Chapter 2: Rebirth

Shen Tang sat on the bed, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Just moments ago, she had been strangled and hung from a beam, her eyes closing with hatred and unwillingness. But when she opened her eyes again, she found herself in the boudoir she had lived in for over ten years before her marriage.

Yet, her boudoir had long since been burned to the ground four years ago, the night she returned to her family after marriage, when Shen Juan had “accidentally” knocked over the candlestick, burning it into ruins.

Now, it stood before her, intact. There was also a dull pain at the back of her head, clear enough to make her question whether she had actually not died, and was still alive.

What in the world was happening?

Shen Tang felt as if her head were about to explode.

“Miss, why are you sitting up? Is your head still hurting?”

A familiar, caring voice reached her ears, and hearing it, Shen Tang froze. She turned her head toward the beaded curtain and saw her personal maid, Yin Xing, who had drowned in the lotus pond of the palace three years ago, standing before her as if alive.

Yin Xing’s delicate face was filled with concern for her, and the sight made Shen Tang’s nose tingle. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Yin Xing hurried over, placing the medicinal bowl she was holding aside, and came to massage the back of her head.

Her mouth kept cursing and grumbling, “The Second Madam is really something. The eldest miss faints, and she rushes to help, but at least she should have been more careful. She actually pushed you into the pillar. When the third miss burned her hand, I didn’t see the Second Madam worry like this. If you didn’t know better, you’d think the eldest miss was her own daughter.”

Shen Juan was indeed the Second Madam’s biological daughter.

Shen Tang muttered inwardly.

Wait a minute!

Wasn’t it the day before the marriage substitution when the Second Madam had collided with her?

Could it be that after her death, she was reborn back to the day before her marriage?

This thought flashed through her mind, and Shen Tang’s heart began to race violently, as if it were about to leap out of her chest.

If that was true, then not only were she and Yin Xing still alive, but her father, maternal grandfather, and cousin were all alive as well. Even Xie Guimo…

Thinking back to how she had married Xie Guimo, the eldest son of Prince Jingyang, in her previous life, a sarcastic smile tugged at the corners of Shen Tang’s mouth.

She mocked herself, and she mocked Xie Guimo as well.

The engagement between her and Xie Guimo was never meant for Shen Tang, but for Shen Juan.

Their engagement had been arranged half a year ago. It had been so sudden, like a big pie falling from the sky, “thud,” and hitting Shen Juan on the head.

Although the Pingyuan Marquis Manor held a decent position in court, it was still far inferior compared to Prince Jingyang’s Manor.

Prince Jingyang’s Manor was the only one of its kind in Ning Dynasty, held by a prince with a different surname. He commanded a powerful army and enjoyed the emperor’s deep trust. The princess consort of Prince Jingyang and the emperor’s favorite concubine, Consort Ye, were cousins. Not only was the heir of Prince Jingyang’s family from a distinguished background, but his looks were also unparalleled. The engagement with Shen Juan had stirred up endless envy and jealousy.

From the moment the engagement was set, Shen Juan had eagerly looked forward to marrying Prince Jingyang’s heir.

But everything changed with an assassination.

The second prince went hunting outside the palace and was attacked. In an attempt to save him, Xie Guimo, the heir of Prince Jingyang, risked his life and was struck by an arrow. He fell unconscious and the poison spread, ultimately claiming his life.

With Xie Guimo’s life hanging by a thread, Shen Juan was so worried she couldn’t eat or sleep. She accompanied Shen Tang to Dazhao Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. Shen Juan accidentally knocked over the fortune-telling tube at the temple, and a “bad luck” fortune fell out.

The fortune stated that she would marry within three days, but her marriage would be disastrous, leading to widowhood.

Furious, Shen Juan turned and returned to the manor. Just in time, she ran into the people from Prince Jingyang’s Manor who were leaving with the bridal crown and phoenix robes.

The imperial physician was helpless in the face of the poison that had struck Xie Guimo. With no other options left, the people of Prince Jingyang’s Manor desperately placed their hopes on a traditional custom, trying to use “consolation marriage” to save him.

While Shen Juan was unsettled by the bad fortune she had drawn, she heard the wedding was set for the day after tomorrow, which immediately drained the color from her face. After walking a few steps, she fainted.

Her maid cried out in panic. Before Shen Tang could react, the anxious Second Madam, rushing to help Shen Juan, shoved her aside, causing Shen Tang to crash into a pillar. The impact was so painful that stars danced before her eyes.

Just a moment ago, Shen Tang had no doubt that she and Shen Juan were biological sisters. In her past life, fearing the fortune would come true and that her elder sister’s marriage to Xie Guimo would lead to her widowhood, Shen Tang had worried for her. Her personal maid, Doukou, suggested that if the eldest miss also fell ill, then there would be no need for the “consolation marriage” for Prince Jingyang’s heir.

In a moment of panic, Shen Tang foolishly believed her maid’s suggestion. She secretly drugged Shen Juan, causing her to fall ill and stay in bed. However, Shen Tang’s actions were not kept secret. In fact, no one bothered to hide it, and soon, the entire capital knew. The news enraged Prince Jingyang’s Manor and Consort Ye, the emperor’s favorite concubine. They declared that since Shen Tang was so concerned for her sister, she would marry in her place to perform the consolation ritual.

To prevent her sister from becoming a widow, Shen Tang tearfully boarded the bridal sedan chair. She had mentally prepared herself to live the rest of her life in widowhood, but the so-called “consolation marriage” ended up being effective. On the night of her wedding, Xie Guimo, who had been unconscious for seven days and nights, woke up.

As the substitute bride of the heir, Shen Tang found herself in a position where she didn’t belong.

In everyone’s eyes, she became the scheming, malicious younger sister who snatched her eldest sister’s marriage. During the four years she spent with Xie Guimo, they never had a peaceful conversation. She didn’t know how many people behind her back whispered that she deserved it, that it was all her own doing.

She endured endless mockery and ridicule, and just before her death, she was told that Xie Guimo’s heart had always belonged to her. How could she believe that?

She no longer dared to easily trust anyone.

She had always thought of her elder sister, even willing to live as a widow herself. But how had her sister treated her?

She had killed her own flesh and blood, and now she wanted her life!

Xie Guimo had almost been killed saving the second prince. As soon as the second prince sat on the throne, he eagerly threw him aside like a useless tool.

The two of them were truly laughable.

Shen Tang closed her eyes, hiding the hatred that overflowed from her heart.

Since the heavens had given her a second chance at life, she would never make the same mistakes as in her previous life!

The pain they had inflicted on her in her past life would be repaid tenfold, a hundredfold!

She would make them pay in blood!

If she remembered correctly, her backstabbing maid should be coming to offer her advice soon…

As this thought crossed her mind, the sound of footsteps approached.

Doukou stepped through the beaded curtain and walked in. Yin Xing asked her, “Miss, are you feeling better?”

Doukou shook her head. “Miss has been crying nonstop since she woke up…”

She looked at Shen Tang and said, “Miss, if she marry the heir of Prince Jingyang, she won’t really become a widow, will she? Miss has been so kind to me, I can’t let Miss jump into this fire pit.”

So if Shen Juan can’t jump into the fire pit, it’s fine for her, right?

Thinking about the first fierce argument she had with Xie Guimo in her previous life, all because of this maid, Shen Tang felt a tightness in her chest.

She had been forced to marry Xie Guimo to bring him luck. After his injuries healed, they returned to the Prince Jingyang Manor. The moment she thanked him for giving her dignity, Doukou secretly went to the study behind her back to seduce Xie Guimo. She even claimed that it was Shen Tang’s idea, making it impossible for her to explain. Shen Tang would never forget the look of fury on Xie Guimo’s face, as if he wanted to swallow her alive.

Shen Tang remained silent. Doukou felt the coldness in her gaze, which made her spine shiver, but when she tried to look more carefully, it seemed like it was just her imagination.

Doukou steadied herself and said, “I have a good idea that can help Miss…”

Shen Tang knew exactly what kind of “good idea” she was referring to, but she pretended not to know and asked, “What good idea?”

Doukou leaned in closer and whispered, “Prince Jingyang’s Manor wants Miss to bring him luck, but if Miss is unwell and can’t get into the bridal sedan chair, then they can’t force her…”

Swish.

Shen Tang’s expression suddenly turned cold, “Do you think the Prince Jingyang’s Manor is full of fools? Today, Eldest Sister could go to Dazhao Temple, but upon returning, hearing that she needs to bring luck to the marriage, she falls ill and can’t get into the bridal sedan chair. Why don’t you just let me go directly to the Prince Jingyang’s Manor and cancel the engagement for her, it would be much more straightforward!”

Shen Tang rarely lost her temper, but when her expression suddenly changed, Doukou was so frightened that she immediately dropped to her knees. “Miss, please calm down. I was just worried about her. I thought you would be willing to bear a little bit of reproach for Eldest Sister…”

Once these words were spoken, if she didn’t act, it would seem like she was disregarding her Eldest Sister’s lifelong happiness.

How dare a maid try to control her.

Thinking about how, in her previous life, she had fallen into the trap they had set for her, Shen Tang’s anger surged even more, feeling disgusted with her own foolishness. “Is this just about bearing a few reproaches?!”

“Prince Jingyang’s heir is gravely ill and needs a lucky bride to save his life. If Eldest Sister doesn’t want to marry, she can cancel the engagement. The Prince Jingyang’s Manor will find someone willing. If I secretly drug her and tomorrow, when the bridal sedan chair comes, she can’t be found, delaying the lucky bride for the heir… What if he dies from the poison? Will the Prince Jingyang’s Manor and Consort Ye let me off so easily?!”

“Yin Xing, slap her mouth! Let her remember what words are acceptable and which ones are not!”