“Did you know? Reportedly some time ago our Bai family’s first miss was having an affair with a stranger outside and that she was caught by the second miss red handed during their act. To make it more scandalous, the first miss even turned the whole thing around and blamed her younger sister for framing her. Can you believe that? The second miss even cried on the spot when it happened.”

“Speaking of the first miss, don’t you think her fate’s simply too good? Despite being a useless person, she still managed to become the fiancée of the second prince, yet she still cheated on his highness when the prince didn’t mind her uselessness!”

“I know right? It’s bad enough granted she lost her chastity, but the lady even went and got herself pregnant! With all that ruckus going on outside, the royal family’s face is practically dragged through the mud because of her.”

“I also heard that in order to compensate his highness, our Bai family had to betroth the second miss to him. And did you know? The second miss is so forgiving that she’s trying to persuade his highness into taking the first miss as an extra concubine. Tell me, as a woman who lost their chastity, do you think she is deserving to be the second prince’s woman?”

……

Seated in her bed, Bai Yan gently caresses her still flat abdomen. Towards the boisterous discussion coming from the outside, there’s no emotion in her eyes, only the calm that can be found in a rippleless pond.

Three months ago when she first came to this world, a time where she’s still unfamiliar with her environment, her good step sister Bai Ruo had arranged a very fine and ugly man for her without permission.

Behold, her desperate escape.

Despite clawing her way out from under the vile man’s grasp, she eventually failed to resist the aphrodisiac in her body and had to rely on a random man she found in the wild to relieve its effect.

Even if there were only her alone in the forest by the time Bai Ruo arrived at the scene, the marks on the body were evident enough of what happened.

In Bai Yan’s mind, a pair of bloodthirsty eyes belonging to that stranger suddenly appeared, clouding her vision like a haze of fog. It’s unsure if it’s due to the drug or that it’s too traumatic, but she simply couldn’t remember the face of that man…

“Sister,” a familiar voice pulls her back to reality.

Raising her head, Bai Yan was welcomed by the figure of a handsome and elegant young man walking through the door.

From the memories she inherited through the original host of this body, Bai Yan can tell the boy was called Bai Xiao, her younger brother. Born of the same mother, he’s the only person left in this world whom she cared for.

Years ago after their biological mother Lan Yue passed away, their birth father Bai Zheng Xiang immediately raised one of his concubine’s status into the main wife. As a result, that woman named Yu Rong (step mother) and her two daughters – Bai Ruo and Bai Zhi – instantly rose over Ban Yan and her brother in terms of status within the family. If not for their mother’s maiden family, the Lan household still being around to act as deterrence, the two of them – mere orphans at that point – would’ve been left with nowhere else to go.

However, all things will change following the passage of time. Nowadays there aren’t a single soul left who still remembers the main reasoning behind the Bai family’s success had in large been due to the Lan family’s support.

Back then the chief of the Lan family had refused to let his daughter marry into the Bai family because the man had already taken in several concubines under his name. Sadly, Lan Yue threatened to sever their father and daughter relationship, thus forcing Lord Lan into agreement.

In order to not allow Lan Yue suffer any grievances in this marriage, the Lan family had prepared a wedding dress that stretched over ten Li’s in length, leading to a sensation across the city. Then to top things off, the Lan family also broke their coffer to purchase countless medicinal pills to act as dowry for Lan Yue.

(1 Li \= 500 meters in length. It’s a Chinese metric not often used anymore)

But who would’ve guessed things would turn out so horribly not long after. Unable to resist the sweet honeying words of her husband, the foolish woman went as far to submissively give away those precious medicines that her own family gave her. As a result of this endeavor, Bai Zheng Xiang was able to directly break into the “Sky Rank” with the aid and propelled his Bai family into a first-rate noble household.

It can be said the prestigious status of the current Bai family was the result of Lan Yue’s sacrifice.

If Bai Yan herself – the current her – can feel such outrage, it’s not hard to imagine how angry Lord Lan must’ve been over the years to go as far as to distant himself from his daughter.

Simply said, the man had truly been hurt by his own flesh and blood.

“Sister.” Bai Xiao appears to be struggling to speak, “don’t be too sad, it’s the second prince’s loss for breaking off the marriage with you. I’ve long noticed the unusual gazes coming off of Bai Ruo and the second prince. The relationship between them can’t be normal.”

Finding only silence from her sister for so long, Bai Xiao assumed it’s due to the sadness revolving the recent events.

“Why do you say it’s the second prince’s loss when everyone believes its I who betrayed him?” A laugh nearly escaped her mouth.

“I trust you. No way my sister would betray him so that leaves me to believe you must’ve been framed.” The boy’s expression was firm as he spoke in a vicious tone, “if I find out who that person is, I will definitely not let them off!”

Bai Yan’s heart trembled at that statement for an inexplicable feeling was starting to form in her heart.

In the past life, she herself was the descendant of an ancient Chinese martial art family. As such, she’s been instilled with the concept of becoming strong since her childhood. And in order to meet that demand, she deserted her friends and family to reach that goal. In the end, she lost her life alone at the hands of a lightning strike from the heavens during her efforts to refine a ninth rank Dan pill.

Now that she’s able to get a new lease on life again through great difficulty after having her soul extinguished and body destroyed, she’s not going to repeat the same mistake as she did during her past life. Family and friends will supersede her pursuit for power this time.

“Oh yes,” rummaging through his pocket, the young boy then pulls out a small coin purse and placed it in her hands. “You are now pregnant so your body needs nourishment. These bank notes are for you.”

Squeezing the coin purse, Bai Yan’s heart ached at the sensation in her fingers, “where did you get this money from?”

“I… I pawned the jade pendant that mother left me when she was still alive.”

That’s when Bai Yan’s hearted clenched even tighter.

Don’t be fooled by their glorious appearance on the outside, in reality, the Bai family would frequently deduct their monthly allowances and even Lan Yue’s dowry were now in (step mother) Yu Rong’s hand.

As it so happens, these two siblings are also quite stubborn in their personalities. They knew their mother had thoroughly disappointed their maternal grandfather. No matter how much suffering they endured, neither siblings would seek out the Lan family for help.

It didn’t help either when the Lan family was overconfident in their assumptions. They believed the Bai family wouldn’t maltreat the two siblings. Besides, their mother’s dowry alone was enough for the pair to live out their lives in luxury.

But in reality?

While Yu Rong’s daughters gets to drape themselves in fine clothes and eat exotic delicacies, Bai Yan and her brother on the other hand had to starve on regular intervals.

The most laughable part was that Bai Zhen Xiang didn’t even know how to do business while Yu Rong was a massive spender. During these years, the expenses incurred by the Bai family were all funded by Lan Yue’s dowry.

As for Bai Xiao’s jade pendant, it’s the only item left for him by Lan Yue as a memento in which he kept hidden all these years.

If he hadn’t concealed it so deeply, it’s likely that their step mother Yu Rong would’ve taken it away long ago too.

While all kinds of thoughts were running through Bai Yan’s mind, a maidservant had pompously entered the premise without permission, thus interrupting the sibling’s conversation.

“Miss, the madam is seeking your audience.”

“Sister.” Bai Xiao hastily grabs her hand, his eyes filled with worry.

“Don’t worry, I will be fine.” Bai Yan comforts her brother by patting Bai Xiao on the hand. Giving him a meaningful wink, she then headed towards the doorway.

In an instant, a majestic and imposing aura radiates out of the young lady. Her alluring red dress spread far and wide, her icy cold eyes sharp and dangerous. Following each of her step, the maidservant would have a harder time breathing like something has clutched onto her throat.

“Don’t forget, you are merely a servant here. Even if I’m not in favor, I’m still a master of the Bai residence. Not asking me for my permission to enter my chamber is akin to disrespecting me, thus I am in my right to have you beaten to death!”

The maidservant’s face turned ashen with fright. She had signed the slavery contract, therefore even if the master wanted to kill her, she would have no choice but to die.

Due to Bai Yan being too timid previously, the maid had become complacent around her and forgot this crucial fact.

“Lead the way.” The young lady’s tone was cold and detached, making her unquestionable.

“Yes milady.”

No longer daring to act out of place, the maidservant understands well enough that even if the one in front of her had a bad reputation, the lady had every authority to punish a servant.

Blankly staring at the retreating figure’s back, Bai Xiao got the aching nudge in the back of his head that her elder sister have changed over these past few months…

She’s stronger, more reliable, and enough to put his mind at ease.

When Bai Yan entered the main room, there were already others inside – mainly her step mother Yu Rong and a silver-haired old lady.

The old woman obviously wasn’t of the Bai family; instead, it’s Yu Rong’s biological mother and Bai Zhen Xiang’s aunt.

Ten years ago, Old Madam Yu had intended to let her nephew (Bai Zhen Xiang) marry Yu Rong to increase their family bond, but the man disliked the fact that his cousin couldn’t bring more to the table. To remedy the situation, the man only allowed Yu Rong to enter his Bai family as a concubine while Bai Zhen Xiang took Lan Yue as his main wife.

Then once Lan Yue passed away, the heartless scumbag immediately raised Yu Rong’s status into his main wife. To make things more despicable was how easily he invited the old madam into their house after Yu Rong repeatedly pleaded to him with her tears. Nowadays, Bai Zhen Xiang literally treats the old madam like his own mother. With filial piety and respect.

Like daughter like mother. If Yu Rong was such a heavy spender, Old Madam Yu can’t be all that thrifty either. Over the years, most of the Lan family’s dowry have been expended at their hands, leaving hardly any left at this point.

“Bai Yan, be honest and quickly confess. Who is the adulterer!” Old Madam Yu tilts her head high, her manner of speech haughty and arrogant like someone interrogating a convict.

“And what does that have to do with you?” Bai Yan’s lip curved in a shallow smile, her eyes cold as she gazed at the old woman seated before her.

“Insolent!” Old Madam Yu angrily slaps the table next to her, “I am your maternal grandmother so of course I have the right to know who your adulterer is.”

“My maternal grandmother? My maternal grandmother is in the Lan family right now. As for you, you are merely Bai Ruo and Bai Zhi’s grandmother. Now quit adding gold to your own face.”

“You…” The old woman’s face was starting distort due to anger. Nothing but a wild child without a mother, what qualifications does she have to be so arrogant in front of me?

“Mother, please calm your anger.” Yu Rong quickly came over to sooth her mother’s back. Looking back at the girl, “Bai Yan, the truth is I called you over today to tell you some good news. Someone is willing to take you as their concubine so long as you abort your child.”

“So in your opinion the eldest daughter of the Bai family is only fit you be someone’s concubine?” Bai Yan closes in on the two, her voice carrying a trace of frost.

Grunting, the old madam rebuts her, “you are but a lowly wench who lost her virginity at this point, what right do you have to be picky? I’m telling you, the old one from the Qian family is willing to offer up a genuine third-grade spiritual Dan pill for your betrothal gift! Now that there’s a man willing to take you, what right do you have left to choose?”

Bai Yan narrows her eye, “I’ve heard the master of that Qian family is already over fifty years old, and that his temperament is brutal and ruthless. According to what I know, his concubines are constantly dying under shady circumstances! Are you intent on having me throw away my life?”

The Qian family was also one of the four aristocratic families in the city, but their reputation was mostly gained through their vicious cruelty.

It’s said that if a woman enters the Qian household, the only way out would be as a corpse.

“You stinken lass, our Bai family fed you and raised you for so many years, shouldn’t you at least return some of it? Let me tell you the truth then, my son has reached the lower level of the Earth rank and requires a genuine spiritual pill to break through! So, this time you can only marry into the Qian household as a concubine!”

Bai Yan had long known these people are shameless, but she never expected them to be of this extent. Sneering, “First, your surname is Yu, not Bai! If others hear you they might presume you are the old mistress of our Bai family.”

“Secondly, what does it have to do with me if your son needs a spiritual pill? How does it relate to me, and why should I sacrifice myself for your Yu family?”

“Thirdly, you mentioned about the Bai family having to raise me since I was young, but this Bai household only reached its current status because of my mother. Heck, even the dress you are wearing right now comes from my mother’s dowry.”

Livid with anger, Old Madam Yu starts to tremble all over after being reprimanded so openly.