Warm sunlight streamed through the thick layer of paper on the window lattice, casting a golden glow into the spacious room and adding a touch of comforting warmth.

“My dear young miss, it’s good that you’re awake. It’s good that you’re awake.”

Ouyang Nuan opened her eyes and saw a face so familiar that it could not have been more so. Yet, this face looked much younger than the last time she had seen it. Instinctively, she stared at Nanny Fang’s face and murmured, “Nanny…… it was my fault, it was my fault……”

Nanny Fang was startled, her eyes filled with worry and concern, but her tone carried disapproval, “Young Miss, what are you saying? This was all the second miss’s fault! If you hadn’t shielded her from that blow, how would your forehead have been injured?”

Second Miss? A forehead injury?

No, something was wrong— something was very wrong!

What was happening? Nanny Fang had been toiling tirelessly in Su Mansion for years and she no longer looked as young as she once had. But now…… why did Nanny Fang look different? Ouyang Nuan’s heart pounded wildly. She pinched her wrist hard, and pain shot through her. This wasn’t a dream!

Could it be that the heavens had heard her plea?

She couldn’t believe it. She remained silent, greedily taking in the sight of the person before her, terrified that this was just another fleeting illusion.

Nanny Fang took out a clean, soft silk handkerchief and carefully wiped the cold sweat from Ouyang Nuan’s forehead, deliberately avoiding the wound. With a sigh, she said, “Young Miss, your heart is too soft. I’m afraid you’ve mistaken those ravenous wolves for your own mother and sister……”

In her past life, Nanny Fang had said those words to her countless times with heartfelt concern. But how had she responded back then?

She had always foolishly defended that mother and daughter pair. “Nanny, she is my mother’s sister, my aunt. She swore by my mother’s sickbed that she would take good care of my brother and me. How could she possibly harm me? You’re overthinking it.”

The more Nanny Fang repeated her warnings, the more impatient Ouyang Nuan became, even pushing Nanny Fang aside, completely oblivious to the hurt and disappointment in the old woman’s eyes.

How foolish she had been— an utter fool.

Nanny Fang had been the one who truly cared for her, yet she had treated Nanny Fang’s good intentions as nothing but worthless nagging.

Her birth mother was the biological daughter of the dowager duchess of Marquis Zhenguo Manor, making her the granddaughter of the old marquis from his legitimate wife. Her father, Ouyang Zhi, was the assistant minister of personnel. The Su family, despite their immense wealth, were mere merchants. No matter how rich they were, the noble families of the capital never saw them as equals.

And yet, she had been utterly infatuated with Su Yulou’s handsome and ethereal appearance. Admiring and loving him, she had ignored her maternal grandmother’s staunch opposition and, under her stepmother’s deliberate manipulations, had recklessly married him.

Back then, Ouyang Nuan had naively believed that although her stepmother was a concubine-born daughter of Marquis Zhengou Manor, she had been raised by the dowager duchess herself, and had always shared a close bond with Ouyang Nuan’s birth mother, Lin Wanqing. Ouyang Nuan’s birth mother, weak and ailing, had foreseen her own passing and feared that a future stepmother might mistreat her children. So, she had pleaded with the dowager duchess, Grand Madam Ning, to choose her gentle and virtuous younger sister to care for them.

How could Lin Wanqing have known that what she brought into the family was not a protector, but a ruthless wolf in sheep’s clothing?

With Ouyang Nuan’s noble birth, she had far outshone Ouyang Ke, the daughter of her stepmother, Lin Wanru. A bright future of excellent marriage prospects had once awaited Ouyang Nuan. But due to the scar left on her forehead from an injury in childhood, she had grown self-conscious and withdrawn, avoiding the grand gatherings of the capital’s elite. Instead, her younger sister, Ouyang Ke, had taken her place, attending social events alongside Lin Wanru.

As a result, everyone came to know only the second miss of the Ouyang family, while she, the eldest di daughter^[1]daughter born to the main wife, was entirely forgotten.

Even worse, in her youthful ignorance, she had fallen in love at first sight with Su Yulou during what she had believed to be a chance encounter.

Looking back now— ‘chance encounter’? Ha! How could there be such convenient coincidences in this world?

With her flawed appearance, how could Su Yulou possibly have fallen for her at first sight?

The dark hand behind it all had never been fate but rather that dignified, gentle, and virtuous stepmother of hers.

Yet, it was precisely because of her own foolish decision to ruin her future that she had left her maternal grandmother heartbroken and disappointed.

Though gravely ill, her maternal grandmother refused to take any medicine, and in the end, she died without even agreeing to see Ouyang Nuan one last time.

Ouyang Nuan knew that everything had been her fault.

Her actions had completely shattered her maternal grandmother’s hopes, severing all ties between herself and Marquis Zhengou Manor.

And in the end, when she had been drowned in the river, not a single person had stepped forward to save her.

She blinked and looked at Nanny Fang in front of her. Everything had started over again. She was still the di granddaughter of Marquis Zhenguo Manor in the capital and the eldest di daughter of the Ouyang family, not the discarded daughter-in-law of the Su family.

“With the sun and moon above, and the ghosts and deities below as my witness— I, Ouyang Nuan, swore that if I died unjustly and become a vengeful spirit, I will never forgive!”

It was heaven’s mercy that granted her another chance at life. The vow she had sworn by the river in her past life would one day come true!

“Young Miss, does your wound still hurt?” Nanny Fang noticed Ouyang Nuan’s small hands clenched tightly, her veins bulging. She pried open the girl’s stiff fingers and massaged the red marks left by her nails, her voice filled with worry, “Shall I call the physician to take another look?”

Such a minor wound— how could it compare to the pain and regret of Ouyang Nuan’s past life? Ouyang Nuan turned her hand over and grasped Nanny Fang’s hand instead, a faint smile curving her lips.

Nanny Fang was momentarily stunned. The smile on Ouyang Nuan’s delicate face was unlike her usual gentle and kind demeanor. Instead, it carried a resilience, like a rose with hidden thorns. Nanny Fang blinked. Had she imagined it?

Ouyang Nuan pulled Nanny Fang closer and rested her head against the old woman’s arm. “Nanny, thank you.” Thank you for never leaving my side.

She swore to herself that those who cherished her, she would protect for a lifetime, ensuring they lived with honor and prosperity. Those who harmed her and schemed against her— she would make them pay back a hundredfold!

Nanny Fang was first startled but then gradually relaxed. She gently stroked Ouyang Nuan’s hair, a smile forming on her lips. Ever since Lin Wanru entered the household, it had been so long since Ouyang Nuan had shown Nanny Fang such closeness.

“Nanny, where is Hongyu?” If everything had started over, Hongyu would only be twelve years old right now.

“That girl is brewing medicine.”

“Mm.” Nanny Fang’s embrace was so warm. Why had she never noticed it before? Ouyang Nuan slowly closed her eyes.

“Young Miss, it’s time to take your medicine.”

“Xiao Tao, the young miss is asleep. Don’t disturb her.”

“Hongyu, what are you saying? When have I ever dared to trouble the young miss? So, you’re the only loyal one to the young miss, and I’m the bad one? I am entirely devoted to her well-being! If she doesn’t take her medicine in time and her wound doesn’t heal properly, can you bear that responsibility?”

“Xiao Tao, you—”

It was Hongyu’s voice. Ouyang Nuan opened her eyes and sat up abruptly. In front of her stood Xiao Tao, beaming as always, while Hongyu wore an awkward expression.

“Xiao Tao, what kind of behavior is this, arguing so loudly?” Nanny Fang reprimanded in a low voice, even more displeased to see that Ouyang Nuan had been disturbed.

“Nanny, that’s not fair. I was only thinking of the young miss.” Xiao Tao replied with a bright smile, unfazed.

Xiao Tao was a maid sent by Lin Wanru. She had delicate features and, despite her young age, was sharp-tongued and eloquent, always managing to win Ouyang Nuan’s favor. In less than half a year, she had risen from a second-rank maid to a first-rank one. Compared to the gentle, quiet, and steadfast Hongyu, Ouyang Nuan had once preferred Xiao Tao, trusted her wholeheartedly, and even took her as part of her dowry.

That humiliating night…… the maid on duty had been Xiao Tao.

And after the incident, Xiao Tao suddenly became the senior maid by Ouyang Ke’s side.

So Xiao Tao had been involved all along!

Xiao Tao, as usual, wore a bright smile and held out a bowl of steaming hot medicine. “Young Miss, please drink your medicine!”

Ouyang Nuan’s eyes turned cold as she looked at the thick, dark liquid. “Kneel!”

“Young Miss, what’s wrong……” Since arriving there, Xiao Tao had done nothing but please Ouyang Nuan, gaining her favor time and time again. Whether it was contradicting Nanny Fang in front of Ouyang Nuan or bullying other maids behind Ouyang Nuan’s back, she had never once been reprimanded. Xiao Tao was momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend the sudden change.

Ouyang Nuan let out a cold laugh, then casually picked up a teacup from the table and hurled it straight at Xiao Tao.

Startled, Xiao Tao instinctively dodged to the side. The teacup missed her but smashed into a tea table, shattering the antique porcelain vase atop it.

With a loud crash, the fragments scattered across the floor.

Everyone in the room was utterly shocked.