Chapter 209

Chapter 209. What Have I Done Wrong?

Cailin ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍found it hard to face her current situation. She had clearly done nothing at all, so what wrong could she possibly have committed?

Ever ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍since coming to the Great Chu Dynasty, she had kept to her proper place the entire time. She had rarely even stepped outside, only coming to stroll through the Imperial Garden now and then when the weather was nice.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fact, she had hardly left even the Imperial Garden more than a few times.

So ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍why…

Why ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did they have to speak of her in such vile terms, paint her as something so wretched, so utterly evil?

Cailin ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍felt as though an arrow had pierced straight through her heart, leaving it aching so badly that she could scarcely breathe.

Back when she was among the Ancient Royal Clans, she had never really thought about being a good person. After all, everyone around her had been her own kind, and which one of them had not been even more ruthless than she was?

But now that she had come to the Human Race, Cailin had, at one point, truly wondered whether she might really be able to stay here for good.

After all, she had genuinely thought long and hard about what Chu Feng had said back then. She understood very well that if she returned to the Ancient Royal Clans now, the other clans would most likely never let her go…

Even the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan would likely cast her out for having lost the Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura. Rather than returning only to suffer a fate worse than death, she would rather remain here, live properly, and continue cultivating.

And she did feel that Chu Feng had kept his word. He had never interfered in her private affairs, and here, Cailin could at least be considered relatively free.

What she had never expected, however, was that these rumors would cling to her like a curse, refusing to let her go.

Of course, Cailin had never imagined before that the power of rumors could be so terrifying.

Just as she sat there distracted, wondering where she ought to go from here…

“Your Highness… Your Highness…”

A timid voice suddenly rang out. It was soft and carried obvious hesitation.

Cailin came back to herself and slightly raised her head, only to discover that it belonged to a little palace maid.

The young girl wore a pink dress and had her hair tied into two little buns. She looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, and she was carrying a plate of pastries in her hands.

Judging by her appearance, she was likely one of those girls her family had sent into the palace at a young age.

Though Cailin was unhappy at heart, she still could not help showing the maid a trace of kindness and gave her a small smile.

“Your Highness, these are new pastries made by the Imperial Kitchen. His Majesty asked that you… that you try them.”

The little palace maid kept her head lowered, her voice trembling. She did not even dare raise her eyes.

As Cailin looked at her, her heart inexplicably turned sour, and at the same time she almost wanted to laugh.

Not at the maid, but at herself.

Because in that moment, Cailin suddenly felt that she had truly been far too naïve. What exactly had she been hoping for?

She was one of the Ancient Royal Clans, a member of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan. Although she had cultivated a human form, at the end of the day she was still a demonic beast. How had she ever dared hope to live side by side with the Human Race for all eternity?

The very thought of it now seemed unrealistic. And yet Cailin had actually believed Chu Feng’s words and thought that she really could cultivate peacefully among the Human Race.

As she shook her head and let out a bitter laugh, the little palace maid stared at her in a daze, though she still did not dare say a single word.

Cailin did not get angry either. She knew that the girl had only come because she had been ordered to. Like Cailin herself, she was an innocent person who had stirred up no trouble at all.

If she had not come, she would probably have been punished.

But now that she had come, she was afraid that Cailin, this so-called “demoness,” might do something terrifying to her. In a way, being a palace maid seemed difficult too…

“Set it down,” Cailin said softly, smiling in helpless bitterness.

For her and for this girl alike, were their fates not much the same? They were both merely birds trapped inside a cage…

Neither of them had freedom. Neither of them had any say over their own lives. But compared with Cailin, the maid at least seemed to have a little more ease. At the very least, no one spoke ill of a palace maid.

As though granted a great pardon, the little palace maid hurriedly set the pastries down on the stone table and bowed to Cailin again and again.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness.”

While repeatedly thanking her as though she had escaped disaster, the girl began backing away step by step.

Just as the little palace maid was about to leave, Cailin suddenly lifted her head, her eyes widening slightly.

“Wait.”

The little palace maid stiffened all over. Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and her face went deathly pale. In a panic, she dropped to her knees with a thud.

Then she prostrated herself completely on the ground and began knocking her head against the floor again and again as she cried out in terror, “Y-Your Highness, spare me! This servant did not say anything, and I do not know anything either. I was only ordered to bring these pastries to Your Highness. I know absolutely nothing about anything else.”

The little palace maid kept banging her head hard against the ground. It looked as though she was about to split her forehead open, yet she still showed no sign of stopping.

That alone was enough to show just how terrified she was.

When Cailin saw this, she froze on the spot. Then an indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart.

In truth, she had not meant anything by it. Nor had she intended to make things difficult for the maid. She had only wanted to ask just how ugly the rumors outside had become.

And yet, she had spoken only two simple words, and this little palace maid had been so frightened that she dropped to her knees and begged for mercy, as though Cailin were some utterly monstrous devil.

In their eyes, what sort of creature had she become?

Something that devoured people whole and did not even spit out the bones? Or some monster that slaughtered innocents at will?

“There is no need for such a grand display. Hurry and get up. I only wanted to ask you a few simple questions,” Cailin said, doing her best to make her voice sound gentler.

But this grievance was something she could only swallow alone.

The little palace maid’s heart lurched, and she did not dare get up at all. She remained sprawled on the ground, sobbing in a muffled voice, “This servant dares not, this servant dares not! I truly do not know anything. Your Highness, perhaps you should ask someone else instead.”

By now, Cailin could no longer worry about anything else. Her brows drew tightly together as she looked at the trembling maid on the ground. In that moment, her curiosity had reached its peak.

“Whether you know anything or not, stand up first and speak. Otherwise, do not blame me for being impolite.”

The moment the maid heard that, her entire body went rigid. Trembling violently, she hurriedly stood up, still keeping her head lowered and not daring to look at Cailin.

Cailin did not deliberately make things hard for her. Instead, she shifted her gaze aside and asked bluntly, “I do not mean to trouble you. I only want to know… what are people outside saying? Are they all talking about me?”

The little palace maid’s eyes widened in shock, and her whole body trembled. “Th-this servant… does not dare say…”

“Speak. There are so many people here watching. I promise I will not lay a finger on you. Besides, we have spent quite some time around each other now. Do you truly think I am that sort of person?” Cailin’s voice trembled slightly.

“I mean nothing else by it. I only want to know what exactly is being said outside. Since it concerns me, I should at least have the right to know, should I not?” Most of the time, Cailin’s tone carried a trace of pleading.

Hearing her speak like that, she sounded rather pitiful. Even the surrounding maids and eunuchs could not help stopping in place, and a hint of pity appeared in their eyes and on their faces.

At last, the little palace maid could not help raising her head to look at Cailin. Seeing the dejection and melancholy on her face, she truly could not bear it any longer.