Chapter 2: Rebirth

Chapter 2: Rebirth

The early winter water was icy cold, piercing to the bone.

Su Youyue was pushed under, choking on the putrid pool water. It felt as if her lungs were being ripped apart in agony.

She struggled desperately, just managing to raise her head above the surface before their hands eagerly forced her back down.

"Hurry up, we don't want anyone to hear us."

It was Lu Song's voice...

Indeed, he was that callous. Otherwise, he wouldn't have married her only to leave her alone in the Imperial City for a full decade, showing no concern or interest.

He even secretly formed a bond with his cousin.

Indignation surged within her as she struggled fiercely, but suddenly, a youth of about thirteen or fourteen years old darted out from the side. With swift movements, he reached out both hands to grab her hair bun and, with vicious force, pushed her head underwater.

"Mother, I'll take care of it!"

Upon hearing this voice, Su Youyue's body froze, as if all her strength had drained away. She ceased struggling, allowing the icy water to engulf her eyes, nose, and mouth, sending chills through her body like a descent into hell.

Those on the surface rejoiced and promptly smashed a wheelchair down onto the woman's head, ensuring she had no chance of surfacing for air...

However, they were oblivious to the fact that, until her last breath, the woman's eyes remained wide open beneath the water, fixated on them.

Her death was not peaceful!

A cold, grim atmosphere enveloped everything, causing all life to wither.

Snowflakes fell densely like knives, blanketing the earth in a blinding layer of white overnight.

Amidst this dazzling white glow, Su Youyue awoke in a cold sweat.

Surveying the unfamiliar yet strangely familiar surroundings, she momentarily struggled to distinguish whether she was dreaming or awake.

She observed the exquisite zitan wood furniture in the room,

the ornate bird-shaped incense burners made of gold and silver.

Amidst the room, there was also a silver frost charcoal burning silently without smoke or flame.

She was somewhat uncertain—was this her maiden boudoir from before she was married?

The discomfort in her body felt all too real, ruling out the possibility that it was merely a dream. Could it be... that she had been given a second chance at life?

Before Su Youyue could revel in her fortune, her head throbbed fiercely. Suddenly, the door creaked open.

A round, rosy face squeezed into view, its wide eyes lighting up the moment they met hers. "Miss, you're awake!"

"Jin'er?"

Upon recognizing the person, Su Youyue's eyes stung with emotion.

In her previous life, Jin'er had been falsely accused of sullying the family's reputation by her sister-in-law, Wang Shi, and beaten to death while Su Youyue was away.

Though she had later severely punished Wang Shi, it was too late to save Jin'er's life.

Fortunately, she had been granted another opportunity. In this lifetime, she would ensure that those heartless and despicable individuals paid for their deeds!

"What's wrong, Miss? Are you unhappy?"

Jin'er, covered in snowflakes, approached Su Youyue, her chilling presence sending a shiver down Su Youyue's spine, yet the latter remained unaware, still wearing a smile.

"Miss, don't worry. That despicable slave won't get away with provoking you. Lady Liu is punishing him to kneel in the East Garden for five hours as revenge on your behalf. Let him freeze to death!"

"Despicable slave?" Su Youyue was momentarily perplexed.

But soon, she couldn't find joy in her rebirth.

Jin'er continued nodding cheerfully. "Yes, Miss. It's Xie Yuan. Didn't you hate him the most? He was just whipped by Miss and now has to kneel in the snowy garden. Who knows if he'll survive? If he dies, those people won't be able to mock Miss anymore!"

Su Youyue gasped, a cold sensation rushing up her spine.

Although marrying into the Lu family was the biggest regret of her previous life, another incident paralleled it—bullying the notorious traitor, Xie Yuan.

At this point, who could have foreseen that Xie Yuan, the son of the convicted traitor, after being sent to the Minister's residence as a slave by the Third Princess, would rise to power in less than two years, defying all odds, and accompany the deposed prince back to the pinnacle?

He became even more infamous than his biological father as a traitor in the Great Sheng Dynasty.

Until she was wrongfully killed by the Lu family, he remained in his unattainable position for her.

Back then, she was naive and despised Xie Yuan for being the son of a traitor, coupled with his cold demeanor. Their encounters often ended in clashes.

The most severe incident was when she lashed him with a whip, subsequently leading to his punishment of kneeling in the snowy grounds, nearly costing him his life...

Recalling the ruthless revenge he enacted in his later years, her fingertips trembled with fear that seemed etched into her soul.

If Heaven truly pitied her, why didn't it send her back two months earlier? That was when Xie Yuan had just been sent to the Su residence as her slave. All the abuses had yet to occur; there was still time to change things...

With this thought, Su Youyue struggled to get out of bed, "Quickly, help me to see him!"