Chapter 2

She calls herself elder sister, but she’s clearly the same age as Jiang Lianzhi, even a bit older than Shen Yu.

The winds and sands of exile haven’t aged her. Her cheeks are rosy. It seems that even in exile, Jiang Lianzhi has taken care of her well, and she hasn’t suffered much.

A smile graces the woman’s lips as she says, “Sister, I’m Lin Qingli. Have you heard of me?”

Shen Yu nods and continues walking down the corridor, politely asking, “Miss Lin, do you need something?”

Lin Qingli steps up, “I know you have some reservations about Lianzhi bringing me into the house, but this is the biggest concession I’ve made.”

“You?

Concession?” Shen Yu smiles slightly, her tone tinged with sarcasm.

She scoffs inwardly. Look, this is the gentle and graceful Lin Qingli in Jiang Lianzhi’s words, truly beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

“That’s right,” Lin Qingli lifts her chin slightly, a hint of pride on her face, “My father died wrongfully, but now his innocence has been proven. The Emperor intended to appease the Lin family by arranging a marriage. You should know that if it’s a marriage by decree, it cannot be for a concubine.”

Shen Yu’s smile remains constant, “Jiang Lianzhi already has a legal wife. You should also know that if it’s a marriage by decree, it cannot be given to Jiang Lianzhi.”

Lin Qingli’s face turns pale instantly. Seeing Shen Yu walking further away, she hastens her steps to catch up.

“What do you want?”

Lin Qingli stammers hesitantly as Shen Yu suddenly stops, turning her head slowly. The sharp gaze makes Lin Qingli’s breath hitch, and she unconsciously takes a step back.

She takes large strides, almost having to jog to catch up with her steps. “That’s the Emperor’s mercy, giving some face to your father and brother, but traitors are still traitors! Their two lives are far from enough to repay the lives of my hundred thousand soldiers.”

Shen Yu suddenly stops, slowly turning her head. The sharp gaze makes Lin Qingli’s breath hitch, and she unconsciously takes a step back.

“What do you want?” Lin Qingli stammers as Shen Yu stares at her coldly, advancing towards her, forcing Lin Qingli to retreat.

How could this be?

She heard from the servants in the mansion that Madam Jiang was the gentlest, and she didn’t believe it at first. But after secretly observing Shen Yu several times these days, she indeed treated people kindly, ignoring the rumors spread by the servants.

Lin Qingli always thought she was weak and easy to bully, but now, the look in her eyes seems like it could devour a person whole.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lin Qingli stammers, “Everyone in Shengjing knows that your father was reckless, and there are rumors about your father colluding with the Xiongnu, ending up…”

Snap—

With a crisp sound, Lin Qingli’s head turns to the side.

“Miss!” “Miss!”

Two exclamations simultaneously erupt from the maids.

Lin Qingli didn’t expect this. Holding her face, she looks at Shen Yu in disbelief. She knew Shen Yu grew up in the military, not like ordinary women, but she didn’t expect her to resort to violence.

“You dare to…” Lin Qingli begins.

Shen Yu grabs her by the throat and presses her against the wall, silencing her.

Shen Yu looks at her coldly. “Perhaps I’ve been too tolerant, so each of you has forgotten who I am? I am the daughter of General Shen Zhong’an, the sister of General Shen Zhao.”

“I’ve been on the battlefield, killed enemies, and beheaded Xiongnu.”

“If I hear one more slander against my father and brother from you, I’ll rip your tongue out. So, you better watch your mouth!”

With each word she utters, Lin Qingli’s fear deepens.

She’s been choked into silence, her face red. The two maids are beside themselves with worry but dare not intervene.

Shen Yu suddenly releases her grip, looking down at Lin Qingli, who is panting heavily, clutching her neck.

“You can go complain to Jiang Lianzhi. Even if you’re not officially in the household yet, it’s perfectly reasonable for the mistress of the house to discipline a concubine.”

She shakes her sleeve and walks away. Her right hand trembles slightly, unable to exert much force. Just this action has made her hand under the sleeve tremble slightly.

Three years have passed, and she has never felt so liberated.

The wind and snow seem to have intensified.

Under the water pavilion’s corridor, the wind carries snowflakes, spinning on the frozen lake surface.

Lin Qingli covers her neck, her eyes fixed on Shen Yu’s departing figure, her eyes almost bursting with hatred.

Why? Clearly, it’s her position, yet this woman has taken over. How dare she flaunt her authority in front of her!

There are hurried footsteps behind her. Shen Yu hasn’t had a chance to turn around when she feels a strong force pushing her towards the edge of the corridor.

As her body is pushed out, she instinctively reaches out. Her right hand grasps empty air, but her left hand seems to catch someone’s arm.

Both of them tumble out of the water pavilion, sliding across the ice-covered surface before coming to a stop.

Shen Yu lies on her back on the ice, feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder blades from the recent impact. The woman beside her cries out in pain, while the two maids on the shore call out to their mistress.

Lin Qingli flips over, trying to run towards the shore.

With her movement, Shen Yu distinctly hears the cracking sound of the ice beneath them. The cracks spread like fractured land under her.

“Don’t move!” Shen Yu only manages to shout once before the ground disappears beneath her. A bone-chilling coldness sweeps over her body as the icy water pierces her like blades, making it impossible to breathe.

“Help, Miss Lin fell into the water!”

Shen Yu can’t swim. She tries to find something to hold onto, but as soon as she grabs the damaged ice, Lin Qingli, flailing, kicks her in the chest.

Ever since her martial arts were abolished, she has been particularly afraid of the cold. In winter, she wears heavy clothes and a thick cloak. After being soaked, she becomes increasingly heavy.

She hears the cries for help from the shore, but no one comes for her.

She also hears the sound of the lake churning, clamoring to drag her into darkness.

She seems to see Jiang Lianzhi running towards them, jumping into the water and swimming towards them.

She reaches out to him, but the hand that has braided her hair and drawn her eyebrows grabs Lin Qingli, who is struggling beside her.

He didn’t choose her…

Shen Yu watches in despair as the two figures gradually drift away, her hand still reaching forward.

The raging wind and snow seem to stop, and cheers erupt from the shore.

She sees Jiang Lianzhi’s panicked expression as he looks at Lin Qingli, and his indifferent gaze when he looks back at her.

She suddenly realizes that perhaps falling into the water was not accidental. If she died earlier, Lin Qingli could be legitimized. At this moment, she is filled with endless unwillingness.

No! She can’t let them have their way!

But her powerless body gradually sinks into darkness.