In her past life, after Li Fuyin died, her soul did not dissipate immediately. Instead, she wandered the mortal realm for decades. Over those ten years, she witnessed firsthand the shifting of dynasties, the changes in the world, and the ultimate decline of the Sheng State.
The mastermind behind all of this was the woman standing right before her: Bai Xiyue.
This woman was an otherworldly entity, burdened with a bizarre "System." She relied on romancing various men to reap benefits, and her own younger brother, the Emperor Qingyuan, was one of them. Bewitched by this woman and blinded by lust, he had dismissed his harem and willingly abdicated the throne, desiring nothing more than to fly away with her, only to be betrayed by her and Prince Ning in a joint conspiracy, ultimately driving him to commit suicide in grief and indignation.
At that time, Prince Ning, in order to avoid suspicion, had married Song Yunqing, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Estate whose marriage had long been betrothed to him. After he ascended the throne, Song Yunqing naturally became empress, also becoming a target of public criticism in the harem, bearing the infamy on Prince Ning's behalf. Outwardly, Prince Ning seemed to hold the empress in deep respect, but in reality, his heart had long been set on Bai Xiyue. Once his position was secure, he deposed Song Yunqing at the very first opportunity, intending to install Bai Xiyue as empress.
Trapped in the Cold Palace and tormented day and night by illness, Song Yunqing harbored deep resentment. Wandering souls like Li Fuyin were most easily attracted to such bitterness, and naturally, she often appeared by Song Yunqing's side, listening to her recount her grievances and hatred.
However, Li Fuyin had not felt much sympathy for Song Yunqing back then. After all, in her view, Song Yunqing had brought this upon herself; even after becoming empress, her head was still filled with nothing but romance, utterly failing to use the status of empress to strengthen herself, so naturally, she was bound to suffer a crushing defeat.
It was only later that Bai Xiyue, having become empress, still refused to remain settled, playing a game of cat and mouse with Prince Ning. With Prince Ning paying no mind to state affairs and disregarding the common people and the imperial court, the national strength of the Sheng State rapidly deteriorated within a mere few years, until it was annexed by its former enemy, Xizhou, and reduced to a vassal state.
Whenever she thought of the peaceful and prosperous era she had worked so hard to build during her lifetime being trampled upon like this, Li Fuyin would vomit blood with rage, and an unprecedented wave of hatred would surge into her heart. She could tolerate Bai Xiyue toying with men, but she could never allow her to ruin the country, the common people, and the entire world!
"Elder sister, your hair has been styled. What do you think?"
Bai Xiyue's melodious voice rang out, pulling Li Fuyin's thoughts back to the present. Her gaze fell upon Bai Xiyue's delicate face in the mirror, yet her eyes revealed a gleam of excitement upon encountering a formidable opponent.
For she knew that with the help of the "System," she could neither kill Bai Xiyue nor control those men who were infatuated with her.
However, since those men could not protect the Sheng State, then this time, she, Li Fuyin, would do it!
……
When Bai Xiyue and Li Fuyin arrived at the entrance, the Marquis of Yongan, Marchioness Bai, and the eldest young master of the Marquis's Estate, Song Yunling, were already waiting by the carriage.
Marchioness Bai, standing right in the center, was the most conspicuous. Her entire bearing was full of majesty, carrying the poise of a noble family's matriarch.
"Didn't I say that if you were feeling unwell, you needn't go? Do you still think you didn't make enough of a fool of yourself by fainting in public yesterday?"
Before they even drew close, Marchioness Bai's cold and majestic voice reached them. Li Fuyin's body instinctively stiffened, followed by a chill in her limbs and cold sweat breaking out.
Li Fuyin could not help frowning slightly, not expecting this Song Yunqing to be so terrified of Marchioness Bai.
Over the dozen years in the Marquis's Estate, Marchioness Bai indeed appeared to have raised Song Yunqing as her own biological daughter, yet she was extremely stern with her. At the slightest displeasure, she would mete out heavy punishments. As a mother, she had never shown her a shred of warmth, with the result that Song Yunqing had been raised to be timid, weak, and trembling with fear. She never dared to speak out even when wronged, and her days in the estate were even worse than those of an illegitimate daughter.
Only the Old Marquis of Yongan treated her fairly well. However, having spent his early years campaigning on the battlefield, the Old Marquis was covered in old wounds and illnesses, with his legs ulcerated and festering, leaving him bedridden year after year. Only Song Yunqing did not mind, accompanying and caring for him day in and day out. Touched by her filial piety, even after discovering later that she was not his biological granddaughter, the Old Marquis still arranged a fine marriage for her before he passed away, and even had her name engraved upon the Song family genealogy.
Yet after the Old Marquis departed, Song Yunqing's days in the Marquis's Estate became even harder to endure.
With Bai Xiyue—who excelled in everything—serving as a comparison, Song Yunqing, the timid and spineless fake daughter, naturally became the biggest laughingstock in the capital.
"Mother!"
Bai Xiyue trotted all the way to Marchioness Bai's side, tugged at her arm, and said coaxingly, "Elder sister said she wanted to enter the palace with us, so I waited for a while. Elder sister's constitution is weak, and she was a bit slow getting up; Mother, please don't blame her."
"Since her constitution is weak, why must she insist on going out? Moving at such a snail's pace, isn't she just dragging others down?"
Marchioness Bai scolded with knitted brows, though her gaze turned toward Bai Xiyue was exceedingly gentle. "It doesn't matter whether she goes or not. The next time something like this happens, you don't need to wait for her..."
"Mother!" Bai Xiyue immediately interrupted Marchioness Bai, saying earnestly, "Yue'er does not wish for others to think that Yue'er stole elder sister's position. Although Yue'er was forced to be separated from her family for fifteen years, now that you and Father and Brother dote on Yue'er so much, Yue'er is already thoroughly content and will ask for nothing more. I only ask that Father and Mother treat elder sister just as before!"
Hearing this, Marchioness Bai's eyes as she looked at Bai Xiyue were instantly filled with maternal affection and pity.
Although Bai Xiyue had not been raised in the Marquis's Estate all these years, she seemed more like a daughter of the Marquis's Estate than anyone else. Sometimes, one simply had to acknowledge the importance of blood ties.
The Marquis of Yongan and Song Yunling were the same, their gazes directed at Bai Xiyue likewise brimming with gentleness and approval.
"Ahem, the hour is late. Set off quickly and don't miss the time."
The Marquis of Yongan glanced at the sky, turned as if to board the carriage, but suddenly remembering that there was another daughter present, he said to Li Fuyin, "Your constitution is weak, so you needn't go. Return to your room and rest properly."
Li Fuyin stood in place without moving. She hadn't even had a chance to say a single word before being chased back; these people truly did not regard Song Yunqing as a human being.
Although Song Yunqing had lived in the Marquis's Estate for fifteen years, she had not enjoyed a single shred of fortune or benefit there. Bai Xiyue's casual remark made it sound as though she had stolen a life of fine food, embroidered clothes, and the pampered darling's good fortune!
Li Fuyin always felt that the Marquis's Estate's attitude toward Song Yunqing in the past was somewhat bizarre, as if these people had known from the very beginning that she was not their biological child...
Right now, however, Li Fuyin had no time to dwell on other matters; her single-minded desire was to enter the palace. Yet, given Song Yunqing's usual temperament, she naturally wouldn't dare to defy her elders.
Seeing that the people of the Marquis's Estate were about to leave, Li Fuyin suddenly said, "Father, you refuse to take me into the palace—is it because you now have your biological daughter and no longer want Qing'er?"
At these words, everyone paused and turned to look at Li Fuyin.
The Marquis of Yongan frowned and said, "What kind of nonsense are you uttering! When has your father ever said he didn't want you!"
Li Fuyin lowered her head, feigning the wiping away of tears, and said pitifully, "But just now, sister Yue'er said she didn't want others to think she had stolen my place. If I am not present today, outsiders will surely assume the Marquis's Estate has only one legitimate daughter... Qing'er was never Father's flesh and blood to begin with; if Father and Mother no longer want me, Qing'er will pack her things and leave the Marquis's Estate right now!"
"You... hold your tongue!"
The Marquis of Yongan said angrily, "It's your own lack of grit—you faint just from kneeling at a memorial. Not letting you go is so you won't suffer or lose face. Cease this unruly behavior at once and hurry back to your room to behave yourself!"
Li Fuyin did not move an inch. She raised her eyes to look at Marchioness Bai and asked, "Does Mother also think I am a disgrace and unwilling to take me out?"
Hearing this, Marchioness Bai was noticeably stunned, clearly not expecting the timid-as-a-mouse Song Yunqing to dare question her in public. Just as she was about to open her mouth to scold her, she suddenly realized they were outside the estate, in full view of the public. If this matter were to spread, it would not only damage the reputation of the Marquis's Estate, but also affect Bai Xiyue's public image.
To safeguard the reputation of the Marquis's Estate, Marchioness Bai swallowed her rage and said, "You child, what kind of foolish talk is this! How could I think you are a disgrace? You have been my own flesh and blood for over a decade in the Marquis's Estate; how could your father and I bear to let you leave!"
"Really?"
Li Fuyin's aggrieved voice suddenly rose in volume, carrying a tearful sob as she said, "Yet just now, the maid Jinxiu, bestowed upon me by Mother, said... Mother has always despised me for being foolish and weak, and now that she has her biological daughter, she won't even spare me a second glance. She also said that you will drive me out of the Marquis's Estate sooner or later... Mother, I refuse to believe her words; I only wish to hear you say it with your own lips: do you truly detest Qing'er this much?"