Chapter 32

Those who betray others will, in turn, be betrayed. Xiao Tong swallowed the bitter pill, feeling an ache that seemed to penetrate his very liver, lungs, and heart. Listening to the woman he had once held dearest detail their past together, he felt as though his former self had truly lost his mind. Back then, for the sake of Chun Yurong, he had not only made an exception to kick aside her competitors, allowing her to ascend to the position of Minister of Revenue, but had also paved a golden path for her brother—all to ensure that Chun Yurong could remain under his protection without a single worry. Little did he expect that the woman he had risked offending his own brother to protect would turn out to be a viper in human form. On the surface, she was fresh and tranquil, but inside, she was filthy and wretched—worlds apart from the open-hearted, bright, and wise Jiang Wumei. Thinking of the suppression he had inflicted upon Jiang Wumei’s father and brother just to keep her in check, Xiao Tong was so overcome with shame he could not lift his head; he lay prone on the couch, filled with remorse.