The Birth of a Villainess

Lin Xiaofei and Qu Xing Xu left the prison room as if it were just a normal room inside the Qu residence. It was as if there was no burning corpse inside the room or the marks of tortures that the two had done to the prince. They strutted back to the surface as if nothing was wrong and they just had just came out of their parlor.

Well, if you were in their position and had to torture the most treacherous and disgusting man in the world, you'd probably do the same, anyway. So, Lin Xiaofei had no qualms about being the bad guy – or woman.

"What are you planning to do next?" She heard herself asking. "The emperor might not be looking for his favored son, but it doesn't mean that the nobles aligned with Yu Fangzhu will not try t find out where and what happened to him."

Qu Xing Xu walked side to side with her. He looks at her eyes and says, "I can feign ignorance."

He goes on, "Besides, no one saw us abducting the prince, nor did anyone see us torturing him to his death. I doubt anyone would direct their attention to us."

He's right. Lin Xiaofei mused.

When they abducted Yu Fangzhu, none seemed to have seen them walking down the street, crossing the bridge, and going downhill. And even if there were a few who passingly saw them, they will assume that the two of them, a newlywed couple, were just going out for a night walk.

But there was just this one tiny feeling that told her that there's something wrong with all of this. Was she just speculating too much? Everything was just too easy. She dealt with her blood debt too early and quickly, and it was baffling how easy it was achieved.

Perhaps, it was all because of the man beside her. Lin Xiaofei's eyes rose and looked towards Qu Xing Xu, who was looking ahead and with a lazy smile on his lips.

She recalled how that black streak of fire came out of his hand, and it appeared so easy that it looks like he made no effort to bring it out.

Again, Lin Xiaofei felt that she barely knew Qu Xing Xu. Despite the two of them being together for almost day and night ever since they got married, and even before, she seems to sense that he was keeping a lot from her. Secrets he refused to let her divulge in it nor reveal it to her in the past.

However, it seems that there was hope in that Pandora box; he refuses to give her the key to open it. Lin Xiaofei didn't really care whether what kind of secret Qu Xing Xu was trying to hide from her or anyone else, but she only cares that it won't ruin everything they have now.

Once they returned to their room, the first thing they saw at the porch of the courtyard was a grinning young child with a head of golden hair, wearing a silk robe with delicate designs of wisps of red running down the front of it. Next to him was not his usual partner, Chu Chu, but Bai Feng Jiu, the former Duke's mistress.

Unlike the first time they met, Bai Feng Jiu was not wearing a beautiful gown dress, nor was she wearing her thick makeup that could make anyone sick from how it smells. Instead, the lady was wearing her dress loosely and messily as if she faced a storm somewhere far and walked through it and returned. Her hair was also a mess like a bird's nest. Her eyes were red, and cheeks hollowed. So many things have changed from how the previous so-called 'mistress of the Qu household' looked. If only Lin Xiaofei hadn't met her and knew that she was staying in the Qu residence, she wouldn't recognize her at all.

Nonetheless, it still shocked her, and what's more, Lin Xiaofei wanted to know what these two guests came here for.

Kael has been flashing his toothy grin at them, and before he could greet them, the woman opposite to him rushed towards them and reached a hand to Qu Xing Xu.

"Pray tell me, what graces your attendance to our room, Lady Bai?" Qu Xing Xu said before she could completely cross the distance between them and avoided her outstretched hand.

Lady Bai saw his rejection and alienation, but she was desperate. "Qu Xing Xu. No, your highness. I'm begging you. Please help me."

"If you needed help, you can just ask the Elders of the Qu family." Lin Xiaofei told her.

Lady Bai shot her a glare, but she was too tired and helpless to care about anything else. She ignored Lin Xiaofei and continued to beg him, "Only you can help me, your highness."

Lin Xiaofei rolled her eyes and wanted to laugh. But she calmly said, "Haven't you been asking for help from the Elders of the family? Why is it that now you are looking for my husband? It is not in your character, Lady Bai."

"Shut it! I don't have time to listen to your nonsense!" Lady Bai finally lost her senses and was provoked by Lin Xiaofei's words. She belatedly realized that she shouldn't have done that since she knew that Qu Xing Xu was insanely smitten with this woman, and any rude remarks from anyone would turn into their disadvantage.

But does she have a choice? This young lady from the Lin family was too hateful. From the day she arrived in the Qu residence, everything that was in their comfort disappeared, and problems started to appear.

And if not because Lady Bai was so desperate and lost right now, she would've slapped Lin Xiaofei for trying to get in between her sister and the Duke.

However, Lady Bai was too late to realize that she had said something.

The air around her seemed to grow colder, and she shivered stiffly under the pressure of it. She could feel some heavy thickness of danger looking down from above her. But she was too afraid to look up and see Qu Xing Xu's eyes looking down at her.

A cold voice dripping with menace said above her, "Then, there's nothing I could do about this, Lady Bai. I can only use your words back to you."

"I don't have time to listen to your nonsense." Qu Xing Xu cut her off before she could say something.