Chарtеr 1: Rеbоrn at the Mаrriаge Prоclamаtiоn Stаgе
“Нurrу, the Ji fаmilу is аbоut to throw thе Embroidered Ваll. Let’s gо tаkе а lоok!”
“I wоndеr whо will catсh this grаnd prizе—it’s truly a laddеr to thе heavens.”
“Indеed. Fоrget thе Ji fаmily’s immensе wealth; just the bеаutу оf the eldеst уоung lаdy is enоugh to lеave оne breаthless. Tsk, tsk—shе’s the number onе bеаuty оf thе Anzhao Кingdom…”
It wаs thе fifteenth уear оf Anzhао, during thе Lantеrn Festival.
Jizhоu City wаs bustling with ехcitement, teeming with crowds and livеlу commotion.
Реople flосked to the entrance of the Ji family’s trading house, eager to witness the grand spectacle of the marriage proclamation.
A gentle breeze stirred, causing the lanterns hanging at the entrance to sway softly, rustling as they moved, adding a touch of liveliness to the festive atmosphere.
Inside the trading house, a maidservant entered the room carrying a freshly brewed pot of hot tea and said softly, “Young Lady, the Embroidered Ball marriage proclamation is about to begin.”
“Clang—” With the sound of a gong ringing outside.
Ji Ruyue’s eyes snapped open, a flicker of confusion flashing in their depths…
“Young Lady.”
“Bai… Bai Mei?”
Ji Ruyue stared in astonishment at the person before her—her long-deceased personal maidservant, Bai Mei. How could she suddenly appear?
“Today, I, Ji, have specially set up this Marriage Proclamation Stage for my daughter, sincerely inviting talented young men of suitable age to join in this grand occasion…” Old Master Ji’s resounding voice echoed from outside, causing Ji Ruyue’s heart to skip a beat.
“Father!” Ji Ruyue’s lips moved, but no sound emerged.
Bai Mei noticed her young lady’s unusual state and quickly set down the tray in her hands, approaching with concern. “Young Lady, are you feeling nervous?”
Ji Ruyue’s momentary lapse passed swiftly as she quickly regained her composure.
What was happening? Could this be a dream?
No! She had clearly died.
Strangled to death by a white silk cord, wielded by her husband of eight years, Chen Shujin…
“Young Lady need not be nervous. The master has set up numerous obstacles and will surely find you a worthy husband,” Bai Mei reassured with a smile.
Ji Ruyue raised a hand to her forehead as a wave of inexplicable nausea washed over her, making everything before her seem even more unreal.
In the blink of an eye, thoughts of hatred surged…
Truly, heaven had eyes—it had allowed her to be reborn!
“Young Lady, please have a cup of tea and rest for a moment. Judging by the commotion outside, it may still take a while.”
A faint, cold smile curled at the corner of Ji Ruyue’s lips. “Help me freshen up my appearance. The commotion outside will end soon.”
How could it not end quickly?
Her tragic life, and the Ji family’s devastating fate of having nine clans exterminated, all stemmed from this Embroidered Ball marriage proclamation…
In a moment, her Embroidered Ball would be caught by a woman.
This woman was of extraordinary status, a matter that concerned Ji Ruyue’s lifelong happiness, yet she treated it all as a game. Only after she had played enough would she casually toss the Embroidered Ball to a passing poor scholar.
That poor scholar was Chen Shujin, her heartless and ungrateful husband!
That woman had declared: “Do not despise the youth for his poverty. You must marry him whether you wish to or not.”
Using her status, she had bent Old Master Ji’s proud spirit, forcing him to marry his beloved daughter to that poor scholar.
Ji Ruyue had been raised as the apple of Old Master Ji’s eye since childhood, cherished and pampered. Gentle, virtuous, and deeply trusting of her father, how could she disobey his command?
If Chen Shujin had truly treated her with sincerity, with the vast wealth of the Ji family as support, they could have lived a good life no matter what.
Unfortunately, Chen Shujin had fallen deeply in love with the woman who had thrown the Embroidered Ball to him, regarding her as his soulmate.At the moment this woman rose in rebellion, he did not hesitate to betray the Ji family, murder Old Master Ji, imprison Ji Ruyue, and hand over all of the Ji family’s wealth to her, becoming her personal treasury.
On the day the woman ascended the throne, Chen Shujin personally ended Ji Ruyue’s life with a white silk cord.
Eight years of marital affection, yet he regarded this past as a stain upon himself.
To erase this stain, he actually caused over a hundred members of the Ji family to perish in a fire overnight, with not a single survivor.
Ten days later, the Empress decreed that the Ji family had colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation, with irrefutable evidence, and ordered the extermination of their nine clans!
This series of utterly ruthless actions by Chen Shujin was merely to demonstrate his loyalty to the Empress, willingly becoming one of her many male consorts…
Ji Ruyue’s heart was filled with hatred!
The Ji family had done good deeds all their lives, never wronging anyone in the slightest, so why had they come to such an end?
Reborn in this life, even if it meant throwing an egg against a rock, she vowed to make this shameless pair receive the retribution they deserved!
“Miss, should this hairpin still be worn?”
Bai Mei’s voice pulled Ji Ruyue back from her thoughts.
“No need.”
Ji Ruyue slowly turned toward the bronze mirror, her gaze falling upon the youthful yet unfamiliar face reflected within.
It was clearly her own appearance from when she had just come of age, yet it felt so strange.
The young girl in the mirror was in the bloom of her sixteenth year, her skin fair as jade, glowing with a radiant luster, her eyebrows like crescent moons, her face like peach blossoms. Her eyes were clear and bright, shining brighter than the stars. Her cherry lips were naturally red without any makeup, tender and delicate, and a small red mole between her brows added to her striking beauty.
A red dress wrapped around her slender figure, like a weeping willow in the south, graceful and elegant. Even sitting there, she could not conceal her peerless charm.
Ji Ruyue stared blankly, raising her hand to gently touch her cheek, finding it simply unbelievable!
“Miss, you are truly beautiful.”
As soon as Bai Mei finished speaking, chaotic and disorderly noises suddenly came from outside.
“Let’s go,” Ji Ruyue said calmly.
“Yes, Miss.”
In her previous life, from the moment she stepped out of this room, it had been an endless nightmare.
Her palm was deeply scratched by nails painted with bright crimson, and beads of blood quietly seeped out.
Ji Ruyue slightly raised her eyes, feeling none of the anticipation from her past life, and directly pushed the door open, stepping into the view of the crowd.
“Look, the Ji family’s young lady has come out!” someone in the crowd with sharp eyes was the first to spot her figure, calling out softly.
Instantly, the noisy crowd below the stage fell silent, and everyone’s gaze focused on this stunning young woman who had just appeared.
Many could not help but gasp in astonishment, marveling at her celestial beauty!
Ji Ruyue walked as if treading on lotus flowers, her eyes lowered, as she stepped onto the Marriage Proclamation Stage.
The Marriage Proclamation Stage set up by the Ji family was extremely luxurious, with rosewood pillars and fine brocade covering the floor, spacious enough to hold over a hundred people with room to spare.
Old Master Ji flicked his sleeve, his face showing a trace of annoyance.
But when he saw his own daughter, his expression instantly turned kind and affectionate. “Yue’er, this Embroidered Ball marriage proclamation hasn’t ended yet, why have you come out?”
Before Ji Ruyue could speak, the woman dressed as a young man on the stage spoke first: “How is it not over yet?” Since this scholar has caught the Embroidered Ball, he naturally is your Ji family’s ideal son-in-law. Does Old Master Ji intend to go back on his word?”
“You… you woman, truly unreasonable!” Old Master Ji roared angrily.
Ji Ruyue gently raised her small hand, calming her father, and cast a cold gaze toward the woman dressed as a young man.
This person was none other than the future Empress of the Anzhao Kingdom, currently still Princess Changle—Murong Jing!Murong Jing possessed a handsome and striking appearance, with a tall and slender figure. Dressed as a man, she looked quite dashing, but no matter how convincingly she disguised herself, she was still a woman. Those present were not naive three-year-olds—who couldn’t see through it?
However, in the Anzhao Kingdom, women had always held a lofty status, and there was great tolerance toward personal style, so such sights were hardly surprising.
Ji Ruyue’s expression remained placid, but her tone was icy and stern. “Even if my Ji family were to renege on this debt, what would you do about it?”
Murong Jing was momentarily taken aback by her question. Her gaze swept over Ji Ruyue, and a teasing smile curled at the corner of her lips. Casually, she pushed the frail-looking scholar beside her forward. “What? Does the Ji family look down on this scholar for his poverty? Are you judging people by their appearance?”
As she emphasized each word, the crowd gradually fell silent.
Ji Ruyue took two steps forward, lifting her eyes to meet Murong Jing’s gaze. “Oh? Forgive my ignorance, but how exactly does a dog’s eye judge people? Why don’t you show me?”
Immediately, someone in the audience couldn’t hold back and burst into loud laughter.
Before Murong Jing could react in anger, Ji Ruyue continued, “Look down on him? Even if I did, what’s wrong with that? My Ji family set up this Marriage Proclamation Stage with clear rules for every aspect. Has this scholar succeeded in the literary contest? Or has he triumphed in the martial contest? How dare he stand before me so frivolously? Where does he get the audacity?”
“My Ji family is seeking a marriage alliance, not running a charity!”