The improved female villains regained their memories.

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Xu Anyin was having another dream.

In her dream, she stood in a small courtyard that was buried by wind and snow.

The heavy snow fell softly, covering her fiery red hair and turning the whole world into a blinding pale white.

She was shivering with cold, her limbs stiff and unable to move. When she looked up, she saw her sister, Xu Anlu, standing in front of her, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"Xiao Yin..."

The older sister's voice was as soft as a viper's hiss: "The Grand Tutor is mine."

The dream suddenly became distorted.

Familiar faces emerged from the snow—Song Panning, Wen Shihan, Luo Benmo, Shi Guijia… Those classmates who should have been close friends were now staring at her with unfamiliar and cold eyes, their eyes surging with undisguised murderous intent.

But aren't they... best friends?

Xu Anyin vaguely recalled the day they left the academy, when the nine of them swore an oath to the moon, promising to support each other for life. Even the usually aloof Wen Shihan had softly hummed in agreement.

Why would you have such a dream?

Some say that dreams are the truest reflection of one's heart, representing the outward manifestation of a person's true nature.

Could it be that deep down she...

Does she resent her sister?

Longing to fight your best friend?

Do you wish for them to die?

Do not......

She is not that kind of person.

She is Xu Anyin...

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Xu Anlu and Xu Anyin, the two sisters with the surname Huang, enjoyed a high reputation both in and out of the court.

Although born into royalty, they lost both parents at a young age and rose to their current high positions through their intelligence and hard work. In the eyes of the world, the elder sister, Xu Anlu, is a model of dignified and virtuous female officials, while the younger sister, Xu Anyin, is a model of gentle and charming young ladies.

For Xu Anyin, his sister was his only remaining close relative in the world.

I want to be a good younger sister.

The voice deep within my soul echoes day and night, like a commandment etched into my very bones.

She had to be obedient and sensible, and never cause trouble for her older sister. So she followed this advice, buried herself in the classics, adhered to the teachings of the sages, obeyed her sister's every word, and treated others with kindness and gentleness.

Everyone loved her. Her classmates were happy to be close to her, her teachers praised her highly, and even the people in the streets would smile sincerely when they mentioned Miss Xu.

Such a life should be happy and fulfilling.

------------------

But is that really the case?

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Every night, nightmares arrive as scheduled.

In that endless snow, the flames of resentment never died out; instead, they burned ever brighter.

She saw another version of herself.

"Xu Anyin, this is an opportunity!"

"This is an opportunity to bury everyone!"

"Kill them before they remember, and destroy all of this."

"So what if I'm despicable? So what if I'm cowardly?"

"As long as you win in the end, isn't that enough?"

"Go to destroy, go to overthrow, go to bury, acknowledge your nature, and give full play to your nature."

"This is the real Xu An'yin!"

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Why, why did I do this?

This country gave her everything: the opportunity to study and understand principles, a life free from worries about food and clothing, and an official position to realize her ambitions.

Her classmates treated her kindly: Song Panning took care of her all night when she was ill, Shi Guijia gave her precious books, and even Jiang Mochang, who was away from home for many years, rushed back in time to testify when she was framed.

They once swore an oath to the moon to support each other and be lifelong friends.

She even solemnly swore an oath before the Golden Palace: to uphold the nation, save the people, and be a virtuous minister of her generation.

And her older sister, she promised her older sister, she promised her:

Treat others with kindness.

You should study diligently.

We must love and care for the people.

She promised her sister that she...

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Sister, it's my sister again!

Why do I have to listen to my older sister?

She is Xu Anyin, not an appendage of Xu Anlu.

Why should she listen to her?

Is it because she is right? Or is it because she is his last remaining relative?

Why......

Why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why!?

Do not......

This isn't her...

That monster who wanted to kill his best friend, overthrow the court, and murder his own family...

How could it possibly be Xu An'yin?!

How could that be...?

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"Xiao Yin?"

Xu Anyin turned around abruptly, a bright smile instantly blooming on her face: "Sister, what's wrong?"

Xu Anlu frowned slightly and looked into the distance: "I think Xiaohan isn't quite right today, why don't you go check on her?"

Why aren't you going?

"Okay!" she replied crisply, standing up nimbly.

"Be careful." Xu Anlu grabbed her wrist and placed a talisman in her palm. "Contact me immediately if anything happens. Protect Xiao Han."

Why don't you protect her?

"I know~"

Xu Anyin turned around lightly, the curve of her lips slightly stiffening the moment she turned her back to her sister.

Why do I have to go? Why does it have to be me? Why is it always me?

She walked out of the noisy banquet step by step.

Behind them, Su Murong was laughing loudly, grabbing Song Panning's sleeve and insisting on a drinking contest; Jiang Mochang, along with a group of classmates, were egging on the Prime Minister, surrounding him completely. No one noticed that the red-haired man quietly leaving the scene.

A night breeze swept by, and her fiery red hair appeared and disappeared in the darkness, like a dancing flame.

Xu Anyin suddenly shivered; the biting cold from his dream seemed to have spread into reality.

Ahead, Wen Shihan walked alone along the path. Her steps were heavy, and she made no attempt to conceal her presence.

As if guided by some unseen force, Xu Anyin quietly followed.

After passing through winding corridors and quiet bamboo groves, we finally stopped by a clear pond.

Wen Shihan stood quietly by the pool, looking up at the starry sky. Moonlight shone on her pale face, outlining her sharp features.

She stood there, unprotected, her back exposed to Xu Anyin.

Something was stuck inside me.

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Does this perfect world really exist?

Why does such a perfect world exist?

Living in this perfect world, aren't I happy?

Xu Anyin asked himself this question.

Ask questions, provide answers, and gain understanding.

Then, one comes to understand one's own nature.

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Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Long hair, stained red from the pool of blood, blooms into alluring flowers on the corpses.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love—twisted and obsessive, like thorns entwining the heart.

Hate, hate ...

Regret, regret, regret, regret, regret—the poisonous fruit of cowardice that grows after madness.

Crying and crying and crying and crying, tears shed out of fear of death, tears that refuse to admit wrongdoing.