The Reincarnated Villain Can Break the Fourth Wall!

One Week Later — Mingyue Pond, Sun Dynasty Palace!

Under the dying light of dusk, Sun Lingxi sat at the edge of the pond, her crimson robes glowing faintly in the fading light. Her hair, half-pinned with delicate silver ornaments, hung loosely around her shoulders like shadows, while her eyes—once bright with innocence—now brimmed with regret.

In her hand, she held a red jade lotus, its deep glow flickering like the last ember of a dying fire. She let it slip from her fingers, watching it drift among the three others she had already released.

Her reflection mingled with the moon's in the still water, as if mocking her from below.

A mist curled at her feet, rising slowly around her, its voice a familiar whisper. 'Why weep for the dead, Lingxi? You could have everything—power, wealth, and men bowing at your feet. With me, nothing is out of reach.'

Lingxi's gaze remained fixed on the water. "Do you think I'm to blame for his death? I should've known they were tracking me…"

The mist coiled tighter, its voice smooth, seductive. 'Fate's cruel to everyone but the strong. His path was doomed, as were theirs. But you, Lingxi… you're destined for more.'

Her hand clenched at her side, knuckles whitening.

'Was it my fault?'

No. She knew better.

Sun Liang had been behind everything, pulling the strings from the start.

Half-brother. Centuries older.

The true heir to their father, the Immortal Emperor, who had too many children and too many ambitions.

Lingxi was the youngest, the least important, but she had hoped to change that — She had tried to protect Su Yiran and Su Xiaobai, but Sun Liang's plans were too deep, too perfect.

'Did Su Xiaobai die thinking I betrayed him?'

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

"Ling'er… why didn't you come to my coronation?"

Sun Liang's smooth voice broke the silence, followed by his tall and majestic appearance.

He appeared behind her, draped in black silk embroidered with golden dragons, his crown glinting in the twilight. His expression was calm, almost too perfect, as if nothing could unsettle him.

Jiang Chuchu followed at his side, her lavender hanfu hugging to her waist like a seductive serpant, her eyes flashing with smug satisfaction.

"I thought my mood might spoil the celebration," Sun Lingxi replied, her voice steady but cold.

She didn't turn to face him.

Sun Liang's brow arched slightly, his eyes flicking toward the floating lotuses. "What, you think you're more important than me?" His tone was teasing, but there was a sharpness to it, a reminder of his position.

"I didn't say that," she muttered. "I just didn't want my troubles casting a shadow over your glorious day."

For a moment, his expression softened. He stepped closer, his gaze shifting from the lotuses to her. "We're family, Lingxi. Your troubles are mine too. Don't let guilt weigh you down."

Her fingers curled into fists, her jaw tightening. She let out a bitter laugh. "Family? Then tell me, Brother—did you really care about the Dragon Lord's daughter, Long Lifen when you threw Su Xiaobai into the Heavenly Prison?"

"..."

His silence was all she needed. The amusement faded from his face.

"You didn't care," she continued, her voice rising. "You saw an opportunity and seized it. You framed Su Xiaobai for dishonoring your fiancée and humiliated the Azure Dragon Clan. They could have been our equals, but you wanted them under your control. You played them like pawns, turning Long Lifen into nothing more than a tool to weaken the clan."

Sun Liang remained impassive, but his eyes gleamed with the faintest hint of amusement.

"And when they didn't break," she spat, her voice trembling with fury, "you came in the dead of night—Goddess Xue by your side, parading Xu Lia's headless corpse like a trophy."

Sun Liang's smile didn't waver — He seemed to enjoy her anger, as though it confirmed his control.

"You framed the Azure Dragon Clan for assassinating Su Xiaobai and blamed Xu Lia for the massacre that followed—razed villages, scorched land. And when the world turned against them, you offered them salvation, didn't you? As long as they became your subordinates, the proud Dragon Clan would kneel. And Long Lifen?" She sneered. "You paraded her as your concubine after tarnishing her name, stripping the Dragons of any hope."

Her voice dropped lower, eyes narrowing. "And when Matriarch Su tried to free Su Xiaobai, you made sure the world would blame her for releasing that 'vile monster' from the Heavenly Prison, too. You knew the collateral damage would turn everyone against her."

She took a breath, her tone sharpening as she locked eyes with him. "And after all that, you passed the 'Immortal Execution Order'. You sacrificed a drop of Phoenix Blood—one of only three—just to wipe out the Su family. Our father paved the way for you, set up the engagement with the Azure Dragon Clan. But you? You wanted more than alliances, didn't you? You wanted control. Puppets, not allies. Does Father even know? Has he emerged from seclusion? How do you think he'll react?"

Sun Liang's eyes gleamed with cold amusement. "You're wiser than you give yourself credit for, Ling'er. I've always admired that about you."

Her scowl deepened, disgust twisting her face.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "But remember, the Heavenly Prison can only be opened by Sun Dynasty descendants. There's a traitor among us — Any guesses who?"

Hiss!

Sun Lingxi heart skipped a beat. His words were cold, calculated—a warning wrapped in a question.

Without another word, Sun Liang turned, his robes sweeping behind him as he walked away, each step deliberate, full of authority.

As soon as he disappeared from sight, the mist that had always surrounded Sun Lingxi hissed, 'I hate men!' it spat. 'Especially him. Arrogant, walking like the whole world is his! How I wish to crush that smug face under my foot.'

For once, Sun Lingxi found herself agreeing with her 'master'.

_____

As Sun Liang and Jiang Chuchu distanced themselves from the pond, the silence between them grew — Only when they had put enough space behind them did Jiang Chuchu finally dare to speak.

"Master, do you… covet that woman?" Her voice, though soft, carried a hint of tension.

Sun Liang, ever composed, gave a slight nod. His eyes gleamed with a flicker of greed. "She has a quality I require," he said, his words as measured as always.

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Chuchu's expression faltered, a shadow passing over her delicate features before she masked it once more.

Inwardly, she steeled herself. 'I can't claim the master for myself… I must help him reach all his ambitions,' she resolved, swallowing her discontent.