After the Affectionate Second Male Lead Reincarnated

13

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a dilapidated house, with Song Yan Yu still unconscious beside me.

My mouth was gagged with coarse cloth, making the corners of my mouth sore, and my hands and feet were tied with hemp rope.

My clothes had been changed, probably because my original outfit was too cumbersome to transport me in.

As I was assessing how to use the surroundings to cut the ropes, the door opened.

Court Lady Cui and that unfamiliar palace maid entered, both now dressed in black.

Seeing that Song Yan Yu hadn't woken up, Court Lady Cui signaled to the maid.

Immediately, a bucket of cold water was splashed onto Song Yan Yu.

It was the dead of winter, and even the little water that splashed on me made me shiver uncontrollably.

Song Yan Yu looked at the two of them angrily, only able to make muffled sounds of rage.

Court Lady Cui removed the cloth from our mouths.

"This place has been abandoned for many years, and the accommodations are poor. I hope the Empress and the General's wife can understand."

"This is the Prince Zhao residence in the south of the capital, Court Lady Cui brought us here, how can you say the accommodations are poor?"

I remembered that before the conclusion of the book, Song Yan Yu was kidnapped by the remnants of the previous dynasty and held captive in the decaying Prince Zhao residence.

Prince Zhao, Xie Chao was a king of the previous dynasty, who was confined here after the kingdom was destroyed.

Unwilling to accept his fate, he secretly gathered troops to try and restore his kingdom. When the plan was exposed, he fled far away.

In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an, Pei Du and Xiao Yan led troops to annihilate the entire Prince Zhao’s clan.

In the original plot, Pei Du did not go, and Xiao Yan led the troops alone. The leader of the remnants, Xie Xuan, did not die. Later, he plotted revenge against Xiao Yan by kidnapping Song Yan Yu and Jiang Luo Yu, who had forced her way into becoming Xiao Yan's concubine.

Xie Xuan brought Song Yan Yu and Jiang Luo Yu to Prince Zhao residence, forcing Xiao Yan to choose between them.

At that time, Jiang Luo Yu used Jiang Huai Zhi to pressure Xiao Yan, endangering Song Yan Yu's life.

In this life, Pei Du knew the future and had already burned the Xie clan's hiding place, leaving no survivors.

Pei Du was impeached by the ministers for this, but the former emperor approved of eliminating the remnants, so Pei Du was not held accountable.

Seeing Court Lady Cui’s expression, I knew I was right.

If the Xie clan’s hiding place had been slaughtered, Court Lady Cui and the other women must be spies placed in the palace by the Xie clan!

The book only mentioned that Xie Xuan and his subordinates kidnapped Song Yan Yu and Jiang Luo Yu without specifying the details.

Court Lady Cui and others were likely part of that group at the time.

In this life, Xie Xuan was dead, and Court Lady Cui continued his revenge plan.

"Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you, Your Majesty."

"Eradicating the Xie clan has nothing to do with the Empress. Do not drag her into this. The Empress is the mother of the nation. If you harm her, do you think the Emperor will spare you?" Song Yan Yu said.

"Hahaha..." Court Lady Cui slapped Song Yan Yu. "So noisy."

"If Pei Du didn't care about her, why would I go to such lengths to bring her here?"

Court Lady Cui grabbed Song Yan Yu's chin.

"Tell me, if I make them choose only one to live, who will they choose?"

"One is the Empress, the other is the General's wife. Do you think Pei Du and Xiao Yan will turn against each other over your lives?"

Song Yan Yu and I exchanged fearful glances, realizing this was Court Lady Cui's true intention.

"But your plan is flawed," I said slowly. "Neither Xiao Yan nor Pei Du loves me, so they will both choose me to die."

"Luo Yu, what are you saying?" Song Yan Yu didn't understand.

"Song Yan Yu, stop acting. You saw Pei Du's sword at my neck that day. It was because he thought I knew he always loved you and feared I would harm you."

As I spoke, I tilted my head, showing the faint scar on my neck.

"Luo Yu..." Song Yan Yu's eyebrows furrowed, tears welling up in her eyes with just a few words.

"You know, what I hate most is that pitiful, innocent look of yours. It makes me sick." I coldly mocked her.

"Kill Song Yan Yu if you must, let me go, and I won't say a word about you. Because like you, I want to see Pei Du suffer, to kill the one he loves most." Ignoring Song Yan Yu's tears, I spoke to Court Lady Cui.

Court Lady Cui didn't respond, merely signaled the maid to gag us again before leaving.