Chapter 557: Chapter 557: It’s Time for You to Be Zuo Bingyan Again!

Qingcheng heard the black-clothed man suddenly mention Zhan Lan, and she lowered her eyes and said, “I don’t know much about her, but she is a woman worthy of respect. Bingyan lost to her, and she accepted it wholeheartedly.”

The black-clothed man smiled, his eyes gradually turning cold, “You’re not telling the truth. You’ve loved Mu Yan for so many years; how could you easily forgive someone who took Mu Yan away.”

Qingcheng nodded, “Master, if it were before they got married, Bingyan would certainly be jealous, angry enough to go mad. But during the last assassination, she saved me and spared me. I think Zhan Lan’s magnanimity is unlike any ordinary woman. Since then, I’ve somewhat admired her.”

The coldness in the black-clothed man’s eyes gradually spread, and with a loud crack, he angrily slapped the table, “This is the reason you defied the master’s order!”

Qingcheng did not retort nor refute.

The black-clothed man sneered, “Bingyan, the master told you that the worst thing for a person is to be soft-hearted. I want you to continue looking for an opportunity to kill Zhan Lan!”

Qingcheng suddenly lifted her head, “Master, why are you so determined to kill her? I can’t kill her now, nor do I have any reason to.”

“No one understands the master, why he is determined to kill an innocent person, but that’s her fate!” the black-clothed man’s voice deepened.

The black-clothed man’s gaze pressured Qingcheng, “You can’t do it? You’re best at disguise! You’ve acted as Qingcheng for years; now it’s time to be Zuo Bingyan again!”

Qingcheng furrowed her brow.

The black-clothed man placed his hand on her shoulder, “You’re exceptional; you don’t lose to any woman. If you wish, you could even surpass Zhan Lan!”

Qingcheng looked up, “Master, you’d better find someone else. I don’t have the ability to kill Zhan Lan.”

She seemed to recall something extremely painful, her eyes filled with endless sorrow, “I can never kill her because Mu Yan said if I wanted to kill Zhan Lan, he would kill me and accompany Zhan Lan in death, sharing a bed in life, sharing a grave in death.”

The black-clothed man squinted his eyes, “He loves Zhan Lan so much!”

Qingcheng nodded, “Even when Mu Yan used to act to win Emperor Xuanwu’s trust, his eyes never showed tenderness towards Zhan Lan. I am aware of my own situation, Mu Yan loves Zhan Lan more than he loves himself.”

The black-clothed man’s gaze dimmed, “Fine, the master understands.”

Qingcheng continued, “Master, Zhan Lan is unfathomable. Next time we meet, we should change places. I’m worried she might find us, which would be detrimental to you.”

“Is she that powerful?” the black-clothed man scoffed.

Qingcheng’s gaze was resolute, “Sometimes, I feel her wisdom is not typical for her age, and her way of handling things is like she’s seen through life. She’s capable and everything is within her control.”

“You’re treating her like a god!” the black-clothed man looked at Qingcheng earnestly again, “Remember, once you fear and dread someone, you’ll have no chance of defeating her!”

Qingcheng laughed self-deprecatingly, “Bingyan lost, thoroughly lost. I’m not underestimating myself. She is no ordinary woman.”

“Enough. Leave Zhan Lan to the master. You should just focus on your own tasks. Perhaps soon, you won’t need to use the name Qingcheng anymore!”

“Yes, master.” Qingcheng rose from the ground and left the secret chamber.

After descending from the second floor of the Liu Xiang Pavilion, she casually bought a box of rouge and left.

She arrived at a teahouse with her two maids.

Seated by the window, Qingcheng’s maids, Miao’er and Zhu’er, attended to her side.

In their private room, they occasionally overheard passing conversations, some of which fell into their ears.

“The current emperor and empress are truly a loving couple. Whatever the emperor says to the empress is like an edict. In the vast palace, there’s only the empress deeply loved!”

“Indeed, the emperor is occupied with state affairs and doesn’t expand the harem, which is our people’s blessing!”

“Isn’t it just because our empress is remarkable, making the emperor desire a lifelong companionship, truly enviable!”

…

Qingcheng sipped her tea, listening to the voices of discussion outside without showing any displeasure.

Because of Mu Yan’s indifference, she felt it. The words Mu Yan spoke that night wounded her deeply. By now, she has gradually healed and does not wish to immerse herself in romantic feelings anymore.

“Miss, why does the emperor never come to see you? I think he has forgotten the bond you once had.” Miao’er remarked angrily after hearing the conversation outside.

Zhu’er agreed emphatically, “Yes, Miss. I thought the emperor would make you empress, but he married that woman!”

Qingcheng glared at her two indiscreet maids and reprimanded, “Shut up, kneel down!”

Being the calm-natured Qingcheng, her two maids were often spoiled by her.

Miao’er and Zhu’er had never seen their miss so angry and were frightened into kneeling on the ground.

Qingcheng looked at them, “Fortunately, no one heard. Otherwise, with your words alone, you wouldn’t even know how you’d die!”

Her gaze was deep, looking far away. Her two maids did not know her true identity, which was her way of protecting herself.

Unexpectedly, the two were so bold as to dare gossip about Emperor Jian’an and the empress behind their backs.

The two maids were shocked by Qingcheng’s serious demeanor and quickly knelt down to admit their mistakes.

“Mistress, I was wrong, I won’t dare again!”

“Mistress, I’m sorry, I was just standing up for you.”

In their eyes, before Zhan Lan appeared, the current emperor treated their mistress fairly well, sending her good food and sometimes accompanying her to go boating and sightseeing.

In their eyes, they had already regarded Mu Yan as the future spouse of their mistress.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Lan appeared out of nowhere, and Mu Yan never came to see their miss again.

Qingcheng heard they were standing up for her and sneered, “Do I need you to stand up for me?”

The two fell silent and didn’t say another word.

Qingcheng looked at them, “From now on, don’t mention the emperor and empress in front of me. Although I once had a sibling bond with the emperor, I blame myself for doing things that hurt his beloved, inch by inch pushing him away. This has nothing to do with the empress, do you understand?”

Miao’er and Zhu’er replied respectfully, “Yes, Miss.”

Even though they agreed verbally, inside their hearts, they disliked Zhan Lan for neglecting their miss because of Mu Yan.