Chapter 1: The Fake Noble Daughter in a Novel

Chapter 1: The Fake Noble Daughter in a Novel

Lu Mingchao opened her eyes dazedly, and what met her sight was an ancient, elegantly carved bed. The exquisite and soft curtains swayed gracefully, and outside the curtains, shadows of people moved about, with faint whispers carried by the wind.

Either she was losing her mind, or she had really traveled through time.

Lu Mingchao quickly closed her eyes and opened them again, feeling a throbbing pain in her forehead with the movement.

Following that, she recited the ancient poem "Ode to Liquor" silently in her heart.

It was confirmed. She was neither mad nor foolish.

She had traveled through time!

In her previous life, although she hadn’t eaten vegetarian meals, recited Buddhist scriptures, or accumulated virtue and good deeds, she hadn’t done any evil either.

Why me?!

Why me!

There were so many people who just talked big, so why was she the only unlucky one?

She couldn’t help but feel annoyed by this random, boundary-less time travel.

Lu Mingchao didn’t disturb the people outside the curtains, continuing to lie still while digesting the sudden surge of unfamiliar memories.

She had traveled into a book, and it was one she had randomly selected out of boredom before going to sleep.

What a coincidence, the villainous secondary character in the book, the fake daughter of a prestigious family, also shared her name, Lu Mingchao. Her friends had even joked that she should memorize the book to prepare for a possible time travel.

She had paid no attention to it.

She had skimmed through a few pages, and with a blink, she had come here.

Could she admit that her only real memory of the book was its summary?

If she had known this would happen, she would have studied the book carefully.

The wound on her forehead was from the original Lu Mingchao, who had crashed into a wall in a desperate attempt to avoid leaving the mansion.

She didn’t understand how much had changed in just one night.

All the respect and status she once had now belonged to someone else.

The family she once trusted and relied on was no longer hers.

The engagement to the Duke’s family, which she had been so proud of, was now someone else’s.

She was just the daughter of a farmer who couldn’t be presented in public.

The original owner, just reaching the age of fifteen, was greatly devastated.

She couldn’t bear it, really couldn’t bear it.

In the book, naturally, the original owner hadn’t died.

Both the Marquis’s mansion and the Duke’s family couldn’t afford to lose face; reputation was dignity.

The original owner’s collision had, after all, opened up a way out. She wasn’t sent back to the farmer’s family but remained in the Marquis’s mansion under the title of Second Miss.

Sometimes acting like a delicate flower, sometimes putting on a sweet and innocent act, and sometimes like a sesame ball, stirring up trouble.

She had never stood a chance.

The marriage contract that was considered more important than life was returned to its rightful owner, and the true daughter and the Duke's family's heir overcame numerous difficulties to marry, sealing a beautiful union.

The so-called difficulties were mainly because the original owner was relentlessly energetic and never stopped causing trouble.

The villainess died miserably on the streets, while the male and female leads lived happily ever after.

Talk about a cliché!

Lu Mingchao sighed silently.

After the incident of trying to die by crashing into a wall, there was no way she could stay.

Even if she stayed, it would be like the original owner's life in the book, constantly living under the scrutiny and disdain of others, being mocked and despised both inside and outside the mansion.

She couldn’t stand such a disgusting life, and it was better to leave while she had the chance.

Maybe it would stir some old feelings and soften the hearts of the Yongning Marquis and his wife, and they might give her some money to live on.

Well, she wasn’t too proud or special.

Without money, she couldn’t survive in this new world.

You’ve gotta be practical.

Lu Mingchao immediately made up her mind and pretended to have just woken up, speaking weakly to the figure outside the curtain, "Water..."

Half because she couldn’t think of what to say, half because her throat was on fire.

The maid in peach-colored clothes seemed to have the wind at her feet, and in the blink of an eye, she was by the bedside, her apricot eyes red and swollen, her voice choked with sobs, "Miss."

"Water."

Lu Mingchao emphasized hoarsely again.

This voice was worse than the sound of a saw cutting wood.

In Lu Mingchao's mind, the phrase "Baojuan, my voice" involuntarily surfaced.

The maid helped Lu Mingchao sit up, then quickly poured a cup of water and offered it to her with both hands.

As the water slid down her throat, Lu Mingchao felt like she had truly come back to life.

"Miss."

Seeing that the maid's tears were about to fall, Lu Mingchao quickly said, "Qiushi, help me change my clothes."

She needed to play the part of the injured original owner to win the Marquise’s sympathy.

No matter how much of a villain the original owner was in the book, since she had become Lu Mingchao in this story, she had to acknowledge the original owner's feelings and live a decent life on her behalf.

Qiushi hesitated and gently reminded her, "Miss, Lady ordered you to stay in your room."

She didn’t dare to say that after the incident of Miss crashing into the wall trying to die, the Marquis and his wife were furious, wishing that Miss had just died to end the matter.

If not for the risk of rumors, they wouldn’t have even called the doctor.

"It's alright." Lu Mingchao waved her hand, a bittersweet smile appearing on her face, making herself seem more delicate and harmless. "Qiushi, I've already died once and have come to a realization."

"I won't cause any more trouble. I want to go apologize and bid farewell to Mother."

"What isn't mine will never be mine. I shouldn't force it."

Lu Mingchao's peripheral vision caught the appearance of a noblewoman at the doorway. Her long lashes hid a shadow in her eyes as her hand under the silk quilt ruthlessly pinched her thigh. Her voice grew even more choked and pitiful, her act becoming more convincing. "I've enjoyed the life of a marquis's daughter for over a decade, living in luxury and enjoying blessings that were never meant for me."

"Now, it's time to return these to their rightful owner."

"Whether it's the identity of the marquis's daughter, the love of my parents, or the marriage contract with the Duke's family."

"I've thought it through."

"Qiushi, help me change."

"Just lie down," the elegantly dignified lady said gracefully.

Lu Mingchao pretended to be flustered and looked up. "Mother..."

Then she corrected herself. "Madam."

The lady's eyes examined her, as if weighing the truth of Lu Mingchao's words. But upon seeing the blood-stained bandage on Lu Mingchao's forehead and her moist eyes, her tone softened.

After all, she had raised Lu Mingchao for over a decade; some affection still lingered.

"The Yongning Marquis family is a prominent and wealthy family. Your behavior has disgraced the Marquis family, making a joke out of you for the people in the capital."

"Since this is the case, stay and recover as the second young miss of the Marquis family."

"But do not covet what you shouldn't."

As long as Lu Mingchao stayed quiet, adding another pair of chopsticks was no issue; the Marquis family could afford to support her.

If Lu Mingchao still harbored ill intentions, after the wedding, they would give her a fertility-ending potion and send her as a concubine to the Duke's family, doing the Duke's family a favor.

Given her precarious position, joining the Duke’s family as a concubine would be a step up for her.

As for the countryside, just send someone to deal with the peasants.

Thinking of this, Yongning Marquis Madam earnestly continued, "Mingchao, you're a grown lady now and should understand your mother's difficulties."

"After years of neglect, a mother has to make amends."

"In the future, get along well with Minghui and save some trouble."

Lu Mingchao chuckled inwardly but didn't show it on her face, nodding and shaking her head.

"I understand Madam's difficulties and challenges, and I know my position is awkward. If I continue to stay in the capital, it will upset Minghui, and I might be tempted to fight for the marriage contract again."

"Chaochao Fu has also arrived."