Chapter 1: The Deception
Re-entering the deep palace, every step is filled with trepidation. Will it ultimately change fate, or will history repeat itself
She immediately denied it, saying, "No."
Ronghua felt a burning pain in her internal organs, while the mothers released her, allowing her to curl up on the ground
Ronghua strained to lift her head, yet could not discern the expression of the madam hidden in the shadows. Ronghua shook her shoulders, desperately resisting, "I have always been a young lady; it is impossible for me to die without reason. Even if I stole something, it does not warrant death."
Each time they met, they arranged everything meticulously, but unexpectedly, they were still discovered by their father
The sound of footsteps grew closer, and Ronghua stepped forward to greet.
"It's so late, how could the madam..." Qi Qi still felt a bit flustered.
In the evening, Mother Chen came and borrowed everyone from her yard one by one, leaving only her and Qiqi. She should have sensed it; she had always been a cautious person, yet she did not think of it.
If the madam wishes to take disciplinary action, there is no need to choose this time; she can come quietly and without a sound
Looking again at the colorful phoenix beside her, could it be... could it be her
Ronghua originally thought that only the first wife would come, but unexpectedly, in addition to the first wife and her trusted confidant, there were also two mothers whom Ronghua had never seen before following behind.
Although she is a child born out of wedlock, she will always be her father's own flesh and blood. At most, she might be married off casually, but she would never be allowed to die.
It will simply never be that ending again
Although Ronghua tightly closed her mouth, the bitter medicine from the book still flowed in. Her mother pinched her nose, causing her to momentarily struggle to breathe, and involuntarily open her mouth, allowing a large quantity of the medicine to pour down her throat
However, today is different. Father held her hand and promised her that as long as she revealed the person in her heart, he would take charge for her, and this cloak would be personally handed over to him by Father
Miss, Qiqi rushed into the room in a fluster, the door not yet fully closed, and breathlessly exclaimed, "Not good, Miss, the madam is coming this way..." Qiqi looked at the items in Ronghua's hands and urged, "Miss, quickly hide the things, it will be too late if we delay."
Ronghua was overwhelmed by the two mothers, struggling to breathe. She exerted all her strength to break free from the four hands on her body. She vaguely heard a cry of despair from the side room, and her eyes widened in terror.
"I am merely exercising family discipline; if you cannot withstand it, then you cannot blame anyone else." The matriarch adjusted her sleeves, concealing her hands behind them, while two other mothers approached with a bowl of water.
She truly regrets her past decisions
In the sixteenth year of Yongsheng, a horse-drawn carriage passed through an uninhabited wasteland. The simple carriage stopped for a moment, and a woman inside let out a soft sigh, saying, "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows... Truly, the Buddha speaks no falsehoods"
It is likely that Father has already informed the eldest madam and Madam Tu about this matter. Once Father has made a decision, the eldest madam, no matter how reluctant, would not dare to oppose it
Madam sighed, "I told you long ago to be aware of the times and know when to advance and retreat. Now that you find yourself in this predicament... do not blame the wrong person"
Ronghua was striving to sort out her thoughts, but unfortunately, there was not much time left
What does this mean, Madam? ... Ronghua thought of Qiqi in the side chamber ...
So easily believed, laying everything bare
Rong Hua smiled faintly, her charming face revealing a hint of sweetness. She had never anticipated meeting him; had it not been for her father bringing her to the library to copy book titles, this romantic fate would not have come to pass
Ronghua set down the cloak in her hands and stood up; Qiqi had already opened the door
Her life was unexpectedly short, which is not only tragic but also filled with anger
Ronghua smiled, and it is no wonder that Qiqi felt flustered. In her hands was a man's cloak, and if the madam were to see it, it would be a serious matter. Holding a man's belongings in the boudoir, no matter how favored she was in front of her father, she could not escape the severe punishment of family law. Moreover, she was merely a daughter born out of wedlock; committing such a mistake, the madam would show her no mercy.
Now, it is not only her, but also Qiqi who has been harmed.
She should not have told her father about this matter. As a daughter born out of wedlock, she is referred to as a young lady in a flattering manner, but in reality, she is merely a pawn of lowly status, destined to be manipulated by others. However, she is different from the other illegitimate daughters in the household; her father dotes on her particularly because she resembles her biological mother, the second concubine. This affection has allowed her to overstep the boundaries expected of a proper young lady, boldly revealing the secret she has kept in her heart. However, she is different from the other illegitimate daughters in the household; her father dotes on her particularly because she resembles her biological mother, the second concubine. This affection has allowed her to overstep the boundaries expected of a proper young lady, boldly revealing the secret she has kept in her heart.
There is none? How could there be a man's belongings?
Madam's once sharp gaze, when directed at her, was cold and slightly fierce
Ronghua opened her eyes wide, unable to believe it
This is the scenario from those novels that she envied immensely, something she never dared to hope for, yet it is about to become a reality
Very few people know that in this year, a concubine's daughter from the Tao family also died, and she was casually carried out through the back door and buried on a desolate hill.
Father said: "Ronghua, you truly resemble your mother. I have always felt indebted to your mother and hope to find some compensation through you. Rest assured, you will attain the happiness you desire. Later on, I will have your elder wife come over to help you prepare."
Previously, she died in that mansion, and now she is unexpectedly returning to that place
She actually believes that a father's love for his child can surpass everything
I never expected life to end this way, right here in this room, the place where she was born, and also the place from which she departed
The lady seemed to smile, yet not quite.
Everyone come in, close the door, without allowing any discussion. The two, along with the mother of the books, have already forced her to kneel on the cold ground, and beside her, Qiqi was also covered on the mouth and dragged into the side room
Madam picked up the cloak that was placed by her bedside, raised her eyebrows, and with a dark and uncertain expression said, "Ronghua, you actually dare to have an affair with a man"
After so many years of caution, a single misstep leads to failure, all because she is not as cold-blooded and heartless as they are
As for your good marriage proposal, our elder sister is more suitable than you.
Madam's voice was somewhat ethereal, "No one will inquire."
Madam took out a gold hairpin from her sleeve, the colorful phoenix on it trembling slightly. She flung the hairpin beside Ronghua, saying, "How could our Tao family raise such a shameless girl like you? The noble person in the front courtyard has been searching for this item, only to find that you have taken it... Do you know what a grave offense this is? Even if I want to protect you, I cannot explain this to that noble person."
This is not an ordinary punishment; otherwise, Qi Qi in the side room would not have called out once and then fallen silent.
In the thirteenth year of the Yongsheng era, the Tao family in the capital enjoyed great prominence. The eldest daughter of the Tao family was originally married to the inconspicuous and declining noble scion Zhao Xuanhuan. Unexpectedly, not long after, the Emperor, in appreciation of the military achievements of Zhao's ancestors, restored the family's noble title. Zhao Xuanhuan's father, Zhao Xincheng, inherited the title of Duke Yicheng.
If the master knew, how could I come to ask you? You should take a look at your own status, relying on the master's favor to do such things. Ronghua, I usually find you quite well-behaved, but I never expected you to be so foolish. The eldest madam walked over to her, "Ronghua, I thought you were a girl who understood the rules. If you had always been proper, I would have found you a good husband to marry, but you insist on..."
Another six months passed, and Tao Zheng'an diligently served in his position, being promoted to the rank of a sixth-grade official in the Ministry of Revenue, Zhejiang Department. The entire Tao family was suddenly enveloped in an atmosphere of joy.
Ronghua reluctantly raised her head, "Mother, how could Ronghua dare to have secret dealings with a man? This is something Father knows; you only need to ask Father..."
It is impossible; how could one so easily decide her life or death? Even though the madam is quite arrogant, there has never been a precedent for such a thing
Suddenly, two people died, and there will always be suspicions. When someone starts to investigate, you cannot cover everything up by yourself
You still do not understand, the power of life and death in the residence does not lie with me
Madam put away her smile, her eyes slightly darkened, and she seemed to be in a state of meditation. It was not until Ronghua was left with only a faint breath that she finally spoke: "Ronghua, your identity determines your fate; you should not resist, otherwise no one will be able to save you"
She had initially intended to never admit it, but she did not expect her father to look at her with such a loving gaze
The room is dimly lit, with only one lamp flickering and swaying.