Chapter 57

“I did it, but why? Why did you come to ruin me?

“Do you know how hard it was for me to become the empress? How much I had to endure to become an empress dowager?

“I finally sat high above the masses, without being held in contempt? Why couldn’t you allow me to indulge a little longer?”

Alison cried and shouted. Her tears finally let out.

Ashley held her tongue.

Gazing at her once beloved sister, Ashley cracked into a smile.

“What do you mean nobody loves you? Who took the beating for you when you stole father’s jade fan?

“At the age of ten, who risked her life saving you when you almost drowned in the lake?

“At fifteen, when we were escorted to the capital...”

She choked, having been reminded of an intolerable past.

Those beautiful and cold eyes were tainted with a layer of red, alongside heavy disappointment and despair.

“Who was the one who came in the way when countless tried to defile your innocence during the journey of a thousand five hundred kilometers towards the East? Who grabbed a knife and fought them to the death? Whose innocence was trampled on for your safety’s sake?”

Alison stood there dumbfounded.

She stared blankly at Ashley. Events of the past sprung to her mind following Ashley’s claims.

They were still young at the time when trouble fell upon their family. Before Alison realized what was going on, she was escorted to the capital with her sister.

While on the way, Ashley taught her to rub mud on her face, concealing her beauty from villains.

However, she was particular about her appearance. Although she gave Ashley her word, Alison was not the least bit willing.

Finally, while everyone was sleeping one night, she quietly washed away the mud on her face.

Gazing at the reflection of her beautiful face through water, she engaged in self-admiration and combed her hair.

It was during then when the soldiers behind noticed her. They pounced at her as though they discovered a treasure.

Frightened, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Sister turned up to rescue her.

She was unaware of the conversation between her sister and the group of soldiers.

In the end, the soldiers left her alone and brought her sister behind the woods.

She resumed her beauty sleep. Her sister returned, bearing bruises and wounds on her face the morning of the next day. Although her clothes were tattered and her hands covered in blood, she never talked about what happened the night before.

Alison never gave a second thought but found it strange that the few soldiers had not appeared since then.

The young girl then may not know what had happened but she was past thirty now.

She understood what really happened that night in the woods.

Only, she could never bring herself to admit nor face it. By escaping it, she could pretend regretful and painful facts did not exist.

Alison looked at her sister and broke into laughter.

The laughter soon turned into sobs.

The seemingly whimpers of a beast reflected howling pain and remorse.

A soldier walked over carrying a wooden box.

“Master, the imperial jade seal is found.”

Ashley picked it up and took a glance before nodding.

She led her men and walked away.

A sudden shrill cry was heard from behind. “Sister!”

Ashley stopped in her tracks but did not turn back.

The setting sun radiating into the palace, veiling a golden shimmer on the young general. Her straight back reminded Alison of the time when Ashley taught her how to use the spear.

“Sister, I was wrong! I was wrong! Please forgive me! We’re sisters! You can’t kill me, I’m your sister!”

Crouching on the ground, Alison crawled her way up in tears and snot. She no longer looked an inch like the empress dowager that she once was.

The woman in military wear still refused to look back. Her eyes, amid the cast of sunset, painted a twinkle of red.

Tensing the muscle on her face, Ashley held the jade seal with trembling hands.

Scenes of their younger days — taking her sister to climb over walls, on trees, and play with mud but was met with her sister’s dislike, flashed in her mind.

Nevertheless, these scenes were soon replaced by images of their innocent people dying in her hands.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

After a long time, she coldly announced, “I proclaim Empress Dowager Alison Watson of Dongli Empire guilty beyond forgiveness for absence of virtue, going rampant and oppressing the people! She is hereby sentenced to death!”

Thunder roared amongst the sounds of rain and lightning.

Alison stood there in disbelief as she fixed her gaze on the woman outside the palace gate.

The woman pulled out a bottle of poison and placed it on the ground.

“This is poison extracted from the heptad star snake. You were bitten by it when you were younger. I risked my life sucking the poison out for you and as a result, I was stuck in bed for three months. I almost lost my life. Now... take this!”

With that, she took large strides away without paying her any more attention.

The scene finally came to an end.

Strangely, it was eerily quiet in the studio.

Nell was feeling awkward.

Was her performance that bad?

It can’t be! She had integrated all her understanding of the character into the role.

While she warped into wonder, a round of applause erupted.

She lifted her head and saw Gareth.

He stood up from behind the monitor with a face of disbelief yet hot with emotions towards Nell.

“Great! It was awesome!”

Others began to snap out of the plot and started to clap.

“What a show! You can really act!”

“Right, I thought it was real for a minute.”

“I’m moved to tears!”

Nell was relieved.

Apart from payback for the lash, her suggestion earlier to play this part stemmed from the impression left in her when she first laid eyes on the script.

She wept for sisterly feud and was regretful for the strong-willed and forbearing female general.

It was never her intention to rule the world at the end of the day!

However, things that were within reach of normal people — the most ordinary family affection and sibling harmony was, to her, unattainable.

For some reason, Nell felt a sense of loss even though the performance was a success.

Gareth came forth and smiled. “You did great. It was refreshing and captivating!”

Deliberately putting her hand over her face, Celine forced a smile. “Director Leith, you flatter me.”

However, Gareth was not looking at her.

He did not even notice she had a hand over her face.

Fixating his gaze on Nell, he asked with an ingratiating smile, “Nell, do you really like this film?”

Spoiled by the President Chapter 56 Acting For The Limelight On Stage Wrong Ride, Right Lover Chapter 1980 Atrophy of Love: Mr. Harris, Stop Fooling Around!

Chapter 487 The End Pt. 5 Nell was in a daze, unable to register in her head of the question.

She honestly nodded. “Yes, I read the script two years ago when it was first out. I liked it then.”

As if he discovered treasure, Gareth rubbed his hands excitedly.

“Good that you like it.”

Watching as the event unfolded, Celine had a bad feeling in her stomach.

Was he trying to get Nell to act in this film?