Chapter 3: Rebirth and Return

Tang Chuyao found herself surrounded by darkness when suddenly a small light appeared before her. The light grew larger, and in the next moment, she was enveloped in a radiant glow.

“Ding dong!”

A mechanical voice sounded, and Tang Chuyao was confused about what was happening.

She only remembered that she had died. Was she now in the Hall of Yama?

However, the bright light in front of her was so intense that she couldn’t open her eyes. After about a quarter of an hour, as the light gradually weakened, Tang Chuyao finally managed to open her eyes.

Before her was a soft, warm yellow glow, as if she were surrounded by this warm light.

Even her body felt warm and very comfortable.

“Binding complete!”

A fluffy, spherical object appeared in front of Tang Chuyao.

Then, a small fox face appeared on the spherical object, “Hello, host! Welcome to the ‘Protagonist Cultivation’ planning system. I am number 22222, and I’m happy to serve you!”

Tang Chuyao was bewildered. What was going on?

Hadn’t she died? This thing in front of her didn’t seem like a grim reaper!

“Host, if you have any questions, feel free to consult me! I will be available to serve you 24/7!”

Tang Chuyao took a deep breath. After more than an hour of inquiries, she finally understood the situation before her.

She had indeed died, but this so-called system had bound itself to her, granting her a chance for rebirth!

After being reborn, she not only had to survive with the help of the system but also had to become the protagonist of this world!

According to the system’s explanation, the protagonist of this world was her half-sister, Tang Chuying.

Her mission was to replace Tang Chuying and become the protagonist of this world!

Although Tang Chuyao found it hard to accept at first, if it meant bringing Tang Chuying to ruin, she was willing to give everything!

“Since the host is clear now, I will send you back immediately!”

Tang Chuyao looked at the system with determination; she truly looked forward to seeing Tang Chuying and Gu Huaifeng, the pair of dog lovers, again!

With her lips slightly parted, Tang Chuyao uttered one word, “Okay!”

Then, she felt a colorful vortex appear before her, and she was sucked into the vortex, losing consciousness…

“Miss?”

“Miss, wake up! Don’t scare the maid!”

A familiar voice reached her ears, sounding like Dujian!

Tang Chuyao slowly awakened, and the first thing she saw was a youthful, familiar face.

“Dujian?”

Tang Chuyao realized her voice was hoarse, sounding as faint as a mosquito. Upon seeing Tang Chuyao open her eyes, Dujian immediately burst into tears of joy, “Great! Miss, you finally woke up!”

Tang Chuyao wanted to sit up, and Dujian quickly helped her lean back against the bed.

She also propped a soft pillow behind Tang Chuyao to make her more comfortable.

Tang Chuyao reached out and grasped Dujian’s hand, her eyes brimming with tears as her hoarse voice spoke, “Dujian, you’ve worked hard!”

In her previous life, Dujian had died a tragic death, and this time she would protect Dujian at all costs!

Dujian didn’t understand the meaning behind Tang Chuyao’s words and thought she was just thanking her for taking care of her these past few days.

“Miss, you’re too kind! Taking care of you is just my duty!”

Tang Chuyao didn’t explain further; she gently patted Dujian’s hand and said, “From now on, don’t refer to yourself as a maid. We grew up together; I’ve never seen you as a servant, but as a sister!”

Dujian was the daughter of Yinghe, Tang Chuyao’s personal maid, and was three years older than Tang Chuyao, yet she always protected her like an adult.

Warmth flowed through Dujian’s heart; her young lady was the best and kindest person in the world!

After Tang Chuyao came out, her family passed away not long after, and if Yinghe hadn’t raised her, she would have left early as well.

However, in recent years, Yinghe’s health had been deteriorating, and thinking of Yinghe brought a trace of worry to Tang Chuyao’s face.

Yinghe passed away a month after her marriage. At that time, her relatives hastily buried Yinghe, and she didn’t even get to see her one last time.

In this life, she must protect the people around her well!

“System, what year is it in Yongtai now?” Tang Chuyao remembered the system had mentioned she could communicate with it in her mind.

“Host, it is now the eighth year of Yongtai!”

The eighth year of Yongtai means she has one year left before marrying Gu Huaifeng!

A year is enough time for her!

She recalled that in her previous life, at this time, she had fallen into the water and remained unconscious for three days and nights. When she woke up, her voice was hoarse!

Her forehead had also been injured, causing her to lose part of her memory.

She couldn’t remember how she had fallen into the water!

But now that she had awakened, she hadn’t lost any memories; she clearly remembered that it was Tang Chuying who had pushed her into the pond.

Before Tang Chuying pushed her into the water, Gu Huaifeng had knocked her unconscious with a stick!

The reason Gu Huaifeng and Tang Chuying did this was that she had inadvertently discovered their affair behind the rockery!

If they hadn’t left her alive, this pair of dog lovers might have ended up dead on the spot!

Tang Chuyao’s eyes were cold and fierce. Gu Huaifeng, Tang Chuying, I will expose your disgraceful deeds to the world!

Dujian brought over a bowl of medicine and was about to feed it to Tang Chuyao when she suddenly caught a strange smell.

After her rebirth, Tang Chuyao felt her sense of smell was very sharp. She stared at the bowl of medicine in Dujian’s hand, realizing that it seemed to be mixed with something else!

Tang Chuyao hadn’t studied medicine, so she didn’t understand the properties and principles of the medicine, but she had the system!

Before she could ask the system, a voice echoed in her mind,

“Host, this medicine is poisonous!”

“It is a type of slow-acting poison that can cause spots to appear on a person’s face.”

Tang Chuyao’s expression changed dramatically because she also had a dark spot on her face, which had started appearing three years ago!

“System, is the spot on my face caused by this medicine?”

“Yes, host. Moreover, you have already ingested this poison for three years!”

Tang Chuyao clenched her fists tightly! It was because of this spot on her face that she had been ridiculed to death by people in the capital!

She thought that this spot was a birthmark!

The estate doctor, Zhang Hong, had told her so!

Zhang Hong said the spot on her face had been there since she was in the womb and had simply not manifested until after she was born.

She had believed it!

The estate doctor had been bribed by Tang Chuying and her mother, secretly poisoning her all this time!

“Dujian, the medicine is poisoned.”

Dujian was startled by Tang Chuyao’s words, causing her to tremble slightly as she held the bowl.

She quickly placed the bowl on a nearby table.

Inside, she was very surprised. How did the miss discover the poison in the medicine?

Was the poison added today, or had she been poisoned since entering the estate?

Dujian broke out in a cold sweat; who else but Tang Chuying wanted to harm the miss?

Thinking this, Dujian wanted to turn around and confront Tang Chuying, but before she could leave the room, she was stopped by Tang Chuyao.

Dujian felt frustrated; her young lady trusted Tang Chuying so much.

However, Dujian had overheard the head maid around Tang Chuying speaking ill of the miss several times.

Dujian felt that if it weren’t for Tang Chuying’s indulgence, her subordinates wouldn’t be so reckless!