The Empyrean Temple

Meanwhile, Su Ye had returned to the governor's manor, gathering up her skirts as she hurried towards Su Ruoruo's room. She opened the door, but because she was so anxious, the door broke and crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

Su Ruoruo, who was asleep in bed, promptly opened her eyes. She forced herself to sit up, and glared at Su Ye. The boat orchid hairpin which dangled from her head swayed, looking ready to drop from its owner's rage. "What are you doing, Su Ye?"

Su Ye stared at the broken door on the floor, then looked up at Su Ruoruo who was on the bed, holding back the words on the tip of her tongue.

Su Ruoruo laughed coolly and sneered, "Is beating me up not enough? What more do you want? You've been using Father's influence to commit every evil imaginable, Su Ye, are you not afraid of karma?"

Su Ye's eye twitched when she heard the word 'karma', and she immediately remembered how she would end up—disemboweled, a corpse hung out to dry.

With that thought in mind, Su Ye headed towards Su Ruoruo's bedside, who looked more wary the closer Su Ye came. Once she reached her sister's bed, Su Ye called out, "Come in."

Several handmaidens promptly streamed into the bedchamber. "Junior governess."

Su Ruoruo's face went pale, and she flinched away. "W-What are you trying to do?"

Su Ye looked at her with a smile. "I heard you wanted to go to the Empyrean Temple." She tried her best to not show her impatience, but Su Ye's reputation wasn't that good. Her past inclinations towards debauchery and self-centeredness couldn't be erased, so Su Ye's smile just left people feeling cautious and nervous.

Su Ruoruo gripped her cotton blanket tightly, frowning as she asked, "What are you talking about?"

Su Ye sat on the edge of her bed, her exquisitely embroidered robes a stark contrast to the pale and frail Su Ruoruo. She slowly took out an invitation from the Empyrean Temple from her pouch and held it out to Su Ruoruo. "I know you always wanted to serve at the Empyrean Temple, so I went out of my way to get this for you. Will you accept it?"

The Empyrean Temple was located at the easternmost region of the Olden Continent, and rumors claimed that it was a place of divine miracles. As such, it became the most mysterious and sought-after destination on the continent. It was also said that only the most pious would pass the trial of the Empyrean Temple.

Su Ruoruo's eyes lit up at the sight of the invitation, and she blurted out, "You're giving it to me?"

Su Ye nodded and replied humbly, "I never studied and have no such skills, so I probably won't catch the gods' eyes. You're outstanding in comparison, sister, which is why you deserve to go."

Perhaps because she yearned to go to that place so badly, the hate in Su Ruoruo's gaze when she looked at Su Ye seemed to lessen. She then reached out to take the invitation, studying it carefully to see if it was genuine. Su Ruoruo looked up at Su Ye with slight suspicion after confirming that it was real. "Why are you suddenly being so kind?"

Su Ye merely smiled. "You don't want it, sister?" She reached out to take the letter back.

Su Ruoruo held the letter to her chest protectively. "I want it!"

At Su Ruoruro's answer, Su Ye nodded and headed outside. "Come, help my sister change," she told the handmaidens. With that, she stopped smiling, turned around, and stepped out of the chamber.

She sincerely wanted to get along with Su Ruoruo for the next three months. If everything went well, she would be able to gain her sister's favor, and she would not have to be disemboweled and hung out to dry.