The Return of Vengeance

At our mother's funeral, Father brought home a daughter born to his mistress. The hall was draped in white mourning, but she wore a gown of garish colors. My elder sister's gaze was so sharp and fierce that the girl cowered behind Father, tears welling in her eyes, playing the part of a pitiful creature. Father took her hand with tender affection and said, "Don't be afraid. This is your elder sister. From now on, this is your home. In a few days, I'll bring your mother here as well."

I watched from the side, a cold smile forming in my heart. How dare these two be so brazen? My elder sister is someone who has lived through a rebirth!

1.

My name is Rosalind, the second daughter of the Ashford family, born to a concubine. My father, Lord Ashford, was once a scion of a fallen noble house. At a Lantern Festival poetry gathering, he caught the eye of Duchess Celeste, who took him as her husband and had him granted the title of Earl. For the next twenty years, he lived a life of luxury and ease. My mother, Mistress Lin, had been the Duchess's personal maid. Their bond was so deep that the Duchess, unwilling to part with her, elevated her to the status of a concubine. The Duchess was a strong and capable woman, and my mother had no ambition to vie for favor. The household was always orderly, with clear hierarchies and harmony. The Duchess believed she had my father firmly under her thumb, and until her sudden illness took her, she never knew that my father had a childhood sweetheart named Ivy, whom he had kept outside the household for over a decade. The daughter Ivy bore him was only a month younger than my elder sister. The Duchess had barely breathed her last, the mourning period not yet over, when my father rushed to bring his illegitimate daughter, Delphine, into the house.

In the previous life, Delphine wept with such heart-wrenching charm that my elder sister, Seraphina, soft-hearted and naive, allowed her and her mother into the household. Who could have known that Delphine and her mother, though appearing frail and helpless, were venomous and ruthless at heart? They schemed to ruin Seraphina, forcing her into a disgraceful affair that destroyed her engagement to the Crown Prince. She was left with no choice but to marry Delphine's betrothed, Prince Nathaniel. Delphine, in turn, took her place and became the Crown Princess. Later, when Prince Nathaniel rebelled and seized the throne, he declared his intention to make Delphine his empress. Seraphina, eight months pregnant, was cut open by Nathaniel's order to provide a "medicinal ingredient" for Delphine, dying in agony. Her maternal family, over a thousand souls, were all slaughtered by Nathaniel's hand.

Now, in this life, she has returned with vengeance in her heart. She will slay gods and Buddhas alike, swearing to make that pair pay for their sins.

Oh, you ask how I know all this? Because I've transmigrated here. This is a novel I've read—a tale of rebirth, revenge, and triumph. In the original storyline, I was a mere cannon fodder, dead at the hands of that mother-daughter duo before long. In this life, I'm just a spectator, munching on popcorn and enjoying the show.

2.

Hearing the shameless words of that father-daughter pair, my elder sister rose to her feet in her mourning robes, a small white flower pinned in her hair. She flicked her sleeves, her presence commanding and fierce. A crowd of maids and servants followed her with intimidating energy, and I quickly fell in step behind her. She fixed her cold gaze on Delphine, her eyes brimming with haughty disdain. "Where did this wild girl come from, so ignorant of propriety? My mother, Duchess Celeste, has only just passed, and the mourning period is not yet over. How dare you appear in her shrine dressed like this? Are you mocking the dignity of the imperial family?"

Delphine's eyes reddened with fear, crystalline tears rolling down her cheeks like pearls. She clutched desperately at our worthless father's arm, the picture of pitiable charm. "Sister, I didn't mean to… I only thought, since it's my first time at the house, I should dress properly, so as not to be rude…"

Before she could finish, my sister stepped forward and delivered a sharp slap across her face. "Silence! Who is your sister? What bastard child are you, to dare call me sister?"

Delphine staggered from the blow, nearly falling if not for our father's support. Father was livid. "You! How dare you! She's your sister! How could you strike her?"

I watched with secret delight. When I'd read the book, I'd despised this vicious supporting character, Delphine. Seeing her slapped brought me more joy than if I'd been hit myself. I stepped forward to support my sister's hand. "Sister, please calm down. Don't let this harm your health."

Father's fingers trembled with rage. "Rosalind, you too—"

I quickly retreated behind my sister. My persona was that of a timid, cowardly, and weak-willed concubine's daughter. I couldn't break character, but that didn't mean I couldn't stir the pot. Seeing this, my sister's heart went out to me. She patted my hand reassuringly. "Don't be afraid, Rosalind. Your sister is here." Then she turned to Father. "Father, have you forgotten? You are the Duchess's husband. Taking a concubine requires Mother's consent and must go through the proper channels at the Ministry of Rites. This girl is nothing but a mistress's child, without name or status. What right does she have to enter this house?"

3.

Father was left speechless by my sister's rebuttal, stammering, "You… you insolent girl! I'm your father! With your mother gone, this household is not yours to command!"

My sister's fury flared. "You're the insolent one! With Mother dead, I, as the eldest legitimate daughter, am in charge of all household affairs. My mother was Duchess Celeste, the Emperor's own cousin. Would you dare disturb her rest? Believe me, I'll draft a petition to His Majesty, charging you with moral depravity and disrespect to the imperial family!"

Without further ado, she called out, "Guards! Throw this woman of unknown origin out of the house! If the Earl doesn't wish to stay, throw him out too!"

Father had been living off his wife's wealth for over a decade, thoroughly sheltered. He fancied himself a man of noble integrity, believing that the Duchess had used her status to oppress him. All these years, though he'd lived in luxury and spent money like water, he claimed he'd been unhappy. Now that the Duchess was dead, his own daughter dared to forbid him from bringing his true love and illegitimate child into the house. What utter filial impiety! So this man of over four hundred months—still under forty—sat down on the doorstep and wept. "Seraphina, you unfilial wretch! You defy all moral order, treating your own father like this! Ivy and I were childhood sweethearts. If your mother hadn't forced me to marry her, Ivy and her daughter would be my lawful wife and legitimate daughter! All these years, my heart has ached for them. I waited until your mother passed, hoping to bring them home and make amends, and now you refuse! I'm your father! You're my daughter! What right do you have to forbid me? Do you know how much those two have suffered all these years?"

4.

How much Ivy and Delphine had suffered, I didn't know. But my worthless father had certainly suffered—sitting on his own doorstep, weeping without shame, drawing a crowd of onlookers who pointed and whispered. If this wasn't "true love," I'd eat my words.

"Isn't that Lord Ashford? Why's he been thrown out of his own house?"

"Serves him right! Who brings home a mistress's bastard while the lawful wife's body is still warm?"

"The eldest daughter got so angry, she tossed both the Earl and that bastard girl out."

"Hah! That temper's something else. No one's going to want to marry her."

"Don't you worry about that. The eldest daughter is about to be betrothed to the Crown Prince. She's the future Crown Princess!"

This spectator had all the gossip down pat. Delphine, that little green-tea bitch, sat beside Father with her face swollen, her eyes brimming with jealousy and hatred. When she caught me staring, she immediately reverted to her innocent, fragile flower act, lowering her head pitifully.

I leaned close to my sister's ear and whispered, "Sister, if Father keeps talking like this, word will reach the palace. Won't the Empress and the Crown Prince misunderstand?"

Crown Prince Alexander was the male lead of this novel. In the previous life, he had deeply loved my sister Seraphina. But when she was framed and forced into a scandal with Prince Nathaniel, he could only watch helplessly as the woman he loved married his younger brother, forced to take Delphine as his wife instead. In the year of their marriage, he never touched Delphine. She, meanwhile, was secretly carrying on with Nathaniel behind his back. In the end, she and Nathaniel joined forces, using Seraphina and her unborn child as leverage to kill Alexander. When I'd read the book, I'd shipped this tragic pair with all my heart. Though I knew they'd be together in this life, I remembered that the Empress didn't exactly favor my sister. As a devoted fan of this couple, I felt it was my duty to warn her.

My sister glanced at me and chuckled. "You've become much sharper since that fall into the pond."

My gleeful expression froze. I forced a sheepish smile. "I'm just worried about you, sister. If you don't like it, I won't say anything more…"

To my surprise, she just smiled and patted my head. "Being sharper is a good thing."

Ah! Sister is so warm! I want to cling to her! But… did she figure out I'm not the original Rosalind?

5.

Father and that little green-tea bitch loved making spectacles of themselves, but my sister wasn't about to indulge them. She slammed the mansion gates shut in their faces. After fruitless crying and pounding, Father had no choice but to awkwardly stand, wipe his tears, and take Delphine back to the house he'd bought for Ivy in Weeping Water Lane.

Ivy had once come from an official family, but her father had been stripped of his post for embezzlement, and she'd fallen into a life of singing for her supper. Still, luck was on her side—she hadn't been at it long before she reconnected with Father, who bought her freedom and set her up in a modest two-courtyard house. Father was the youngest son of a concubine in the Warrington family. Though fallen from grace, they were still nobility, and they'd never accept a woman of such background as his wife. Especially since Father insisted on marrying her as his lawful spouse. When his father found out, he gave him a thorough beating and kicked him out.

Father and Ivy had a merry time together for a while, but soon squandered all their money. That's when Duchess Celeste, the poor fool, appeared. She fell for Father, took him as her husband, gave him fine clothes, food, an official post, and a title. She pampered him hand and foot. And Father? On the surface, he was respectful and obedient. Behind her back, he sneaked around with Ivy, bleeding her dry. Forced into marriage? Ha! He'd been more than willing. Now he was biting the hand that fed him. What a piece of work.

The original owner of this body, in the previous life, had been pushed into a pond and drowned for witnessing Delphine's secret meeting with Prince Nathaniel. And Mistress Lin, suspecting the truth and seeking justice for her daughter, was framed by Ivy for adultery with the steward and beaten to death by Father. These were just background details, but now that I was Rosalind, I felt them as if they were my own. I couldn't wait to see how that little green-tea bitch Delphine would be ground to dust in this life.

6.

Duchess Celeste's death had left Mistress Lin so grief-stricken that she fell ill. So she missed the scene of Father bringing that little green-tea bitch to cause trouble. When she heard that my sister had thrown that shameless pair out, she exclaimed, "Well done! The Duchess hasn't even passed her seventh-day memorial, and the master dares to bring that bastard to her shrine to make a scene! To think he kept this from the Duchess all these years, fooling everyone in the household!"

Who could argue? With Father's character—honestly, aside from a passable face and a knack for showing off his literary skills—he was worthless in every way. Duchess Celeste was a strong woman. If she hadn't died, that mistress, that bastard, and Father would have gotten what they deserved. But she left too soon, and in the previous life, my sister was too sheltered, letting that mother-daughter pair steal everything.

Mistress Lin patted my hand and said earnestly, "Rosalind, the Duchess was like a mountain of kindness to me. Her sudden passing must be hard on your sister. You're her only sister. At a time like this, you must stand by her side and be of one heart with her. Do you understand?"

I felt the depth of Mistress Lin's bond with the Duchess and nodded. Though Mistress Lin had been the Duchess's maid and later elevated to concubine, their relationship had always been one of deep loyalty. The Duchess never used Mistress Lin's origins to demean her. She returned her indenture papers and cleared her of her lowly status. So Mistress Lin was a "good concubine," eligible to be raised to lawful wife—fundamentally different from ordinary maids or base concubines. Because Mistress Lin was loyal to the Duchess, Father disliked her too. After I was born, he rarely visited her quarters. Fortunately, Mistress Lin had no feelings for Father either. She simply closed her doors and focused on raising me.

7.

My sister took my advice to heart. Without delay, the next day she took her petition to the palace gates and appealed directly to the Emperor. Duchess Celeste had come from the House of Tranquil Kinship, the Emperor's own cousin. Though the old prince had passed, her brothers were still alive. She'd grown up as the family's darling. Several of her uncles held high office. When they learned of the disgrace at their sister's funeral, they all came forward to impeach Father. As a result, Father was not only reprimanded but stripped of his official post. He'd held a sinecure as a cavalry commander, but now even that pittance of a salary was gone.

With my sister in charge, Father didn't get a single coin. He, his true love, and his precious daughter lived outside for a month without anyone to support them, and they couldn't take it anymore. In the past, Father had run up tabs everywhere, sending the bills to the household accounts to be paid. But my sister cut off his spending. The shopkeepers, not getting paid, stopped extending him credit. Logically, Ivy had been with him for over a decade. She must have amassed quite a bit of land, property, and cash. But why would she spend her own money? Within a month, she was crying poverty, saying they had nothing left to live on, and blaming my sister for targeting her. She led Delphine and Father to the Earl's mansion, threatening to dash their heads against the gate.

"Miss Seraphina hates me, that's fine. But Delphine is your father's own flesh and blood! How can you not even tolerate your own sister? I may be a lowly singer by birth, but I came from an official family. Falling into that life wasn't my choice. I was with the Earl first! It was the Duchess who stole him away!"

She certainly had some acting chops, that former singer. Despite being past her prime, she wept with such pearly tears and pitiable charm that Father's heart nearly broke. "Ivy! Don't say that! It's all this unfilial daughter's fault, daring to defy even her own father! Seraphina! I'm asking you—did you order the accounts not to pay our bills? This is the Earl's mansion! I'm your father! I'm the head of this household!"

My sister laughed. "Father, you're doing me a great injustice. It's not that I'm being stingy and refusing to let the accounts pay. It's that there's no money in your account! Think back. When Mother married you, you had nothing. If His Majesty hadn't granted you the title and built this mansion, you would have married into the House of Tranquil Kinship. Everything in this household has been supported by Mother's dowry. Your meager salary and stipend have long gone to your mistress and your precious daughter. And even that wasn't enough. Mother had to subsidize you with tens of thousands of silver taels every year. Every single item is recorded in the accounts. I am Mother's only daughter. According to the law, when a woman dies, her dowry passes to her children. You, as a father, have no right to make your daughter spend her own inheritance to support you, your mistress, and your bastard child."

8.

My sister said all this at the front gate. The street was bustling with people, and everyone heard. They all pointed and whispered about Father.

"Lord Ashford has some nerve. Eating soft rice and acting tough—never seen that before. That mistress and her daughter are the shameless ones. Too bad the Duchess died without knowing the truth. Hey, not bad-looking, those two. If they set up shop at the Pavilion of Flying Fairies, I'd definitely be a patron."

All the gossip reached the trio's ears. Father and Ivy's faces turned green and white with rage. But they were older and thicker-skinned. Besides glaring at us furiously, there was little they could do. Delphine, however, couldn't bear the humiliation. With tears in her eyes, she shot my sister a venomous look and then charged headfirst at the mansion gate. Whether she was driven by fury or truly couldn't stand the shame and wanted to die, the force and speed of her charge would have been hard to stop even for a god.

I buried my face in my sister's arms, trembling uncontrollably. Not from fear—from excitement. Was that little green-tea bitch about to kick the bucket? How delightful!

What I didn't expect was that, at that critical moment, a figure appeared out of nowhere, flying over to block Delphine's path. He caught her in his arms and they tumbled to the ground together. "Miss, are you all right?" he asked with concern.

Delphine, sobbing and bleary-eyed, looked up and froze at the sight of the man. "It's you?" Then she started thrashing. "Why did you save me? Let me die! Let me die!"

I got a good look at the man's face and sucked in a sharp breath. A very elegant curse escaped my lips. "Shit!"

This was none other than Prince Nathaniel, my sister's scumbag husband from the previous life! They already knew each other before Delphine even entered the household?

9.

I recognized Prince Nathaniel. In the information I'd received, the original Rosalind had been drowned by his own hand after witnessing him meeting Delphine in secret. My sister knew him even better. In the previous life, this was the man who had cut open her belly and ripped out her unborn child to use as medicine for Delphine. My sister had been tortured into her rebirth. Now, seeing this utter bastard, her grip on my hand tightened, and the hatred in her eyes flared instantly.

"Prince Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel held Delphine in his arms, his face full of concern and pity. But when he looked at my sister, his gaze was colder than ice. "You know who I am, yet you don't bow? The eldest daughter of the Earl's mansion certainly puts on airs. In broad daylight, you dare to commit murder. Do you have no respect for the law?"

What was this scumbag barking about? My sister, caught off guard by his appearance, seemed a bit unsteady. I held her hand and, pressing myself against her, looked up with feigned innocence. "Sister, why is Prince Nathaniel holding Delphine? Men and women shouldn't touch each other. Aren't they ashamed?"

My words successfully shifted the topic. Everyone turned to stare at the pair with gossipy interest. Delphine seemed to realize only then that she was fully wrapped in Nathaniel's arms, his large hand pressed against her slender waist, their bodies flush together. She gave a startled cry, blushed furiously, and pushed him away.

My sister quickly grasped the implication of my words. Her gaze turned icy as she fixed it on Nathaniel and Delphine. "What is the relationship between Prince Nathaniel and Delphine? Embracing her in broad daylight—what kind of behavior is that?"

Nathaniel hadn't expected my sister to confront him directly. His face darkened. "I've only met this young lady once. I acted on impulse when I saw her about to take her own life. Don't twist things!"

I glanced at him, pouted, and muttered under my breath, "Prince Nathaniel is so unreasonable. He scolds my sister, but won't let her scold him?"

Double-standard dog! Get lost!

10.

My sister patted my hand and handed me off to her chief maid, Holly. Then she curtsied to Nathaniel with neither humility nor arrogance and demanded directly, "Which eye of Your Highness saw me trying to kill someone? This woman, for no reason, tried to dash herself against the gate of our Earl's mansion. I haven't even complained about her defiling our doorstep. What does she have to be upset about?"

By now, Nathaniel's guards had made some inquiries. One of them leaned in and whispered, "Your Highness, this young lady is the Earl's daughter by his mistress. The Duchess's seventh-day memorial hasn't even passed, and the Earl was in a hurry to bring her into the household. Naturally, the eldest daughter refused. Moreover, His Majesty intends to betroth Miss Seraphina to the Crown Prince. It would be best not to offend her."

The first part did make Nathaniel pause. Such behavior would be intolerable in any noble household. But the last sentence sent him into a rage. He snorted coldly. "Future Crown Princess, so what? The law applies to everyone, noble or commoner. As a daughter, you are tyrannical, venomous, unfilial, and unkind. You drove your own father out of the house and left his flesh and blood to wander outside! With such conduct, how can you be Crown Princess? How can you be the mother of the nation?"

This was clearly a targeted attack, regardless of right or wrong! My sister's fury erupted. "Which article of the law says a daughter must allow her father's mistress and her bastard into the household? Especially when my mother's seventh-day memorial hasn't passed. Even if Father wanted to take a concubine, he should wait a while, shouldn't he? As a daughter, I wouldn't dare to indulge my father in taking a woman of low birth as a concubine. If word gets out, what noble lady would agree to marry you as a second wife?"

My sister's words stunned Father and Ivy. "Who said I was going to take Ivy as a concubine?" Father stammered.

My sister shot back, "You don't mean to make her your lawful wife, do you? Then I'd better dash my head against this gate and die first! Our Earl's mansion is a noble house. If Father marries a woman of low birth as his lawful wife, what face would my sister and I have left to live in this world?"

I quickly joined in, wiping my tears and wailing, "It's too shameful! If people find out, what will they say about our Earl's mansion? Sister, I don't want to live anymore! Let's die together to preserve our honor! Prince Nathaniel, you're helping this mother-daughter pair drive us sisters to death. How will you explain this to His Majesty?"

11.

As the saying goes, the fierce fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who don't care about dying. Delphine was one person charging at the gate; we were two. My sister was the legitimate daughter of the Earl's mansion and the Emperor's own cousin. Nathaniel was nothing but a prince born to a concubine. If he had any sense, he wouldn't dare stir up such a hornet's nest. But to my surprise, Nathaniel had no sense at all. Hearing our words, he even taunted, "Threatening me with death? Fine! Go ahead and try! I don't believe you'd actually do it—"

Before he could finish, a large troop of soldiers rushed over and surrounded the Earl's mansion. Crown Prince Alexander, clad in silver armor with a blood-red cloak billowing behind him, leaped from his horse and dashed to my sister's side, gripping her hands tightly. "Seraphina, are you all right?"

Oh! The male lead had finally arrived! The couple I shipped was real!

Holly, my sister's chief maid—who in the previous life had been shot full of arrows by Nathaniel while protecting my sister—rushed forward and denounced Nathaniel's crimes. "Your Highness, you've come just in time! Prince Nathaniel has no heart! Our Duchess has only just passed, and he's already helping this mistress and her daughter drive our young ladies to death!"

I joined in, tears streaming, "Your Highness! Prince Nathaniel said my sister is tyrannical and venomous! He said she's not worthy to be your Crown Princess! My sister is known for her gentleness and virtue. They've pushed her to this!"

Alexander was furious. He glared at Nathaniel and said, "Since when does my sixth brother have the authority to decide who my Crown Princess will be?"

Alexander was the Empress's legitimate son, the future heir. He was not only the Crown Prince but also a war hero with military power. Nathaniel was just a prince. The difference in status was clear. In the previous life, if Nathaniel and Delphine hadn't threatened my sister's life, Alexander would never have lost!

This little sixth brother of his—get lost!

12.

Sure enough, at Alexander's words, Nathaniel immediately backed down. "Your Highness, please calm down. I wouldn't dare!"

I seized the opportunity to twist the knife, sobbing and sniffling, "Prince Nathaniel says he wouldn't dare, but I think he dares plenty! For the sake of a low-born woman's daughter, he tried to drive us sisters to death! Your Highness, you must get justice for us!"

Alexander had grown up with my sister, and since she doted on me, he always treated me like a little sister. Seeing me weep so pitifully, his anger flared. "Sixth brother, you dare to threaten a relative of the imperial family just because you're a prince? Duchess Celeste was Father's cousin. By rights, Seraphina and Rosalind should call you 'cousin'!"

Nathaniel, thoroughly berated, was defiant. "But… Miss Delphine is also the Earl's daughter. She's my cousin too…"

Alexander was so angry he could barely speak. "A mistress's daughter, without name or status, dares to compare herself to Seraphina and Rosalind? I think this woman has addled your brain! You've forgotten all about rank and propriety!"

When Nathaniel tried to speak again, Alexander cut him off. "What are you waiting for? Go back to your mansion and reflect on your mistakes! I'll report this to Father!"

Nathaniel, seething, shot me a venomous glare, then looked at Delphine with reluctance before leaving. Seeing her protector gone, Delphine fainted from agitation. Ivy and Father wailed over her as if she were dead. I quickly pulled everyone inside and said to my sister, "Sister, close the gate quickly! She fainted on her own. No one touched her. Don't let them try to pin it on us!"

Father, who had never paid much attention to me, his second daughter, shouted my full name for the first time in his life. "Rosalind!"

Without a word, I slammed the gate shut.

13.

With Alexander's imperial guards stationed outside, Father and his crew could wail until they died and still not get in. The crowd of onlookers grew, and even they felt embarrassed. They had no choice but to carry Delphine and slink away in disgrace.

Alexander offered incense at Duchess Celeste's shrine and stood talking with my sister under the eaves. Holly and I held hands behind them, shipping the couple with all our hearts.

Holly: "The Crown Prince is so wise and heroic. He and the young lady are a match made in heaven."

Me: "Absolutely, absolutely."

Holly: "The young lady has suffered so much. Thank goodness the Crown Prince is here. Otherwise, that mistress and her bastard might have gotten in!"

Me: "You can say that again."

Holly turned to look at me strangely, a hint of disdain in her eyes. "Second Miss, can't you say something on your own?"

Me: "When are they getting married? Actually, forget the wedding. Let's just go straight to the bridal chamber! I want to see babies! Babies!"

Holly quickly clamped her hand over my mouth. "Second Miss, please say less. The Duchess is still in mourning."

Her words reminded me. In the previous life, it was because my sister observed the three-year mourning period for Duchess Celeste that the mother-daughter pair had their chance. This time, I had to push for their marriage as soon as possible, to avoid any trouble.

With that thought, I hurried over to my sister and Alexander. My sister looked at me in surprise. "Rosalind, why are you running so fast? Is something wrong?"

I knelt before Alexander. "Your Highness, please marry my sister soon!"

My sister was taken aback. "What nonsense are you talking? Mother is still in mourning…"

I explained, "I know. According to custom, you should observe three years of mourning for our mother. But isn't there also a rule that marriages can take place within the first hundred days of mourning? Your Highness is already twenty. Can you bear to make him wait three years? I'm still young. I can observe the full three years for Mother. I'll only be seventeen by then. Sister, you get married. Let me observe the mourning for you!"

My words made my sister blush and her eyes redden. Alexander nodded approvingly. "Seraphina, I think your sister has a point. I'll return to the palace and speak to Father about our marriage. Wait for me!"

My sister hesitated. "But…"

I quickly leaned in and whispered, "Sister, have you forgotten? All the household's assets are Mother's dowry. If you marry, you'll take it all with you. Then, even if Father forces that mother-daughter pair into the house, they won't get a thing! Marry quickly!"

My sister looked at me with astonishment but said nothing.

14.

Alexander stayed a while longer before taking his leave, leaving ten guards behind for my sister. Those guards stood like door gods outside the Earl's mansion. Not even a fly dared to fly in. I was about to go tell Mistress Lin the good news when my sister called me to her room.

Nervously, I entered to find her sitting expressionless, her eyes fixed on me. An inexplicable panic seized me, and I dropped to my knees. "Sister, did you call me for something? Have I done something wrong?"

My sister stared at me for a long moment, then burst into tears. She cupped my face and said, with aching tenderness, "Rosalind, is it… you? Have you come back?"

I was confused, not understanding. She lowered her voice and whispered in my ear, "Did you also… come back from the dead?"

My eyes widened in shock. "Sister, you…"

She held my head and said, "You don't have to say it. I know, because I'm the same. Do you know how much my heart ached when I saw you pulled from the water? And your mother—she was such a good person, but… I was useless. I couldn't protect you."

It dawned on me. My sister thought I had also been reborn! What a coincidence!

I immediately said, "Sister, I saw everything. I watched you all die at the hands of Prince Nathaniel and that mother-daughter pair! I hated it so much, so I came back!"

My sister took my hand, her eyes filled with heartbreak. "All these years, I've felt your death was suspicious. Tell me, how did you really die?"

I gritted my teeth and said with hatred, "I saw Delphine meeting Prince Nathaniel in secret in the mansion. They caught me, and Prince Nathaniel drowned me in the lotus pond out back. Sister, don't marry Prince Nathaniel. What happened between you and him in the past was all orchestrated by that mother-daughter pair! They wanted to steal your position as Crown Princess. The Crown Prince only died because they threatened him with your life. I want to protect you and my mother. I don't want what happened before to happen again!"

As a devoted fan of the original novel and a transmigrator, I spilled all the spoilers. This solidified my sister's resolve to marry quickly, taking Duchess Celeste's dowry with her, leaving not a single coin for Father, Ivy, or Delphine.

15.

My sister's marriage to Alexander was a natural match. As the only girl of her generation in the House of Tranquil Kinship, she had three uncles and eight cousins, all holding high positions. They were equals in status and worth. As for Nathaniel, after the last incident, the Emperor had given him a thorough scolding, stripped him of his duties, and sent him to guard the imperial tombs.

Father and Ivy seemed to be plotting something. They returned on their own, claiming that as a father, he couldn't neglect his daughter's wedding. They said nothing about bringing Ivy and Delphine into the household. With the wedding approaching, if Father didn't cause trouble, my sister had no reason to act against him. Besides, the rushed wedding already had a mountain of preparations. Fortunately, Alexander was thoughtful. He sent palace staff to help from the start, and in a month or two, things were more or less in order.

As for me, because of my role in bringing my sister and Alexander together, everyone in the household treated me well. Except for observing mourning for Duchess Celeste—eating simple food and wearing plain clothes—my life was quite comfortable.

One day, after reciting sutras for Duchess Celeste in the family shrine, I took some snacks to visit Mistress Lin. From a distance, I saw Father sneaking into her room. Soon, Mistress Lin's anguished voice rang out. "These were all gifts from the Duchess during her lifetime. They're for Rosalind's dowry! My Lord, would you take even a concubine's savings and her daughter's dowry?"

Father coaxed her, calling her by her name. "Yueling, I have no choice. I have a heart too. You're a mother yourself. Can you bear to see Ivy and her daughter go hungry? For my sake…"

I immediately understood. So this was why Father had been so well-behaved lately—he was trying to steal from us while my sister was busy with the wedding!

My maid, Peony, had been trained by Duchess Celeste herself. She was Holly's sister and very capable. When I caught her eye, she understood immediately and ran off to get help.

16.

I listened from the shadows, growing more appalled by Father's audacity. Fortunately, Mistress Lin, though his concubine, had no loyalty to him. She sneered, "If the Earl wants to support his mistress, he should use his own money. What kind of behavior is it to scheme against your concubine and daughter's dowry? Rosalind isn't like the eldest young lady. She doesn't have powerful relatives to back her, nor such a fine marriage prospect. Her father is unreliable. I, as her mother, have to plan for her early."

Father's mask slipped at her words. His face twisted. "You! You wretched woman! Will you give it or not? In the past, I had to bow to the Duchess. Now that she's gone, I have to listen to your lectures? If you know what's good for you, hand over the money. Otherwise, don't blame me for marrying Rosalind off to some beggar or butcher! See how you cry then! She doesn't have the Emperor for a relative. I'm her father. I can do whatever I want!"

Mistress Lin trembled with rage, clutching the money box tightly. "No matter what you say today, I won't give you a single coin!"

Seeing her refusal, Father tried to snatch the box by force. I couldn't let that happen. I jumped out and shouted, "Father! What are you doing? Are you stealing my mother's money to give to that woman and her daughter