Chapter 2

The Minister of Personnel’s residence, in the capital.

His wife, Lady Xing, was studying me in bewilderment.

“You are Li Jinshuang?”

I answered respectfully while secretly taking her measure.

I knew nothing of Li Jinshuang’s past, but the minister’s history was common knowledge in the capital.

Years ago, he had been a poor scholar who placed first in the imperial examinations.

The chancellor’s daughter, Miss Xing, fell in love with the handsome young champion and refused to marry anyone else.

But he already had a betrothed back home, a woman he loved deeply, so he politely declined her offer.

Before Li Xiao could return home to marry, a flood struck his village and his betrothed was reported dead.

Devastated, he sank into despair for a long time. Miss Xing stayed beside him, tender and attentive.

Deeply moved, the examination champion eventually married her. Their union became a much-told love story.

Now it seemed his betrothed had not died at all. She had even borne his first child: Li Jinshuang.

How could Lady Xing, the woman who came after, fail to panic?

The letter had warned Li Jinshuang that the people coming to fetch her were sent by Lady Xing to kill her. She was to leave early and travel to the capital alone.

Yet the poor girl had still failed to escape.

The people sent to collect her must have found her gone, so Lady Xing hired others to murder her.

The feuds of great houses were every bit as dangerous as the lawless world outside them.

As befitted her noble birth, Lady Xing knew how to hide her thoughts.

Her shock lasted only an instant before she mastered herself.

“These are troubled times. How can you prove you are Li Jinshuang? The servant I sent to fetch you found no one.”

I felt a little easier. This further confirmed that no one in the minister’s household had ever seen the real Li Jinshuang.

“My lady, I knew nothing of it. My mother told me who I was when she lay dying. After her funeral, I set out. I had no idea you had sent anyone for me.”

Li Jinshuang’s mother had died of illness. I guessed she had contacted Li Xiao before her death, hoping to entrust their daughter to him.

The dead could not contradict me. I would certainly never tell Lady Xing what was in that letter.

Her expression changed several times.

“You came all the way to the capital alone, a young girl… Did you meet anyone on the road?”

“I did!”

I pretended to wipe away tears.

“I happened to meet a woman traveling the same way. We ate and lodged together, as close as sisters. But she was a swindler! She stole my clothes, traveling money, and keepsake, then vanished. I had to beg almost the whole way here…”

Lady Xing clenched her teeth, her hand tightening into a fist on the table.

I laughed inwardly. She had believed me. How she must be cursing the two fools who had killed the wrong woman!