Arc 1.3

"That's impossible!" Xu Xiexie shouted reflexively.

Everyone present looked at her; even the emperor and empress, who had felt relieved that the news was false, gazed at her with cold eyes.

Sweat formed on Xu Xiexie's forehead as she realized that she had been too careless just now.

She bit her lower lip as she fell to the ground with a thud.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty! But..." Xu Xiexie bit her lips harder as she contemplated whether to insist that Chen Kei was lying.

On one hand, she wasn't sure if the emperor would believe her. If he did, then his relationship with Chen Kei would fall apart, making it easier for Xu Xiexie to carry out her plan for revenge.

But if the emperor didn't believe her, then she would face a harsh punishment of being beaten with a stick a hundred times on her back.

Her body was still so weak that she couldn't bear the beating. Her hatred for Chen Kei grew as she bit her lip so hard that she tasted blood.

"I apologize, Your Majesty. This servant was just thinking about something. This servant apologizes for interrupting you." Xu Xiexie forced herself to use the humiliating title of 'servant' repeatedly.

The emperor furrowed his brows at the servant before he looked at his beloved daughter.

As expected, his daughter wouldn't do such a thing.

Leaving his throne, he walked towards his daughter and held Chen Kei's hands.

"Your father apologizes for reprimanding you just now." The emperor had a wry smile on his lips as he held Chen Kei's hands, his eyes flickering as he avoided direct contact with his daughter.

"No, it's okay. It seems my reputation has gotten so bad that a mere servant could damage our relationship in just a matter of seconds," Chen Kei said with a smile.

On the surface, it seemed that Chen Kei had forgiven the emperor, but for those watching closely, it was clear that Chen Kei was subtly manipulating the emperor.

As the emperor, he should have recognized this manipulation.

Instead of becoming angry, he felt even more guilty and held Chen Kei's hands tighter.

Everyone present felt this way, except for Xu Xiexie, who remained rational and recognized that Chen Kei was manipulating the emperor.

Xu Xiexie bit her lip hard, thinking angrily, 'Why?! Why are they spoiling her? Because of their spoiling, that girl has become so selfish and full of herself. She doesn't deserve any of this at all! I should be the one there! I should be the one!'

Xu Xiexie's thoughts grew darker and darker.

Her eyes darkened as she watched Chen Kei and the emperor and empress enjoying their time together, her fists clenched tightly.

Chen Kei looked at the emperor and empress with a gentle smile, understanding their misunderstanding of her.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she listened to the alert sounding inside her head.

Ding!

'Danger alert in 4 meters!'

Ding!

'Requesting Host to Take Care'

The system looked at its Host worriedly after alerting her to the danger.

It did not understand why some people would hate its Host just after she transmigrated. Was its Host very sad right now? Would she think that she was just another host about to be tortured under its watch?

The system was truly worried.

But the person about whom it was most worried only curled the corners of her lips more, her smile widening slightly as she looked at Xu Xiexie, who was gazing in her direction with strong jealousy, failing to cover it up after making eye contact for a moment.

Xu Xiexie hurriedly lowered her head after making eye contact with Chen Kei's dark eyes filled with gentleness that she knew was fake.

Her heart thumped nervously as she lowered her head.

'Did she find out?' Sweat formed on Xu Xiexie as she thought about that silently.

Chen Kei smiled slightly.

'Oh? Such a brave woman to be ambitious for the throne, but a coward when it comes to making eye contact with me? Is there still such a person in the world?' Kate thought silently.

The system, hearing Kate's thoughts, was silent before making its comment.

'The world heroine was said to be deeply afraid of Chen Kei even after being reborn. Even though she harbored great hatred for you, her fear towards you was much greater, so she never took the initiative to physically avenge herself,' the system explained.

Chen Kei slightly raised her head and made an 'ah' expression after hearing the system's explanation of the world heroine's cowardly appearance.

This display of absentminded cuteness instantly stunned the emperor and empress.

'Very cute,' thought everyone except Xu Xiexie, who still kept her head lowered in case Chen Kei was still looking at her.

"Drag that servant out, beat him twenty times, and lock him in the dungeon," the emperor finally said after confirming that his daughter had already forgiven him.

The servant, kneeling and weeping in disbelief that the emperor chose to believe the selfish and self-centered princess, screamed again as two strong, burly guards held him harshly.

Xu Xiexie stepped slightly forward, intending to speak for the servant, but stopped when the third prince suddenly stood up and walked towards where Chen Kei was.

Xu Xiexie bit her already chapped lips once again.

Jealousy and hatred mixed together, and if left untreated, a great danger would arise very soon if she were to burst out on the spot.