The Honest Wife
I've caught a strange illness—I can only tell the truth.
The Prince brought home another woman and told me to step aside and make way for her.
With tears streaming down my face, I grabbed the girl's hand and said, "Dear sister, you're such a saint! From now on, I'll burn incense and pray for you every day. May you live as long as the Southern Mountain!"
My dear sister's face turned green. The Prince's face turned black.
1.
On the day I married into the Seventh Prince's manor, the dowry stretched for miles, and everyone envied me.
But on our wedding night, the Seventh Prince gave me the cold shoulder:
"I married you because my mother ordered me to. I've had someone else in my heart all along. Aside from the title of Princess, don't expect a single thing from me!"
I couldn't control my mouth and lashed out at him: "Are you stupid? You look like a decent man, but you're nothing but a spineless mama's boy!"
The Seventh Prince stormed off in a rage.
Now, he's brought someone home.
I couldn't be happier. I'm even moved to tears!
Too bad the Seventh Prince likes that sort of thing. His brain doesn't seem quite right.
Her name is Brianna.
When I first saw her, she was dressed all in white. Whether that's bad luck or not, the moment she opened her mouth, I was stunned.
"Tsk. Women in this world are so pitiful!"
I almost thought my ears were playing tricks on me.
"Do you have a problem?"
But Brianna lifted her chin, full of arrogance: "I'm nothing like you people.
"I'm destined to be a woman they can never catch up to!"
"Looks like I'm the one with the problem," I said blankly. "Because I'm too normal, that's why I don't fit in with you."
Brianna stumbled back, furious. Just then, the Seventh Prince walked in:
"Brianna, I've called all the managers from the cosmetics shop and the tavern. Do whatever you want!"
He didn't even look at me, so I had to speak up myself:
"Um..."
"Damian, make it clear to your Princess. Don't treat me like one of those narrow-minded women trapped in this little corner forever!"
Brianna radiated the vibe of "I'm too noble, you don't deserve me."
"How could any woman compare to you? I'll demote her to a concubine right now!" The Seventh Prince nodded along like a lapdog.
I'm the jewel of the General of the Realm. When have I ever been treated like this?
I immediately pulled out a Green Dragon Crescent Blade and shouted coldly, "Adulterous pair, prepare to die!"
---
2.
The Seventh Prince's manor erupted into chaos:
"Guards! Protect me!
"Oh no, protect Brianna first!"
The manor guards came running, but when they saw it was the Princess doing the beating, they all looked down, pretending not to see.
"Useless servants! Can't you see I'm being bullied by this shrew?"
The guards pushed and shoved each other.
Finally, they sent a representative to report to the Seventh Prince:
"Your Highness, our wages lately have been paid from the Princess's dowry. We really don't dare to lay a hand on her.
"Maybe you could settle our salaries first?"
The Seventh Prince, Damian, probably never imagined he'd end up like this.
Chased by the Princess he married, and hounded by his own guards for money!
I have my principles—I don't involve the third party. So I only beat up Damian.
Brianna stood to the side, screaming at me as I single-handedly pummeled Damian: "You're so barbaric and unreasonable! No wonder Damian doesn't like you!
"You're just jealous that he's good to me! Jealousy has made you unrecognizable!"
Great. Brianna had successfully lit my fuse.
I hit him even harder.
---
3.
My beating of Damian reached the Emperor's ears.
He immediately summoned me alone to the palace.
I hadn't even left the Seventh Prince's manor when the maids, servants, butler, and guards all started wailing:
"Your Highness! You can't go!"
"If you leave, how will we survive? Take us with you!"
My mouth twitched.
I was just going to the palace. They all acted like I was about to die.
Well, to be honest,
I thought I might be close to death.
"Your daughter-in-law is guilty!"
A wise man knows when to submit. I kowtowed to the Emperor first.
"What are you guilty of?"
I could tell from his tone that the Emperor was about to interrogate me.
"Your daughter-in-law shouldn't have attacked the Prince when he said he'd demote me to a concubine!" I should have hit him harder and become a widow—much more peaceful!
"Outrageous!" The Emperor was indeed furious.
"How dare that unfilial son treat you like this!"
"Your daughter-in-law is... what?" I stopped mid-sentence and looked up in confusion.
Who was the Emperor scolding just now?
"Good child, you've been wronged! I promised your father I'd take care of you, and that unfilial son dares to treat you like this!"
"Your judgment really isn't great. Of all people, you picked a mama's boy!"
"Ahem! I was joking!" Why did my mouth have to act up again? Damn it!
The Emperor's mouth twitched. "Don't worry, Amelia. I have plenty of sons. If this one doesn't work, we'll swap!
"What do you think of the Sixth Prince, Kevin? He's only two years older than you—you'll have things to talk about!"
"True."
The Emperor breathed a sigh of relief, his mouth just starting to curl into a smile.
I added, "He spends all day in the Red Lantern District studying the makeup the girls wear. We'd definitely have things to talk about."
"Then I..." He hesitated for a long time. "How about the Eighth Prince!"
I practically did a cartwheel. "The Eighth Prince is only ten years old! Even if I wanted to, I couldn't bring myself to do it!"
We stared at each other and fell silent.
I was silent.
I was mourning for my mouth that never knew when to shut up.
The Emperor was silent too. Maybe I'd traumatized him.
We sat side by side on the floor.
We'd already talked through everything.
"In that case...
"It'll have to be your brother-in-law."
A third person's voice suddenly spoke up, startling us both!
---
4.
The Emperor quickly stood up, putting on a stern face. "Damien, how did you get in here!"
Damien jumped down from the rafters and said, "I may be a bit older, but I know how to treat a woman well. I won't let Amelia suffer."
"No, no, no, Your Majesty! Let's stick with the Sixth Prince! I heard your brother is no good!" I wanted to slap my own mouth!
I must have committed terrible crimes in my past life to be cursed with a mouth like this in this one.
The Emperor coughed violently.
"What are you saying! Don't worry, Damien. I'll issue the marriage decree for you and Amelia right away!"
I tried to say something else, but the Emperor threw me out of the study:
"Go pack your dowry and move to the Southern Prince's manor first!"
When the carriage arrived at the Seventh Prince's manor,
I hadn't even had a chance to share my joy,
when I was met with a sea of white!
The entire Seventh Prince's manor was draped in white!
Could it be?
I thought about it. Had I hit Damian too hard and killed him?
Surely not!
I hurried inside. If Damian was really dead,
then I'd definitely be a happy little widow!
I walked all the way without seeing a single servant. I had no idea what was going on.
Before I even reached the main hall, I could hear loud wailing coming from inside.
Quite a commotion!
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand, sniffled, and started wailing too: "Your Highness! How could you leave us like this!"
Before I even stepped through the door, my eyes landed on the memorial tablet in the center.
Written on it in large characters: "In Memory of the Seventh Princess, Amelia Gu."
I gritted my teeth, my face twisted with rage.
"I can't believe you people! You're all wishing for my death!"
---
5.
"Zombie!"
"Ghost!"
The scene was
absolute chaos,
with paper money flying everywhere!
I calmed down these uncivilized people, announced the good news of the divorce, and counted my dowry.
The servants who chose to return to the General's manor with me far outnumbered those I'd originally brought from there.
They'd all had enough of being poor.
After all, before I married into it, the Seventh Prince's manor was so poor it only had its nameplate left.
Damian put on airs outside but was a miser at home, living off his mother's allowance.
But I'm kind-hearted, so I let them carry my dowry and come with me.
Before I left, I even set off firecrackers to ward off bad luck.
The next day, I heard from the visiting Sixth Prince that
Damian had lost his voice.
Because when he woke up in his room, he screamed until his throat was raw, and no one answered.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Serves him right!"
The Sixth Prince leaned in and asked, "I heard Father was going to betroth you to me yesterday?"
"That was the plan."
"What's wrong with you?" The Sixth Prince clicked his tongue. "I called you to play mahjong back then, but you didn't come."
"You had to listen to Consort Hui's lies, saying my seventh brother had no concubines or maids. Turns out he was just a broke loser."
The Sixth Prince winked at me. "When's the wedding? My manor's still short one player for mahjong!"
"Think again. It's not you."
The Sixth Prince was stunned.
"How is that possible? Besides me, Father has no other sons! Unless..." The Sixth Prince swallowed. "No way, Amelia. Have you lost your mind? You're going after my eighth brother? He's just a child!"
"Kevin, have you lost your mind? It's your uncle! The one you told me was no good!"
"So, you're the one who said I was no good."
The Sixth Prince practically did a cartwheel on the spot, closing his eyes. "My concubine called me home for dinner! Farewell!"
---
6.
The Sixth Prince vanished as if he had wheels of fire on his feet.
Leaving me and Damien staring at each other.
I immediately raised my round fan to cover my face. "It's bad luck for a newlywed couple to meet before the wedding!
"Stay back!"
I tried to slip away too.
"I brought ten thousand taels of gold as a betrothal gift."
My desire for money made me slam on the brakes.
"Husband, you're so generous! Is our family really this rich?"
"Mm." His voice was much softer than before, probably pleased that I knew when to give in.
I sidled up to him. "Where's the betrothal gift?"
He took a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to me. "It's deposited in the World Bank. This is the receipt."
"Oh!" My eyes lit up, and I was about to tuck it away.
Suddenly, a pig's head came charging in from somewhere.
Before it could get close to me, it was kicked flying.
It traced a beautiful arc through the air, accompanied by the words: "Baby, I had noodles today because I suddenly wanted to see you!"
"What the hell?"
---
7.
I looked at this pig's head. Why did it seem familiar?
Right then, the pig's head stubbornly climbed back up and continued its performance: "Baby, have you heard? The night I miss you~"
I almost threw up!
Luckily, Damien stepped in front of me.
Finally, no more eye torture!
"Damian, mind your place!"
"Amelia was just having a little spat with me yesterday, Uncle. Don't interfere in other people's family matters!"
This pig's head was Damian? I was shocked!
Yesterday, he was all arrogance, wanting to demote me to a concubine.
Today, had he taken the wrong medicine?
"Amelia? Is that any way for you to address her? She's now the future Princess of the Southern Prince, your aunt!" Damien's tone was icy cold. The desire to kill was unmistakable in his eyes.
"Impossible! Amelia loves me!"
Damien snorted. "Do you have money?"
The Seventh Prince looked as if he'd been stabbed. He insisted, "She loves me! And I love her!"
Damien snorted again. "Love? You love her money. You're pathetic!"
The Seventh Prince ran off crying. "I'm going to Father to settle this!"
Then, the two of us were summoned to the palace.
"This has nothing to do with me! It's him, him, him!"
---
8.
I pointed at the sobbing pig's head.
Oh no, the Seventh Prince.
The Emperor's mouth twitched. "I've already given this unfilial son a stern talking to and confined him to his quarters for three months. Damien, don't stoop to a child's level!
"I've also had the Imperial Observatory pick a date. How about the eighth day of the third month?"
"I think the eighth of next month would be better."
"Isn't that too rushed?" I couldn't help but interject.
These two were bargaining like they were buying vegetables, and I, the person involved, was right here!
"I've already prepared the wedding dress and everything."
I pressed my lips together, wanting to fight for a little more time as a single woman.
Damien suddenly leaned in and whispered, "The Southern Prince's manor is wealthier than the kingdom. Welcome, Princess, to come and count the money."
My eyes lit up!
That was my favorite activity!
"Your Majesty, I also think the eighth of next month is perfect!" The important thing was getting to count money!
"Amelia, I gave you everything except my love, even my debts! Have you lost your mind marrying this man over thirty?"
"Show some respect. He's not an old man—he's my old treasure!"
What else could the Emperor say?
He could only smile politely and awkwardly and tell them to get lost!
"Brother, you've worked hard."
"Not at all." The Emperor waved his hand. "I've just had a hard life."
My becoming the Princess of the Southern Prince was a done deal.
As for who I married, I didn't really have an opinion.
As the daughter of the General of the Realm, my husband had to be a member of the royal family to ensure my father wouldn't rebel.
All I could do was work hard to make money
and ensure my father had no worries at the border.
---
9.
My happy single days were dwindling one by one.
I was even sighing while playing mahjong with the Sixth Prince.
"You've won so much money, and you're still sighing!"
"I'm just sad that my days as a single woman are almost over. I'm mourning my lost happy times."
"Look on the bright side. Uncle is wealthier than the kingdom. Now that he's back in the capital and in charge of the treasury, you'll never have to worry about money again!"
We chatted and threw down our tiles.
"That's true. He sincerely invites me to his manor every day to count money, but I've been holding back."
The Sixth Prince gritted his teeth. "Damn it, you're showing off!"
I grinned, pushed my tiles, and won again!
The Sixth Prince immediately reneged, saying he'd lost even his underwear.
He suggested taking me to the Red Lantern District to listen to some songs and look at pretty girls.
I scoffed.
But later, having a girl on each arm was really nice!
"Do you think you're so great just because you have some money? You need to apologize to me!"
I recognized that voice.
"What's wrong with her?" The Sixth Prince was about to come in when I grabbed him.
That white sleeve was all too familiar.
"Wait! Apologize to me! You have to apologize to me!"
Well, well, well. Wasn't that Brianna?
What was she doing in the Red Lantern District?
"Why is it her again? Such bad luck!"
"Tell the madam to kick her out. Don't let her disturb the honored guests!"
I heard this and asked, "Is there a story here?"
The two girls quickly told me everything.
When Brianna first appeared, she said she wanted to discuss a big business deal with the madam.
At first, the madam thought she was trying to sell herself.
But then she criticized all the dances and songs they'd choreographed, saying they were worthless. She talked about marketing and forming a girl group.
She even wanted them to sing some unknown songs that were terrible!
The madam felt she was being mocked and kicked her out.
The more the two girls talked, the more disgusted they looked. "She stood outside our gate and yelled at the sky, 'Don't bully the young and poor!'
"And then some rich fool actually took an interest in her. He pressured our madam into discussing a big business deal with her, saying he'd cover any losses."
After hearing this, I stroked my chin.
There was so much to say, I didn't know where to start.
---
10.
"It's you!"
Brianna pointed at me and launched into a tirade. "You got Damian confined to his quarters, and here you are fooling around with other men?
"Don't you have a conscience?"
I was indignant. "You can insult me, but you can't desecrate the sincere friendship between me and my sisters!"
"You!" Brianna choked and changed her approach. "Doesn't your era have the Three Obediences and Four Virtues? What respectable girl comes to a brothel!"
"You're one to talk. You're here too, aren't you?"
Brianna lifted her chin, her arrogance returning. "I'm different from you. I'm a woman with big plans!"
Great. It had been a while,
and she was still true to herself.
"I believe anyone can be a person with big plans!"
Another man stepped out of the crowd, holding a folding fan.
The girl on my left whispered, "Miss, this is the rich fool."
My eyes lit up, and I couldn't help but smile.
Just the words "rich fool"
were enough to catch my attention!
"Please, come in!"
I was too enthusiastic, and the man was momentarily stunned.
"Kevin, hurry up and invite this gentleman in!"
The Sixth Prince pointed at himself, bewildered.
I quickly gave him a look.
"Oh, right, right! Please, come in!"
I sent the others away so I could hear about this big plan.
"Sebastian, don't let her fool you!"
"It's fine. Brianna, go ahead and continue your inspection." Sebastian sent Brianna away, and the frivolous expression on his face disappeared.
"You seem like a man of distinction, sir, and very well matched with your wife! Would you be interested in joining our uprising plan?"
The Sixth Prince and I exchanged a glance.
Was this for real?
Sebastian didn't notice our silent exchange and launched into a long-winded speech.
To sum it up:
He was a member of the former royal family. Send money.
---
11.
Sebastian drained his tea and asked, "What do you think?"
I coughed. "A married woman follows her husband."
Sebastian looked at the Sixth Prince.
He said without changing his expression, "Henpecked, henpecked!"
Sebastian: ???
"Mr. Sebastian, I think you could show a bit more sincerity." I leaned in and whispered,
"For example, by picking up the tab for us.
"After all, my family taught me that while the person who pays for you might not really want to be your friend, the person who doesn't pay for you definitely doesn't want to be your friend!"
Sebastian looked dazed. "Then I..."
Suddenly, the door to the room was kicked open from the outside.
I reacted the fastest and rushed over:
"Husband, this man is a liar. I was forced into this!"
"Oh, right, right! Look at him, all proper and decent, but he's that kind of person! Scum!"
Sebastian: Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
---
12.
Damien waved his hand and had everyone taken away!
The Sixth Prince and I tried to slip away, but he grabbed us both by the collars:
"Tell me, how do you want to die?"
Damien was asking the Sixth Prince, but my guilty conscience and quick mouth
made me blurt out, "Can I die of old age?"
The Sixth Prince caught on and immediately parroted me.
Damien gave us a look.
We fell silent instantly.
"Go home. I have things to do."
Damien finished speaking and swept away.
I didn't know if he was angry or not.
The Sixth Prince and I exchanged a look and went our separate ways.
I had left the house happy, but I came back dejected.
The maids thought the Sixth Prince had welched on a debt again and started rolling up their sleeves to go to his manor and collect.
"It's not about him." I sighed, flopped onto the soft couch, and rested my chin on the back of my hand.
"Then... did someone say something nasty about you, miss? We'll get even for you!"
"No, none of that!" I sighed. "It's my new husband. I made him angry.
"Do you think he'll call off the wedding and take back the betrothal gift?"
I made a face, opened my makeup case, and sighed at the receipt for ten thousand taels of gold lying inside.
"If I lose you, my little treasure, how will I survive?"
The maids knew my personality well and quickly offered advice:
"Miss, if you're worried, why don't you go and cheer up the new master? After all, he said you can come and go from the Southern Prince's manor as you please. It wouldn't hurt to visit."
"Isn't it a bit improper to just show up?" I hesitated for a moment.
Then I decided to bring two roasted pig trotters.
But when I got there, I saw Damien pinning Brianna against the wall.
The basket in my hand crashed to the ground, disturbing the scene that looked like it was about to turn into a kiss.
Damien looked panicked and immediately pushed Brianna away:
"Amelia, let me explain!"
Why would I listen? I turned and ran!
---
13.
I ran straight to the Sixth Prince's manor.
When I got there, the Sixth Prince was talking to someone.
"Amelia? What are you doing here?"
"Let's go. Tell the Emperor to change my husband to you."
The Sixth Prince didn't understand what was happening. He changed his attitude from before, when he'd been calling me to play mahjong, and shouted, "Amelia, I thought we were sisters, and you want to sleep with me?"
"Your Highness, this is a great opportunity!" The advisor standing beside him immediately spoke up.
"What great opportunity?" I also saw the warning look the Sixth Prince gave him.
I squinted at the goat-bearded man who had spoken:
"You're not a member of the former royal family too, are you?"
The goat-bearded man was startled at first, then his gaze darted back and forth between the Sixth Prince and me:
"I'm not, but you are! You're a princess of the former dynasty, lost among the people!"
I sneered.
There were a lot of swindlers in the capital. They'd even come to the Sixth Prince's manor!
"Fine. Since you say I'm a princess, then send money!"
I was in a bad mood, and only money could cheer me up.
The goat-bearded man was stunned.
"Send... money?" He looked at the Sixth Prince, completely confused.
"Since I'm a lost princess, if you want to start an uprising, you have to support me. You can use my name however you want. I don't need one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight taels—just give me nine hundred and ninety-eight thousand taels."
The goat-bearded man was dumbfounded.
"Princess, we don't need to start an uprising. We can use strategy!" The goat-bearded man laid out his plan.
The Emperor had eight children. The first five were princesses, and the princes weren't counted separately.
So the Sixth Prince, Kevin, was the Emperor's first son.
If I married Kevin and helped him ascend the throne, my future son would be the Crown Prince.
What a perfect, peaceful world!
The goat-bearded man was proud of his plan.
But the Sixth Prince and I both looked at him like he was an idiot.
"In this day and age, swindlers work so diligently, while I'm stuck on trivial love affairs. That's not good. I've seen the light!"
"Wait, don't..." The Sixth Prince's head was starting to ache.
Just then, Damien arrived.
"Uncle, hurry up and explain to your wife!"
The Sixth Prince quickly grabbed the goat-bearded man by the collar and said he needed to have a talk with him somewhere else.
The stage was left for me and Damien again.
We stared at each other. In the end, I bowed my head for the ten thousand taels of gold.
"I was rude earlier."
"Who would have thought that Brianna would target me specifically?"
"If she marries into the family..."
"I was about to kill her." Damien interrupted me.
---
14.
"Huh?" My face was written with "Did I hear that right?"
"If you hadn't shown up, Brianna would already be dead." The murderous intent in Damien's eyes was unmistakable.
"What did she do to you?"
Damien turned his gaze to me.
"It's nothing. If you think killing her would be fun, I don't mind."
I shrunk my neck, recalling the scene earlier.
When I saw him pinning her to the wall, I thought they were about to kiss. Who would have thought it was murder?
"My fault?" I stared at him, not knowing where I got the audacity to act spoiled.
Damien chuckled. "My fault."
I was a bit dazed.
Not the kind of daze you get from seeing a handsome man. It was more like something flashed through my mind.
My mouth was always the first to act:
"Have we met before?"
And then I could clearly feel the smile on Damien's face freeze.
He became a few degrees colder, and his voice was flat: "Maybe."
So, had we met or not?
Damien clearly didn't want to talk about it.
The atmosphere was getting awkward again when
the Sixth Prince arrived.
"Uncle, Auntie, are you two reconciled?" The Sixth Prince's gaze darted between us, full of mockery.
I clicked my tongue. "Kevin, I never thought you, who seem so honest, would want to rebel against your father!"
The Sixth Prince stumbled back two steps, his face full of "Don't mess with me":
"Rebel? You're the former princess! Do you deserve Father's love?"
As soon as he finished speaking, I hooked my arm around Damien's. "Husband, he's found us out. What should we do? How about we kill him under cover of darkness?"
Damien added the perfect finishing touch. "My wife is right."
---
15.
The Sixth Prince was so scared by us that he screamed, thinking he was about to die.
I laughed out loud. "That's what you get for messing with me!"
The Sixth Prince looked up to the heavens and complained, "You two are too much!"
Damien interrupted him and told him to get to the point.
The Sixth Prince said sulkily, "The one who came to me is from the peaceful faction. Apparently, the war faction approached my seventh brother. They're planning something big on your wedding day."
"They're having internal strife even in rebellion, and they went to that loser, the Seventh Prince?" I couldn't help but interject.
"That's right." The Sixth Prince got excited again. "I heard he agreed without even hesitating!"
I thought of the poor Emperor and couldn't help but click my tongue. "What a filial son."
Later, they decided to discuss countermeasures with the Emperor.
I chose to go home and eat.
As for the whole former princess thing,
if my father were here, he'd beat those people to death with a hammer.
---
16.
The carriage taking me home had just reached the gate
when a white figure suddenly shot out of the dark night.
Before it could get close, I kicked it flying!
This was all thanks to that pig's head incident last time.
"It's mine! Your body is mine!"
Her white clothes were dirty, and her hair was a tangled mess covering her face. She stumbled to her feet, muttering incessantly, "It's mine, my body!"
"Protect the Princess! Oh no, protect the miss!"
The ones guarding my gate were former manor guards. They formed a circle around me.
They all drew their weapons, but everyone was trembling.
Because the scene in front of them was straight out of a horror movie!
"Brianna, have you lost your mind?" I recognized her voice.
I didn't expect her to have escaped from the Southern Prince's manor.
And she was trying to scare me. I wasn't raised to be scared!
"I'm not Brianna! I remember now! I'm Amelia! I'm Amelia!"
I frowned. She must have gone crazy!
"Arrest her. Don't let her run around scaring people in the middle of the night. It's ruining my appetite."
The guards realized she was human and regained their courage. They quickly subdued her and brought her into the manor.
"Miss, you're back? Did you have dinner with the new master?"
"Spring! I'm standing right in front of you. Can you see how much I've changed?"
"Where did this crazy woman come from! Miss, why did you bring a crazy woman home today?" Spring was also startled.
"She's not Amelia! The real Amelia is dead!" Brianna shouted loudly. "You're a time traveler like me, aren't you!
"That must be it! I knew it. How could a woman from this era be better than me? Turns out we're from the same place!"
Before I could say anything, Brianna's expression changed again. She looked at me in terror: "You, you, you! Don't come near me!"
---
17.
"Amelia, are you all right?"
Damien rushed over, panic in his eyes. He grabbed me and looked me over.
I was getting dizzy from being spun around!
"How could anything happen to me? Something's wrong with her!" I nodded toward Brianna and whispered, "Did you hit her too hard today? She's gone crazy!"
"What did she say?" Damien looked at me.
"She said I'm dead, that I'm not the real me. She said she's me. What nonsense is that?"
Damien lowered his eyes. "Our wedding is in three days. Don't mind these irrelevant people. Leave her to me."
I was about to nod.
Brianna screamed in terror, "No! This man will kill me! He tried to kill me before! I barely managed to start over!
"I don't want Amelia's body anymore! Please, let me go! We're from the same place!"
"You're insane!" I couldn't take it anymore. I waved at Damien. "Take her away."
Damien waved his hand, and someone came to take over.
"Amelia, things might be unsettled these next few days. I'll send some shadow guards to protect you."
I noticed that Damien's tone had suddenly become a few degrees colder.
I didn't know what I'd done to upset him.
"No need. I've been learning martial arts from my father since I was little. Ordinary people are no match for me!"
Damien's expression shifted slightly. He said, "Then..."
"Don't worry! If you're really afraid I'll go out, why don't you send some account books from the Southern Prince's manor over? Counting money makes me happy. I won't leave the house even if you beg me!"
I interrupted him and patted my stomach. "I'm starving! Spring, tell the kitchen to make something simple."
Spring acknowledged and withdrew.
I politely asked Damien to stay for dinner.
He completely ignored my politeness and said, "I wouldn't dare refuse."
But the wait for dinner was a bit awkward.
Because I didn't know what to say to my new husband.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about you, r... your money." After realizing what my mouth had said, I wished I could crawl into a hole!
Why did a perfectly good person have to have a mouth?
---
18.
"Although our wedding is still three days away, I'd like to get to know you better, Amelia."
I was taken aback and said, "Me too."
Actually, I wanted to subtly find out if Damien was really as wealthy as people said.
I couldn't help it. My ex-husband had scarred me.
God knows how I felt when I married into the Seventh Prince's manor and found that thick stack of IOUs.
Marriage wasn't charity. The Seventh Prince had looked decent enough on the outside, but who knew he was a master of debt?
"Although a general's salary isn't enough for a life of luxury, it shouldn't leave you in dire straits. So why are you so fond of money, Amelia? Is there a story behind it?"
Damien poured me a glass of wine, his face saying, "I want to hear a story."
I took the opportunity to ask, "That depends on whether you're willing to pay enough for me to open my mouth."
Damien smiled. "I've spent these years fighting for your father-in-law, and I've accumulated quite a bit. Plus, your father-in-law dotes on me and has given me many good things."
The more I listened, the brighter my eyes became. They were almost competing with the candle next to me.
Damien grinned. "I could support an army of a hundred thousand for life."
I gasped!
I knew he was rich, but I didn't know he was *that* rich!
"I've finished. Your turn, Amelia."
I scratched my head, a bit confused. "Actually, I don't really know. After I fell into the water at fifteen, my memories from before are very fuzzy.
"I just remember promising someone that I would save up money. But I can't remember who."
After I finished, I noticed that the smile on Damien's face was growing wider.
"Is what I said that funny?" I was angry!
"Then have you tried to find out who you said that to?"
I was stunned and shook my head.
"Why not?" Damien seemed a bit puzzled.
"Because... someone once said
I didn't need to go looking. He would come to me himself. But over the years, he never came. Maybe he wasn't that important."
As I said this, I felt a little sad inside.
It was better that he didn't come looking for me.
It would only bring trouble and get him killed.
I was feeling down when Damien suddenly stood up.
"Amelia, actually..."
I looked at him in surprise, wondering what he was about to say.
But he was interrupted.
"Your Highness, something's happened!" A shadow guard in black rushed in.
Damien's expression changed. "Amelia, it's bad luck for a newlywed couple to meet before the wedding. See you in three days."
---
19.
The eighth day of the tenth month. An auspicious day.
I was already familiar with the wedding process. This time was even more grand than the last.
We were married in the palace, stayed overnight to pay respects, and then returned to the manor.
The Emperor was definitely a brother-con!
I got off the sedan chair, hiding my face behind a wedding fan, holding the red silk as Damien led me forward.
The atmosphere was full of joy and celebration. Even the confined Seventh Prince had been released to attend the wedding.
But knowing what was about to happen, I couldn't help but be nervous.
"Bow to heaven and earth!"
"Bow to the parents!"
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the crowd.
"Die, tyrant!"
Here it was!
But I didn't expect the attacker to be only a step away from the Emperor!
In a hurry, I threw my wedding fan and knocked the dagger away!
The Seventh Prince stood up and yelled, "Hey!" but before he could even say his lines, he was subdued!
Damien and I stood in front of the Emperor to protect him.
At that moment, the subdued palace maid shouted, "Your Highness, what are you waiting for? Make your move!"
I frowned. "Even now, you're still trying to fool me with that former princess nonsense?"
The former dynasty had been destroyed for over a decade. If there really was a princess, she'd be the same age as the Emperor by now!
"Your Highness, this tyrant has given you a discarded wife as your princess! How can you tolerate such an insult?"
I looked incredulously at Damien, who was dressed in a red robe beside me.
The clown was me?
---
20.
Before even an incense stick's time had passed, all the rebels were subdued!
Damien still hadn't moved.
The old palace maid wasn't giving up. She pulled out her trump card:
"I've already poisoned Amelia! If I die, she dies with me!"
I was shocked!
I'd been eating and sleeping well for the past few days. I was in perfect health.
When had I been poisoned?
In my excitement, I accidentally bit the blood pack hidden in my tooth—my emergency escape plan for every fight.
But Damien didn't know that!
When he saw me