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Chapter 26: A New Beginning

“Have you heard that looking at a beautiful person can prolong your life?”

Yun Chu’s resentment toward the original owner of this body stemmed entirely from the ten years of neglect and humiliation she suffered in the manor. Li Yunli only later realized that he had feelings for the original owner.

A person with emotions, when continuously ignored and humiliated, can easily turn love into hatred.

That was likely the reason the original owner was ultimately executed by Lingchi.

Now that she had taken over the original owner’s body, she certainly could not repeat the same mistakes.

Although responding to his feelings with this body felt like cheating, to Li Yunli, emotions had always been secondary.

In the face of greater interests, personal emotions had to be set aside—let alone in this scenario, where failure meant death.

Turning him into a devoted admirer was far better than letting him become an enemy who would strike back.

Facing Yun Chu’s slightly frozen gaze, Li Yunli continued to smile and pushed the cup of tea toward him.

“What? You don’t believe me?”

“No.”

Yun Chu shook his head.

“I just want to ask, Your Highness, why?”

Since she had been given a second chance, she should know that in the future, he would be a hidden danger.

If she wasn’t someone who had been reborn, then by now, she should have understood that he had been difficult to tame since entering the manor, bringing her endless trouble.

No matter what, she shouldn’t have saved him.

“Why?”

Li Yunli chuckled and asked in return.

Resting her chin on her hand, she propped herself up on the table and looked at him directly, capturing every change in his expression.

“Because it’s you.”

Yun Chu pinched the fabric of his robe at his knee. “But I don’t think I have any qualities that are worth Your Highness’s concern.”

“How could you not?”

Li Yunli tilted her head, her smile deepening.

Compared to before, this time, her smile was like sunlight melting into a pool of spring water. Yun Chu’s heart suddenly trembled, as if struck by something, making him inexplicably nervous.

He looked at her.

Li Yunli smiled. “Your face.”

Yun Chu furrowed his brows slightly, pausing in confusion.

“Your face and figure have always been my type.”

Li Yunli’s teeth were white, and her smile was unreserved and carefree.

The tension from earlier instantly evaporated.

Yun Chu shook his head and smiled slightly.

“So that’s the reason?”

“I think being attracted to beauty is the simplest way to start a story. And with a beginning like this, there can be more stories to follow. What do you think?”

Yun Chu nodded. “So, what’s the real reason?”

“The real reason is that I like your face too much to see it injured. That’s why I was willing to get you out of prison. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Yun Chu let out a quiet laugh.

It sounded far-fetched, yet at this moment, he was willing to believe she was telling the truth.

After all, his face and figure were the only stable and unchanging aspects of him—things that wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

“Alright, I believe you.” He said, suddenly feeling much more at ease.

But he hadn’t expected Li Yunli to casually pour herself a cup of tea and, with her next words, send him into an icy abyss.

“I know about your ambitions and plans to restore your country.”

Yun Chu’s entire body stiffened.

Li Yunli’s voice was calm as she continued: “No one would willingly be a subject of a fallen nation. And as someone who was once a prince of Wei, it’s no surprise that you would have loyal old ministers and remnants supporting you. It has been two years—you must have been trying to contact them, right?”

As she spoke, she set the teapot down and folded her hands on the table, quietly observing Yun Chu.

The silence was suffocating, as if the very air had been drained from the room.

Who would have thought that on the very first night after entering the city, she would expose the truth so directly?

Her gaze was light, as if she were merely looking at him normally, yet it carried the weight of judgment.

Yun Chu’s breathing turned ragged, his voice hoarse and low: “I… But since Your Highness already knows, you should also be aware that I have never done anything to betray you.”

“Which is why I, Li Yunli, have always believed that if I doubt someone, I will not use them. Since you are torn inside, I might as well be the one to pierce through the deception.”

She smiled lightly, her voice soft. “Ah Si’s movements are under my control. He was a young general in the Wei army and must have a number of followers. But now that he’s in Yongzhou, it won’t be easy for him to stir up trouble.”

Since he had followed her into the city alone, his life was now entirely in her hands.

She had indeed anticipated Ah Si’s involvement.

Yun Chu took a deep breath, cold sweat breaking out on his back.

He could no longer sit still. He stood up.

“Do not kneel.” Li Yunli cut off his movement with her words. “Stand up.”

“Your Highness…”

Yun Chu’s breathing trembled as he lifted his gaze to her, like a drowning man grasping for air.

“Since Your Highness knows everything, why don’t you kill me?”

“And yet…”

Why had she changed her attitude toward him?

“The late emperor ruled with benevolence and issued clear laws: prisoners of a fallen nation cannot be executed.” Her tone was cold and formal, devoid of emotion.

“Shiliu and Shiqi are efficient in their work. In just one month, they uncovered Ah Si’s identity, his communications with you, and his attempts to infiltrate the Grand Princess’s residence.”

As she spoke, Li Yunli pulled out an envelope from her sleeve.

If its contents were made public, it would justify his execution without any repercussions.

Yun Chu stared at the envelope as if awaiting his own sentencing.

“With this, Your Highness would have no hesitation in killing me.”

His smile was bitter.

He should have expected it. The Li Yunli of today would no longer give him any chances.

And yet, he was unwilling to accept it…

She was right in front of him, so close, so near—seeing her every day.

Yet he was tormented by unfulfilled longing.

He could never have her.

But then, in the next moment, Li Yunli moved the envelope toward the candlelight and burned it to ashes.

Yun Chu’s eyes widened slightly.

Li Yunli watched the flames rise. “Now that we are in Yongzhou, you and I are already grasshoppers tied to the same rope. With enemies before us, I have no reason to cut off my own arm.”

“But…”

“Sometimes, I wonder—if I really had a chance to do it all over again, if I hadn’t been so harsh on you after taking you from prison, would our story have turned out completely different?”

“Fate is unpredictable, beyond human control.” Yun Chu lowered his gaze before quietly looking up again. “But… does Your Highness wish for a different story?”

“If the river at my doorstep can still flow westward, then why wouldn’t I?”

Li Yunli picked up a cup and idly shifted it aside.

“Yun Chu.”

She suddenly called his full name, and he looked at her intently.

“The past two years in my manor have been hard for you. That was my oversight. Now that we are far from the capital, if you cannot let go of the past, you may hold onto it. Vengeance is human nature—I do not fear you. But here in Yongzhou, will you set it aside and help me?”

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