Back in the front yard, the lively poetry gathering from before was now strangely quiet, with a subtle tension in the air.

Everyone looked at each other, observing each other's expressions closely.

Passing by a pavilion, the voices of many noble ladies whispering could be heard:

"Who would have thought that this time, Shen Qiuyue would be the first, it used to be Princess Nine every year."

"Princess Nine and her have never gotten along, one a princess, the other the prime minister's daughter, we can't afford to offend either of them."

"After so many years, it seems like this is the first time Princess Nine has lost to Shen Qiuyue, right?"

Chen Niannian brought me back to the princess's mansion. Just as we arrived at the entrance to the sleeping quarters, the furious voice of Princess Nine accompanied by the sound of a teacup shattering could be heard:

"How did that wretch Shen Qiuyue find out about my poem? She's a nobody, inferior to me in every way. This time, she actually stole the limelight!"

"One of you must have leaked my answer. Since no one is willing to admit it, then all of you can just die!"

The pleas for mercy from the palace maids did not last long, soon followed by a chilling scream, and then everything returned to calm.

A few guards-like figures emerged from the palace, laughing and dragging a few slain palace maids behind them.

For the safety of Princess Nine, the emperor specially assigned her an elite group of guards, who in a past life, were the ones who killed her brother.

Wherever they passed, blood stained the ground, and the familiar smell of blood filled the air.

Chen Niannian glanced at me, who remained expressionless, and asked softly, "Little girl, aren't you afraid?"

I shook my head without speaking, staring fiercely at their backs, wishing I could grow up overnight and rush to kill them.

What I had witnessed in my past life was even more brutal than this.

Everyone in the capital knew that Princess Nine, favored by the emperor, was exceptionally beautiful, free-spirited, and the most talented woman in the capital.

But who could have known that the praised and respected Princess Nine was actually a ruthless, cruel, and brutal thief who treated human life as insignificant and stole other people's bodies.

Chen Niannian led me inside and we found a inconspicuous corner to wait. From inside, the sound of Princess Nine sobbing in extreme anger could be heard, she seemed deeply wronged.

Her brother comforted her softly, "It's just a poetry gathering, why does the princess care so much? Song believes that with the princess's talent, she will surely win the next time."

Princess Nine raised her tear-streaked face, looking at her brother with surprise, "Is that how you truly feel, husband?"

She completely disregarded exposing her true self in front of her brother, freely killing the palace maids who displeased her, as a warning to her brother.

To show her brother the consequences of defying her.

Her brother lowered his eyes, smiling gently, his voice clear and cold, like the most pleasant spring water in the mountains, "Of course, it was Song who underestimated and refused the princess before."

He took a step forward, crouched down carefully to wipe away the tears on the princess's face:

"Song is willing to be the princess's side husband, hoping the princess will show mercy."

He lifted the beautiful face that resembled a jade sculpture, his thin lips parting slightly, looking into Princess Nine's eyes as if they could only contain her.

Princess Nine, enchanted, smiled happily and threw herself into her brother's arms as if no one else existed:

"Husband, I knew you wouldn't refuse me! Rest assured, I will give you a grand wedding ceremony."

Then, her voice lowered, sounding like a threat or a warning, "But, what about the one from Song's family?"

"As the princess said, what kind of feelings can there be in a marriage arranged by parents?" Her brother embraced Princess Nine, his eyes devoid of warmth where she couldn't see, his voice incredibly gentle, "As for her, she will naturally come and go as she pleases."