Chapter 1: A Marriage Exchange

"Greetings, Mother." Lu Shuyao bowed her head in a respectful salute.

The First Madam nodded, her sharp gaze scrutinizing the illegitimate daughter before her. Lu Shuyao was blessed with a fair and lovely face; when she lowered her head, her long, delicate lashes fluttered like butterflies in the spring. A few stray wisps of hair, loosened by her movement, fell against her pale cheeks, adding to her gentle and graceful air, while her figure remained slender and enchanting. Except for the legal daughter, Lu Yuerong, no one else in the household could rival her beauty.

It was no wonder her daughter had proposed that Lu Shuyao take her place in the palace. Thinking of her daughter's request, the First Madam's expression soured. She could not fathom what had possessed her daughter after that fright while horseback riding, causing her to want to cast aside such a prestigious opportunity as entering the palace, and even insisting on swapping marriages with this base-born girl. One had to realize that while an illegitimate daughter's marriage prospects might be decent, they could never compare to the honor of entering the imperial palace.

When the marriage for the illegitimate daughter was originally arranged, the First Madam had not even bothered to carefully investigate the character of the third son of the Xie family. She had simply found a household whose status appeared acceptable on the surface—one that would not tarnish her image as a benevolent legal mother—and brushed the matter aside. The Xie family had a good reputation in the capital and had indeed been a high-ranking noble family in years past. Yet, their fortunes had declined with each generation; now, they possessed not even a title, and the third Xie son was merely a boorish man with nothing but physical strength. Under the Great Cheng Dynasty, which prized peace and prosperity, there were few avenues for a military man to advance.

Entering the palace, however, meant enjoying endless glory and wealth. Everything had been perfectly arranged, yet after her fright, her legal daughter had insisted on swapping places, acting as if she were courting death. The First Madam could not know that her daughter, Lu Yuerong, was making such an unreasonable demand because she had lived a second life.

In her previous life, she had spent seven years in the palace and had barely seen the Emperor a handful of times. The Emperor disliked women and possessed a cold, ruthless temperament that terrified everyone in the palace. Having failed to gain the Emperor's favor, she had been framed by the petty squabbles of the harem and convicted of a capital crime. It was only because her family had pleaded for her repeatedly that her sentence was commuted to four years in the cold palace. During those four years, she suffered immeasurable torment. Because she had offended the Emperor, no one dared to offer her a helping hand.

It was not until Lu Shuyao's husband, Xie Liwen, earned merit at the border and returned to the capital in triumph, being enfeoffed as the Great General Defending the State, that things changed. Her brother-in-law had spoken up for her, and only then did the Emperor relent and allow her to leave the cold palace. After she was released, she had seen her half-sister and her husband at a palace banquet.

Lu Shuyao was dressed in the extraordinary finery of a noblewoman, her hair adorned with pearls and jade. The husband was honored, and the wife was noble—a perfect match. She saw Xie Liwen smiling as he added food to Lu Shuyao's bowl; when Lu Shuyao frowned and shook her head, he simply took the rejected dishes into his own bowl with a smile. The way Xie Liwen looked at Lu Shuyao was something she had never received from any man—such remarkable affection and meticulous care. Even when Lu Shuyao left to relieve herself, Xie Liwen insisted on accompanying her.

And what of her? Her hands were cracked and unhealed, and though she was ill, she had to attend this victory banquet—which had nothing to do with her—for the sake of the imperial face. The Emperor looked at her with nothing but disgust, as if he were staring at spoiled leftovers. Why was her life now not even as good as that of this base-born second sister? Before she was married, she had been superior to Lu Shuyao in every way. She was well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and excelled in needlework and cooking; she was, by all accounts, a lady of a noble house. Lu Shuyao, however, was unmotivated, shallow, and short-sighted; aside from inheriting the beauty of her harlot mother, she was completely useless!

Why should the illegitimate daughter of a whore live better than her, the noble legal daughter who had married into the palace? Why?

"They are both daughters of the Lu family, but look at Lady Lu—if it weren't for her half-sister, she probably would never have made it out of the cold palace." At the banquet, the already frail Lu Yuerong heard these words, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and subsequently, she was reborn.

Upon realizing she had been given a second chance, the first thing Lu Yuerong did was weep and beg her parents not to let her enter the palace! She would never again enter that man-eating place! She would rather die! And so, it was after Lu Yuerong’s crying, making scenes, and threats of suicide that this conversation took place today.

"Sit," the First Madam said softly, as servants brought in tea. Lu Shuyao had always behaved impeccably before the First Madam. She followed the rule of not speaking or looking at what was improper. To the prestigious First Madam, as long as a minor illegitimate daughter did not provoke her, she could not be bothered to spar with her. Thus, Lu Shuyao simply held her teacup quietly, waiting to be questioned.

Sure enough, after a few moments, the First Madam spoke: "Shuyao, you are aware that your eldest sister is ill, are you not?"

"I am aware. Mother, is my eldest sister feeling any better?" Lu Shuyao asked softly, her voice filled with concern. Her eldest sister, Lu Yuerong, had been frightened while riding two days prior and had suffered from a persistent high fever ever since. She heard that there had been a commotion yesterday, and the grandmother had opened the storehouse to send many precious medicinal herbs to Qinglan Courtyard.

"She is somewhat better. But with the selection of palace maids approaching, the imperial decree is difficult to defy. I do not know if your sister's health will hold up."

Lu Shuyao offered comfort: "Eldest sister is blessed with great fortune; she will certainly recover."

"That may be, but one must be prepared for everything. Shuyao, you and your eldest sister look so much alike. If one did not know you were illegitimate, they would mistake you for sisters born of the same mother."

Hearing this, Lu Shuyao began to harbor suspicions. However, she was unsure of what the First Madam was planning, so she only smiled and said, "Indeed, others often say the same." In the past, whenever others said this, the First Madam would be furious. After all, in her mind, her own legal daughter was of the highest nobility; to compare her to the daughter of a courtesan was an insult.

"Therefore, I have a request that may be difficult to grant, but I hope you will accommodate me." The First Madam took Lu Shuyao's hand and held it in her palm. Feeling the warmth of her delicate hand, Lu Shuyao sneered inwardly, though her expression remained soft: "Mother, please speak plainly."

"Your sister’s health will not improve in time. Why don't you take her place and enter the palace for the selection?"

Lu Shuyao froze. "But..."

"There are no 'buts.' Do you wish for this matter to provoke the Emperor against your father and leave the entire Lu household in turmoil?"

What a heavy accusation to place upon her. Yet, Lu Shuyao was not in the least flustered. She simply asked, "And what of my marriage to the Xie family?"

As she spoke, a cough sounded from outside the room. The First Madam, unable to address the illegitimate daughter’s question, stood up immediately and hurried to greet the newcomer. "You have not recovered from your cold; why have you gotten up?"

A maid lifted the curtain, and Lu Yuerong, who had been bedridden for two days, appeared. She was currently ill, her complexion pale and delicate, her figure as frail as a willow in the wind. The arrogance that once defined her was gone, replaced by a newfound, gentle beauty.

"Mother, Second Sister."

Lu Shuyao stood up unhurriedly to return the salute. "Eldest Sister."

Lu Yuerong smiled faintly and looked at her: "Do not worry about the marriage to the Xie family, Sister. I shall marry the third Xie son myself. I suspect the Xie family will be nothing but overjoyed!"

With that, she coughed twice, took her mother’s arm, and sat down further inside.