Volume One, Chapter One: Humiliated to Death

On the day Jiang Zhinen died, the true daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Ruozhen, was married in magnificent splendor to her groom.

The Jiang residence was ablaze with lanterns and festooned with red silk. Yet her mother’s eyes brimmed with loathing as she blocked her at the threshold. “Jiang Zhinen! You shamelessly lay with an outsider! You nearly brought ruin to our entire clan—how dare you show your face at the Jiang household!”

Jiang Zhinen’s hair was in wild disarray, and she shook her head desperately. Her lips, frozen and trembling, uttered a frail, plaintive sound, like that of a wronged kitten: “Mother, I didn’t... I truly didn’t...”

But as she spoke, her voice grew weaker and weaker.

Perhaps Jiang Zhinen understood that the woman standing before her was no longer the mother who once taught her to comb her hair, cooked congee for her, cradled her to sleep—she was now only Jiang Ruozhen’s mother.

As for Jiang Zhinen herself—once the envy of all as the Crown Princess designate, she was now nothing more than a beggar, easily bullied by anyone.

A few days prior, Jiang Zhinen had fainted during a small banquet at the Princess Royal’s manor. When she awoke, she found herself disheveled and half-dressed in an inner chamber.

The Empress, upon learning of this, flew into a rage. The crime warranted execution of her entire clan, but since no man could be found at the banquet with whom she had supposedly sinned, and to protect the royal family’s reputation, the matter was kept secret and Jiang Zhinen was quietly dealt with.

It was common knowledge that the Jiang family’s daughter was to be the Crown Princess, so to preserve appearances, the Empress decreed that Jiang Ruozhen would replace her and marry the Crown Prince.

As for Jiang Zhinen, it was simply said that she was a mistaken child, already returned to her original home.

Jiang Zhinen had no chance to defend herself before she was dragged away and plunged into a water dungeon. Who knew how many days passed before they released her, casting her onto the streets to survive as she could!

She did not die. She clung to her last breath, struggling to ask her father, mother, and brother why they would not trust her.

But Lady Jiang was unmoved. That once gentle, loving face was now only indifferent.

Lady Jiang warned Jiang Zhinen, “Today is Ruozhen’s great wedding day. If you cause any trouble, Her Majesty the Empress will not forgive you!”

Her voice was colder than the biting wind.

Yet this should have been her own wedding day, and the one to enter the Eastern Palace should have been herself!

Jiang Zhinen placed her last hope in her elder brother, Jiang Ruoqi. When she was little and hadn’t grown tall, he would lift her up to pick peaches, teach her to climb trees, and take her out to play.

Whenever she caused trouble, it was he who shielded her from their father’s wrath.

She thought her brother would show her at least a shred of the sibling affection they once shared.

But when Jiang Zhinen, her frostbitten hands trembling and red, tried to grasp the corner of Jiang Ruoqi’s robe—

“Brother, I am the appointed Crown Princess; how could I possibly—”

Jiang Ruoqi’s brow furrowed as he cut her off.

“All of this was meant for Ruozhen. What you took from her should be returned!”

Jiang Zhinen froze, staring at Jiang Ruoqi in disbelief. “Brother...”

When the Empress favored her, it was her brother who had declared her the most beautiful and talented, worthy of the best in the world!

But now, impatient, Jiang Ruoqi kicked her to the ground, sending her crashing into the snow.

“Wretched girl, be gone!”

Wretched girl...

The wounds Jiang Zhinen had suffered in the water dungeon had barely begun to heal, and now they reopened, bleeding afresh.

Collapsed in the snow, she could no longer support herself; the blood seeped slowly out, staining the snow around her bright red.

Did it hurt?

Jiang Zhinen didn’t feel it. The physical pain was nothing compared to the cruelty of her family’s words. She was numb, only her eyes able to move, gazing at the Jiang family.

Her mother’s disgust, her brother’s hatred, and her father, who hurried over, only saw misfortune. “You owe Ruozhen this much. If you have any conscience left, you’ll stop pestering us!”

She owed Jiang Ruozhen? She was only a swaddled infant when they were switched at birth. Ever since Ruozhen returned to the Jiang family, everyone believed Jiang Zhinen had stolen everything from her.

So, to keep the peace, if Ruozhen did not study, Jiang Zhinen would hire tutors for her. If Ruozhen’s looks were marred, she would spend a fortune to restore them.

Jiang Zhinen asked herself if she had ever wronged Ruozhen in the slightest. Yet, everyone adored Ruozhen. Even after falling so low, Jiang Zhinen could not earn a kind word from her family. She began to crawl toward the Jiang family’s gate with all her remaining strength, desperate to ask why they refused to believe her, why they treated her so. Had the years of living side by side truly meant nothing compared to the bonds of blood?

“Someone, throw this beggar far away! Don’t let her spoil Ruozhen’s joyous day.”

“Father... Mother, Brother...”

Jiang Cheng showed not an ounce of pity; he simply ordered her thrown out. Her voice, brittle as a snapped twig, was chilling, yet it was drowned out by the festive music of the wedding procession. Gradually, her cries faded as the bridal sedan disappeared into the distance.

People hurried past her on the street, and no one paused for Jiang Zhinen. Snow fell heavily, piling until it covered her completely, and she became one with the white, desolate street.

She did not know how long had passed before she vaguely heard voices seeping through the snow, reaching her ears.

“That wretch is finally gone? If he’d learned of Ruozhen and the Crown Prince’s affair, who knows what chaos would have ensued!”

“Don’t worry, Mother. No one will ever know of this.”

“Qier, has there been any news of the man she was with at that banquet? I’m worried our scheme to ruin her will...”

“Mother! If anyone is to blame, it’s her for standing in Ruozhen’s way. Now her reputation is destroyed—no one will believe a word she says!” Jiang Ruoqi hastily interrupted Lady Jiang.

Beneath the snow, Jiang Zhinen could only move her fingers with all her remaining strength, despair and anger crushing her heart. So her disgrace had been orchestrated by her mother and brother! Ruozhen and the Crown Prince had long been in secret contact!

Jiang Zhinen was indignant, furious!

But she no longer had the strength to cry out. The ice froze her blood, parched as it was, and buried the truth with her forever.

The thirty-second year of the Great Sui, winter.

“Miss, how did you fall asleep without closing the window?”

Jiang Zhinen’s tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed—it was the voice of her maid, Fuguang, pulling her from her nightmare.

She had been reborn for three days now, yet every night she still dreamed of her past life.

Sitting up and rubbing her temples, she said, “Once everything is packed, we’ll return to the capital.”

“These days, more and more refugees have gathered here. Second Miss said she’d stay a few more days to distribute porridge.” Fuguang draped a thick velvet cloak around her shoulders.

This was the second year since Ruozhen had returned to the Jiang family. At that time, Jiang Zhinen had personally gone to White Deer Academy to bring Ruozhen back to the capital. Just a day’s journey from the city, a group of refugees had gathered.

Ruozhen had suggested setting up a tent to distribute porridge—the charity was in her name, but the money came from Jiang Zhinen.

“We should have returned to the capital long ago! All the good reputation is going to Second Miss. Miss, why do you bother with such thankless tasks?” Zheliu, her other maid, grumbled in discontent.