The tassels on the carved pear-wood bed frame swayed gently, carrying the familiar, calming scent of incense that belonged to the bedchamber of the Dingbei Marquis Manor's legitimate daughter.
Jiang Wan opened her eyes abruptly.
Before her lay gauze bed curtains embroidered with Twin Lotus patterns, and beneath her fingertips was the cool, smooth surface of a silk quilt. Her body stiffened. Slowly, she lifted her hand, seeing skin that was slender, fair, and free of chilblains or cracks.
These were not her hands.
In her past life, after being discarded by the Crown Prince and imprisoned in a cold courtyard by her half-sister Jiang Rou, her hands had become terribly rough from the winter frost and heavy labor, her knuckles scarred with unhealed fissures.
"Miss, you're awake?" Her personal maid, Lü'e, walked in carrying a bronze basin. Seeing her eyes open, her face lit up with surprise. "You're finally awake! The Madame and the Second Miss were just here to see you. They said you tripped in the garden yesterday, and it gave everyone such a fright."
Tripped in the garden?
A thunderous roar echoed in Jiang Wan’s mind, and countless fragments of memory surged forth.
This day in her previous life was the eve of her coming-of-age ceremony. At that time, she had been infatuated with the Crown Prince and had gone to the garden specifically to "accidentally" encounter him as he visited the manor. Instead, she had been tripped by her half-sister Jiang Rou, spraining her ankle and ruining her new ceremony gown. Jiang Rou had feigned concern, but in reality, she had solidified Jiang Wan’s reputation in front of everyone as a frivolous girl who would stop at nothing to see the Crown Prince.
What followed was Jiang Rou’s step-by-step scheme to sour her relationship with the Crown Prince, eventually leading to false accusations of an illicit affair with a palace guard. Her father had turned against her, and the Crown Prince had ordered her "confinement for reflection," which was, in truth, an exile to the cold courtyard.
The days in the cold courtyard... they were unbearable to look back upon.
Jiang Rou had sent servants to bring her spoiled leftovers daily, and in the winter, even charcoal for heat was withheld. She had tried to beg for an audience with her father, but was blocked at the door by her stepmother, Madame Li, who accused her of being "shameless and a disgrace to the Marquis Manor." Finally, upon learning that the Crown Prince was about to take Jiang Rou as his Princess, her heart shattered. On a snowy night, she ended her life at the age of seventeen with a strip of cloth.
Before she died, she had seen Jiang Rou wearing a magnificent wedding gown, nestled in the Crown Prince's arms, smiling at her through a crack in the cold courtyard door. The smile was triumphant and cruel: "Older sister, this position of Crown Princess was always meant to be mine. You, by nature, were born just to pave the way for me."
"Miss? Miss, what is wrong? Why is your face so pale?" Lü'e approached with concern, reaching out to touch her forehead.
Jiang Wan snapped back to reality, grabbing Lü'e’s hand. Her voice trembled slightly with intensity: "Lü'e, what is the date? Is my coming-of-age ceremony... tomorrow?"
Lü'e felt the pain of the grip but nodded quickly. "Yes, Miss, tomorrow is your ceremony. Since you sprained your ankle yesterday, the doctor said you must rest well so as not to ruin tomorrow's big event."
The day before the ceremony!
She had truly returned! She had returned to a time before all the tragedies had unfolded!
Jiang Wan’s heart pounded wildly. In her eyes, immense joy surged, only to be replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.
Jiang Rou, Madame Li, and that heartless Crown Prince... everything you owe me, in this life, I will take back, bit by bit!
"Miss, are you feeling unwell?" Seeing the shifting expressions in her eyes—at times rapturous, at times icy—Lü'e grew even more worried.
Jiang Wan took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Now was not the time to drown in hatred. She had just been reborn; her foundations were not yet stable, and she had to act with extreme caution.
"I am fine," she said, releasing Lü'e's hand. Her voice had regained its calm, though a coldness unbefitting her age lingered deep within her eyes. "I just had a nightmare."
An incredibly real, heart-wrenching nightmare.
"By the way, Lü'e," Jiang Wan asked as if casually remembering something, "You said the Madame and the Second Miss were here? What did they say?"
Lü'e pursed her lips and whispered, "The Madame just asked about your injury and told you to rest well. The Second Miss... she said that since you sprained your foot, you probably won't be able to manage at tomorrow's ceremony. She mentioned she has a new dress, similar in style to yours, and suggested she might lend it to you for tomorrow."
Jiang Wan sneered inwardly.
What a Jiang Rou!
On the surface, she was concerned, but in reality, she wanted to make Jiang Wan wear a "replacement" to her own coming-of-age ceremony, subtly mocking her for being less favored and needing to borrow clothes. Moreover, Jiang Rou’s "similar style" would likely only mean the colors and patterns matched, while the fabric and craftsmanship would be vastly inferior. Wearing it would only make her look even more wretched.
In her past life, she had been stupid enough to believe Jiang Rou was truly looking out for her, and she had even been moved for quite a while. Thinking of it now, it was ridiculous!
"I see," Jiang Wan said flatly. "I know how to handle my own clothes; there is no need for her to worry. By the way, have you kept my ceremony gown safe? Don't let anyone who has no business with it touch it."
Lü'e froze for a second, then realized the Miss was guarding against the Second Miss. She nodded hurriedly. "Don't worry, Miss, I have already locked it in the camphor wood chest, and I have the key right here!"
Jiang Wan nodded, satisfied.
Just then, a delicate, sweet voice sounded from outside the door: "Sister, I heard you woke up? I’ve come to see you."
Before the words had faded, the door curtain was lifted, and a young girl dressed in a pink ru-skirt with her hair styled in double buns walked in. The girl’s brows were arched, and two shallow dimples appeared as she smiled—it was her half-sister, Jiang Rou.
Behind her followed a beautifully dressed, well-maintained middle-aged woman: her stepmother, Madame Li.
The moment Madame Li entered, she put on a look of deep concern: "Wan'er, how are you feeling? Does it still hurt? It is all Rou'er's fault for not looking after you better in the garden yesterday, causing you to trip."
Jiang Rou also stepped forward, feigning guilt: "Yes, sister, it is all my fault. If I had held onto you yesterday, you wouldn't have fallen. Sister, can you still walk? What will we do about the ceremony tomorrow?"
As she spoke, her eyes drifted surreptitiously toward the foot of the bed, as if checking if her shoes were still there.
Jiang Wan sneered internally, but on the surface, she showed just the right amount of frailty and grievance: "Thank you, Mother and sister, for your concern. I am feeling much better, but my ankle still aches. I fear it will be difficult to walk tomorrow."
She paused, her gaze resting on Jiang Rou as she said as if unintentionally: "However, there is no need for what sister mentioned about borrowing a dress. That gown was a memento left to me by my mother (referring to Jiang Wan’s biological mother, who had passed away). No matter what, I must wear it to complete my coming-of-age ceremony. Even if I have to crawl, I will crawl to the ancestral hall."
At these words, the expressions of Madame Li and Jiang Rou shifted slightly.
Jiang Wan’s biological mother was the first wife of the Dingbei Marquis, from a distinguished family, and had been renowned for her grace. Unfortunately, she was ill-fated, passing away from illness shortly after giving birth to Jiang Wan. Anything she left behind was naturally of immense significance.
Jiang Rou had intended to use the "lending clothes" ruse to suppress Jiang Wan, never expecting Jiang Wan to bring up her own biological mother and speak with such gravity, leaving her at a loss for how to respond.
Madame Li’s eyes darted about, and she quickly tried to smooth things over: "Look at you, child, what are you saying? How could you crawl? Let’s do this: tomorrow, I will have the servants carry you to the ancestral hall. We cannot let your ceremony be delayed. As for the dress, since it is a memento from your mother, it is only right that you wear it. It’s just..."
She paused deliberately, looking at Jiang Rou. "Rou'er, since your sister says so, let it be. It is just that with your sister’s injury, I fear she won't be able to serve tea to the guests tomorrow. What are we to do?"
Jiang Rou immediately chimed in: "Mother, what is difficult about that? If sister is incapacitated, I can go in her stead. Sister is the legitimate daughter, and I am the daughter of a concubine; it is only right that I share the burden for her."
Jiang Wan scoffed inside.
A wonderful "share the burden"!
At the coming-of-age ceremony, the legitimate daughter serving tea to elders and guests was a vital ritual—a symbol of her status. Jiang Rou was openly trying to use this opportunity to steal her spotlight and even subtly hint to everyone that she, the legitimate daughter, was "useless" and required a concubine’s daughter to act in her place!
In her past life, she had lost everything that belonged to her to Jiang Rou, piece by piece, just like this.
In this life, that would never happen!
Jiang Wan looked up, her face showing a touch of surprise, which quickly turned into gratitude: "Sister, you are truly too kind! But how can that be? The coming-of-age ceremony is a momentous occasion for me; how could I let you take my place? If word gets out, others would think I, the legitimate daughter, cannot even manage such a small task and must rely on my younger half-sister."
Her voice was not loud, but it was clear enough for Madame Li and Jiang Rou to hear.
The words "legitimate daughter" and "concubine’s daughter" struck Jiang Rou like needles.
Jiang Rou’s expression turned ugly, and she forced a smile. "Sister, what are you saying? We are sisters; why distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate..."
"We cannot say it like that," Jiang Wan interrupted, her tone still gentle, yet her eyes carrying a sharp, imperceptible edge. "There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate; those are the rules. I appreciate your intentions, sister, but the rules cannot be broken. I believe Father and Grandmother would not agree to let you serve tea in my place, either."
Madame Li’s face darkened as well.
Jiang Wan’s words, on the surface, spoke of rules, but in reality, she was reminding them that she was the rightful legitimate daughter of the Dingbei Marquis Manor, and no matter how favored Jiang Rou was, she was merely a concubine’s daughter!
"Alright, alright," Madame Li said, seeing Jiang Rou losing ground. She quickly stepped in to mediate. "We are all one family, why say such things? Wan'er, rest well; I will make the arrangements for tomorrow. Rou'er, let us leave; don't disturb your sister’s rest."
Jiang Rou cast an unwilling glance at Jiang Wan, but had no choice but to follow Madame Li out.
Before leaving, she "accidentally" bumped into a table nearby, and a teacup on it clattered to the floor, shattering into pieces.
"Oh dear," Jiang Rou feigned panic, covering her mouth. "I didn't mean it, sister, please don't blame me..."
Jiang Wan lay on the bed, watching her clumsy performance coldly, her heart entirely unmoved.
Was this all she had?
Compared to the ruthless, vicious schemes of her past life, this was merely child’s play.
"It is of no consequence," Jiang Wan said coolly. "If it is broken, it is broken; it is only a teacup. Lü'e, go and clean it up."
Lü'e was furious, but she held her tongue and went to clean the shards.
Once Madame Li and Jiang Rou had left, the room finally returned to silence.
Jiang Wan leaned against the head of the bed, her gaze growing resolute.
This was only the beginning.
Jiang Rou, Madame Li, the Crown Prince... everything you owe me, I will take back, every last bit!
Her coming-of-age ceremony, her status as the legitimate daughter, her everything—no one would ever steal them again!
"Lü'e," Jiang Wan spoke suddenly, "go and take out my ceremony gown; I want to look at it again."
Lü'e nodded and carefully removed a bright red ru-skirt from the camphor wood chest.
The dress was made of the finest cloud brocade, embroidered with intricate lotus patterns in gold thread. Every stitch was exquisitely beautiful; it was indeed a memento left to her by her biological mother.
Jiang Wan reached out and gently stroked the patterns on the skirt hem. A glimmer of tenderness passed through her eyes, only to be replaced by coldness.
Mother, rest assured; your daughter will not let you down.
In this life, your daughter will not only survive but will live better than anyone else!
Jiang Rou, didn't you want to steal the spotlight at my ceremony?
Then I will let you see what the true bearing of a legitimate daughter looks like!
A cold arc slowly formed at the corner of Jiang Wan's mouth.
The storm in the Marquis Manor had only just begun. And this time, the one playing the game was Jiang Wan!