Volume 3, Chapter 379 – The Shackles of Morality

“Did you not take anything I said to heart at all?”

After saying this, Chi Xiyan suddenly froze.

She saw the girl in front of her raise her head, staring at her blankly.

In those lovely fox-like eyes, a mist of tears gradually welled up, like a thin fog rising over an autumn lake, hazy and fragile.

Chi Xiyan was at a loss, her throat feeling as though something had blocked it. “Muxue… I…”

‘That wasn’t what I meant!’

‘I didn’t mean to be harsh with Chi Muxue!’

She herself didn’t know why those words had slipped out so instinctively.

Tears welled at the corners of the girl’s eyes as she bit down lightly on her pearly teeth, her voice carrying a slight tremble. “Sister’s angry again, isn’t it because sister thinks I’m not listening to her again?”

Chi Xiyan opened her mouth, her voice dry. “Muxue, I didn’t mean it that way…”

“Sister is angry.” Lu Zhuxin’s voice was as light as the wind, yet every word pierced into Chi Xiyan’s heart. “The tone sister just used was exactly the same as when I first met her.”

“It’s as if our relationship has gone back to how it was at the very beginning…”

‘Gone back to the beginning?’

Chi Xiyan’s heart tightened, as if gripped by some invisible hand.

‘What did that mean?’

She didn’t understand, yet felt a faint unease.

Lu Zhuxin lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s hum. “That’s true. It’s only right for sister to be angry. I really did go against what sister said.”

“I should have just stayed obediently in my room and waited for sister to arrange everything!”

Her tone carried a trace of self mockery, as if she were laughing at her own helplessness.

“After all, it’s been like this ever since I came to the Chi family.”

“Sister is amazing, and everything sister does is right.”

“I don’t need to think for myself. I just need to follow the future sister has already laid out for me…”

Chi Xiyan looked at Lu Zhuxin, and it felt as if a needle had pricked her heart, the pain unbearable.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

‘I arranged everything for her, cleared away every obstacle for her!’

‘I avenged her, protected her safety, brought her all the way here.’

‘Could it still be my fault?’

‘She was the one who said she’d listen to me in everything!’

‘She was the one who said she’d stay by my side and help me!’

‘Could it really still be my fault?’

She furrowed her brow, her voice carrying a trace of suppressed anger. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

Lu Zhuxin hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

“Sister’s choices have never once been wrong.”

“It’s just that today, I’ve been thinking about something.”

“To sister, am I a sister she can trust, or just a puppet she can control however she pleases?”

“What is my relationship with sister, really? Sisters? Family?”

Lu Zhuxin raised her eyes, looking directly into Chi Xiyan’s, her gaze clear but carrying a trace of resolve.

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“Or master and servant?”

In that instant, Chi Xiyan’s pupils dilated, her whole body as if struck by lightning.

She looked at the girl in front of her, her eyes full of disbelief.

“Muxue, what are you saying?”

‘Master and servant?’

Those two words were like a sharp blade, plunging deep into her heart.

She remembered clearly, these were the very words Cheng Yinyin had used before to sow discord.

At the time, she had been hidden nearby, hearing every word clearly.

And now, Lu Zhuxin was actually using such words to describe the relationship between them.

A surge of anger rose up from deep within her, her voice involuntarily rising. “So… So, you believed Cheng Yinyin’s words, thinking I really treat you as a puppet?!”

Hearing this, Lu Zhuxin was stunned for a moment, then a bitter smile crossed her face. “No wonder sister suddenly got so angry today. So that’s it… Sister was following me.”

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet each word cut like a blade into Chi Xiyan’s heart.

The fire in Chi Xiyan’s eyes burned even hotter. She lowered her voice, her tone carrying a rebuke. “And so what? You’d fall for something as simple as that?!”

Lu Zhuxin’s smile remained bitter, but deep disappointment showed through in her eyes. She said quietly, “I thought, as sisters, sister would surely trust me… But I never expected that even the trust I always believed in was so false.”

Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost a murmur. “Sister, who’s really the one who got swayed by discord, you or me?”

Chi Xiyan froze. She looked at Lu Zhuxin’s tear filled eyes, opened her mouth, but found her throat too dry and tight to speak. “What… What do you mean…”

“If sister truly trusted me, would I need to explain so much?” Lu Zhuxin said.

“I never once thought of betraying sister.”

“I only acted on my own, doing some unnecessary things.”

“But I never expected… sister would distrust me this much.”

“And besides, it seems sister has forgotten something.”

Lu Zhuxin looked at Chi Xiyan, disappointment plain in her eyes. “If I truly meant to betray sister, how could I ever escape the Dao Contract’s Punishment of the Questioned Heart?”

‘The Dao Contract’s Punishment?’

Chi Xiyan stood frozen in place.

How could she have forgotten, there was still a Seventh Rank Dao Contract binding her and Chi Muxue.

As long as the Dao Contract remained unbroken, Chi Muxue could never harbor disloyal thoughts toward her.

Chi Xiyan stared blankly at Lu Zhuxin, her mind in complete disarray.

Ever since the Dao Contract had been signed, it had never once shown any abnormal reaction.

That meant the girl before her had never once harbored disloyal thoughts toward her, and had never once considered betrayal.

“Muxue, I…” Chi Xiyan reached out, wanting to catch hold of the girl before her, but Lu Zhuxin sidestepped and evaded her.

Her hand froze in midair. In a hoarse voice, she explained, “Muxue, it’s not that I don’t trust you, I just… I just worry you might be used by others.”

Lu Zhuxin raised her head, the disappointment in her eyes deepening. “Sister, you’re always like this. But have you ever once considered what I think?”

Chi Xiyan froze. She looked at Lu Zhuxin’s tear filled eyes, and it felt as though something had struck her hard in the chest.

“Muxue…” Chi Xiyan’s voice softened. “I know I might not have done well enough, but everything I did was for you.”

Lu Zhuxin shook her head, letting out a soft sigh. “Sister, I’m not trying to blame you for anything…”

“We’ve both lost a bit of our composure today.”

“I think we both need some time to calm down.”

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With that, she turned and left, her steps resolute.

Chi Xiyan stood rooted to the spot, watching Lu Zhuxin’s retreating figure, her mind blank. She reached out a hand, as if trying to grasp something, but in the end it only fell limply back down.

In the room, she alone remained, the air thick with a suffocating silence.

…

After Lu Zhuxin left the room, her steps grew faster and faster, until at last she was nearly running. Her tears finally spilled over, but she didn’t stop, and she didn’t look back.

The girl’s sobs echoed through the silent corridor, sounding especially sharp.

The Cheng family servants who were secretly keeping an eye on the goings on all noticed Lu Zhuxin’s distress.

“Second Miss, whatever is the matter?” an old woman stepped forward to ask, her tone carrying a hint of feigned concern.

Lu Zhuxin paid her no mind, only glancing at her with tear filled, reddened eyes before hurrying off.

“Second Miss! Second Miss! You still haven’t told me what happened!”

The old woman chased after her for a couple of steps, but seeing Lu Zhuxin run far ahead, she stopped, unable to hide the delight on her face.

“Those two women really did have a falling out, even worse than yesterday! The mistress and young miss’s scheme worked!”

The news quickly reached Madam Qian’s courtyard.

After hearing the servants’ report, Madam Qian’s face carried a scornful smile.

“Cheng Lixia and Cheng Lixue, in the end, are nothing more than two teenage girls.”

“Girls this age are the most sensitive, and the easiest to manipulate.”

“We only need to apply a little pressure, and these two blood sisters will become as good as strangers to each other.”

Madam Qian tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her tone carrying a note of smugness. “Where has that girl run off to now?”

The servant quickly answered, “Madam, that little girl should be crying by the flower pond right now!”

“Miss Yinyin has already gone to find her.”

Madam Qian gave a light laugh. “Yinyin did well this time. She didn’t disappoint me.”

“Of course!” the servant flattered. “Miss Yinyin has truly inherited the madam’s talents. Once she enters the palace later, I’m sure she’ll be right at home there, handling things with ease.”

Hearing this, the smile on Madam Qian’s face deepened.

***

Meanwhile, Lu Zhuxin ran all the way to a place with no one around.

‘The Cheng family’s servants must have all seen me crying because Chi Xiyan made me angry.’

Using her Eighth Realm spiritual perception, once she confirmed there was no one else watching, the pain and tears on her face vanished in an instant.

“Heh heh…”

She raised a hand, gently pressing down the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

[Is the host toying with the Cheng family?]

System 03’s voice rang out in Lu Zhuxin’s mind.

[03 doesn’t understand. With the host’s and Chi Xiyan’s talent and methods, none of this trouble should even be necessary.]

“ Tch! ”

Hearing the system’s voice, the good mood Lu Zhuxin had a moment ago seemed to be doused like a flame.

She said irritably, “What do you know.”

“You think I’m doing this just to toy with the Cheng family?”

Toying with the Cheng family was only incidental. Her real purpose was to use Cheng Yinyin’s mouth to provoke Chi Xiyan.

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[The host’s real target is still Chi Xiyan?]

Lu Zhuxin twirled a strand of hair lightly around her finger, gave a soft hum, and let her gaze drift toward the direction she’d come from.

“That girl’s feelings have been progressing far too smoothly.”

“Things too easily gained are hard for people to cherish.”

“Feelings like this need their ups and downs!”

“This is called push and pull! Push and pull, you understand?”

[…]

Her mind went quiet.

Lu Zhuxin rubbed her chin, a faint glimmer flickering in her eyes.

That girl was shackled by her own morals and ethics. She needed a bit of a push before she could take that forbidden step.

The corner of Lu Zhuxin’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile heavy with meaning.

Human emotion was like a glass of strong liquor being shaken over and over. The longer it was suppressed, the more violently it was shaken, and the moment it finally overflowed, it would come rushing out all the more uncontrollably.

The more Chi Xiyan suppressed the feelings in her heart with ethics and morality, the more fragile that thin layer of ice called reason would become. When the ice could no longer bear the weight of her emotions and finally shattered completely, her feelings would come pouring out like a flood breaking through a dam, never to be held back again.

Lu Zhuxin looked forward eagerly to seeing what it would be like when that girl finally took the last step.

***

Before long, guided by a servant, Cheng Yinyin arrived at the flower pond.

The moment she stepped near the pond, she heard the low sound of sobbing drifting over from a distance.

The sound was intermittent, carrying a hint of grievance and helplessness.

“Why… Why can’t sister just understand?”

“I just want freedom, I just want to make my own choices, why is that so hard?”

Cheng Yinyin looked toward the sound, and saw a girl crouched by the water’s edge, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Her long hair fell loose over her shoulders, swaying gently with each sob, as if even the wind were sighing for her. The pond’s surface reflected her slender figure, making her look all the more forlorn.

The corner of Cheng Yinyin’s mouth curled up slightly, a faint, barely there smile appearing.

Who would have thought that the girl who had strutted about so arrogantly in her mother’s courtyard just the day before would now be as fragile as a fallen leaf that could be scattered by the wind at any moment.

She approached slowly, her steps light.

She crouched down beside Lu Zhuxin, her voice gentle and full of concern. “Second Sister, why are you here all alone?”

Lu Zhuxin abruptly raised her head, and through her tear blurred eyes, saw Cheng Yinyin standing before her. A flash of surprise crossed her gaze, quickly followed by deep grievance.

“Little Sister Yin!”

She bit her lip and said in a low voice, “You were right… Sister has always treated me like a puppet she can control however she likes.”

Cheng Yinyin crouched down and gently patted Lu Zhuxin’s shoulder, her tone soft. “Second Sister, don’t be sad. Maybe… Eldest Sister just cares about you too much, and is afraid you’ll get hurt.”

“Cares about me?” Lu Zhuxin gave a bitter laugh, tears welling up again.

“No, she doesn’t care about my feelings at all. She only cares about herself, whether I live according to her wishes…”

“I’ve had enough! I’m not her puppet, I have my own thoughts, my own choices!”

Seeing Lu Zhuxin like this, a glint of triumph flashed through Cheng Yinyin’s eyes.

‘Hah, Cheng Lixue, so you have a day like this too!’

‘Where’s that arrogant attitude of yours from yesterday? Where did it go?’

Cheng Yinyin laughed wildly inside, but her voice remained as gentle as water. “Second Sister, you should know, not everyone in this world can understand what you’re pursuing. But it’s alright, you still have me. I’ll always stand by your side, support you, help you”

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Lu Zhuxin raised her head. She saw Cheng Yinyin’s seemingly sincere eyes, and also the corner of her mouth that she couldn’t quite keep flat.

She laughed inwardly.

‘Kids these days, still can’t keep their composure. We haven’t even gotten anywhere yet.’

‘Popping the champagne at halftime just won’t do!’

Lu Zhuxin pressed her lips tightly together. Looking at Cheng Yinyin, the grievance in her heart seemed to find an outlet.

She reached out and threw herself into Cheng Yinyin’s arms, holding onto her tightly, as if grasping the very last lifeline.

“Little Sister Yin, thank you… After how I treated you yesterday, you’re still so good to me.”

“You’re really such a good person!”

Suddenly embraced, Cheng Yinyin instantly froze on the spot.

Feeling the softness in her arms, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes.

‘What is this woman doing? Why is she suddenly hugging me?!’

‘Ugh! She’s wiping snot and tears all over my clothes!’

‘These clothes are brand new!’

Cheng Yinyin’s whole body stiffened, and the expression on her face nearly slipped.

Still, she held back the urge to push the girl in her arms away.

She raised a hand and, like a robot, stiffly stroked Lu Zhuxin’s hair.

“No need to thank me, Second Sister.” Cheng Yinyin whispered gently through gritted teeth, “We’re sisters, we’re family. Family should look out for each other.”

“So, Second Sister, if we both make it through the preliminary round, when it comes to the selection at Huayue Court, will you take part together with me?”

“Mm…” Lu Zhuxin, still holding onto Cheng Yinyin, nodded firmly. “If I make it through the preliminary round, I’ll go to Huayue Court together with you!”

“It’s a promise then, Second Sister!” Cheng Yinyin’s eyes curved into crescents.

The surface of the flower pond remained calm, reflecting the shadows of clouds in the sky, as if nothing had changed at all. But beneath that calm, undercurrents had long since begun to surge.

…

The next day, the officials of Huayue Court quickly announced the list for the preliminary round of the consort selection.

Given Chi Xiyan and Lu Zhuxin’s looks, they passed the preliminary round without any surprise.

Cheng Yinyin’s looks were nothing to scoff at either, and her name was also on the list.

Cheng Zheng held the notification slips confirming all three had passed the preliminary round, and happily threw a grand banquet at home.

At the family banquet, everyone was full of cheer.

Madam Qian sat beside Master Cheng, a smile on her face.

With her daughter having passed the preliminary round, she, as a mother, was naturally delighted.

Cheng Yinyin held onto Lu Zhuxin, chatting intimately with her.

Every so often, she’d turn her head and shoot Chi Xiyan a provocative glance.

Chi Xiyan’s face was dark. In this household, it seemed she was the only outsider.

She gripped the wine cup in her hand, her heart uneasy.

Chi Muxue hadn’t spoken a single word to her in a whole day.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Dao Contract in her sea of consciousness still showed no abnormal reaction, she would have thought Chi Muxue had truly betrayed her.

She didn’t understand what Chi Muxue was really thinking.