She is the Side Character! — Watch Her Change her fate!

"Come over and knead my legs. If it pleases me, I will ensure you leave with the envoy from Nan Qi," Song Yishui said with a smile, "Playing with such a lowly thing like you is boring, your status is far too low. Only that favored Ninth Princess of Nan Qi is interesting enough."

"They probably think you wouldn’t dare reveal the truth," Song Yishui chuckled, "But truth be told, would you have it any better if you return? If you expose the truth, the Emperor of Nan Qi and Consort Li might hate you to death, even implicating your family. It won’t be easy for you then. Even if I let you go, it doesn’t mean Nan Qi will."

Seeing Cui Jing’s face turn deathly pale pleased Song Yishui greatly.

She loved seeing fear on others’ faces; it was immensely amusing.

She also loved seeing someone scared to death because of terror, to be frightened literally to death. The scene was extremely interesting.

"Why are you standing there dumbly?" Song Yishui frowned, "Hurry up and come knead my legs."

Cui Jing’s body trembled. She hurried forward to knead Song Yishui’s legs.

She didn’t know what fate awaited her upon returning, but she wanted to stay alive now. Each humiliation deepened her hatred towards Song Chen. How could she cause her such harm?

There would be no sisterly affection left for Song Chen from now on.

"Song Chen is so cunning. I’ll have to discuss with my siblings about how to deal with her," Song Yishui said, resting her chin on her hand with excitement, "We can’t just kill her quickly; that would be too boring. She has to live a little longer. Such cunning, since Da Qi split into Bei Qi and Nan Qi, she’s the first one like this. It’s bound to be interesting."

"Do you have any interesting ideas?" Song Yishui suddenly asked.

Cui Jing didn’t respond in time, which made Song Yishui dissatisfied. She kicked Cui Jing, causing her to cry out in pain.

Yet Cui Jing dared not express any resentment, and as she thought of Song Chen soon facing all this, she couldn’t help but feel a little eager.

She crawled up quickly and continued kneading Song Yishui’s legs.

"Have you thought of something?" Song Yishui asked.

Fearing further angering Song Yishui by not responding, Cui Jing stammered out, "You could tie her to a horse..."

"And then?" Song Yishui coaxed, a bit more interested.

Gritting her teeth, Cui Jing continued, "Flags could be tied to the other horses, and only one horse would have her tied. Let all the horses run, and then the Third Princess can shoot arrows at the flags, with markings on them. Her archery is precise, she wouldn’t get hurt."

"Good!"

This suggestion delighted Song Yishui, and she added, "Forget the flags, let there be a person on each horse instead, let them run freely. Just arrange for a bunch of slaves, their survival is their skill. If not, it’s their fate. They’re all lowly anyway; their greatest value is providing amusement."

"Hahaha, just thinking about it sounds interesting. I’ll discuss it with my siblings later; they should be quite interested."

Cui Jing, however, was so frightened her lips were bloodless, but then she thought that she wouldn’t have to experience this herself. It was Song Chen, who harmed her, who would, so her fear mixed with a peculiar joy.

"I was wondering where this little thing went; turns out she’s here with Third Sister," Bei Qi’s Second Prince Song Wenyu walked in, not bothering with Song Yishui as he found a place to sit and stared at Cui Jing, who was diligently kneading Song Yishui’s legs.

Song Yishui glanced up, "Elder Brother has arrived? We were just discussing something interesting."

Then she roughly recounted Cui Jing’s earlier suggestion, receiving Song Wenyu’s approval, and making him look at Cui Jing differently, "Third Sister, you’ve corrupted her."

"I doubt it," Song Yishui covered her mouth with a laugh, "She mentioned the flags; I suggested the slaves mount up. However, she must harbor some resentment towards that Ninth Princess of Nan Qi."

"I find her amusing. Let’s keep her," Song Wenyu said, sipping his tea, "She probably wants to see us play with that Ninth Princess, right?"

Cui Jing remained silent, gritting her teeth. She certainly wanted to see such a scene, but she wanted even more to return home, far away from Bei Qi. This place was terrifying with not one normal Prince or Princess, except maybe the slightly more humane Third Prince Song Yuheng. Yet, he wouldn’t possibly go against his siblings for her sake, at most sending someone with medicinal salves.

Right now, she only wanted to return to Nan Qi.

Whatever torments Song Chen might face, she needn’t even watch; no good could come from remaining in Bei Qi.

She just wanted to go home.

Thinking of this, she unknowingly applied more pressure while kneading, causing Song Yishui some discomfort. Realizing her mistake, Song Yishui indeed slapped her, bringing tears to Cui Jing’s eyes.

"Clumsy hands! Can’t even knead properly, so annoying." Song Yishui frowned and looked over at Song Wenyu, smiling again, "Elder Brother, since you’re here for her, take her away. I don’t need her service for now."

"Alright."

Cui Jing wanted to refuse but didn’t dare speak up. In Bei Qi, except for Song Yuheng being slightly better, no one was decent. Each had their own cruel methods.

In the carriage, Song Wenyu studied Cui Jing over his tea, making her feel utterly at unease.

"Don’t even think about going back. No woman who comes to Bei Qi ever returns," Song Wenyu said, glancing at her with a smile, "Once that Ninth Princess arrives and catches everyone’s attention, no one will care about you. You’ll be under this Prince’s care. Didn’t you dislike that Ninth Princess of Nan Qi? This Prince will help you torment her, make her life a living hell."

For just a moment, Cui Jing felt satisfied, but she knew none of these people were good. They’d all humiliated her without mercy, and though she hated Song Chen, she hated these people too.

Seeing her remain silent, Song Wenyu grabbed her chin, drawing close, "If you don’t agree, life won’t be easy. Under this Prince’s protection, at least no one else can bully you."

"This Prince likes your appearance. In a few years, you’ll be even more beautiful. By then, without a master, who knows what fate awaits. You’d serve more than just one person, an untold number."

Cui Jing clenched her fists before finally speaking, "Is it up to me to agree or not?"

No matter her choices, won’t it depend on them?

As the daughter of a County Magistrate, even being harmed into this by the Ninth Princess, the Emperor of Nan Qi wouldn’t risk taking her back.

She feared she really wouldn’t be able to return.

This thought filled Cui Jing’s heart with sadness and distress.

What wrong had she committed to be fated with such a plight?

Why couldn’t Song Chen bear to see her well? This wasn’t the burden she deserved.

She never did anything wrong, always tolerating Song Chen enough. She’d never known hatred and anger until now, having fully experienced it these days.

If she truly couldn’t return, choosing someone to follow was indeed a way out.