The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

Ruan Xianrong stood with her entourage at the entrance of Ruan Zhaoyuan's courtyard, but the servant stopped her once again.

"Miss, my young master refuses to see anyone."

Ruan Xianrong didn't bother with any more words. She gave a wink, and the people behind her restrained the gatekeeper.

She walked straight in and met the person in the pavilion in the courtyard.

When Ruan Zhaoyuan saw her enter, his face turned as cold as winter frost, but the person opposite him had an even colder expression.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I already say..."

"Snap—"

Before he could finish speaking, Ruan Xianrong slapped him across the face.

Ruan Zhaoyuan looked over in disbelief, and anger suddenly flared up in his eyes.

"Ruan Xianrong, I dare to hit her..."

"Snap—"

Another slap landed, Ruan Xianrong's voice icy, "Ruan Zhaoyuan, do you even have a brain?!"

Ruan Zhaoyuan's anger was stopped by her shout.

"You've really made something of yourself, hiring assassins to kill me, and even daring to let them harm the Crown Prince. How many heads do you have to pay for that?"

This was the first time she had lost her temper since transmigrating into the book, and she considered herself to have a really good temper.

She considered many possibilities regarding the assassination attempt that day, but she never imagined it would be him.

He wanted to kill her to clear the way for his older sister, which she could understand, but he shouldn't have insisted on doing it when Xie Chengyan was around.

Ruan Zhaoyuan was stunned by the two slaps, but when he finally understood what was happening, he laughed.

"So what?"

"I want you dead. Only with your death can the Ruan family have a peaceful life. You deserve to die!"

"I warned you to stay away from His Highness the Crown Prince, but you wouldn't listen. You still coveted things that didn't belong to you and even tried to harm others!"

Ruan Zhaoyuan thought of the time he died in his previous life, and the pain was unbearable.

The pain was so deep it went to his very bones; he could never forget it.

Why should this culprit be allowed to act as if nothing happened, enjoying their parents' love and taking everything away from their older sister?

She deserves to die without a proper burial place; she deserves to die in Mingzhou, so that she can never return to the capital and will never harm anyone.

He stared intently at her, his eyes bloodshot. "Why aren't you dead yet? Why don't you just die?"

Ruan Xianrong understood almost instantly.

But she couldn't suppress her anger, and kicked him in the knee, yelling, "Idiot!"

"Whether you want me dead or for me to never return to the capital, you knew the Crown Prince was present, yet you didn't stop. If the Crown Prince pursues the matter, do you want your whole family to die with you?"

Ruan Zhaoyuan didn't believe it. "Stop exaggerating. His Highness the Crown Prince likes my sister. If he knew I helped him kill you, he would thank me."

"You have committed numerous evils, and His Highness has long been disgusted with you. Otherwise, why didn't he just arrest me and punish me?"

Ruan Xianrong laughed in exasperation at their stubbornness.

She waved to dismiss the others, leaving only the two of them in the pavilion. She looked down at him from her elevated position.

"It seems that the play I saw at the theater last time was also arranged by you."

"Ridiculous! You think you know everything just because you've been given a second chance at life? Who is the Crown Prince? Do you think he'd spare you for your sister's sake?"

Xie Chengyan even schemed against and used the female lead in the book, yet he still had such delusions.

Even if he did soften his heart for the female lead, that would be later on. The current Xie Chengyan wouldn't give face to anyone.

He is the crown prince, the future emperor. Assassinating the crown prince would mean the death of nine generations of his family.

"Ruan Zhaoyuan, even if His Highness the Crown Prince ignores this matter for the time being, the truth will eventually come out. If His Majesty and the Empress want to pursue this matter, I hope you can be as firm as you are today."

She turned away from him, saying, "As you wish, from this day forward, I am no longer your elder sister, and you are no longer my younger brother. Take care of yourself."

As the people outside the courtyard gradually left, a servant rushed in, "Young master, are you alright?"

Ruan Xianrong had used all her strength in those two slaps. Ruan Zhaoyuan was still young and her skin was tender, leaving bright finger marks on her cheeks.

"How could a young lady lay a hand on you?"

Ruan Zhaoyuan slumped to the ground, the words of Ruan Xianrong still echoing in his ears.

Yes, he hired the assassin, how could he not find out?

If this is really investigated, my parents and older sister will all be finished.

Since his rebirth, his heart has been filled with hatred. He only wanted Ruan Xianrong to die, but he never thought about the consequences of doing so.

If His Highness doesn't like his elder sister now, wouldn't his actions make His Highness dislike her?

He wronged her in his past life, and now he's dragging her down with him in this one. He deserves to die.

He couldn't stay in Mingzhou any longer; he had to go back, apologize, and treat his sister even better.

As Ruan Xianrong left the courtyard, her servant trembled with fear, not daring to utter a sound.

"You don't need to hide what you've heard today; say whatever you want to say."

Things have come to this point, there's nothing left to hide. She's not a member of the Ruan family, and she was going to leave anyway.

Her guess was right; Ruan Zhaoyuan had indeed been reborn.

Back in the courtyard, Yinque sensed something was wrong. "Miss, what's wrong?"

She sighed deeply. "Go pack your things, we should go."

Yinque was taken aback. "Isn't there still no news from Kyoto? Why are you leaving so soon?"

"The matter has been discussed openly, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Go pack your bags, I'm going to see my grandmother."

When she arrived at Shou'an Hall, everyone's gaze towards her changed.

She went inside, and her second aunt had already arrived after hearing the news. Her cousins ​​were all there, and her grandmother had also been helped out.

She stepped forward and kowtowed, "Grandmother."

Madam Ruan sighed, "Good child, get up quickly."

"You already know what happened. I'm here to say goodbye."

Madam Ruan used to dote on this granddaughter the most, and she didn't believe it when she suddenly heard this news today.

But when her granddaughter admitted it herself, her eyes instantly filled with tears.

"As Nguyen Chieu Nguyen said, I am not a biological child of the Nguyen family. Your granddaughter should have already been recognized by the family, and Grandmother can rest assured now."

Madam He lowered her head and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. "Niannian, even though you're not a child of the Ruan family, we've still developed feelings for each other over the years."

Ruan Xianrong shook her head. "I know my second aunt feels sorry for me, but the real Ruan family girl is a better person than me. My second aunt will definitely like her when she meets her."

He kowtowed again, saying, "I will be leaving today. Take care, Grandmother, Second Aunt, and my cousins."

She got up and left Shou'an Hall, where Yinque had already packed her things and was waiting for her at the door.

Ruan Zhaoyu and Ruan Tinglan chased after them, calling out, "Nian Nian."

"Are you really leaving?"

"Yes, but don't worry, they'll come to pick you up from Kyoto."

"That's not what I wanted to ask. Where can a weak woman like you go?" Ruan Zhaoyu asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, I'll stay at the inn for now, nothing will happen."

Ruan Tinglan kept crying, "Niannian, I can't bear to part with you."

Ruan Xianrong wiped away her tears, "It's not like I'm gone. Maybe I can still come to Kyoto to see you sometime."

Ruan Tinglan and her brother gave her many instructions, and finally saw her off from the mansion.

The carriage outside was ready. He turned around, waved, and left the Ruan family.

Even Ruan Xianrong didn't expect that she would leave so quickly.

She thought she could hold on for another six months.

He instructed the steward, "Send back those guards who followed me south."

They are from the Prime Minister's residence; they don't need to follow her anymore.

After leaving the residence, Ruan Xianrong had the coachman drive the carriage around Mingzhou City first, and then entered a restaurant. When he came out, he changed his clothes and changed his carriage.

Yinque asked, puzzled, "Miss, why do we need to change our clothes?"

"There are people watching outside. How can we shake them off if we don't do this?"

Actually, she wasn't sure either, but it's always better to be careful, since many people want to kill her now.

She's treated like cannon fodder, but like the female lead.

The two arrived at the inn. As soon as they got off the carriage, Yinque pointed to a spot not far away and said, "Miss, look."

Following her gaze, she saw a man in blue standing there, giving her a restrained smile.

She smiled and said, "Look, the good days are finally here!"