In the imperial palace’s royal garden, the Third Princess’s birthday banquet was in full swing.
Smack!
A crisp slap landed on the face of a young woman dressed in a light-green embroidered butterfly-patterned gown.
The surroundings fell silent for a moment.
Soon after, the woman collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
Then a flurry of voices erupted—some concerned, some mocking.
“Ah, Miss! Are you alright? Wake up quickly!”
“Madam, please calm your anger! The young lady has fainted!”
“No way, she fainted from just one slap?”
“Could she be pretending, trying to gain sympathy?”
Not far away, a young woman in a pink high-waisted ruqun hurried over with an anxious expression in her eyes and grabbed the noblewoman’s hand.
“Mother, please don’t hit Sister. She didn’t mean it.”
“Just think of Wan’er as unlucky. She merely happened to upset Sister.”
“Being pushed into the water is nothing serious. But if the Third Princess’s birthday banquet were ruined and Her Majesty the Empress blamed our Marquis Manor, that would be terrible.”
“Wan’er has already changed into a new dress and is fine now. Mother, please forgive Sister.”
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No one noticed the woman lying on the ground frowning slightly, her thick eyelashes trembling faintly.
The richly dressed noblewoman snorted coldly.
“If I had known earlier, I should’ve driven her out long ago. We raised her for so many years for nothing. Not only is she ungrateful, she even commits such vicious acts.”
“Wan’er, there’s no need to plead for her.”
“Marchioness Pingyang, you’re simply too kind-hearted. Since she’s not your biological daughter anyway, if it were me, I would’ve thrown her out ages ago.”
“Exactly! Someone so arrogant and domineering has no right to remain in the Marquis Manor.”
The noisy chatter continued endlessly.
The woman lying on the ground slowly opened her eyes and pushed herself upright into a sitting position.
Immediately, she felt a burning pain on the right side of her face, while waves of dizziness assaulted her mind. Her lowered eyes were full of confusion.
What’s going on? Didn’t I die in the plane crash while returning home?
Logically speaking, after the plane lost control and plummeted from ten thousand meters in the air, there was no way she could still be alive.
[Host, you indeed died. But now you’ve come back to life.]
A crisp voice echoed in her mind. Yun Zhiyue was startled and was just about to speak—
when someone gently helped her up.
“Miss, you’re awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Yun Zhiyue raised her eyes toward the woman. Suddenly, countless memories flashed rapidly through her mind.
She lifted a hand to her forehead, struggling to endure the pain.
After a while, Yun Zhiyue finally sorted out the situation, her gaze turning cold and sharp.
She had transmigrated into the body of the fake daughter of the Pingyang Marquis Manor—Li Zhiyue.
A ruined reputation. Arrogant. Overbearing. Looking down on everyone.
Those labels placed on her must have satisfied certain people greatly.
Yun Zhiyue straightened up and lightly patted the hand of the maid beside her.
“I’m fine.”
Then she glanced around at the crowd.
More than a dozen finely dressed noblewomen and young ladies surrounded the scene, watching the drama unfold.
Mockery. Satisfaction. Disdain. Contempt. Concern.
Every expression was vivid and colorful.
It seemed that seeing her get slapped made them happier than giving birth to eighteen sons in one go.
Finally, Yun Zhiyue’s gaze landed on the young woman standing beside the Marchioness Pingyang.
Dressed in a pink high-waisted ruqun, adorned with jeweled hairpins, with an oval face and delicate features—she resembled the marchioness greatly.
This must be the real daughter—Li Wanqing.
The girl met Yun Zhiyue’s gaze directly, not bothering to hide the smugness in her eyes.
“Why is Sister looking at Wan’er like that? Could it be because Mother accidentally slapped Sister, so Sister now resents Wan’er?”
Her words were like pouring oil onto a fire.
The Marchioness looked at Yun Zhiyue with open disgust.
“How dare you! What right do you have to resent Wan’er? Hurry and apologize to her immediately, you disgraceful thing!”
“Mother, Wan’er is unharmed. Sister doesn’t need to apologize.”
Yun Zhiyue sneered.
“Heh. The two of you are singing this double act louder than roosters crowing at dawn. One of you babbles nonsense and jumps into the water herself, while the other acts like a street shrew slapping people.”
“And for what?”
“Isn’t it simply because you want to drive me out of the Marquis Manor?”
“There’s really no need to put so much effort into staging this little performance. Just because you have no brains doesn’t mean everyone else is as stupid as you are.”
Li Wanqing’s expression changed as she secretly gritted her teeth.
That damned bitch. Still just as hateful as ever.
But outwardly, she sighed helplessly.
“Sister, don’t be angry. Mother raised you for more than ten years after all. Don’t talk about leaving—Mother would be heartbroken.”
What excellent acting. I almost want to applaud.
Yun Zhiyue raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t want me to leave? Let me guess why. Heh… isn’t it because half a year ago—”
The Marchioness suddenly panicked. Furious, she pointed at Yun Zhiyue and shouted:
“Shut up! Insolent thing!”
“Fine then, leave! Once you leave the Marquis Manor and your luxurious life behind, don’t come crying and begging to return!”
Whispers immediately spread through the crowd again.
“What a losing investment. The Marquis Manor raised her for over ten years. Even if she isn’t the real daughter, they still gave her wealth and status.”
“The food, clothing, and social standing she enjoyed are things merchant families outside could never compare to.”
“In my opinion, she’s just pretending to be tough. Once she leaves the Marquis Manor, who will care about her? She won’t be the lofty daughter of the marquis anymore.”
“She’s not their biological child anyway. Are they supposed to keep raising her forever?”
Suddenly, a shrill voice rang out:
“Her Majesty the Empress arrives!”
“The First Princess and Third Princess arrive!”
Everyone immediately knelt.
“We pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live a thousand years, ten thousand years!”
“We greet the First Princess and Third Princess. May Your Highnesses be blessed with peace.”
Seeing everyone kneel while Yun Zhiyue still stood there, the maid beside her hurriedly tugged at her sleeve.
“Miss, kneel quickly!”
Yun Zhiyue took a deep breath and knelt down.
So transmigration even comes with a complimentary knee-bending experience card.
She had never knelt to anyone in her entire life.
Yet after arriving in ancient times, she had to kneel.
Forget it. Being able to live again is already fortunate enough. Since I’m here, I’ll adapt.
“There’s no need for such formalities. Rise, everyone.”
At the front stood the Empress, dressed in magnificent elegance, wearing a phoenix crown and exuding unmatched regal grace.
Though her tone was gentle, she naturally carried an imposing authority.
As expected of the ruler of the imperial harem.
“From afar, this place sounded unusually lively. Has something interesting happened?”
The Marchioness shot Yun Zhiyue a vicious glare before bowing respectfully.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, it is merely a family matter of this humble subject. I did not expect to disturb Your Majesty. Please forgive us.”
Yun Zhiyue watched with fascination.
Sure enough, power ruled everything.
The Marchioness, who had been arrogant moments ago, was now meek and obedient.
Hearing it was a family matter, the Third Princess visibly struggled to suppress her curiosity, her bright eyes darting around the Marchioness.
The First Princess remained expressionless, though her eyes brightened slightly.
Which noble family didn’t have hidden scandals?
They simply usually weren’t aired so openly.
After hearing the explanation, the Empress swept her phoenix-like eyes across the crowd before stopping on Yun Zhiyue.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
Yun Zhiyue’s clothes were somewhat messy, and the right side of her face was red and swollen.
The Empress immediately understood the situation.
“There is no need for such concern, Marchioness Pingyang. Since it is a family matter, I shall not interfere. Come with me to the front courtyard. The banquet is about to begin.”
Everyone responded at once.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Not far away beyond the covered corridor, a dignified older maid in an embroidered brocade dress adorned with silver ornaments was hurrying over.
That is…
Yun Zhiyue lowered her eyes thoughtfully.
Then suddenly, she strode forward and knelt before the Empress.
“Your Majesty, please wait! This commoner has something to ask Your Majesty to judge fairly.”
Everyone halted and turned toward Yun Zhiyue with visible impatience.
The Marchioness was horrified and rushed forward, trying to drag Yun Zhiyue away.
“How dare you behave so recklessly before Her Majesty! Get up immediately!”
Li Wanqing’s eyes lit up, the corners of her lips curving upward.
She hadn’t expected this idiot to rush forward seeking death herself.
She quickly knelt too.
“Your Majesty, please forgive us. Elder Sister must resent Wan’er. If Sister hadn’t accidentally pushed Wan’er into the water, Mother wouldn’t have accidentally struck Sister. That is why Sister wishes to ask Your Majesty for justice.”
Those tea-scented, manipulative words made the Empress raise an eyebrow.
“I have long heard that the Pingyang Marquis Manor produced a pair of true and false daughters. Is this true?”