Chapter 1

A fine drizzle hung in the air like smoke, shrouding the entire city of Chang’an. The sky was dim. A single candle flickered on the stand, its flame swaying with the breeze, causing the stitches before her eyes to skew slightly.

Su Qingluo accidentally pricked her index finger with the needle. A sharp, piercing pain surged instantly. A few drops of bright red blood seeped onto the half-finished wedding robe in her hands, staining the wings of the embroidered mandarin ducks. Blood on a wedding robe—an ominous sign.

Zi Yuan, standing nearby, gasped and rushed to press a handkerchief against Su Qingluo’s wound. “Miss, it’s raining today, and the light is poor. Why not continue the embroidery another day? There’s still half a year left—plenty of time.”

Su Qingluo lowered her gaze and said nothing.

After serving Su Qingluo for six years, Zi Yuan felt her mistress had grown more beautiful—perhaps she had finally blossomed.

Su Qingluo’s skin was pale and smooth like jade, her eyes bright as autumn waters, with slightly upturned corners that lent her a delicate charm tinged with just the right touch of youthful allure.

Wrapping the thread around her slender, scallion-white fingertips, Su Qingluo said softly, “Then let’s not embroider today. Let’s go out.”

Zi Yuan was surprised. This wasn’t Su Qingluo’s usual way.

Born into the wealthiest family in Jinling, the Su family, Su Qingluo had lost her parents at the age of ten and was sent to live with her maternal grandmother. Though it wasn’t her own household, and despite the old lady treating her even better than a biological granddaughter, Su Qingluo had always been sensible since entering the residence—never causing trouble, always courteous even to the servants, and well-loved by all. To go out on a rainy day and trouble others like this—she had never done such a thing before.

Zi Yuan couldn’t help but ask, “Where would you like to go, Miss? I’ll tell the coachman.”

“To Jinji,” Su Qingluo replied gently. “Give the coachman a bit more silver.”

Zi Yuan understood. So she wanted to check on the wedding jewelry being crafted—no wonder.

They exited quietly through the side gate and boarded the carriage without disturbing anyone. As the carriage rolled slowly toward Jinji Jewelry Shop, Su Qingluo’s heart grew increasingly uneasy.

“It won’t be,” she silently reassured herself. “The Lu family has treated me well. Lu Yan has always been kind. He wouldn’t do anything to betray me.”

But she couldn’t understand—why had she dreamt such a dream last night?

In her dream, after marrying Lu Yan, she soon became pregnant. From the moment she conceived, Lu Yan rarely returned home, claiming to be busy preparing for the imperial exams. She had always trusted him, never once suspecting anything.

Until the night she was about to give birth, hungry in the middle of the night, she went to the kitchen to find something to eat, only to overhear servants whispering, “So the master outside had a son first?”

The words struck her as wrong. Without revealing her emotions, she quietly ordered Zi Yuan and Nanny Mei to seize and interrogate the gossipers. Under questioning, she learned that Lu Yan had secretly set up a residence outside and was keeping a concubine.

Furious, she immediately led people to confront him—only to discover that the woman he kept was none other than his cousin, Liu Yanran. No wonder the servants referred to her as “the master outside.”

And it wasn’t just Lu Yan who was there. His mother—her mother-in-law, Madam Liu—was present too.

Seeing her arrive, Liu Yanran was startled, clutching her child and hiding behind Lu Yan. He gently patted her back to soothe her, speaking in a soft voice: “It’s alright.”

Madam Liu, after a brief moment of awkwardness, composed herself and said sternly, “Since you’re here, it’s just as well. This matter should’ve been told to you. Yanran has already given birth to Lu Yan’s eldest son. Naturally, we cannot treat her poorly. Yan’er intends to take her as a concubine.”

A wave of nausea surged through her. Doing the math, it was clear Lu Yan had arranged for this woman even before their marriage—hence the child being born first. She was thin-skinned, and faced with such betrayal, she didn’t know what to do. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed, asking Lu Yan why he would treat her this way.

But Lu Yan merely replied lightly, “Why are you being so unreasonable? What man doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines?”

“Haven’t I treated you well enough? I’ve been considerate of your pregnancy and didn’t bring Yanran into the household. Do you know how much she’s suffered outside?”

Every word turned the blame onto her. She had never experienced anything like this. Her heart shattered. Overwhelmed with grief and rage, she suffered a miscarriage. Because of the heartbreak and the difficult labor, she couldn’t deliver the child. She lay alone in a pool of blood, watching it soak the bedding and spread across the floor, hearing Ziyuan’s anguished cries.

But she couldn’t wake up.

She lay in a cold coffin, her soul drifting above, hearing Lu Yan speak gently to Liu Yanran: “It was Su Qingluo who couldn’t bear such blessings. After the hundred-day mourning period, I’ll make you my wife.”

How could he say such things—right in front of her memorial tablet?

Su Qingluo burst into tears from sheer anger and finally woke from her dream—only to find herself drenched in cold sweat.

Zi Yuan was startled as well. Upon learning it was a nightmare, she quickly helped Su Qingluo change clothes and brought hot water to wipe her down.

After sipping some water, Su Qingluo gradually calmed herself. But the dream had felt far too real—so real it seemed like something that had happened in a past life. It was terrifying. She lay awake until dawn, eyes wide open. Outside, a light rain had begun to fall.

Originally, she and Lu Yan had agreed to go together today to check on the progress of her wedding jewelry and pick out a few more pieces she liked. But Lu Yan’s servant, Tingshu, arrived early to report that Lu Yan had been suddenly invited out by a colleague and would accompany her another day. She nodded and accepted it, but after the servant left, a quiet unease lingered in her heart. She tried to calm herself by embroidering her dowry garments, but the unease only grew stronger—so much so that she accidentally pricked her finger.

She decided to go out.

In her dream, Lu Yan had often met with Liu Yanran at the Jinji jewelry shop shortly after their marriage. As they neared Jinji, Su Qingluo feigned thirst, dismissed the coachman, and entered the Fuxi teahouse across the street with Zi Yuan. She booked a private room on the second floor and opened the window to observe the shop across the way.

An hour passed with no sign of anything unusual.

Su Qingluo let out a breath of relief, feeling a bit silly for her suspicions. Just as she was about to laugh at herself, she suddenly saw Lu Yan.

Lu Yan favored white. He wore a gleaming white robe and held a folding fan, looking every bit the elegant gentleman as he affectionately escorted a beautiful woman beside him.

That woman was Liu Yanran.

Zi Yuan gasped in shock and anger. “Miss?”

Su Qingluo shook her head, signaling her to stay silent.

Lu Yan whispered something and led Liu Yanran into the teahouse. The two went upstairs and, astonishingly, sat in the room right next to theirs.

The walls weren’t well insulated.

Lu Yan’s gentle voice came through clearly: “You must be tired after walking around all morning. Let’s rest here and have some snacks. The pastries here are quite good.”

Liu Yanran’s voice was cloyingly sweet: “I’m not tired. It’s you who’s worked hard. You’re about to be married and still make time for me.”

“It’s only right to accompany you,” Lu Yan replied tenderly. “Did you like the gold hairpin we picked today?”

Liu Yanran’s voice trembled with emotion: “I loved it. It’s the first gold hairpin I’ve ever received. Thank you, cousin. It’s just a pity that once you’re married, you’ll belong to someone else.”

“Jealous of that?” Lu Yan chuckled softly. “Haven’t I always been yours? Don’t worry—after I marry her, I’ll give you a proper explanation.”

Liu Yanran’s voice dropped: “Will you come tonight…”

Su Qingluo couldn’t listen any longer. She felt sick. She suddenly stood up, flung open the door to their private room, and stormed out. With a loud bang, she pushed open the door to the neighboring room.

Lu Yan and Liu Yanran were in each other’s arms. Liu Yanran’s collar was even slightly disheveled. Startled, the two quickly separated.

Lu Yan looked shocked, a trace of guilt flickering across his face. He stepped forward. “Qingluo, why are you here? Let me explain…”

Su Qingluo’s entire body was ice-cold, her face pale. She shook off his hand and said, “Lu Yan, let’s break off the engagement. Will you tell Aunt yourself, or shall I?”