In her past life, on the very night she married Gu Jin, he was ordered by imperial decree to depart for the battlefield.
For a year, she managed the household, respected and cared for her mother-in-law, and longed for his safe return.
But before he even came back, news spread like wildfire throughout the city that Gu Jin had been chosen by an imperial decree to marry the Princess Royal.
She thought it was an absurd rumor, but a few days later, the Princess Royal’s procession entered the Houfu. When she tried to seek confirmation, she was blocked. Her usually gentle mother-in-law pressured her with threats and inducements, even throwing the original marriage certificate in her face.
Only then did she see clearly: the name and birth details of the husband on the marriage certificate had long been altered—it was actually the eldest son of the main branch of Chengen Houfu, Gu Jin’s disabled cousin, Gu Jin.
Everyone in the Houfu echoed the same story, claiming that Gu Jin had married in his brother’s stead all along.
She was locked in the courtyard, stubbornly refusing to yield.
Until today, when the Empress Dowager’s decree arrived at Chengen Houfu, she, as an obstacle, could no longer be delayed.
In her past life, deceived by Gu Jin’s sweet words, she truly believed he had been forced by the Princess Royal, who fabricated evidence against him while he was overseeing the army. If she did not comply, not only would Gu Jin and the Houfu be destroyed, but even her father and brothers leading the army would be deeply implicated. In the end, she swallowed this profound humiliation.
From then on, she fell into an abyss, trapped in the inner quarters, becoming a pawn in Gu Jin’s hands. Even when she finally awakened, it was a desperate struggle, and her entire family became stepping stones for Gu Jin’s ambitions.
Now, although her rebirth did not come early, everything was still in time.
Her parents were alive and well, her eldest brother had not perished, and A-Yuan was still a mischievous five-year-old.
“Young Madam, the Second Young Master has also returned today. Will you not see him?” the maid outside called again.
Jiang Zhiyu pushed aside her memories, quickly calming herself as she stood up and put on her outer robe.
Just as the maid was about to call a third time, she opened the door.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyu, who appeared thin and still had dark circles under her eyes, the young maid’s heart ached with sympathy.
The Young Madam treated everyone in the Houfu well, never neglecting even the lowliest maids, and had once saved her.
But she was only a third-tier maid, not daring to speak a word about the family’s major affairs. Now, she could no longer even address her as Second Young Madam, only as Young Madam.
“You are Chunzhi, right?” Jiang Zhiyu asked.
Surprised that the Young Madam remembered her name, Chunzhi paused for a moment before hurriedly nodding. “Yes, this servant is Chunzhi.”
“Is the Marchioness in a hurry?”
Chunzhi shook her head. “She didn’t say. Nanny Niu only told this servant to inform you, Young Madam, that the Second Young Master has returned and requests your presence. However, there are quite a few people in the front courtyard right now.”
Chunzhi hinted discreetly, but in her past life, Jiang Zhiyu had rushed to confront Gu Jin as soon as she heard he was back. As a result, she found herself passive under everyone’s watchful eyes, unable to even question the truth of Gu Jin’s words before being forced step by step into a life-or-death decision. In her panic, one wrong move led to another.
Moreover, because she had focused solely on questioning Gu Jin and moved close to him, those who came to congratulate him that day spread rumors that she was unwilling to marry a disabled man and had deliberately seduced her brother-in-law, which was why Gu Jin had left for the battlefield immediately after marrying in his brother’s stead, not daring to stay a moment longer.
Her reputation ruined, she was no longer invited to any social gatherings, and this was how she became trapped in the inner quarters.
The Marchioness had taken advantage of her desperation to pave the way for Gu Jin.
In this life, they could dream on.
“Since there’s no hurry, I’ll go pay my respects to Grandmother first,” Jiang Zhiyu said, stepping toward Xiyuan.
Chunzhi followed without another word.
The Chengen Houfu is currently managed by the Marchioness. Old Madame, wholly devoted to Buddhism, long ago ceased involving herself in household affairs. She moved to the Minghui Tang in the Xiyuan years ago, where she maintains a vegetarian diet and recites Buddhist scriptures, having even exempted her children and grandchildren from the morning and evening greetings.
At this hour, Old Madame was chanting scriptures in the small prayer hall. Seeing Jiang Zhiyu approach, Nanny Huang stepped forward to block her way. “Why has the young mistress come? Old Madame is chanting and cannot see you.”
Jiang Zhiyu did not press forward. “I know. I have come to apologize to Grandmother.”
Nanny Huang looked puzzled.
“Please relay to Grandmother that in recent days, this granddaughter-in-law was foolish, failed to see the bigger picture, and caused such prolonged trouble, squandering Grandmother’s thoughtful intentions. Now I have come to understand the principle of unity within the family.”
With these words, Jiang Zhiyu turned sideways, knelt facing the direction of the small prayer hall, and deeply kowtowed once.
“It is good that the young mistress has come to understand. Enduring for a moment benefits everyone,” Nanny Huang said, reaching out to help Jiang Zhiyu to her feet.
Jiang Zhiyu forced a difficult smile and nodded. “I understand. The Marchioness has summoned me to the Ming Tang. I will come tomorrow to pay my respects to Grandmother.”
Jiang Zhiyu turned and left with Chunzhi. Nanny Huang did not try to detain her, only watching until she had walked some distance away before turning back, gently pushing open the door to the small prayer hall, and entering.
“Where is she? Why hasn’t she come yet?” Madam Hou (Yu) asked her attendant nanny in a low, impatient voice as she watched the guests preparing to leave.
Nanny Niu replied, “We sent someone earlier.”
“Did you not mention that Gu Jin has returned?”
“This servant instructed them. That little maid would never dare not to say it.”
Madam Hou found it strange. That stubborn Jiang Zhiyu had been confined for so long without relenting, waiting precisely for Gu Jin’s return. Now that she knew he was in the front courtyard, she should have rushed over immediately to confront him.
“She’s here, Madam, she’s here,” Nanny Niu whispered urgently.
Madam Hou looked out the door and saw a figure in pale lotus-white in the distance. Feeling irritated, she gave Nanny Niu a meaningful glance.
Nanny Niu understood immediately and hurried out to signal the prepared people to speak.
“Is that the second young mistress of the Houfu?” someone asked quietly in surprise.
“Don’t speak carelessly. The Empress Dowager’s decree has already been issued. Commandant Gu is now the betrothed Imperial Consort. What ‘young mistress’? This is the eldest young mistress.”
“Did Commandant Gu really marry in his elder brother’s place back then?”
Someone voiced the suspicion in everyone’s hearts.
No matter how seamless the Chengen Houfu’s external explanations were, manipulating such matters was not difficult.
Moreover, not all of today’s guests had come with sincere congratulations. Gu Jin had achieved military merit in his very first campaign and had also caught the eye of the Princess Royal. His rising star had stirred envy in many.
Jiang Zhiyu’s appearance caused those who had been about to leave to pause in their steps, their gazes shifting intentionally or unintentionally between Jiang Zhiyu and Gu Jin.
Gu Jin stood tall and straight, showing not a hint of guilt.
Jiang Zhiyu walked along the corridor with a composed demeanor, not glancing sideways. In just a few more steps, she would be right in front of Gu Jin.
Everyone widened their eyes and pricked up their ears, eager to discover whether it was truly a case of marrying in a brother’s stead or…
Those secretly arranged for the occasion also made ready.
They only awaited Jiang Zhiyu stepping into the trap to completely dispel any lingering suspicions unfavorable to Gu Jin.
Suddenly, when she was only two steps away from Gu Jin, Jiang Zhiyu halted, turned abruptly, and walked toward the Ming Tang ahead.
This turn not only startled those prepared to speak from the shadows but also made Gu Jin himself turn in surprise to confirm.
Jiang Zhiyu had truly bypassed him and entered the Ming Tang!
Inside the Ming Tang, the Marchioness was preparing to go out when she collided head-on with Jiang Zhiyu, who was entering, startling her into taking a step back.
“You… how did you get in here?” the Marchioness instinctively questioned.
“Didn’t Mother-in-law send someone to summon me to the Ming Tang?” Jiang Zhiyu looked utterly bewildered.
The Marchioness was immediately left speechless.
But with all eyes outside now fixed on the Ming Tang, although the Marchioness wondered why Jiang Zhiyu had bypassed Gu Jin, she couldn’t very well ask about it.
“Take a seat first,” the Marchioness said, turning to walk back to the head seat while discreetly signaling to Nanny Niu.
Jiang Zhiyu performed a bow before settling into the large chair on the right, asking, “May I ask why Mother-in-law urgently summoned me?”
The Marchioness glanced outside. Nanny Niu had already cleared the area around the Ming Tang, ensuring no one outside could hear what was said inside before she spoke:
“Zhiyu, as you can see now, everyone outside has come to congratulate A’Jin. If you continue to cling stubbornly, it won’t do you any good. Besides, it was the Princess Royal who took a liking to him, not his own wish. Could you possibly surpass the Princess Royal, surpass the royal family? After all, you were once husband and wife—why must it end in mutual destruction?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Jiang Zhiyu responded swiftly, her head slightly bowed, showing no sign of resistance.
The Marchioness found this strange. Her earlier words were deliberately meant to provoke Jiang Zhiyu into making a scene, so she could seize the opportunity to control her, publicly making everyone believe it was Jiang Zhiyu who couldn’t bear the loneliness and clung to Gu Jin, while Gu Jin remained steadfast in propriety.
But now Jiang Zhiyu said she understood?
What exactly did she understand?