She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 355 - 354 You’re right, I, Yan Wanqing, am not a good person.
Chapter 355: Chapter 354 You’re right, I, Yan Wanqing, am not a good person.
The violent wind raged outside, while within, the maids served tea. For a brief moment, all that could be heard was the delicate clinking of the teacups.
Yan Wanqing leisurely sipped her tea, with no intention of initiating conversation.
Her first impression of the Angel Envoy was one of dislike.
Towards those she disliked, she naturally had no inclination to speak first.
Meanwhile, the Angel Envoy was preoccupied with wondering when the rain would start, considering how to coordinate with Huai Xinmei’s forces both inside and out later on.
Just then, Cong Ge rushed in from outside in a panic: "Miss!"
"What happened?" Yan Wanqing asked as she set down her cup, knowing that Cong Ge was always very reliable; something significant must have occurred to cause her such agitation.
Cong Ge glanced at the Angel Envoy in the room but, regardless of his presence, spoke out directly.
"A group of people have surrounded the mansion outside, and they’re making a racket."
Yan Wanqing narrowed her eyes, her peach blossom irises filled with coldness. She laughed lightly, "Oh? What are they clamoring about?"
"They’re claiming that Miss has colluded with enemies and fled from the Capital City to the Northern Border and they’re demanding that Miss come out and give an explanation. Otherwise, they threaten to burn us all to death within this residence," Cong Ge reported with a pale face, repeating everything she had heard at the entrance.
Yan Wanqing gracefully stood up: "It seems that matters outside are quite urgent." She looked at Shen Shuyun, "Then I must excuse myself and go see what’s happening outside."
Ever since Cong Ge entered the room, Shen Shuyun had been restless. Seeing that Yan Wanqing was about to leave, she quickly said, "Miss, I’ll come with you."
"Yes, let’s go together; there’s strength in numbers," the Angel Envoy promptly stood up and added.
Throughout it all, he wore a mask. Yan Wanqing gave him a cursory and unfriendly examination that made the Angel Envoy’s scalp tingle. Just when he thought he could no longer bear it, Yan Wanqing finally averted her gaze.
"That might be wise, just don’t get frightened later on." She dropped this remark and briskly stepped out of the front hall.
At that moment, the ferocious wind made the lanterns fly chaotically through the air, impossible to light.
After traversing the dimly-lit corridor, Yan Wanqing arrived at the main entrance.
From a distance, she could already hear the shouts for her to come out; up close, those calls were even more deafening.
It seemed today’s crowd had come on a full stomach.
"Open the gate," Yan Wanqing motioned with her hand, instructing the gatekeeper.
Without a word, the gatekeeper removed the beam bracing the door.
Yan Wanqing stepped forward, and as the gate opened, she was fully exposed to the crowd outside.
A dense throng stood outside the gate, most of whom she had seen at the City Lord’s banquet.
"Yan Wanqing, you’ve finally shown yourself. Do you remember who I am?!" The speaker stood at the back of the crowd, which parted to let her move to the front.
Yan Wanqing watched the figure shrouded in dark garments with an expressionless face: "Chen Wei’s wife."
"I didn’t expect you to recognize me." Mrs. Chen removed her hood, revealing strands of gray amidst her black hair, and glared at Yan Wanqing: "Yan Wanqing, where is my son, Chen Di? Hand him over!" ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"Mrs. Chen, you’ve gathered such a crowd just to demand Chen Di?" Yan Wanqing’s voice was soft, yet audible to everyone present: "Chen Di imprisoned my younger sister, an unforgivable crime. I merely gave him a taste of his own medicine. Why are you so angry? Is it because you’re used to being the City Lord’s wife, thinking that officials may kindle fires while ordinary folk can’t even light lamps?"
Mrs. Chen’s eyelids twitched in anger, but before she could speak, Wu Zhen pushed her to the side.
"Don’t bother arguing with these people; it’s pointless!" At the gate, torches reached for the sky, lighting up the surroundings with a blazing clarity.
No wonder they could protect the torches from the strong winds.
Yan Wanqing watched as Wu Zhen stared at her intently. She curved her red lips into a smile, "It seems Mrs. Wu has come prepared as well."
"Of course!" Wu Zhen snorted coldly, "Yan Wanqing, everyone present has gathered here fully prepared. Do you really think that by secretly fleeing the Capital City, the things you’ve done would go unnoticed?"
"What things?" Yan Wanqing crossed her arms, "It must be something significant for all the notable people of the Northern Border to assemble here. Go ahead and enlighten this Commandery Princess."
"Bring a chair over here, it’s tiring to stand. I, the Commandery Princess, will sit and listen." She raised her hand and the gatekeeper promptly brought a chair.
Yan Wanqing sat on the steps, looking down at the crowd with an audaciously defiant demeanor.
Wu Zhen gritted her teeth in hatred.
Enjoy your arrogance for now; soon, you’ll have no place to be buried!
"Still playing the part of a princess, I see." Wu Zhen ascended the steps, standing in front of Yan Wanqing, "You’ve conspired with the Demon Empress to rebel, which is already known throughout the Northern Border. What right do you and the Yan Family have to enjoy the status and honors granted by the Imperial Family? Right now, you are nothing but a traitorous fugitive from the Capital City, an enemy of the state whom anyone is entitled to execute!"
Wu Zhen spoke quickly, her emotions running high, stirring up the crowd holding their torches to chant.
"Traitorous enemy of the state!"
"An enemy whom anyone is entitled to execute!"
"Traitorous enemy of the state—"
"Repent with your death—!"
Yan Wanqing surveyed the crowd, reflections of the firelight dancing in her peach blossom eyes. She looked up at Wu Zhen, "Repent with death, is that your goal?"
Wu Zhen sneered, "If you have any sense of shame or decency, remembering your father, the Country-Guarding Duke, as an eternal loyalist, you would repent with death to console the spirits of the former Emperor and your father in heaven. Everyone knows the Duke spent his life upright and loyal, devoted to his country. How could he have produced such a defiantly treasonous offspring?"
"Defiantly treasonous?" Yan Wanqing murmured these words.
By her acts in the Capital City alone, indeed, she could hardly be considered loyal or patriotic, but defiantly treasonous she was not willing to admit.
"Do not preach to others what you haven’t practiced, Mrs. Wu. Do you understand the meaning of this phrase?" She donned a meaningful smile, "Your people went to the Capital City. They must know, when I, Yan Wanqing, left the city, it was not in rebellion. In front of the Golden Throne Hall, the former Emperor had long lost the people’s hearts. He himself wrote the Imperial Edict of Conviction declaring his abdication. My actions were merely to provide a clear explanation to the court and the warriors. As for repenting with death..."
A mischievous glint passed through her peach blossom eyes as she casually crossed her legs, "By just your hands?"
Her tone was full of contempt, making everyone present uncomfortable.
"Yan Wanqing, your shamelessness knows no bounds. You’ve murdered countless people and conspired to rebel without realizing it, daring to be so brazen in front of us all!" Huai Xinmei couldn’t hold back any longer and rushed to the front of the crowd.
Today, she wasn’t dressed in all white, but in black, with bright red lips, looking enchanting yet terrifying.
"What exactly are you so proud of?" Huai Xinmei pointed at Yan Wanqing and scolded, "You, a murderer and impostor, what gives you the right to look down on us?"
Seeing Huai Xinmei’s expression at this moment, Yan Wanqing understood that she must have learned of her brother’s death.
But it didn’t matter.
Since she had done it, she had no intention of hiding it any longer.
"Fine, since you all say so, I’ve never planned to argue." Yan Wanqing spoke forthrightly, "You’re right, I, Yan Wanqing, am not a good person. I have blood on my hands, I’ve killed countless people, I’m morally corrupt, I’ve deceived my masters and ancestors and even conspired to rebel. Every single accusation is true..."
