“He is the father, and I am the son.”
“But he is my father-in-law, and I am his daughter-in-law!”
Once again, she watched coldly as the man knelt before her, weeping and begging.
In her previous life, her husband, Shen Jueming, had knelt before her, crying blood as he pleaded, saying that his adoptive father, the Duke Zhen, had taken a liking to her. If she was not sent to him, the entire Shen family would face a catastrophic disaster.
They had been married for three years. Back then, her father had been falsely accused of embezzling tea taxes and thrown into prison. As the daughter of a disgraced official, she was to be exiled. It was Shen Jueming who had begged to marry her, giving her a home.
So in her previous life, no matter how absurd it was, she still agreed.
The Duke Zhen was a pervert—moody and unpredictable. At the slightest displeasure, he would torment her at will.
Locked in a hidden chamber within his residence, she counted the days, longing for Shen Jueming to come rescue her.
But half a month after she was sent to the Duke’s residence, he was promoted from a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel to Vice Minister, and soon after, he married the Eldest Princess.
He completely forgot about her, his wife who had shared his hardships.
On the night of his new marriage, the Eldest Princess personally granted her a cup of poisoned wine and forced it down her throat.
Only before her death did she learn the truth.
Back then, her father, as the Prefect of Qingzhou, had discovered that the Eldest Princess’s faction was embezzling tea taxes and intended to report it to the court.
Shen Jueming, then serving as a minor official in Qingzhou, sought to climb the ranks by attaching himself to the Princess’s faction. He framed her father as a token of loyalty, then acknowledged the Duke Zhen as his adoptive father.
That was how he rose step by step to become a Ministry official.
Even now, she could still vividly remember the burning pain in her throat as she drank that poisoned wine, the tearing agony in her organs as if they were being ripped apart.
In this life, she, Jing Miaoyi, would never repeat the same mistake.
She would seek justice—for herself and for her father.
Since she could not escape being given away, why not choose a man who stood above both the Duke Zhen and the Eldest Princess?
“Shen-lang, you once saved me in my time of need. How could I abandon you now?” The beauty wept like a rain-kissed orchid—fragile and exquisite.
Her voice trembled, the ending drawn out with deep grievance, like a forsaken little creature. “Let me stay with you until your birthday three days from now before I go to your father… would that be alright?”
Shen Jueming stiffened. Looking down at the woman in his arms, crying uncontrollably, her soft sobs pierced his heart like needles.
Miaoyi was the woman he had longed for for years. He had gone to great lengths to marry her, vowing to grow old with her, with no room in his heart for another.
But that despicable man coveted Miaoyi’s beauty and demanded her by force. If he refused, all his years of scheming would be for nothing.
He had finally climbed from a minor seventh-rank official to a fifth-rank official, able to wear the light crimson robes of his station.
He could not accept failure at this point.
That man had promised him—Miaoyi would only stay for three years. After bearing him a son, she would be returned.
By then, he would be a fourth-rank Vice Minister. With his intelligence and schemes, he might even become Minister of Personnel.
That scoundrel would be no match for him then, and he could protect Miaoyi properly.
Shen Jueming wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, his fingers gently wiping away her tears. “Miaoyi, with your devotion to me, how could I refuse?”
He clasped her hands solemnly, swearing with utmost sincerity, “I promise I will never betray you.”
Never betray her?
What a joke.
She hadn’t even been in the Duke’s residence for a month before he changed his heart, remarried, and even tried to poison her to silence her.
Jing Miaoyi hid the hatred in her eyes as she leaned into his arms, her soft fingertips brushing his collar, lightly grazing his neck. Shen Jueming shivered, catching her hand and pressing a kiss to it.
“Shen-lang, I want to go pray for your blessings at the temple later. I only wish for you to rise with the winds, ascend to greatness, and reach the heights of the capital.”
The warmth in Shen Jueming’s expression vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold gaze.
Jing Miaoyi… in your previous life, were you truly so blind, so foolish that you couldn’t see through his false affection?
“Shen-lang, if you’re unwilling, I won’t go. It’s just that when I first came to the capital, I made a vow at Wanfo Temple. Now that you’ve reached the fifth rank, I have yet to fulfill it.”
She lowered her gaze slightly. “Once I go to see your father, I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to leave the Duke’s residence to fulfill my vow for you.”
Shen Jueming looked at her, so wholeheartedly devoted to him, and his suspicions dissipated. He lifted her chin. “Since Miaoyi has such intentions, how could I refuse?”
“I’ll have two attendants follow you for protection,” he said after a moment’s thought.
Jing Miaoyi knew—this was both protection and surveillance.
After whispering a few words into his ear, Shen Jueming’s personal guard darkened his expression. He left in a hurry.
Watching his retreating figure, Jing Miaoyi’s gaze turned cold.
She would not be like her previous self—blindly obedient, waiting for her husband’s rescue.
Today was the day the golden statue at Wanfo Temple was completed. The Marquis Dingyuan had invited His Majesty to the temple for worship.
In her previous life, the Marquis had drugged the Emperor’s tea to send his youngest daughter into the Emperor’s bed.
The current Emperor had ascended the throne at ten and taken full control at sixteen, eliminating three regents left by the late emperor—one dead, one exiled, one demoted.
His ruthlessness and decisiveness were evident.
Thus, after being plotted against, he directly consigned the girl to military prostitution, stripped the Marquis of his title, and exiled him to Youzhou.
And today, she would ride the Marquis’s scheme to carve out a path for herself.
Standing before the temple, she gave her maid Baozhu a look.
“My lady is praying for the master’s blessings. You two stay here with me and wait.”
It was midsummer; the heat was oppressive.
When the Emperor’s neck flushed red and sweat beaded at his temples, he finally sensed something was wrong.
The Emperor tugged open his collar, revealing his well-built chest, veins bulging at his neck. In irritation, he smashed the teacup beside him to the ground.
“Get in here.”
Eunuch Li Dequan, waiting outside, hurriedly rolled in. “Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”
“There’s something wrong with today’s food. Investigate it.”
Killing intent flashed across the Emperor’s face.
His entire body burned with heat, unbearably uncomfortable. Having long relied on medicinal tonics, ordinary drugs should not have affected him—but now, even he could not endure it. He threw his bright yellow dragon robe to the floor.
Was the dosage meant to fell a bear?
Tears streamed down Eunuch Li’s face as he knelt and pleaded, “Your Majesty’s health is paramount. This servant will find a pure woman for Your Majesty.”
The Emperor stripped off his upper garment, revealing a perfectly sculpted physique, and snapped, “Find what? Someone will come on their own.”
“After this, I will make them understand the wrath of an emperor—corpses piled in the millions.”
Eunuch Li scrambled up and rushed outside to find this “volunteer.”
Where was she?
Daring to drug the Emperor, yet not daring to appear?
Just as he was growing frantic, he spotted a woman in green standing by the bridge not far away.
At a time like this, still posing? Did she expect the Emperor to lose control and rush out in broad daylight?
Without hesitation, he strode forward and seized her.
Her hair was dark as clouds, her skin like jade, her eyes shimmering with a misty allure that concealed their depths. Her features were like a painting, her entire being radiating a gentle glow—more beautiful than even Consort Guo, famed for her beauty in the harem.
No wonder she dared to drug the Emperor—she relied on her looks.
He dragged her straight toward the room.
“Who are you? Let go of me! If you keep this up, I’ll call for help!”
Still acting. Lower your voice—this is hardly something to boast about.
“Go ahead and scream. Even if you shout your throat raw, no one will come.”
With that, Eunuch Li shoved her inside.
Jing Miaoyi looked at the half-naked man. Catching sight of the bright yellow robe discarded nearby, she immediately understood.
Her peach-blossom eyes filled with fear, delicate and pitiful.
“Y-you… who are you?”
Pure yet alluring, refined in her green robes—a rare beauty.
The Emperor found her appearance satisfactory. No wonder she dared to gamble everything.
He reached out and grasped her slender waist—soft, as if boneless.
“Let… let go of me…”
“Mmm—”
The young Emperor tore away the thin gauze draped over her body. Her jade-like figure, the crimson undergarment accentuating her allure, her exquisite curves utterly captivating.
Already consumed by heat, his rationality shattered. Without restraint, he threw her onto the bed and pressed down over her.
Already enraged, his movements were rough, devoid of tenderness.
Jing Miaoyi’s delicate body could hardly endure the Emperor’s fury.
She was like a lone boat tossed upon a raging sea.
The redwood bed swayed, muffled pleas drifting through the green gauze curtains.
After an unknown length of time, the young Emperor finally rose, satisfied, looking down at the woman on the bed—her face flushed, tears glistening in her eyes.
He had always been indifferent to women, but today…
His broad hand couldn’t help but stroke her small face, his rough fingertips lingering over her soft lips.
He found himself wanting more.
A single tear slid into his palm, stirring an even deeper desire.
This woman was a natural temptress.
His hand was reluctant to leave.
Just as he leaned in again, Jing Miaoyi suddenly slapped his hand away, kicked him off the bed, and curled up, crying.
“Why are you crying?” the Emperor roared, his mood instantly shattered.
“Isn’t this what you schemed for? What are you pretending for now?”
Jing Miaoyi looked at him timidly, tears falling endlessly, like a drenched peach blossom—damaged yet beautiful.
“My husband is Shen Jueming, a Ministry official. You’ve violated me and now slander me as unchaste!”
“Even if I die, I will beat the Drum of Grievance and seek justice from the Emperor himself!”
The Emperor’s brows furrowed deeply. He shouted toward the door, “You dog, get in here!”
“Your Majesty!” Eunuch Li hurried in.
“Y-Your Majesty? You’re the Emperor?” Jing Miaoyi trembled even more.
“You wretch, do you even know who you brought in?”
“Your Majesty, isn’t she the woman who came willingly?”
“You—stop talking nonsense! You dragged me in by force and threatened me, saying no one would come even if I screamed!”
“Li Dequan!”
Eunuch Li immediately knelt. “Your Majesty, this servant thought she was acting, so I kindly played along.”
The Emperor let out a cold laugh. “Turn around.”
Eunuch Li turned obediently. The Emperor kicked him hard. “I didn’t know you loved acting so much. Since you do, keep acting until sunset.”
Outside, a voice called, “This subject’s daughter, Song Mingyu, has prepared lotus seed soup for Your Majesty and hopes it pleases you.”
So this was the real one.
The Emperor glanced at the trembling woman on the bed, her frail body shaking, making her all the more pitiful.
If it had been any other woman, he might have let it pass.
But how could he take another man’s wife?
He was ruthless, yes—but he had no habit of stealing another man’s woman.
If he did, the court censors would be the first to protest—stubborn to the bone.
Perhaps… silence her.
But their intimacy had been undeniably pleasurable.
For the first time, the decisive Emperor hesitated.