QT: Against My Will

° While waiting for Ting Zi’s return, Lu Wan glanced at the sharp hairpin on the vanity table. Like a lullaby, it tempted her to get rid of that eyesore.

° “Miss, this servant is back,” Ting Zi continued to braid Lu Wan’s hair. Seeing the place where she put the hairpin empty, she prepared herself for any sudden attacks.

° That day, consort Lu Wan was locked up in prison; she was deemed as mentally unstable. Lu Wan brutally attacked her maid, for she was suspicious that Ting Zi’s carried Ru Quan’s child. After a health check, they found out that Ting Zi was still a virgin. All the concubines grabbed this chance to add oil to the fire, crying and fearing for their safety. The council immediately took notice. No matter the background, it’s a dragon’s child they’re speaking about! They couldn’t let something like this happen again! What if Lu Wan ran around and attacked whoever she deemed suspicious? Unacceptable!

° ‘A jealous woman is indeed the easiest to control.’

° Ting Zi looked blankly at her bandaged hands and arms, limping, she staggered to the cottage for maids. Falling on the hard bed, she closed her eyes. The pain she felt didn’t reflect itself on her face.

° ‘Everything hurts so much.’

° ‘I should have let someone else do it.

° ‘But I still have to take care of miss Bai Meili. I can’t let miss be the one to fall in love first. My injuries should raise her anger towards his majesty.’

.....

° ‘Thinking about his majesty, I hope others would stop offering their daughters to him.’

° ‘If they knew what hidden monster lives here, would they still send their daughters away?’

° ‘They probably would.’

° ‘Everyone thinks they are special and unique. But they are not.’

° ‘Humans are all the same. Everything is an act. We act differently so that we could distinguish ourselves from the other.’

· · — · ???· — · ·

° When Ru Quan arrived at Bai Meili’s courtyard, he saw one girl practicing swordsmanship; her movements were graceful and elegant. Then, there were two girls sitting on a bench, one feeding the other with sweet potatoes. It wouldn’t be strange; if the one being fed wasn’t a little slave, “...” Noticing Ting Zi’s bandaged hands and arms, he thought about their kiss, feeling a bit guilty that he used her for his benefits.

° He had no idea that Ting Zi was the one who used him to get rid of another obstacle.

° “Ting Zi, I’m glad that you’re back,” Bai Meili spoke to her maid, “It was so boring without you. Does it hurt?”

° “Mm... Having Xiao Jin feeding me, it doesn’t hurt anymore,” Ting Zi smiled at Xiao Jin, making the young maid blush. Ting Zi didn’t lie. No moving hands = no pain.

° Bai Meili was infuriated, “What is his majesty thinking?! Stealing you away in a perfect condition, and returning you like this?” She didn’t notice the man, whose aura grew dark the moment he heard her words.

° “Who is stealing from whom? What belongs to you is mine too.”

° Bai Meili and her two maids bowed in respect, Bai Meili’s tone became upset, saying, “This consort cannot disagree with your Majesty.”

° “What about you, Ting Zi?” Ru Quan grabbed a sword while looking at the little servant, “Do you agree with me?”

° “His Majesty is always right,” Ting Zi looked him in the eyes, trying to convey her message.

° ‘But in my case, I belong to miss’s father. He holds my slave contract, which will kill me the moment I disobey my master’s orders.’

° ‘Though his majesty tried to destroy all of them, there are still many left.’

° ‘Just this once, someone help me...’

° “...” Seeing her empty eyes, Ru Quan frowned. He couldn’t read her at all.

° While the Bai Meili and Ru Quan were sparing with each other, Xiao Jin continued to feed Ting Zi.

° ‘No, someone like me doesn’t deserve anyone’s help.’

° Ting Zi changed her mind at the last second, hiding her vulnerable expression behind a veil of insignificance.

· · — · ???· — · ·

° Bai Meili’s good relationship with his majesty traveled far enough to reach Ting Zi’s master ears. Satisfied, he planned to kill that slave off before she could gain any more power. He was going to grab a chance during his majesty’s birthday celebration, which will be held outside the palace.

° But he wasn’t the only one who attempted to do something.

° In the depth of the night, Ting Zi sneaked out of her cottage, careful not to notice anyone’s attention; she walked towards the main gates. Passing through a narrow alleyway, she turned around to face the guard who has been following her all this time. Getting closer, Ting Zi spoke in a peaceful tone, “Kill me.” Catching him of the guard, wrapping his neck with her hair ribbon, she used her weight to take him down. While his hands were trying to rip off the ribbon, and his legs tried to kick her away, she took a knife from under her sleeve and pierced both of his eyes and his throat. Her movements could be only described as deadly.

° ‘Ah, it took me a while to find out which one was him.’

° After fulfilling her orders, Ting Zi disappeared. What remained was a dead body, whose job was to monitor her movements. To prevent any chaos from occurring, she left a letter on top of his chest, putting all the blame on herself.

+——- “°?° ” ——-+

° He stood in my way to freedom.

° Ting Zi

+——- “°?° ” ——-+

° The initiative shock was great, but because Ting Zi was close with Bai Meili, they didn’t put on a search warrant and let her go free.

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