Chapter 1: I will divorce her and marry you

The Thirty-Seventh Year of Yongchang, Winter.

Thin snow covered the twelfth lunar month.

A tattered house, a straw mat for bedding.

The fierce wind violently slammed the old wooden door open, sweeping in a wave of cold air.

The chill sent a shiver through Qin Chanyue, who lay curled up on a flimsy wooden bed.

The sudden cold jolted her out of her fevered unconsciousness, and she woke up coughing violently.

Her mind was still foggy.

Her throat burned like fire.

Before she could fully regain her senses, the sound of crying filled the room.

“Mother-in-law! Mother-in-law”

The voice was choked with sobs, making her feel annoyed.

What are you wailing about!

I’m not dead yet!

Fueled by irritation, Qin Chanyue forcefully opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was her useless daughter-in-law holding a bowl of medicine in her swollen, ulcer-ridden hands.

She trembled as she tried to feed it to her.

The house was freezing.

There was only one broken wooden bed, and she was occupying it.

Her daughter-in-law could only kneel on the ground, looking at her with teary eyes.

Seeing that pitiful face, the fire in Qin Chanyue’s chest subsided slightly.

Instead, a faint sense of guilt crept in.

She had always treated this daughter-in-law poorly.

Yet, now that she had fallen into despair, it was only this daughter-in-law who remained by her side to care for her.

But where did this medicine come from?

She opened her mouth to ask, but her throat was too hoarse to form words.

Her daughter-in-law, however, seemed to understand.

She lowered her head timidly and explained,

“I am useless.

Today, I went to the Marquis’ Residence to beg for medicine.

My husband refused to see me.

My brother-in-law also refused to see me.

Father-in-law… Father-in-law no longer acknowledges me.

Concubine Fang threw some silver at me and told me to leave.

So I used it to buy medicine.”

The anger that had just subsided flared up once more.

“You!”

Qin Chanyue trembled with rage.

“I told you you are not allowed to go to them!

Even if I die”

Before she could finish, her daughter-in-law had already started crying again.

She sobbed, “Mother-in-law, you cannot die!

Uncle told me to take care of you.

If you die, I will have no face to see him!”

Her uncle was Qin Chanyue’s adoptive brother.

A loud ringing filled Qin Chanyue’s mind.

All she could think about was her adoptive brother, her son, her husband

The past surged forth, bringing with it an endless wave of hatred.

Memories played vividly in her mind.

She was Qin Chanyue, born into a family of generals, known for their unwavering loyalty.

During a great war with a neighboring kingdom, her entire family perished in battle.

Only her adoptive brother survived.

The Emperor, overwhelmed by grief, bestowed great honors upon her family.

She was personally granted the title of County Princess and raised under the Empress Dowager’s care.

Later, Zhou Ziheng, the legitimate second son of the Zhou family, expressed his admiration for her numerous times.

Zhou Ziheng was a close friend of her adoptive brother.

Both were aligned with the Crown Prince’s faction, sharing the same political views and acting as allies.

He was an acceptable choice for a husband.

Besides, Zhou Ziheng indulged her in every way.

No matter how difficult she was, he tolerated her.

Who wouldn’t fall for such a charming and refined man?

Over time, Qin Chanyue grew to love him.

Eventually, they pledged their devotion to one another, swearing to be together for a lifetime.

She married Zhou Ziheng.

Because she was favored by the Emperor, Zhou Ziheng also received royal favor.

Despite being the second son, he surpassed the eldest and was granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness.

With royal favor, a powerful adoptive brother, and a harmonious household, her husband cherished her deeply.

He never took concubines.

They lived peacefully for decades, raising two sons.

Many in the Da Chen Empire envied her.

If she had any dissatisfaction, it was only her eldest daughter-in-law, Liu Yandai.

But as time passed, her perfect world began to crumble.

Her adoptive brother was framed for treason.

Her husband abandoned her.

Her sons rejected her.

She was cast out of the Marquis’ Residence like a common criminal.

She fell ill, her wealth was depleted, and she was left to die alone in a shack.

The only person who remained by her side was the daughter-in-law she had once despised Liu Yandai.

Yet now, Liu Yandai had gone back to beg those who had abandoned her.

Qin Chanyue was furious.

She wanted to curse her, but she had no strength left.

She could only lift a trembling hand and knock the bowl of medicine away.

Even if she died, she would not drink their medicine.

Liu Yandai wept bitterly, still trying to plead with her.

But Qin Chanyue reached into her clothes, took out her last golden hairpin, and placed it in Liu Yandai’s hand.

Her voice was weak but firm:

“Leave Chang’an.”

Then, she slowly closed her eyes.

The medicine was too bitter.

The winter of Yongchang’s thirty-seventh year was too cold.

This place was not worth staying in.

Just before she lost consciousness, a familiar voice called out.

A tall figure stood before her.

His brows furrowed, his face stern as he scolded her.

“You’re being reckless again.”

Even in death, the only one who still haunted her dreams was her elder brother.

Big Brother… If only you were still here.

Liu Yandai saw her mother-in-law go silent.

Tightly clutching the golden hairpin, she suddenly burst into loud sobs.

Her uncle was dead.

Her mother-in-law was dead.

Where could she go now?

She cried and cried, but this time, Qin Chanyue did not find it noisy.

She simply closed her eyes and fell into an eternal sleep on that cold winter night.

After crying for what felt like forever, Liu Yandai used the last golden hairpin to hire someone to bury Qin Chanyue beside her uncle’s grave.

Then, she went to a temple, where she spent the rest of her life lighting lamps in prayer.

Her uncle had said, “All I ever wished for was for my sister to live well.”

She had been raised by her uncle, so she had to follow his teachings.

Since she had married into the Marquis’ Residence, her duty was to be filial to her mother-in-law.

But she had failed.

She had been too weak to protect her.

So, she could only pray to the gods every day.

If the gods were merciful, she hoped that in her next life, her mother-in-law would be blessed with happiness.

The frail girl knelt in the temple, day after day, year after year.

Her black hair gradually turned white.

Her back slowly bent with age.

The oil lamps burned on, flickering gently.

Their light shone upon the devout believer, illuminating the merciful face of the gods.

If there was a next life

And then

She woke up.

Alive.

Thinking of Her Adoptive Brother

Thinking of her adoptive brother, all the unwillingness and fury within her seemed to magnify countless times.

It swept away the last traces of her reason.

She suddenly sat up from the bed, wanting to roar in rage.

Even if she descended into the underworld, she would file a complaint with her deceased father!

But when she opened her eyes and saw everything before her, the words stuck on the tip of her tongue.

Everything came to a halt.

Her sharp, fiery fox-like eyes widened in disbelief.

Her neck stiffened as she turned her head, scanning her surroundings.

This was a room filled with opulence and luxury.

The flooring was made of rare sunken wood, covered with an expensive golden silk carpet.

Across the room, in front of the rear window, stood a smoke-purple Han white jade screen.

In the corner, an ice bucket was placed for cooling.

The wooden windows were wide open, and faintly, the soft chime of jade bells could be heard outside.

All of Chang’an knew that Madam Qin loved luxury.

She despised the sound of brass bells and only adored the melody of jade chimes.

Jade chimes were fragile once broken, they were replaced immediately.

Each one cost a hundred taels of silver, all just for a crisp, melodious sound.

As the familiar jade chime rang, Qin Chanyue suddenly realized where she was.

This was the Marquis’ Residence.

Once her home.

She had lived here for over a decade.

But she had already been cast out.

That bitter, freezing winter

She turned her head.

Outside the eaves, the rain drizzled softly, the wind swayed the rose vines, and amidst the swaying flowers, it felt as if an old friend was whispering to her:

“Qin Chanyue, aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

Yes.

I died.

My husband betrayed me.

My sons abandoned me.

My adoptive brother was framed.

My daughter-in-law

She sat there in a daze.

Until a moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the room.

A maid rushed along the corridor, speaking anxiously to the guards outside.

Then, hesitantly, the maid approached and knocked on Qin Chanyue’s door.

“Madam, something terrible has happened!

The Young Master and Young Madam are arguing!”

The words “Young Madam” and “arguing” struck Qin Chanyue’s ears like thunder.

A shudder ran through her body.

It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, making her thoughts instantly clear.

She wasn’t stupid.

She could be a bit headstrong, but she wasn’t clueless.

It was clear she had died once, yet somehow, she had been reborn.

She didn’t know how she had returned.

But right now, she had more urgent matters to handle.

As she thought about the past, memories flooded her mind.

The once elegant and radiant madam bit her lip.

A fierce glint flashed in her eyes.

As if making a decision, she viciously pinched her own thigh.

Today was the end of July.

It had been two months since Liu Yandai married into the Marquis’ Residence.

And today her daughter-in-law had suffered a great humiliation!

“Come in!”

Qin Chanyue hurriedly got out of bed.

“Take me there immediately!”

In the past, she did not like Liu Yandai.

She thought Liu Yandai was unworthy of her son.

She had let Liu Yandai suffer countless grievances.

But now that she had been given a second chance, she realized she had been wrong.

Her two sons and her husband combined were not even worth half of Liu Yandai!

Now that she was alive again, no one was going to bully Liu Yandai under her watch!

The maid outside the door was startled by the sudden urgency in her voice.

She rushed inside to support Qin Chanyue.

Qin Chanyue stood up and coldly ordered, “Prepare an umbrella!”

The maid quickly obeyed, retrieving an umbrella.

Draped in her cloak, Qin Chanyue stormed through the corridors, striding toward the Young Master’s study with murderous intent.

The Marquis’ Residence Had Two Young Masters

The eldest son, Zhou Yuanzhen, was proud and scholarly, preparing for the imperial examinations.

The second son, Zhou Yuannan, was hot-tempered and skilled in martial arts, aiming to become a military champion.

Outsiders often praised the Zhou brothers for being equally brilliant in both literature and combat, saying that their family’s prestige would last for generations.

People believed that Zhou Yuanzhen lived a blessed life, untouched by misfortune.

But recently, Zhou Yuanzhen had been deeply troubled.

The reason was simple his love life was in turmoil.

His mother forced him to marry a woman he did not love.

Originally, Zhou Yuanzhen had a fiancée named Bai Yuning.

But tragedy struck her family was convicted of a crime and exiled.

Their engagement was annulled.

He had loved Bai Yuning since childhood.

Her departure left him devastated.

At the same time, his uncle, who lived in the borderlands, arranged a marriage for him, claiming it was a long-standing family agreement.

His mother did not consult him.

She simply forced him to accept the marriage, saying only, “Your uncle chooses the best.

Treat her well.”

But Zhou Yuanzhen despised his new wife.

He preferred refined, educated women who could play music, paint, dance, and had the elegance of a goddess.

However, his forced wife Liu Yandai was nothing like that.

She had grown up in the borderlands, barely literate.

Her face was plain at best, maybe just pleasant-looking.

She knew nothing but cooking porridge and household chores.

She reeked of kitchen smoke.

She was completely unappealing to him.

On their wedding night, he didn’t even touch her.

He coldly refused to share a room with her.

He ignored her completely.

Yet, she still tried her best to please him.

Even though she wasn’t well-educated, she still forced herself to read books to discuss literature with him.

Her speech was clumsy.

He had no interest in seeing her.

So, he spent all his time outside, avoiding her.

Then, on this very day, something shocking happened.

At a literary club, he ran into Bai Yuning.

That was when he learned the truth

Bai Yuning had not been exiled!

She had been secretly protected by a powerful benefactor and was still living in Chang’an.

But she had no home.

She had no status.

To survive, she worked in the club as a veiled musician.

If not for his familiarity with her music, he wouldn’t have known she was still here.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he impulsively took her back to the Marquis’ Residence.

In his study, they poured out their hearts to each other.

And then

Liu Yandai walked in.