124 Abruptly Held Hostage

The Ugly Concubine’s Dowry – No Ads

“Mother, if you have a spirit in heaven, please bless your daughter. I am very happy now.” Standing before the grave of Liu Yun, Yun Xueyan smiled faintly.

A gentle breeze stirred, lifting scattered fallen leaves on the ground. Yun Xueyan leaned against the tombstone and sat down. “Mother, sitting close to you like this, I can almost feel your touch again. It’s so comforting.”

No one answered; no voice responded. Yun Xueyan spoke alone, tears welling up but not falling.

Hiding nearby, Yun Xiyin gazed at her with loathing and contempt, her teeth grinding. This time, she would not let her live. She had hoped the previous assassination would create a rift between Yun Xueyan and Duan Nanyu, but instead, their bond had grown stronger.

She would not give up so easily!

“Yicui, when will they arrive?” Yun Xiyin hissed coldly. “Even heaven is on my side this time, sending Zi Hun away to avoid trouble.”

“They should be here soon, Your Highness. Shall we go out first?” Yicui calculated the time and spoke cautiously.

“Going out is good. Let her die without regrets.” With that, Yun Xiyin allowed Yicui to help her out, her delicate face twisted into a venomous smile as they approached Yun Xueyan.

“Sister, why have you come to pay respects to Third Mother?” Yun Xiyin stepped back two paces, keeping her distance as she saw Yun Xueyan rise. “Don’t worry, after today, your day of mourning will come too. I’ll visit you then.”

Frowning, Yun Xueyan narrowed her eyes warily at the woman before her. “What do you want?”

“What do you mean ‘today is my day of mourning’?” Yun Xueyan countered.

“Oh, I’m here to see you one last time, to let you die in peace,” Yun Xiyin laughed arrogantly. “You should never have stolen what was mine. Second Brother took you, the Prince wanted you too, Yun Xueyan—you were too greedy, and that’s why you’re doomed!”

Greedy? Yun Xueyan suddenly laughed, her gaze sharp as a blade fixed on Yun Xiyin. “Who is really greedy? You know in your heart. Even in death, you’d be a scapegoat.”

Though fearful inside, she forced herself to appear calm. She realized she was increasingly afraid of death because she had too many attachments now, too many people she couldn’t bear to leave behind.

Yun Xiyin’s laughter abruptly ceased in Yun Xueyan’s serene presence. The woman glared fiercely. “Bitch, you will never walk this world again.”

From afar, several men in black approached. Yun Xiyin’s smile turned smug, but only for a moment before it froze. The men split into two groups, heading toward her and Yun Xueyan. Before she could react, she screamed, “Yicui, what’s going on?”

“Your Highness, I don’t know.” Yicui turned around to answer but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her back. Her pupils dilated, and she collapsed.

Yun Xiyin cried out, staring at Yicui’s fallen form. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted, caught by the men in black nearby.

“Who are you?” Yun Xueyan stepped back cautiously, watching the men calmly. She had thought they were brought by Yun Xiyin, but now it seemed otherwise.

She was not fearless, only hardened by the countless scenes of bloodshed and death she had witnessed—heartbreaking beyond words.

“You’re the woman Duan Nanyu likes?” The leader of the men asked, then glanced at Yun Xiyin with a cold snort. “A woman’s jealousy is fierce. She hired people to kill you. I took care of that for you. Now, shouldn’t you help me a little?”

“Help you?” Yun Xueyan didn’t understand and instinctively retreated. Something felt wrong—these people were here for Duan Nanyu?

“Yes, you’ll find out soon enough.” As the man finished speaking, Yun Xueyan’s vision darkened, and she lost consciousness.

To the readers:

The plot is stuck today, so only three chapters tonight. I’ll prepare for tomorrow. Muah!~