Substitute Bride Phoenix, The Tyrant's Pampered Demon Empress

In spite of that, she had not wanted to get inside that cage, just as she had been reluctant to serve one man alongside more women.

As such, she had resisted and rebelled, but with that tyrant resolving himself to keep her, there was no way an assassin such as her would choose suicide to escape reality. All she had was her stubborn resistance against destiny, which she ended up losing, conceding her heart in the process as well.

He had often brought her rare treasures as gifts, though she wanted none of it.

All she had wished for was her freedom, and most of all, she desired a man who would be with her forever.

Eventually, Nangong Ba had told her that he was willing to marry her and treat her well if she was willing. Even so, she had rejected him instinctively, and realized then that the tyrant had already left an irremovable mark on her.

She ran away, unwilling to admit it. Unexpectedly, she was forced to return to her cage as the poison kicked in halfway through her journey.

She eventually discovered that the tyrant could be soft on her if she did not challenge the limits of his patience, but she kept challenging it, perhaps because she wanted to test him.

It was only now that she understood that the tyrant’s limit was awfully strong. He could give her all his love, but that did not mean that she should test him—even if he would not fall out of love, he would discipline her fiercely.

Liu Rushuang sighed at the thought. There was tightness in her chest just then, and she was anxious to see that tyrant.

When love was carved into her very bones, she could never escape just because she wanted to.

Nangong Ba studied her perfect side-profile just then, his gaze turning distant and faintly melancholic like hers.

“Do you miss him?” He suddenly asked after a while.

His words were so light that it seemed to disappear into the winds right then, but Liu Rushuang still caught it—his lips curled into a smile as she looked down at her swelling belly, saying, “The children would, even if I don’t.”

“Milady, I want to play.”

Little White Flower suddenly came and clutched her arm, asking with a look of utter expectation.

Liu Rushuang turned around and pinched her cheeks with a smile. “Sure, but after you’ve eaten.”

The skies were filled with the red clouds of sunset and golden rays after the trio ate together.

Once again, their exceedingly good looks drew every pair of eyes towards them as they strolled through the streets.

Liu Rushuang’s dark hair was tied into a fine hair bun. Dressed in a red folded gown and exquisite jewelry, her beauty was unconcealed even though she had a red veil covering half her face, which added to her mystery.

Little White Flower had fun, but she was merely window shopping.

After crossing several streets, the trio arrived before the Liu’s residence.

Picking up Little White Flower, Liu Rushuang disappeared in a flash, and Nangong Ba quickly followed.

They landed at the Autumn Jade Yard to find that things had changed drastically—there were holes everywhere at the softer spots around the aged manor, and there were wooden planks piling in the yard.

The doors to the main house were suddenly opened and a young couple stepped out.

“W-Who are you? Why did you come here?” The man asked.

Liu Rushuang took a deep breath, while her gaze became distant as she looked around.

She could not help feeling upset when she remembered that Wu Xiyu—her mother in this life, had been bullied to death.

Her mother had done not wrong. Her only mistakes were being born and giving birth to Liu Rushuang, but such an explanation was simply ridiculous.

In the end, the only problem was Prime Minister Liu, the man who always preferred the new over the old, and overvalued every last ounce of profit.