This is the third day I have played for Song Wenying.

Kneeling on the ground, my body has reached its limit, cold sweat soaking my inner clothes, the strings in front of me blurred.

With a sway of my body, I played a wrong note again.

The person lying leisurely on the soft couch suddenly opened her beautiful eyes, staring straight at me, a smile hanging on her lips.

"Jiang Jiejie, how many times have you played wrong?"

"By doing this, how can I let you go back?"

"Or are you intentionally playing wrong? You don't want to perform for me?"

"Even the famous geisha in the capital is just like this."

Her sarcasm and humiliation were evident in her words.

I know, whether I play wrong or right, she will not let me off.

A geisha became the empress dowager of the current dynasty.

A prime minister's daughter can only be relegated to the position of a noble concubine.

How could Song Wenying, who grew up in luxury, accept this?

So, since entering the palace, she has been finding ways to torture me.

An unpopular empress, anyone can trample upon.

Ignoring her sarcasm, I raise my hand to start this piece again.

Just as two notes sounded, the folding fan in her hand smashed straight onto my head, then onto the strings, creating a loud noise.

"Wretch! Haven't eaten? Is this all the strength you have? Pretending for whom?"

"Hmph, are you still fantasizing that the emperor will come to help you? Do you think after being here with me for so many days, he wouldn't know?"

This statement pierced my heart like a knife.

Yes, how could he not know? He is the emperor, what could escape his notice?

It just means that he tacitly approves of all this.

Perhaps the pain and hatred in my heart unconsciously made me exert more force.

Crack!

The string broke.

Along with it fell my nails.

Days of playing had put my nails in a precarious state, especially with each piece being so intense.

Heartbroken.

The throbbing pain instantly woke up my hazy mind.

My maid, Shuangjian, knelt beside me with a "plop," trembling as she took my bloodied hand.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Shuangjian, as if not valuing her life, knocked her head towards the woman on the high seat.

"Noble concubine! Please! Spare my lady!"

"Her hand really can't play anymore!"

However, Song Wenying became interested, swaying her waist as she walked to me, squatting down to pick up my nails.

A playful expression.

Then I heard her devilish voice.

"These hands are indeed well maintained, even the nails are so pink and shiny."

"Since it's like this, then pull out all her nails and make them into nail pieces for me."

Upon hearing her command, the palace attendants surrounded me.

Shuangjian cried out, shielding me behind her.

"No! You can't do this! She is the empress dowager!"

"Have you all gone mad?"

This statement further enraged Song Wenying, and she raised her hand to deliver a slap.

Shuangjian's mouth immediately oozed blood, five finger marks appearing prominently on her cheek, showing the strength of the blow.

"How dare you? You dare to act presumptuously in front of me! Guards! Drag her out and beat her to death!"

I held Shuangjian tightly in my arms, tears streaming down my face.

"Song Wenying, no matter what, I am still the empress! You can try if you dare!"

She squinted at me, then burst into laughter, her laughter sweet and charming.

But in my eyes, it was venomous, contemplating how to tear me apart.

Dozens of palace attendants pinned me down, gripping my fingers tightly.

"People die and live, nails can be pulled out and still grow back, Jiang Jiejie, isn't that right?"

In an instant.

A tragic scream echoed in the Chengqian Palace, carried by the wind and then disappeared.

Fingers bloody and mangled, my nails were forcibly pulled out by them.

The excruciating pain made me lose consciousness.

In a daze, I saw Song Wenying's mouth opening and closing, her eyes full of triumphant smiles.