Northern Wei.
The nineteenth year of the Shun’an era.
It was mid-winter. The biting wind scattered fine snow across the ground, and every household had their doors and windows tightly shut. Only the General’s Manor was draped in red silk, the air filled with the thunderous sound of drums and music.
Today was the wedding day of Lu Peifeng, the young general of the Zhenguo General’s Manor, and Song Mingyan, the eldest daughter of the Grand Tutor’s Manor. The entire estate, inside and out, was buzzing with festive joy.
The moment Song Mingyuan opened her eyes, she found herself inside a swaying bridal sedan. The sound of firecrackers, gongs, and drums made her eardrums ache.
She was a little dazed.
What was going on?
Hadn’t she been struck dead by a Lightning Tribulation?
Before she could make sense of the situation, a flood of foreign memories surged into her mind like a tide.
Song Mingyuan’s face darkened. She nearly kicked the bridal sedan down, her joy at being resurrected vanishing instantly.
What a disaster. She had actually transmigrated into a novel she once read, becoming a piece of cannon fodder with the same name as hers who was destined to die as soon as she appeared.
Heaven, you really know how to play!
All she did was hide under a lightning rod during her tribulation and say, “My fate is mine to command, not the heavens’.” Was this really necessary? Talk about a sore loser!
After cursing the heavens from head to toe, inside and out, Song Mingyuan reluctantly accepted this heart-stopping reality.
Fine. Where one falls is where one lies down. So what if she was cannon fodder? As long as she was alive, she could still cause trouble. Whoever tried to make her cannon fodder, she would turn them into cannon fodder instead.
Song Mingyuan quickly sorted through the memories of this body.
The one who had a marriage contract with the General’s Manor was Song Mingyan.
The original owner of this body had been knocked unconscious by her own father and forcibly stuffed into the bridal sedan to marry in Song Mingyan’s place. That blow to the head had been so precise that it had killed her instantly.
She hadn’t even been carried into the General’s Manor before she breathed her last on the way.
Speaking of which, the original owner was a tragic soul.
Despite being the legitimate daughter of the first wife—the true Eldest Miss—her scumbag father had abandoned his wife and child when he achieved success in his early years. Consequently, she was forced to be raised under the name of Song Panshan’s second wife, Madam Xu, and recorded as the Second Miss, allowing Song Mingyan—who was only half a month younger—to stand above her.
The original owner’s mother had traveled a thousand miles to the capital to find her husband, only to end up with the title of a mere mistress and eventually die of grief.
It was bad enough that her father didn’t love her and her mother had died early, but the poor girl also had to endure the cruel machinations of Madam Xu, a stepmother who hid a wicked heart behind a kind face.
She had finally reached the age to marry, only to be pushed out as a sacrificial lamb to block a disaster for Song Mingyan!
Tomorrow, the imperial decree to seize the General’s Manor’s assets and exile the family for treason would be issued.
Grand Tutor Song, that scumbag father, had caught wind of this from the Crown Prince early on. Knowing that the Lu family was about to be destroyed, he orchestrated this substitute marriage to protect Song Mingyan.
The original owner deeply admired the Zhenguo General’s Manor and was unwilling to commit such an insulting act against them.
However, Song Panshan had threatened her with the life of her personal maid and used heavy-handed tactics, leaving her no room to refuse.
Now, the bridal sedan had already reached the entrance of the General’s Manor.
To run or not to run?
Song Mingyuan desperately wanted to bolt, as getting married was never part of her plan.
But remembering that the life of the original owner’s maid was still in the hands of the Song family, she suppressed her impatience.
That girl was the only person the original owner cared about in this world. Since she had taken over the body, she couldn’t just ignore the girl’s life and death.
She would save the little maid first, then decide.
“Will the bride please step out of the sedan!”
A high-pitched voice rang out from outside.
Song Mingyuan stepped out of the sedan, supported by a maid. Soon, the other end of the red silk ribbon was picked up by a fair, slender hand with well-defined joints.
Looking through the red bridal veil, she could only see a tall, upright figure in a blur.
This must be today’s groom, Young General Lu.
He had led troops at the age of ten, beheaded enemy commanders, broken through formations single-handedly, and achieved fame as a youth.
The young general whose name shook the nations, the future backbone of Northern Wei—he was a man countless noble ladies would fight to marry.
If the Lu family hadn’t been framed and incriminated, this marriage would never have fallen into her lap.
It was a pity, though. The entire Lu family was composed of loyal souls who served their country with one heart, only to end up discarded like hounds once the hares were caught.
Song Mingyuan glanced at him a few more times before quickly looking away. She appreciated heroes.
But it was only appreciation. After all, she was a newcomer and felt no deep connection to Northern Wei.
Under the guidance of the wedding matron, Song Mingyuan crossed the brazier and bowed to Heaven and Earth.
Because she cooperated intentionally, the tedious rituals proceeded smoothly. No one discovered that the person under the veil was not the intended bride.
After the husband and wife bowed to each other, the master of ceremonies shouted in a long, drawn-out tone: “The ceremony is complete! Send them to the bridal chamber!”
The wedding matron waiting nearby stepped forward, her face blooming like a flower. “Young Madam, this way! Please follow me!”
Surrounded by maids and matrons, Song Mingyuan left.
The lively sounds of congratulations and clamor gradually faded, only becoming quiet once they entered the bridal chamber.
A dowry maid bowed her head and helped Song Mingyuan sit down, whispering a warning into her ear: “You know what to do later. The Master and Madam said that if you are kicked out of the General’s Manor, the first thing you will see tomorrow morning is Xing’er’s corpse.”
A packet of powder was shoved into Song Mingyuan’s hand.
“This is Hehuan Powder. Find a chance to put it in the nuptial wine. Whether Xing’er lives through the night depends on how you act.”
Her tone was tinged with contempt. “Also, you’d better be sensible and take the initiative to admit that you impersonated the Eldest Miss and substituted yourself because you admired the Young General. If any rumors harmful to the Grand Tutor’s Manor’s reputation spread, the Master and Madam will not forgive you!”
There were two dowry maids, both of whom were Madam Xu’s plants meant to keep a close eye on Song Mingyuan.
As long as the night passed, regardless of whether she was a substitute or not, she would be Lu Peifeng’s wife in name.
If she truly did as they said, the world would only see her as shameless and selfish, while the Grand Tutor’s Manor would be completely exonerated from the matter.
Song Mingyuan had reason to suspect that the original owner wasn’t Song Panshan’s biological daughter.
Even a tiger wouldn’t eat its own cubs, yet he was trying to drive her to a dead end!
He was sending her to her death and still trying to squeeze every last drop of value out of her.
It was bad enough he forced the substitute marriage, but he also wanted her to actively admit she was a brazen, shameless woman who dared to impersonate Song Mingyan.
He wanted her to bear all the infamy for his actions—he certainly had some nerve!
If she actually used this powder, did they not know what would await her?
Song Mingyuan’s expression remained calm. “I understand. You may leave.”
The maid hesitated. Madam Xu had said they were to watch Song Mingyuan every step of the way.
Seeing that they weren’t moving, Song Mingyuan raised a delicate eyebrow slightly. “What? Are you going to stand there and observe while the Young General and I consummate the marriage? I didn’t realize you had a hobby for watching live erotic performances. Truly, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”
Hearing such blunt and explicit words, the maid’s face turned red instantly, and she spat in indignant rage.
“Bah! Shameless!”
With that, she walked away with disorganized steps, looking as if a ghost were chasing her.
Song Mingyuan clicked her tongue. “Tsk…”
She hadn’t even used ten percent of her prowess and they already couldn’t handle it. Were the people of this world all so pure?
Retracting her gaze, Song Mingyuan boredly kicked her ill-fitting embroidered shoes, waiting for her cheap husband to arrive.
She wondered what kind of expression he would have when he found out his bride had been swapped?
Just as she was thinking about it, the sound of footsteps came from outside. Soon, Lu Peifeng, dressed in his red wedding robes, was escorted into the bridal chamber by the crowd.