"Young Miss, it is all Chunxing’s fault for not looking after you properly. I should never have left the carriage to buy you that hangover soup; otherwise, I would never have given those scoundrels the chance to ruin your virtue!" Chunxing knelt on the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, her expression one of utter self-reproach.
The starry brilliance in Mu Jinyuan’s almond-shaped eyes finally flickered, breaking through her stupor.
This scene—it was so familiar!
Mu Jinyuan stared in disbelief at her reflection in the bronze mirror. There was a clear, red handprint on her delicate, fair cheek.
It was from her father.
She had returned to the day after being abducted by Zhou Zi'an!
"Young Miss, it is all Chunxing’s doing. If I could, I would gladly suffer in your place rather than watch you harm your own body like this." Chunxing’s eyes were filled with tears, and she looked as if she were about to faint from grief.
To anyone watching, she appeared to be a devoted, loyal maid with a deep affection for her mistress. In her previous life, Mu Jinyuan had believed exactly that.
She lifted her eyes and scrutinized Chunxing. "What kind of wine did you give me at the Spring Banquet yesterday?"
The sound of Chunxing’s sobbing was cut short, caught in her throat by the icy chill radiating from Mu Jinyuan’s gaze. A flicker of panic crossed the maid's eyes, but she quickly wiped away her tears to hide it. "It was... apricot blossom wine."
*Mu Jinyuan was just acting as if she wanted to die, so how did she suddenly become so calm? Could she have discovered something? No, that’s impossible!*
Mu Jinyuan had been pampered and precious since childhood, raised only to study etiquette and rules, waiting for the day she would marry the Heir of Marquis Yongning's Estate. How could someone so sheltered and naive ever suspect that someone had drugged her wine?
Little did she know, every shift in Chunxing’s expression had not escaped Mu Jinyuan’s notice.
Apricot blossom wine was a specialty served at banquets for noble young ladies in the capital. It wasn't strong; it was sweet and fragrant. On festive or happy occasions, she could drink a whole carafe without getting drunk. Yet, she remembered drinking only one cup yesterday before her limbs turned weak and her head became heavy—that was exactly what had given Zhou Zi'an his opportunity.
In the main hall, Zhou Zi'an was clamoring to see Mu Jinyuan. He stood before Mu Bingwen, shouting with shameless audacity, "Father-in-law, I have come to pay my respects today to ask when you intend to let me bring your daughter into my home. The sooner, the better, after all—your daughter is already carrying my seed!"
"Shut your mouth!" Mu Bingwen’s face turned black as coal.
This base, lowly daughter had brought him nothing but shame. If this matter spread, how could he ever hold his head high in the imperial court?
"Uncle, since things have reached this point, and my sister’s virtue has already been ruined by him, it would be better to let her marry Zhou Zi'an. If this scandal grows any larger, it will do the Mu family no good."
The speaker was Mu Jinxia.
These words reached Mu Jinyuan just as she stepped into the main hall. An inexplicable chill made Mu Jinxia shudder. When she looked up, she met Mu Jinyuan’s eyes; that gaze seemed filled with thousands of cold arrows, making her heart skip a beat.
"Nothing happened between Zhou Zi'an and me. He was the one who harbored malicious intentions toward me. Sister Jinxia, do be careful with your words, or I might start to think that you and Zhou Zi'an were working together to frame me." Mu Jinyuan gave a light hum, casting a fierce, icy glare at Zhou Zi'an, who was leering at her.
Zhou Zi'an had insulted her honor, but Mu Jinxia was no better.
In her previous life, after Zhou Zi'an had made his false accusations, her father—eager to sweep the matter under the rug—had given Zhou Zi'an a sum of money and sent them both away from the capital. It hadn't taken long for Zhou Zi'an to lose all the money gambling. After he had finished tiring of her, he used her beauty to lock her in their home and force her to entertain other men.
Unable to bear the humiliation, she had bitten her tongue and ended her life. As she lay dying, the last thing she saw was Mu Jinxia’s radiant, blooming smile. It was only from Mu Jinxia’s gloating that she learned she had replaced her as the wife of the Heir of Marquis Yongning's Estate, that her mother had died shortly after she left the capital, and that her grandfather, the Duke Defending the Country, and his entire household had all been wiped out.
No wonder her letters pleading for help to her mother had never received a response. She had thought her family despised her for being "unclean," but in reality, they were all dead.
Mu Jinxia’s mocking laughter seemed to echo in her ears still. Although she didn't know exactly what had happened to her mother and the others, she was certain that Mu Jinxia was inextricably linked to it.
Mu Jinxia and her mother and siblings had been living under the Mu family's roof as guests, yet she had stolen her entire life?
Reborn into this world, she was determined to uncover everything.
"Sister Yuan, I am only thinking of your reputation. Since you have already had an intimate encounter with him, the Marquis Yongning's Estate will certainly never accept you again. It would be better to marry Scholar Zhou early." Mu Jinxia wore a look of concern, yet her eyes glanced pointedly toward Zhou Zi'an.
*This idiot,* she thought. *Even after Mu Jinyuan was drugged, he still hasn't finished the job. If he had succeeded last night, there would be no need for this commotion.* She had to destroy Mu Jinyuan's virtue so that she herself would have the chance to marry the Heir of Marquis Yongning's Estate. She—not Mu Jinyuan—was the most noble legitimate daughter of the Mu Mansion!
Zhou Zi'an was lost in Mu Jinyuan’s beauty—those autumn-water eyes were soul-stirring, and her lips, pink and tender like peach blossoms blooming in spring, made him yearn to taste them. If he could just have one bite, he would die happy.
*This beauty will be mine.*
Spurred by Mu Jinxia’s look, Zhou Zi'an snapped back to reality and reached out to grab Mu Jinyuan. "My sweet treasure, I lost control for a moment yesterday and hurt you. I promise I will take good care of you from now on!"
Before his hand could even touch her, Mu Jinyuan’s palm had already struck him. She put all her strength into the blow, stunning him. Before he could react, she grabbed a pear-wood chair nearby and smashed it heavily against his body.
The people in the room, who had always known Mu Jinyuan to be gentle and soft-spoken, were too shocked by this outburst of violence to move.
"You... you're trying to murder your husband..." Zhou Zi'an suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Uncle! If Sister Yuan beats Zhou Zi'an to death, who will be responsible for her reputation? How will she live the rest of her life?" Seeing that the situation was turning, Mu Jinxia quickly shot a look at Mu Bingwen.
*Since when did Mu Jinyuan become so ferocious?*
Mu Bingwen snapped out of his shock, his face darkening instantly. "Mu Jinyuan!" His voice was booming with rage. "Have you caused enough trouble? First, you lose your chastity, and now you’re beating people? Are you trying to hurry me to my grave?"
"Since you have already consummated your relationship with Zhou Zi'an, you must marry him. You will be wed this very day!"
Mu Jinyuan chuckled coldly. "Father, I have said that I did not lose my virtue. Why are you so quick to believe an outsider’s words and insist on pinning me to this pillar of shame?"
"When you ran back here, your hair was disheveled and your clothes were in disarray! Everyone on the street saw it, and the rumors are already spreading everywhere. Don't you dare keep playing the stubborn fool!"
"Yuan'er, this was the token you gave me when we first pledged our love to each other." Zhou Zi'an reached into his robes and pulled out a rose-colored piece of women's undergarment. "And there is a red mole on the small of your back..."
In an instant, everyone turned their eyes toward Mu Jinyuan.