"Liu... Hongluan?" I racked my brain carefully for a moment.
Before I managed to match the name with the breathtakingly beautiful woman standing before me.
I had seen her a long time ago, one of the Snake Lord Yu Longting's many suitors, and even more so, the most beautiful woman of the Snake Tribe.
Liu Hongluan's eyes, full of superiority, swept lightly over my ugly face and she placed the bowl of soup on the table, "I'm flattered that Sister Wan still remembers me. I was too rash back then and nearly hurt you, for which I am truly sorry. Thankfully, you bore no grudge and did not take it up with me. Sister... your face... and your height... what happened? If I hadn't seen you at the Snake Lord's place, I wouldn't have dared to recognize you!"
Her tone carried sincere concern, but each word felt like a soft knife twisting into my heart.
If I did not show appreciation, then I would seem to lack graciousness, "Thank you for your concern. It's just the sequelae of Blood-weeping Syndrome."
"That's really terrible, for beauty is more important to a woman than life itself," said Liu Hongluan, her face tense with anxiety, "Has the Snake Lord had the renowned doctors of the Snake Tribe examine you?"
"I don't think that's necessary," I responded, seeing the questioning look on her face and gently seating myself on Yu Longting's lap, "If it wasn't for this affliction, I would've never known that the Snake Lord prefers such a countenance. No wonder he hasn't found a wife in thousands of years."
"..." Liu Hongluan choked, unable to utter a word for a long time, her eyes fixed on my sitting posture on Yu Longting's body, wishing she could burn a hole through my ugly face.
She was probably questioning her entire life.
Wondering if it's because she's too beautiful that Yu Longting didn't choose her.
I've never been in favor of female competition, but when they come knocking on my door, naturally, I won't let myself be at a disadvantage. With a smile that concealed the sharpness of a knife, I invited, "Sister Liu, would you like to sit down and join us for soup?"
"No! I mustn't!" Liu Hongluan, feeling a great humiliation, her entire face as black as the bottom of a pot, struggled to say, "Sister Wan, Snake Lord, I won't disturb you any longer. I take my leave."
Liu Hongluan held herself in high esteem, being invited to sit down as an accessory, to accompany us for breakfast, would be worse than taking her life.
Watching Liu Hongluan flee in a panic, I stood up with satisfaction.
That's a wrap, time to call it a day!
But as I tried to rise, my waist tightened, gripped firmly by Yu Longting's arm, "The first time I saw you, you were spiteful and said harsh words to others out of jealousy."
"Was I spiteful? I thought I was speaking some hard truths," I replied, holding my face and looking up at Yu Longting casually. Content orıginally comes from novel※fire.net
Was my time watching 'Empresses in the Palace' all for nothing?
Still as weak as before, bullied by Liu Hongluan without the power to retaliate.
Yu Longting's charcoal pencil "snapped" into two pieces in his hand, a clear sign his patience had run out. However, contrary to what I expected, he wasn't furious; instead, he was smiling as he looked at me, "Yes, that's the greatest compliment to my taste from my wife. No matter how I see you, it's never enough."
Because I'm me, even with this ugly face, he could never get enough of looking.
I had always harbored an unease about my disfigurement deep inside.
The first mocking words from Liu Hongluan made my heart incredibly bitter.
Yet with such a vibrant and lively beauty before us, Yu Longting didn't look her way, treating her as if she were thin air, clearly never having taken Liu Hongluan seriously.
The negative emotions I had been harboring deep down about my disfigurement unexpectedly dissipated in that instant; it was, after all, just a shell.
Whether beautiful or ugly, it no longer mattered.
"With you here, I'm afraid I can't concentrate. I'm going out for a walk to breathe in some fresh mountain air," I said, straightening my cheongsam and getting off Yu Longting's lap.
Yu Longting seemed to agree with my decision and did not insist on my staying.
He caught my hand and kissed the palm, "It's windy outside, wear my cloak before you go."