Knowing Lan Cui’s temperament too well, she worried about Lan Cui causing more trouble, hence her uneasy reminder.
"I understand, I won't cause any more trouble."
These few days she wouldn't be foolish enough to provoke Zhen Zhu again, but if she found an excuse in a few more days, she wouldn't blame her.
...
After Yu Rong settled Lan Cui, she got up and went to find Zhen Zhu.
"What's gotten into you today? You were so brutal. Lan Cui's wrist is severely swollen and red. Did you intend to crush her wrist?"
"She brought it upon herself. I did this only to give her a warning, to make her more careful from now on, to know what she should say and what she shouldn't!"
Yu Rong looked at Zhen Zhu, always feeling that something about her was different today. She seemed to be filled with a murderous aura. In the past, even when Lan Cui did more outrageous things than today, Zhen Zhu hadn't reacted so strongly.
What was wrong with her today? Her murderous aura was soaring, and when she gripped Lan Cui's wrist just now, her eyes were full of killing intent.
"What you did today was indeed too much. Lan Cui has always been like this. Why did you have to bicker with her over these things? If your grip had been a little tighter, Lan Cui's hand would have been crippled, and her life would have been ruined."
"It would have been better if she were crippled, at least she would have kept her life, instead of becoming a spy. A spy wouldn't even know how they died."
To be crippled was better than to be a spy, and not even know who killed you.
To dedicate one's life to serving Xi Liang, only to die at the hands of her own people. It was truly not worth it for those innocent sisters who died in vain.
"How can you say such things? I think you've been exhausted to the point of foolishness these past few days. Go back and get some rest. You're not allowed to talk nonsense like this anymore!"
Yu Rong rebuked sternly. If these words fell into the wrong ears, their lives would be forfeit.
Zhen Zhu was always cautious, afraid of making even a single wrong step. Today, she was far too abnormal.
"Which of what I said is not true? Yu Rong, do you know where the sisters who were previously granted permission to leave are now?"
"I really don't know. Since they were allowed to leave, they must have found a place to live a peaceful life. Didn't we also swear before that one day, after achieving great merit, we would leave together? Why are you asking about these things today?"
Yu Rong increasingly felt that Zhen Zhu was too abnormal today, asking such tricky and strange questions.
"There's no contact. Weren't we close sisters before? Now there's not even a word from them..."
"The mountains are high and the roads are long, it's normal not to have contact."
Zhen Zhu let out a cold snort and said sarcastically, "They are all dead. How could they possibly have a chance to send you a message."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Yu Rong's tone was full of anger. "I think you've really been exhausted to the point of foolishness, speaking without any sense. You should rest well first!"
As Yu Rong stood up and was about to leave, Zhen Zhu grabbed her wrist from behind.
"I heard Granny Sun say with my own ears that the sisters who were previously granted permission to leave after achieving merit were all killed by Granny Sun herself. We know too much, and they will never let us leave alive. Only the dead can be truly trusted!"
Her eyes widened, and Yu Rong looked at Zhen Zhu with disbelief. Her expression did not seem like she was lying.
However, her heart resisted, unwilling to believe. Yu Rong simply thought Zhen Zhu was talking nonsense.
"We watched them leave with our own eyes. Now you claim they were all killed by Granny Sun. Who would believe your words? If you're truly tired these past two days, just stay in your room and rest. But you are forbidden from saying such things in the future."
"Everything I said is the truth. Those sisters, they... they are all dead. This time, Granny Sun intends to make Xiao Qi a spy, and she will also promise Xiao Qi that she will let Xiao Qi leave after this task is completed..."
Zhen Zhu told Yu Rong everything she had overheard. Yu Rong was the eldest among them and was always well-liked. If she wanted to incite others, Yu Rong's help would be indispensable.
The primary task now was to bring Yu Rong into their ranks.
Seeing that Yu Rong seemed to be moved, Zhen Zhu continued, "It's not just Xiao Qi, but other sisters have also been deceived this way, and ultimately lost their lives. Do we still want to follow in their footsteps?"
Yu Rong was slightly taken aback. The expression in her eyes was complex. After a long pause, she finally said, "This matter... you... let me think about it first..."
"We don't have time. Whether you want to live or die is up to you."
Zhen Zhu said urgently. She had to bring Yu Rong into their ranks.
"What exactly do you mean?"
Yu Rong looked at Zhen Zhu in confusion. She completely failed to understand what Zhen Zhu meant by these words.
What was life... what was death... why was she being so urgently pressured to choose?
After a moment of hesitation, Zhen Zhu told Yu Rong everything.
"What! You're crazy! You're collaborating with people from Dong Chu, this is treason!"
Yu Rong looked at Zhen Zhu in disbelief, completely unaware that Zhen Zhu had colluded with people from Dong Chu.
"Treason... Don't you forget, we are all sinners. We were all punished and sent to the palace. Rather than living without dignity like this, being at their mercy, I would truly prefer to commit treason and live a life for myself!"
"I will give you two choices now: either live with me, or die."
As she spoke, Zhen Zhu's sharp blade was already pressed against Yu Rong's neck.
The cold, stinging sensation on her neck forced her to make a choice quickly. Yu Rong still couldn't believe that Zhen Zhu had committed treason.
"Zhen Zhu, calm down. It's not too late for you to turn back. I will pretend this never happened. I won't tell Granny Sun."
"Is it I who is obstinate, or you? Must you sacrifice your life for these baseless things before you'll stop?"
"I was taught this way since childhood. For the sake of the nation, what is one person's life worth? Zhen Zhu, if it weren't for His Majesty's kindness, you would have lost your life long ago. Now you want to commit treason, how can you face His Majesty!"
Yu Rong earnestly persuaded her, wanting Zhen Zhu to turn back from the wrong path as soon as possible.
"Zhen Zhu, the great mistake has not yet been made. It's not too late for you to turn back. If you truly do this, it will be too late to regret it!"
Yu Rong gently held Zhen Zhu's hand, her voice soft as she persuaded her, wanting only for Zhen Zhu to turn back.
"Be quiet! My mind is made up. No matter how eloquently you speak, I will never turn back!"