Villain Lady

'But I was never a good person in the first place.'

Sitting on top of the hay, Wei Liuying looked at the door. Once the guards moved, she would start her plan. Even though Wei Xiao Hua had thoroughly destroyed the plan that she originally had and planned to implement in just a few days, she didn't care anymore. 

Right now, she just wanted to leave.

Finally, the guards moved from their place.

Wei Liuying waited patiently until they disappeared from their position and sneaked out from the window. The frame was not firm, so with a shake, it could be moved. After all, the hut was already quite old and a lot of people have been using this room without repairing it.

After placing the frame back, Wei Liuying sneaked back to her own residence. There were several servants on the way as they were busy. It seemed that her father was preparing for something or someone coming.

'Is there any important person coming to the residence?'

Aside from the Fourth Prince, Prince Ji Shu, Wei Liuying truly couldn't think of anyone who would come here. Not that she cared, though.

"Hey, move faster."

"Ah, yes!"

Wei Liuying stopped midway when she saw a few servants coming out of the kitchen. They were preparing a lot of food as if there was a feast. However, Wei Liuying knew that it might be for her father to secretly celebrate the fact that he was free of the suspicion from the Emperor.

'His brother is still in the prison, about to be executed in a few more hours, yet he's already busy celebrating.'

There was never the word family in this residence. Everything was only based on their personal gain and losses. As long as they could get something, they would willingly do something that they might not usually do.

Hidden behind the lush tree in the spacious garden, Wei Liuying patiently waited. She might be impatient to leave, but she knew that rush made haste. No matter how urgent the matter was, she needed to stay calm and analyzed the situation.

If she got caught, it might be the end of everything.

"First Miss!"

Hearing the call, Wei Liuying looked into a distance and saw Wei Xiao Hua walked out of the main hall. Still dressed in brand new dress and wearing several jewelries, she truly looked like a princess in this small place.

Wei Xiao Hua looked at the servant. "What is it?"

"There's no more meat for the feast, First Miss. Master asks for us to prepare several dishes but the main material is already used up."

"Go and buy more." Taking out a liang of silver, Wei Xiao Hua handed it to the servant. "Remember to take note of what you purchased and show it to me later."

"Y….Yes, First Miss!"

As the servant scurried away, Wei Xiao Hua walked into the main hall once more. She was going to act as the filial daughter who served her father. The other concubines were still inside as they were also busy trying accompanying Wei Hong.

Wei Liuying stayed still in her place and glanced to the tree not far from the main hall. For a moment, she could sense watchful eyes coming from that place.

'Is it Lou? Or someone else?'

Prince Ji Shu had several trusted attendants and one of them was named Lou. All of the princes have their own guards, attendants, and even servants that took care of them ever since they were young. Some of them were picked by the Emperor or other Imperial Family members but some others were picked by themselves.

When they were the one who picked their own servants, they were usually more loyal.

Lou was included among those whom Prince Ji Shu personally picked in the past. Wei Liuying had heard about this from the servants talking a bit, but she didn't know the exact detail.

'Being able to have Prince Ji Shu's trusted servant to watch over her, she has truly changed.'

In the past, Prince Ji Shu couldn't even stand staying on the same place with Wei Xiao Hua more than several breaths of time. But now, even several incense sticks of time didn't seem to be enough at all.

Wei Liuying didn't know what made Wei Xiao Hua changed or what kind of thing her first sister was thinking. She also didn't have time for that right now. Focusing her attention to the shadow within the tree, she waited until the unease feeling was gone before she rushed to the direction of her own residence.

There were more Prince Ji Shu's men lately, and she had to be careful if she didn't want them to catch her. Many of them have higher martial arts than her since Wei Liuying's martial arts were not that high to begin with.

She couldn't sense everyone.

As Wei Liuying arrived near her residence, she could see that there were several people who were hiding in the darkness near her residence. Her eyes flashed with cold glint.

'So you also intend to watch over my place?'

If only she was not trying to stay quiet, Wei Liuying would have let out a hollow laugh at this scene. She understood very well that whether it was her father, mother, or her First Sister, everyone was going against her.

They wanted to put her under their shackles and never allowed her to roam freely.

Attacking her servants…

Then to the person whom she cared the most and also a thorn in her father's eyes, wasn't it the same as catching two preys with one stone?

'The longer I stay here, the more impossible it is for me to leave.'

When her father grew in power, it was not impossible for him to retrain more guards and watched over Wei Liuying's residence. If her mother also wished for her to stay inside her residence all the time, Wei Liuying knew that it would be impossible for her to leave.

Today might be the very last chance for her to leave.

'Goodbye, Wei Family Residence.'

Wei Liuying decisively abandoned the thought of going back to her residence. Even though she still wanted some of her books, it would be better to just abandon them rather than risking getting caught. She had more important matters to do right now.

With swift movement, Wei Liuying headed to the garden. Looking around, Wei Liuying made sure that there was no one around and leapt out of the residence using the wall. It was easy for her to jump over the not so high wall and headed out. Landing on the alleyway, Wei Liuying swiftly made her way to the location of the bookstore.

She didn't even want to turn around anymore.

It didn't take long for her to arrive by the bookstore where there was barely anyone. After all, it was still very early.

Wei Liuying bypassed the shopkeeper and walked up to the third floor. When she saw that Manager Xin was not in, she walked to the second door. The door headed to a completely different room where Manager Xin usually stayed. He disliked getting disturbed, but Wei Liuying didn't have any other choice right now.

"Yes? Who is it?" Manager Xin's annoyed voice could be heard.

"It's Wei Liuying."

"Liuying?" Manager Xin was stunned. He hurriedly walked to the door and opened it abruptly. Looking at the messily dressed young lady in front of her, he had a foreboding feeling that something happened.

"What… what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your residence and only attempt your escape tonight?"

"That's the original plan," Wei Liuying replied. "But I need to go to the prison one way or another."

"PRISON?"

"My uncle is sentenced to a death sentence."

Manager Xin felt that his brain was fried early in the morning. He looked at Wei Liuying with suspicious gaze. "Don't tell me that you intend to make a break from the prison and release your uncle?"

Wei Liuying didn't reply and merely looked at Manager Xin. The determination within her eyes were clear to see, but Manager Xin felt that he had just met with the most foolish Wei Liuying in his entire life.

"You… Rather than making an attempt to breach the prison, shouldn't you try to find a way to plead to the Emperor?"

"With my current position, status, and identity, do you think it's possible for me to meet with the Emperor even if I find the proof that it's not my uncle who did it?" Wei Liuying asked with a cold tone.

"You can ask for help!"

"Who will dare to offend His Highness the First Prince and His Highness the Fourth Prince?"

Manager Xin was stunned. He looked at Wei Liuying with bewilderment, but the gaze that the young girl showed clearly told him that she knew what happened behind the scene. The information she got was limited, but that was already enough to tell her many things that she was supposed to not know.

"What are you talking about?"