At the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, Shen Wan was accidentally drugged with an aphrodisiac, lost her chastity, and became pregnant.
Her cousin Shen Wu and her maternal cousin Ye Caiwei joined forces to deceive her, making her believe the child she carried belonged to Prince Cheng, Xiao Yun. Dressed in a grand bridal procession, she married him as his wife.
She devoted everything to helping Xiao Yun ascend the throne, only to end up paving the way for her cousin instead.
Xiao Yun killed her father and brothers, exterminated her maternal family, drowned the pair of children she had risked her life to bear in the lotus pond, and even had her violated, driving her to burn herself to death in the Cold Palace.
Perhaps because she died with too much resentment, after death her soul attached itself to a jade pendant for three years, witnessing those people receive their retribution.
The heir of the Prince of Jingbei, Xie Jingyu, was assassinated and fell off a cliff. Not only did he survive, he raised an army in rebellion and, with unstoppable force, stormed the capital, pulling Xiao Yun from power, thus avenging her great hatred.
Only, Shen Wan truly didn’t know when she had ever offended that man.
In life, he humiliated and shamed her, in death, he even scattered her ashes to vent his anger.
And after her ashes were scattered.
She was reborn.
…
“Miss, we should hurry back to the Duke’s residence.”
As she stepped down the stairs, the maid Bao Cui urged Shen Wan just as in her previous life, even anxiously reaching out to tug at her sleeve.
Shen Wan had already confirmed that she had been reborn.
And she had returned to the very day Xiao Yun saved her!
Today they were supposed to go shopping, but last night Ye Caiwei had a nightmare, so Shen Wan accompanied her to Huguo Temple to pray for blessings. While offering incense, the stick suddenly snapped, her eyelids twitched wildly, and unease filled her heart. She insisted on returning to the Duke Ding’s residence. Since the temple was far and not easy to visit, her cousins were unwilling to leave so soon, so she went back alone.
On the way down the mountain, the carriage was startled, throwing her out, only for Xiao Yun to save her.
As they rolled down the slope, Xiao Yun shielded her in his arms. She suffered only minor injuries, but he broke his arm.
For saving her life, she had been deeply grateful, and from then on her heart was given to him.
Her parents had likely seen through that the startled horse was no accident and refused to let her marry Xiao Yun. Even though he had saved her in public, they rejected the emperor’s proposal on the grounds that she had once fallen into water when young, damaging her health and possibly preventing her from bearing children. But her heart had already been left with Xiao Yun. Later, she was drugged, lost her chastity “to Xiao Yun,” and became pregnant, so no matter how unwilling her parents were, they could only send her off in marriage.
Thinking of how her parents had been implicated and killed because of her, Shen Wan felt suffocated.
Heaven had given her a second chance, she would never repeat the mistakes of her past life!
All the schemes and plots forced upon her, she would return one by one!
They would pay in blood for blood!
Shen Wan shook off Bao Cui’s hand. “I feel terribly uneasy. Go buy me something to eat.”
Whenever she felt unsettled, Shen Wan had the habit of eating. Bao Cui suspected nothing and hurried off to buy food.
Under a tree nearby was a fortune-telling stall.
With no customers, the old Taoist was dozing.
Shen Wan walked over and placed a gold ingot on the table.
“Serve me, and I’ll help your name be remembered for generations.”
The old Taoist smiled and opened his eyes.
“Miss, this old man has been waiting for you for a long time.”
…
When Bao Cui returned with candied fruits, she saw Shen Wan leaving the stall.
“Miss, did you get your fortune told?” she asked as she approached.
Shen Wan ignored her.
After getting into the carriage, Shen Wan handed her spare dress to Bao Cui. “Change into your clothes with mine.”
Her tone allowed no refusal, and Bao Cui wouldn’t refuse anyway.
She had often secretly worn Shen Wan’s jewelry before, now that she had the chance to wear it openly, how could she refuse?
Shen Wan changed into a maid’s outfit, then tossed Bao Cui a veil. “Wear it properly and go back to the residence in my place. Don’t let my parents see through it.”
Watching the servant drive the carriage away, Shen Wan’s eyes darkened.
In her previous life, Bao Cui had gone to Prince Cheng’s residence on her behalf several times to deliver things. Eventually, she got involved with one of Xiao Yun’s guards and became secretly pregnant, disgracing Shen Wan. Her parents had Bao Cui beaten to death.
By now, Xiao Yun should already be waiting to save her, shouldn’t he?
Shen Wan even felt a bit of anticipation, she wondered what expression Xiao Yun would have when he realized the person he saved was merely her maid.
“Help! Help!”
Faint cries for help drifted from afar.