Dark clouds veiled the moon, and flocks of crows circled overhead, casting an aura of death over the Duke of Zhenguo’s Residence.
The courtyard, corridors, branches, leaves, and flowers were all drenched in blood, with corpses strewn everywhere.
A woman of unparalleled beauty, clad in a crimson wedding gown, knelt on the blood-soaked steps, clutching a handsome man who had long since ceased to breathe. She let out a heart-wrenching scream: “Ah…”
Tears streaming down her face, she looked toward the group standing beneath the eaves opposite.
Those people were her father, her five brothers, and her… once-beloved white moonlight, the Crown Prince of the Shang Dynasty, Mo Junli.
She was skilled in medicine, accomplished in both literary and martial arts, and well-versed in the classics. She had always believed she was being groomed to enter the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Princess. But it turned out everything was a conspiracy…
“Why did you kill them? Why…” Why couldn’t they even grant her the slightest shred of her lingering desires?
“Shen Wan.” At that moment, a man dressed in a water-blue brocade robe slowly descended the steps. His hands were clasped behind his back, and his face was handsome. This was none other than Crown Prince Mo Junli.
Shen Wan turned to look at him.
“Let me tell you why it had to be you.” His voice was soft, betraying no emotion. Even as he held a sharp sword, he still appeared like a benevolent ruler who cared for the world, yet his presence sent shivers down Shen Wan’s spine.
Mo Junli said, “Because you are not, in fact, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Shen family.”
What?
Shen Wan stiffened, her eyes widening in disbelief as she glared at the Shen family. “Is what the Crown Prince says true?”
“Yes, you are not a daughter of the Shen family. You are merely the daughter of an ignorant village peasant. Back then, when my mother was in distress and gave birth to the true legitimate daughter of the Shen family in Anlin Village, that lowly peasant switched the babies, placing you in the Minister’s residence to pose as the legitimate eldest daughter. Cousin Lian’er is the true legitimate daughter of our Shen family.” The speaker was Shen Chengxiao, the legitimate eldest son of the Shen family.
“Three years ago, the Shen family already recognized the true legitimate daughter. The reason we didn’t tell you the truth was because you showed a natural talent for medicine from a young age, studied under the Holy Physician of Muxian Mountain, and still had uses for us. So, we allowed you to remain in the Minister’s residence as the Shen family’s legitimate daughter. Now that the Xie family has been eliminated, Shen Wan, it’s time for you to relinquish the position that was never yours.”
—Still had uses for us!
—The Xie family has been eliminated!
These eight words finally unraveled the mysteries that had weighed on Shen Wan’s heart all these years. It turned out that every identity she had possessed was merely a charity bestowed upon her by them.
To eliminate the Xie family and seize their military power, they had used her as a pawn, sending her into the Xie household.
Pitifully, she had given her heart and soul to these people, only to end up as nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s hands.
She let out a wild, bitter laugh, looking down at the man in her arms. To protect her, he had been struck by multiple arrows. Years ago, he had suffered severe injuries, leaving behind lingering poison that had now erupted, killing him in her embrace.
“Xie Yujin, you won’t be alone on the Road to the Underworld.” Shen Wan gently laid down the man in her arms, picked up the Ten Thousand Souls Bow at her feet, and roared, “You beasts, slaughtering the loyal and virtuous, committing every evil deed—you will surely meet a wretched end!”
She charged toward Mo Junli, releasing an arrow from her bow.
The sons of the Shen family shouted in unison: “Quick, protect the Crown Prince! Kill this venomous woman who harms the loyal and virtuous!”
The arrow she shot was intercepted by her eldest brother, Shen Chengxiao.
The father she had respected most pierced her body with his sword.
The brothers who had doted on her the most in daily life rained down a hail of arrows upon her, piercing her heart.
Shen Wan collapsed heavily, and swarms of crows descended upon her, tearing at her flesh.
She widened her eyes unwillingly, and in the final moment before her consciousness faded, she saw Shen Lian appear before her.
Shen Lian was dressed in a phoenix robe, looking at her with eyes full of triumph, and said, “Sister, thank you for all these years of careful guidance on how to be a well-mannered and dignified lady from a noble family. And for healing the birthmark on my face during my time of waiting. Now that the situation is settled, the rightful daughter of the Shen family should return to her place.”
Setting: The female lead is a great beauty, talented in many areas, skilled in both literary and martial arts, and excels in medicine.
The supporting female character, the true daughter, has a birthmark on her face, is considered ugly, selfish, and harbors dark intentions.
The theme of this book is “strong female lead + political intrigue.” It requires careful plotting, so the story starts slowly, but it’s definitely worth following—there will be surprises…