Chapter 7: It Is More Refreshing to Be a Villain

The first time I truly saw Gu Xuezhi’s cunning was when she feigned a fall.

It was the second day after the wedding, and she accompanied Xiao Yuanchi to the palace to offer thanks. By then, Gu Xuezhi’s marriage had been settled, and she sat openly in Qingning Hall chatting with me, calling me “sister-in-law” at every turn.

Technically, she was only a county princess, not a royal princess, and had no right to address Xiao Yuanchi as “brother.” Yet Qingning Hall belonged to Consort Shu, and with both Consort Shu and Xiao Yuanchi favoring her, she said it anyway.

Yin Jiaojiao, meeting her for the first time, was bewildered by the constant “sister-in-law” and thought all the rumors about their sibling relationship outside were lies concocted to slander this poor orphan. Look at her—so perceptive and articulate, far warmer than Xiao Yuanchi himself.

So when Gu Xuezhi invited her to the flower chamber to admire the blossoms, she was delighted like a fool, even linking her arm and praising how well-matched she was with General Sun and how skillfully she nurtured the flowers—playing the role of a doting little sister-in-law perfectly.

But unexpectedly, when she turned again, Gu Xuezhi suddenly pushed her away and lunged toward the flower stand.

The flowerpot crashed to the ground with a loud noise, followed by screams.

Consort Shu and Xiao Yuanchi came running at the commotion, only to see Gu Xuezhi’s face covered in blood, while Yin Jiaojiao stood beside her with her hands raised.

The scene looked suspiciously convincing—no one doubted that she had pushed Gu Xuezhi out of jealousy. No matter how much she protested, it was useless.

Xiao Yuanchi brushed aside the palace attendants and personally lifted Gu Xuezhi. His gaze was fierce, and his voice even fiercer: “Yin Jiaojiao, if anything happens to Xuezhi, I will make you pay dearly!”

If words could pierce like arrows, Yin Jiaojiao thought, this one was no less lethal than the one that would later kill her.

“Princess Consort, I have held these words in my heart for a long time and must speak them today. You have attacked me many times before, and I chose to endure silently because I understood—you misunderstood my feelings for the Prince. I sympathized with you. But such misunderstandings put the Prince in a difficult position, and it pains me to see it. Don’t you feel the same?”

As Gu Xuezhi spoke, she gradually stepped back, and behind her was a pool shimmering with ripples. Yin Jiaojiao, having admired the pond for some time, knew it was home to many beautiful red fish and was rather deep.

It seemed she intended to use the same trick again. Last time she had knocked over the flower stand; this time she might jump into the pool. But last time was in Qingning Hall, witnessed by Consort Shu and Xiao Yuanchi—this time, who was she trying to impress?

Logic told Yin Jiaojiao she should retreat without a trace, to deny Gu Xuezhi any chance to slander her, but her truest thought was otherwise.

She was already known throughout Eastern Capital as a venomous woman, her reputation shattered beyond repair. No matter how much Gu Xuezhi slandered her, it would only deepen Xiao Yuanchi’s dislike.

But now, did Xiao Yuanchi’s favor or disdain matter to her?

No—it did not.

Then… why not embrace being the villain wholeheartedly?

Since the world thought her wicked, she might as well be wicked without shame!

With that thought, Yin Jiaojiao flipped her hand and grasped Gu Xuezhi’s wrist. Taking advantage of Gu Xuezhi’s moment of surprise, she forcibly dragged her to the edge of the pool. Gu Xuezhi, accompanied by a maid, was stunned. Watching Gu Xuezhi back up, struggling fiercely with only a step left to the water, she resisted with all her might.

“What are you trying to do, Princess Consort?” Her eyes showed genuine fear, clearly unprepared for Yin Jiaojiao’s counterattack and utterly alarmed.

Yin Jiaojiao smiled softly. “Dear sister, this is exactly what you had in mind, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll help you!”

With that, she suddenly shoved her forward, forcefully pushing her into the pool.

Qiu Ming and Xia Lan were dumbfounded.

But the excitement was just beginning.

Without hesitation, Yin Jiaojiao jumped in after her.

As she plunged into the water, she shouted, “Lady Sun, don’t be afraid! I’m coming to save you!”

Two splashes rose in succession. Qiu Ming and Xia Lan stared at each other, then screamed, “Help! Help! The Princess Consort and Lady Sun have fallen into the water!”

…

Yin Jiaojiao could swim. Before she turned seven, she lived in her grandmother’s village in the south. Every summer, she would play by the lotus pond with the farmer’s daughters. Though her grandmother often scolded her for it, children’s love for play won out, and eventually, she learned.

So when she first entered the water, Yin Jiaojiao kicked Gu Xuezhi hard, enjoying the sight of her gulping water as she flailed about.

Gu Xuezhi also knew how to swim, and she had planned it well—pretending to fall into the water, then grabbing the edge in time. Even if she couldn’t hold on, there were people nearby to help. Who would have thought the foolish Princess Consort would actually push her in? Panic overtook her; she struggled wildly, swallowing more water the harder she fought, sinking deeper and deeper.

Just as she was about to sink to the bottom, someone caught her.

Yin Jiaojiao struggled to support Gu Xuezhi as they swam toward the shore. But Gu Xuezhi was heavier than she expected, the water colder, and most importantly, she was weaker than she realized. As she moved, her limbs grew numb, her vision blurred. She used every ounce of strength to save her, but Gu Xuezhi dragged her down instead.

Being the villain was truly difficult. To be wicked, one had to sacrifice half their life. Next time, she would have to think twice.

Fortunately, the shore was near. Gritting her teeth, Yin Jiaojiao pushed Gu Xuezhi toward the edge. Palace attendants who had gathered upon hearing the commotion reached out and pulled Gu Xuezhi out. Feeling herself lighten, Yin Jiaojiao tried to follow, but dizziness suddenly overwhelmed her.

The world spun, and her body went limp as she sank beneath the water.

The pool swallowed her head instantly, rough water invading her eyes, ears, nose, and throat. She wanted to cough but instead inhaled more water. When she tried to open her eyes, all she saw was the murky surface. Panic gripped her. If she died just two days after being reborn, how would her merits be accounted in the afterlife?

In desperation, a strong arm slipped beneath her ribs, lifting her sharply upward. In a haze, she was pulled out of the water.

As she emerged, the air rushed in from all sides. Before she could take a breath, the strong arms holding her suddenly loosened, letting her collapse to the ground.

“Trying to save someone with such poor swimming skills?”

The mocking tone and cold voice would have made her want to burn to ashes and be reborn just to vent her resentment.

Panting heavily on the ground, she finally managed to lift her head. Through tear-blurred eyes, the first thing she saw was a pair of black qilin-patterned boots, then a dark purple court robe and a jade-inlaid golden crown. At first glance, he seemed like a magnificent divine lord.

But this divine lord was somewhat disheveled. Water droplets clung to his handsome face, one sliding down a neatly trimmed sideburn, trembling as it hung there, touching Yin Jiaojiao’s heart.

“You… saved me?”

“Your Highness!”

Yin Jiaojiao and Gu Xuezhi spoke almost simultaneously. Hearing this, Xiao Yuanchi glanced sideways. Gu Xuezhi, in tacit agreement, sobbed and threw herself into his arms.

Her clothes were soaked and clung to her body, faintly revealing her curves. She seemed truly aggrieved, sobbing and trembling in his embrace, evoking pity. But with so many eyes watching in the palace, Xiao Yuanchi’s hands hung suspended—neither touching nor holding.

“Your Highness, the Princess Consort, she—” Gu Xuezhi bit her lip, timidly glancing at Yin Jiaojiao, who was being helped up by Qiu Ming, “she seems to want to harm me!”