Qui Yue received the brutal punishment from Nanny Mao and didn't speak until all the maids were happy to hear about Qui Yue getting punishment. Head maid Mao will keep an eye on her closely until she's done all the chores without resting.

Nanny Mao who always there for me after my mother died. She always confronted me as I cried in tears of her death. My mother was orphaned where my father took her in his mansion and met nanny Mao. She treated her like a daughter and cherished her which made her happy because she lost her family during the war.

Since I have been reborn in the past, I have to protect everyone from Xiao Wen and associates. I was planning to kill him but he has supporters all around him on my own and it will be difficult to take him out.

Yao Ting who disguises himself as the demon mask is the leader of red lotus. Rumors said he has dangerous associates who are working with him. Among them are the most dangerous criminals from the other lands and very skillful. I felt frustrated that I can't protect everyone from them unless I have the power to protect them all.

Watching the view while sitting on the roof as I notice Li Qin standing next to me, "Miss, is something wrong?"

"It's nothing, Li Qin... I'm just thinking about something else but how is my father?" I ask and want to know if he is still alright.

"Master Song is getting better and healthy because of your medicine." She replied as I sighed in relief and nodded.

"I'm glad to know." I said.

"Miss, why can't we report your father about the maid, Qui Yue. She's been too suspicious because of... The incident." She said in the low voice.

"Not yet, Li Qin. We need evidence to prove her quilt but I wanted to punish her more because I found out that she's the one who drugged me before I was at the battle." My eyes turned cold.

Li Qin's eyes widened and yelled bewildered, "WHAT! SHE'S THE ONE WHO DRUGGED YOU!" She rolled her sleeve and stomped on the ground angrily, "Let me teach her the lesson so she won't bother you again!"

I grabbed her hand, "No, we will teach her a lesson later but I need you to investigate her and what plan she is going to do next."

"Yes, Miss..." She was about to leave but she stopped and turned her head, "I forgot to tell you that the 3rd prince is coming tomorrow to visit." She told me with a smile as I froze.

My eyes widened as I grabbed her shoulders, "Did you say the 3rd prince is coming tomorrow?" I ask briefly. That's strange, Sheng didn't come to the Song mansion in my last life or maybe is something else?

"That's really right, but he's not going to be alone. He's bringing his bodyguard..." She said with excitement, "I hope, it's Xu Jeng because I haven't seen him since he went on the mission with his majesty." Her cheeks began to blush as I smiled at her reaction.

Xu Jeng is the second commander of the dragon army and very loyal to Xiao Sheng. He and Li Qin have a special relationship with each other but I don't know how they met which curious me the most.

"Of course, he will come but tell me how did you guys meet?" I tease with curious questions as she begins to blush.

"Mhmm... I should go and investigate... Bye bye." She quickly disappeared as I chuckled.

My eyes sparkled into joy and sadness when Li Qin said the 3rd prince is coming to visit tomorrow. I think my father and the emperor secretly wanted me to marry Sheng and that's why they chose him because he's my childhood friend.

In my childhood, my father brought me to the imperial palace where he introduced me to the young 3rd prince, Xiao Sheng who was playing the flute. He's a very attractive boy but a prankster too.

He likes to tease me a lot with his pranks. I couldn't control my temper and began to chase him around the garden while he was laughing. At night, he sneaks into the Song mansion and took me to the festival that I have never seen before in my life. We were having fun with each other even he brought a snack to share. We laughed and became best friends while holding our hands together until the guards found us.

My parents were worried and searching me because I wasn't in my room as for Sheng. His father the emperor scolded him for bringing me to the festival without his permission and his mother worried about him. She thought someone kidnapped him with ransom.

I remember the day that we made a promise that we would grow up and get married but I only thought of him as a brother until I met his younger brother, Xiao Wen or should I say cousin.

In my last life, in the palace where Sheng propose a marriage to me but I rejected him and broke his heart. I couldn't forget the sadness and pain in his eyes in my last life.

The day, he and the emperor went to the hunting ground until they were ambushed by the bandits. Sheng saved his father by bandit but he got killed by their leader before I arrived. I couldn't forget that nightmare...

Flashback

When I received the message from the palace that the emperor and the 3rd prince were ambushed by bandits during the hunt. The emperor managed to escape but was very injured.

My soldiers and I quickly rode to the hunting ground where they were ambushed. The fire has spread around the forest, we couldn't through but I saw all the guards were on the ground and brutally killed which makes me vomited. I find Sheng quickly and search through the forest.

"Sheng, please be alive!" I said in desperate and searched for him as a figure standing there. Knowing it was Sheng as I rushing toward him and hopping he's safe but... It was too late.

I saw Sheng was covered with a heavy wound and his back was covered with so many arrows. My mind went blank and saw a sword penetrated his chest by the bandits leader. The leader noticed me and called his men to retreat.

"SHENG!!!!"

His men were about to attack me, I furious attacked their leader and sliced his neck. His men froze and saw their leader had fallen, I stared at them with angry eyes. They began to retreat as my men followed them.



My mind was snapped and I turned to see the physician trying to save Sheng's life but he cannot be saved. I stumbled to move my feet and went to him as I trembled and hugged him, "Sheng please hold on... Help is on its way." I said in tears as he put his tremble hand on my cheek.

"Don't worry about me Xue'r but I'm just glad to see you before I wanted... to give you... something." He took something out of his pocket and it was a beautiful white bracelet.



"I wanted to give this bracelet so we could marry but you always wanted to marry Xiao Wen." His eyes filled with sorrow, "I thought that one day, we're going to be a happy family with... children when we are going to get married..." He chuckles in sadness.

I remember the day when we were so young and made a promise that one day but I only thought of him as a brother and chose his own brother, "Sheng... I'm so sorry... The promise we made... I'm so sorry I hurt you so much..." I sobbed with tears that I'm going to lose my dear friend who means a lot to me.

"It doesn't matter... I'm glad you're here..." Suddenly rain came as he told me in my last breath, "... I love... you... please... be... happy." He said with a sad smile.

I held his cheeks, "I love you too Sheng..." I whispered to him with tears and closed my eyes.



My lips crushed on his and didn't care the blood in his mouth as I moved my lips. His eyes widened in shock but closed his tearful eyes and held my neck. I let go of the kiss and noticed Sheng smile while his eyes closed.

I shook his body but he didn't move. I realized that he's no longer breathing, "Please wake Sheng... Please don't fall asleep..." I sobbed so hard and hugged him tight.

"SHENG!!!!"

I cried his name while holding the bracelet tightly as the thunder came.

Flashback ended

The tears flowed down my cheeks as I wiped them. I regret not marrying the man who fell in love with me but I got a chance to marry him other than Xiao Wen. I have the chance to ruin everything he's aiming for. Xiao Wen and Qiao Lian will know the taste of my revenge for driving me to death.

That's right, revenge. I cannot live such a foolish and stupid life again.

Never again...!

I jumped off the roof and landed on the ground, softly. My father liked Sheng very much and treated him as a son. He thought he would be a much better suitor for me. Tomorrow I will see him in person and accept his proposal. Walking to my chamber and sitting on the chair. Thinking about settling a score with Qui Yue, I know one person who will help me to get rid of her.

Her name is Yu Yan, who worked in the Song Residence for 5 years to support her mother. She's been sick for 8 months but her sickness is getting worse. Her father has disappeared from 5 years ago and has nowhere to be found, she has no chance but to join the Song mansion and work as the maid.

In my last life, she and Qui Yue never like each other. She meant be useful for the plan to frame Qui Yue. I can support her mother and give her payment so that they won't have to suffer. All the maids never like Qui Yue in the beginning.

I stared at the blue sky as my hand reached up like I was touching them, "Sheng, I will meet you soon..." I whispered and returned to my studies.

@@@@



In the imperial palace there was a tall man, with sharp features. A strong jaws and sensuous mouth, set into a curve of his lips. His hair flowing down his back, in a loose ponytail that held it in place through some of his hair was still falling in his face. A dangerous aura around him was the 3rd prince, Xiao Sheng. His face resembles his father's face and with pale skin like his mother but has a scar on his left eye from battle.

He was known as a ruthless demon prince. His personality was ruthless, arrogant, stubborn and coldblooded. He will do anything to protect his people and the kingdom with his strength.

His dark eyes staring at the sky and wonder about the dream that he was having. He dreamed, there was a sword pierced his chest by the unknown person that he didn't recognize but his face was blurry. Suddenly Song Xue arrived with her army when she saw him with a desperate face. All he dreamed is that an unknown person was killed while he was held by Song Xue who was sobbing with tears.

He was dying with blood when she cupped his cheek and whispered with tears.

"I love you too Sheng..."

Her lips moved to his and was shocked but happy. They kissed each other passionately, he moved his lips as his hand held her neck. He didn't have the strength to move as he died peacefully with a smile.

Xiao Sheng felt the dream was real and thought it was showing him that he was in danger but the question is why? He shook his head and remembered Song Xue's tears and their kiss. It's like her heart was broken.

He moved his fingers on his lips. His mind thinks about the kiss and couldn't forget it as two men appeared in front of him from the shadow. On the right side was Xu Jeng who's his most trusted commander of the dragon army since they were friends in childhood and on the left side was Tao who's his vice captain and very loyal to him.



(Xu Jeng)



(Tao)

"Tell me... What happened at the Song mansion?" He asked, turned his head and wanted to know if she was alright. He heard that she fainted at battle when their enemies had retreated. They kneel down with their hands cupped in fist.

"Miss Xue is in good condition but her father wasn't feeling well apparently, it's look like he's been poison by the someone. She and her bodyguard, Li Qin had caught the culprit who was putting the drugged in the medicine and got punishment." Yao said in the stern voice.

"The culprit's name is Qui Yue who worked at the Song residence for 7 years. We believe she's the reason why Miss Xue was not feeling well in the battle." Xu Jeng said as the 3rd prince clenched his fist. They didn't talk but stayed silent and felt their master scrunched in anger as they felt the murderous atmosphere around them.

"How dare that maid poison her?!" He sneered angrily in a low voice, they watched their master and knowing he fell in love with Song Xue since they were children.

He asks his father's permission to propose the marriage between him and Song Xue. The emperor and general Song Shun have been sworn brotherhood since childhood but the emperor will bestowed the marriage if Song Xue accepts the marriage.

Xiao Sheng wasn't happy but he has no choice to listened to his father, "Your highness, Miss Xue is planning something to teach the maid a lesson but she sent Li Qin to investigate her." Tao reported which made Xiao Sheng curious.

"Real? Song Xue suspect of that maid working with someone?" He sounded surprise.

"Yes, your highness..." The 3rd prince smirked and was curious what Song Xue was going to do? He looked at the sky one more time and couldn't wait to see her.

"Xue, I will see you soon and make you mine forever." He said in low voice and went inside the hall.