Chapter One
On Vermilion Bird Avenue, a wedding procession stretched for miles, advancing in grand splendor.
The gilded bridal sedan, carried by sixteen bearers, shimmered under the sunlight. The golden phoenix embroidered on the sedan curtains fluttered lightly with each step of the bearers, as if ready to take flight at any moment. Behind the sedan, an endless line of dowry carriers followed, their vermilion-lacquered chests tied with red silk ribbons that fluttered noisily in the spring breeze.
"Which noble family’s daughter is getting married? Such extravagance!" A young scholar in a nearby teahouse gaped in awe.
An elderly man beside him stroked his beard and remarked, "Judging by this spectacle, it must be a princess from a royal household."
"You’re mistaken," a merchant at the neighboring table interjected in a hushed tone. "This is the only daughter of the Li Family, the wealthiest in Lanuo Kingdom. Rumor has it her dowry alone fills one thousand three hundred and sixty chests!"
The crowd gasped in astonishment.
Just then, a procession of maids carrying jeweled boxes passed by, the sunlight reflecting off the gems inside, dazzling the onlookers.
"Wait a minute!" a woman suddenly frowned. "Didn’t the heir of Ruan Marquis Residence just marry the Zhou Family’s daughter three days ago? Could it be that the Li Family’s young lady is..."
"Who knows? Given Miss Li’s status, marrying into the Ruan Marquis Residence as a concubine might still be considered an elevation for her."
"Have you seen this dowry? A procession stretching for miles! With such wealth, she could find any husband she wanted in the capital. Why rush to become someone’s concubine?"
Inside the sedan, Li Zhiwei’s fingernails dug deep into her palms.
Beneath the crimson veil, a cold smile curled at the corners of her lips.
She never imagined she would be reborn on the very day of her wedding.
In her past life, she had brought half the Li Family’s fortune to the capital to marry Lin Jitong. But she had been unaware that, three days before her wedding, Lin Jitong had already married her beloved cousin, Zhou Yutang.
Forced to swallow her humiliation, she became Lin Jitong’s secondary wife—ostensibly equal in status, but in reality, her life in the Ruan Marquis Residence was miserable. At first, her maids had protected her, but gradually, those around her either betrayed her or were disposed of by Lin Jitong and Zhou Yutang.
As for her dowry, it was seized by her mother-in-law, Madam Zhou, the moment she entered the Lin household. Whenever she demanded its return, Madam Zhou found endless excuses to refuse.
By the time the Ruan Marquis Residence had squandered every last bit of her dowry, Lin Jitong forced her to write to her father, demanding more money.
But by then, she had already seen through the true nature of the Ruan Marquis Residence. Why would she let her father send more wealth to these ungrateful wolves?
Yet Lin Jitong, that beast, used her name to swindle the Li Family out of their entire fortune. In the end, her parents met a tragic death.
She learned the truth when Zhou Yutang flaunted her mother’s jewelry in front of her.
Only then did she realize—had the Ruan Marquis Residence not coveted the Li Family’s wealth, why would they ever propose marriage to a mere merchant’s daughter?
It had all been their scheme from the beginning.
"Li Zhiwei, did you know? My dear cousin pitied me for having no dowry, so he gave me yours. Oh, and one more thing—he never once touched you. In fact, on your wedding night, the tea Madam Zhou gave you was laced with a sterility drug. Someone as lowly as you isn’t fit to bear his child. And as for the man who consummated your marriage... wouldn’t you like to know who it was? Hahaha..."
Zhou Yutang smirked triumphantly at Li Zhiwei. She was nothing but a stepping stone. Without her and her family’s wealth, Zhou Yutang and Lin Jitong would never have lived so comfortably, nor would his political career have flourished so smoothly.
"Li Zhiwei, someone as worthless as you only deserves a man like Zhong from the stables."
Those words shattered the last thread of Li Zhiwei’s will to live.
Zhong was an old, ugly, and unmarried stablehand. The humiliation was unbearable. Spotting a pair of scissors nearby, Li Zhiwei grabbed them and lunged at Zhou Yutang in a rage.
She wanted to kill her.
But she had been starved for too long—her strength was no match. Zhou Yutang froze for a moment before the maidservants shielded her. Li Zhiwei couldn’t even scratch her. Instead, a shove from one of the maids sent her crashing into a corner.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself back in the bridal sedan.
Li Zhiwei carefully plotted her next move.
In this life, she would no longer be the helpless merchant’s daughter, meekly submitting to their schemes.
If the Ruan Marquis Residence wanted to use the Li Family’s wealth to pave their way to power, they’d have to see if they were even destined to enjoy it.
In her past life, she had been a fool, giving them the perfect opportunity.
But not this time.
---
Outside the western suburbs, young nobles had gathered, their children flying kites in joyous play.
Wei Herui, grandson of the Grand Tutor Wei, proudly showed off his new toy—a nine-linked puzzle—to the other children.
"My mother gave this to me," he boasted.
"What’s so special about that?" Xu Qingshi retorted, though his eyes betrayed his envy.
"Hey, Xu Qingshi, do you want to play with it? I’ll be generous and let you take a look." Wei Herui smirked. "This is one-of-a-kind in the capital. My mother personally found it for me."
Xu Qingshi’s face darkened.
Was this damned Wei Herui mocking him for not having a mother?
Furious, Xu Qingshi turned and stormed off.
"Young Master, wait for me!" Xie Yanzhi, who had been trailing behind, hurried after him, though he had no idea why Xu Qingshi was angry again.
Wei Herui watched Xu Qingshi leave, not the least bit concerned. If anything, he was even more pleased—Xu Qingshi must be jealous of his nine-linked puzzle.
---
"Young Mistress, the gates of the Ruan Marquis Residence remain closed," Cuiguo, Li Zhiwei’s personal maid, reported anxiously outside the sedan.
"Hmm." Li Zhiwei responded softly. She knew this was their way of humiliating her.
But this time, she had no intention of stepping through those gates.
"Cuiguo, knock again in half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea," she instructed.
In her past life, the gates hadn’t opened until dusk. Now, it was only morning.
She wasn’t leaving immediately because she was still deciding her next move.
---
"Tell me, was that damned Wei Herui mocking me for not having a mother?" Xu Qingshi fumed as they returned to the manor.
Xie Yanzhi hesitated, then looked at him sympathetically. Princess Consort of An had died in childbirth, and Prince An had never remarried.
"Maybe... you could ask Prince An to find you a stepmother?" Xie Yanzhi suggested cautiously.
