Chapter 1
My father was a treacherous grand chancellor, and my eldest legitimate sister was a venomous beauty in the imperial harem.
No one in our family met a good end.
My sister, the Noble Consort, was ordered to drink poisoned wine. My traitorous father had his estate confiscated and was sent into exile. I was forced into service at the Imperial Music Bureau…
Ever since my rebirth, I had lived each day in terror.
The moment I opened my eyes, I heard that Father was about to move against Xie Linyuan.
I shot upright in fright.
In my last life, Xie Linyuan—the emperor’s brother-in-law—had impeached Father before the entire court. Father had nursed a bitter grudge ever since.
Unable to swallow the humiliation, he arranged to have Xie Linyuan drugged.
Then he hired several men to sully the reputation of the aloof and incorruptible Lord Xie.
After suffering that outrage, Xie Linyuan left him with a single vow.
“For today’s humiliation, I, Xie Linyuan, will make you repay me a hundredfold one day…”
Later, Xie Linyuan climbed steadily to the heights of power.
When Father’s crimes were exposed and our estate was confiscated, Xie Linyuan personally led the officers through our gates and put Father in a prison cart…
His face had been so cold and sinister then that he looked like the King of Hell himself.
Without even taking the time to dress, I threw an outer robe around myself and rushed out.
The carriage brought me to Green Plum Alley.
I leapt down, charged through the door, and nearly lost my soul at the sight inside.
Xie Linyuan was propped against the couch, cheeks flushed and eyes unfocused. The drug had clearly taken full effect.
At the sound, he raised his head. His bloodshot eyes locked fiercely on me.
I ordered my people to guard the door and let no one enter.
Despite having been drugged, Xie Linyuan’s clothes were still intact.
Thank heavens I had arrived in time. No one had violated him yet.
The drug had left his body limp and powerless. He lay sprawled on the couch, unable to move.
But his spirit was unbending.
Struggling, he cursed me. “What shameless temptress is this? How dare you resort to such vile tricks to harm me?”
My fault.
I had come in such a hurry that I had barely put my clothes on properly.
He had probably misunderstood.
I hastily pulled my robe closed and tied the sash. “It wasn’t me! It truly wasn’t…”
Then I took a damp cloth from the washstand and tried to cool him down.
It did no good.
His skin only grew hotter beneath my hand.
The drug was too strong. Father was too ruthless.
And I had it far too hard.
Alas!
“Well, Lord Xie… should I fetch a girl from next door to cure you?”
The pleasure quarter was right beside Green Plum Alley. It would be convenient.
“If ordinary company isn’t good enough, I can pay extra and find you a virgin courtesan.”
What was a little silver compared with the lives of my whole family?
He glared at me. “Don’t you dare!”
Tsk.
Some people simply did not know what was good for them.
I rolled up my sleeves and reached out.
“Lord Xie, I understand that you’re shy. But this is a viciously potent aphrodisiac. If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life an invalid, it has to be relieved.”
“Don’t worry. It’s only you and me here. Once today is over, I will never let a third person know.”
“The moment you walk out that door, you can pretend you never met me.”
Xie Linyuan was shocked and furious, the whites of his eyes webbed with red.
I turned my head away from him, but my hand did not stop.
An hour later, I stood up with trembling hands.
Behind me, he forced a sentence through gritted teeth.
“For today’s humiliation, I, Xie Linyuan, will make you repay me a hundredfold one day…”
I clapped a hand desperately over his mouth.
“You really mustn’t say things like that…”