The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 178 - 177

Chapter 177

At the stern proclamation of the head imperial guard, Shin Wang was momentarily stunned. He replayed what he had heard in his mind, confusion swirling. The framing of the Mu family was the Empress Dowager’s doing, it had nothing to do with him. As for amassing troops, he had no knowledge of such matters.

What on earth was happening?

"Arrest everyone in Shin Wang Palace and take them to the imperial prison!"

The head imperial guard commanded, his tone firm. The imperial guards dispersed, capturing all the servants and guards within the palace to escort them to the imperial prison as ordered.

Meanwhile, Shin Wang, regaining his composure, stared coldly at the head guard. "You overstep your bounds! I am Shin Wang. Even if I am guilty, there must be an imperial decree announced before you can storm my palace. Do you have no regard for me or even the Empress Dowager!?"

Although Shin Wang didn’t fully grasp the situation, he sensed the gravity of the chaos. He needed to stall for time and send someone to inquire with the Empress Dowager about what was happening.

"The Empress Dowager? I fear Shin Wang is not yet aware. This morning, the Empress Dowager passed away suddenly from a severe illness. The official announcement will be made within a few hours."

These words struck Shin Wang like a bolt of lightning, causing him to be stunned momentarily. His mind buzzed with confusion. Just now, had he heard wrong...?

The Empress Dowager was dead?

How could that be possible?

Impossible!

Shin Wang shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. In the span of less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn, so many unexpected and shocking events had occurred—his death sentence for crimes he didn’t commit and the Empress Dowager’s death.

What on earth was going on?

"This...there must be some mistake. I will go see His Majesty!"

"I’m afraid there is no opportunity for that, Your Highness. As of now, you are a condemned prisoner to be executed by His Majesty’s decree."

The head imperial guard turned to signal his men, and two guards approached to seize Shin Wang from his bed and carry him out of the room.

"Let me go! Let go of me!"

Shin Wang shouted, struggling against their grip. But it was futile. Due to his crippled leg, the two guards had to drag him awkwardly out of the room. Once outside in the courtyard in front of the palace, he saw that all his servants and guards had been apprehended.

"Take them to the imperial prison."

At the order, the guards began to escort all the prisoners to the imperial prison, including the battered Shin Wang.

That night, within the now-empty Shin Wang Palace, silence enveloped the entire area, making it appear eerie and desolate. Amidst the darkness, a shadowy figure walked leisurely along the palace corridors.

The figure continued until reaching the storage room at the back of the palace. A delicate hand pressed a stone on the wall inside the storage room, then at that moment, the wall revealed a secret passage leading downward. The figure, holding a lantern, descended the steps slowly and steadily, each footfall echoing consistently.

At the bottom of the staircase, the hidden passageway opened into a dark dungeon concealed within Shin Wang Palace. The corridor was lined with more than a dozen cells, filled with the stench of blood, decay, and rot, enough to make anyone nauseous.

Thud, thud, thud.

The mysterious footsteps echoed continuously, awakening someone who was bound to a wooden board in the deepest part of the dungeon. Slowly, the person opened their eyes, struggling against the pain. The body was horrifyingly covered in blood, the skin flayed to reveal dark, decaying flesh. Both legs were broken and twisted, and the arms were in similar condition.

The hands were nailed to the board, pinning the person in place. The once beautiful face was now marred with numerous cuts.

The person tried to adjust their blurry vision to see the source of the mysterious footsteps. Initially, they saw only darkness that shrouded the surroundings, but soon, a lantern’s light approached, revealing a blurry figure.

As the footsteps stopped before the bound person, a familiar voice spoke, and the face of the visitor became clear.

"Mu Luofei...it’s been a long time."

Mu Yingying stared at the enemy who looked akin to a walking corpse, her expression a mix of a smile and indifference. Seeing the shocked and puzzled look in her enemy’s eyes, Mu Yingying grinned.

"Judging by your condition, it seems that Shin Wang has tortured you quite a bit."

"Mm mm mm."

Mu Luofei tried to speak, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at her half-sister. If Mu Yingying had managed to reach this dungeon, it meant others knew of her suffering at Shin Wang’s hands.

If people knew, it wouldn’t be long before she was rescued from this torment! 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Do you think I’m here to save you?"

Mu Yingying’s sly smile returned. She could guess Mu Luofei’s thoughts, but why would she help an enemy who had caused her family so much harm? Such a daydream.

Upon hearing Mu Yingying’s words, Mu Luofei’s eyes widened in an instant, before rage and hatred flared up undisguised. She stared at the young girl standing before her with bloodshot eyes as if she wanted to devour her.

"Mm mm mm."

"Stop talking. It’s a waste of time. I won’t understand you anyway," Mu Yingying chuckled softly and continued, "You harmed us siblings so much and tried to kill us more than just once or twice. Why would I help you?"

"In fact, your current state is exactly what you deserve for all the evil you’ve done!"

The more Mu Yingying spoke, the more furious Mu Luofei became, almost to the point of insanity. She longed to tear the young girl apart. The mocking gaze and sneering smile of her enemy were like thorns piercing her heart, driving her mad.

"Are you angry at me? Do you think you’re in this state because of me?"

Mu Yingying stepped closer, staring fearlessly into Mu Luofei’s eyes. "No...all of this is because of you."

"Mm mm mm."

Mu Luofei growled with rage, but with her tongue cut out, she could only produce guttural sounds. Her face, marred with scars from knife cuts, twisted with anger, resembling a beast. Despite her desire to strangle the young girl, her deteriorated body wouldn’t allow it.

"I came today to bid you farewell before our blood feud is settled. You may not know what has happened outside, so let me enlighten you."

Mu Yingying’s cold smile widened, her big round eyes glittering with a chilling light that sent a shiver down Mu Luofei’s spine. An ominous feeling welled up within her.

"Five months ago, after your mother died, Shin Wang threw her body to the dogs. Then, the nine generations of the Mu family was sentenced to death, and they were wiped out overnight. Your younger sister went mad and couldn’t accept the reality before she died..."

Mu Yingying’s calm and indifferent tone, as if recounting an insignificant event, sent chills through Mu Luofei’s entire body. The sliver of hope that she would survive and go back outside was shattered completely. Now, her mother, sister, and the family she could rely on were all gone.

Even if she survived, it would be a fate worse than death!

Her mother died in agony, and her body was dishonored. Her sister went insane before meeting an unjust death.

What kind of sick joke was this?!

What kind of cruel twist of fate?!

Mu Luofei’s thin lips trembled uncontrollably, but no sound escaped. Her eyes flickered with a mix of panic, confusion, sorrow, and rage.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the young girl standing before her. Seeing the gleam of satisfaction in Mu Yingying’s eyes, Mu Luofei instantly knew that this was all the doing of this wretched girl!

She had known since childhood that this wretched Mu Yingying was no ordinary girl and had tried repeatedly to get rid of her, but none of her attempts had succeeded.

If only this wretched girl had died back then, none of this would have happened!

Because of her!

It’s all because of her!

Mu Yingying immediately sensed the deep-seated hatred in Mu Luofei. If looks could kill, Mu Yingying would have died ten thousand deaths from the venomous gaze of Mu Luofei...

But no matter how much Mu Luofei hated her, no matter how much her eyes brimmed with malice, Mu Yingying remained indifferent and unafraid. That’s because what the other party felt right now, she had once felt the same:

Anger toward fate...

Hatred toward the enemy who caused her injustice...

Suffering she had to encounter without any fault...

Mockery and humiliation from her enemies...

Mu Yingying had felt and experienced it all herself!

She understood Mu Luofei’s current feelings perfectly. She lowered her gaze slightly, letting out a soft laugh; it was a laugh filled with scorn, pity, and disdain.

At last...she had reached this day!

The day when all her enemies would pay for their deeds, for the deaths and suffering they had caused her and her siblings in her previous life. Yet, amidst the satisfaction and relief, an odd feeling emerged within her.

Since her return, her sole purpose had been revenge. Hatred had driven her to live and press on until today. Now, with her goal fulfilled, she felt a sudden, inexplicable emptiness.

Mu Yingying closed her eyes to clear her chaotic thoughts. When she opened them again, they were cold and resolute. "Don’t worry. Those who made you suffer like this will join you soon enough. You and your husband can settle scores in the afterlife."

Mu Luofei glared at her until her eyes almost popped out, the blood vessels in her eyes were terrifying red. Her face, contorted with rage, caused some of her facial wounds to start bleeding again. In her current state, she looked no different from a demon.

"Now the score between us is settled. However, there’s still a debt you owe someone else..."

As Mu Yingying’s voice trailed off, the sound of footsteps echoed in the darkness. Soon, a woman’s figure emerged from the shadows, not far from Mu Yingying, and walked calmly to stand beside the young girl.

"Thank you, Seventh Young Miss, for your kindness in giving me the chance to avenge my daughter,"

Said Xie Yang, who had disappeared earlier, her gratitude genuine. She then turned to glare at her enemy with intense hatred. After Mu Tingge’s gruesome death, Xie Yang had been cast out of the palace like a stray dog, using what little resources she had left to survive while evading Mu Luofei and Bai Lijun.

While in hiding, people from Zhuiping Residence found her and offered her the chance to avenge her daughter’s death.

Every night, Xie Yang was constantly haunted by dreams of her daughter crying in agony from her painful death, making her heart shatter repeatedly. She desperately wanted to kill Mu Luofei, the one responsible for her daughter’s suffering, but she lacked the means to do so.

She had to embrace the pain of losing her daughter every night until her resentment developed into a deep hatred. When she was given the opportunity to exact revenge on her daughter’s murderer, Xie Yang didn’t hesitate to agree and immediately came under Mu Yingying’s care.

"The debt between you two...settle it yourselves."

With that, Mu Yingying turned and left. There was no need for her to personally end Mu Luofei’s life; there were plenty of others who wanted her dead as well.

After Mu Yingying departed, Xie Yang drew a dagger from her sleeve and approached Mu Luofei, who was bound to the wooden board. Xie Yang’s face was twisted with deep-seethed rage, her eyes red with the long-held desire for vengeance.

"Mu Luofei, you wretch! You beast! How could you do that to my daughter!?"

Xie Yang screamed at Mu Luofei with hatred, tears streaming down her face. Even though Mu Luofei was already in a state worse than death, it did nothing to quell the mother’s hatred for the woman who killed her only child.

"A life for a life!"

Thrust!

Xie Yang thrusted the dagger into Mu Luofei’s heart with all her strength, and then twisted the blade slowly, slicing the heart and causing excruciating pain. Mu Luofei wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

Blood trickled from her mouth as she stared in horror at Xie Yang and then at her chest that had the dagger embedded. Soon, the dagger was withdrawn, and blood gushed out.

Xie Yang held the dagger as she watched her enemy dying due to the severe wound on her chest. Mu Luofei felt that her vision became blurred, her blood circulation faltered, and her consciousness slowly faded. Utter terror consumed Mu Luofei.

Was she really going to die?

Was she truly meeting such an end?

Was it all really because of her own actions?

Was she...did something wrong from the beginning?

Mu Luofei’s mind raced with these thoughts, but she couldn’t accept the reality of her situation. Her heart was still filled with many denials and excuses for what she had done. Until her final breath, she still denied that her own deeds had led to her downfall...

Xie Yang watched her enemy die before finally allowing herself a bitter smile. She stepped back from Mu Luofei’s lifeless body and closed her eyes, recalling her daughter’s face one last time.

Ge’er...I had avenged you. I hope you can rest in peace now, without any lingering regrets.

Ge’er...it wouldn’t be long before I joined you.

The image of her daughter’s smiling face became clear in Xie Yang’s memory. She then decisively raised the dagger and plunged it into her own heart, causing her to cough up blood.

As her body collapsed to the floor, in the moment before everything went dark, she thought she saw her daughter’s figure not far away. She tried to reach out her hand to grasp her daughter’s image.

"Ge’er..."

She called out softly before her body finally went still with a faint smile on her face, indicating that she was genuinely at peace in her final moments.

Throughout the ordeal, Mu Yingying had been watching quietly from the shadows. Once it was over, she stepped out and gave her shadow guards some final instructions before leaving.

"Take her body and bury it beside her daughter’s grave. Let them be together in death."

"Yes, Miss."

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