This spring, the Da Cheng region experienced warmer weather than ever before. As a result, the trees and grass woke up from their sleep earlier than usual. They competed to bloom, filling the entire region with beautiful flowers.

In the capital, the Shen family, an old scholarly family, was no different from the other mansions in the city, adorned with blooming flowers. Dozens of white pear trees in the garden held up their bouquets of blossoms, emitting a fragrant scent in the gentle breeze. Tempting the bumblebees to come and investigate.

Behind the Moon Circle gate, a maid in a light green uniform jogged into the large house belonging to Huyin, the head of the household. When she reached the top of the stairs, she immediately headed to her mistress's room.

The luxurious bedroom was decorated with pale pink silk and expensive furniture made of huanghua wood ( mangrove wood ). Meng Zhilu sat sipping tea on a four-poster bed intricately carved with floral patterns. Soft sunlight shone through the window panes, making the atmosphere in the bedroom cozy and comfortable. Today, she wore peach blossom-colored clothes woven from the fine silk of the southern city, with the sleeves and skirt embroidered with gold tinsel in the shape of delicate pear petals. Her hair was styled in a low bun, secured with gold pins adorned with large pearls. Judging by her elegant attire and sparkling eyes, it was clear she eagerly awaited someone's arrival.

Suddenly, the maid walked into the room. She bowed humbly and immediately informed her mistress of the news. “Dear Huyin, Master Shen’s carriage has passed through the city gate right now. He should be back at the estate within two hours”

Meng Zhilu's eyes shone with joy. The moment that she had been waiting for is finally arrived. It was not a waste of effort that her father had paid more than 10,000 taels to the administrative department. In exchange for his early return home. Ten thousand taels was a considerable bribe, but it was worth it.

Meng Zhilu slowly lifted the teacup and took another sip, her lips curving into a thin smile. “Very good,” she said in a smooth voice. “And has the butler made all the preparations?”

The maid bowed her head and replied, “Of course, Huyin. The butler led the servants to stand in line to welcome their master since morning. The atmosphere is bustling. Everyone praises Huyin for your generous gift.” The maid's voice sounded as excited as the people outside, likely due to the five taels of silver Meng Zhilu had given them.

Hearing that, Meng Zhilu got up from the bed with a graceful posture, her bright red lips raised into a mocking smile. Her beautiful eyes sparkled like diamonds when she spoke of the elders in the family, “What about Elder Tai Tai and the elder Huyin, have those two arrived in my great hall yet?” She asked in a smooth voice, raising her hand and moving a gold pin on her bunch.

The maid replied in a smooth voice, “The two elders arrived just a moment ago.”

Elder Tai Tai her name is Nie Shi, is Shen Zhongting's paternal grandmother, a respected member of the Shen family. She had married the former family leader two generations ago and had a son named Shen Zhongxin, who was the father of Shen Zhongting, and passed away many years ago.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Elder Huyin, Shen Zhongting's mother, was a 45-year-old woman. She became the head daughter-in-law 30 years ago and had a strained relationship with Meng Zhilu ever since, due to her manipulative nature and tendency to interfere in others' affairs. By now, the old grandmother was likely sitting in the main house with her head held high.

Meng Zhilu thought mockingly. She gently placed the teacup on the table before standing up and arranging her sleeves. “Ruyi has prepared tea and snacks to welcome them, hasn't she? Did you use the silver needle tea leaves as I instructed?” she said in a cold voice, before walking to the brass mirror on the dressing table opposite the bed and then squinting her eyes at her clothes again.

“It's been taken care of, Huyin. Please rest assured,” a close servant named Pi Qiao replied, then came in to help arrange the lady boss’s clothes.

Meng Zhilu looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her beautiful eyes widened slightly when she fell upon another hairpin adorning her hair bun. This hairpin was made of white jade highly quality carved at the end in the shape of a white flower. The center was decorated with beautiful water pearls. This item was a reward she had received the year before, after persuading her father to spend more than 500,000 taels of her money to renovate a large house for Shen Zhongting's mother and grandmother.

At the back of the estate, located on the north side of the Moon Circle gate, an area occupying a quarter of the property housed eight wooden houses. Each house was a hundred years old and in a somewhat dilapidated condition, despite having been restored by many generations of owners.

Upon completing the house repairs, she received an heirloom hairpin from her mother-in-law as a reward and a token of gratitude for her dedication.

Though undeniably beautiful, but every time she gazed at it, memories of the past resurfaced, haunting her...

In her previous life, she had diligently cared for Shen Zhongting's mother and grandmother, fulfilling his wishes before he left for the border. Yet, her mother-in-law never appreciated her efforts. No matter how well she performed, Elder Huyin always found fault, scolding her and even instructing the servants to subtly undermine her at every opportunity. The elder remained fixated on finding a young wife to warm her son's bed, leaving Meng Zhilu perpetually traumatized, bullied, and under immense pressure.

When she was brutally attacked by Sen Zhongting with a blade that slashed down her body. At that time, she cried out for her life, but the black-hearted mother-in-law stood and watched with cruel eyes, cursing her mercilessly. Her tears ran down her cheeks against the blood that spilled from the wounds all over her body. Her heart shattered like a smashed tile. A sense of despair overwhelmed the mind like a person who was left adrift in the open sea.

In her past life, she had sacrificed everything for the Shen family, meticulously caring for them as Shen Zhongting had implored. In return, they inflicted unimaginable pain and suffering on her. As she lay dying, she vowed with bitter resentment that if given another chance, she would forge a new path, never again allowing herself to be exploited or defeated by their evil.

Fate had granted her this second chance, a chance to fulfill her vow. The naive and yielding Meng Zhilu of yesterday was gone, replaced by a woman of unwavering resolve.

“Alright, let's go,” Meng Zhilu declared, her eyes gleaming with determination and a confident smile gracing her lips. She gently adjusted the ornate hairpin in her hair before gracefully exiting the room, traversing the polished wooden balcony and passing through the layers of elegant curtains.