Little Plum released a sad, self-mocking laugh. Baigu is right. In this palace was there anyone who was true to her? If imperial father, imperial mother and big brother truly loved her, would they have allowed her to stray from the straight path?
When she thought about how her imperial parents admonished big brother when he acted impulsively and then let her off the hook without a single word, the gap was too big. Having witnessed her young self in action, she knew that a child could only learn to be so crooked because there was no one to teach her properly.
Although she did not doubt imperial father's love for her, but she wondered why the difference in her and big brother's upbringing was completely vast.
She felt like she grew up in a single moment.
Baigu wasn't the horrible person she thought Baigu was. In fact, Baigu is also struggling to survive in this palace. Yet why didn't she see it before? Why did she continue to be willful and mistreat someone who was born the same as her?
Maybe she had realized it long ago, but she didn't want to admit it.
"Little Plum, you should learn to curb your temper. In this devil world, losing your temper is the same as losing control over yourself."
"You are right," Little Plum admitted to Baigu.
If it was the old her, she would have dismissed Baigu with a good scolding, but now she saw the truth in her words. When she thought about it, Baigu is the first person to give her good advice.
After their conversation, Baigu escorted Little Plum back to the Calming Heart Palace. However, on the way there, they encountered his highness the crown prince.
"It's big brother," Little Plum thought happily to herself. Her elder brother was handsome as always. This was her first encounter with him, ever since she returned to the past.
"Greetings to his highness, the crown prince," they both respectfully greeted.
"Be at ease," high highness the crown prince said.
"Baigu, you can go."
Baigu's face changed to concern. However, she still had to do as the crown prince commanded and left the vicinity.
Then his highness turned to Little Plum. "I heard my sister created trouble for Baigu and it was you who helped her."
"Yes," Little Plum answered. She thought, big brother must want to praise me.
"Take her out and beat her to death," his highness pronounced.
The servants grabbed Little Plum and she struggled against their restraint.
As they dragged her away, Little Plum asked in anguish, "Why?"
"Why?"
Her handsome big brother laughed at her question. "A mere maid dares to scold her highness and now, she has the audacity to question this prince? If she doesn't deserve death, then what does she expect the outcome to be?"
"Stop!" a childish voice called out.
When Little Plum looked over, she saw Tangyu Sanjun. This little kid shouldn't be here. Doesn't he know he's placing himself in the line of fire?