Red Wedding: Princess of Rebirth

In the sultry summer, a heat wave rose in the Cold Palace.

"Your Majesty, the rebels have entered the palace! Let's run away!" The maid Xia Mang stumbled into the Cold Palace. She grabbed Shi Qingxue, the deposed empress, and tried to run outside.

Shi Qingxue was still wearing a red dress, looking calm and even a little aloof, with a touch of self-mockery on the corner of her mouth, "The Shi Family is long gone. Where can I escape?"

Xia Mang became speechless, and after a long while she reluctantly said, "There will always be hope as long as you are alive."

However, Shi Qingxue sneered, "Mo Junyang has former enmity with me, and now he fights into the palace. Even if my force declines, there is no reason for cowardly escape!"

As she was saying, Mo Junyang, King Rui's eldest son, walked into the Cold Palace with vigorous strides. With the military uniform of Great Mo Dynasty stained with blood, the man looked like a demon from hell and made people scared just at a glance.

Mo Junyang kept his eyes on Shi Qingxue as if he was about to pierce her.

But Shi Qingxue had a calm look. She was no longer the former proud Sixth Lady of the Shi Family, who was ignorant of worldly affairs.

She was clear in her heart.

When she was young, Mo Junyang was a hostage in the palace, and she had insulted him many times.

Her guilt didn't help and she deserved his revenge.

She wasn't afraid. She just looked at Mo Junyang and asked what she most wanted to know at present, "Where is Mo Junhao?"

Mo Junhao, Emperor Hao, the former husband of Shi Qingxue, and the jerk who destroyed her family, abandoned her and left her out in the Cold Palace after he ascended the throne.

Mo Junyang just closed his lips lightly and kept his look cold. After a moment, he said in a low voice, "Dead."

At the end, it seemed that this was not enough to make Shi Qingxue sad, and he added, "He was beheaded by my sword. His head and body were separated."

Shi Qingxue lowered her eyes. But instead of showing sadness, there was even a smile at the corner of her mouth, and she was very satisfied with the result.

She didn't care about the staring sights around her, and looked at Mo Junyang calmly. The pride engraved in her bones made her unable to say any apologies or flattering words.

She smiled at the corner of her mouth, figuratively, as if everything had settled.

She said indifferently, "That being the case, then you..."

Mo Junyang stared at Shi Qingxue with a gloom look. At this moment, he interrupted her suddenly, "Are you asking me for mercy?"

The straightforward questioning and the surrounding ridicule made Shi Qingxue's face pale for a while.

She had heard that King Rui's eldest son was vicious and revengeful, and in the past few months, everyone who had offended him had been retaliated in the cruelest way.

And his revenge on her was to break all her pride.

Shi Qingxue sneered, "What do you want me to apologize for? Having insulted you at the young age? Or the hostility when we are on different sides?"

It was not a big deal that she was arrogant when she was young and inexperienced. Besides, the identification of Mo Junyang as a bastard was lowly. So why should she take care of his emotions?

Needless to say that who won the battle between different parties would be the king, and the losers would be ruined!

Her look gradually calmed down, but she told Mo Junyang calmly and surely, "You know that's impossible!"

She regretted that she was in love with the scumbag, but all she had done was open and straightforward. Maybe sometimes in inappropriate ways, but she wouldn't regret it, and she couldn't apologize.

"Aren't you afraid of death?" Mo Junyang got closer to her. He almost stood right in front of Shi Qingxue's face.

He met her eyes, and the breath was almost intimidating, but no one was willing to lower head first.

Instead, the guard behind Mo Junyang couldn't retain his composure, and yelled, "Master, why are you still talking to her? Just kill her..."

Before the guard finished, Mo Junyang looked back with a cold stare and he dared not to say anything else.

At this moment, Xia Mang's exclamation caught everyone's attention.

The crowd looked up and saw Shi Qingxue, who had been standing still, suddenly fell down softly.

Mo Junyang quickly held the soft body, but what he saw in front of him astonished him.

The crowd unexpectedly saw panic in the eyes of this cold-blooded and ruthless demon. But it only lasted for a second. Then they heard him yelling gnashing his teeth, "What did you do?"

The poison had already attacked her, and Shi Qingxue lost the energy. She could only lean on Mo Junyang's arms softly, and the red blood constantly overflowed from the corner of her mouth.

She looked at Mo Junyang with her phoenix-liked eyes, and there seemed to be a puzzle in her weak voice.

"Why are you so sad? I have offended you, and now I am about to die. Shouldn't you be happy?"

Mo Junyang's face looked so cold that it could freeze, "I don't permit you to die. If you dare to die, I will bury the whole Shi Family with you! I will also destroy all your close ones! Do you hear me? You are not allowed to die!"

The cold and domineering tone made Shi Qingxue surprised, and then she smiled bitterly, "The people close to me...are gone... They're gone..."

She spoke on and off. And the miserable smile on her face gradually became shattered.

Before she died, she suddenly realized that her life shouldn't have been so bleak, and her parents who loved her shouldn't have died so tragically!

Just because she was young and innocent, and mistrusted and loved an evil person, everyone who loved her was hurt.

It would be nice if everything could start over.

Shi Qingxue opened her eyes suddenly, and felt the breeze. In front of her was the rockery in the backyard of the Shi Family, which was only visible in her dreams. She often came here to rest alone when she wasn't married yet.

Was it a dream again?

But this time it was so real. She actually felt the pain when she pressed her arm!

Was she reborn?

Shi Qingxue was so surprised and then she saw Xia Mang hurry over, anxiously said, "Sixth Lady, why are you still here? Madam is going crazy looking for you?"

"What does my mother want me to do?" Shi Qingxue didn't understand what was happening at this moment?

Xia Mang looked at Shi Qingxue with doubt, and murmured in her mouth, "It is the 60th birthday of the princess royal. Of course madam wants you to go to the front to meet the guests!"

Shi Qingxue was so shocked that she suddenly stood up from the stone. She went back to her grandmother's 60th birthday. The beginning of all things?

Did that also mean that she had a chance to save it all?

Shi Qingxue quickly asked again, "What time is it now? Does it begin?"

"It is just past 10 o'clock." Xia Mang answered subconsciously, but then she found something wrong.

Why did the sixth lady in the family who were otherworldly care about the chores? Did the pig fly?

Lunch was usually served at noon in the Shi Family. There were so many guests gathering today, and it might be served until 2 p.m.

It was not too late yet.

Shi Qingxue was relieved, but she did not go to the banquet right away as Xia Mang hoped. Instead, she whispered something in Xia Mang's ear and drove her elsewhere.

Xia Mang was frightened by Shi Qingxue's request, "Sixth Lady, what are you doing?"

Shi Qingxue didn't have time to explain so much to Xia Mang, but only warned her, "Take Dong Shuang with you, and just do what I say."

Shi Qingxue wanted to do it herself originally, but now she must rush to the front hall.

Fortunately, Xia Mang and Dong Shuang had been raised around her since young, and were loyal to her and very reliable.

After Shi Qingxue made clear the vital thing, she walked to the backyard garden as quickly as her former life, where the 60th birthday banquet of the princess royal was set up.

The rules of propriety between men and women were not strict. Male and female guests were sitting on separate seats, but there was no barrier between them, and there was still communication between them.

When she arrived, the banquet was almost full.

Shi Qingxue moved with elegant steps to Mo Shujun, the princess royal, and greeted her softly. Then she heard someone yelling in surprise, "Qingxue, you're finally here!"

The voice was so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire birthday party.

The boisterous party became quiet, and even the male guests looked towards here.

Shi Qingxue couldn't help but felt a little embarrassed, but seeing her close friend in the past Mo Yuzhen, the third princess, she was very happy.

Mo Yuzhen didn't feel embarrassed at all. She came to pull her hand, and Shi Qingxue was not mad anymore, but smiled to Yuzhen.

However, the woman in the pink dress seated aside could not see her being so calm, and took the lead in raising trouble, "It's grandmother's birthday, but Sixth Sister arrives so late. You are being really very pompous."

The one who was talking was exactly Shi Baoyan, the fifth daughter in the Shi Family. She was a concubine's daughter of Duke Shi, and Qingxue's elder sister.

This had happened in her former life. When she was young, Shi Qingxue couldn't hold her breath and quarreled with her sister. Although she didn't lose, she had left a bad impression on everyone that she was wayward and bullying.

But this time, in the sights of everyone expecting a drama, Shi Qingxue lowered her eyes slightly.

She whispered softly, "I had a bad fever these days and it didn't get any better. Grandmother had permitted me not to attend today. But it's Grandma's birthday, how can I be absent?

Fortunately, the elixir given by Grandma worked, and I was finally able to greet grandmother before the banquet began. And I hope that Grandma won't blame me for it!"

There were three levels of meaning in these words: First, Shi Qingxue was seriously ill, and she could not have come here; second, she attributed the credit for her being able to come to Mo Shujun; and the last one showed that she was not late at all.

Although the words were still arrogant, no one could find any mistakes in them.

The princess royal was very happy when she heard that!

When Fifth Lady Shi heard that, she was so angry that she grinded her teeth!

But no matter how angry and detested Shi Baoyan was, she didn't have the courage to quarrel with Shi Qingxue. Didn't she see Mo Shujun was so joyful with a smile on her face?

She also applauded, "No blame. I didn't blame you. I'm already happy that you can make it here! Come and have a seat!"

"Qingxue, sit here. Come to me!" As soon as Shi Qingxue responded, Mo Yuzhen reached out and called Shi Qingxue, as if she was afraid that she didn't hear it.

Shi Qingxue knew clearly that her friend was always acting as if there was no one else present. She smiled helplessly, accepted the good advice and sat beside Mo Yuzhen.

Suddenly she drew much envy again.

Those girls below from the aristocratic families couldn't help thinking enviously: Mo Yuzhen was the most favored princess at present. Even the princes in the palace must give her precedence, and she wouldn't even give a glance at those noble girls from other aristocratic families. However, nobody knew what kind of enticing spell the sixth lady had put on Princess Yuzhen, that she was in such a daze.

Mo Yuzhen didn't know or care about the jealousy of those women, and was grabbing Shi Qingxue and talking with great interest. The two of them had similar interests and could always share the same opinions.

It was just that Qingxue had something in mind today, so that even Mo Yuzhen talked for a long time, but Qingxue still was lack of interest.

She simply turned down her voice, and whispered to Shi Qingxue, "Qingxue, do you know? Great-aunt is going to recruit a husband for your eldest sister this time?

Shi Qingxue nodded with absent-mindness. She knew what Mo Yuzhen said in her last life, and she got no interest in it. She fully focused on the conversation of those madams at this moment.

"Shujun is really blessed. Not only does she have sons and grandsons, but the wives of sons and grandsons are filial. You could see how lively this birthday party is, and how jealous we are!" The old woman who was speaking was Mo Shujun's close friend, Madam He, princess of Commandery Prince Fan.

The aged empress had always been very accommodating, and in a simple sentence, she praised the whole family.

Not only did she please Mo Shujun, but she also gave face to the wife of Duke, Dong Hui, which evoked the support of several madams.

At this time, a clear voice sounded abruptly, "It seems as if only she is the only competent one in this family!"

The voice of Zhou Ruyu, the third madam in the Shi Family, was neither too loud nor too low. It was like a mumble to herself, but it was loud enough for the madams at present to hear it clearly.

Suddenly, everyone was silent and looked at each other.

In particular, the faces of the madams who were applauding before were even more awkward. Obviously, they did not expect that Zhou Ruyu would insult Dong Hui in public.

The rumor said that the wife of Third Master Shi was arrogant and envious. When they met her today, they finally knew that the rumor was not wrong.

After Zhou Ruyu said these words, she provocatively raised her chin to her eldest sister-in-law, as if to say, "I am insulting you in public. What can you do with me?"

Dong Hui was instantly furious.

However, in front of so many eyes, although Zhou Ruyu was being shameless, she could not lose the honor of the Duke's family. So no matter how mad she was, she could only tolerate it at this moment.

But even though Dong Hui was able to bear it, Shi Qingxue, who was always paying attention to it, couldn't tolerate it.

She snorted, and suddenly said, "Auntie, are you saying that you think you are more competent than my mother?"

Shi Qingxue's voice was a little louder than Zhou Ruyu's. This time, even all the ladies were looking at them.

This question made Zhou Ruyu the target of criticism.

She couldn't give a positive acknowledgement to Shi Qingxue's question not matter how respected she was. She could only answer with embarrassment, "I surely dare not compare myself with Sister Hui."

Shi Qingxue nodded in agreement and said, "My mother is the best mother in the world, and even my grandmother has to praise her. Of course she is the most capable!

Do you agree, Auntie?"

Zhou Ruyu was so speechless. And her powdered face stiffened and looked ridiculous.

She dared to insult Dong Hui, because she was sure that Dong Hui didn't have guts. But she did not dare to face Shi Qingxue's sharpness anyway. But she was not reconciled to admit in public that Dong Hui was better than her.

Zhou Ruyu took a deep breath and made an innocent gesture that she was the one being bullied. She pitifully cried to Mo Shujun and said, "Qingxue is such a serious kid. I just made a joke with sister-in-law, but she was taking it seriously!"

She easily described her insult to Dong Hui as a joke, and suddenly it became Shi Qingxue's fault!

But Shi Qingxue didn't buy it at all. She raised her eyebrows slightly, nobly but not arrogantly responded, "Me as a daughter, it's unalterable principle to uphold the righteousness of the mother. If I offend Auntie by doing so, please forgive me!"

If there were still people who felt that Shi Qingxue was disrespectful to her elders, these words made her behavior beyond reproach.

After saying this, Shi Qingxue didn't give Zhou Ruyu a chance to talk back and turned to Mo Shujun instantly. Just like what Zhou Ruyu did before, she innocently asked, "Grandma, do you think I did it right just now?"

The problem was left to Mo Shujun, who still had the same affection on her face, looked at the little granddaughter with a spoiling look, and responded, "Of course, what Qingxue did was surely right!"

Later, Mo Shujun glanced at Zhou Ruyu slightly, and her tone became a little colder, "Ruyu, if you don't know how to talk good, you should speak less!"

The old madam was completely showing partiality for Shi Qingxue this time. How could Zhou Ruyu dare to talk back? She could only admit that and embarrassedly look at Shi Qingxue flattering in front of Mo Shujun and say good words for Dong Hui constantly.

Zhou Ruyu was angry and jealous. She squinted at her own two daughters, suggesting that Shi Qingxue would say good things for her mother. And this moment your mother was bullied, why didn't you stick up for me?

The third lady, Shi Baojin, and the fourth lady, Shi Baoyou both bowed their heads and pretended that they could not see their mother's sign, which made Zhou Ruyu angrier.

But after a while, she was not mad.

Because Mammy Luo, who guarded the ancestral hall, ran to the front of Mo Shujun out of breath, knelt on the ground, and shouted in panic, "Your Highness, something bad happened. The ancestral hall is on fire!"

These words shocked everyone like a thunder!

The old Duke Shi lost both his parents when he was young. Later, he helped the late emperor establish Mo Dynasty and he was rewarded to be the Duke, but there were no one to enshrine in the ancestral hall. So there was only one person being enshrined there at present, and that was the old Duke, Shi Lei, Mo Shujun's husband.

Even though Mo Shujun had experienced a lot, she was also in panic at this moment.

At this time, the third master, Shi Juncai, who sat in the male guest seat, suddenly interjected, "The ancestral hall has always been taken good care of by Sister Hui. How can it be on fire for no reason? Is this because of your neglect of duty?"