"I'm certain that I told you to live silently without causing any commotion, just like a dead rat."
This voice is definitely…
Rui turned around to see, there by the hall where the shadow took over stood a figure in an unpleasant position.
'Jiang Rong.' She thought silently, staring at his approaching figure in silence.
The man who came across the large hall within a second arrived in front of her in a short time. He looked down at Rui with a sharp aura held in his eyes. It was as if he was looking at some trash. She didn't do anything wrong but she still had to brace herself from the hatred and disgust she was getting from him every time she faced Jiang Rong.
This is unfair.
But this time, Rui stayed calm as she locked eyes with him, without any emotions or expectations whatsoever.
Instead, all she felt was…
Absolutely nothing.
That's right. It's a bit strange, but she really didn't feel anything towards him, not even hatred. Rui wondered if it's because she was numb to feelings and emotions after going through so many things?
Well, it doesn't matter. She didn't need to feel something for this kind of hypocritical bastard, did she?
Rui felt a dry smile flash in her face as she addressed Jiang Rong calmly, "Crown Prince."
Jiang Rong frowned at her words, observing her face with a stoic expression, and asked in a sharp tone, "Why are you here? What did you do this time to bother His Majesty?"
"....."
From the silence, Jiang Rong's gaze seemed to get even colder.
Rui begged for forgiveness countless times before when she saw that same cold gaze tearing her to pieces, till she went out to live on her own in her previous life. She always hoped that her brothers would show her kindness, even if it was just for a bit, if they loved her like they did to Jiang Meng…
At last, Rui opened her mouth as she said, "I just bought myself the freedom that I wanted the most."
Jiang Rong's eyebrows twichted at her choice of words, but Rui didn't mind as she continued, "So from now on, you don't have to worry about me getting in the way of your sister's flowery path."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it literally, Crown Prince. I just went to His Majesty, and disowned myself from the family. From now on, I have nothing to do with the Royal family. I'm now just a simple commoner, a common citizen of the Empire."
Rui felt satisfied after she stopped talking and looked at his confused and irritable face, it seems he found it hard to swallow the information.
"You mean, you asked His Majesty to remove your status?"
"That's right. So, from now on, the Crown Prince doesn't need to worry about me sullying the reputation of the Royal family."
"....."
For a moment, somehow he felt like Rui wasn't looking at him even though her eyes were locked on him. Rather, it felt as if she was looking at something floating in the air before his face as she read through something.
'What's this?'
What was this strange and eery feeling?
It seems that Jiang Rong was shocked at the sudden change of actions done by Rui, that he forgot to respond in time. As sharp and quick witted he was, his brain seemed to have stopped functioning for a moment.
But it didn't matter to Rui as she crossed him and walked away with confident footsteps.
Fuck the Royal family, I can live without these insignificant human beings just fine!
Just as she was about to disappear from the Hall, a voice came from behind, causing her to stop in her tracks. Of course it belonged to Jiang Rong.
"Remember, don't even think about crawling back and begging to keep you again. I won't be so kind as to let you go next time."
"Relax, Crown Prince. I won't."
'I won't come back to haunt you, cause you aren't worthy.'
Rui's voice was firm as she disappeared with resolute steps, leaving Jiang Rong behind as he stood there like a stone statue.
'Crown Prince?'
The child who used to run behind him, asking for love and affection and always calling him brother to which he felt so sick of.
"She didn't call me brother, even once…" Jiang Rong mumbled as he stood there.
As soon as Rui left the hall, another shadow from the corner disappeared from the corner as well.
★★★
It didn't take long for Jiang Cheng to reach the Lily Palace, one that entirely belongs to his dear little sister, Jiang Meng.
Since Meng Meng was a kind, pure, lovely and elegant girl, their father bestowed upon her this Palace and named it the Lily Palace, befitting of her beautiful and elegant character. And right now, Jiang Cheng was pleased and happy to bring her the good news he stumbled upon by chance just now.
He was about to cross the road to the hallway when he overheard the conversation between Jiang Rong and Rui, that bastard child.
She was always sticking up like a sore thumb in the already harmonious family, how can he not dislike her?!
If it weren't for Meng Meng, then His Majesty almost drove her away right that day. But Meng Meng begged father not to kick her out and kindly let her stay, she even arranged for people to work for that unruly girl!
Yet what did she give back to her?
That wicked girl only knows how to hold grudges! She even dared to try and hurt Meng Meng!
She deserved to get kicked out of the Palace!
He was pretty sure that Meng Meng would be happy to hear that as well, that the bastard child blocking her road was finally kicked out!
If she was pleased to hear that things worked out well, wouldn't she like him even more?
Unfortunately, for Jiang Cheng, who was way too simpleminded and a blockhead.