The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 527 Her previous life was filled with misery

Cui was just an ordinary noblewoman. Like many noblewomen, her life was to marry a good husband, be a good wife and mother, and live a happy and harmonious life. She had no lofty ambitions to become a great scholar.

Throughout most of her life, she acted in accordance with her own upbringing and rules, sticking to conventions. She was indeed stubborn, especially regarding her daughter. She firmly believed that she had not misjudged the child she gave birth to. The child she gave birth to had a crescent-shaped birthmark on the back of her neck and was extremely cute. However, the child she kept by her side had nothing. She didn't even have any sense of motherly bond with her daughter.

She felt that her child had been switched. She questioned it repeatedly, but everyone said that she was weak after childbirth and had misread it. She also developed hysteria because of the loss of her husband. Sometimes she doubted whether she had misread it and wanted to bury that doubt deep in her heart. But every time she saw the child, her heart was torn apart. She could not feel any maternal affection for her daughter. Instead, she felt hatred.

Later, she even secretly went to Tongtian Pavilion to buy information, hoping they could help her investigate her child's situation and whether she was wrong, but she found nothing.

The more hopeless she felt, the more she saw that child enjoying everything that should have been enjoyed by her own daughter, the more her hatred materialized, like a demon possessing her. She wanted to strangle the child. She was afraid that she would harm the child again. When her mother-in-law suggested sending her to the village, she immediately agreed.

Over the years, she stubbornly believed that the child who had taken her place as her daughter did not deserve to live a life of luxury by her side, and that it was best to simply ignore her. Because of her unresolved inner conflict, she was extremely cold towards that child, never showing him a shred of warmth, as if only in this way could she be worthy of her own biological daughter.

But what did she do?
The child was indeed not her own, but because of her indifference, that innocent child died in such a tragic way on the estate.

How can she atone for this sin?
Regret and pain surged over Cui like a dark tide. She collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, her voice broken and filled with endless self-blame and despair. She cried out incoherently, "It's me, it's all my fault. I'm sorry to her, and I'm sorry to you too. I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities as a mother to either you or her... It's all my fault. I'm not human. I should be the one who died, ah!"

She cried her heart out, barely able to breathe. An overwhelming sense of regret gnawed at her insides like a venomous snake, causing her unbearable pain.

She couldn't forgive herself, nor could she face the cruel truth. It was her ignorance, indifference, and arrogance that had led to all of this.

A dark, deathly aura quietly emanated from her, threatening to rise above her face.

Lang Jiuchuan stood there, looking at her biological mother who was breaking down and crying. She felt a mix of emotions. She didn't really have any feelings for Cui Shi. She had grown up with her master since she was a child, and all her feelings were for her master and Princess Tantai. She didn't understand what maternal love was.

She sympathized with Cui and could understand her stubbornness, but perhaps only by being indifferent to her predecessor could she feel better. However, she could not empathize with her because the child was innocent.

But she couldn't deny a mother's love. What was wrong with wanting her own daughter? She was the continuation of her life with her beloved husband, her very lifeblood. What was wrong with her stubborn desire to find her own flesh and blood?

Seeing the sudden deathly aura on her face, Lang Jiuchuan sighed slightly, stepped forward, and placed his hand on her brow. The deathly aura seemed to have encountered some nemesis, and it immediately dissipated, no longer daring to linger.

Lang Jiuchuan slowly squatted down. Seeing her painful cries, he couldn't help but feel a pang of pity and bitterness. This was a pitiful person with whom he shared a blood bond. Even if he couldn't feel filial piety, he couldn't completely ignore her.

"The past is past. You don't need to take all the blame upon yourself. Ultimately, she, you, and Ren Yao all met this end because of the cruel tricks of fate. The culprit is the one who orchestrated this whole affair. The Rong family head, and even those who harmed her—Xi Yun, those Taoist priests—are all dead by my hand. I have settled this karma for her, except..."

Tantai Qing!
He was the real culprit behind everyone's misery. Lang Jiuchuan's voice was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story, but to Cui Shi, it sounded like a silent irony, and her cries became even more heart-wrenching.

Uncle Lang, standing to the side, was also in tears, sighing deeply. He quickly stepped forward and comforted her, saying, "Ninth Sister is right. The one who truly deserves to die is the Imperial Preceptor. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Cui's body stiffened slightly. She raised her head to look at Lang Jiuchuan, her eyes blurry with tears, and said, "You only mentioned the child's death, but what about you? Since you used her corpse to bring her back to life, then what about your death..."

She couldn't continue speaking; she felt as if her heart was being sawed by a dull knife, and every breath she took was excruciatingly painful.

Uncle Lang also looked at Lang Jiuchuan. Yes, what had she gone through this time, so young...?

Tears fell again. He didn't dare to ask, since he had returned in that way, his previous life must have been anything but a good one.

May they die a horrible death! May they die a horrible death!
His second brother, Lang Zhengfan, protected Dadan and its people, and made many military achievements. But his only child met a tragic end. How ironic!
For the first time, Uncle Lang felt intense resentment and hatred towards Dadan and the Tantai royal family, lamenting that good people don't live long and questioning whether they deserve our loyalty.
Lang Jiuchuan did not speak, but said, "My memories of my previous life are that I was ordered by the Imperial Preceptor to go to Panzhen to suppress the riot, and when I woke up again, I was in this body."

Both of them felt a sinking feeling in their hearts.

She is hiding something.

"You don't trust us, that's why you won't tell us the details?" Uncle Lang said helplessly.

Cui was heartbroken. They were clearly her own flesh and blood, yet there was not a trace of estrangement or trust between them. If it weren't for that wicked imperial advisor trying to take her away, how could the mother and daughter be so estranged? And how could that child have left his parents and relatives to come to her side only to be neglected?

She hates it so much!
In that instant, Cui's hatred for the Imperial Preceptor reached its peak: "The Imperial Preceptor has done such a shady and vicious thing. What exactly does he want to do? If he wants to take on disciples, he can come to the mansion openly and honestly. Why does he have to resort to such heinous means?"

Lang Jiuchuan said, "The young master of the Gong family and I are investigating. You should continue to live your lives behind closed doors as before."

Hearing this, Cui was heartbroken. It was the same thing again; she still had to bear it all herself, just like before, and there was nothing they could do to help her.

Knowing full well who the enemy was who separated her from her daughter and caused her daughter's untimely and tragic death, she seemed to have no ability to take revenge.

The more Cui thought about it, the more hatred she felt. Her blood rushed to her head, and she spat out a mouthful of blood from her heart before falling backward!

　Today I went to see the doctor I fear most and got the most painful injection. Ouch!
　　(End of this chapter)