Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

"The queen always confides in you, especially about things that bother her," Wen Jinkai said. "Has she ever said anything bad about Minghua, especially since she's been in the palace for nearly three years?"

The second prince pursed his lips. "You know I can't reveal my conversation with my mother, just like I can't let her know what you said."

"Just tell me."

"You've been saying bad things about Minghua since I knew she was in the palace." Wang Jing had a blank expression on his face. He stared at his good friend disapprovingly.

Wen Jinkai hated the resemblance between Wang Jing and the Queen. They both frowned and pursed their lips when things were not going well or they were just upset.

Staring at Wang Jing was like staring at the queen. Perhaps this was why she wanted to protect the second prince the most. This made her believe that there was still beauty in this world, and perhaps she did not use her children to consolidate her throne.

"Only when we're fighting."

"You ignored her in the palace." Wang Jing said slowly. "All this is because you are sure that friendship is more important than her."

collision!

Wang Jing didn't even blink when Wen Jinkai swept the entire set of tea sets to the floor. It hit the wooden floor with a loud bang, and the porcelain pieces were shattered.

Before Wang Jing, who was as calm as an ancient tree, could even react, Wen Jinkai jumped up from his chair, his face livid. Wen Jinkai looked ready for war, but the only battle was the conflict within him.

The truth was too hard to hear, too hard to accept, too hard to bear. He couldn't accept the reality of his behavior towards Li Minghua in the palace. It was the only thing he regretted, but what could he do? He could never turn back time.

Wang Jing did not stop there. "How could you do this to her? She is a young woman who is alone in the palace and has suffered from the torture of her father's harem. Apart from you and Long He, she has no other friends or companions."

"Enough-"

"I've heard that she's undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in the palace. When she walks through those doors, everyone comments on how bright and happy she looks, like there's a glimmer of hope buried beneath the darkness."

"Wang Jing, I swear if you don't shut up--"

"Jincai, what did you do to her? She left the palace, a shell of the girl she once was. I have never seen someone so defeated and heartbroken. You took away the little happiness she had and trampled on the heart she gave you".

Wang Jing stood up. "Maybe the mother was also at fault, because she never liked the women her sons chose. She liked to choose brides for her children. And vice versa. You know," he said, his eyes becoming firm.

"You know that Mother will be merciless to Li Minghua. She is the daughter of Prince Li Chenyang and Lady Wang Qixing. You know the history that happened before we were born, and you also know that the Queen will despise Li Minghua."

"Wang Jing, if you don't shut up, I'll never see you again!" Wen Jinkai roared and rushed towards his friend. He grabbed the second prince's collar roughly and pulled him close. "If you dare to say another word, I'll cut your throat."

"You know so much." Wang Jing shook his head, disappointed in his beloved friend. "But you didn't protect her. You believed that your mother had bad intentions towards you. You believed that Minghua was a whore who played with the heart of the Fourth Prince. But you also knew -"

Wen Jinkai grabbed Wang Jing's throat and strangled the second prince to death. Wang Jing gasped.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Wen Jinkai roared, staring deeply into the sparkling eyes of the bewildered Second Prince. Staring into those eyes was like staring into the queen’s pleading eyes.

His mind swirled, flashing back to when he too had grabbed his mother by the collar, and she looked up at him with tears in her eyes, desperate for her favorite son to obey.

"Son, she will destroy you! She doesn't love you, she loves the freedom you give her! She loves the Fourth Prince, but she can't get him, so she went to find you! The only reason she agreed to marry you is because she wanted to be closer to the Fourth Prince!"

Her cries echoed in his mind, taunting him forever. He was forced to remember all the things he had tried so hard to forget. The memories rushed through him suddenly and relentlessly.

Soon after she made her bold statement, Wen Jinkai rushed out of the room to look for Li Minghua. Looking for his woman, his wife, his everything. He found her. In this case, his mother had warned him against it.

He would never forget the confession. He would never forget the terrified look on Li Minghua's face when Wen Jinkai caught her. Wen Jinkai had no way of knowing whether it was the terrified expression of being caught or the terrified expression of confessing. He didn't need to do this. He had already drawn a conclusion for her.

"Minghua, come with me! Please, I beg you. I will cherish you more than Wen Jinkai! You don't have to live in this suffocating palace anymore. I will take you out."

The fourth prince held her tightly, "I know you don't love Wen Jinkai, I know he is your conspiracy to escape from the prince, so come with me, I will give you unparalleled freedom. As long as you accept this ring of mine, I will take you out of this hell."

Wen Jinkai's blood boiled. He couldn't stand it for a second in this palace full of power-hungry scum. He couldn't stand it for a minute around the queen, who smiled as if she hadn't ruined a single thing Wen Jinkai cared about.

Wen Jinkai knew he would never leave the Imperial Family. Not now. Not ever. He owed them—a couple who had taken in an abandoned child and raised him to be a commander. How could he turn his back on the people who had sheltered him? Given him everything he wanted? Loved him when his own flesh and blood didn't?

How could he?

Suddenly, Wen Jinkai remembered something Li Minghua had told him. "I love you," Li Minghua confessed, "I want you more than I want air. When I'm with you, I can't see anyone else but you. I don't ask for anything in return from marriage, I just want you and your endless admiration. Can you promise me that?"

Wen Jinkai readily agreed to this promise, but never fulfilled it. He gave her the whole world, but treated her like scum.

Wang Jing's expression eased a little. He watched Wen Jinkai slowly let go of him and slid to the ground in complete defeat. The Wuyi commander, the battlefield demon lord, knelt on the ground.

"You ruined her." Wang Jing muttered. "Why did you do this?!?" he shouted, grabbing Wen Jinkai.

Wang Jing was stunned by Wen Jinkai's haunted expression. It seemed that nothing in the world could make him smile. It seemed that all hope was shattered and happiness was just an illusion.

"Li Minghua has never meant anything to you?" Wang Jing's voice was hoarse, but he didn't care. He was overwhelmed by the emotions that had been suppressed for too long.

"She never meant to betray you. None of the lies your mother told you were true! She did nothing but love you and crave your attention! You villain!"

Wang Jing shook Wen Jinkai roughly and frantically.

"And you deserve to die!" Wang Jing roared, "How could you destroy her like this? How could you destroy her unconditional love for you?! Are you still human?!"

Wen Jinkai let out a cold, lifeless laugh. When he was the victim, everyone saw him as the villain. "If Wang Jing sees me as the villain, so be it. I'll play the role that satisfies him."

Wen Jinkai's mouth twisted into a sadistic smile, his eyes wide and full of madness. "I like to destroy the only beautiful thing in my life."