Chapter 1

The sky was dotted with countless stars, and the moonlight was gentle. It was a tranquil night, but it was suddenly broken by a sharp slap.

*Slap!*

*Thud!*

In an extremely quiet garden, a figure suddenly fell to the ground. The person lying there first shuddered and looked up at the two figures approaching her, a man and a woman. Her eyes widened in fear, and her heart trembled.

"Why... why did you deceive me?"

The woman's pale, thin face was streaked with tears, and her body trembled, whether from fear or anger.

The man and woman approaching her were people she knew and relied on deeply. The woman was her elder sister, Bingxuan, and the man was Ning Cong'an, who had showered her with sweet words, making her fall deeply in love and completely dependent on him.

Ning Cong'an was the third prince of the Tian Nan Kingdom in the Lan Mu continent, always coveting the throne. Bingxuan, his sister, was the eldest daughter and beloved of Prime Minister Bing Heng, known as the most beautiful woman in Tian Nan. Not only was she stunningly beautiful, but she was also highly talented, deeply loved and admired by the young men of the capital, even by some self-proclaimed refined scholars who greatly respected her talent.

As for the woman lying on the ground, she was also a daughter of Prime Minister Bing Heng, but only a daughter of a concubine. Her status was low, and she had an ordinary appearance and no talent or virtue. Compared to Bingxuan, she was like a commoner, always being mocked and ridiculed.

Bingyan had long been accustomed to looking up to her sister Bingxuan, always admiring and worshiping her. She, an ordinary girl, had never imagined that a man as excellent as Ning Cong'an would like her.

But Ning Cong'an did appear. She remembered one time when she was bullied and ridiculed by a group of young nobles. She was filled with resentment and anger but dared not act. Ning Cong'an appeared like a god, not only scolding those people but also consoling her with great care.

Ning Cong'an was of noble birth, talented, and handsome. Most importantly, he was always gentle and refined, his eyes filled with tenderness whenever he looked at her. She fell deeper and deeper in love, and Ning Cong'an became increasingly gentle and caring towards her.

She once thought she was the happiest woman in the world. But just now, everything was completely overturned.

Tonight, she couldn't sleep, so she put on a coat and came out to get some fresh air. For some reason, her feet led her to her sister's courtyard. Perhaps everything was destined, and she could only be the pitiful one!

Under the moonlight, a handsome man and a beautiful woman were embracing, a scene that was both pleasing to the eye and beautiful. But she stared with wide eyes, recognizing the two figures as her fairy-like sister Bingxuan and the third prince Ning Cong'an, who had always said he loved her.

The two whispered sweet nothings under the moonlight, their affection deep and tender, but she felt as if she had been doused in ice water from head to toe, shivering with cold.

"Cong'an, aren't you going to take action yet? I feel my body getting weaker recently. I'm really worried that I might suddenly leave and never see you again," Bingxuan's beautiful face, illuminated by the moonlight, was even more radiant. Her eyes glistened with tears, making her look so fragile that anyone would want to hold her, comfort, and protect her.

Ning Cong'an, one of those men, held Bingxuan's waist, his eyes filled with endless love, indulgence, and concern for her: "Don't worry. I have already made her completely devoted to me. In a few days, I will fulfill my promise to you. You are the woman I love most in this life, and I will never let you be hurt. Bingxuan, I will make you the happiest woman in the world, and I will achieve greatness with you."

Bingxuan was deeply moved but hesitated: "But will your sister agree?" She seemed to think of something, biting her lip, on the verge of tears. "I didn't agree at first. You approached her in this way, knowing her condition, trying to seduce her. She is so infatuated with you now, don't you feel anything for her?" A cold light flashed in Bingxuan's eyes. That ugly, foolish sister, just a daughter of a concubine, barely higher in status than a servant, actually dared to compete with her for Cong'an. She should see how she measures up to her.

But when a woman is jealous, there is no reason. She knew Ning Cong'an wouldn't like Bingyan, but she couldn't let anyone take him away!

Ning Cong'an was taken aback, seeing Bingxuan's委屈, but he laughed: "Haha, Xuan'er is actually jealous. You can rest assured. Bingyan, with her ugly face and lack of talent and virtue, I could never be interested in her. She is so plain that she would be lost in a crowd, not even qualified to be the lowest servant in my prince's mansion. But I am very happy that Xuan'er is jealous, it shows how much you love me."

Bingxuan blushed, lightly hitting Ning Cong'an's chest: "But how could she not be moved by a young and talented man like you? If she clings to you, and she is my sister, it would be bad for both our reputations." Bingxuan frowned, her pale face, weakened by illness, looking even more delicate and beautiful.

Ning Cong'an frowned: "You have a point. Your illness requires a blood relative's blood to be used in a potion for recovery. Prime Minister, a pillar of the state, cannot take the risk, and if anything happened to the Prime Minister's wife, you would be worried. Only Bingyan fits the condition. Originally, only a bowl of blood was needed, but I can drain her blood completely, and no one would know."

And according to the young nobleman, although only a bowl of blood was needed, there might be side effects, which is why Prime Minister Bing Heng and his wife were hesitant. In the Prime Minister's mansion, besides the Prime Minister and his wife, only Bingyan and Bingxuan were blood relatives.

Bingyan's eyes clearly brightened, but before she could say anything, a sharp *slap* suddenly sounded. Ning Cong'an was startled and shouted: "Who's there!"

He quickly ran over and saw Bingyan, who had fallen to the ground in panic and pain under the willow tree. Their secret was discovered, and Ning Cong'an's eyes, which had once been gentle and refined, now showed a deadly intent.

Bingxuan also ran over and, seeing the shocked and fallen Bingyan, was equally shocked. Thinking of what she and Ning Cong'an had said being overheard, her beautiful face turned cold.

Bingxuan's perfect image was deeply ingrained, and no one could tarnish her reputation. If what happened just now got out, it would be a stain on her image. She looked coldly at the trembling Bingyan and said, her voice icy: "Yan'er, did you hear what we said?"

Bingyan shook her head frantically, but her face was filled with extreme fear. Finally, she looked at Ning Cong'an with tears streaming down her face, hoping to see concern and pity in his eyes. But she was disappointed; all she saw was coldness and disgust.

"Xuan'er, there's no need to talk to her anymore. Kill her."

At that moment, Bingyan felt the world turn dark. Her vision went black, and out of instinctive fear, she screamed: "No, don't! I didn't hear anything, I don't know, I know nothing, I won't say anything!"

Bingxuan's eyes were cold, but she spoke softly to Ning Cong'an: "Cong'an, since our secret has been discovered, we can't leave any witnesses. But we need to wait two more days."

Ning Cong'an nodded in agreement: "Xuan'er is right. This wretch has a few more days to live, and her usefulness hasn't been fully utilized yet."

Bingxuan smiled demurely, but her eyes looked at Bingyan as if she were already dead. Bingyan felt her heart constrict, and she screamed: "No! I am your sister. You deceived me, and now you want my life. You would even kill your own sibling. How laughable, the world sees you as a fairy, but you are just a venomous and evil woman. Hahaha, how laughable, you will be punished, you will all die a terrible death!"

Bingxuan's face changed, and she suddenly turned and slapped Bingyan hard. A red mark immediately appeared on her pale face, showing how hard Bingxuan had hit her. Bingxuan's usually gentle and charming voice now sounded like the voice of a hellish demon to Bingyan: "Wretch, you are just the offspring of a lowly concubine, destined to be trampled under my feet, only fit to carry my shoes. If it weren't for the fact that you are my sister and can help me with my illness, do you think I would have kept you alive? Have you ever thought about why the Prime Minister's mansion has so few children? If I hadn't discovered this illness when I was young, you would have died like the others long ago."

"You... you are so evil!" Bingyan gasped, her body trembling violently. But Bingxuan and Ning Cong'an gave her no more chances.

She was locked in a small, dark room until the day she was taken away by Ning Cong'an to pay with her life for Bingxuan's treatment.