After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Before Ning Yuan could process what was happening, she was carried out of the Great Hall by Sikong Xue. Even though Sikong Xue’s body had been trembling with agitation moments ago, her arms were incredibly steady. Held in her embrace, there was no need to worry about falling.

Sikong Xue placed her into the carriage as carefully as if she were a priceless treasure, even tucking a swan-down cushion under her feet, seemingly afraid the floor might be too hard for her.

Ning Yuan was bewildered. Sikong Xue had always been at odds with her and knew only how to bully her—why was she acting like this now? She still remembered when Sikong Xue had intentionally lured her into the mountains, causing her to fall into a stream and soak her shoes, socks, and skirt. The damp clothes had been so uncomfortable that Ning Yuan had burst into tears of frustration. Later, perhaps fearing punishment from the Taiwei (Grand Marshal), Sikong Xue had been forced to carry her down the mountain on her back.

She had been so malicious since childhood. Thinking back, if the Taiwei hadn’t kept a strict watch over Sikong Xue, who knows how much more she would have bullied her.

Recalling the new Emperor’s attitude toward Sikong Xue in the hall, Ning Yuan couldn’t help but feel a chill. The Sikong family was already a dominant force in court, and now that Sikong Xue held such a high position, even the Emperor had to heed her whims. The absence of the former Taiwei today suggested that he had completely handed over power to the two Sikong sisters, allowing them to be so arrogant in court.

If Sikong Xue brought her back to the manor to humiliate her, who would be left to restrain her?

The hairpin was still clenched in her hand, pressing into her palm until it was red and her knuckles were white. Should she seduce Sikong Xue and use the Sikong family’s power to avenge the Ning family? But was a person like Sikong Xue so easily seduced?

Sikong Xue clearly noticed the hairpin in Ning Yuan’s hand. Being sent into the palace dressed as a tribute and seeing Yuchi Jin must have terrified her. How could such a tiny hairpin provide protection? Being so defenseless, she might only end up hurting herself. Now that she was here, no one would bully Ning Yuan again.

Sikong Xue took Ning Yuan’s hand, testing the waters cautiously. Seeing no violent resistance, she gently pried open the girl’s fingers and took the hairpin away, saying, “It’s alright, A-Yuan. Do not be afraid anymore.”

Ning Yuan gazed at Sikong Xue with a face full of confusion and apprehension. Sikong Xue had practiced martial arts since childhood; Ning Yuan was no match for her. As the saying goes, “I am the fish and meat on the chopping block,” so how could she not be afraid? She hadn’t expected Sikong Xue to be so cautious as to take away even her last means of self-defense.

Seeing the marks the hairpin had left on Ning Yuan’s palm, and noticing for some reason that there were calluses on her fingertips, Sikong Xue felt her heart being wrenched. When she held A-Yuan earlier, she realized how light she was—seemingly even lighter than when they were children. Even through the clothes, her bones felt prominent.

How did she get so thin? It was all her fault for not taking care of A-Yuan.

Sikong Xue’s eyes reddened as she looked at Ning Yuan with heartache. Unfortunately, Sikong Xue had stained her hands with too much blood over the years, and her gaze was far sharper than an average person’s. Despite her internal pain, when she looked up, it appeared like a threat, causing Ning Yuan to instinctively shrink her neck.

So fierce.

Ning Yuan recalled that Sikong Xue used to be a terrifying fighter. The noble young ladies all studied in the same academy; the teachers were strict, and the students, coming from prestigious families, were well-taught and followed the rules. Except for Sikong Xue. Not only did she frequently drag Yin Chiyun along to skip class, but she was also prone to getting into conflicts.

Ning Yuan remembered the most serious incident: Sikong Xue had somehow gotten into a fight with the guards Yuchi Jin had brought. Not only did she beat them black and blue, but she also refused to admit fault even when the teacher scolded her. When the teacher reported it to the Taiwei, he punished her on the spot. Even after being caned, Sikong Xue refused to apologize.

At that time, someone whispered: Sikong Xue’s bones are so hard; she probably won’t hesitate when she goes to the battlefield to kill people in the future. Later, when Sikong Xue joined the army and became a general, her aura became even more frightening, and no one dared to gossip about her anymore. Meeting her again now, Sikong Xue looked even fiercer.

Seeing Sikong Xue raise her hand, Ning Yuan thought she was going to be hit. She closed her eyes in terror and cried, “I… I am not some A-Yuan, please don’t hit me.” Between their old and new grudges and her own physical weakness, she couldn’t survive a single punch from Sikong Xue.

Sikong Xue’s hand froze in mid-air. She had intended to tidy Ning Yuan’s messy hair. In the past, whenever she snatched A-Yuan’s hairpin and messed up her bun, A-Yuan would get angry. She never expected to hear such a sentence before even touching a strand of hair.

She… is not A-Yuan?

Sikong Xue asked in disbelief: “What did you say?!”

The voice and the face were identical—how could she not be A-Yuan? How could she not be A-Yuan?

Ning Yuan was frightened out of her wits, her voice trembling. For a moment, she forgot all about seeking revenge on the Yuchi family and only stammered, “I really am not A-Yuan, please don’t hit me.”

It was like a beautiful dream. Before she could even rejoice, she was awakened by Ning Yuan’s words. She wasn’t A-Yuan. She truly wasn’t A-Yuan.

That was right; A-Yuan was dead. She had personally carried her into the coffin and watched her be buried. Nearly five years had passed; how could the woman before her be A-Yuan? A-Yuan had left her long ago.

But if she wasn’t, why did she look exactly the same?

The carriage stopped in front of the Prime Minister’s Manor. Without waiting for the servants to bring the footstool, Sikong Xue hoisted the woman over her shoulder and jumped down. Ignoring the stares of others, she strode back to her room.

Was she truly not Ning Yuan?

Sikong Xue remembered that when she personally changed A-Yuan into her burial clothes, she had seen a birthmark on A-Yuan’s back. She wanted to see it one more time. If this woman didn’t have that birthmark, then Sikong Xue would believe she wasn’t A-Yuan.

Carried on Sikong Xue’s shoulder, Ning Yuan felt dizzy. This body hadn’t eaten for days and was incredibly frail. This treatment made her stomach churn with nausea. Tears overflowed from the corners of her eyes. Before she could beg Sikong Xue to let her go, she was tossed onto the bed.

The bedding was soft, but Sikong Xue’s movements were so violent that Ning Yuan felt like her bones were shattering. Was Sikong Xue taking advantage of the Ning family’s downfall to bully her even more intensely?

Ning Yuan struggled to sit up, but she was pinned down. Sikong Xue pressed her onto the bed, and the sound of tearing fabric filled the air. The gauze clothing that barely covered her was ripped open, exposing her smooth skin.

Realizing what was happening, Ning Yuan panicked completely.

“No! Please don’t!” Ning Yuan cried out in terror. Even if she was just a tribute sent to Great Liang, and even if her status was low, Sikong Xue shouldn’t treat her like this.

She thought the old Sikong Xue had at least some kindness, as she used to personally distribute porridge to refugees. Had that just been an act? Or was it that Sikong Xue was kind to all outsiders but maliciously singled her out? Where exactly had she offended Sikong Xue to deserve this? Yuchi Jin wanted to kill her for imperial power—but what was Sikong Xue doing this for?

Ning Yuan could no longer think about revenge; she only wanted to live with dignity and not make her mother and grandmother sad. If they knew she was being humiliated like this by Sikong Xue, they would be heartbroken.

She kept her beautiful eyes tightly shut, tears hanging from her long lashes, her body trembling slightly in a pitiable state. But the person bullying her made no further move.

Sikong Xue stood there in a daze, staring at that smooth back. She felt a sharp pain in her chest. There was no birthmark. Nothing.

She truly wasn’t A-Yuan. It wasn’t even A-Yuan kindly visiting her in a dream. It was just someone who looked similar.

Feeling that Sikong Xue had stopped her movements, Ning Yuan hurriedly pulled a brocade quilt over herself, looking at Sikong Xue with both grievance and fear. Now that she had nothing, she didn’t dare bicker with Sikong Xue like she used to; she could only weep piteously.

Watching this girl—who looked so much like Ning Yuan—cry so heart-wrenchingly, Sikong Xue finally realized how absurd and cruel her actions had been.

“I’m sorry.” Leaving behind those two words, Sikong Xue fled the room.

She didn’t know how to face this girl sent from a foreign land, nor did she know how to face A-Yuan. If A-Yuan knew from the underworld, would she blame her?

Ning Yuan remained in shock, clutching the quilt tightly, her tears burning her cheeks. She had thought that climbing into Yuchi Jin’s bed would allow her to get revenge, but thinking about it now, she was glad she hadn’t been taken by her. Yuchi Jin had ruined the Ning family so cruelly; if she were forced by Yuchi Jin, it would truly be a fate worse than death.

But how much better was it to fall into Sikong Xue’s hands? This Sikong Xue was even more unpredictable than in their childhood. One moment she was carefully carrying her into the carriage, the next she was doing this.

Since her only clothing had been shredded by Sikong Xue, Ning Yuan didn’t dare go anywhere. She could only huddle on the bed wrapped in the quilt, hoping someone would be kind enough to bring her a set of clothes.

Yin Chiyun left the palace and rushed to the Prime Minister’s Manor as fast as she could.

When Ning Yuan was first buried, Sikong Xue had acted as if she had lost her mind. Yin Chiyun had fed her many sedatives to finally pull her back to her senses. Since then, Sikong Xue hadn’t been able to sleep peacefully. Even with acupuncture and medicine, she always dreamt of Ning Yuan.

Yin Chiyun feared that this “Succubus” sent by the alien tribes—who looked exactly like Ning Yuan—would cause Sikong Xue’s old illness to flare up or trigger some uncontrollable incident. These “Succubi” were naturally alluring, and with a face like that, it seemed designed specifically to target Sikong Xue.

Upon arriving at the manor and seeing Songyan, Yin Chiyun asked, “Where is your master?”

Songyan looked troubled and said, “Master just carried a girl back to her room, and then went to the study looking as if she had lost her soul. With Master in this state, I truly didn’t dare to ask more.”

Sikong Xue had moved too fast; the people in the manor hadn’t even seen clearly who she was carrying. At this point, they could only hope Yin Chiyun would go check on her.

Yin Chiyun’s brow furrowed, and she sighed helplessly. It was certain that Sikong Xue had realized the tribute was not her beloved, hence the extreme reaction. Though she was a physician, she could only heal external wounds; how could she heal a disease of the heart?

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