>Introduction

In the 18th year of the Jingyuan era, spring.

The wife of the Duke, Qin Zhen, who had just been appointed as a first-rank诰命 (imperial order bestowed upon noblewomen), passed away at the age of twenty-eight.

Qin Zhen, hovering in the air of the mourning hall, silently watched the mourners who came to pay their respects. She also saw her tearful younger sister kneeling before the altar and her beloved, well-behaved nephew, all filled with grief.

She came from a noble family and had been married to the Marquis's household for over ten years. Although she had no children, she was virtuous and well-behaved, a model of wifely virtue. If it weren't for her official title, she probably wouldn't have lived a good life even after death.

It's a pity, three days later, before Qin Zhen could have a proper burial, her family was implicated in treason and slaughtered.

The Guo family, fearing they would be implicated, used the pretext of "having no heir" to issue a decree and abandon Qin Zhen. They wrapped her in a single mat and left her at the burial ground.

Qin Zhen then watched helplessly as her body was ravaged and destroyed, until nothing remained but bones.

Originally, I thought this was a helpless act from the husband's family. Until I saw my own sister openly vying for the position of Marquise, I realized that this was all part of their long-laid plans.

...but merely to serve as a wife for another.

In the third year of Jingyuan, summer.

"Miss Qin, the new mistress has arrived." Lanxiang, the maidservant, looked at Qin Zhen, who was becoming increasingly haggard, and reported softly.

Qin Zhen opened her closed eyes, rising from the couch. She smoothed down her simple hair, but her eyes remained filled with uncontainable sorrow.

The voice that asked, "Is my sister here too?" was childish, low, and somewhat raspy.

At the first sound, it was clear she had just been crying.

"Well, then." Lan Xiang carefully picked it up, preparing to give her a fresh, bright outfit.

When Qin Zhen turned in the incense, a glint of coldness flashed across her eyes.

"Miss, this was sent by the old mistress. She said it was for the new mistress to wear when she arrives." Lan Xiang took over a piece of peach-red silver embroidered clothing and turned toward her as she walked.

Qin Zhen simply furrowed her brow, her eyes reddening, and looked at the garment in Lan Xiang's hand with a wronged expression.

"My mother passed away only a year ago, and now my father is eager to bring his mistress home. During my filial mourning period, why am I expected to dress so brightly?"

Lan Xiang's hand paused, but she patiently said, "Miss, the new mistress entering the house is considered good fortune. If you were to be this way, you would only bring bad luck for no reason."

"Bad luck?" Qin Zhen's face suddenly darkened, and she stared at Lanxiang who was walking over with a furrowed brow.

Lan Xiang met Qin Zhen's gaze nonchalantly. In the past, the young mistress was always easy to persuade; a few sweet words were all it took for her to agree.

But at this moment, I felt that Miss's eyes, though seemingly ordinary, held a coldness like an ice blade. Why was it so?

He was visibly startled. When he looked again, the coldness in her eyes remained unchanged.

Startled, his hands trembled and the garment in them fell to the ground. For some unknown reason, he instinctively knelt down.

"Miss, I wouldn't dare go against your wishes, but this is what Mama Li instructed me to do." Lanxiang pushed the responsibility onto Mama Li.

"Mother Li?" Qin Zhen sneered. "Who exactly is your master?"

But in the past, you always listened to Mama Li’s words, that's why I... " Lanhua was deeply wronged.

Qin Zhen turned to the vanity table and looked at herself in the mirror. Her plain white silk robe hung loosely on her slender frame, revealing a pale complexion that spoke of grief.

He thought he was dead, but to his surprise, heaven had given him a second chance. He picked up a comb and gently brushed his bangs, and at that moment, a flash appeared before his eyes, and in his mind, a white pattern resembling the I Ching flashed by.

Lixiang knelt on the ground, daring not to raise her head. She only felt that the room was filled with an oppressive aura, a pressure she had only ever felt from Old Madam.

I can't help but mutter to myself, ever since Miss cried and fainted the other day, she's been acting strangely. Could it be that Miss has gotten herself contaminated with something unclean?

Let's observe for a few more days and then report back.

"Let's go." Qin Zhen took two days to calm down and realized that she wasn't dreaming, but had truly been reborn.

...and instead of changing, he wore plain clothes and walked out of the house with his head held high.

Lán Xiāng wanted to stop her, but when she looked at Qín Zhēn's straight back, she didn't dare to speak.

Anyway, when the old mistress blames us, just say that the young miss insisted on doing this. She's just a servant and can't control the master.

Walking with his head down, he followed closely behind.

Just as Qin Zhen had stepped out of the house, she saw a woman in a vibrant emerald green outfit striding towards her.

When he saw Qin Zhen's pure white appearance, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He strode forward without hesitation and, with a raised hand, struck Lan Xiang with a palm strike.

"You wretched woman, why don't you serve Miss while she changes? Don't you know what day it is today? If Old Madam sees Miss looking like this, she'll surely skin you alive."

A five-finger mark immediately appeared on Lan Xiang's cheek, looking painful.

Covering her face and blushing, she said pitifully, "Li Mama, this isn't my fault. It was the young lady who refused to wear it. Could I possibly force her?"

Madam Li snorted coldly, then turned to Qin Zhen with a sharp voice, "Miss, today is the auspicious day for the new mistress to enter the mansion. The whole house is decorated with red banners. I know you're reluctant to part with Madam. I've been by her side for over ten years, and it hurts me deeply that she left like this. It's just…The Matriarch has given an order, and you can't make things difficult for me."

Mother Li looked embarrassed, and reached out to help Qin Zhen go inside.

Qin Zhen, however, pushed Li Ma's hand away when it came towards her, saying, "There's no need to change."

Before Li Ma could stop him, he had already strode out of the yard.

Li's mother gave Lanxiang a menacing look, wanting her to pull Qinzhen back. Unfortunately, after getting slapped by Li's mother, how could Lanxiang possibly follow her wishes?

Li's mother stomped her foot in anger, muttering another curse, "You little bitch," before rushing after Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen walked forward slowly, looking at the courtyard before her. The pleasant scenery gave rise to a feeling of sadness in her heart.

Scoffing at one's naivete and foolishness from a past life, he even hated those who schemed and plotted.

In her previous life, she lost her mother at the age of twelve. Her mother had spoiled her too much in the past, and after her mother's death, she lost her anchor. Although her seemingly kind grandmother and well-meaning aunt only wanted to help, they were actually trying to manipulate and control her.

...but treated them as their own kin, respecting and caring for them like a mother would.

Whether it was a year later, his father remarried, taking the concubine back to the household. For the new wife and the concubine, who was only one year younger than his sister, he would try his best to be kind to them both.

But what's the outcome in the end?

In their eyes, they are nothing more than a fool to be manipulated at will. After being thoroughly exploited, they will be abandoned without a trace.

The more Qin Zhen thought about it, the colder her eyes became. Coming back to her senses, she clenched her fists and ignored Li Mama who was chasing after her. She simply walked forward without looking sideways.

Li's mother wanted to stop her, but she saw someone coming from afar.

Immediately retracting the urgency and anger on his face, he replaced it with a smile and greeted her.

"Miss Ye is here." Li Ma stopped beside Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen stopped and immediately saw the "cousin" Li Mama had mentioned smiling brightly as she approached.

Upon seeing a plain-dressed woman, he cocked his eyebrow in displeasure.

"My aunt, despite being from the Jiang family, wouldn't have entered so plainly if it weren't for the filial period at our house. You're the eldest daughter of the Qin family, shouldn't you know some decorum? Or do you think my aunt isn't worthy of entering?"

Before Qin Zhen could even open her mouth, "Miss Bai" immediately began to scold her.

"Miss, how did you come to be here?" Li Ma looked at this "cousin" who was acting entitled and demanding. At that moment, her temper flared.

Ignoring Qin Zhen, he eagerly stepped forward and bowed.

Qin Zhen watched as Mama Li acted so subservient and low, secretly sneering. She thought to herself, how could she have been so foolish in her previous life to trust Mama Li?

In my past life, I deserved to be schemed against. But what I can't accept is being treated like a fool and used by the people closest to me.

"Who are you?" Qin Zhen walked past Li's mother and stared at the arrogant "cousin" before her.

"Who am I? My aunt is Qin Fu." Miss Bie stated frankly.

"Oh." Qin Zhen raised an eyebrow, thoughtfully nodding. "But I don't know you. Which family's Miss are you?"

"My aunt is Jiang, and today onwards, she is Qin's wife," Miss Table said loudly.

"So she's Miss Jiang," Qin Zhen said, her eyes widening in understanding.

"You'll still call me Auntie from now on, understood?" Ms. Jiang said with a triumphant smile. "But my only cousin sister... as for you... you are just an illegitimate child without a mother."

"Wild seed?" Qin Zhen smiled. "I've learned something new today. This must be the Jiang family's way of doing things."

Gazing at Qin Yue walking slowly from afar, and the second wife of the house who was now holding a tribute from the mansion, he said quietly.

It has to be said, Miss Jiang was spoiled. Even before the new mistress had officially entered the household, she dared to run wild and publicly berate Qin Zhen as a bastard. One can only imagine how difficult it will be for Qin Zhen once the new mistress arrives; she might not even have a way to survive.

Qin Zhen just waited quietly for Qin Yue and the Second Madam to come over.

The second mistress, Mrs. Ju, was a relative of the old lady's mother, so she was deeply favored by the old lady. After her mother's death, she naturally took over the affairs of the house.

Suddenly, a concubine appeared out of nowhere and was about to ascend to power. This foreshadowed that the hard-earned position would soon be taken by someone else.

This past year, I have been quite successful. Naturally, I want to find every way possible to keep hold of this hard-earned position as head of the family. How could I possibly be willing to let it go to someone else?

Qin Yue wore a gentle smile on her face. Though only thirteen years old, she had blossomed into a beautiful young lady. Her dimples appeared when she smiled, radiating warmth like the spring breeze.

Such a pitiful Qin Yue, who wouldn't feel pity for her?

Qin Zhen was thinking, if it weren't for the fact that her engagement to the son of the Duke's mansion had been set before her mother's death, perhaps Qin Yue would have taken her place long ago. She wouldn't have gotten married at all.

"Jiang family's young lady sure has a silver tongue." Before Qin Yue could even speak, Second Madam Ju glared indignantly.

(Editor in charge：novels of ken follett)