She was a sickly woman all alone; they, on the other hand, were several strong men.

If ever there was a phrase for "utterly outmatched," this was it.

Red Robe couldn’t help but feel that today might be the day she lost her life. Her heart sank into despair, but instinct still pushed her to struggle, to fight for a chance at survival.

“Let me go…” she gritted through the pain in her waist and knees, trying to bargain. “If it’s money you want… whatever I have left, it’s all yours.”

“Save it!” the man in the lead sneered. His voice was harsh, and as he spoke, he lifted his foot and stomped hard—right on the arrow wound in her chest.

The pain exploded. Red Robe let out a piercing scream. In the blink of an eye, cold sweat drenched her back. Her ears rang, her vision went black then white, and her powerless body was hoisted up by rough hands.

Her legs gave out, and her body sagged downward, pulling at her wounds. She clenched her teeth to endure, half-dragged and half-carried forward. The pain came in waves—sharp then dull. The second time her shin scraped over a threshold, she finally broke down and cried. Tears spilled out, mixed with helplessness and humiliation, and her hoarse voice cracked: “Please… let me go…”

No one answered.

“Let me go… I—I’m a court dancer of the Xi manor…” She tried to resist, but she had no strength. Fear clawed at her, and in her despair, a bitter thought rose up: those transmigrated heroines in novels always had such glorious starts, but nothing had gone right for her. Born a lowborn, forced to do menial work, and now even her life—perhaps her honor—was about to be stripped away.

She might not even die with her purity intact.

“Heh?” A mocking chuckle sounded near her ear. The man dragging her paused slightly and snorted, “Now you remember you're a dancer of the Xi manor?”

.

Between flickers of consciousness, a splash of cold water shocked her fully awake.

She forced herself up and looked around dazedly. The room wasn’t large, but it was clean and neat. The brazier was burning warmly, and the faint scent of sandalwood lingered. Bookshelves lined the walls, and at the center stood a desk with writing tools neatly arranged.

Her eyes moved past the desk—and her whole body stiffened.

Xi Linchuan.

So… those men—were his people?

“Young Master…” Fear surged through her. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him, trying to calm herself and assess the situation.

“Speak. Who did you meet with?” Xi Linchuan’s eyes didn’t leave his book, his tone cold and detached.

Red Robe was stunned. “What?”

“I asked who you met with,” he repeated.

He finally lowered the book between them and looked at her, waiting for an answer.

“I went to the clinic,” Red Robe replied honestly.

Xi Linchuan let out a scoff, clearly unimpressed.

“You knew I was going,” Red Robe frowned, adding, “You gave permission.”

“Red Robe!” Xi Linchuan snapped—his voice catching slightly. It was the first time since his rebirth that he’d called her by name.

After a pause, he exhaled slowly and said with forced patience, “If you won’t say, there are others in the manor who can get the truth out of you. If not, I could always ask the Imperial Guards to help.”

She went silent. She wanted to give him whatever he wanted to hear—anything to stay alive, to return and recover in peace.

But she couldn’t. Not because she wouldn’t—but because she didn’t even know what he was asking about.

This body’s original owner must’ve had some past grudge with him, enough to make him see her as a traitor now. Red Robe grew more certain of it. After a beat, she asked softly, “What did I do to offend you, Young Master?”

Xi Linchuan’s gaze sharpened.

“I ask only that you enlighten me,” she continued, her chin lifting slightly, voice calm and cool. “Surely I deserve to know the crime I’m accused of.”

There was no reply. The silence grew heavier.

Red Robe stared at him, unblinking. He flipped a page of his book, the soft sound like a blade scraping across her heart. Her gaze drifted to his hand—those long, elegant fingers—and suddenly she remembered…

It was those hands that had drawn the bowstring and, without warning, shot her.

He truly owed her no explanation. Just as before, he could decide when and how she would die. And if he never told her the reason, she’d have no way to defend herself—only wait for the end.

The helplessness churned within her, eating away at the last of her hope, turning it into bitter resentment.

The pain in her chest still throbbed, her breath growing ragged. She clenched her teeth and glared at him. “Hypocrite.”

Xi Linchuan froze slightly, then frowned. “What?”

“I heard at the clinic—Da Xia and Heqi are going to war.” She raised her voice, mustering what strength she had. Xi Linchuan looked over sharply, thinking she might be about to admit some connection to Heqi.

“They said the General will lead the army himself, and his nephew will go too.” She blinked slowly and asked earnestly, “Young Master… You’re the General’s nephew, aren’t you?”

He didn’t understand where she was going with this, but he nodded. “I am.”

“Heh…” Red Robe let out a cold laugh, laced with sarcasm. “And here I thought you were a man of honor.”

…What?

“I always thought that a man willing to lay down his life for his country deserved respect. But now I know—some people can trample lives in their own household without a second thought, then ride off to war with pride…” Her voice faltered from pain, but she forced herself to go on, “Those who treat lives like weeds have no right to talk about protecting the nation. What a joke.”

Each word was clear, and she spat them out with all the anger and grief bottled up these past days. This man had nearly killed her with an arrow, denied her medical help, and now—brought her back with men who manhandled her with brutality. All without a single charge. If this wasn’t abuse, what was?

“If you return victorious, there’ll be rewards and glory. The world will hail you as a hero.” She gave a cold, wan smile, her sarcasm undiminished by weakness. “So who cares what you do in your manor? Who cares if innocents die by your hand? You’ll be right, simply because you succeeded. You’ll wear the halo of a hero—no one will blink even if hundreds like me die.”

It seemed she’d spent all her strength on that speech. The last words rang with power, but once they left her mouth, she began to cough violently. Her pale face flushed crimson. She covered her mouth and held back as best she could, then added again, voice hoarse:

“Hypocrite.”

Xi Linchuan’s eyes flickered, laced with a new depth. He studied her. “Is that why you betrayed the country?”

Red Robe choked on her next words. “Betray?”

“You think I trample lives. You think all generals have blood on their hands. So that’s why you turned traitor?”

“What betrayal?!” Red Robe gasped, stunned.

Xi Linchuan was frustrated too.

The past—the past from his previous life—had yet to unfold. He couldn’t confront her with proof. But he knew none of it was a misunderstanding. He suppressed his anger and asked:

“The day Yu Dan came, you met him under the corridor. What did you say?”

Red Robe blinked, remembering. Her lip curled with bitter contempt. “When you want to accuse someone, any excuse will do.”

Xi Linchuan’s expression darkened further. “I’m asking what you said.”

“‘No reward for no service.’ ‘Farewell.’” she snapped back quickly, then added with a cold smile, “Seven words, and that makes me a traitor? Then what about the maids you sent to serve him? Will you beat them to death now that he’s gone?”

He was briefly silenced by her sharp retort. She pressed on:

“You even held a banquet for him.”

He choked.

Red Robe raised her pale face slightly, a trace of pride in her expression that felt unfamiliar. Her defiance was crystal clear as she met his eyes and added, “Will you now kill yourself to show your loyalty?”

Xi Linchuan slammed the table. “Enough!”

The room fell silent.

He stood up, face dark, and strode toward her. Though he tried to restrain himself, fury burned in his chest. He grabbed her shoulders, making her cry out in pain. Before she could recover, her back was slammed against the wall.

“Then why were you at Yanxi Lane earlier?!” he demanded.

…Yanxi?

She hesitated, then blinked slowly, realization dawning. Her voice shook with confusion and fear: “We… We’re not in that lane?”

Xi Linchuan paused, frowning. “…We’re in Yankang Lane.”

“Oh.” She wilted. “I… I went the wrong way.”

……What?!

Outside the room, several servants who’d been tensely listening in couldn’t help peeking through the doorway. The atmosphere just now had been so grim, so serious—like a formal trial. Moments ago, it had even turned violent. And now—

The accused gave the reason “I went the wrong way”?!

And she said it so sincerely, with such genuine embarrassment. The servants all looked at each other in stunned silence. Even inside, Xi Linchuan’s breath caught. His gaze swept over her again and again, eyebrows knotting in disbelief.

“You… what?!”

“…Got lost.” Red Robe looked down in defeat. All her earlier pride and fury had drained out of her. Her heart pounded in confusion and frustration. Biting her lip, she could only curse herself inwardly:

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.