Xie Yingying wept, her tears streaming like rain on pear blossoms, a pitiful sight, especially with the fresh scabs on her face. One eye, its pupil damaged, remained half-closed and unable to open fully. This was flesh and blood of the Lin Family, and the more the Lin Family looked upon her, the more heartbroken she felt.
"Revenge must be taken, but you must be patient and resourceful, Yingying. Do you wish to enter the Imperial Palace to serve His Majesty, to rise above all others, to become an imperial consort, or even the Empress?"
Xie Yingying was stunned at first, then an expression of utter astonishment spread across her face. "Mother, what are you saying? Become… His Majesty's consort? The Empress?"
Xie Yingying pointed to her face in disbelief. "Look at me! Do you think His Majesty is blind? Would he desire a woman as disfigured as I am?"
