Bai Yueru prided herself on being two steps ahead of everyone. She had spent years perfecting her persona, ensuring that no one in high society could compete with her.

Every glance, every sigh, every seemingly accidental encounter—calculated.

And yet…

No matter how much she schemed, she could not shake off Xia Wei.

It wasn’t just that Xia Wei had changed.

She was completely untouchable.

The moment Bai Yueru tried to turn the tide, Xia Wei would already be waiting, trap set, knife sharpened.

And now, as she sat across from her in the Imperial Garden, Bai Yueru felt an unfamiliar emotion creeping into her chest.

It wasn’t anger.

It wasn’t irritation.

It was fear.

Because Xia Wei was smiling.

And that smile never meant anything good.

Xia Wei’s Playground

Xia Wei knew exactly what Bai Yueru was trying to do.

The noble ladies had been subtly nudged into gathering around, their curiosity carefully stoked. Bai Yueru had positioned herself as the perfect, pure-hearted heroine once again, sighing wistfully as she looked toward Xia Wei.

“Lady Xia,” Bai Yueru said, voice soft and syrupy sweet, “it’s truly admirable how you’ve… changed.”

Xia Wei arched a brow.

“Oh?” She rested her chin on her hand, looking at Bai Yueru with a lazy kind of amusement. “Have I?”

Bai Yueru’s smile barely faltered. “Why, yes. It’s just… so unexpected. It makes one wonder—”

She let her words trail off, waiting.

A weaker opponent would have taken the bait, demanded an explanation, shown their hand.

Unfortunately for Bai Yueru…

Xia Wei wasn’t weak.

She merely hummed. “Ah, so you mean to say I was unbearable before?”

Bai Yueru’s eyes widened. “That’s not what I—”

Xia Wei smiled coolly. “That’s alright. I rather thought so, too.”

The noble ladies exchanged glances.

Wait. What?

The usual tactic when dealing with an ex-villainess was to force her into defending herself. Make her flustered, make her justify her actions, remind everyone of her past misdeeds.

But instead…

Xia Wei had simply agreed.

And worse—she had twisted the insult into something self-aware and poised.

It was brilliant.

Bai Yueru gritted her teeth, but she smiled, as if unaffected.

“If Lady Xia has truly turned over a new leaf,” she said, voice dripping with insincerity, “then I, of course, would be the first to support you.”

Xia Wei’s smile widened.

“Oh? That’s very kind of you.”

She leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a velvety whisper.

“But you see, Lady Bai… I don’t need your support.”

The Watching Crowd Reacts

Silence.

The noble ladies shifted uncomfortably.

The noblemen, who had originally been eyeing Bai Yueru, were now staring at Xia Wei instead.

Because this was new.

Before, Bai Yueru had always been the one controlling the flow of the conversation, subtly steering it in her favor.

But today?

Xia Wei had taken her carefully laid trap… and set it on fire.

She wasn’t playing Bai Yueru’s game.

She had rewritten the rules entirely.

The Finishing Blow

Bai Yueru forced a soft laugh.

“Oh, Lady Xia, you misunderstand me.”

Xia Wei tilted her head. “Do I?”

Bai Yueru clenched her hands beneath her sleeves.

She needed to regain control.

“You must understand, it’s just such a surprise,” she said sweetly. “Not long ago, you were… well.” She sighed. “How should I put this?”

Xia Wei leaned back, watching her struggle.

She had three choices.

Let Bai Yueru continue her performance and play the victim.

Attack directly and risk appearing petty.

Completely humiliate her in a way that leaves no room for recovery.

Obviously, she chose option three.

Xia Wei sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Lady Bai, if you truly want to say something, just say it. Dancing around the subject like this makes it seem as if you’re hesitant, and we both know you’re not.”

Bai Yueru’s face went pale.

Because that was exactly what she had been doing.

And now, instead of looking innocent and kind, she looked manipulative and scheming.

The noble ladies began whispering.

“Lady Bai always speaks so sweetly, but now that I think about it…”

“Isn’t she always implying things rather than saying them outright?”

“Lady Xia may have been blunt before, but at least she was honest.”

Bai Yueru felt the panic rising in her throat.

And then—

A low chuckle echoed across the garden.

And the Crown Prince walked toward them, his gaze locked entirely on Xia Wei.

The Crown Prince’s Arrival

Li Xuan had been watching the exchange with great interest.

He knew Bai Yueru well. Too well.

For years, she had been the empire’s perfect lady. Elegant. Refined. Flawless.

But today, in just a few words, Xia Wei had ripped apart that illusion and left Bai Yueru floundering.

It was masterful.

And that was why, as he approached, he did not look at Bai Yueru.

He looked at Xia Wei.

Xia Wei, who met his gaze with complete confidence.

Xia Wei, who had effortlessly exposed Bai Yueru for what she was.

Xia Wei, who had done all of it without even trying.

His lips curled upward.

“Xia Wei,” he greeted, ignoring Bai Yueru entirely.

The noble ladies gasped.

Bai Yueru’s face went completely white.

Xia Wei, of course, only smiled.

Because she had already won.

End of Chapter 13

(Small theater)

Bai Yueru: This… this isn’t possible… Xia Wei: Shh. Accept it. Li Xuan: She’s interesting. I like that. The Watching Nobles: Damn. That was brutal.

Sky~