In her previous life, within a year of marrying into the manor, Lin Sianwan had suddenly “fallen ill” and died.
With the Prince entirely focused on his Buddhist devotion and indifferent to worldly affairs, Xu Yanshu—bolstered by her status as the Empress’s niece—had become the true authority within the household. Xu Yanshu was petty and vindictive, and in that timeline, Lin Shu’s arrogance had offended her immediately upon arrival. While the Princess Consort was still alive, Xu Yanshu had restrained herself, but after Sianwan’s sudden death, she had subjected Lin Shu to horrific abuse, forcing her to scrub toilets and beating her at whim.
Driven to desperation, Lin Shu had eventually sought solace with a lowly servant and attempted to elope, only to be caught by Xu Yanshu and beaten to death. Her body was tossed into a mass grave.
Lin Yao had encountered Xu Yanshu a few times in her past life. Whether it was beating servants or bullying commoners, the woman’s malice was unmistakable. Lin Yao never imagined that one day, she would fall into those same hands. This feeling—of being an ant crushed underfoot without the power to resist—was agonizing.
No, I cannot just wait for death!
“Who are you? The Prince is waiting for me to serve him!” Lin Yao cried out.
An old nanny immediately silenced her with a sharp slap. Lin Yao glared at the woman; she recognized her—it was the same nanny who had given her the tainted sachet. It had been Xu Yanshu’s plot all along.
“Stop pretending. The Prince hasn’t even touched you!” Xu Yanshu sneered. “You are nothing. Even if I flayed you alive here, no one would care if you lived or died.”
“The Prince has touched me! If you harm me, he will not let it go!” Lin Yao shouted, her voice ringing with feigned confidence. “And if the Empress finds out you killed a woman of the Prince, do you think you’ll survive, Side Consort Xu?”
Xu Yanshu wavered. She knew Lin Yao had been visiting the Wuju Courtyard daily. She thought it impossible, but the “what if” gnawed at her like a flame.
“Check her,” Xu Yanshu commanded. “See if her virtue is still intact.”
The two nannies lunged forward, attempting to strip Lin Yao’s clothes right there in the open courtyard.
“Insolent! How dare you touch the Prince’s woman! Help!” Lin Yao screamed, but the surrounding servants remained stone-faced and indifferent.
Her clothes were torn away and her hair fell in disarray. As she lay there, exposed and humiliated, a fierce, burning hatred took root. The shame I suffer today, I will return to Xu Yanshu tenfold!
After a moment, a nanny whispered a report to Xu Yanshu. The Side Consort exhaled, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. She knew it—how could her cousin, the Prince, ever look at such a vulgar woman?
Xu Yanshu knelt before Lin Yao and delivered another stinging slap. “Vixen! Daring to lie to me? I knew the Prince would never touch a lowly thing like you!”
She gripped Lin Yao’s chin, forcing her to look up. Even beaten and bruised, Lin Yao’s face remained hauntingly beautiful. Xu Yanshu’s long nails dug into the swollen skin of Lin Yao’s cheek, drawing blood. The sight gave her a rush of sadistic pleasure, but it wasn’t enough.
“Bring the medicine,” Xu Yanshu ordered.
A nanny stepped forward with a bowl. Lin Yao’s heart sank; she knew that smell. It was a decoction for sterilization. In her last life, she had been rendered barren because of such things. In this life, she could not let it happen. Seducing Prince Yu and bearing his child was her only path to escaping this fate!
Surging with a sudden burst of strength, Lin Yao lunged at Xu Yanshu. The bowl shattered, spilling the medicine all over Xu Yanshu’s fine silk robes. As the Side Consort shrieked in anger and the nannies rushed to her aid, Lin Yao scrambled to her feet and bolted toward the gate.
She hadn’t gone two steps before she collided with someone rushing in.
“Yao’er, don’t be afraid,” a gentle voice spoke from above.
Lin Yao collapsed into the arms of Lin Sianwan. The Princess Consort shielded her sister, looking at Xu Yanshu with a cold, expressionless gaze. “Side Consort Xu, what is the meaning of this?”
Xu Yanshu showed no fear. “Oh, the Princess Consort is here? This servant doesn’t know the rules. I brought her here to teach her some.”
“Yao’er is my sister. I will teach her myself.” Sianwan moved to lead Lin Yao away, but Xu Yanshu’s servants blocked the path.
Sianwan’s expression darkened. “Side Consort, are you disobeying the Princess Consort?”
Xu Yanshu scoffed. “Don’t put on airs with me. In this manor, people listen to me. Princess, either leave this slut here, or I tell my Imperial Aunt that you are shoving just anyone into the Prince’s bed. You know the consequences.”
Sianwan turned pale. She was terrified of the Empress—the cold palaces, the stern-faced maids, and the invisible tortures that left no marks but caused agonizing pain. Yet, looking at Lin Yao—her sister and her only hope—she couldn’t let go.
“Sister, just leave her. Once I’ve ‘taught’ her properly, I’ll send her back,” Xu Yanshu said, her eyes glinting with malice. When Sianwan didn’t move, Xu Yanshu’s voice dropped to a threat. “Or perhaps you’d like to receive a lesson alongside her?”
The nannies stepped toward the Princess Consort as if to strike her.
“Side Consort Xu… I would stay, but the Prince requires my service…” Lin Yao choked out.
Xu Yanshu laughed. “Still acting? You throw yourself at him every day and he hasn’t even broken your skin, let alone his vows. He doesn’t care about you. If I beat you to death, he’d probably thank me for the peace and quiet!”
Just as the words left her mouth, a voice rang out from the entrance.
“Where is Lady Yao?”
Xu Yanshu spun around, her face filled with shock. “Chang… Chang Feng?”
“Side Consort,” Chang Feng acknowledged her briefly before his gaze landed on Lin Yao. He frowned deeply. “How did she end up like this?”
Panic seized Xu Yanshu. Chang Feng was the Prince’s shadow, taking orders only from him. If he was here looking for Lin Yao, it meant the Prince was looking for her.
Had the Prince actually developed feelings for this woman?