TFSRITA Chapter 7

The foolish child had rammed her head into a pillar in the Lingyun Palace, dying instantly. Others said she was a loyal servant, but both Yan Qing and the original owner of this body believed it wasn’t worth it.

Today, Emperor Chen had shown her a glimpse of a person different from the one in the book—a living, breathing person who could change their actions based on circumstances.

Not just a flat character from a novel.

Yan Qing said, “Ziyun, I will send you back to the Prime Minister’s residence.”
“Huh?” Ziyun abruptly stopped crying, looking at her with tearful, confused eyes. “Miss, what are you talking about?”

Yan Qing patted her head again. Though she looked the same as the original owner, her demeanor was much more determined. She softly said, “I seek death, and I might anger Emperor Chen. If you return to the Prime Minister’s residence, at least you won’t get involved.”

Tears fell from Ziyun’s eyes again, and she spoke with deep grievance, “Miss, you’ve had such a hard life, but it’s not enough to seek death! With the Prime Minister around, you’ll be fine, and His Majesty wouldn’t dare mistreat you!”

Yan Qing slowly shook her head, her expression serious and resolute. “I’ve already made up my mind. There’s no point in saying more. I won’t be by Father’s side, so I’m counting on you to help take care of him.”

“No!” Ziyun wiped her tears and said, “I don’t agree! Miss, if you send me away, I’ll die here on the spot!”
Yan Qing felt a brief headache, thinking maybe she should just drop the idea.

But just as the thought arose, she dismissed it. Keeping Ziyun around would only lead to her being implicated. Her plan didn’t need someone this loyal.

Yan Qing hardened her resolve once more, her face darkening as she coldly said, “Are you threatening me?”
Ziyun hurriedly shook her head, “No, no! Miss, I don’t want to be separated from you. If you die, Ziyun will die with you!”

Yan Qing’s expression softened again. She patted Ziyun’s hand and gently said, “But I don’t want you to die. I need you to help take care of my father. If a daughter cannot be filial to her father, even in death, I’ll be punished in the afterlife. Ziyun, can you bear to see your mistress die without peace?”

Ziyun, being a simple girl with no real scheming nature, apart from crying too much, had no other flaws. She was also incredibly loyal and cared deeply for Yan Qing.

Hearing Yan Qing speak so seriously, Ziyun panicked even more. The thought of her mistress being unrestful even after death made her pale with worry. She hesitated, “Miss, but can’t you… can’t you not die…?”

Yan Qing’s face became solemn, her eyes slightly unfocused. Her delicate face took on a sense of desolation as if her heart was already dead. “Ziyun, you’re still young. You don’t understand. If I can’t be with the one I love, living is just a form of torture.”

Ziyun’s heart clenched, the pain making it hard for her to breathe. Her poor mistress, just two days before entering the palace, had sent a letter to her lover, a county magistrate in a distant province. Now, she had become like this.

Unable to hold back her tears, Ziyun finally agreed. She knelt before Yan Qing, kowtowing three times with deep sincerity, and vowed, “Miss, don’t worry. Ziyun will serve the Prime Minister well for the rest of his life!”
Yan Qing was startled by Ziyun’s seriousness and hurriedly waved her hand. “You don’t need to do it for life. When you’re of age, if you meet someone suitable, you can marry. Just remember to check in on my father from time to time.”

Ziyun was even more moved. Her mistress was truly too kind. Though she didn’t say it aloud, she had already made up her mind.

Though they spoke of sending Ziyun away, it wasn’t something that could happen immediately. After all, this was the imperial palace, and they would need the Prime Minister’s help to make it happen.

After leaving the side hall, Yan Qing, using the original owner’s handwriting, penned a letter and asked a young eunuch to send it out. However, before she could finish explaining, Ziyun hesitantly said, “Miss, actually… we can’t leave…”

“What do you mean?”

“The Emperor has stationed guards here. Without his orders, no one can come in or leave,” Ziyun said in one breath, cautiously watching Yan Qing. She knew her mistress loathed the palace and was desperate to die. She feared this news would push her over the edge.

It did. Yan Qing’s face darkened, and she stormed out angrily.

Sure enough, as she exited the hall, she saw several strong eunuchs guarding the entrance. Unlike regular eunuchs, these men were trained in martial arts, looked fierce, and even carried swords. When they saw Yan Qing, they quickly surrounded her and knelt, loudly chanting, “Your Majesty, please stay.”

These eunuchs were responsible for ensuring that the concubines didn’t engage in affairs with the guards. The security of the inner palace was managed by the eunuchs, as no ordinary man could enter the inner palace except for the emperor.

Yan Qing furiously shouted, “Move aside!”

“Your Majesty, please stay!” the eunuchs kneeling before her shouted in unison, their voices loud enough to scare Ziyun, who was standing behind Yan Qing, making her tremble.

“Miss~~,” Ziyun called out in a shaky voice. “Why don’t we just go back?”

Yan Qing was about to nod, considering the fact that they were armed, but then she stopped. Why should she compromise? She was someone seeking death.

These eunuchs were following orders from Ji Yecheng. If they killed her, the result would be the same.
Her eyes flickered, and she smiled slightly before rushing past the kneeling eunuchs.

“Your Majesty…” The eunuchs quickly stood up to stop her.

Yan Qing swiftly grabbed a sword from the waist of the nearest eunuch and held it to her neck, shouting, “Don’t you dare?”

The eunuchs chasing her paled and froze, especially the one whose sword had been taken. He knelt again, remorseful. “Please forgive me, Your Majesty! It was the Emperor’s order…”

“The Emperor doesn’t want me to leave this hall?” Yan Qing demanded sharply.

“Yes!” The eunuch knelt again. “It’s my fault, Your Majesty. The sword is dangerous. Please put it down.”

Yan Qing continued holding the sword against her neck, gripping the hilt with both hands and furiously said, “I’m going to leave. If you stop me, I’ll die right here!”