cold-blooded beast!" Yao Sulluan looked at the Yao Mo Wan before her in terror. At this moment, Yao Sulluan felt as if she were standing in total darkness, and Yao Mo Wan was the master of that darkness.

"Mo Wan suspects that when Eldest Sister died, she must have thought the same. Yao Sulluan, have you ever wondered what would happen to you if Eldest Sister were to return to life?" Yao Mo Wan stepped toward Yao Sulluan, eventually cornering her against the wall. Those cold, deep eyes were like sharp blades piercing through Yao Sulluan's heart.

"Impossible..." Yao Sulluan's voice trembled, her pupils shrinking into tiny black dots from fear.

"Of course it's impossible. That is why Mo Wan is doing the things Eldest Sister wanted to do. It's just that Mo Wan's methods are somewhat merciful; I hope Eldest Sister does not blame me!" Yao Mo Wan suddenly looked up at the ceiling, as if Yao Moxin were right above them.

"Madwoman... Yao Mo Wan, you madwoman!" Yao Sulluan rushed out of Guanju Palace in terror, just as impetuously as she had arrived.

On the third day after Yao Zhenting's imprisonment, Ye Hongyi issued an edict to seize the Yao Prime Minister's estate. The wealth was returned to the national treasury, and the household servants were exiled to the southwestern borders, but one person was left behind.

When Yao Tu stood before the magnificent gates of this grand courtyard, he was struck with utter astonishment. It took a long time for him to recover his senses.

"Liu Xing, where are we?"

"This is the Yao Estate. Not the 'Yao' of Yao Zhenting, but the 'Yao' of Yao Tu." The gentle voice was warm and fine, pleasant to the ear, like an oriole in the forest, its clarity bringing a sense of ease to one's heart.

"Noble Consort Yao? This old servant pays respects to Consort Yao!" Hearing the voice, Yao Tu turned around, only to find that Liu Xing, who had been standing behind him, had somehow been replaced by Yao Mo Wan.

"Butler Yao, please rise. Come inside with me to talk." Yao Mo Wan stepped forward to help Yao Tu up, then took his hand and led him into the courtyard. She had once said that Yao Tu would receive a good reward because of her kindness. Now was the time to fulfill that promise.

"Consort Yao, this old servant does not understand. This estate...?" Yao Tu followed closely behind Yao Mo Wan, speaking with suspicion.

"When you spent money to provide a proper burial for my mother, Mo Wan kept it in her heart. Since I regained my senses, you have also helped me secretly many times. In terms of both reason and emotion, Mo Wan owes you this favor. From this moment on, the master of this estate is you. The property deeds, land titles, and the silver for your retirement will be handed to you by Liu Xing shortly," Yao Mo Wan spoke firmly.

"This... how can this be! This old servant only exerted a bit of meager effort; how could I receive such an imperial reward? I am unworthy!" Upon hearing this, Yao Tu immediately knelt before Yao Mo Wan, his voice trembling slightly.

"You are more than worthy. Butler Yao, Mo Wan knows what you are thinking. Rest assured, I have already begged the Emperor to spare Yao Zhenting's life; you may visit him whenever you wish." Yao Mo Wan had not intended to mention the name Yao Zhenting, but she knew that Yao Tu's loyalty was never just lip service.

"Consort Yao..." Yao Tu attempted to refuse again, but Yao Mo Wan stopped him.

"Yao Tu, the Yao Prime Minister's estate is gone. This is Mo Wan's only home outside the palace. If you refuse to accept this estate, then Mo Wan will be homeless." Yao Mo Wan parted her cherry lips slightly, grasping Yao Tu's hands tightly as she spoke in a coquettish tone.

"Fine... fine! Yao Tu will stay here and be the butler for the Third Young Lady for the rest of his life!" Yao Tu looked at Yao Mo Wan with gratitude. If time could turn back, he felt as if he could see the Third Young Lady as she used to be, pulling at him for candy. For all these years, he had long since regarded Yao Mo Wan as his own daughter.

That night, with Yin Xue's assistance, Yao Mo Wan entered the Heavenly Prison undetected.

Inside the dark and damp prison, the rats were even more brazen than the humans, wandering about openly and licking the leftovers of the prisoners without restraint. Some particularly adventurous rats even seemed to eye human flesh; the miserable screams of prisoners echoed through the prison from time to time.

Yao Zhenting was locked in the innermost solitary cell. When Yao Mo Wan stood outside the iron bars, she did not see any sign of him until Yin Xue pointed to a pile of straw in the corner. Only then did Yao Mo Wan notice that Yao Zhenting had buried himself entirely within the straw.

"Does Father think he can escape the cruelty of reality like this?" The corners of Yao Mo Wan's lips curled into a smile.

The moment he heard Yao Mo Wan's voice, Yao Zhenting violently pushed aside the straw, his eyes glaring at her like piercing awls. In just a few days, Yao Zhenting had become so haggard he looked a decade older; especially with the straw tangled in his disheveled hair, the sight was incredibly desolate and sorrowful.

"I truly didn't expect it. To think a grand Prime Minister of the realm would fall to such a state. Who is to blame?" Yao Mo Wan crossed her snowy arms and raised an eyebrow at Yao Zhenting, completely unbothered by his murderous gaze.

"Who is to blame? You have the nerve to ask me who is to blame! Yao Mo Wan! If it weren't for you, how could this old man have ended up like this! How could he!" Yao Zhenting screamed hoarsely, his eyes spitting fire. Thanks to the devil before him, he now had nothing!

"Mo Wan is deeply honored by Father's assessment. If it were anyone else who had brought Father to this, Mo Wan would truly be unhappy!" Yao Mo Wan spoke calmly, feeling fortunate in her heart that she had persuaded Ye Hongyi to spare Yao Zhenting's life. Until this very moment, Yao Mo Wan believed that for Yao Zhenting, living was an endless torment.