When Mu Wanting learned that her half-sister was giving up the perfectly good position of Princess Consort of Pingxi just to become the wife of the heir to a declining marquis household, she immediately knew—
Mu Rongrong had been reborn too.
In their previous life, Mu Rongrong, the legitimate second daughter of the Minister of Rites, had married Shen Xinglan, the illustrious Prince of Pingxi famed for his military achievements. It had been a marriage far above her station.
Yet on their wedding day, Shen Xinglan was summoned to the palace and punished by the Emperor. Soon after, he was accused of treason, and his entire clan was sentenced to exile in the northwest.
Before the exile even began, Shen Xinglan had already suffered severe torture. He was carried back to the prince’s estate barely alive and died shortly afterward.
Mu Rongrong never enjoyed a single day of noble luxury as a princess consort.
Not only did she become a widow immediately, she also had to endure the hardships of exile. Five years later, she died there.
As for Mu Wanting, she had married into the fallen Yongle Marquis Manor. After marriage, the wastrel Zhao Zhiyuan suddenly turned over a new leaf, passed the imperial examinations as the top scholar, and then rose rapidly through official ranks until he became Grand Chancellor. He even obtained an imperial noble title for Mu Wanting.
Mu Wanting firmly held control of the household. Her parents-in-law respected her, her sisters-in-law lived harmoniously with her, and her children were obedient and filial.
So Mu Rongrong wanting to marry Zhao Zhiyuan did not surprise her at all.
“Mother, the Prince of Pingxi’s household is too high-ranking, and their family situation is complicated. The first, second, and third branches all live together under one roof. There are too many masters in that household—I’m afraid I’ll be bullied if I marry there. Elder Sister is cautious and dignified. Perhaps if she marries into that family, she’ll gain an even greater fortune.”
Leaning against Concubine Liu’s lap and acting coquettishly, Mu Rongrong spoke sweetly, though her eyes were full of jealousy as she looked at Mu Wanting.
Concubine Liu lifted her calculating gaze toward Mu Wanting.
“Wanting, since this is a marriage exchange, you must agree first.”
But Mu Guozhong frowned.
“I’m afraid this isn’t appropriate. Rongrong is suffering too much of a loss.”
Mu Wanting raised an eyebrow. The one insisting on the exchange was the one supposedly “suffering”? His favoritism was truly shameless.
Mu Guozhong continued:
“The Yongle Marquis Manor is no longer what it once was. Since your younger sister is giving such a good marriage to you, you should compensate her.”
Mu Rongrong’s eyes turned eagerly toward Mu Wanting.
She actually had the nerve to ask for compensation?
Mu Wanting almost laughed.
This was the man her mother had chosen. Her mother had sacrificed so much for him—even giving up the chance to return to her original world. Yet he had taken a secondary wife, kept mistresses, humiliated her mother, and mistreated both mother and daughter.
What saddened and relieved Mu Wanting at the same time was that her mother had disappeared. Otherwise, she would surely have been heartbroken.
Calmly, Mu Wanting said:
“Father, I didn’t want to switch marriages to begin with. Zhao Zhiyuan pursued me for a long time. I’m willing to marry him.”
Mu Rongrong panicked.
“Father, there’s no need for compensation! I truly want to marry Zhao Zhiyuan!”
Mu Guozhong frowned.
“How have both of you been blinded by that playboy? I truly don’t see what’s good about him.”
Mu Rongrong leaned close and whispered several things into his ear. Mu Guozhong’s expression immediately became strange before he coughed awkwardly.
“The Prince of Pingxi is the dream lover of countless young ladies. Rongrong is selflessly giving him to you and asking for nothing in return—you should be happy. Besides, half a year ago, you liked the prince too.”
Mu Wanting’s emotions remained utterly calm.
“That was half a year ago. Now I’ve already set my heart on Zhao Zhiyuan. The wedding is tomorrow. Father, Sister, stop causing trouble.”
Just as she turned to leave, Mu Rongrong hurriedly grabbed her sleeve.
“Elder Sister, I can give you the restaurant and cloth shop under my name.”
Seeing Mu Wanting remain silent, Mu Rongrong anxiously shook her arm and acted spoiled.
After pretending to hesitate for a while, Mu Wanting watched Mu Rongrong fearfully cling to the possibility that she might refuse the exchange. Mu Rongrong immediately handed over the property deeds and even summoned the shop managers.
Mu Wanting spoke indifferently.
“Concubine Mother, tomorrow is already an auspicious wedding day. Changing marriages today will offend both families. Mother once promised that all the shops and estates under her name would be transferred to me. Seeing such a generous dowry, the Shen family might treat me more kindly.”
Three days after her mother disappeared, Mu Guozhong—encouraged by Concubine Liu—had hastily transferred all of her mother’s properties into his own name. The greed had been utterly disgraceful.
In her previous life, Mu Wanting had refrained from mentioning it out of filial affection. Concubine Liu was also stingy. As the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister’s household, Mu Wanting had only received fifty chests of dowry—items her mother had secretly instructed trusted aides to hide beforehand.
Later, Concubine Liu completely failed at managing the household. She sold off her mother’s assets to bribe officials caring for the exiled Mu Rongrong.
This time, Mu Wanting would reclaim everything that belonged to her mother.
Mu Rongrong curled her lips.
“Elder Sister, don’t worry. The Prince of Pingxi’s estate will be busy tomorrow—they won’t notice anything.”
Ignoring her, Mu Wanting simply stared at Concubine Liu, waiting for an answer.
Concubine Liu closed her eyes silently. Mu Rongrong hurriedly whispered another long explanation into her ear, causing Liu’s expression to turn even stranger.
Finally, she reluctantly agreed—not only transferring Mu Wanting’s mother’s properties, but also Mu Rongrong’s restaurant and cloth shop.
Only then did Mu Wanting pretend to accept the arrangement with reluctance.
Mu Rongrong’s face brimmed with triumph.
What did it matter if Mu Wanting took more assets now? Once the Prince of Pingxi’s estate was confiscated, everything would eventually return to the Minister’s household anyway.
More importantly, the enviable married life Mu Wanting had enjoyed in the previous life would now belong to her.
This time, she would receive the imperial noble title.
She would never again have to live in the barren northwest, clutching letters from Concubine Liu and going mad with jealousy.
Just as Mu Wanting stepped outside, she heard Concubine Liu mutter quietly:
“So the mighty Prince of Pingxi… can’t perform…”
Mu Wanting paused briefly, but did not care.
She wasn’t marrying Shen Xinglan to live as husband and wife anyway. Whether he “could” or not meant nothing to her.
As for Zhao Zhiyuan…
In the previous life, he had allowed his mistress to murder her. Only a madwoman would marry such a filthy man again.
Since Mu Rongrong liked him so much, then she could have that “good life.”
Let her experience for herself just how exhausting it was to support a declining marquis household—where every step concealed deadly traps, where living in the manor was no easier than walking a tightrope.
Meanwhile, Mu Wanting had more important things to do.
A few days earlier, she had inherited her mother’s spatial storage ability, along with the power to teleport within a two-kilometer radius—though no more than ten times per day.
Gold, silver, jewels, and dowries were easy enough to take away.
Real estate, however, could not simply be carried off.
Without wasting any time, she first spent enormous sums hiring several reputable martial organizations to search for her mother in the northwest.
Then she transferred all of her mother’s properties into her own name and appointed trustworthy managers, ordering them to send daily profits to her through Mutian Pavilion.
She also hired people to purchase massive amounts of grain, cooked food, clothing, and countless miscellaneous supplies, secretly storing everything in her space whenever no one was around.
Inside her space were many items that did not belong to this era. Her mother had always warned her that the space was a secret known only to the two of them. Even if she took out objects from the future, she must disguise them first.
Her mother often said:
“Women in this era live too pitifully. No matter how capable they are, they can only waste their lives trapped in the inner household.”
“A woman should build her own career —her own legacy. But the capital’s waters run deep. One careless mistake and you’ll be doomed forever. If only one could go to an undeveloped land… then one could truly accomplish great things.”
That was why her mother had gone to the northwest three months ago, disappearing completely one month ago.
Mu Wanting did not believe her mother would die so easily.
She had to find her.
In her previous life, she had clung to hope, believing someone as capable as her mother would survive safely. She had only sent skilled people to search for her—but no one ever found her.
This time, however, she had finally gained the opportunity she wanted.
She intended to search personally.
And once she found her mother, the two of them would build the kingdom they had always dreamed of.
Early the next morning, Mu Wanting boarded the bridal sedan headed for the Prince of Pingxi’s estate, while Mu Rongrong was carried by Mu Xiaosheng into the sedan destined for Yongle Marquis Manor.
Thus began two lives completely different from their previous ones.