Chapter 7 — The End

First, His Majesty demoted the duke for failing to discipline his son. Then he stripped Xiao Jingxing of every office, title, and scholarly honor and banished him to Lingnan to live as a commoner.

Lingnan was rife with poisonous miasma.

Less than a month after arriving, Xiao Jingxing fell ill and died.

The duke's once splendid and prosperous household had fallen into complete decline.

The days passed. Before I knew it, the eve of Su Qingyao's execution had arrived.

I made a special visit to the prison.

The moment she saw me, hatred flared in her eyes.

“You bitch! What are you doing here? Come to laugh at me?”

I shook my head and raised an eyebrow.

“Aren't you curious how I escaped your scheme?”

She froze for a moment, then sneered.

“Wasn't it just your damned luck? If I'd known, I would have scattered more saltpeter…”

“It wouldn't have mattered how much you used. I already knew what you were planning.”

Su Qingyao's eyes widened. She shrieked, “You're lying! How could you have known?”

I smiled and said nothing.

When I turned to leave, she began screaming wildly.

“Jiang Mingzhu, come back!”

“Why… Why did you know all of this? Who are you?”

Of course I would never give her that answer.

I wanted her to die with her regrets and her endless doubts.

Outside the prison, Xie Zheng was waiting beside the carriage.

He held a box of pastries.

As soon as he saw me, he smiled.

“Your brother said you like the pastries from Hexiang. I happened to be passing, so I bought a few. Try one.”

Hexiang was on the east side of the city. We were on the west.

How could it possibly have been on his way?

I looked at his handsome face, then at the sweet-smelling pastries in the box.

Warmth stole into my heart.

After a moment's thought, I raised an eyebrow.

“Lord Xie, are you courting me?”

His ears turned bright red.

He hesitated for a long time before finally answering, embarrassed.

“Yes… You have my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Would you be willing?”

The sight of him brought back a memory from my previous life.

After I had been disfigured, my parents had gone to the palace to plead my case before the emperor. No one had been willing to help.

Only Xie Zheng had sent the Imperial Guard to assist with the investigation.

There was truth in the saying: when choosing a husband, choose someone who is good at heart, rather than someone who is merely good to you.

Kindness shown to one person could be feigned. The character ingrained in a person's very bones could not be changed.

I picked up a pastry and took a bite.

It was wonderfully sweet.

After a while, I smiled.

“Commander Xie, come to my father's house one day and ask for my hand.”

He stared for a moment. Then joy flooded his eyes.

“Yes… Yes, I'll come tomorrow.”

“No. I'll go right now.”

As I watched him hurry away, the smile in my eyes deepened.

The End.

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