“Lift her legs a little higher.”
“Higher.”
“Alright, spread them.”
Lu Jingning woke from the pain. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw someone holding her legs apart.
This position was utterly humiliating. Her lower body was completely exposed. She hurriedly shouted in anger, “Stop!”
Before the words were fully spoken, tears of pain were already welling in her eyes.
After a moment, one of the matrons snapped impatiently, threatening, “Fifth Young Lady, you had better behave. Otherwise, don’t blame this old woman for being rough.”
Fifth Young Lady?
What was going on? Hadn’t she been granted death?
After a while, the two matrons finally put her legs down and left the room.
Enduring the pain, Lu Jingning quickly sat up and put on her clothing. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she saw no trace of the years that should have marked her.
What was happening? She… had she been reborn?
After the two matrons left the room, servants led them to Madam Lu’s quarters.
One of the matrons smiled as she reported to Madam Lu, seated at the head: “Madam, the Fifth Young Lady’s figure is graceful, her curves full and soft. She was born with a naturally fertile sacred body and can certainly bear a son.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Madam Lu asked skeptically from her seat.
The other matron patted her chest, confidently assuring her, “Please rest easy, Madam. I’ve examined such things for many years and have never made a mistake.”
“What about the Fourth Young Lady?” Madam Lu continued to ask.
One of the matrons shook her head regretfully. “The Fourth Young Lady is lacking.”
“I understand. You may withdraw. Speak of today’s matter to no one, or else…”
“Madam, rest assured,” the two matrons promised.
Madam Lu signaled her maid to reward them and send them off.
“Thank you, Madam.”
After receiving the money, the two matrons left the Lu manor.
“Madam, why not send the Fifth Young Lady into the palace?” suggested Xiaocui, Madam Lu’s personal maid.
Madam Lu sighed, worrying aloud, “That little wench, just like her concubine mother, was born with a face meant to seduce others. I’m afraid she might…”
“Madam, don’t worry. Concubine Zhou is still in our hands. What is there to fear?”
“There’s no other choice. If Shiwei weren’t struggling in the palace, I would never send that little wench Lu Jingning in.” Madam Lu thought of her legitimate daughter in the palace and could only nod helplessly.
“Don’t worry, Madam. Once she bears an imperial heir, we can put a crime on her whenever we wish… then kill her.”
A glint flashed in Madam Lu’s eyes, fully agreeing with Xiaocui. “Go call her here.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Xiaocui walked straight to the nearby room and respectfully said to Lu Jingning, “Fifth Young Lady, Madam is asking for you.”
“Alright.”
Lu Jingning followed Xiaocui to Madam Lu’s chambers and greeted her respectfully. “Greetings, Mother.”
“Ning’er, get up quickly,” Madam Lu said warmly, inviting her to sit.
“Yes, thank you, Mother.” Lu Jingning sat down calmly.
“You know your elder sister has been in the palace for three years. Though loved by the emperor, she is still only a Virtuous Consort and unable to advance further.”
“A few days ago, your sister sent a letter home, saying that because she has no children, she is suppressed everywhere by the Noble Consort. The Empress is weak and can barely protect herself, much less look after your sister. When I read it, my heart…”
Madam Lu sighed with distress.
Xiaocui, standing nearby, spoke up, “Fifth Young Lady, you are the most sensible one in the entire household.”
“A few days ago, Master intended to marry you off as a concubine to Lord Li.”
“You know Lord Li is nearly the same age as Master. You would suffer terribly if you were sent there.”
“When Madam heard of it, she couldn’t bear it. She intervened and secured you the opportunity to enter the palace to serve the emperor. You must properly thank Madam.”
Hearing these painfully familiar words, Lu Jingning became even more certain—she had truly been reborn.
In her previous life, she believed their sweet lies, felt grateful, and obediently followed Madam’s arrangements, entering the palace to care for her elder sister.
But her legitimate sister was indifferent to fame and fortune, unwilling to compete for favor.
Because of this so-called great kindness from Madam, she couldn’t bear to see her sister suffer and repeatedly charged ahead on her behalf.
She spoke well of her sister before the emperor, saying her sister admired him but was too shy to express it.
She molded her sister into a devoted, affectionate woman, changing the emperor’s impression of her.
Even when she was framed by the Noble Consort for using a gu curse, she only said: “If Your Majesty does not believe me, this concubine has no way to defend herself.”
The emperor became furious and wanted to throw her into the Cold Palace.
To save her sister, she had no choice but to take all the blame.
In the end, it was the Empress who found inconsistencies, launched an investigation, and rescued her.
Only after great difficulty did she regain the emperor’s favor… yet her sister deliberately complained in front of her: “If only I had a child to rely on. Why else must I suffer the Noble Consort’s oppression?”
She had already been greatly disappointed in her sister, but Madam told her that her concubine mother was on the brink of death, and that Madam had discovered it in time and saved her life.
For gratitude’s sake, she once again risked everything to give birth to a healthy prince for her sister.
She thought her sister would at least protect her so she could live out her days safely in the palace. Instead, her sister colluded with the Noble Consort to falsely accuse her of having an affair with a guard.
She didn’t understand. Everything she had done was for her sister. Why was her sister unmoved?
When she was sentenced to death, her sister personally brought the poisoned wine. She asked in unwilling despair why she would do such a thing.
But all she received was: “It was all your own wishful thinking. I never asked you to help me.”
She had fought for her sister, yet her sister was jealous that she had gained favor and given birth to a prince, so she sent her to death.
Even her concubine mother died miserably at Madam’s hands, and she learned the truth only at her final breath. It was utterly ridiculous.
Seeing she had remained silent for too long, Madam Lu grew impatient and coughed a few times.
Lu Jingning returned to herself, looked toward Madam Lu, then knelt and acted grateful. “Thank you, Mother. Your daughter is willing to go through fire and water for you.”
Madam Lu, satisfied with her obedient demeanor, nodded. “Will you enter the palace to help your sister?”
“Daughter… daughter is willing,” Lu Jingning replied, appearing harmless and meek.
She was very willing—willing to personally send her sister to hell.
This time she would see how her sister would maintain her serene, noble façade without her clearing the way and taking all the blame.
Since she had finally been given a second chance, she would live for herself.
Madam Lu was very pleased. She walked over and helped her up personally. “Good child. Go back and wait for the imperial edict to enter the palace.”
“Yes, thank you, Mother.”
Madam Lu instructed the maid beside her, then told Lu Jingning, “She and that little maid who serves you will enter the palace with you.”
The maid received the order and walked to Lu Jingning’s side.
“Understood,” Lu Jingning replied respectfully.
“Go back and rest.”
“Yes.”
Lu Jingning turned to leave. In that moment when she glanced back, her eyes grew cold.
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(End of this chapter)