After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“I am willing to serve the Master, seeking no status.”

Ning Yuan’s tone was extremely submissive, even carrying a hint of pleading.

Now that she had nothing left, she could only hope that Sikong Xue still found this body desirable.

The person she longed for was standing right before her, yet the words she spoke made Sikong Xue’s heart feel as if it were being sliced by a blade.

Even if Ayuan did nothing at all, she would protect the Ning family for Ayuan’s sake.

Yet Ayuan had done such a thing…

Why would Ayuan take her for that kind of person? Why would Ayuan want to wrong herself by making such a transaction?

Ayuan was such a high-spirited person; in the past, Old Madame Ning held her in the palm of her hand. How could she have come to this?

Saying these words, Ayuan must be feeling miserable in her heart.

That aggrieved appearance looked as if she were about to burst into tears.

Sikong Xue reached out, gathered Ning Yuan’s clothes back together, and said with heartache, “Do not do this again. Whatever you seek, I will help you; there is no need for you to be like this.”

Having said that, Sikong Xue strode out of the study.

Sikong Xue was afraid that if she stayed in the same room with Ayuan any longer, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.

She had thought her tears had run dry on the day she believed Ayuan had left her forever, but Ayuan’s actions today made Sikong Xue truly miserable.

Her heart felt as if it were weighed down by a stone, a weight that surpassed the joy of recovering what was lost, leaving only endless sour bitterness.

Even if Ayuan didn’t speak, she had always been sending people to protect the Ning family; how could she ever require Ayuan to do this?

Sikong Xue had Songyan set aside some gold and said, “Tell Chiyun that she must prepare the medicine as quickly as possible, no matter what. No matter how difficult the herbs are to buy, she must find them.”

If Ayuan’s “heat” rose again, she could not take advantage of her plight a second time.

One loss of control had already deepened the rift between her and Ayuan.

Ayuan wouldn’t think she was such a person who would casually take liberties, would she…

While Sikong Xue was sad, Ning Yuan was also feeling unwell.

She had finally steeled herself to offer herself up, yet Sikong Xue had gathered her clothes back for her.

Did Sikong Xue do this because, having already done that kind of thing with her, she found her no longer “fresh”? Or was it because the one Sikong Xue truly loved was Yin Chiyun, so after one night of folly, she was unwilling to touch her again?

As for Sikong Xue saying she would help her, while Ning Yuan subconsciously wanted to believe it, she also felt it made little sense.

With the Ning family fallen, helping them held no value for Sikong Xue; why would Sikong Xue take such a risk?

If Sikong Xue had agreed to the transaction of the bedchamber, she would have believed Sikong Xue’s words.

But now…

After a night of tossing and turning, Ning Yuan got up the next day looking listless.

Even when servants brought several bolts of water-pink satin, she couldn’t summon any interest.

Xiaqun held the satin against Ning Yuan to measure it, saying, “This color is truly beautiful; it makes the lady’s skin look even fairer.”

Ning Yuan said, “Wasn’t it said that Sikong Xue hates water-pink most?”

Could it be that Sikong Xue sent this satin on purpose just to have an excuse to avoid seeing her?

Xiaqun said, “This only proves how much the Master dotes on the lady. In the past, the Master didn’t like people wearing water-pink clothes, but now, to make the lady feel better, she has allowed it.”

How could Ning Yuan know that the reason Sikong Xue couldn’t bear to see anyone in water-pink in the past was because she was afraid of being reminded of her?

Now that she knew her identity, Sikong Xue naturally wanted to offer up everything she liked.

However, since both were unhappy the night before, Sikong Xue refrained from coming to see Ning Yuan.

Sikong Xue was somewhat angry, but she was angry at herself for failing to handle everything in advance.

If she had dealt with the Eldest Princess sooner and brought the Ning family back, Ayuan wouldn’t have to suffer such grievances.

She wanted to be with Ayuan, she craved intimacy with Ayuan, and she wanted to be with Ayuan forever.

But she did not want Ayuan to use this as a transaction with her.

Walking to the backyard and seeing that the phoenix flowers had withered, and seeing a large empty space in the garden, Sikong Xue suddenly thought of something. She said to Songyan, “Have someone set up a swing for her in the backyard, so she won’t be bored all day. She likes to play the qin, so bring her that ancient qin from the storehouse. I remember it was called something like ‘Meishao Yue’ (Moon on the Eyebrows)?”

She heard there was some historical anecdote behind it, but Sikong Xue hadn’t paid it much mind.

Songyan said, “Master, isn’t that qin…”

“Just give it to her.” Sikong Xue didn’t explain much to Songyan.

In a few more days, she still intended to take Ayuan out for a stroll and buy more things Ayuan liked.

She didn’t know if Ayuan would like that ancient qin; if she didn’t, she would buy a new one.

Speaking of which, that qin was originally intended as a gift for Ning Yuan. Back then, a qin master’s family had suffered a misfortune and had to sell this ancient qin with great reluctance. Sikong Xue thought Ayuan might like it, so she bought it.

However, not long after, the whole capital was saying that the eldest Miss Ning was definitely going to be betrothed to Yuchi Jin. Distraught, Sikong Xue left the qin at the Grand Commandant’s manor.

She had once thought of giving this qin to Ayuan as a wedding gift when she married. But then she feared Yuchi Jin would desecrate the instrument.

Someone like Yuchi Jin was not worthy of her Ayuan.

Now that Ayuan had returned to her side, the thought of what Yuchi Jin had done to Ayuan and the Ning family made Sikong Xue want to draw her sword against her.

In the imperial court, the murderous intent in the gaze Sikong Xue cast toward Yuchi Jin grew ever thicker.

If not for Yuchi Jin, why would she and Ayuan have come to this?

Having been stared down by Sikong Xue for five years, Yuchi Jin was long used to it.

To be precise, Sikong Xue had been staring her down for much longer than five years.

When they studied together as children, if she spoke a few more words to Ning Yuan, Sikong Xue’s gaze would lock onto her like a blade.

But Yuchi Jin would never clash with Sikong Xue in front of Ning Yuan; on the contrary, she would intentionally put on a facade of being understanding, while subtly sowing discord between Ning Yuan and Sikong Xue.

Sikong Xue couldn’t keep her composure in her youth; whenever she got close to Ning Yuan, Sikong Xue would speak to Ning Yuan in a sarcastic manner, making Ning Yuan angry. With just a little provocation, the two would bicker.

This trick was one Yuchi Jin never tired of using.

Until the year Ning Yuan was eighteen and due to be betrothed, Yuchi Jin used her old trick again, first spreading rumors in the capital that she and Ning Yuan were about to be betrothed.

When the rumors reached Sikong Xue’s ears, Sikong Xue indeed lost her footing.

Thus, when Ning Yuan happily went to find Sikong Xue, Sikong Xue angered her once more.

Yuchi Jin successfully became betrothed to Ning Yuan and took the opportunity to frequently enter and leave the Ning manor.

The Ning family was loyal to Daliang and left no room for fault. But once she had the chance to enter the Ning manor, she didn’t have to worry about not being able to plant “incriminating evidence” there.

Sikong Xue would lose her head whenever it came to Ning Yuan; how could she possibly notice what Yuchi Jin was doing?

While Sikong Xue was away in the Northwest suppressing the rebellion, and the Grand Commandant was also preoccupied by the matter, Yuchi Jin finally stopped pretending.

Persecuting the Ning family and killing Ning Yuan, Yuchi Jin did these things without the slightest hesitation.

After Ning Yuan died, Yuchi Jin even went before her to provoke her.

“Sikong Xue, you should thank me. Thank me for leaving this corpse to you.”

The treasure in Sikong Xue’s eyes was treated with such contempt by Yuchi Jin.

Yuchi Jin thought of pushing Sikong Xue one step further, forcing her into an open rebellion so she could take the opportunity to eliminate the Sikong family.

She never expected that this time, Sikong Xue could be so patient.

Sikong Xue wasn’t as impulsive as she was in her youth; she remained quiet in the Grand Commandant’s manor for over half a year. By the time she entered the court, she was no longer as reckless as before.

Sikong Xue simply standing there made her colleagues feel a piercing chill from her presence.

Over the years, Yuchi Jin had always wanted to completely eliminate the Ning family, but Sikong Xue’s people were protecting them in secret, leaving her no opportunity to strike.

After five years, it seemed Sikong Xue was becoming more and more difficult to deal with.

With floods in Jiangnan, the new Emperor was at a loss. Yuchi Jin, who usually never focused on serious matters, suddenly put on a facade of being concerned for the realm, saying, “Currently, the people’s hearts are unsettled and refugees are rioting. Someone must go to pacify them.”

Sikong Zhi said, “Since the Lady Commandery is so concerned, why not go in person? If the Lady Commandery goes, it will surely make the people feel the Emperor’s grace.”

How could Yuchi Jin go to such a place? She used her mother as an excuse, saying, “My mother has just recovered from an illness. As her daughter, I should naturally stay by her side to serve her.”

It was only because Yin Chiyun wasn’t present, otherwise, she definitely wouldn’t have been able to suppress a roll of her eyes.

The Eldest Princess’s health was more robust than anyone’s; Yin Chiyun took her pulse every day, and there wasn’t a single problem.

But that Eldest Princess insisted she felt dizzy and weak, simply refusing to let her go.

Yin Chiyun could only say, “Eldest Princess, this official’s medical skills are shallow. You should invite a highly respected Imperial Physician to treat you.”

Yin Chiyun knew very well in her heart that even if she searched for all the famous doctors, none could diagnose any illness in the Eldest Princess.

Because she was completely faking it!

Yin Chiyun was so angry she wanted to stick a couple of needles into the Eldest Princess, ideally to the point where she couldn’t get out of bed anymore.

But the Eldest Princess was very cautious and wouldn’t let her perform acupuncture. As for the medicines she brewed, the Eldest Princess likely didn’t take them at all and just poured them out. Otherwise, the Eldest Princess couldn’t possibly be completely fine.

Later, for revenge, Yin Chiyun added as many precious medicinal herbs as possible. When Yuchi Jin raised questions, Yin Chiyun said, “The Eldest Princess has a precious jade-like body; naturally, she should use the best. Lady Commandery, surely you aren’t reluctant to spend the money?”

With vast amounts of money being spent, Yuchi Jin said with some heartache, “If the medicine you prescribe is truly useful, why is there no improvement in my mother’s health! Who knows if you are using the procurement of herbs as an excuse to embezzle money.”

Yin Chiyun rolled her eyes secretly.

The Eldest Princess was just faking an illness; how did Yuchi Jin get so carried away with the acting that she started believing it.

Yin Chiyun said, “How could I do such a thing? I think it’s the person responsible for brewing the medicine who hasn’t been watching it properly, so the medicinal properties are insufficient. How about I watch the brewing next time, so the Eldest Princess can recover more quickly.”

Watching the brewing meant not having to deal with the Eldest Princess and Yuchi Jin. Most importantly, she could prevent Yuchi Jin from leaving out the expensive herbs to save money.

Since she couldn’t resist, she would just spend more of her money.

However, looking at the medicine that might be poured out, Yin Chiyun also felt pained. This money was likely taken from the people. Although Sikong Xue led the officials in promoting new laws to reduce the tax burden on the people, she couldn’t stop Yuchi Jin’s subordinates from feigning compliance while secretly plundering the people’s wealth as usual.

Now in court, Yuchi Jin was talking about going to Jiangnan for an inspection and “recommending” her like this how could Sikong Xue not know what Yuchi Jin was planning.

She knew very well how dangerous the disaster-stricken areas were right now. If she were to pacify the disaster victims, she would be risking herself. If it were just her, it would be fine, but now that Ayuan was in her manor, she would think even more deliberately before acting.

Sikong Xue said to the new Emperor, “Your Majesty, this official believes now is not the time. With riots breaking out everywhere, we should apply both grace and authority, suppressing the riots first.”

Yuchi Jin said, “Didn’t Lord Sikong often inspect the conditions of the people in the south for His Majesty in the past? Lord Sikong is so familiar with Jiangnan; no matter what, having Lord Sikong preside over it would be most appropriate.”

Back then, Sikong Xue went south under the guise of inspecting the people’s conditions to see the Ning family. Yuchi Jin wanted to use this to impeach her, but Sikong Xue acted too covertly, and she couldn’t produce evidence.

This time, if she could draw Sikong Xue away, she could send people to her manor to seize that foreign tribute.

Yuchi Jin had already discovered that over the past two months, Sikong Xue had been cold toward that tribute. Likely if Sikong Xue wasn’t in the manor, there wouldn’t be anyone to protect her.

If she couldn’t have Ning Yuan, getting a tribute who looked similar was good enough.

However, the thought that the fake might have been touched by Sikong Xue made Yuchi Jin feel displeased.

In the past, the “Little Bird” (Ning Yuan) liked to cling to Sikong Xue; now, this tribute had also ended up in Sikong Xue’s manor.

Why could she never win against Sikong Xue?

Going to the Lanyue Pavilion again, a crowd of beauties surrounded her, and Yuchi Jin soon forgot Ning Yuan again.

The “Little Bird” was unromantic and wouldn’t let her get too close even after the betrothal; how could she compare to the beauties here who knew how to please people?

The tribute Sikong Xue brought back to the manor also looked like she knew nothing of the world. If she were to serve her, she would have to be thrown into the Lanyue Pavilion to be trained for a few days first.

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