Bai Zheng halted her steps. Before she could turn around, Princess Yunxi, her face contorted with rage, had already approached her.
"I never thought that stupid girl would leave a lover's knot on the jade pendant even after her death! Otherwise, how could you have escaped today?"
Bai Zheng clenched her fists tightly. Her face was colder than ever. She looked at Princess Yunxi with a chilling gaze, like a vengeful ghost rising from hell. "Princess Yunxi, aren't you afraid at all?"
Princess Yunxi was taken aback by her look and subconsciously asked, "Afraid of what?"
"Miss Zheng died so miserably. In our Great Zhou, for those who die a tragic death, if the injustice in their hearts lingers, their spirits will remain in the world and seek out their murderers..."
She looked at Princess Yunxi, a faint smile playing on her lips, and uttered six eerie words from the bottom of her throat.
"To claim their souls for revenge."
"I didn't kill her!" Princess Yunxi turned pale at Bai Zheng's words. As if recalling Zheng Yan's hideous death, she couldn't help but shiver. "It was the Fourth Prince who did it."
"Whether the Fourth Prince was an accomplice or the mastermind, he may deceive people, but he can't deceive the ghosts!" Bai Zheng sneered and looked down at her disdainfully.
"Moreover, Miss Zheng couldn't bear to harm the Fourth Prince when she was alive. Who else do you think she'll come for if not you? After all, Miss Zheng had no affection for you, Princess!"
Princess Yunxi stood there stiffly, looking at Bai Zheng in horror.
"I'm not the mastermind! I didn't kill her. Why would she come for me..." Princess Yunxi murmured.
"If it weren't for you, how could Miss Zheng have died so miserably?" Bai Zheng angrily flung her sleeve. Her voice was sharp and stern. "She was the same age as you, in the prime of her youth. She was loved by her parents, just like you, and had someone she loved. She had never suffered much.
She was innocent and kind, always looking forward to the day when she could marry the man she loved!
But now, she died in your schemes!
Why? You're both daughters of privilege. Why should she die and you live?
Do you think she can swallow this injustice? Do you think she shouldn't come for your life?"
Princess Yunxi couldn't support her trembling body and kept taking steps backward. She looked at Bai Zheng with extreme fear in her eyes and shook her head desperately. "No, don't..."
Suddenly, a big hand landed on Princess Yunxi's shoulder.
A warm and steady aura enveloped her. Princess Yunxi closed her eyes, turned around, and threw herself into the man's arms. "Don't come for me!"
The owner of the hand, Zhuo Lingxiao, gently comforted Princess Yunxi. Then he gave Bai Zheng a cold look. "Miss Bai, if you slander the princess without any evidence, such behavior in our Great Liang will be punished with thirty lashes as a warning, even if you don't lose your life."
Bai Zheng remained unmoved. There was even a cruel smile on her face. "Then I'll trouble the heir to take good care of the princess. If Marquis Gaochang finds out about this, he won't be as easy - going as I am."
"You!" Zhuo Lingxiao glared at her angrily. "I'd like to see how long Miss Bai can be so smug!"
With that, he led Princess Yunxi away with a flick of his sleeve.
As soon as they left, the smile on Bai Zheng's face faded completely. She looked in the distance at Feng Linyuan, who was looking at her with a smile.
How could he still smile?
Looking at Feng Linyuan's relaxed features in the magnificent setting, Bai Zheng suddenly felt as if something was blocking her chest.
Everything that happened today made her, who had lived in a modern society that valued human rights for nearly thirty years, for the first time since she traveled through time, directly realize how cruel and heartless this imperial palace and this society were.
She really didn't want to stay in this bloody imperial palace any longer.
Bai Zheng turned around directly and stepped out of the palace gate.
Seeing that Bai Zheng, after driving away two people in anger, didn't come to him but instead turned to leave, Feng Linyuan was slightly stunned. Then he quickly chased after her. "Zheng'er."
Following closely behind, Zhuling heard the call and carefully glanced at Bai Zheng. "Miss, the marquis is calling you."
Bai Zheng didn't say a word and just walked quickly on her own.
She felt angry, but she didn't know exactly what she was angry about. She just thought Feng Linyuan's smiling face was a bit dazzling.
Zheng Yan was dead, but he seemed so heartless, smiling without a care.
Zhuling glanced at Feng Linyuan behind them again and said hesitantly, "Miss, the master and the others have gone back first. They must have taken the carriage with them. Why don't we wait for the marquis and go back in his carriage?"
Bai Zheng frowned and finally slowed down her steps.
Feng Linyuan coughed lightly and gave Zhuling an appreciative look. Then he caught up with Bai Zheng and walked side by side with her.
"Is Zheng'er angry that I just watched Zhuo Lingxiao come over and didn't help you?"
Seeing that Bai Zheng didn't respond, Feng Linyuan forced a smile and explained, "Just now I saw that you were extremely sad and angry because of Miss Zheng's death. I was afraid that if I rushed in, it would prevent you from venting your anger, so I didn't..."
"I'm not angry about this."
"Hmm?" Feng Linyuan raised his eyebrows.
Bai Zheng stopped and turned to look at Feng Linyuan.
The March sun shone warmly on them. Feng Linyuan had fine beads of sweat on his forehead from quickly chasing after Bai Zheng. His lips and face were pale.
His features were gentle, and there was a hint of confusion in his eyes as he stared at Bai Zheng without blinking.
Looking at Feng Linyuan like this, Bai Zheng felt a softness in her heart. She couldn't help but soften her tone. "Zheng Yan died so miserably. How could you still smile?"
"Is this what you're angry about?" Feng Linyuan suddenly realized. He frowned and thought for a moment. Then he suddenly smiled self - deprecatingly. "Come to think of it, I am indeed a bit cold - blooded."
Bai Zheng felt a pang of pain at his smile. Suddenly, she remembered what Feng Linyuan had been through and felt that she had been a bit impulsive. Just as she was about to apologize, she saw the self - deprecating smile on Feng Linyuan's lips widen as he continued.
"Zheng'er, do you know that I even want to do something even more cold - blooded."
"What is it?"
"Now that Zheng Yan is dead, Marquis Gaochang may retire to the mountains or fight back desperately. But no matter what, the debt he owes to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and the one hundred thousand Changping soldiers is due to be repaid."
Bai Zheng suddenly widened her eyes. "You mean Marquis Gaochang was also involved in that incident back then?"
Feng Linyuan lowered his eyes. "I know, Zheng'er has always thought that Zheng Yan died because of you."
As if to comfort Bai Zheng, he reached out and gently held her hand through the sleeve. "But actually, you may just be a small pawn in today's incident. Marquis Gaochang regarded human lives as trifles back then and did something wrong. Now it's just karma catching up with his daughter."
Listening to Feng Linyuan's words, Bai Zheng frowned deeply.
She suddenly felt as if she had fallen into a big net.
She always thought that Princess Yunxi and Bai Sheng had killed Zheng Yan because of their personal grudges against her.
She didn't know that there were so many sordid past events hidden behind it.