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Reborn Into a Doomed Villain Clan, I Realized Too Late My System Was in English (Web Novel) - Chapter 573 A Moment of Grief... or Deception?
Chapter 573 A Moment of Grief... or Deception?
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As the final rites came to an end, the deep toll of the bell faded into silence.The incense had nearly burned out.
The prayers ceased.
The ceremonial officials stepped back.
And just like that, the Emperor's funeral was over.
One by one, the gathered forces began to withdraw.
Some calmly.
Some with lingering glances.
Some were already sending silent signals to their allies.
Bai Zihan turned and was about to leave as well.
He had no intention of lingering.
Everything that needed to be seen had been seen.
But then... his movement paused.
His gaze shifted.
It landed on a figure not far away.
Yu Feiyan!
The Ninth Princess.
For a brief moment, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Something felt off about her.
Unlike her usual self, she did not carry that calm, almost calculating composure.
Nor that subtle charm she often wielded effortlessly.
Instead, she stood still and silent.
Her expression... subdued.
There was a faint trace of sorrow lingering in her eyes.
Even more, the subtle redness around them had not completely faded.
As if she had cried.
Bai Zihan's brows furrowed slightly.
(What is going on?)
Yu Feiyan wasn't even her real self, nor did he think that the two had any kind of relationship-unless he was mistaken.
Even so, he didn't think a person like Qin Lingxiao would cry.
(Acting?)
It would make sense.
Feign grief.
Win sympathy.
Lower suspicion.
It was something Qin Lingxiao was more than capable of.
And yet... something about it felt wrong.
Her sadness felt quite genuine that if not for knowing that she wasn't the real Yu Feiyan, it would be seen as her being in grief.
Still, he did not know.
And for someone like him, uncertainty was something he did not like.
He would usually avoid her, as she was someone who could kill him easily. But this time, he wasn't afraid.
For one, his father and Bai Ren were here, even if both were weaker than her. Moreover, in such a situation, even if Qin Lingxiao wanted to make a move, she wouldn't be able to-unless she intended to kill everyone to remove witnesses. Without hesitation, Bai Zihan changed direction.
And began walking toward Yu Feiyan.
His movement did not go unnoticed.
"Bai Zihan... is heading toward the Ninth Princess?"
"Is he supporting her?"
BETH
"That's impossible! Didn't he reject her before? There shouldn't be any relationship whatsoever between the two."
"Then what is this?"
A few exchanged sharp glances.
Their expressions changed subtly.
"Did she seduce him somehow?"
"When did that happen?"
Shock!
Confusion!
Speculation!
All of it spread like wildfire.
But among all of them, the most visibly affected were those standing behind Yu
Feiyan.
Their eyes lit up.
Excitement surged within them.
(If Bai Zihan supports her...)
A single thought echoed in their minds.
(Then victory was theirs!)
(Good work, Princess!)
Yu Feiyan noticed him only when he was already standing before her.
For a brief moment, genuine surprise flickered across her face.
She clearly had not expected him to approach.
Bai Zihan stopped just a step away.
His expression remained calm, but his gaze lingered on Yu Feiyan.
Then, he spoke with a gentle tone.
"Your Highness... my condolences."
A pause.
"His Majesty's passing is a great loss to the Empire."
His words were formal and appropriate.
Yet there was something else beneath them.
"But the past cannot be changed."
His voice lowered slightly.
"You should take care of yourself... and move forward."
Those words, as he spoke them, carried a faint sense of familiarity between
them.
Yu Feiyan froze slightly.
Her lips parted.
But no words came out immediately.
"Th-thank you... Young Master Bai..."
Her voice was soft.
There was even a faint tremble within it.
She lowered her gaze slightly.
Her fingers tightened subtly at her sleeves.
She was polite and proper, although her words were stammering-but one
could take this as her losing control due to grief.
(If she is acting, then she deserves an oscar!)
Bai Zihan thought as he observed her.
"Hmmm..."
Something was definitely off.
No matter how good one was at acting, her surprise and trembling almost in
fright, this was too good.
It was almost as if-
Just as that thought was about to fully form, a figure suddenly stepped forward.
"Thank you, Clan Leader Bai, for your concern toward Her Highness."
The voice was respectful yet calculated.
It was Yu Feiyan's attendant.
She stepped slightly ahead, positioning herself just enough to subtly interrupt
the moment.
Her posture was perfect.
Her expression was composed.
"With His Majesty's passing, Her Highness has been deeply affected."
She continued gently.
"It is fortunate that someone as considerate as Young Master Bai would come
personally to offer comfort."
Her words flowed naturally, but their intent was clear.
To everyone watching, it painted a different picture.
One of familiarity.
Of closeness.
As if Bai Zihan and Yu Feiyan shared a deeper connection.
A political move!
The surrounding whispers shifted instantly.
"I knew it... there's something between them..."
"So it's true..."
"Bai Zihan is really supporting the Ninth Princess?"
Excitement surged even more among Yu Feiyan's faction.
Their earlier hope now began to feel real.
Bai Zihan's gaze slowly moved.
From Yu Feiyan...
To the attendant.
He looked at her quietly.
His eyes were unreadable.
Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
(So that's how it is.)
In that instant, he understood everything.
Yu Feiyan before him was the real Yu Feiyan-and not Qin Lingxiao.
And Qin Lingxiao... was this attendant.
Although everything about her was different, he felt the same uneasiness as
when he had previously spoken with Qin Lingxiao.
Initially, he thought that Yu Feiyan might have been killed by Qin Lingxiao, who then took her place.
But it looked like things were different from what he had thought. Looking at how Qin Lingxiao had brought her back to see her father last time, it
seemed their relationship was good-and that Yu Feiyan was cooperating with
her.
As for Qin Lingxiao becoming the attendant, it was probably to help Yu Feiyan from the shadows.
After all, there was no guarantee that other princes or princesses wouldn't act
right after the funeral ended.
With Yu Feiyan's comparatively meager strength, she stood no chance.
And if she died...
All of Qin Lingxiao's efforts would be for nothing.
