The improved female villains regained their memories.

I wonder how Xu Anlu is doing now.

He asked Xu Anyin this question, and Xu Anyin would answer:

"Her? It's nothing, isn't she doing great?"

Is it fine?

For some reason, he always felt a little bothered when he thought of the grayness in the other person's eyes that day.

There were times when he was alone during the day, he would feel eyes on him, but they would quickly look away.

It could be Ling Yan'er's spy, or it could be Xu Anlu.

Although he couldn't find the person spying on him, he just had this feeling.

"System, how many plans are left?"

"Don't worry, it'll be gone soon."

The system told him, "Then, it's time for the real show to begin."

As the next plan was executed, the sunset painted the sky with exceptionally red fiery clouds, the air still warm, and the rosy glow spread out, extending across the entire world.

Yang Pingsheng sat on a stone bench with a chessboard on the stone table in front of him. Xu Anyin, sitting opposite him, confidently picked up a black chess piece and placed it on the table, saying, "Grand Tutor, it's your turn."

She still used the method of body transformation to control the fire spirit, which she had already released, and she wasn't worried about being seen.

“Okay.” Yang Pingsheng nodded, observing the situation on the chessboard.

Xu Anyin's moves were fierce and fast, each move a killing move, like a large army pushing forward, completely ignoring the surrounding situation, only seeking to kill the enemy's manpower.

Her fierce and swift attacks weren't reckless; every move she made left a way out, ensuring her opponent couldn't block her path. Yang Pingsheng's white pieces were routed, losing pieces and retreating steadily, unable to even mount an effective defense.

No wonder he enjoys listening to Sun Tzu's Art of War; with that kind of personality, he's practically a born strategist.

Unfortunately, there are always oversights.

"Xiao Yin, you've lost."

Yang Pingsheng had a son.

Xu An looked closely and realized that the scattered white pieces had joined forces with the previously discarded pieces, relying on each other. Those discarded pieces were originally hers, but because she was so focused on chasing Yang Pingsheng, she hadn't bothered with them and had kept them. Unexpectedly, she had been caught off guard and her weaknesses had been exploited.

Most fatally, although she had tried her best to plan her escape route, she realized that she could no longer retreat after Yang Ping gave birth to this son. The black piece's momentum was too strong, and retreating would only waste her territory.

She herself blocked her own way out.

"That's a brilliant move. If the Grand Tutor were to teach me the last bit of military strategy, I would know what to do."

Xu Anyin pouted and said that on the surface he was talking about chess, but in reality he had something else in mind.

"Didn't I tell you? Learn the art of benevolent rule first. You promised me, didn't you?"

Yang Pingsheng glanced at her, but was not swayed by her words. Instead, he urged her to make a move quickly.

“If you want to teach the way of the king, then teach the way of the king. Why are you so fixated on benevolence and righteousness? I’m tired of hearing all your grand theories.”

"Benevolence and righteousness are the gateway to the way of the king. How can one understand the way of the king if one does not even have a heart of benevolence and righteousness?"

A true king loves his people, and a benevolent person is invincible. If one cannot even grasp the meaning of benevolence and righteousness, then trying to understand the way of the king is nothing but a pipe dream.

However, Xu Anyin was clearly not interested in these things and remained fixated on the final military strategy.

"So when are you going to teach me those final military strategies?"

Yang Pingsheng did not give a direct answer: "Let's talk about it later."

Snapped.

She placed her piece.

The move was exactly what Xu Anyin had to make, not because Yang Pingsheng had some kind of premonition, but because Xu Anyin had no other choice.

"I lost." She readily admitted defeat.

"Why don't you try to hold on a little longer?"

"It's pointless. The Grand Tutor has already surrounded me. With their combined efforts from inside and outside, it's only a matter of time before we lose."

She said with a smile.

A breeze blew by, and Yang Pingsheng put away his chess pieces, looking at Xu Anyin.

It's time to get down to business, he thought.

"Xiao Yin".

He spoke first, feigning concern, and sighed heavily.

"Aren't some of the things you've done a bit too far?"

The list he provided consisted of 138 of Ling Yan'er's cronies, all of whom she had killed by now.

"I've already told you, the people on the list are only suspects, and you need to investigate them."

"There's no need for that, Grand Tutor."

She crossed her legs, rested her elbows on the table, propped her chin on her hand, looked at him, and smiled:

“I have the memories of being reborn, so of course I know who my targets for revenge are.”

"I killed him, no problem."

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Divergence

How could there be no problem?

That list, from the highest officials to the lowest servants, couldn't possibly include everyone Xu Anyin's targets for revenge.

For example, one of the servants was the one who cleaned the palace gate. He was put on the list because he was suspected of helping Ling Yan'er deliver a letter. Even so, Xu Anyin was not willing to let him go.

Yang Pingsheng later investigated and found that he had indeed helped Ling Yan'er deliver a letter, but it was out of necessity. Ling Yan'er was the Empress Dowager, holding a high position and great power, and he could not refuse her request to help deliver the letter. Xu Anyin had no need to kill him.

But she still killed him.

It's as if Xu Anyin would go on a killing spree against anyone who had even the slightest connection with Ling Yan'er.

The system instructed Yang Pingsheng to teach Xu Anyin the Way of the King, and he felt it was necessary for him to correct Xu Anyin's behavior.

“Xiao Yin, you can’t go on a killing spree like this. A true king will not lose his mind because of revenge. You must understand that if a ruler treats his subjects as brothers, then the subjects will treat the ruler as their heart and soul. Putting aside whether everyone on the list should be killed, just look at your revenge. I’ve already told you that you were reborn from the future. For many people, that kind of future doesn’t actually exist.”

Yang Pingsheng reiterated: "You can change things, instead of venting your anger over it."

"Hmm..." Xu Anyin nodded as he listened, but he could tell that he was not paying attention. "By the way, Grand Tutor, what would you like to eat tonight? I recently learned a new dish. Try it and see if you like it."

"I'm talking to you about serious matters, don't change the subject."

"Someone sent that woman a box of fine tea, but I intercepted it. It smells quite good to me. Why don't you try it, Grand Tutor?"

"Xiao Yin!"

"The current emperor is nothing but a puppet. I've sneaked into his imperial kitchen several times already, hahaha, just like a useless piece of trash. The pastries there are really delicious, but it's a pity, Grand Tutor, you can't eat sweets. Hmm... I really want you to try their lotus seed soup."

"Xu Anyin!"

Yang Pingsheng slammed his hand on the table, causing the chessboard to tremble. Several black pieces, mixed with white pieces, fell to the ground, their black and white pieces intertwined and tangled together.

Xu Anyin lowered his hand, the smile on his face disappeared, and he straightened up to look at Yang Pingsheng.

The two stared at each other, and even the sound of falling leaves seemed to fall silent around the stone pavilion.

"Grand Tutor".

After a long silence, Xu Anyin spoke, his face expressionless: "I've already said, don't stop me from taking my revenge."

“I’m not stopping you from taking revenge.” Yang Pingsheng’s face also turned cold. “I’m helping you.”

"Help me? You're clearly listing my faults, saying things like the future doesn't exist, ha..."

She slammed her hand onto the chessboard, scratching deep marks with her fingertips.

"Those things happened; they're in my heart. I can't forget the faces of those people, each and every one of them, turning their backs on me without a second thought, ungrateful and heartless. They talked about caring and protecting me, but it was all just self-interest. I can't forget them, I can't forget them!"

She looked up at Yang Pingsheng, her face already streaked with tears.

"Grand Tutor, I beg you, please don't stop me. You promised me you would stand by my side. I'm not the kind of person who forgets kindness. Before my rebirth, you saved me, and now you're helping me again. I will always remember your kindness, and I will repay you. I will definitely repay you after I've taken my revenge, so please don't stop me, okay?"

Tears, dripping, fell onto the chessboard.

The black and white were now mixed together, and Yang Pingsheng looked at it, then closed his eyes.

"Xiao Yin".

He said, "I'm not trying to stop you from taking revenge, I just hope you learn the way of the king."

“Those people…”

"Don't kill."

boom!

The sound of a chessboard being overturned.

When he opened his eyes again, all he saw was black and white scattered on the ground. Xu Anyin had already stood up, his back to the Grand Tutor.

"Since the Grand Tutor has said so, there is no need to say more."

A cold, indifferent voice.

"I came here today thinking of talking to the Grand Tutor about Gu Zi'ang's return to the city. That woman is already at her wit's end. As long as Gu Zi'ang is dealt with, she will have no more cards to play. However, since the Grand Tutor and I have different ideas, there is no need for you to help me. In your eyes anyway, I am a person who kills indiscriminately."

"Xiao Yin, that's not what I meant."

"It's not important anymore. I'll handle Gu Zi'ang's matter myself. Your kindness..."

She took a step and left the stone pavilion.

"I feel disgusted, I'm not going to study anymore."

A gust of wind blew by, her fiery red hair swayed, and the girl left, never to look back.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Yang Pingsheng felt a pain in his heart. He leaned on the stone table, trying to get up, but he couldn't.

"System, system..."

"I'm here, I'm here. You're just upset. Wait a moment, it'll be fine soon."