Abandoned and Rescued

Within the Palace, a small, blonde-haired Jiu Hua sat upon her bed, a joyful smile gracing her adorable face.

Earlier that day, she had received word that the Queen would personally lead an expedition. Seizing an opportune moment, she had stealthily relayed this critical information, unnoticed by those assigned to watch her. The recent praise she received for her efforts filled Jiu Hua with immense joy.

Finally, she was no longer a fool!

Jiu Hua puffed out her chest, her expression radiating with newfound pride and a touch of arrogance.

‘Let’s see who dares to call me a fool once I return!’

“Hmph!” Jiu Hua hummed softly, a triumphant curve gracing her lips. Her two smooth, slender legs dangled playfully from the edge of the bed, her bare feet exposed to the cool air, almost inviting a playful squeeze.

Suddenly, a resounding bang echoed through the room!

The door splintered open, and a dark silhouette materialized before Jiu Hua. She stared at the abrupt appearance, her small face frozen in stunned disbelief.

“Fool, don’t just stand there gawking! Come out, now!”

The figure glared at the petrified Jiu Hua, a wave of exasperation washing over them. ‘I risked my neck to come rescue you, and you’re just going to gape at me?!’

Jiu Hua, incensed by being called a fool yet again, retorted loudly,

“Stop calling me a fool! I relayed crucial intelligence!”

Hearing this, the figure let out an impatient ‘Tsk!’ With a blur of motion, they appeared beside Jiu Hua, seizing her by the arm and pulling her along as they bolted out of the room.

“If you hadn’t relayed that intel, I wouldn’t have bothered coming for you!”

At this, Jiu Hua’s anger flared even hotter. “Hey! What do you mean by that? We’re companions, aren’t we? You wouldn’t even come to rescue me?!”

The figure halted, setting Jiu Hua down. They gazed at her puffed-out, indignant face, a cruel smile twisting their lips. “Companions? Are you referring to us? Your current strength alone disqualifies you from being my companion. Even if you were powerful, among us, there is no such concept of ‘companionship.’ The moment you lose your value to me, I will abandon you without a second thought.”

Observing Jiu Hua, who had once again fallen into a state of bewildered shock, the figure’s face reverted to its previous impassive expression. They spoke in a flat tone, “Very well. You’ve now left that room, which means I have successfully rescued you.”

“My mission awaits. As for you, you have no assigned task; your name wasn’t even mentioned during the mission briefing. Though you may be foolish, surely you can grasp the implications of that, can’t you? So, consider carefully what you should do next. I’m departing.”

With that, they turned and walked away, not waiting for Jiu Hua to utter a single word.

A faint whisper drifted back to Jiu Hua’s ears from the retreating figure.

“I truly don’t know how you’ve managed to survive in that place until now.”

After a long moment, Jiu Hua finally snapped back to reality, though her face had turned a shade paler. Despite her usual dim-wittedness, she had fully comprehended the figure’s chilling words.

She had been abandoned. Abandoned yet again. Once more, she found herself with nowhere to go.

That place had been harsh, filled with people who constantly scorned and cursed her. Yet, it was the place that had taken her in when she was on the brink of starvation, and for that, she had always harbored a deep sense of gratitude.

The training had been brutal, but she had persevered. The constant disdain from others, she had borne it all, even meeting their gazes with a smile. But why? Why, despite everything, had they still abandoned her?

Jiu Hua stood motionless in the corridor. The vast, empty space was so eerily silent that a chill seeped into her very bones. Eventually, she sank to the ground, her cute face streaked with twin rivulets of tears.

Her large, watery blue eyes, once sparkling with life, now brimmed with a heartbreaking sorrow.

Just then, two figures emerged from the shadows. Gazing at Jiu Hua huddled on the floor, Xiao Lü turned to Xiao Lan and spoke, “You should report the situation here to the Queen. I’ll stay and see to this little one.”

Xiao Lan, hearing this, cast a glance at Jiu Hua on the ground, a fleeting expression of pity in her eyes. She nodded once, then turned and departed.

Jiu Hua seemed utterly oblivious to the two figures who had appeared. Her face remained fixed in a dazed stupor, tears still flowing from her wide, vacant eyes.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. Jiu Hua looked up, her gaze landing on a beautiful young woman in a maid uniform, a gentle smile gracing her lips. Jiu Hua recognized her; she was the lady-in-waiting to the very person Jiu Hua had once attempted to assassinate.

Xiao Lü regarded Jiu Hua, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she spoke,

“It seems you’ve been abandoned. Would you care to join us? Our treatment here is rather favorable, you know.”

Eh?

Jiu Hua froze for a moment, her tears inexplicably ceasing their flow. She couldn’t quite process why someone who had previously been an enemy was now extending an invitation to her.

At that moment, a flicker of disappointment crossed Xiao Lü’s features as she looked at Jiu Hua.

“Are you going to refuse?”

At her words, Jiu Hua immediately panicked, waving her hands frantically. “No, no…”

The disappointment on Xiao Lü’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a radiant joy. “You’ve agreed? Wonderful! Come, let’s get you changed into a lovely maid uniform.”

“Eh? Wait—” Jiu Hua, abruptly pulled to her feet by Xiao Lü, wore a completely bewildered expression.

‘What is happening?’

Xiao Lü, however, paid no mind to Jiu Hua’s bewildered state. She gently wiped away the tear streaks from Jiu Hua’s face, then simply pulled her along, moving forward.

Jiu Hua blinked, watching Xiao Lü lead her away. ‘Have I just been forcefully taken in?’

‘Still, it doesn’t feel bad at all.’

As Jiu Hua watched Xiao Lü, whose lips were curved in a faint smile ahead of her, this thought spontaneously arose in her mind.

****

Inside Lisa’s chambers, Xiao Lan stood before her, relaying the events that had just transpired.

Upon hearing the report, a cold glint flashed in Lisa’s eyes.

‘So, it has begun.’

“Leave the situation with that child to Xiao Lü. You are to proceed to Jiu Hui’s side immediately and remain with her until this affair concludes. Should she exhibit any extreme reactions, incapacitate her first, then bring her to me.”

Lisa instructed Xiao Lan.

Xiao Lan acknowledged with a nod, then turned and departed.

Meanwhile, Lisa had already donned the soft armor she had worn upon their very first encounter. Her long, crimson hair cascaded down her back, and her jewel-red eyes burned with fierce resolve.

“Five, inform One and Two: leave no one alive!”

“Understood!”

A cold voice resonated through the spacious room.

****