Yet, this didn't stop Meng Mei; her determination to torment her sister only intensified. She seemed to be driven by an unquenchable thirst for revenge. In her heart, there was no cure for her inner torment other than seeing Xiaohua suffer and be broken.
The darkness in her soul deepened as she spiraled further into this web of jealousy and hate, oblivious to the damage she was causing to herself and others. Little did she realize that the path she had chosen would lead her to a fate far worse than anything she could have imagined.
Death appeared to be the only escape from her own misery.
As Chen Meng Mei continues her schemes, her sister Chen Xiaohua's female lead halo only boosts, and more people become her allies, especially among the nobles.
In fact, Chen Xiaohua received a special invitation from the Fourth Imperial Princess and other ranked Princesses to participate in a significant ceremony at Xu Mountain's Jimeng Temple, where they will pray to Buddha for blessings and guidance.
When Chen Meng Mei learns of this invitation, she becomes furious. She can't understand why her sister, who was born to a concubine and considered of lower status, would have the privilege to accompany the imperial nobles to the ceremony.
She is upset, feeling that some of the Princesses are her close relatives, yet they didn't extend an invitation to her. And she is even more frustrated that her sister will have the chance to associate closely with the nobles, something she has always desired but failed to achieve.
Unaware that her own actions and character have caused people to dislike her, she becomes blinded by her jealousy.
Driven by her intense hatred, Chen Meng Mei invites her sister for a seemingly friendly tea, and when the opportunity arises, she cruelly pushes her innocent sibling into a pond, like a ferocious wave crashing upon a defenseless shore.
As a result of this wicked act, Chen Xiaohua falls ill from the cold embrace of the water. Seizing this chance, Chen Meng Mei shamelessly takes her sister's place at the Jimeng Temple and proceeds with her next scheme, disregarding the pain she caused to her own family.
In her next scheme, Chen Meng Mei plans to get closer to the Sixth Imperial Prince, Li Yi Cheng. She is motivated by her jealousy towards her sister's close relationship with the prince.
Chen Meng Mei is envious that her sister has the opportunity to befriend such a handsome and talented martial artist, who is also considered a potential candidate for the throne. She fears that if her sister continues to grow closer to the prince, Chen Xiaohua might eventually receive a title and a higher position than her within the palace.
To prevent this from happening, Chen Meng Mei decides to sow discord between the two before Chen Xiaohua can establish a strong position at the palace.
During the multi-day ceremony at the Jimeng Temple, she learns that the Sixth Royal Prince plans to go hunting on the third day. She seized this opportunity to execute her scheme.
Chen Mengmei plans to gain the prince's pity, knowing that men often feel compelled to save a damsel in distress. Believing that using her beauty to her advantage is a tactic that has worked for women throughout history, she decides to bribe some men in need of money and with strong physiques to act as bandits.
On the third day, during the ceremony at the Jimeng Temple, Chen Meng Mei excuses herself for a walk, ensuring her absence doesn't raise any suspicion. Along with her servant Dong'er, she pretends to innocently stroll through the area.
At a strategically planned moment, her hired bandits of Xu Mountain suddenly appear and begin to intimidate the two women, creating a frightening situation. Chen Meng Mei and Dong'er quickly flee from the scene, adding to the appearance of a genuine threat.
Frankly, her plan did work to some extent, but the Prince, Li Yi Cheng, proved to be a sharp and wise man, able to see through the underlying meaning behind Chen Meng Mei's scheme.
While she had staged the appearance of bandits in Xu Mountain to gain the Prince's compassion, there was a significant flaw in her plan.
YOU ARE READING
Destined Hearts
Historical Fiction"In a scripted world, she must pick: safety in lines or a heart's composed destiny." Qiang Xin Yi was just a regular woman living in the modern world. However, when she hit her head and somehow transferred her soul into a novel she had been reading...
