Chapter 1: A Decade of Folly

Chapter 1: A Decade of Folly

Su Youyue was reborn.

She returned to ten years ago, before her family faced ruin and before she was married.

In her previous life, as the legitimate daughter of the Minister's household, she had been wedded to Lu Song for a decade, yet lived as a widow in all but name.

On their wedding night, her husband was summoned by the Emperor to fight on the frontlines.

The Lu family was already impoverished, and his departure only worsened their situation. The elderly, weak, and young lost their pillar of support, all floundering in panic. The heavy burdens suddenly fell upon her, the new bride.

To ensure Lu Song could fight without worry, she spent her dowry and held up the crumbling Lu family.

Unfortunately, her efforts to rebuild the Lu family and her frugal living were in vain, for Lu Song squandered her earnings to maintain a concubine outside their home.

She vividly recalled that day when the man returned victorious from battle.

After ten long years, his first words to her were, "Su Youyue, during my campaigns, it was thanks to the care of my cousin, Yun Niang, that I returned alive."

"Life in the military is hard, and she has endured much suffering alongside me. I cannot betray her. I have already requested an audience with His Majesty to elevate her status to a secondary wife, equal to yours."

The man's expression was serene, without any trace of guilt, as if he were simply relaying information.

Su Youyue smiled bitterly. In these ten years, due to excessive labor, she, not yet thirty, had aged prematurely like a woman in her forties or fifties.

Yet her husband seemed blind to it all, acknowledging another woman's hardships and planning to elevate her to an equal position?

What then, did her decade of dedication amount to?

"Furthermore, considering your mobility issues, Wen'er should be placed under Yun Niang's care from now on. After all, he is already our child, and this arrangement brings things full circle."

Full circle??

Su Youyue's heart felt torn apart.

Back then, her mother-in-law had deceived her, saying that Lu Song's fate in battle was uncertain, and it would be pitiful for her to be alone, guarding the Lu family. Thus, she suggested adopting a child as a source of comfort.

Touched by the sentiment, Su Youyue believed she had made the right choice and followed her mother-in-law's advice, adopting a child through their intermediaries.

Little did she expect that it was all part of their scheme. The son she had nurtured with care for ten years turned out to be Lu Song's illegitimate child with his cousin!

They had even conceived a child before their marriage. Lu Song had only married her for her dowry and the Su family's influence!

How bitterly they had deceived her!

Now, with her family in ruins and her dowry depleted, she was of no further use to them. Thus, she decided to discard her pretenses altogether.

What a pack of ungrateful parasites!

The night was deep, and snow fell layer upon layer outside the window.

It was the last night before Su Youyue's rebirth.

To celebrate Lu Song and Yun Niang's wedding, the Lu family decorated their home with lights and colors, exuding an atmosphere of joy.

She, however, was left alone in the rear courtyard.

Hearing the revelry in the main hall, she gripped the armrests of her wheelchair tightly, filled with humiliation and resentment.

When... after tonight, even if it meant risking her life, she would force Lu Song to sign the divorce papers, severing all ties with the detestable Lu family once and for all.

As she was pondering, footsteps slowly approached the room.

She furrowed her brow slightly. "Yun Niang?"

Moments later, a gentle and alluring voice responded, "Madam has sharp hearing."

In her youth, Su Youyue had been the victim of a scheme that resulted in an injury to her leg. The improper treatment left her with a lifelong disability, confining her to a wheelchair. However, her limited mobility had honed her auditory skills; she could discern who was coming merely by the sound of footsteps.

On such a joyous occasion, Yun Niang, as the main character, should have been in the main hall instead of suddenly appearing here with an air of smugness, which made Su Youyue feel a sense of unease.

Coughing, she spoke coldly, "After ten years in the shadows, congratulations on your elevation to concubine. Now you can finally stand on equal footing with me."

"It's a pity, but that's still not enough. Only when you're dead will it truly be a day of great celebration for me and the Lu family."

Yun Niang sighed wistfully, her eyes gleaming with evident delight.

"Kang Yun, what did you just say? How dare you!" Su Youyue rebuked sharply.

"Su Youyue, if not for you, I would have been the rightful and legitimate First Lady of the Lu family. You have occupied my place for ten long years, causing me to be separated from my own son. Now, you even dare to seek a divorce from Cousin and attempt to divide our Lu family's wealth? Dream on!"

Kang Yun seemed to have been holding back her anger, which she fiercely expelled, "Aunt, time is of the essence. We must act swiftly."

Before Su Youyue could grasp the implications of her words, several familiar figures appeared at the entrance.

It was her mother-in-law, her younger brother-in-law, and her sister-in-law. Each of them looked at her with icy malevolence in their eyes...

In no time, they swarmed around her, forcefully pinning her onto the wheelchair and pushing her towards the pond outside the house.