Chapter 1: The Fall of the Lin Family

Qin Family’s Main Courtyard.

The morning sunlight slanted through the intricately carved window lattice, casting delicate paper-cut patterns onto the flagstone floor.

The red “囍”^[1] Double Happiness symbol character and floral patterns on the ground twisted and deformed, resembling a group of crouching beasts, silently crawling towards the room.

“Lin Zhiyi, you should know that the Lin family is finished.”

Qin Lang spoke, his voice as cold as ice, sending chills down one’s spine.

Lin Zhiyi met his gaze, those eyes that had once been full of affection now only held indifference and calculation.

“So what?”

Qin Lang stood up, looking down at Lin Zhiyi from above. “I want to take a second wife, so you must vacate the main courtyard. How can the Qin family allow the daughter of a traitor to manage the household?”

Lin Zhiyi curled the corner of her lips. “But if I remember correctly, this house was part of my dowry from my maternal family, wasn’t it?”

Qin Lang clenched his fists so tightly they trembled, his hand shaking with anger. “So what? Don’t forget, it was the Qin family that took you in. You should be grateful.”

He hated how Lin Zhiyi constantly reminded him that he had only achieved his current status by relying on her family.

“Lin Zhiyi, if you know what’s good for you, just obediently do as you’re told. If you refuse, I’ll issue the divorce papers, and you’ll be left to fend for yourself. Don’t blame me for being heartless.”

Qin Lang waved his sleeve and left.

Lin Zhiyi watched his frantic figure leave and couldn’t help but curse him in her heart—what a scumbag, a good-for-nothing.

Yes, Lin Zhiyi had transmigrated into a book.

She had somehow entered a fictional world, becoming an important cannon fodder character, and one of the stepping stones for the female lead, Mu Yunzhao, on her road to success.

At this moment, Lin Zhiyi had completely absorbed the original character’s memories.

The original character’s name was also Lin Zhiyi, just like hers. She had fallen in love at first sight with the poor scholar, Qin Lang, who came to the capital to take the imperial examination. Lin Zhiyi insisted on marrying him, causing a commotion in the Lin family.

Her father, Lin Fu, and mother, Lin Mu, were against the marriage. The Lin family was an influential family in the imperial capital, with many members holding official positions in the court. There were at least seven or eight officials in the Lin family alone, and the highest-ranking official was Lin Zhiyi’s father, who held a second-grade position in the court.

However, the original Lin Zhiyi was completely enchanted by Qin Lang’s sweet words and insisted on marrying him, threatening to die if she couldn’t marry him.

Lin Fu and Lin Mu were both doting on their daughter, so they finally compromised. They agreed to the marriage if Qin Lang could pass the imperial examination.

Luckily, Qin Lang was determined and passed the exam, becoming a successful jinshi (advanced scholar).

Thus, the marriage was settled. It wasn’t so much that Lin Zhiyi married Qin Lang, but rather that Qin Lang had been taken into the Lin family.

This was because, not only did Lin Zhiyi bring a rich dowry, but the house itself was also provided by the Lin family.

Qin Lang climbed the social ladder quickly with the help of the Lin family. On the surface, he appeared gentle, but in truth, he was a master at emotional manipulation. He would always hold Lin Zhiyi close, whispering in her ear: “Madam, you are so wise; you will surely convince your father and brothers to help.”

After only two years of marriage, the Lin family was embroiled in a scandal. Lin Zhiyi’s father got involved in a political struggle between the crown prince, Li Wenqing, and Prince Qi. The crown prince fell victim to a conspiracy orchestrated by Prince Qi and became embroiled in a witchcraft case, which led to his conviction. Lin Fu, as the crown prince’s supporter, was also convicted, and the three branches of the Lin family were exiled.

Seeing that the Lin family could no longer be relied upon, Qin Lang eagerly planned to bring in another woman.

From the beginning to the end, Qin Lang had only used Lin Zhiyi.

It was only thanks to the Lin family’s connections and her dowry that he had been able to attain his current position. Initially, he had a seventh-grade position, but in the imperial capital, where there were more opportunities, he quickly rose to a fifth-grade position.

A seventh-grade official in the imperial capital was essentially equivalent to a fifth-grade official in the provinces.

Without the Lin family, he would have been nothing more than a third-tier jinshi, ranked last. He could have only returned to his hometown to become a lowly scribe or assistant teacher.

Lin Zhiyi had transmigrated at just the right moment.

She silently complained. While others transmigrated into novels to enjoy luxury, she had come to bear the burdens of the original character.

Why did Lin Zhiyi call the original character outrageous? Let’s analyze.

The book didn’t provide much detail about the original character, merely touching on the basics.

According to the original plot, the original Lin Zhiyi was driven to a shabby courtyard, and her dowry was taken from her.

The original character suffered greatly because of this, but instead of hating Qin Lang, the scumbag husband, she ended up resenting her maternal family.

If the Lin family hadn’t been disgraced, she wouldn’t have been nearly abandoned by Qin Lang, and wouldn’t have had to live on stale food, wear old clothes, and be locked away in a dilapidated courtyard.

This resentment only deepened over time.

But five years later, things took a turn. Prince Qi suddenly died, and the deposed crown prince cleared his name, and naturally, the Lin family returned.

However, when the Lin family was exiled, the original Lin Zhiyi had forced her father to write a severance letter. Her father, deeply wounded and heartbroken, died on the road.

Her mother, too, died from the grief while exiled.

So when the Lin family returned to the capital, both of her brothers regained their official positions, but when the original Lin Zhiyi went to claim her family, her two brothers, who had always doted on her, sent her away.

Qin Lang, who still wanted to use the Lin family’s influence to rise further, learned that the original Lin Zhiyi hadn’t even seen her brothers.

Hope Shattered!

From that point on, the Qin family, including Qin Lang, treated the original character even more harshly.

Years passed, and the original character, unable to endure the constant torment from the Qin family, accepted the female protagonist Mu Yunzhao’s suggestion, who was now the Empress Dowager. She hid false evidence of a rebellion in the Lin family, leading to the family’s ultimate demise, with the entire Lin household being sentenced to execution.

As a result, the original character no longer had any value to the Qin family. A divorce decree was issued, and she was cast out, with no one to take her in. Ultimately, she froze and starved to death on the streets.

It could be said that the original character was nothing more than a malicious, scheming younger sister-in-law, directing all her cruelty towards her loving family. But when it came to her in-laws, she didn’t dare utter a single complaint.

It was because she knew well that only her father, mother, and brothers would love and spoil her endlessly, while her husband’s family would not.

Lin Zhiyi felt a wave of frustration. This was the price of staying up late reading novels—she hadn’t just transmigrated into a book, but into the life of such a despicable character.

Transmigration was fine, but the little courtyard she had just bought was a real pity. She had saved for years to buy that house in the suburbs of the capital.

Thinking about it made her heart bleed.

At that moment, Lin Zhiyi suddenly realized she was no longer in the Qin family’s main courtyard. She was now in the house she had bought.

Looking around, she found herself in a bedroom, on a large two-meter double bed with a wardrobe, air conditioner…

Lin Zhiyi’s mind went blank. What was happening? Was this… space?

“Miss, are you alright?”

Hearing someone call her, Lin Zhiyi hurriedly muttered a thought in her mind, and the next moment, she was back in the Qin family’s main courtyard—exactly where the original character had been, in her bedroom.

Chai Ya entered the room, seeing Lin Zhiyi sitting dazed on the bed. “Miss, are you okay?”

Seeing Lin Zhiyi remain silent, frowning, looking alternately joyful and sighing, Chai Ya wondered if she couldn’t bear it anymore.

Unable to resist, Chai Ya waved in front of Lin Zhiyi. “Miss, Miss…”

“I’m here. Why are you yelling so loudly? You’ll deafen me.”

Chai Ya was a firemaid, bought by the Lin family as part of the original character’s dowry.

There had originally been eighteen maids in the Lin family’s household, but when the family fell, they all scattered like fair-weather friends, joining the Qin family. Now, there wasn’t a single capable maid left in the courtyard.

Only Chai Ya, the rough servant, hadn’t defected to the Qin family.

Before either of them could act, several women barged into the room, bringing in their belongings. They moved with ruthless efficiency, even knocking over two porcelain vases in the process.

Chai Ya could not allow them to mess around like this. She blocked their path and questioned them, “Stop! How dare you behave so recklessly in the madam’s room?”

The women exchanged looks, sneering, “Madam? She’s just the daughter of a traitor. Soon the new madam will enter the house, and this one will just be a madam in name only.”

In reality, she was probably no better than the family dog.

Who didn’t know the Lin family had committed a capital offense?

Her in-laws were merely pitying her, not divorcing her outright.

And the new madam was the daughter of He Shilang’s family. Though she was a concubine’s daughter, she was raised as a precious gem in the He family, far above the daughter of a traitor.

Seeing the smug faces of these opportunists, Chai Ya’s eyes flickered with rage. Hands on her hips, her chest heaved with fury.

“You people, don’t forget who bought you. It was the family of the so-called traitor you’re mocking.

If the madam is the daughter of a traitor, then you’re the slaves of a traitor. Don’t forget who your real master is.”

Chai Ya’s words made the women feel guilty, and they immediately lowered their eyes, no longer daring to look at Lin Zhiyi.

The oldest of the women, Granny Zhang, immediately said, “Don’t forget the old madam’s instructions.”

Upon hearing this, the women regained their confidence, their expressions changing.

That’s right, they had been ordered by the old madam. Was she really going to defy the old madam?

With that, they stopped acting guilty and exchanged sneers of contempt, “If the madam has any objections, she can ask the old madam and the master.”

Chai Ya, furious, was about to grab the things from their hands, but the women raised their hands to strike her.

“Stop!”

Lin Zhiyi’s sharp command caused the women to halt their actions.

Though the original character had fallen from grace, she had been raised by the Lin family, and the natural authority instilled in her since childhood still remained.

Lin Zhiyi was just about to berate the women when suddenly, a sharp pain surged in her abdomen…

——

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I hope you enjoy reading!