After all, Liu Jingyi had already been in the mansion for three months, and she remained quite well-informed about the happenings within.
She knew that Shen Yuling had invited Feng Moheng for dinner and drinks that evening.
So she had sent someone to wait at the mansion gate early on, intending to invite him to her Sujin Courtyard as soon as he returned.
Originally, she had told herself that even if Shen Yuling was the female lead, so what? Feng Moheng loved her deeply now—she had already won the male lead’s heart.
But Feng Moheng’s overnight stay last night, and the sweet hand-holding between him and Shen Yuling this morning…
Unease and anxiety filled her heart.
She was originally a pampered girl from the modern era, born into a well-off family.
However, she had never been fond of studying. After high school, she went abroad for further education and, upon returning, naturally entered her family’s company.
Her life had been smooth sailing since childhood.
Apart from the occasional annoyance caused by her parents mentioning arranged marriages, she had almost no other worries to trouble her.
In her leisure time, her greatest hobby was reading novels.
Little did she expect that she would inexplicably transmigrate into the world of a novel she had once read.
Speaking of the reason for this transmigration, it all came down to the blind dates her parents had arranged for her.
Those so-called rich second-generation heirs were either good-for-nothing playboys who spent their days indulging in pleasure, with no ambition whatsoever.
Or their appearances were simply too unfortunate, making it difficult for her to feel any closeness.
She had also admired some handsome celebrities from the entertainment industry.
But when she expressed her feelings to her parents, they firmly rejected the idea.
Left with no choice, she could only immerse herself in novels to ease her frustrations.
After all, the male leads in novels were all wealthy, powerful, and handsome.
Moreover, they were rare, perfect men in the world, fitting exactly her expectations for a partner.
After transmigrating, she became the illegitimate daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review in the Qian Dynasty.
In the Qian Dynasty, whether legitimate or illegitimate, daughters were merely tools for family alliances through marriage.
Although legitimate daughters held a more honorable status, it wasn’t as exaggerated as portrayed in TV dramas, with a world of difference.
In their mansion, the upbringing of legitimate and illegitimate daughters was almost the same, with no significant distinctions.
Because of this, her relationship with her elder sister, Liu Shihan, was quite good.
Moreover, knowing some of the novel’s plot, she had a slight understanding of the current emperor’s character.
Although the book only mentioned it briefly, it was enough for her to glean some key information.
With her subtle assistance.
After her sister entered the palace, she received somewhat special treatment from the emperor and even gave birth to princes for him one after another.
As a result, the bond between her and her sister grew even stronger.
Originally, as an illegitimate daughter, she could have married a decent man from a similar social background, becoming his legitimate wife and living a stable life.
But Liu Jingyi, having read that novel, had planted a seed in her heart.
She firmly believed that the best man in this world was none other than the novel’s male lead, Feng Moheng.
Feng Moheng was exceptionally handsome, and at a young age, he was already a prince, holding an extremely noble status.
Not to mention, his mother was the current emperor’s elder sister—Princess Xihe.
Such a prominent status, immense power, and outstanding appearance made him, in Liu Jingyi’s eyes, the perfect husband tailor-made for her.
Thus, from that moment on, she was determined to marry Feng Moheng and no one else.
Liu Jingyi knew that as the male lead in the book, Feng Moheng would experience a heart-stopping assassination attempt at the age of ten.
That assassination would be etched into Feng Moheng’s heart like a nightmare, leaving him with an indelible shadow toward women from then on.
The assassin disguised herself as a gentle and amiable older sister, gradually approaching Feng Moheng. Just when she had gained his complete trust, she suddenly revealed her ferocious face, attempting to kill Feng Moheng.
If the Eldest Princess had not discovered it in time and sent people to rescue Feng Moheng, he would likely have lost his life long ago.
From then on, Feng Moheng no longer dared to trust women easily and kept his distance from them.
Later, due to an imperial marriage arrangement, the female lead Shen Yuling married Feng Moheng.
During their days of living together, Feng Moheng gradually let down his guard, fell in love with the female lead, and eventually spent his life with her, devoted to one person.
Liu Jingyi bit her lip.
Since she had traveled through time, why couldn’t she change the storyline? Why couldn’t she become the protagonist of the story?!
Thus, at the critical moment when Feng Moheng was about to be assassinated, Liu Jingyi had meticulously planned everything in advance.
She found an extremely clever reason to approach Feng Moheng casually, even subtly providing the female assassin with a better opportunity to act earlier.
At that time, the sunlight was just right, and a gentle breeze brushed past. She wore an elegant, pale moon-white dress.
While the female assassin, who had been serving by Feng Moheng’s side disguised as a caring older sister, brandished a sharp blade and lunged at Feng Moheng with a ferocious expression.
To make Feng Moheng lower his guard, Liu Jingyi stayed at a slight distance but kept her attention focused on the scene.
Seeing the female assassin make her move, she did not hesitate for a moment and took the fatal blow for Feng Moheng.
In an instant, blood stained her white dress, creating a fragile and innocent beauty.
At that moment, she endured the excruciating pain, her eyes filled with concern for Feng Moheng.
In this way, she became Feng Moheng’s savior and planted a special seed in his heart from that day onward.
After that day, the bond between Liu Jingyi and Feng Moheng grew like vines in spring, slowly spreading and deepening.
They often exchanged heartfelt letters, each stroke of the pen filled with deep affection for one another.
In their leisure time, the two would meet to listen to storytelling in bustling teahouses or visit theaters to watch plays together.
Liu Jingyi knew that Feng Moheng liked women who were pure, kind, and somewhat lively.
Having come from the modern era, she was well-informed and knowledgeable, naturally different from ordinary women of ancient times.
Every time she spent time with Feng Moheng, she could always display a unique charm, whether through witty remarks or insightful perspectives, making Feng Moheng feel increasingly that she was extraordinary.
Gradually, a subtle affection quietly blossomed between them.
However, how could everything in the world go as one wishes?
Although the customs of this dynasty were relatively open, with no strict segregation between men and women, and even the current emperor strongly advocated for freedom in marriage and divorce,
these policies ultimately benefited the common people more.
For noble families, matching social status remained an insurmountable chasm, an ironclad rule that must be followed in matters of marriage.
Liu Jingyi and Feng Moheng were already deeply in love.
She was overjoyed, believing she could finally marry an ideal husband in this unfamiliar dynasty and live a blissful life like the heroine of a novel.
Yet she never expected Princess Xihe to oppose this marriage so resolutely.
No matter how desperately Feng Moheng pleaded, the princess remained unmoved, her stance as firm and unyielding as a rock.
However, Feng Moheng was, after all, the princess’s only son, and she did not wish to create a rift between herself and her child.
In the end, Princess Xihe agreed to allow Liu Jingyi to enter the prince’s mansion as a concubine.
Perhaps to placate her, the princess also proposed that if Liu Jingyi could give birth to Feng Moheng’s first son, she might have the chance to be elevated to the status of principal wife.
Upon learning this, Liu Jingyi felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, and all her joy instantly vanished.
She had painstakingly cultivated an image before Feng Moheng—that of someone deeply devoted to him, caring nothing for his status or position.
If she were to refuse to marry him now because the status of a concubine was too lowly, Feng Moheng, with his suspicious nature born of past betrayals by women, might begin to doubt her sincerity.
If that happened, wouldn’t all her previous efforts be in vain?
After careful consideration, Liu Jingyi gritted her teeth and ultimately agreed to the princess’s arrangement.
Time flew by, and three months ago, she stepped through the gates of the prince’s mansion, filled with resentment yet still clinging to hope for Feng Moheng.
According to the original plot of the book, the heroine Shen Yuling would soon enter the mansion.
She had been transmigrated for so many years and had changed many things, but could she truly not alter the destined meeting between the male and female leads?
Liu Jingyi’s resentment grew stronger.
Since the heroine insisted on coming to the prince’s mansion, then she shouldn’t blame her for being ruthless.
In just these three short months, it was impossible for her to give birth to the first son—the position of principal wife was never meant to be hers.
In that case, the only option was to eliminate the heroine who occupied her rightful place as the principal wife!
Having transmigrated here, must she still be relegated to the role of a supporting character, forced to watch the male and female leads live happily ever after while she languished in sorrow?
No, Liu Jingyi would never be a supporting character in someone else’s story. She would become the protagonist, the one who controlled her own destiny.
She had spent so many years and poured so much effort into warming Feng Moheng’s heart. If he were to lose his soul at the mere sight of the heroine, what would all her years of hard work amount to?
In the book, wasn’t it through her interactions with Feng Moheng that the heroine gradually won his heart?
This proved that Feng Moheng was not a man who valued appearance alone.
Moreover, with her here now, she would never allow Feng Moheng the chance to spend too much time with Shen Yuling. She would never let Feng Moheng fall in love with Shen Yuling again!