Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 25

Judging by Empress Sun’s tone, she had not come with good intentions.

Shen Ruoli felt a wave of nervousness. It wasn’t exactly fear, but rather the crushing weight of her past life, where Empress Sun had perished by her hand. Now, standing before her former “victim,” Shen Ruoli felt a mixture of guilt and paranoia, terrified that the Empress might see through her facade.

Nanny Liu leaned in and whispered a warning into her ear, “Crown Princess, this is the… ‘bad news’ I mentioned earlier.”

The “bad news” was Empress Sun?

“I wonder what instructions the Empress Dowager has for me?” After paying her respects, Empress Sun took her seat with a cool expression.

“This daughter-in-law pays her respects to Mother.” Shen Ruoli lowered her head and stepped forward to greet her.

Empress Sun was over forty, but she was impeccably maintained, possessing an aura that far surpassed ordinary people. However, she and Xie Xuanyin shared one glaring trait: they were both cold, indifferent, and aloof, projecting a sense of distance that made them feel utterly unapproachable.

While Shen Ruoli was guiltily observing her, the Empress was also sizing her up. In the past, whenever this girl came to the Palace of Longevity and Health, she would offer a greeting, but it was usually a perfunctory bow while clinging to the Empress Dowager’s side.

Today was different. Empress Sun raised an eyebrow as she watched Shen Ruoli kneeling before her with such exaggerated piety.

Is this the same arrogant, loathsome brat as before? Has she actually learned how to act?

“Rise,” Empress Sun finally said after a long silence. Her gaze remained dark and unreadable. Recalling the things Xie Xuanyin had said the previous night, she forced a thin smile onto her face, despite her lingering suspicion and deep-seated dislike for the girl.

“I hope my arrival hasn’t interrupted the domestic bliss between the Empress Dowager and the Crown Princess?”

“How could it? We are all one family,” Empress Dowager Shen smiled. “You’ve come at the perfect time. I was just about to send someone for you.”

“What are your orders, Imperial Mother?”

“Lier was just mentioning your upcoming birthday. I was thinking—since you are so intent on cultivating and guiding her, why not put her in charge of the palace banquet this time? What do you think?”

Shen Ruoli’s expression shifted. Was this the real reason Grand Imperial Grandmother invited me today? She wants me to organize the Empress’s banquet?!

She had never been responsible for such a massive undertaking, and the Empress Dowager hadn’t given her a single word of warning. This was truly “driving a duck onto a perch”—forcing her into a role she wasn’t ready for.

It was strange. In her previous life, even up until the day Empress Sun died, she had never managed a banquet of this scale. What changed? Is this related to Xie Xuanyin’s visit last night? Shen Ruoli began to speculate wildly.

Empress Sun was also taken aback. She looked at the Empress Dowager to ensure she wasn’t joking, then frowned. “Imperial Mother, although I wish to give the Crown Princess an opportunity—after all, when Yin’er ascends the throne, she will be Empress and must manage the inner palace…”

Hearing this, Shen Ruoli’s heart trembled. So it’s true. Empress Sun appeared cold and had never given her a kind look, but Shen Ruoli was now certain that the woman was “a knife for a tongue but tofu for a heart.” As long as she remained loyal to Xie Xuanyin, the Empress would never truly harm her.

In my last life, I let Xie Xuansong provoke me into poisoning my own mother-in-law! I truly deserved to die! Shen Ruoli lowered her gaze in shame.

Empress Sun continued seriously, “The Crown Princess has no experience, and this time the Emperor has specifically invited several Vassal Kings. You know this is only the second time since His Majesty’s coronation that the Vassal Kings have been invited to the capital. If something goes wrong at this banquet, will our Dongling Dynasty not become a laughingstock?”

She wasn’t intentionally making things difficult for Shen Ruoli; she was simply being realistic. She knew exactly what the girl was and wasn’t, capable of.

The Empress Dowager conceded. “The Empress is correct. With the Vassal Kings attending, it is indeed a major affair. I only thought that since it is your birthday, it would be too exhausting for you to manage everything alone. I wanted Lier to share your burden.”

“I understand you wish to train her, but the days are long; she will have plenty of opportunities,” Empress Sun said without hesitation. “There is no need to trouble her this time. Besides, she was injured at Tianzhao Mountain. Let her rest and recover first.”

Mentioning the temple, she added, “Last night, the Crown Prince brought me a peace talisman, saying the Crown Princess sought it with great sincerity.”

Shen Ruoli looked closely and saw the talisman hanging from Empress Sun’s waist. She was stunned. In her previous life, the Empress hated her so much that she despised everything she gave her. That talisman had ended up locked in a chest, never worn. This time is truly a miracle.

Aware that Shen Ruoli was peeking at the talisman, Empress Sun didn’t get angry. “The Crown Princess has changed quite a bit recently. I believe that in time, she will become more mature and sensible.” She was smiling, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It was thoughtful of you to seek a talisman for me.”

This was the first time in two lifetimes that Empress Sun had praised her!

“It is only my duty,” Shen Ruoli replied quickly.

“Nanny Chun,” Empress Sun called out to her attendant. “I am deeply moved by the Crown Princess’s filial piety. You shall personally accompany her back to the Crown Prince’s Manor later.”

Though she didn’t say it explicitly, the subtext was clear: Nanny Chun was to bring rewards to commend Shen Ruoli.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Nanny Chun smiled. “Crown Princess, Her Majesty was truly touched! She ordered the rewards to be prepared first thing this morning.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Despite the rewards, Shen Ruoli felt a lingering unease. Because Xie Xuanyin had also been reborn and hated her to the bone, she had been living in constant fear. She thought she could use her memories to control everything, but not only was Xie Xuanyin difficult to deal with, even Empress Sun was behaving differently than before.

The future was still a terrifying unknown. Every step she took felt like walking on thin ice. Shen Ruoli let out a faint, weary sigh.

“Seeing you two in such harmony brings me great joy,” the Empress Dowager smiled, ordering Nanny Liu to reward Empress Sun in return.

Only after Empress Sun left did the smile vanish from the Empress Dowager’s face. She watched the Empress’s retreating figure, took a slow sip of tea, and then turned to Shen Ruoli with a meaningful look.

“Lier, do you know why I wanted you to handle the birthday banquet?”

Though Shen Ruoli had a rough idea, she shook her head. “I do not know. I ask for Grand Imperial Grandmother’s guidance.”