I Am Loaded with Passive Skills

Her personality has always been like this, straightforward and unbridled, never overthinking things— even now, as she languishes in the Cold Prison.

Yue Gonghui's expression, however, turned unpleasant.

He thought he had shown sufficient respect, addressing her repeatedly as "Your Majesty" while practically groveling, even swallowing his pride.

All for just a single jade scroll, a single word, or even merely a sound from her— and yet she refuses?

"I..."

"Weren't you calling yourself 'Old Minister' just a moment ago?"

Before Yue Gonghui could finish, Yue Gongnu lowered her gaze, her fingers gliding across her zither. The abrupt resonance of the strings carried a weight of chilling intent.

"Uh..."

He was taken aback.

So sensitive? He hadn't even begun to change his tone.

But Yue Gongnu clearly knew exactly what he was thinking.

Over the years, she'd seen enough of the coldness of human relationships. Few among those who came to visit her meant it sincerely.

Some were here to beg for something, others to inquire about something, still others for other motives… Everyone had their own hidden agenda. She let out a light chuckle and said:

"Ali merely went for self-destruction and hasn't perished yet, right?"

"You don't have to respect me if you don't wish to, and in the future, do us all a favor and refrain from coming."

"But at least show some respect toward Yue Gongli. No matter what, I am still his elder sister, the sister of the Holy Emperor's successor."

This was clearly an indirect way of expelling him.

Yue Gongnu felt she had already shown him very little courtesy. If he were any reasonable person, by now he'd either be furious or humiliated enough to leave without delay.

But Yue Gonghui didn't. After his face contorted briefly, he tried one last time to plead: "My lady, I truly mean it— Ah Si cannot die out there. He is a shadow, and the current situation has become too critical..."

"Are you negotiating with a criminal?"

"Uh..."

"Do you wish to dwell in the cell next to mine?"

"Uh..."

Yue Gonghui's expression darkened and flickered with hesitation, caught between the urge to explode in frustration and the reluctance to degrade himself further by begging.

Yue Gongnu was, as always, innately compassionate.

He never anticipated that this visit would see him eating rejection as though being driven away by force.

But was Yue Gongnu merely a criminal?

Even after thirty years in the Cold Prison, she had been raised from a young age as the successor to the Holy Emperor. She was, in truth, the rightful heir!

Her very mindset had always been that of a superior.

Noticing Yue Gonghui standing motionless, Yue Gongnu shifted her gaze to the door and remarked, "Earlier, there were two voices outside, weren't there?"

Though bereft of spiritual senses, Yue Gongnu still had her ears.

She could clearly distinguish two voices previously outside the door, one of which sounded faintly like Dai'er.

Dai'er was her former close maidservant, someone she once had a deep bond with.

After Yue Gongli was made the Holy Emperor's successor, Dai'er had been sent to serve him at Tingyu Pavilion.

After all, a criminal was not entitled to retain a maid, yet Dai'er had often acted as a messenger between the siblings.

In her frequent visits, this girl was also the one who came to see her most often.

"Dai'er?"

Yue Gongnu called softly.

It may have been inappropriate for her to personally show Yue Gonghui out, but surely a maid from Tingyu Pavilion, someone loyal to Young Master Li, could handle it?

"Wah..."

From outside the door came a tearful young maiden, her hands rubbing at her eyes, sniffling as tears streamed down her face.

Yue Gongnu froze for a moment. Turning her gaze back from Yue Gonghui to Dai'er, her delicate face visibly frosted over with coldness:

"What happened?"

Her hand rested upon the zither.

Though no sound emerged, everyone within the cell felt as though they'd dropped into an icy abyss.

"Wah wah wah..."

Dai'er continued crying, too afraid to speak.

Yue Gonghui also turned toward her, his face perplexed before he turned his back to Yue Gongnu— only to seem transformed into a feral beast.

The expression he wore was terrifying, beastial and twisted as though sporting jagged fangs, coupled with an incredulous disbelief— how could Dai'er dare cry in front of Yue Gongnu!?

Shut up!

Shut up this instant!

And get out, leave this place at once!

"Speak."

Yue Gongnu's frosty gaze fell upon Dai'er, her voice sharp and cutting as icicles.

"Sniff sniff... Master Nnu, I dare not speak. You can't protect me, sniff sniff. I simply want to escape…"

Yue Gonghui stood dumbfounded, reeling— what was she saying? How could she say such a thing?

Yue Gongnu, too, seemed stunned. Dai'er...?

Even in this strange moment, she maintained her steely tone: "I can't protect you? But Ali can. You've served by his side for so many years; do you not know his character?"

"Sniff sniff, I know Ali well. But... but he's self-destructing! The moment he's absent, Yue Gonghui dares lay hands on me, behind your back..."

"What did he do to you?"

Yue Gongnu cut in abruptly, the question aimed at Dai'er, though her piercing gaze locked squarely onto Yue Gonghui.

Under the intense scrutiny of a so-called "criminal," Yue Gonghui felt a chill rattle his soul, cold sweat forming upon his brow.

Mostly because he was frightened by Dai'er's audacity.

He never imagined this maid would dare to speak out!

"Speak! What did he do to you?" Yue Gongnu was visibly incensed now.

Sobbing, Dai'er stomped her feet and pointed straight at Yue Gonghui: "He tried to... climb onto me."

Thud!

The entire cell fell deathly silent.

For a moment, Yue Gongnu was dumbfounded, her mind unable to process what "climb onto me" even meant.

When she came to understand, she was briefly thrown off— such crude language...

"Nonsense!"

Yue Gonghui erupted in fury, charging forward to grab at Dai'er's collar: "Outrageous! What drivel are you spewing?"

"Yue Gonghui, you're audacious, aren't you?"

Dai'er's demeanor was frail, but her words carried shocking weight. With teary eyes, she looked toward Yue Gongnu and whimpered, "See? See how he still grabs at me..."

Yue Gongnu was utterly stunned.

Dai'er...

"Insulting! Outrageous!"

Releasing her collar, Yue Gonghui grew enraged once more, seizing the maid by her hair, lifting his hand to strike her down, "You dare...!"

"You dare indeed!"

Dai'er abruptly interrupted, and in a sudden, shocking movement, she caught Yue Gonghui's arm and shattered it. Before he could respond, she drew a long sword and plunged it straight into his mouth.

"Ah!"

With immense force, the sword pierced through his throat, pinning him against the frozen wall behind.

"Dai'er?" Yue Gongnu remained seated, but her voice now carried an unrecognizable chill.

"Heh..."

Dai'er chuckled, her laughter unsteady.

She shook her head repeatedly, as though amused.

At last, her hands reached up to grip her neck. With a deliberate tug, she peeled away her own face, tossing the bloody facade onto Yue Gonghui's panicked, contorted visage.

"Interesting."

"This is truly amusing."

The face beneath the torn skin was flawless, handsome, and wholly unfamiliar.

As he strolled toward Yue Gonghui, who hung disbelievingly on the icy wall, he shook his head and laughed:

"The Cold Palace Emperor Realm certainly chills to the bones— this visit nearly cost me my virtue."