Chapter One: Returning to the Marquis Residence

The tenth year of the Ping Kingdom.

Three years since the new emperor ascended the throne, indulgent and tyrannical, the people could barely survive.

At the break of dawn,

Chu Xi had not slept all night. Today marked the third year since she had become a widow in the residence of the Duke of Zhen Guo.

“Miss, miss! Someone from the Marquis’s residence has arrived, saying they are here to take you back,” the young servant Wang Mu hurried into the front hall barefoot, shivering in the biting early winter cold.

Hearing this, Chu Xi’s gaze faltered momentarily, yet her face remained calm and unruffled.

For three years, she had eaten grass and gnawed on tree bark, drinking icy well water. Even when on the brink of freezing and starvation, the Marquis’s residence never secretly sent her a grain of rice or a piece of clothing. So why now did they suddenly want to bring her back?

At the thought of how three years ago they had mercilessly disregarded blood ties, forcibly dressed her in bridal clothes, and bound her to the flower sedan chair with ferocious faces, a sharp pang of pain sparked in Chu Xi’s heart.

That night, she suddenly transformed from the cherished eldest daughter of the Qian family into the Marquis’s precious daughter overnight.

The Marquis, to protect his second daughter and the adopted daughter he had raised for fifteen years, had no qualms about pushing his own biological daughter—whom he had never met due to a baby mix-up—into the fire by marrying her off to the dying Duke of Zhen Guo, Li Dan.

Li Dan had been reckless and unrestrained in his youth, offending the Seventh Prince. The Seventh Prince, narrow-minded and vengeful, made it his first act after ascending the throne to exact revenge upon him.

Li Dan, frail and timid, was left with only his childhood servant Wang Mu, who refused to abandon him in his hour of peril.

Upon learning of Li Dan’s grave illness, the emperor issued another decree, forcing the Marquis’s residence—who had once been betrothed to him—to marry him immediately to bring him luck and also to punish the Marquis for opposing his succession.

At that time, the Duke of Zhen Guo’s residence was a veritable pit of fire, and the Marquis was unwilling to push his own daughter into such a fate.

The Qian family, hearing this, impatiently brought Chu Xi over to exchange for their own biological daughter who had been taken by mistake.

Thus, she alone was condemned to leap into that fiery pit.

Yet on the wedding day, before the bridal ceremony could even be completed, Li Dan passed away. From then on, she had been a widow for three years and imprisoned by the emperor for the same length of time.

Thinking of this, Chu Xi took a deep breath and said coolly, “Go and see what’s going on.”

Her sole attendant, the maid Cai Ping, hurried after her, anxious. “Miss, are they really here to take us back to the Marquis’s residence?”

Outside the gate stood the Marquis’s carriage. Beside it stood a tall figure who turned upon hearing footsteps.

Instantly, that familiar face sprang into view. It was he—Mo Zixiao, her childhood betrothed.

Three years had passed, and he had grown more robust; his brows now bore a noble air, his bearing upright and gallant, exuding unmistakable masculinity.

Chu Xi’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if hammered painfully. She lowered her eyes.

Mo Zixiao frowned, disbelief etched across his face as he looked at her and the two servants, disdainfully remarking, “How did you come to look so filthy?”

For three years, barely managing to eat enough to survive, they now looked no different from roadside beggars in their tattered rags.

Chu Xi let out a bitter laugh.

Instead of being offended, she mocked Mo Zixiao, her laugh sharp with derision.

Mo Zixiao faltered, “What are you laughing at? Laughing at me?”

At that moment, Cai Ping could no longer restrain herself. “Impudent Mo Zixiao, are you here to fetch our lady back to the residence, or to make a spectacle and teach her a lesson?”

She had harbored this frustration for three years and was eager to vent.

Though ragged, Cai Ping’s commanding presence made Mo Zixiao immediately rein in his arrogance.

“Get on the carriage quickly. The Marquis and his wife are waiting,” he said.

Chu Xi turned to glance once more at the Duke of Zhen Guo’s residence that had imprisoned her for three long years, a flood of sorrow and bitter reflection welling in her heart.

Now, for no other reason than to find a way out for Cai Ping and Wang Mu, she resolved to step forward.

With that, Chu Xi climbed into the carriage.

Wang Mu, originally a servant of the Duke’s household, did not recognize Mo Zixiao.

Once inside, he quietly asked Cai Ping, “Who is that man?”

Cai Ping glanced at Chu Xi’s expressionless face, then nudged Wang Mu with her elbow, signaling him not to ask further.

Chu Xi suddenly spoke, “His name is Mo Zixiao. When I was still the Qian family’s eldest daughter, he was betrothed to me. Later, I was forced to marry the Duke of Zhen Guo. Mo Zixiao then used that betrothal to demand the Marquis’s adopted daughter, Qian Mengyun, whom they cherished like a pearl, in exchange. When the Marquis’s residence refused, he was given his current position as compensation.”

Wang Mu’s eyes widened in realization. “So he’s just a sycophantic opportunist after wealth and status. I was wondering what was going on. If he dares to insult Miss again, I’ll teach him a lesson.”

Chu Xi lowered her eyes, silent now, but the sharp pain in her heart belied her calm tone.

Mo Zixiao personally drove the carriage to the Marquis’s gate.

“We’ve arrived,” he said in a low voice, laced with a complex, unspoken emotion.

Chu Xi took a deep breath and was helped down by Cai Ping.

The three were led into the front hall where Marquis Chu and his wife, Lady Liu, awaited.

Upon seeing them enter, both were stunned.

“Oh my, how did you come to look like this?” Lady Liu cried out in disbelief, but without a trace of pity.

Marquis Chu frowned and sighed. “Not even a decent piece of clothing?”

His tone was reproachful, yet utterly devoid of guilt.

Chu Xi stood stiffly. The last shred of hope she had harbored for the Marquis’s household was utterly shattered.

Her heart turned ice cold as she concluded that there must be some hidden agenda behind their sudden decision to bring her back.

At this moment, Mo Zixiao cupped his hands respectfully. “Marquis, Madam, the young lady has been safely returned. I have military matters to attend to; I bid you farewell.”

“Military matters?”

Who?

Mo Zixiao?

How could a mere servant of the Marquis’s household arrogantly claim to be handling military affairs?

Cai Ping looked at Mo Zixiao in astonishment.

Hadn’t he once been so eager to marry the false heiress cherished by the Marquis’s family for wealth and status?

Could it be that in the three years gone by, Mo Zixiao had truly risen to become a general?

Chu Xi was equally surprised but kept her expression unreadable.