Chapter 2: The Star of Solitude

After all, in this Prime Minister's Manor, the only one who knew how to use poison was her, Hua Ruomo.

"Hua Ruomo, hand over the antidote immediately! I originally thought that by settling you here, you would be able to stop harming our Hua Manor, but now it seems I should never have let you live all those years ago!"

A trace of disgust flashed through Hua Kunqing's eyes. If it weren't for this daughter, he would have held great power long ago, perhaps even... he wouldn't have had to endure until now to become the Prime Minister. Seeing out of the corner of his eye that the servants had not yet dragged away that little maid named Xiaoyu, his anger inevitably flared further.

"What are you all standing there for? Take this lowly wench who failed to serve her mistress properly away and give her fifty strokes of the cane! Teach her a lesson!"

"Wait." Hua Ruomo spoke up instantly. Xiaoyu was the only person left by her side; if she couldn't even protect this little girl, then she wouldn't be worthy of Xiaoyu calling her 'Miss.'

However, Hua Kunqing ignored Hua Ruomo's words entirely. With a wave of his large hand, the servants understood and directly dragged a long bench into this cramped and damp little courtyard. The wooden slats were already prepared; only then did Hua Ruomo realize that before she had even stepped into this small courtyard, these people had already prepared to humiliate them.

"Hua Ruomo, you have no right to negotiate. If you do not hand over the antidote, you know very well what will happen to that little maid who has followed you for many years." Hua Kunqing spoke these words coldly, as if the person he was facing was not his own legitimate daughter, but a beggar, a passerby. "In any case, you are a person of the 'Calamity Star' fate; no matter who approaches you, they will never have a good end."

Hua Ruomo's expression changed violently, her pupils constricted, and a look of hurt flashed across her face. It wasn't until a faint taste of blood reached her lips and teeth that she realized she had been biting her lower lip so hard that blood was overflowing.

A Calamity Star.

Yes, she truly was a Calamity Star. She was merely a wisp of a soul; she had originally lost her life, but for some unknown reason, she had come to this different world, living through someone else's body. When she was born, the originally clear sky suddenly underwent a violent change; the brilliant daylight was obscured by a gloomy black curtain, winds rose and clouds surged as heaven and earth fell into chaos, and a strange flash of red light streaked across the horizon, followed immediately by a torrential downpour that seemed poised to submerge all things.

A natural omen of anomaly must herald great chaos.

And she, Hua Ruomo, was the product of that anomaly, and naturally, an object to be feared and kept at a distance. She naturally knew the meaning behind the name Hua Kunqing had given her; it was likely a blatant way of telling the heavens that the relationship between their Hua family and this "disaster" was merely "as a stranger" (Ru Mo).

Hua Ruomo slowly walked down from the bed and stood before Hua Kunqing. Looking at this man who was her father in name, a cold sneer curled on her lips.

This version of Hua Ruomo, combined with her identity as a malevolent star, caused everyone present to feel a chill run through their bodies. They couldn't help but take half a step back, hoping to increase the distance between themselves and this daughter of evil.

"Hua Ruomo, you should hand over the antidote as soon as possible, otherwise that little maid of yours..."

"There is no antidote."

"What?!" Chai Ruorong, who was nestled in Hua Kunqing's arms, cried out in shock, her face turning pale. She couldn't even bother to maintain her act of fragility anymore as she rushed straight in front of Hua Ruomo, her hand—painted with bright red nail polish—trembling as she pointed at the expressionless Hua Ruomo. "You... what did you just say?"

Hua Ruomo looked coldly at this vulgar woman covered in thick makeup and repeated her words one by one: "There. Is. No. Antidote."

A moment of silence followed. The small room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

However, this silence lasted only for a moment before it was broken by a crisp, loud sound.

Slap!

Chai Ruorong's slap was extremely vicious, using her fingernails as weapons. Not only did she leave a handprint on Hua Ruomo's cheek, but she also left five long gashes that bled crimson, looking quite terrifying.