The past was nothing but a nightmare for her, her tribesmen suffering because of her.
The Emperor, in order to avoid turmoil in the court caused by the Rong family, did not strip her of her noble position, but said that if she willingly moved to the Cold Palace, he would spare the lives of the Rong family.
That was the Emperor's condition.
She believed him.
She had to believe, for the lives of the Rong family were in his hands.
True to his word, the Emperor allowed her to move to the Cold Palace in silence, even as her tribesmen cursed her, the palace ladies mocked her, and the officials scorned her.
They scolded her for being a coward who clung to life, but after learning of the Emperor's and the Noble Consort's affair, she knew the Emperor was a ruthless man.
Had she not done so and instead spread the word of her relocation to the Cold Palace, the Rong family would have met their demise even sooner.
She never offered a single word of explanation, hoping only to atone for her sins and give the Rong family a chance to survive.
When she died, the Rong family's glory was gone, but at least most of her tribesmen had survived.
Though life at the border was difficult, it was better than nothing.
But she never imagined that the Emperor would go back on his word, with the Noble Consort now dominating the harem, still refusing to spare the Rong family!
Upon learning of Xin Ziqing's identity, she wished she could drag her down to hell with her, to avenge her Rong tribesmen who died!
But she restrained herself, determined to make Xin Ziqing repay a thousand times over!
Death was an easy escape.
Huo Shao Ting watched as her expression changed, knowing she was recalling events from her past life.
Everyone scorned her, but no one understood her anguish.
"If she really is your elder sister, she would have recognized you."
"For now, don't think about it. Just rest well."
Huo Shao Ting gently advised her.
If he could, he would willingly bear the pain from her memories.
Rong Dai pulled her mind back, suppressing the hatred surging in her heart.
"Shao Ting, do you still remember Yang Wanwan?"
If not for noticing the mole on Xin Ziqing's chest tonight, she would have long forgotten about this person.
Huo Shao Ting nodded, "I remember. What about her?"
"I'm not sure if my memory is failing me, but today I saw a mole on Xin Ziqing that's identical to the one Yang Wanwan had."
"News reports said Yang Wanwan drowned while illegally immigrating, and we didn't follow up on it afterward."
"But none of us saw her body, and I believe the news reports were true."
"However, I find it hard to believe it's just a coincidence that Xin Ziqing seems so strange."
"It's like her reincarnation is not as natural as mine, as if Yang Wanwan's body is rejecting her soul as a vessel."
Rong Dai told him her thoughts, feeling it was absurd, yet it was her intuition.
She couldn't tell others, but she could analyze it with Huo Shao Ting.
"Shao Ting, this is like what you said, the natural laws may have loopholes, but the probability of such a horrible occurrence is extremely low."
"So I'm wondering if someone else like me is also studying this, and has now succeeded?"
"Otherwise, I can't explain why Xin Ziqing is involved with the Bertrand family."
"That can only be the work of someone behind her."
"But I also hope I'm overthinking this."
Huo Shao Ting naturally understood what she meant - an artificial "reincarnation".
Such a thing was indeed horrifying.
Even with Huo Enterprises' advanced technology, he could not guarantee the possibility of such an occurrence.
"Go to sleep first, I'll investigate this matter."
He comforted Rong Dai, but his heart was uneasy.
