Chapter 25 Freedom Fifth Generation
When Fangru opened her eyes again, the noisy sounds of the Xuanji Banquet and the familiar scenery in front of the Prefect's Mansion instantly flooded her senses.
She came back again, like a boomerang pulled by invisible threads, returning to the starting point in vain time and time again.
Her fingertips curled slightly, but her heart was no longer filled with the panic or desperate desire to save others that she had felt in her earlier lives.
In her previous life, Gu Zhou's terrified, retreating gaze beside the carriage, focused solely on self-preservation, pierced her once unconditional trust and enthusiasm like an icicle.
Of course, she still had to save him; it had become an obsession she could not shake off in her cycle of reincarnation. But that eagerness to do whatever it took and be willing to sacrifice everything had quietly cooled down.
What chilled her to the bone even more than Gu Zhou's cowardice was Zhou Ling!
That emperor, high above all, who could turn the world upside down with a flick of his wrist!
She could see clearly that Gu Zhou's injustice and the explosion that almost blew her to pieces were all due to his scheming and framing!
The frustration and disappointment Fangru felt from failing to rescue Gu Zhou had not completely dissipated when it was replaced by another, more intense and sharp emotion: a bone-chilling anger and hatred towards Zhou Ling. Like a winter chill, it quickly seeped into her heart, freezing all her previous weakness and hesitation.
In this life, she will not only rescue Gu Zhou, but also teach that scoundrel emperor a lesson!
She took a deep breath, suppressing her turbulent emotions, her gaze sweeping over the false prosperity of the clinking glasses before her, a faint yet chilling smile curving her lips.
She entered the banquet with graceful poise, her jade pendants jingling softly, her clothes exuding fragrance. With a glance, she had already taken in the entire scene.
Seeing Zhao Mingde approaching with that "perfectly balanced" glass of wine, she couldn't help but sneer inwardly. After so many lifetimes, how could she allow him to use the same trick again?
Just as the opponent was about to "fail," Fangru's slender feet shifted slightly, her skirt swirled like butterfly wings, and the jade cup in her hand slipped out first.
The fine wine was poured out, precisely soaking into the silk skirt that Zhao Mingde had carefully chosen.
"Oh dear!" Fangru covered her lips lightly. "Miss Zhao, please forgive me. But I noticed your hand was trembling badly when you held the cup. Could it be that you have some kind of hidden illness? At your age, you should really get it checked out."
Seeing the other person's pale and ashen face, Fangru felt a surge of pleasure.
Having been reborn several times, she had long seen through the ridiculous tricks of these people. Since they insisted on humiliating themselves, then they wouldn't be so ruthless as to show her no mercy.
Before the commotion subsided, Lin Yueyao, true to form, approached again with her hypocritical demeanor, her words dripping with provocation: "Sister Fangru, you seem to be in high spirits today? Indeed, with Young Master Gu currently imprisoned, it's understandable that you're feeling down, so it's only natural that you'd come out to clear your head. It's a pity, though, that he was so attentive to me back then, probably wanting more than he could have, which is why..."
In the past, these words would have pierced her heart.
But at this moment, Shen Fangru only found it laughable.
Her eyes suddenly darkened, and she instantly felt tears welling up in her eyes. She grabbed Lin Yueyao's wrist tightly.
"Sister Lin...did you dream of him too?" Her voice trembled slightly, carrying an indescribable eeriness. "He came to my dream last night, soaking wet and shivering, saying the ground was so cold...asking me why I didn't go to be with him...and he kept calling out your maiden name..."
Startled by these sudden, sinister words, Lin Yueyao turned pale and abruptly pulled her hand back. Her face turned deathly white, and she shrieked, "Nonsense!" With that, she abandoned all decorum and staggered away.
Seeing Lin Yueyao turn pale with fright and flee in panic, Shen Fangru's lips curled into a cold smile.
That's ridiculous.
In her first life, she was hurt by such a shallow person.
What alarmed her even more was that she could use Gu Zhou's "afterlife" as a pretext without batting an eye, her heart completely unmoved. The person she had once been willing to reincarnate a hundred times to save had, without her noticing, no longer stirred even the slightest ripple in her heart.
This shift from calm to near ruthlessness even startled her.
But then I thought, after going through so many lifetimes of hardship, it would be truly laughable to still be as naive as I was back then.
Shen Fangru's gaze shifted slightly, passing over the noisy crowd, and landed on Su Wanqing, who was standing quietly to the side not far away.
In this life, she no longer carried the initial tentativeness and weighing of options, but instead met the other person's eyes, which always held kindness and liveliness, with a clear and peaceful understanding gained through reincarnation. She responded with a sincere and gentle smile and a slight nod in greeting.
Su Wanqing seemed a little surprised, but quickly returned the same friendly smile and walked closer with light steps.
Fangru looked at Su Wanqing and couldn't help but recall the scene from her second life.
At that time, she helped Su Wanqing win the dance battle championship. Although she won glory, she also brought a lot of trouble to Su Wanqing, including the jealousy of other noble ladies, gossip behind her back, and countless difficulties.
Thinking about all this, Fangru felt a little guilty. The glory of being a champion had become a burden for Su Wanqing.
As Su Wanqing approached, Fangru didn't exchange many pleasantries. Instead, her gaze softened and she spoke in a gentle voice, "Miss Su, today's Xuanji Banquet is a dazzling display of beauty. I wonder if you've ever considered vying for the title of the best dancer?"
Her tone was earnest, devoid of any pity or charity, but filled with pure respect and support: "If you have such a wish, I will do my utmost to help you and add to your happiness."
After saying this, the guilt she felt from her past life seemed to lessen slightly. In this life, she truly gave the other person the right to choose.
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Su Wanqing's clear eyes, which quickly turned into a gentle sense of gratitude.
She could sense the sincerity and thoughtfulness in Shen Fangru's words, which were not mere politeness or calculation.
She smiled gently, a smile as clear as a flowing spring, carrying self-awareness and detachment: "Wanqing thanks Miss Chen for her kindness." Her voice was soft yet firm, "But this empty title of champion is far less enjoyable to me than quietly observing the magnificent scenery of the capital and appreciating the elegance of the great figures. It is already a blessing to be able to attend this banquet today, and I dare not ask for anything more."
Upon hearing this, Fangru's worries completely dissipated, replaced by a feeling of relief.
She admired Su Wanqing's insight and open-mindedness; the truths that she herself had only come to understand after several lifetimes of reincarnation were already clear to Su Wanqing.
That's perfect. She fulfilled Su Wanqing's desire for tranquility and avoided the troubles that might come with glory again.
“Miss Su has a magnanimous heart, Fangru admires it.” Shen Fangru’s smile spread from the corners of her lips to the depths of her eyes, filled with sincere admiration. “In that case,” her tone became a little lighter, and at the same time, a resolute light flashed in her eyes, “then I will no longer be modest.”
Shen Fangru was clear-headed; she was determined to become the champion of the dance competition in this lifetime.
This was not only to replicate the trajectory of the first life and be summoned to the Hall of Glazed Glass to meet the Emperor, but also to implement the plan to lure Zhou Ling to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
This time, however, her mindset was completely different, including respect for and consideration of her friend's wishes.
During a break in the banquet, her gaze swept across the crowd and caught sight of Zheng Yu talking with his colleagues.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, she quietly went to a secluded place, took out a piece of paper that she had prepared in advance from her sleeve, and the handwriting on it was the "imperial handwriting" that she had spent several lifetimes to imitate perfectly.
With a slight twitch of her fingertips, she silently slipped the note into the folds of Zheng Yu's belt, ensuring it wouldn't be discovered until he was tidying his clothes after the banquet.
...
After the dance, Fang Ruoran once again won the championship.
Just like in her first life, the eunuch delivered an imperial decree summoning her to the Glass Flower Hall for an audience.
Just as Zhou Ling was about to speak, a sudden cry of alarm rang out in the garden. Du Heng and Cheng Jinse had both fallen into the water, and the scene was in chaos.
Fangru seized the fleeting opportunity, stepped forward, and whispered to Zhou Ling, "It's too noisy here. If Your Majesty wishes to appreciate my dancing skills, why not move to Zuixianlou? They have some newly arrived fine wines there, which would be perfect for the occasion."
Zhou Ling's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he nodded in agreement.
The private room on the second floor of Zuixianlou is quiet and secluded, with only the occasional sounds of the marketplace coming from outside the window.
Fangru pretended to pour the wine, but her mind was already racing.
Using the secrets she learned from peeking at case files in the Imperial Study in her previous life, she clearly remembered that on the day of the Xuanji Banquet, once the Baiyang Society's spies spotted Zhou Ling and her leaving the palace, they would quietly ambush them in this alley, waiting for an opportunity to assassinate them.
In the first life, the innocent silk merchant's daughter who died was not killed by her gambler cousin at all. She just happened to stumble upon the ambush and was silenced by the Baiyang Society, who then carefully disguised it as a murder.
In her three previous lives, she had wanted to save this woman, but for various reasons, she was unable to take that step.
In this life, everything is completely different. She not only wants to use the White Sun Society to teach Zhou Ling a lesson, but also wants to take the opportunity to reverse the fate of that woman.
Having made up her mind, she found an excuse to temporarily leave to pour some drinks.
She didn't actually go far away, but quietly circled around to the window facing the alley, deliberately raising her voice to ensure her words could clearly reach the deep alleyway:
"His Majesty is resting here. You must guard him carefully and prevent any unauthorized persons from approaching!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a barely perceptible movement in the shadows of the alley; the ambush was already in place.
She quickly composed herself and returned to the private room, only to find Zhou Ling already showing obvious impatience, his slender fingers tapping the table lightly, making a dull sound.
"My patience is limited." He raised his eyes, his gaze calm yet carrying an invisible pressure. "If Miss Shen shows no sincerity, this is the end of today."
Having said that, he turned and stood up, intending to leave.
Fangru sneered inwardly, but on her face, she feigned a perfectly timed eagerness and stepped forward to gently stop him: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! It is only because I have specially found the 'Snowy Delight' wine for you that it is almost ready to be warmed. The first cup of this wine must be drunk while it is still hot in the well-ventilated area downstairs, so as to fully appreciate its icy and snowy flavor. The bartender is already waiting downstairs. Please, Your Majesty, come and try it for a moment."
She spoke slightly quickly, her eyes filled with a deliberately crafted expectation and ingratiation.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling's gaze suddenly sharpened, scrutinizing her like a hawk, as if trying to pierce through her carefully maintained facade.
The air in the private room seemed to freeze for a moment, and then a very faint knocking sound seemed to pass by outside the window, a warning from the secret guard Gao Xuan.
A knowing look and a cold, amused glint flashed in the depths of Zhou Ling's eyes.
He suddenly curled his lips into a slight smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, it revealed a hint of danger.
He stood up, flicked his sleeve, and approached Shen Fangru step by step until their clothes almost touched before he stopped.
"Snowy and fertile? Do we still need to drink it with the wind?" He repeated in a low voice, his voice lazy yet carrying a heart-wrenching pressure. His gaze swept across her lips as if they were solid, finally locking onto her eyes. "Shen Fangru, the scheme you painstakingly set up today is more interesting to me than your dance on stage."
He whispered almost into her ear, his warm breath brushing against her skin, sending a slight shiver down her spine: "As you wish. I want to taste this carefully crafted 'poison' for myself, to see what it really tastes like."
These words, along with his overly close posture and those all-seeing black eyes, made Fangru's heart clench, almost certain that he had seen through all her schemes.
She suppressed the dryness in her throat and the surging doubts, digging her fingertips deep into her palm.
As you reach the corner of the stairs, a window facing the alley is slightly open.
Just as Zhou Ling's gaze seemed to be drawn to the view downstairs, several dark figures suddenly sprang up from the alley and launched an attack!
The sound of a sharp weapon cutting through the air suddenly rang out!
Zhou Ling seemed to have anticipated this, a hint of cold amusement playing on his lips, as if the assassination attempt before him was nothing more than a play he had already seen through.
He retreated half a step as swiftly as a ghost, the cold arrow aimed straight for his back barely grazing the hem of his clothes, causing a barely perceptible ripple.
He swiftly and precisely seized the wrist of an assassin who lunged at him, twisting it with a brutal force. The crisp sound of bones shattering was particularly jarring in the alleyway battle. He then slammed the assassin to the ground like a discarded doll, his voice icy and chilling: "Gao Xuan!"
The leader of the secret guards burst out of the shadows in response, his sword flashing like a bolt of lightning. In an instant, he was entangled in a fierce battle with several ambushers. The cold net woven from the sword's edge tightly protected the area around His Majesty, impenetrable to any force.
Even amidst the clash of swords and shadows, Zhou Ling remained as composed as if strolling leisurely, though his gaze, like a poisoned blade, suddenly swept towards the depths of the alley.
Fangru was hiding behind a stack of wooden crates, only her calm, observing eyes were visible.
She hid herself very well, making sure she would not be caught in the chaos.
Zhou Ling's gaze was extremely complex, piercing through the chaotic battle and precisely locking onto her, a mixture of almost scorching disappointment, knowing sarcasm, and... an indescribable, sinister rage, as if ignited by betrayal from all things, almost consuming her.
However, Bai Yang's plan was extremely meticulous and ruthless.
Several people even jumped off the rooftops, scattering spicy powder everywhere!
Although Gao Xuan wielded his sword like a screen to parry, he was still relentlessly entangled by several fearless assassins.
Zhou Ling held his breath and retreated quickly, his wide sleeves dispersing the mist, but he still inevitably inhaled a little. His tall figure paused slightly, and his movements became sluggish in the blink of an eye!
At that fleeting opening, a specially made black and tough net descended like a lurking venomous snake!
Several other experts quickly closed in, their fingers flying like lightning, precisely and ruthlessly striking several acupoints on his body.
The moment he was completely subdued, Zhou Ling did not struggle.
He even chuckled softly, his chest vibrating, with a captivating magnetism.
He then raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the distance once more, finally casting a deep look at Fangru, who was hiding in the shadows.
There was no longer any emotion in his eyes, only the cold stillness of an emperor and a mocking pity, as if he were silently questioning, "Is this all you've schemed for?"
After succeeding in their attack, Bai Yang and his men did not linger and quickly retreated into the depths of the alley with Zhou Ling.
Gao Xuan roared angrily, swung his sword and cut down two men, then gave chase. At the same time, a whistling arrow shot into the night sky to call for help.
Fangru then slowly emerged from behind the wooden box and stood alone in the now somewhat empty alley.
The cold, lifeless, and almost pitying mockery in Zhou Ling's last glance did not terrify her; instead, it made her lips involuntarily curl upwards, and a shiver of dangerous allure and extreme pleasure ran down her spine.
It was a success!
She really did it! The emperor who had manipulated her and caused her to suffer in the cycle of reincarnation was finally pushed into the trap by her own hands.
An unprecedented feeling of exhilaration washed over her, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her body.
Looking in the direction he was taken away, Fangru's eyes showed no unease, only an astonishingly bright light.
She cleverly distanced herself from the situation and achieved her goal unscathed.
She took a deep breath, and the air seemed to be filled with the scent of freedom and victory.
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