Translator’s Note: I’m sorry, this should be the Chapter 1 not the prologue. The prologue chapter is changed. (05/24/24)
With a thunderous roar, a bolt of lightning suddenly fell from the damp sky.
The white wrist holding the brush trembled, causing a blot of ink to spread across the rough paper.
The young girl seemed to be trapped in a dream, her brows furrowed, gripping the brush so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. It wasn’t until the wind blew the window open, letting in a gust of cold air, that she abruptly opened her eyes and saw the scroll on the candle stand inscribed with “Jing Si Hall.”
Ji Yuluo stared at these three vigorous and powerful characters for a long time before she fully awakened from the bone-chilling cold of the dream, her vision gradually becoming clear.
She was in Jing Si Hall, the meditation hall of the Ji residence.
Early last month, the eldest daughter of the Ji family was caught having a private meeting with the Imperial Inspector Huo Xian in a temple room, becoming the talk of the entire capital.
Before the Ji family could send Ji Yuyao to a remote estate to avoid the scandal, Huo Xian requested an imperial decree to marry her, claiming mutual affection. The matter caused an uproar, and in such situations, women always bore the brunt of the blame. The Ji family lost their reputation and dignity, unable to argue their case, and could only watch helplessly as the imperial decree for the marriage was issued, leaving no room for maneuver.
Naturally, Ji Yuyao became the sinner responsible for damaging the family’s reputation.
Now, Ji Yuluo had taken Ji Yuyao’s place and had to bear the punishment for her. A whole month had passed, the capital had already entered winter, and she didn’t know how much longer she would be confined.
Looking around, she saw the oil lamp beside her was long exhausted, and on the rough paper was a single character “Huo (霍),” half smeared with ink, leaving only the top half of the character “雨.”
She put down the brush and flexed her slightly numb fingers. Just as she stood to close the window, the door, long in need of repair, creaked loudly in the early morning silence.
Ji Yuluo paused and looked up, meeting a pair of calm and reserved eyes.
The visitor stood with his hands behind his back, his dark purple official robe making him appear very unapproachable. His cold and stern features bore an indescribable resemblance to the young girl, with fine lines at the corners of his eyes adding to his severity. The scholarly aura of his youth had matured into a heavy dignity that was intimidating when he did not smile.
He was none other than the head of the Ji family, Ji Chongwang.
Ji Yuluo quickly lowered her eyes, as if afraid to meet his gaze, her voice light and fearful, “Father.”
In just one month, Ji Chongwang’s voice seemed to have aged by ten years. He sighed inadvertently and said in a deep voice, “Someone from the palace has come.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuluo half-lifted her eyes, guessing that the Imperial Observatory had chosen an auspicious date.
Sure enough, Ji Chongwang continued, “The Imperial Observatory has chosen an auspicious date. It is set for the eighteenth of next month. There’s no point in saying more. Your mother will hire a tutor for you to learn proper etiquette. From now on—”
“Be cautious in word and deed.”
This almost seemed to be Ji Chongwang’s motto.
Although Ji Chongwang had risen smoothly through the ranks over the years, his humble origins made him particularly mindful of his status and reputation. He was meticulous in speech and behavior, never giving others leverage against him, and he demanded the same strictness from his household, especially his children. Because of this, his reputation was indeed well-maintained.
In Ji Chongwang’s eyes, Ji Yuyao was probably the blemish in his otherwise perfect record.
Ji Yuluo’s eyes reddened in cooperation, “But I have nothing to do with Lord Huo at all—”
“Whether your relationship with Huo Xian is real or not, the imperial decree has been issued. Neither you nor I have any choice in the matter!” Ji Chongwang interrupted her sternly. He took a deep breath to calm himself and continued, “You just need to behave properly and prepare for the marriage in the boudoir. Do not cause any more trouble.”
Ji Yuluo seemed intimidated by him, timidly responding, “Daughter understands… Daughter will remember your teachings, Father.”
Seeing her so meek and submissive, Ji Chongwang moved his lips, but swallowed the rest of his reprimand.
He wasn’t a loving father and was distant from his children, rarely involving himself in household matters. But that didn’t mean he was unaware. Did he truly not know how Ji Yuyao was slighted and mistreated in the household, and how she was forced to seek solace at the Chengyuan Temple?
Of course, he knew. He simply didn’t care.
After all, which household didn’t have its own troubles? As long as the matters didn’t become public and didn’t tarnish the Ji family’s reputation, he could turn a blind eye.
Therefore, although he rarely interacted with his eldest daughter, he understood her temperament well enough—timid, soft-hearted, and overly quiet. Even when wronged, she wouldn’t complain and would only shrink back more.
Like dough, without any sharp edges.
With such a disposition, even given a hundred opportunities, she wouldn’t dare to commit such an act of indiscretion.
Ji Chongwang closed his eyes. When he first heard about the incident at Chengyuan Temple, he was indeed furious. But later, he figured it out. It was most likely a setup.
Thinking of this, and looking at “Ji Yuyao” again, his expression showed a complex mix of regret and frustration.
A gust of cold wind blew in, causing Ji Yuluo to cover her mouth and cough twice. She looked so frail as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Ji Chongwang’s tone softened a little, and he waved his hand, “Alright, go back to your room. No need to stay in Jing Si Hall any longer.”
Ji Yuluo quickly complied.
Before leaving, Ji Chongwang added, “Your mother was angry that day and spoke harshly. Don’t hold it against her.”
Ji Yuluo immediately shook her head, “It was Yuyao who implicated the Ji family. How could I blame mother? I only hope she recovers from her anger soon and doesn’t harm her health.”
“It’s good that you think that way.” Ji Chongwang nodded appreciatively before leaving.
When his black boots disappeared from her sight, Ji Yuluo slowly lifted her head.
Her expression gradually turned cold, a mocking smile played on her lips, and the previous timidity in her eyes was replaced by a casual indifference.
“Miss!”
Ji Yuluo turned to see a maid in green running over with an umbrella.
Biwu followed closely beside Ji Yuluo, cautiously observing her expression. With red eyes, she hesitated to speak, “Miss, the date has been set. It’s… it’s on the eighteenth of next month.”
Ji Yuluo walked slowly towards the secluded corner courtyard where she resided, “Father just came and told me.”
Seeing her calm demeanor, completely different from the day she woke up crying at Chengyuan Temple, Biwu couldn’t figure out if her mistress had come to terms with the situation after a month of confinement or was just putting on a brave face.
It was probably the latter. After all, for seventeen years, her mistress had lived a difficult life in the Ji family, suffering in silence. Her only solace was her status as the legitimate eldest daughter, hoping to marry into a good family someday. Who could have predicted…
The maid shivered involuntarily at the thought of that name.
In the future, life would only get more difficult, and her mistress wasn’t someone adept at scheming.
Biwu could only worry more on her behalf. She sniffed, gathering herself, and said, “Miss, I heard that not long ago, Madam was arranging a match for the Third Miss, and had privately settled on a marriage with the Duke of Anguo household. But as soon as the imperial decree came, the Duke of Anguo family backed out and started arranging a marriage with another family. Madam is furious about this and hasn’t calmed down yet. We should avoid her for now.”
Ji Yuluo paused, then her expression cleared with understanding.
The Third Miss mentioned by Biwu was Ji Xianyu, Ji Yuyao’s legitimate younger sister. Lin Chan hated the eldest daughter as much as she doted on the youngest. She protected Ji Xianyu as if she were a precious gem.
So it was no surprise that Lin Chan was more furious than Ji Chongwang after the Chengyuan Temple incident. With her youngest daughter approaching marriageable age, any association between the Ji family and Huo Xian would make them undesirable, ruining marriage prospects.
Ji Yuluo sighed lightly, “You’re right.”
Seeing her sigh, Biwu became anxious again, “But Miss, you can’t remain at odds with Madam forever. With the wedding approaching, many things will require Madam’s attention. Even after you move to the Huo residence, you will still need to rely on the family. Madam… Although she doesn’t treat you as affectionately as the Third Miss, it’s only because she trusts too much in that master’s words and is wary of you. But in the end, you are her own daughter.”
“Madam has suffered from headaches for a long time, and Miss has learned many remedies for treating headaches from Abbess Jingchen. Once Madam’s anger subsides, these remedies could be useful. If Madam’s health improves, her mood will too, and she’ll be easier to talk to.”
“And the Third Miss. She has always treated you kindly, never distancing herself due to idle gossip. Even after losing the engagement with the Duke of Anguo family, she doesn’t blame you. She often asks about you. If the Third Miss could speak on your behalf to Madam, it would be for the best.”
Biwu offered advice earnestly while Ji Yuluo listened absentmindedly, occasionally nodding in agreement. As a rich floral scent wafted to her nose, she suddenly stopped and looked up.
Across the green wall, clusters of pale yellow flowers were blooming. Those were Ji Chongwang’s favorite winter plums.
Biwu followed her gaze, puzzled, “Miss, what’s the matter?”
Ji Yuluo replied, “These flowers are well cared for.”
“Indeed, no place in the mansion has more fragrant winter plums than Yiniang1The term Yíniáng 姨娘 is often used in traditional Chinese families to refer to a father’s concubine or secondary wife, who is not the principal wife (正妻, Zhèngqī). Yiniang can be translated as Aunt, but I’ll use the chinese term. Gu’s courtyard,” Biwu, having familiarized herself with many things in the past month, quickly explained. “I heard these winter plums were transported from Yanling. They are difficult to cultivate, but Yiniang Gu tends to them like treasures. Even Master praises her.”
“Is that so?”
Ji Yuluo withdrew her gaze, her tone indifferent, “The rain is getting heavier, let’s go.”
Reflected on the wet, slippery bluestone ground were the eaves of the surrounding buildings. Her eyes half-closed, she stared at the water, which mirrored the courtyard where the winter plums bloomed.
Fuxia Courtyard was the residence of Concubine Gu Rou.
The Ji family had a simple household. Ji Chongwang was dedicated to his official duties and indifferent to women. Aside from the mistress who managed the household, there was only one concubine.
However, Ji Chongwang hadn’t intended to take a concubine initially.
The old servants of the Ji family knew that the mistress was the daughter of Ji Chongwang’s mentor. The couple was harmonious at first. But after the mistress gave birth to the eldest daughter, her naturally proud temperament became more irritable, leading to frequent disputes and estrangement. To consider her son’s future, the old mistress brought in a concubine.
This woman was plain in appearance but had a gentle disposition, which unexpectedly won Ji Chongwang’s rare favor.
Ji Chongwang was a restrained man. His favor merely meant he visited Fuxia Courtyard for tea more often. However, Lin Chan, being small-minded, couldn’t tolerate anyone better than her, thus making things increasingly difficult for Gu Rou, who appeared even more gentle and pitiable.
But they were all seasoned players. Anyone who could hold their ground in a large household was far from purely innocent or easily bullied.
Instead, it was a case of the fish in the moat suffering when the city gates caught fire2 The phrase “fish in the moat suffering when the city gates caught fire” (城门失火，殃及池鱼) is a Chinese idiom that describes innocent bystanders getting caught up in the misfortunes or conflicts of others..
Ji Yuyao was that unlucky, pitiable fish.
The discord between the wife and the concubine had been ongoing for a long time, and Gu Rou knew Lin Chan’s weak spots well, always striking where it hurt the most. Her most frequent remark in Lin Chan’s presence was, “The eldest daughter doesn’t resemble Madam at all.”
Such seemingly offhand comments could ignite Lin Chan’s overwhelming fury.
And the Ji family’s main wife, Lin Chan, truly had a low capacity for dealing with these provocations. She would vent all her anger on her eldest daughter, who displeased her.
Her scoldings were harsh, and when words weren’t enough, she would resort to physical punishment. Being made to kneel on rainy days or stand in the scorching sun were common occurrences.
The last time she was particularly harsh was about three years ago.
That day, Fuxia Courtyard diagnosed a pregnancy, and a fortune-teller claimed it was a boy.
The Ji family had no male heirs, and after giving birth to Ji Xianyu, Lin Chan was left with lingering health issues, making it difficult for her to conceive again. This was a sore point for Lin Chan, but at least Gu Rou had only one daughter, making the rivalry a stalemate over the years.
However, if Gu Rou gave birth to a son, the balance would be broken. Ji Yuyao unfortunately encountered Lin Chan in a foul mood during this period, resulting in continuous scolding and punishment. Lin Chan couldn’t vent her frustrations on the pregnant concubine but could certainly take it out on her eldest daughter.
After all, she wasn’t someone worth feeling sorry for.
Ji Yuyao was tormented until she fell seriously ill. After this incident, she sought refuge at Chengyuan Temple under the guise of praying for the family’s well-being, staying there for three years. When she occasionally returned home, it was only for a few days, not daring to stay longer.
During this time, Gu Rou indeed gave birth to a son, becoming a great contributor to the Ji family. Even the old matriarch, who had been bedridden for years, made an effort to visit her.
But a concubine was still a concubine, and a son born to a concubine was still a concubine’s son.
Lin Chan wanted to raise Gu Rou’s son in her own quarters, to make him the legitimate heir. Ji Chongwang was happy with this idea, but due to social propriety, the matter was delayed without a resolution. However, Gu Rou knew it wouldn’t be delayed for long.
Women in deep-seated households, if they had no backing, could even lose their own sons. Gu Rou understood this well. Coming from a humble background, her only hope was her daughter.
But Ji Chongwang nearly shattered this hope.
Ji Yunkou, her second daughter, was sixteen and at the age for marriage. Despite Gu Rou’s high hopes, Ji Chongwang hinted at marrying Ji Yunkou to his favorite student, a poor scholar.
In truth, Ji Chongwang had put great thought into this. After years of navigating the officialdom, he had a keen eye, and the chosen groom was one of his top students, potentially destined for a high position in the future.
Unfortunately, Gu Rou lacked such foresight. She only saw that if her daughter married a poor scholar, their future would be bleak.
While she was pondering how to subtly change Ji Chongwang’s mind, the incident at Chengyuan Temple came to light.
The eldest daughter, who had been invisible for three years, was easily granted a marriage decree to Huo Xian. Gu Rou found this deeply ironic. While everyone in the Ji family detested this marriage, she wished her daughter could take her place.
While some avoided it like the plague, others pursued it eagerly.
Gu Rou never approved of the Ji family’s self-righteous and puritanical demeanor. In a world where power and influence were paramount, why insist on being an untainted lotus emerging from the mud?
At least for the mother-daughter pair in Fuxia Courtyard, the powerful and influential Huo Xian, favored by the emperor, was clearly a much better option than the poor scholar.
Just two days before Ji Yuyao returned to the mansion, Gu Rou somehow learned that Huo Xian’s proposal to marry Ji Yuluo was not based on affection but was a deliberate move to coerce Ji Chongwang into aligning with him. In other words, Huo Xian wanted a daughter of the Ji family.
But Ji Yuyao was not the only daughter in the Ji family.
There were three daughters in the Ji family. If Ji Yuyao were out of the picture and Ji Xianyu was not yet of marriageable age, that left only the concubine-born Ji Yunkou.
Greed and desire can give rise to the greatest courage.
Thus, Gu Rou harbored murderous intent.
After all, an eldest daughter unloved by both her parents, if dead, would be easily dismissed. The Ji family wouldn’t expend effort to investigate the so-called truth. They would merely brush it off and become preoccupied with dealing with the subsequent troublesome issues.
Ji Yuyao was undoubtedly the most suitable sacrificial lamb. So—
So that stormy night became the perfect time to act.
**
Author’s Note:
- Regarding the setting of this story: There are twin sisters, but the protagonist did not grow up in the manor. No one is aware of her current existence, and no one knows she is pretending to be her sister. The full background will become clear after about ten chapters, so please be patient.
- The first few chapters focus more on the inner courtyard, but the story is not primarily about inner courtyard intrigue. It may take an unusual direction.
- Concerning the protagonist’s character: She has a relatively low sense of morality and is not a perfect character.
