Volume One, Chapter Three: Going Too Far

How long had it been? She and Long Yu supported each other, drifting back to the bridal chamber like two restless ghosts.

The red decorations in the new room had yet to be taken down; the dragon and phoenix candles crackled softly as they burned.

“Miss, why don’t we write a letter to the prince and princess to beg for mercy?” Long Yu suggested.

“Are you afraid we’ll die here?” she asked lightly, causing Long Yu to shudder in fear.

The situation today was already so clear. If she were a member of the Lou family, they would never tolerate her presence.

“No, at least not within this year,” Long Yu assured her.

The elderly head of the Lou family, Third Master’s household, and several eldest grandsons were all in Yanjing City. Moreover, the Lou family’s century-old reputation would prevent them from acting so irrationally.

Otherwise, it would be tantamount to openly opposing the royal family—a fact subtly confirmed by Madam Lou’s earlier protection.

Yet Xiao Yuanyi understood the reality: she had originally been sent by His Majesty to win over the border generals. No matter how dissatisfied they were, they could only tolerate her.

Now, with a blood feud so deep, there was no way to truly drop grudges. Before they acted on their murderous intent, their only option was escape.

“Long Yu, we have to run,” she said firmly.

She refused to quietly ‘fall ill and die’ here in a few years. She had to live to expose Xiao Baopan’s true nature.

She had a premonition that her eldest brother’s role in the deaths of two Lou generals might be connected to her. She had seen Xiao Baopan alone with the Sixth Prince—something that should never have happened.

She would never allow the Nan’an Prince’s Mansion to be destroyed because of her. She needed justice for herself.

She instructed Long Yu to take some silver and discreetly gather information outside.

Long Yu’s face fell. “Miss, you forget—your entire dowry is with Nurse Liu. The princess said you’re only allowed ten taels of silver a month, so you can experience the hardships Miss Baopan endured all those years.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips, quickly turning into tears.

What had she done wrong? Why did everyone treat her like this?

A month later, the funeral ceremonies for Lou Yan and Lou Ziqi had concluded. Lou Hejing was rumored to have breached enemy lines but remained unaccounted for.

“Miss, please stop struggling. The princess’s orders must be obeyed. If things get worse, it will only disgrace you. You wouldn’t want the Lou family to know the Nan’an Prince’s Mansion has abandoned you, would you?” Nurse Liu said sternly.

Two strong maids flanked her, ready to mercilessly push away Long Yu if she tried to touch the dowry—even if it was Miss Xiao herself.

“At this point, am I not already powerless in the Lou family? Do you think your life will be any easier, Nurse Liu?” Xiao Yuanyi snapped.

Nurse Liu hesitated. With the second young master and the wedding procession gone, the Lou family held Xiao Yuanyi in even less regard. Cold stares and insults were routine. If she, a servant, was treated this way, how much worse would it be for them?

Exclusion and mockery were minor grievances compared to being soaked in bed every night or having food mixed with filth.

Nurse Liu knew it wasn’t entirely her fault Xiao Yuanyi had come to this and softened her tone.

“Long Yu need not trouble herself. I will inquire myself.”

As Nurse Liu turned to leave, she unexpectedly collided with someone, nearly falling apart.

“Why are you here again? This is outrageous!” a furious voice rang out.

“You wretch! I want you to pay with your life for my son!” Shen Suyun’s eyes were bloodshot as she lunged, hands reaching to strangle Xiao Yuanyi.

She dodged deftly. Long Yu rushed to protect her, only to discover a hidden dagger in Shen Suyun’s sleeve.

Xiao Yuanyi saw it first and grasped her wrist, but as a young girl, she was no match for the battle-hardened Shen Suyun.

A flash of cold steel cut a lock of Xiao Yuanyi’s hair, followed by a searing pain in her wrist. Blood dripped from her fingers onto the floor.

Nurse Liu and Si Rui screamed at the sight of blood.

Shen Suyun shoved her to the ground. Fortunately, Lou family servants rushed in and restrained Shen Suyun.

Long Yu hurried to help Xiao Yuanyi up, while Shen Suyun continued shouting curses and threats for vengeance.

Her mind buzzed dizzily. Perhaps dying like this would be a form of atonement.

But then she thought, what crime had she committed? She hadn’t killed them with her own hands. Even if guilty, it wasn’t a death sentence.

“Enough!” she cried out in a voice cracked by despair, silencing the Lou family servants.

“The dead cannot be brought back. Even if you kill me, what good will it do? It will only bring more trouble upon your Lou family!”

“They were killed by the Beidi barbarians. If you truly wished for revenge, why not seek them out? Why not go to the capital and find my elder brother? You only take out your grief over losing your child on me because I am weak and alone! You are weak! You are powerless!” Xiao Yuanyi shouted.

The dagger fell from Shen Suyun’s hand. Her eyes blazed with hatred yet also restraint.

Xiao Yuanyi sneered. She was clearly feigning madness.

The servants understood well but still allowed her to cause havoc. Had she not blocked with her hand, the blade would have cut her throat.

“I never begged to marry into your Lou family. Now that things have come to this, if you dare not kill me, then just give me a divorce paper. I will leave Dingzhou tonight and claim it was my own request,” she said.

“Is that so?” a deep voice cut in.

A tall, burly figure pushed through the crowd. His dirty, bloodstained robe and a long scar crusted with dark red on his sharp, fierce face gave him a grim and unsettling presence.

Lou Hejing glared coldly at her. “Since you chose to marry in, you must bear the hardships. Second Aunt is a senior and severely injured. Aren’t you ashamed to speak to her like thatI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.