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The pitch-black room where Yuqi had been confined for days felt like a tomb. Each day, the only human contact she had was with a menacing figure who brought her a small ration of water and a coarse bun to sustain her life—nothing more.
At first, she naively believed that her cooperation with Young Miss Su Li would earn her favor once again. During the first couple of days in captivity, she shouted loudly, calling out for help and questioning the person who delivered her meager meals.
But as the days dragged on, despair slowly crept into her heart. Was Young Miss planning to lock her away forever?
Just as she sat numbly in the corner, voices echoed outside the door.
"Miss, please come in. She's inside."
Yuqi raised her head, squinting as the door creaked open. Shielding her eyes from the sudden intrusion of light after days without sunlight, she saw a woman dressed in red enter the room. Behind her stood Siqin, whom Yuqi recognized immediately.
"Young Miss? You've finally come! Are you here to take me out?" Yuqi blurted out in surprise, hope flickering in her voice.
Su Li surveyed the tiny, damp cell, its oppressive atmosphere reminiscent of the dungeon she had been imprisoned in during her past life.
"Yes," Su Li said indifferently, "I've come to take you out."
Overcome with joy, Yuqi tried to stand up, but weakened by days of hunger, she stumbled and fell back to the ground.
Su Li smiled faintly. "I can let you go, but we still have some unfinished business to settle."
Yuqi's fleeting happiness turned into wary suspicion. It was clear now—Young Miss had no intention of sparing her. Otherwise, why would she have kept her locked up for so long?
"What unfinished business?" Yuqi asked cautiously.
Su Li chuckled softly. "Nothing much. I simply need something from you."
Confused, Yuqi questioned, "What could Young Miss possibly want from someone like me?"
"Your eyes," Su Li replied coolly.
Seeing that Su Li wasn't joking, Yuqi's eyes widened in terror. Coming to her senses, she quickly dropped to her knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Please spare me, Young Miss! It was my foolishness to think Lady Second had better prospects than you. I was wrong! Please forgive me, Young Miss!"
"Miss, I've served you since I was young! How can you bear to do this? Siqin! Siqin! Please plead for me! Sister Siqin, I'll never compete with you for favor ever again. Please, I beg of you… please!"
Siqin opened her mouth as if to speak, hesitated, then closed it again. In the end, she remained silent, standing stoically behind Su Li.
Su Li glanced at Siqin, satisfaction flickering across her face. Then, she turned her gaze back to Yuqi, raising an eyebrow.
No matter what Yuqi had done in this lifetime, Su Li wouldn't forgive her. If Yuqi chose to interpret losing her eyes as punishment for blindly choosing the wrong master, so be it.
In her past life, the tragedies of Siqin, Zhishu, and Mohua were all, to varying degrees, linked to Yuqi. After all, the loyalty of those three girls served as constant reminders of Yuqi's betrayal.
Of course, Su Li couldn't deny her own culpability. As their mistress, not only had she failed to protect them, but she had also blindly trusted others, becoming a tool used against her own people.
Watching Yuqi grovel on the floor, Su Li coldly stated, "You can keep either your life or your eyes. Choose one."
Yuqi froze, paralyzed by the cruel choice before her. What kind of decision was this? She had no power, no support—if she lost her eyes, wouldn't death be inevitable?
But the thought of dying outright was unbearable. She simply couldn't bring herself to choose death.
When Yuqi remained silent for too long, Su Li prompted, "Have you decided yet? If not, I'll choose for you."
"I choose to live!" Yuqi cried out desperately. Better to live miserably than die; even without her eyes, she still had her hands.
Su Li nodded. "Very well. As you wish."
With that, she turned and left the room, Siqin trailing silently behind her.
As Su Li walked toward the courtyard gate, Yuqi's blood-curdling screams pierced through the air.
Unfazed, Su Li continued walking steadily, leaving the courtyard behind.