QT: Against My Will

250 4.72 – Reunion – Dangerous Angels

It was challenging to differentiate Xuan Mu’s personalities when they were with Bing Shi. But when outside, the provocative Xuan Mu was the most brazen and manipulative (the skill he honed up while knowing Bing Shi), the rude Ziek was the most selfish and rebellious, while the most experienced Ru Quan was authoritative and violent.

His concept of morals was scarily low; he had no problem burning the whole village if his contractor asked for it. There was something a public eye couldn’t see, often comparing him to the prince of Rania. The thin line which separated him from Zhao Rong was that Ru Quan didn’t act on impulse. Having great self-control, he knew what he was doing. Pushing people to their greatest potential, he was a natural-born leader. Add the way he treated his Bing Shi and one had a completely different man.

Ru Quan had seen so much; it was impossible to unsee. To build his credibility and net worth fast, the way to get respect was not to play nice but to be a cruel oppressor to his people and a threat to other nations. Playing nice would only win over the regular citizens, not an army of ferocious psychopaths and corrupted government.

He broomed Edan to be a ruler, not a prince on a white horse. Trying to save and snatch a woman from someone way above her league? Prepare to be slaughtered.

Where did she come up with the idea that their boss-underling relationship changed into friendship? Probably thanks to Mao An’s wrong assumptions. If she continued to believe everything she heard, she’d be betrayed and taken advantage of in no time. While a hard worker, Edan still had a lot to learn.

Lacking in insight, she’d have to put more conscious effort not to be judgmental and blinded by things she thought to be true.

Her saving grace was her quick learning skills, strength, and her ability to kill anyone to reach a top position, which came with her dream of overthrowing him.

Well, some dreams should forever stay as dreams.

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.....

“Who does he think he is? Hitting a princess on broad daylight?!” Mao An placed her medical bag aside after catering to Edan’s injuries, stomping her foot at the ground, “I bet his little junior is as big as my pinkie!”

“Junior?” Edan asked confusedly; sitting on the ground, she rested her body against a tree.

“Don’t move! That’s...” While Mao An tried to explain what she meant, Edan’s mind wandered to Tian Shi.

Edan always wanted to follow her father’s steps, to show that she could be as capable as her brothers, to bring honor to the family. She always looked down at the sheltered young ladies that would scream at a sight of a spider. Weak and overdramatic, that was what they were. She wanted to prove that women could be strong too.

Only later did she realize something important. Edan was a rarity, different from most females. What was the point of acting like most men, when all it was proving was that only by acting like a man could women receive a well-deserved recognition?

Then, Tian Shi appeared, changing Edan’s whole life. Spreading her wings far and wide, that angel turned the most unhonorable occupation into a terrifying force.

One female could hardly change the opinion of the population. The girls who always listened behind the hidden passage in Tian Shi’s office were sent to manage one of the trading houses.

The all-hated sluts, dirty whores, lowly farmers, and slaves got an opportunity to move the economics, even politics, not only of one kingdom.

Tianshies’s purpose of preventing war and poverty wasn’t any less honorable than the soldiers fighting at the fronts.

Taking a deep breath, Edan never felt prouder of a person before. She touched her beating heart. No matter what, she still preferred to act like a man, feeling more comfortable like this.

“Eehm...” Mao An coughed at Edan, whose gaze never moved from Tian Shi’s carriage direction, “You really do love her, don’t you?”

“What?” Edan turned towards Mao An, her heart rate accelerating in panic. She and Tian Shi? How was that possible? Both were females. She suddenly touched her bruised nose in realization. So the pain she felt whenever she saw them together, was... she... liking Tian Shi the whole time?! Then what about Ru Quan?

That man confused Edan so much that she mistook her combined respect and loathing with love.

With sparkling eyes, Mao An pressed her pointers together, “Are you by any chance... into men? Don’t tell me it’s...”

“Enough.” Edan pushed Mao An down, her tone deep and cold, “Impossible.”

“So you really are-!!” Feeling the killing vibes, Mao An shut up immediately. The moment the Zeku general woke up, he offered his life in exchange. To repay her, he even asked for a hand in marriage. But somehow, the general made her feel uncomfortable. She wasn’t the only one who saved him! He had to be conspiring something!

Besides her maids, every person in this kingdom treated her like trash. How worse could it be? Mao An decided to be an offering to the Black Sky Army’s leader instead. At least she got to travel the world. Knowing Ru Quan’s strange taste in women, he would definitely toss her away. And luck was really on her side as Ru Quan threw her to Edan as a victory present! Edan was probably the nicest guy she’s ever met. How amazing! She never had a male friend before!

When Edan was ordered by Ru Quan to treat her future wife nicely, she didn’t think much out of it and treated Mao An appropriately. What she didn’t realize was that she picked a few of his habits. Used to receive respect from most people, Mao An showing none of that was irking to her eyes.

Edan started to understand why Ru Quan always beat her up just because of the way she looked at him. Seeing the naive Mao An was like seeing her old, dense reflection. She suddenly wanted to slap some sense into Mao An.

Edan’s responsibility as a commander of Black Sky was no joke. Taller than some men, she had already led a few battles to victory. She had to fight twice as hard for the position only second to Ru Quan, who would change her with someone else the moment she slacked off.

The only person who could make Edan lose her conduct and turn soft was none other than Tian Shi...

· · — · ???· — · ·

Due to different climates and resources, the architecture of the Zeku kingdom could be compared to traditional Japanese culture. The buildings were built of wood, where gardens were an essential component of the house.

A prime example of an upper-class house was Ru Quan’s new residence that he obtained as a gift from the Emperor.

Infinite Bloom residence was deserving of its title for its peaceful atmosphere and unique beauty of the garden. The garden was designed to be observed from inside the house, not for taking a stroll.

· · — · ???· — · ·

A day of the Imperial Banquet...

“This one wonders what Princess Mao An will wear today,” snickered one noble lady as she walked towards the banquet, passing by a majestic garden with an artificial pond.

The massive magnolia flowers were iconic to Zeku regions – these tulip trees stunned everyone year-round with their white to soft pink flowers and their blooms that were wonderfully fragrant.

The other girl nodded, covering her sarcastic smile with her palm, “The general will show up today, I’m sure she will try to impress him with a dress... befitting of her title.”

For years, Princess Mao An was famous for being useless trash. Looking all greedy and snobbish with her fashion choices, she would always turn herself into a laughing stock. If it weren’t for the hateful sisters persuading the gullible Mao An to act a certain way, she wouldn’t end up with such a bad reputation.

However, they didn’t know that since the last banquet years ago, the old Mao An inside was replaced by the future Mao An.

“I heard Tian Shi will appear with her new patron, Ru Quan.”

“Really? I can’t wait to see her!” Looking all around, the girls’ attention switched towards another hot topic. It was an untold truth that no woman present thought lowly of Tian Shi, their sole empowerment. Instead of competitiveness, she defined a specific unity between a certain group of people, especially women.

+—- Author’s note —–+

You know how it usually goes with a villain or a rebirth story, the MCs usually go the basic route, they learn about loyalty, family ties, friendship, gets revenge, and finally get to experience unconditional love. It’s considered their character development.

In Bing Shi’s case, her route is turning out to become more crazy and twisted. She is very self-aware, she refuses to be a bad person, she resists and continues to stick to who she wants to be.

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