Chapter One

  Huainan Wangfu

  A secluded courtyard, magnificent and resplendent.

  Winding corridor, one side of the wall is a hollow flower wall, and the other side is carved beams and painted buildings. At the end of the corridor, in front of it is a sparkling artificial lake, surrounded by water, clear and melodious sound echoing in the corridor, quieting the mind, and the beauty is overwhelming.

  A small pavilion in the center of the lake, for the masters of the Wang Mansion to enjoy the view and drink tea. It is usually quiet on ordinary days, occasionally a servant walking through the corridor can still see the queen sitting quietly in the pavilion, staring at the lake water and losing her mind all day long.

  Whenever the queen is mentioned, everyone shakes their heads and sighs.

  Three years ago, after the princess married the King of Huainan, she was no longer favored. The king only reluctantly stayed in her room for three days during their honeymoon, and it was during those three days that she became pregnant. Although she gave birth to a son after ten months, the king still didn't look at her again. She cried every day, trying to change herself to win the king's favor, but he already had a woman he loved. That woman, although not as noble as the princess, was gentle and beautiful. The princess, on the other hand, had an extremely stunning face that could captivate one's soul. Perhaps it was because of this extraordinary beauty that the king felt repelled by her.

  In the mansion, there were several concubines and maids who were favored by the king. The queen was jealous of them being favored, so she secretly took action. Three or four concubines had already died at her hands. From then on, the seemingly beautiful and weak queen became a ruthless person. Due to the king's relationship, almost everyone in the mansion would avoid her when they saw her. Now, her status in the mansion was not even comparable to that of the most favored concubine, let alone compared to the woman the king loved. Because of her ruthlessness, no one pitied her, and even her own family looked down on her as a discarded child.

  Today, the wind is fine and the sun is shining. The gentle spring breeze blows gently, and the lake water ripples lightly. The willows around seem to be swaying in rhythm.

  Two women in a small pavilion.

  Two women, both dressed in white, with long sleeves and skirts fluttering in the wind, as if floating like immortals. One was stunningly beautiful, although her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, which made her even more charming, with a pleading look in her misty eyes. The other was gentle and elegant, fresh and refined, looking at the woman in front of her who was also wearing white, her slightly raised mouth corner was a cold and mocking smile.

  "Murong Yi, you're truly pitiful. Imitating me like this, yet King Wang still doesn't give you a second glance." Chen Yao's back was turned to the long corridor, her slender figure and gentle demeanor still evident from behind, but on that lovely face as clear as a lotus flower rising out of the water, there was an air of superiority and cold ridicule.

  Murong Yi's body trembled, the years of neglect and injustice had taken a toll on her, making her even more frail. A gentle spring breeze seemed to be enough to blow away her slender figure. Her trembling body gazed at Chen Yao, her lips tightly pursed, wanting to retaliate, but not knowing how. Wasn't she just learning from Chen Yao's dressing and demeanor, every move and gesture? Didn't she just want to get the prince's attention?

  "Heh heh, Murong Yi, no matter what, you're not as good as me." Chen Yao's clear and bright eyes flashed with a hint of strong color. If Murong Yi wasn't the daughter of the Prime Minister, how could she have married the Prince so smoothly? Most importantly, she and the Prince were mutually in love, while Murong Yi was just a loser who lost to her in everything and was calculated by her at every turn! This position as the Princess of Huainan, Murong Yi is not worthy of it!

  Murong Yi's body trembled even more, and a sorrowful expression appeared on her enchanting face. She suppressed the jealousy and resentment in her heart and said: "You secretly harmed me everywhere, designing to make people all over the world think I'm a ruthless person, making Wang Ye even more indifferent to me. All of this is your fault. How can you be so ruthless..."

  Looking at Murong Yi's stunning face, Chen Yao had been jealous for a long time. If she hadn't used her wits to win the king's heart, she feared that Murong Yi would have taken advantage of the situation! She raised her head and glanced at the sky, seemingly nearing the appointed hour, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. "Even if you knew everything was done by me, what can you do? Who can prove it? Even the king, or even your own family members think you're a ruthless person!"

  As she finished speaking, Chen Yao slowly turned her body, her posture elegant and refined. In the distance of the long corridor, a familiar figure was walking towards the small pavilion in the center of the lake, and suddenly, a sharp light flashed in her eyes.

  Murong Yi had not expected danger to come. She was tearfully looking at Chen Yao's triumphant face, gritting her teeth and forcing herself to lower her posture to plead: "Miss Chen, would you spare my life? I don't ask for the king's favor in the future, I only ask to be able to accompany the crown prince by the king's side in the palace, and I will also enter the palace to request the emperor to grant a marriage, allowing you to marry the king as a concubine."

  "Concubine?" Chen Yao sneered, her voice low and slow as she enunciated the two words "concubine". When would Chen Yao need a defeated subordinate to complete her? Moreover, just because of a mere concubine, they thought they could get rid of her? She looked at the man walking towards her from the long corridor with a gentle expression, as if he was a celestial being fallen from heaven, but the words that came out of his mouth made Murong Yi's face turn pale. "What I have always wanted is to be the legitimate queen of Huainan."

  "You...!" Murong Yi was furious, she had humbled herself so much, not pursuing Chen Yao for everything he had done to her during this time, even lowering her posture to beg, but Chen Yao still pressured her, not putting her in his eyes. "Don't forget, no matter what I am the main wife! How can you not put me in your eyes?"

  Unexpectedly, Chen Yao didn't counterattack her, but instead turned around with a smile, "In the king's eyes, it has always been only me."

  At the words, Murong Yi's body trembled slightly, and the pearl hairpin inserted horizontally between her temples shook, making a soft clinking sound that rang clearly in her ears. "You're too overbearing!" Now she had no other desires, only wanting to live a good life with Tian'er and his mother in the Wang mansion. Could even this small wish not be fulfilled?

  Chen Yao's mouth curled up in a sinister smile that was completely at odds with her elegant demeanor, her eyes gleaming with malice as she stared at Murong Yi. "This is the retribution you deserve!" She had snatched away her rightful position as the crown princess, leaving her to suffer the ridicule of her sisters. How could Murong Yi possibly enjoy wealth and glory in the Prince of Huainan's mansion?

  The man in the corridor walked closer and closer, while Mu Rong Yi was completely unaware. She stared at Chen Yao with tears in her eyes, gritted her teeth and said fiercely: "You are so cruel and vicious, always secretly harming me, you will definitely be punished! Time will reveal people's hearts, Prince Wang will not be deceived by you!"

  "Is that so? You're too naive, Murong Yi. The prince treats me with sincerity, how could he believe your explanation? In anyone's eyes, I'm the knowledgeable and reasonable, gentle and virtuous Miss Chen, even the future mistress of Huainan Wangfu. And you? Cruel and venomous, the prince detests you. Moreover... from today on, you'll have no chance to turn things around!" Chen Yao still wore a warm and gentle smile as she faced Murong Yi's sudden gritted teeth, truly making it seem like she was being bullied by Murong Yi in anyone's eyes.

  Murong Yi was shocked and furrowed his brow, puzzled. What did Chen Yao mean by these words?

  Right after that, before Murong Yi could fully react, Chen Yao loudly exclaimed, "Your Highness, why must you force me so! I am willing to be a concubine now, only wanting to serve by the king's side and will not threaten you, how can Your Highness harm me like this!"

  "Y...y..." Murong Yi was shocked, what was Chen Yao doing?

  Chen Yao didn't even give Murong Yi a chance to react, pouncing on her, grasping her hand and completely blocking her figure. Still shouting loudly, "Princess, I was wrong, I really was wrong! From now on, I won't appear in front of the prince again. Please don't harm me or my family, okay?"

  The man in the corridor heard the exclamation and immediately ran over, with several servants also rushing over from all directions.

  In the eyes of everyone, the woman in the small pavilion at the center of the lake was clearly threatened with her life, and Princess Huainan was so bold as to secretly harm the king's beloved woman!

  Murong Yilai didn't have time to react, but she had already decided that things were not going well. She wanted to struggle free from Chen Yao's grasp, but Chen Yao seemed to have gained some unknown strength and held her in a tight grip. Before Murong Yilai could even defend herself, Chen Yao had pressed her acupoints, rendering her immobile!

  Just then, when the man and several servants were about to arrive at the pavilion, they saw Chen Yao struggling and shouting: "Princess Wang spare my life!"

  Murong Yi was anxious, knowing she had fallen into Chen Yao's trap. She could do nothing but stare with wide eyes as Chen Yao smiled triumphantly and pushed her into the lake!

  "You should have died long ago!" Chen Yao said with a cold smile on the corner of her mouth, watching as Murong Yi's body slowly sank to the bottom of the lake.

  In the blink of an eye, Chen Yao turned around with a terrified expression and threw herself into Prince Huainan's broad chest, wailing: "The princess wants to harm me, I struggled, the princess accidentally fell into the lake, I didn't do it on purpose..."

  The people below were stunned, looking at the calm lake surface, they were all stunned.

  The princess is getting more and more vicious!!!

  Miss Chen is so pitiful!

  It seems that heaven has eyes, the one who fell into the water is not Miss Chen, but Wang Fei. This is Wang Fei's own doing! Everyone is waiting for Gong Ao's orders to see if they will rescue Wang Fei ashore! However, Wang Fei can't swim, this is...

  Gong Lian's cold and stern eyes swept across the calm lake surface, his eyes revealing no hint of warmth. He lowered his head to look at Chen Yao trembling in his arms, softly comforting her: "The king has arrived, Yao'er, don't be afraid."

  Chen Yao nodded continuously, her body trembling with extreme fear. The people around couldn't help but think that if the princess were to die, it might be a good thing!

  Thus, no one among the crowd spoke out to save Murong Yi who had fallen into the lake.

  Half a time later, Chen Yao finally stopped trembling, as if she had walked out of fear. She raised her head and looked at Gong Feng with tears in her eyes, saying softly: "Your Highness, Yao'er was too scared. Actually, the princess didn't do anything wrong."

  Gong Ling's eyes sank, and as soon as Mu Rong Yi was mentioned, he couldn't hide the disgust in his heart. He patted Chen Yao's back and comforted her in a low voice: "You're not wrong." Then, he turned to the people below and ordered in a cold tone: "Pull him up!"

  Chen Yao lowered her eyes, and a faint light floated at the bottom of her eyes. Even if Murong Yi was lucky enough to survive, she would absolutely not live for more than half an hour!

  At present, Chen Yao never thought that from now on, the enemies she would face would make her increasingly fearful, unable to live or die!

  It didn't take long to salvage the body, about a minute or so, and then they were able to pull him up.

  "Your Highness, the princess has stopped breathing. What should we do next?" A servant looked at Murong Yi who was already placed on the cold stone floor of the small pavilion and asked Gong Feng.

  Gong Ling never looked at her and directly ordered: "She has committed many evils, is not worthy of being the princess of Huainan, send her back to the Prime Minister's mansion!"

  "Yes."

  The crowd gazed at Murong Yi's corpse, without a shred of sympathy, thinking only that she deserved to die! So when several servants set out to move her, they did so with rough hands, intending to drag her away.

  Suddenly, to everyone's shock, several servants who had just decided to drag him away were suddenly pushed back by the lifeless corpse that had suddenly stood up and moved at an unmeasurable speed.

  "Ah..."

  "Fake corpse!"

  Gong Ling and Chen Yao looked at Murong Yi in shock, who had suddenly stood up. She wasn't dead?!

  Chu Xia slightly furrowed her brow, gazing at the roof that blocked out the sunlight. The wind blew in waves around her, and her damp clothes clung to her body, making her feel even colder to the bone. The crowd's cries of surprise echoed in her ears. Her mouth curved into a subtle, enchanting smile. This was where Mo Rong Yi lived - the Huai Nan Wang Fu?

  It's really a place that people can't like!

  What a nuisance! Her mood was truly terrible, and she had inexplicably transmigrated after waking up from her sleep. This wasn't the worst part - she had transmigrated into the body of an extremely foolish woman! At this moment, a massive amount of information flooded all of her nerves. The memories that belonged to her, and those that belonged to this body, merged together in a jarring manner.

  From now on, she is Murong Yi!

  "You're not dead?! How is that possible?!" Chen Yao asked in shock, her voice trembling.

  Jing Gong's face also couldn't hide his surprise.

  "The princess is actually still alive?!" The people below were shocked and looked at Murong Yi in terror.

  As she listened to the constant exclamations and questions, her eyes scanned across, taking in the various expressions of the crowd.

  Suddenly, she smiled.

  Even if she was disheveled, her stunning beauty that could topple cities and states with a single smile made the world lose its color, dazzling and piercing to the eyes.

  Digression

  Friends, Shu Ge is back! The new article took more than two months to conceive and organize, it's absolutely a wonderful article! Updates are guaranteed, don't worry about jumping into the pit! Strong female lead, one-on-one!