"Chu Qingge, do you think a mere imperial edict can make me yield to you?"

A deep, attractive voice came from above Chu Qingge's head.

She felt a sharp pain in her throat, as if she was about to suffocate.

Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she struggled to open her eyes.

Unexpectedly, she was greeted by the breathtaking face of a strange man.

She had never seen such a handsome man in her life before.

But why was he squeezing her throat so tightly?

"Did you think that you could be the princess consort of the Duke's Mansion?"

The man pursed his lips slightly, his voice sending chills down her spine. "Never in a thousand years! I'd rather have a corpse as my wife."

Suddenly, he increased the force on Chu Qingge's neck...

The girl had no idea how long it took the man to let go of her.

A robe was wrapped around his tall, charming figure.

Sweat dripped down his absolutely stunning face that was emanating a frosty aura.

Then, he pushed open the door, only to see people kneeling on the ground outside.

"M-my prince! The Ninth Princess, she... she's..."

"Dead," Feng Liye said nonchalantly with his face entirely void of expression. "Bury her!"

He then brushed past all those people.

He carried a desolate aura with him as he walked callously across the hallway. It was enough to have everyone shiver with fear.

But to b-bury her...?

Nobody dared to move a muscle. They knelt on the ground with their faces ashen.

That was the Ninth Princess! She was the youngest daughter of the Emperor and also the most cherished granddaughter of the Empress Dowager!

Chu Qingge sat up and recalled the man's ruthless words, trying her best to go through her new memories.

The real Ninth Princess was indeed dead. She was strangled to death by her newly-married husband.

Due to an imperial edict, Feng Liye had no choice but to marry the Ninth Princess.

The prince was brash and stubborn. He took matters into his own hands just to prove that he would never yield to the Emperor!

Just how much did he hate this new bride of his?!

However, she was no longer Chu Qingge!

This body had another soul now.

One belonging to Chu Qing!

Outside the room, the servants were still kneeling on the ground.

The body of the Ninth Princess was lying in the room, and no one dared to move to do the Prince's bidding.

They talked about what they should do next. "S-shall we report this to the Duke?"

"G-go ahead."

"No, you do it!"

"I won't dare to..."

"Why don't we just bury her then? Besides... the Ninth Princess has a very bad reputation. She's not a good person at all."

"Alright. Let's listen to the Prince and bury her!"

Emboldened, everyone stood up. They were about to go in and get rid of Chu Qingge's body right away.

However, they didn't expect a slender figure to walk out of the room.

Her dress was blood-red and her hair flowed like silk down her back. In the moonlight, her delicate face appeared even more flawless.

Her ebony eyes were crystal clear, and the petite nose on her face made her elegant features stand out.

Chu Qingge leaned against the door leisurely as she asked, "Who are you going to bury?"

"N-ninth Princess?!"

"Ahhhhh! Ghost!"

"No, she... has a shadow, so she's... human."

Chu Qingge glanced coldly at the servants in the courtyard who were extremely terrified. "Where's Feng Liye?"

After killing her, the Prince left her just like that.

Hah! If she didn't retaliate, she wouldn't be called Chu Qingge.

"N-Ninth Princess, the Prince... has gone to Green Cloud Manor."

Meanwhile, in Green Cloud Manor...

Feng Liye was sipping at some tea.

There were still some beads of sweat on his hair.

However, there was no trace of emotion on his face, as it had been for millennia.

A teenage girl stood beside him, crying pitifully.

"Liye, it's my fault. I don't deserve your kindness. It's all my fault."

Feng Yuanhao, the second son of the Feng family, was seated near them. He was equally heartbroken as he said, "It was the Ninth Princess who took a fancy to my brother and asked the Empress Dowager to arrange this marriage! What did her actions have to do with you?"

Chu Weiyun replied gently, "But... I'm really sorry that Liye has to marry a wife who doesn't know how to behave properly."

She wiped the tears off her face and stole a glance at the man sitting on the chair.

He remained calm and refused to betray any emotion.

No one could figure out what he was thinking.

Chu Weiyun bit her lower lip and whispered, "Liye, I'm willing... to be your maid. I'll stay by your side and serve you for life!"

Feng Yuanhao was alarmed upon hearing her words. "Weiyun, you're a princess! How... can you be a maid?"

Out of blue, someone chimed in, "That's right. How can a princess serve the prince like a servant? It doesn't make sense, does it?"

A crisp yet disdainful burst of laughter came from outside the door.

The source of the voice went on, "If you really want to be a servant, I'll tell Grandmother you'll be serving me."