Chapter 46
Chapter 46: Sweet Dreams and Nightmares, Who Wishes to Sink into Depravity?
***
Luo Chenxi gritted her teeth, supporting herself against the cold wall as she struggled to stand. Her eyes churned with fury that seemed ready to burst from her chest, even her breathing trembled with rage.
Though she was a princess, she was merely the illegitimate daughter of a promiscuous emperor.
Who her birth mother was, she had never known, let alone met.
And that lofty father treated her with nothing but coldness, unwilling to spare even a single extra glance her way.
Even these palace maids of lowly birth dared to bully her at will.
In this cruel imperial family, she felt not an ounce of familial affection.
If not for awakening her Phoenix bloodline, she might have died long ago in this detestable place.
“Oh my, our Princess, you can still stand up?”
The lead palace maid curled her lips, her tone dripping with mockery.
She didn’t consider this fallen princess worth anything at all. How many people in the palace wished for this eyesore to disappear quickly?
And she could conveniently squeeze out the last bit of profit before that happened.
“Hurry up and hand over your monthly allowance. You don’t want to suffer more, do you?”
A nearby palace maid slowly approached, the corner of her mouth curving into a sinister smile, her eyes like a snake eyeing its prey.
Though this princess was out of favor, she was still a princess. Her monthly allowance was much more than theirs.
Previously, they had been collecting it on her behalf, but this time the princess had gone to collect it herself.
How were they supposed to profit from that?
“You beasts, I will never give it to you!”
The fury in Luo Chenxi’s chest seemed ready to ignite.
If not for this pack of wolves, how would she have become so thin she was nothing but skin and bones?
How would she have struggled on the edge of life and death time and again?
Last time, after they seized her monthly allowance, she had been reduced to fighting dogs for scraps of food.
But this time… impossible!
One palace maid tried to grab Luo Chenxi, but was severely intimidated by her blazing eyes, her hand freezing mid-air.
“Hey, what are you afraid of?”
Seeing the palace maid’s hesitant appearance, the lead maid scolded her.
She strode forward several steps, preparing to take action herself.
But the moment she reached out, Luo Chenxi suddenly exploded like an enraged young beast, pouncing forward and biting down hard on that outstretched hand!
Her sharp teeth sank into flesh, and no matter how the other person pulled and cursed, she clenched her jaw tight. Even her gums bled, but she refused to let go even slightly.
“Ow! Are you a dog? Let go!”
The lead palace maid immediately screamed in agony, sweat instantly beading on her forehead.
The surrounding palace maids were frightened pale by this almost desperate viciousness, instinctively backing away repeatedly.
Seeing this scene, the bitten maid urgently shouted: “What are you standing around for? Help me get her off!”
Only then did the surrounding palace maids snap out of it, scrambling to try to pull Luo Chenxi away.
But Luo Chenxi still bit down relentlessly, looking like she wouldn’t give up until she tore off a chunk of flesh.
“Don’t pull her, just hit her head directly!” Feeling the increasing pain in her arm, the maid urgently shouted.
If she didn’t make her let go, she really might lose a piece of flesh.
Hearing this, one palace maid grabbed a wooden stick from nearby and swung it hard at Luo Chenxi’s head with a dull thud.
Pain!
A wave of intense dizziness struck, and Luo Chenxi was forced to release her bite.
The lead palace maid immediately flung her away with great force, sending Luo Chenxi crashing heavily to the ground, her bones hitting the floor with a dull sound.
Due to the continuous severe injuries, the already frail Luo Chenxi had blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, lying somewhat powerlessly on the cold palace tiles.
“Damn bitch, you actually dared to bite me. Beat her up!”
The bitten palace maid’s eyes flashed with bloodthirsty rage as she snatched the wooden stick and began raining blows on Luo Chenxi’s body.
Luo Chenxi tried to muster all her strength to crawl up, but was beaten down again…
‘Am I still this powerless…’
‘How much longer must I endure these dark days?’
‘Is there anyone who can save me?’
Luo Chenxi had forgotten how long it had been since she last cried. Perhaps she had already dried up all her tears long ago.
But now, why were her eyes beginning to moisten again?
This life was so hard, so exhausting…
Since childhood, struggling alone in the cold palace without father or mother, she had finally waited for her bloodline to awaken and felt the sunshine of this world.
But why was she dragged back into this bottomless darkness in an instant?
Warm blood was slowly flowing from her wounds. She suddenly felt her eyelids heavy as lead, and the consciousness in her mind began to blur like being shrouded in thick fog.
A lazy and bewitching voice suddenly drifted to her ears: “Sleep, fall asleep, and you’ll never hurt again…”
Really? If she slept, she wouldn’t suffer these pains anymore?
But… why did she still feel somewhat unwilling…
…
Warm sunlight filtered through the window lattice, gently falling on Lin Muyu’s face.
Her eyelashes fluttered lightly in the soft warmth as she slowly opened her eyes.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around.
“Mm, this place… seems so familiar?”
The furnishings before her were warm and familiar.
Floral curtains, wooden desk, a family photo hanging on the wall… but within this familiarity was a hint of unreal confusion.
“Didn’t I transmigrate? Was that just a dream?”
Lin Muyu rubbed her slightly aching head. Slowly, she seemed to begin forgetting something.
“Xiao Yu, come out and eat!”
A gentle and familiar voice came from outside the door.
Lin Muyu’s eyes widened suddenly, her pupils contracting sharply, her face filled with disbelief.
This voice… was it Mom? But Mom had clearly died in that great earthquake…
Without time to think further, Lin Muyu rushed out the door.
Before her stood a gentle woman with some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
“Mom?”
Lin Muyu murmured in disbelief.
Hadn’t her parents died in a massive earthquake when she was young?
Why…
“What are you standing there for? Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner.”
Hearing this gentle urging that was etched into her very bones, Lin Muyu could no longer hold back. Tears instantly burst forth as she rushed over and hugged Mother Lin’s waist tightly.
“Mom, wuu wuu wuu, I missed you so much.”
During countless nights at the orphanage, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, she had longed for such an embrace, such familial love.
“Silly child, why are you crying? We just saw each other yesterday, didn’t we?”
Mother Lin gently stroked Lin Muyu’s long hair, softly comforting her.
“Why are you crying and wailing so early in the morning?”
The nearby door opened, and a hearty middle-aged man’s voice came through.
Then a robust middle-aged man walked out from inside.
Lin Muyu’s eyes lit up, joy surging like a tide. She choked up as she called out:
“Dad, you’re here too!”
“Of course I’m here.” Father Lin asked strangely, his tone carrying its usual warmth.
The wild joy of long-awaited reunion overwhelmed her. Lin Muyu quickly broke free from Mother Lin’s embrace, planning to give Father Lin a big hug too.
But Father Lin stopped her with his hand against her head, saying:
“You’re a young lady now, you need to mind your image.”
Hearing these words, Lin Muyu was stunned.
“Young lady?”
Lin Muyu looked down at herself. She was wearing a beautiful floral dress.
The two soft mounds on her chest blocked her view.
Only then did she feel the smooth long hair falling freely across her cheeks.
She was now truly a girl!
‘No… shouldn’t I be a boy?’
‘Why?’
Lin Muyu suddenly felt her brain swelling with pain, as if countless needles were stabbing it.
She clutched her aching head tightly, her voice carrying tears and trembling: “No… this is all wrong!”
Seeing this situation, Father and Mother Lin hurriedly comforted her:
“What’s wrong, dear daughter? What’s not right?”
‘Everything is wrong!’
But she… why… had she forgotten something?
What exactly had she forgotten…