Chapter 12: Reviving a Poisonous Scheme

The dim candlelight flickered. A delicate girl curled up on a prayer mat, seemingly asleep.

Seeing this scene, Ye Chenxuan was momentarily stunned.
He thought he would see a wronged figure, maybe even crying in sorrow.
But he never expected her to be asleep and in front of so many ancestral tablets.

Ye Chenxuan quietly approached, only to see her pale little face drenched in sweat, her brows furrowed, she seemed to be having a nightmare.

He frowned, feeling a pang of sympathy and wanting to wake her. But when he extended his hand, he paused.
He hadn’t yet achieved great things; he shouldn’t be thinking about matters between men and women.
Besides, their meeting had been a mistake. She probably didn’t even want to see him.

He withdrew his hand and took out a handkerchief from his robe to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
His gaze fell on her luscious red lips. Recalling the taste he had once savored, his breath hitched and his handsome face flushed red.

He forced himself to remain calm, took off his cloak and gently covered her with it, then hurriedly left.

No sooner had Ye Chenxuan gone than Tang Mi suddenly jolted awake from her nightmare.
She sat up abruptly and breathed a sigh of relief when she realized she was still in the ancestral hall.

A dream!

She had dreamed again of the tragic love of her past life of roaring flames, blood everywhere, and endless despair.

After a long while, Tang Mi noticed a cloak had been placed over her.
She looked at the unfamiliar cloak in confusion.
Who had come in? She hadn’t heard a sound.

She examined the material and design, it couldn’t have been something her grandmother had sent.
This was clearly a man’s cloak.

But why would there be a man’s cloak in the ancestral hall?

Startled, Tang Mi brought the cloak to her nose and sniffed it had no distinctive scent, only a faint, cold fragrance.
It was the same scent she had smelled on that man earlier today.

Tang Mi clenched the cloak tightly.

That man had been here!

Who was he? And why had he come to find her?

Her mind was a mess, but she quickly calmed down.

Whoever this man was, she had no intention of being involved with him anymore.
In their past life, both of them had been victims.
She could choose not to blame or hate him, but she had suffered too much because of him, and he had never once appeared again. That, she could not forgive.

Just then, she heard footsteps outside. She quickly balled up the cloak and hugged it to her chest.

The ancestral hall door creaked open, and Yun Xiang, the old matriarch’s head maid, entered and bowed to her.
“Miss, the old madam has sent me to bring you back to your room to rest.”

Tang Mi’s eyes softened. Grandmother still cared for her after all.

She stood, still holding the balled-up cloak, and left with Yun Xiang.

Yun Xiang glanced at the cloak in her arms but didn’t ask any questions.

After escorting her back to her courtyard, Yun Xiang took her leave.

“Miss, you’re back! I was so worried about you!” cried Fu Ling, Tang Mi’s head maid, as she ran out to greet her.

Tang Mi looked at her with a deep, unreadable gaze.
Only after being banished to the cold palace in her past life did she realize Fu Ling had always been Tang Ying’s spy.

Fu Ling had done many things for Tang Ying and had been handsomely rewarded.
Even today’s incident was likely orchestrated with her help.

This morning, Ban Xia had suffered a stomachache and couldn’t accompany her to the banquet.
Fu Ling used that as an excuse to stay behind and “care for Ban Xia,” forcing Tang Mi to attend alone.
In both past and present, she had always been isolated.

However, it was Tang Rong, not Fu Ling, who carried out the trap this time proving that Fu Ling held even more importance in Tang Ying’s eyes than that idiot Tang Rong.

“Miss…” Ban Xia rushed out anxiously after hearing the commotion.

Tang Mi stepped forward and helped her up.

“Miss, I heard something happened at the banquet today, are you alright?” Ban Xia asked worriedly, checking her over.

“I’m fine.” Tang Mi’s eyes softened. Thinking of how Ban Xia had died tragically for her in her past life, she asked gently, “Are you feeling better?”

“The doctor gave me medicine. I’ve already taken it.” Ban Xia replied while leading Tang Mi into the room.

Fu Ling followed them in and, upon seeing the cloak, her eyes flickered.
“Miss, whose cloak is that?”

Tang Mi didn’t answer and handed the cloak to Ban Xia.
“Put it away.”

“Yes, miss.” Ban Xia quickly placed it in the storage trunk.

Sensing Tang Mi’s coldness toward her, Fu Ling hurried forward and poured a cup of tea.
“I heard something happened at the princess’s residence today. What exactly happened?”

Tang Mi gave her a pointed look and said coldly,
“The one who caused trouble was my fourth sister. It had nothing to do with me. Remember that.”

The sudden pressure in her tone made Fu Ling tremble and bow quickly.
“Yes, I understand.”

Tang Mi looked at her and said,
“Tonight, Ban Xia will keep watch. You may leave.”

“Yes.” Fu Ling bowed and left, but her heart was full of unease.

Ban Xia is still sick, yet Miss wants her to keep watch?
Could she be suspicious of something?

Not daring to think further, Fu Ling could only retreat.

Watching her go, Tang Mi’s eyes turned ice-cold.

She couldn’t act just yet, she had to keep Fu Ling as bait to reel in Tang Ying.

“Miss, did the old madam blame you for what happened today?” Ban Xia asked gently as she closed the door.

Tang Mi’s eyes softened.
“Grandmother still protected me in the end.”

Ban Xia nodded, smiling.
“She’s always cared for you most.”

“Feng’er is coming back tomorrow, right?” Tang Mi asked.
After being reborn, her memory of dates was a little hazy, but she believed it was tomorrow.

“Yes,” Ban Xia confirmed. “The day after tomorrow is Mid-Autumn Festival. The academy is closed for three days, so the young master will return tomorrow.”

At that, a wave of longing passed through Tang Mi’s eyes.
It had been so long since she last saw Feng’er.

In her past life, Feng’er had been led astray by their elder cousin and ended up committing many wrongs.
In the end, the cousin framed him for treason, and he was executed without trial.
His head was severed and sent as tribute, which the cousin used to gain power and promotion.

Tang Mi still remembered the day Tang Ying tossed Feng’er’s head at her,  it had burned into her soul.
Hatred surged within her.
She wished she could rush over and tear Tang Ying to pieces right now.

It took her a long while to suppress her emotions.

The days ahead are long, she couldn’t rush this.

Thankfully, Feng’er was still safe.
Grandmother was still alive.
Her maternal family was unharmed.
There was still time for everything.

She had time to plan and she would never let Tang Ying and Ye Junyu succeed again.
Everyone who had harmed her and her loved ones would pay the price.

At this moment, Tang Ying, wrapped in a cloak, boarded a carriage at the back gate of the general’s estate.

“Your Highness, why have you come here now?” she asked in surprise when she saw Ye Junyu.

They had always been cautious about their meetings.
Why meet so openly at the general’s estate now?

Ye Junyu’s face was dark.
“Didn’t you say the plan was foolproof? What happened?”

Tang Ying quickly responded nervously,
“My foolish fourth sister messed it all up. She got tricked by that bitch Tang Mi!”

Before he could speak further, she added quickly,
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I already have another plan. This time, it will definitely work.”

Ye Junyu narrowed his eyes.
“I won’t wait any longer. We must take Tang Mi down at the Mid-Autumn banquet.”

“Yes,” Tang Ying bowed deeply in obedience.