Chapter 1: Assassination Attempt

Zhuang Xiaoyu couldn’t stand it any longer as she watched a group of people gang up on a single man. She leapt down from a tree.

“Hey! Don’t you think this is a bit much? So many people bullying one guy?”

“Scram. Mind your own business,” one of the assassins barked. Seeing it was just a young girl, he didn’t take her seriously at all.

“I’ve been listening for a while now. You guys are obviously the bad ones. And I, this young lady, stand for justice—I have to step in.”

“You wanna interfere? Then die with him.”

“tsk tsk tsk, such arrogant talk.”

A handful of leaves flew from Zhuang Xiaoyu’s hand—each one like a flying blade, every one slicing a throat. Not a single leaf missed.

In the blink of an eye, a dozen assassins collapsed to the ground. Murong Xuan felt a heavy pressure in his chest; he tried to speak, but the taste of blood rose in his throat. He coughed up a mouthful and passed out.

Zhuang Xiaoyu suddenly heard people approaching. With a tap of her foot, she launched into the air and vanished using lightfoot skills.

Moments later, Jian Yi—who had realized too late that they’d fallen for a diversion tactic—rushed over in a panic. He was met with a scene of corpses strewn across the ground… and his master, unconscious.

Their journey to the capital had been carefully planned to stay under the radar, yet they’d been ambushed multiple times along the way. Murong Xuan had nearly lost his life. Thankfully, they were finally close to the capital.

“Jian Yi… where’s that girl?” Murong Xuan opened his eyes and that was the first thing he asked.

“What girl, my lord? What are you talking about?”

“The one who saved me. She used flying leaf darts—took down all those assassins in an instant.”

“My lord, your fever just broke… why are you talking nonsense? Weren’t you the one who defeated the assassins?”

“It wasn’t me. It was a young lady. When we get to the capital, find out who she is.”

They were so close to the capital—she must be from around here. With a bit of digging, they could surely figure out which family had such a skilled young woman.

“Yes, my lord. You must be hungry—please, eat something first.”

(We can barely protect ourselves and he’s still thinking about some girl?)

As Murong Xuan ate, his mind wandered back to that silhouette—so graceful, so swift, so elegant and composed…

“My lord…? My lord…? What are you thinking about?”

“That girl.”

Jian Yi: The prince has lost his mind…

“My lord, who do you think is behind the attempts on your life?”

“Probably my father.”

“…My lord, that’s tragic.”
(Being hunted by your own father—could anything be sadder?)

“She was wearing a pale purple dress.”

Jian Yi: My lord’s mind jumps faster than lightning.

————

Zhuang Xiaoyu yawned as she walked into the main hall, only to be greeted by a loud scolding from Zhuang Xian:
“Zhuang Xiaoyu! Just look at yourself. Do you look like the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household?!”

“What did I do now? I just yawned, didn’t I?”

There was nothing to do today. She couldn’t even sleep in? She’d already eaten, was just lounging around snacking on melon seeds—why couldn’t they just let her sleep until she woke up naturally? Honestly, it was better up on the mountain with that old man.

“You are the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s manor. You must carry yourself with grace and dignity. You can’t act so casually—it invites ridicule.”

“So even yawning isn’t allowed now?”

“You—!”

This daughter… ever since her mother died giving birth to her, a wandering Taoist said she was full of fierce energy and needed to be taken away for guidance and spiritual cleansing. That trip had lasted eighteen years. And now they’d returned this. She didn’t sit properly, didn’t stand properly—everything about her was inappropriate. If she hadn’t been born of his beloved wife, if she didn’t bear even a slight resemblance to him, he wouldn’t believe she was his daughter at all.

“Hmm? Where did this little guy come from?” Zhuang Xiaoyu noticed a child sitting nearby.

“Greetings, Eldest Sister. I am Zhuang Xun.”

“Oh, I’ve heard of you. You’ve been studying away from home, right?”

“Yes, Eldest Sister. I arrived late yesterday and didn’t have a chance to greet you. Please forgive me.”

“You’re quite the polite little fellow. Not bad. Let’s see if you can pass a test from your big sister…”

“Eat your food. Once you’re done, go back to your own courtyard.”
Zhuang Xian cut off Zhuang Xiaoyu mid-sentence.

“Dad, what do you mean by that? Are you worried that little brother’s studies aren’t good enough and I’ll embarrass him?”

“I’m worried you’ll start asking all kinds of nonsense.”

“Am I that awful? Are you even my real father?”

“I wish I weren’t.”

“Master, don’t say that about the young miss. It hasn’t been easy for her either. Why don’t we hire a teacher to come teach both Xiaoyu and Xiaowan? The sisters can study and learn together,” said Madam Zhang, trying to smooth things over.

She was Zhuang Xian’s second wife, married after Zhuang Xiaoyu’s mother had passed away. Her father was a second-rank official, and marrying Zhuang Xian—who had only been a vice minister at the time—was considered marrying beneath her. Her father had approved because he believed Zhuang Xian to be a decent man who wouldn’t mistreat his daughter.

Sure enough, children raised by noble ladies were different. Zhuang Xiaowan and Zhuang Xun were twins, only fourteen, but calm and composed like little monks in meditation.

“That’s fine. At least this way we won’t embarrass the Prime Minister’s residence later on,” Zhuang Xian agreed, seeing reason in his wife’s suggestion.

“Wait, Xiaowan doesn’t know how to read? Isn’t she supposed to be a proper noble lady, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?”

“She told you that to spare your feelings. You’re the one who can’t read.”

“Dad! Who told you I can’t read?”

“You said it yourself—you never went to school all those years.”

She had overacted. When she first returned, to gain sympathy and avoid harsh treatment from the stepmother, she’d claimed she had never attended school, had no loving parent, and never received pocket money. And now it turned out the only thing her father remembered was that she couldn’t read.

“I also said I never had pocket money. But that didn’t mean you gave me more.”

“Listen to yourself. Has the Prime Minister’s residence ever mistreated you? Whatever your sister has, you have the same. You get the same monthly allowance too—what more do you want?”

“That little bit of silver…”

Forget it. This was the tragedy of noble ladies—unable to go out and earn money, forced to survive on ten taels a month.

“Oh come on, let’s just eat. Look at your pale face—was that all really necessary? I’m not your mortal enemy, for heaven’s sake.”

“You—!”

“Master, master! The young miss is right. We’re all one family—don’t be upset. Let’s eat, let’s eat,” Madam Zhang quickly soothed him, and Zhuang Xian finally calmed down, though he did end up eating one bowl less.

Zhuang Xiaowan didn’t say a word the entire time. She just stared in amazement as Zhuang Xiaoyu bickered with Father. It was such a novel and amusing experience.

“Big sister, can I come play with you later?”

“Of course. Bring A’xun along too.”

“Okay.”

But just as Xiaowan was starting to feel happy, Zhuang Xian coldly added, “Don’t go teaching them bad habits.”

Zhuang Xiaoyu was about to argue again, but Madam Zhang jumped in before she could, “Master, look how well the kids are getting along. A family should be united and supportive of one another.”

Zhuang Xiaoyu said nothing. Compared to that old stubborn man, this stepmother was much more agreeable.

After breakfast, before Xiaowan could come over, Madam Zhang arrived first—with two fifty-tael silver notes in hand.

“Xiaoyu, do you need to buy something and don’t have money? This is some of my private savings—take it for now. If it’s not enough, just ask me for more.”

Zhuang Xiaoyu was genuinely moved. She wasn’t afraid of wicked people, but kindness always got to her. Madam Zhang was overturning her entire perception of what a stepmother was supposed to be.

“Stepmother, you don’t have to be this good to me. I’m not short on silver.”

“You’ve just come back and there’s still a lot you don’t understand. You can ask Xiaowan, and if she doesn’t know, come ask me. Don’t argue with your father—he’s just a stubborn old man. You have to go along with him.”

Now that was smart. First she soothed the old one, now the young.

“Thank you, Stepmother.”

“No need to thank me. We’re a family. Your mother passed away early, and from now on, you’re like my own daughter—no different from Xiaowan. Whatever you want to do, just tell me first. The capital is a deep, murky place. One wrong step, and you might never recover.”

“I understand.”

“Good girl. Go buy some makeup and dress up nicely. In a few days, there’s a flower viewing banquet—I’ll take you girls to make an appearance, let everyone see that our Prime Minister’s residence has two lovely daughters.”

“Stepmother, you’re a good person. I’ll treat my siblings well.”

That was a promise. Zhuang Xiaoyu had never been able to handle others being kind to her. She had thought that since her father remarried, he wouldn’t care about her anymore, and that her return would be nothing more than becoming a target for mockery and ridicule.

But things were turning out very differently.

Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll never lose a battle. She had come back early to investigate and found that Madam Zhang was truly kind and virtuous. She understood that peace at home was the foundation for prosperity. She hadn’t had more children herself, and Zhuang Xian hadn’t taken any concubines in all these years. What harm was one more daughter? It’s not like the Prime Minister’s residence couldn’t afford to raise her.

Zhuang Xiaoyu had expected some dark, scheming household drama upon her return. Instead, all she got was a stubborn old dad constantly picking on her out in the open.