It was the twenty-second year of Emperor Jianwu's ascension. The new year had passed, but it was still cold outside. This winter was long and gloomy. It was already February, but the weather showed no signs of warming up.
Last night, it snowed again. Early in the morning, the entire capital was covered in white. The walls were red, the tiles were blue, and the buildings were luxurious. In the Marquis of Yichun in the east of the city, an old woman wearing a grayish-brown leather coat ran towards Jinning Courtyard. She strode over the threshold and leaned against the pillar to catch her breath. Then, she shouted in a panic, "Eldest Miss, something bad has happened!"
A maidservant with two buns on her head lifted the curtain and came out. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, which was the prime of a young girl's age. However, when she glared and raised her eyebrows, her imposing manner was not inferior at all. "Why are you shouting so early in the morning? Can't you see that the young lady is still inside?"
"Oh, my Lian Qiao sister, this old servant has something to say to the young lady!" Old Woman Zheng shouted and hurried into the room. "Young Lady, something bad has happened!"
The rules in the young lady's room were particularly strict. The rough maidservants and older women could only move around in the courtyard. Only the second-rank maidservants could enter the room. The young lady's bedroom was only accessible to the first-rank maidservants who served her personally. When Xiaoxiao entered the courtyard, there were many rules. Now, when Lian Qiao saw that Old Woman Zheng was about to enter the room, she was very angry and hurriedly blocked the door. "How dare you! Where are the rules! Is the young lady's room a place where you can enter? "
Lian Qiao was a first-class person by the young lady's side. Usually, she was very imposing in the courtyard. Even Old Woman Zheng did not dare to offend this little chili. However, for some reason, Old Woman Zheng dared to fight with Lian Qiao today. She pushed Lian Qiao's arm and said, "Oh, Miss Lian Qiao, this old servant really has something important to say …"
"Lian Qiao."
When Lian Qiao heard the voice, she immediately restrained her imposing manner. Even the noisy Old Woman Zheng quieted down and obediently knelt at the door. "Eldest Miss, this old servant really has something important to report."
The room was filled with flowers and was as warm as spring. It was a scene of wealth and wealth. After a while, a maidservant wearing a lotus-colored jacket and skirt came out and said softly, "Miss, please show mercy. Please go in."
"Aye, yes!"
Nanny Zheng hurriedly passed through the Treasure Pavilion and the bright curtains. This was the first time she entered the living room of the First Young Lady. Mama Zheng was dazzled by the splendid embroidery on both sides. She vaguely saw a beautiful silhouette. Mama Zheng didn't dare to look again. She quickly knelt down and said, "First Young Lady."
"Speak." Just her silhouette was already extraordinarily beautiful. Now, even her voice sounded like jade beads clashing, extremely pleasant to the ears. "What's the matter?"
Old Maid Zheng suddenly had a strange feeling. When she heard the news, she was so shocked that her eyeballs almost fell out. She didn't care about the slippery snow and ran back to report it to First Miss. The news hadn't spread yet, and First Miss didn't have clairvoyant eyes and ears. First Miss hadn't left the house today, so logically, she shouldn't know about what happened in the front yard.
However, listening to First Miss's tone … Mama Zheng felt that it was ridiculous. Why did she feel that First Miss already knew?
"Young Lady, Marquis Jingyong came to break off the engagement!"
Cheng Yujin didn't move. She looked at the exquisite and beautiful face in the mirror, which was as perfect as a fine brush painting. She slowly smiled.
Sure enough, he came to break off the engagement.
This news was like a sudden clap of thunder. First Miss had just been engaged to Marquis Jingyong in December last year. It had only been a year, so why did he suddenly want to break off the engagement? Not to mention whether Marquis Jingyong's actions were absurd or not, the fact that he broke off the engagement was shocking enough.
For a woman, breaking off the engagement, even if it was caused by the man, would have devastating consequences for the woman. After this incident, the woman's reputation would be greatly damaged. She was afraid that it would be difficult for her to find a good husband in the future.
Old Maid Zheng had been frightened by the news all morning. After she said it, she thought that the First Miss would turn pale with fright. However, after waiting for a long time, she only saw the First Miss looking at the mirror and smiling gently.
Lian Qiao, Dugeaux, and the others didn't expect this kind of thing. They were stunned on the spot. When they came to themselves, they hurriedly shouted, "Young Lady! This, this is … "
Lian Qiao was quick-witted. She asked Mama Zheng, "Did you hear it wrong? How could you say such words in front of First Miss? I think you don't want to live anymore! "
Mama Zheng was full of grievances. However, before she could say anything, another person helped her out. "It can't be wrong."
"Young Lady?"
Cheng Yujin put down the mirror. Her eyebrows were picturesque. When she didn't smile, they were even more dazzling and breathtaking. Cheng Yujin looked at the snow outside the window. Her eyes were calm, but there seemed to be inexplicable ridicule. "He really came."
Cheng Yujin was the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yichun. Her official mother was Princess Qingfu, the daughter of Prince Ning, and her father was the heir of the Marquis Yichun. As the eldest daughter of the eldest branch of the Marquis Family, it was not an exaggeration to say that she was born with a golden spoon in her mouth.
Just like her name, Cheng Yujin grew up as a daughter of other people. She started learning at the age of seven. She was proficient in chess, zither, calligraphy, painting, and needlework. She was filial and obedient. She was simply a model girl. The girls in other manors were taught by their mothers every day. When they heard Cheng Yujin's name, they were instinctively disgusted.
If things went smoothly for too long, people would think that it was fake. Behind the scenes, there were people waiting to see what kind of family Cheng Yujin had decided on. They wanted to see if she could continue to show off.
They didn't expect that she could.
Last December, Cheng Yujin followed her mother to the hot spring villa for a short stay. Prince Ning's fief was in Jiangnan. Princess Qingfu had been married to the capital for many years, but she was still not used to the winter in the capital. The female members of the imperial family were rich and imposing. Princess Qingfu had a villa under her name. There was a special hot spring in it. When Princess Qingfu went out, the sisters-in-law couldn't follow, but the young girls could benefit from it.
Cheng Yujin, as the eldest daughter of the Princess of Qingfu, was naturally the first to follow. Unexpectedly, after moving to the West Mountain, it snowed heavily for three days and three months in the capital. The mountain roads were closed, and the women couldn't go down the mountain for a while.
Princess Qingfu had already sent a servant down the mountain to report. They just had to wait in the villa for Marquis of Yichun to clear the road and pick them up. Princess Qingfu was still leisurely enjoying the hot spring, but Cheng Yujin found that her second sister was missing.
Her second sister, Cheng Yumo, was the only daughter of the second branch. Second Master and the Nguyễn Clan doted on her like the apple of their eye. It was no small matter that she went missing in the first branch's villa. Cheng Yujin didn't dare to say anything because it was related to her daughter's reputation. She secretly sent a servant to guard the road and asked Lian Qiao to find out where Cheng Yumo went that night.
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yumo still didn't come back after a night. Cheng Yujin knew that the situation was serious. She didn't dare to be careless. The next morning, she went to report this matter to Princess Qingfu. Princess Qingfu was also shocked. She had no feelings for the second branch, but the second branch's di daughter went missing in her territory. In the end, Qingfu couldn't explain it. Cheng Yujin had already checked the villa yesterday, so Princess Qingfu could only send people to the mountain to search.
Cheng Yujin interrogated Cheng Yumo's servant girl. She found out that her daughter was very interested in seeing the snow in the evening, so she went out to enjoy the snow. She didn't know how she went missing. Cheng Yujin was very angry when she heard this. She immediately took the servant girl and went to find Cheng Yumo personally according to the servant girl's directions.
The back mountain was very big. In addition, it was snowing, so they couldn't identify the direction. It was very difficult for them to walk. It was impossible to search the entire mountain at this speed. They could only split up to search. Cheng Yujin took the Dugeaux for a while and found a cave with her sharp eyes.
There was a cave, and the cave entrance was covered. It was obvious that someone had been here before! Cheng Yujin quickly rushed over. However, she didn't find Cheng Yumo. Instead, she found an unconscious man.
In fact, according to Cheng Yujin's temperament, she didn't want to pay attention to an unknown man. What did his life or death have to do with her? However, thanks to Cheng Yujin's sharp eyes, she saw a private seal on the man's body.
Huo Changyuan of the Northwest Protector's Office.
Huo Changyuan? The famous and ever-victorious general of the imperial court, the youngest Marquis of the Daxing Dynasty, Marquis Jingyong Huo Changyuan?
Very good, Cheng Yujin decided to save him.
Cheng Yujin asked the Dugeaux to lay Huo Changyuan's body flat. The man's body was heavy, so the Dugeaux couldn't do it alone. Cheng Yujin also squatted down to help. Just as she was supporting Huo Changyuan's arm, he woke up in a daze. Huo Changyuan felt someone beside him. He used all his strength to open his eyes a little. In the half-darkness, he saw a beautiful and delicate woman leaning against him. She was bright and beautiful, and her beauty was unparalleled.
"It's you?"
Cheng Yujin didn't understand why he asked "it's you" when she was the only one in front of him. If it wasn't her, could it be a ghost?
Of course, Cheng Yujin was the standard of the noble young ladies in the capital. Naturally, she wouldn't say that. She nodded slightly and smiled gently at Huo Changyuan. "Marquis, don't be afraid. I'm the eldest granddaughter of Marquis of Yichun. My mother's farmstead is not far away. Wait a moment, I'll call someone to carry you. "
Huo Changyuan seemed to sigh in relief. He looked at her deeply for one last time, then closed his eyes and fainted.
When the person who came to her rescue finally arrived, the manservant carried the stretcher and said, "Reporting to Eldest Young Lady, the Second Young Lady has been found. The Imperial Princess is calling for you. "
Cheng Yumo was found? This couldn't be better. She didn't want to brave the cold outside and pretend to be a good older sister.
Huo Changyuan slept in Princess Qingfu's farmstead for three days. During this time, he woke up and slept, and there wasn't much time when he was awake. As unmarried women, they couldn't enter another man's room. Fortunately, the mountain road was cleared very quickly, and people from Marquis Jingyong came to take Huo Changyuan away.
It was all thanks to Marquis Jingyong's help that the mountain road was cleared so quickly. Sure enough, nobles who relied on their military exploits were different from those who only showed off. If it was Marquis of Yichun who came, heh, then they could just wait patiently.
Cheng Yujin saved someone on a trip. When she returned home, Old Lady Cheng praised her. Old Madame Cheng, Qingfu Junzhu, and even Cheng Yujin all had a tacit understanding. With such a great favor, Marquis Jingyong's fu should at least express something, right?
Sure enough, not long after, Old Lady Marquis Jingyong, Huo Changyuan's mother, the Huxue Clan, personally came to thank Cheng Yujin for saving him. The Huo family's gifts were more generous than Cheng Yujin had imagined. Of course, she was most satisfied with the marriage contract brought by the Huxue Clan.
Huo Changyuan was grateful to Cheng Yujin for saving his life, and wanted to marry her as his first wife.
Old Lady Cheng couldn't stop smiling. Princess Qingfu and Cheng Yujin had always cared about face, but Princess Qingfu was also happy to see that her daughter, whom she had raised in name for many years, had a good husband. Marquis of Yichun was overjoyed, but the Marquis Household still had to maintain face. The elders tried to cover it up, but it only made it more conspicuous. They said that they wanted to ask the young lady's opinion.
Ask Cheng Yujin? Cheng Yujin was, of course, happy to do so. In fact, this was the real reason why she had saved Huo Changyuan.
At the end of the 21st year of Jianwu, the Marquis of Yichun was immersed in great joy. An empty Marquis Household had married the most promising and youngest upstart in the imperial court, Marquis. It could be said that the whole family was jubilant. Old Lady Cheng repeatedly said that she hadn't raised Cheng Yujin in vain all these years.
Cheng Yujin had made the most important investment in her life. If nothing unexpected happened, the rest of her life was guaranteed. Cheng Yujin was satisfied. From then on, she didn't leave the house and prepared her dowry with peace of mind.
At that time, Cheng Yujin's side was too noisy, so she didn't notice that Cheng Yumo was depressed after returning from the villa. His illness dragged on for a long time. She also didn't notice that the Huo family's attitude towards the engagement was too eager. Even if they wanted to repay her kindness, marrying her wasn't the only way.
Unfortunately, she didn't notice.
Logically speaking, everything should have been settled. However, since February, Cheng Yujin began to feel anxious for no reason. She couldn't even sleep peacefully. Last night, she had a long dream.
Cheng Yujin was suddenly awakened in the middle of the night. Her whole body was drenched in cold sweat, and she couldn't sleep anymore. She lay in bed for a long time. Logically speaking, it was just a dream. It would be too ridiculous to take a dream seriously. However, Cheng Yujin inexplicably felt that this wasn't a joke. This was real.
She saw herself in the dream, but it wasn't completely her. She was like a puppet, being pulled by a string and experiencing the life of "Cheng Yujin" from the beginning.
In the dream, she was the same as now. She was born in the Marquis of Yichun, who worked for Tang Jin. The second wife of the Marquis of Yichun, the Nguyễn Clan, gave birth to a pair of twin sisters. At this time, the eldest wife, Princess Qingfu, had been married for almost five years, but she hadn't given birth. On the other hand, the new daughter-in-law, the Nguyễn Clan, had given birth to two children in a year. Although they were just a pair of girls, they were still the first children of the Cheng Family's grandchildren. They were auspicious. Therefore, the Old Lady Cheng decided to give the older of the twins to the eldest daughter-in-law, Princess Qingfu, as a daughter. She wanted the eldest branch to enjoy some female auspiciousness.
Later, the two children were named Cheng Yujin and Cheng Yumo respectively.
Cheng Yujin knew from a very young age that she and her second cousin were sisters. However, she also knew that the Nguyễn Clan was her second aunt. Her only mother was Princess Qingfu.
She could only be Princess Qingfu.
Cheng Yujin and Cheng Yumo looked very similar when they were young. As they gradually grew up and their facial features developed, the differences between the two sisters were also revealed. Cheng Yujin's body was better, her facial features were prettier, and her personality was more serene. On the other hand, Cheng Yumo was weaker than normal twins. Cheng Yumo was born later in her mother's womb, so she was even more delicate. Even her eyebrows and eyes were thin.
Not to mention the Old Lady Cheng and Princess Qingfu in the family, even a servant who had served the Cheng Family for a long time could tell the difference between the eldest and second daughters at a glance. However, to outsiders, who would pay attention to the facial features? Sisters from the same residence originally looked similar. In addition, they were of the same age and dressed similarly. Therefore, they were often confused.
Cheng Yujin explained that she was the eldest daughter, Yujin, until she was fourteen years old.
That winter, she saved a man in the heavy snow. The next year, she married this man.
This man was called Huo Changyuan.
On the day of the wedding, Cheng Yujin was married to Huo Changyuan in a grand ceremony. Her sisters in the boudoir were envious that she had married a good husband. Huo Changyuan was already a Marquis at such a young age. Cheng Yujin was a Marchioness the moment she married into the family. Compared to other women, she had to endure at least twenty years less. Moreover, Huo Changyuan had just achieved military merits in the Northwest last year. He was in the limelight and had a bright future ahead of him. He was also handsome, strong, and tall. Such a good husband was actually trapped by Cheng Yujin. It was really infuriating.
At that time, Cheng Yujin didn't know that she had become the villain in other people's stories.
After the wedding, Cheng Yujin and Huo Changyuan's life was more or less as she had expected. However, her mother-in-law was a little difficult to deal with, her husband was a little too hands-off, and the Huo family's rules were a little too strict. During those years, outsiders saw Cheng Yujin as a beautiful woman. Only she knew how difficult it was to close the door. However, this was nothing. Every woman had to go through this hurdle. She didn't need to serve her mother-in-law. She held the right to manage the household herself. This was already better than most women.
The second year after the wedding, she finally got pregnant. When Huo Changyuan was seven years old, his father died in battle. The Huxue Clan became widows. All these years, it was the Huxue Clan who raised Huo Changyuan with difficulty. The mother and son relied on each other for survival. The Huxue Clan was extraordinarily possessive of their son. Ever since Cheng Yujin married into the family, the Huxue Clan had been alternately cold and warm to Cheng Yujin. They had been trying to break up the time they spent together as husband and wife. Cheng Yujin had no choice but to follow her mother-in-law's wishes and no longer be intimate with her husband.
The funny thing was that the Huxue Clan didn't allow them to be intimate, but forced Cheng Yujin to give birth to a grandson. Cheng Yujin had a bellyful of grievances but couldn't say anything. Therefore, when the child arrived in the second year after the wedding, one could imagine how happy Cheng Yujin was.
She immediately gave up the right to manage the household and happily took care of the baby. Because she was bored in the boudoir, she even brought her younger sister from her maternal home. Cheng Yujin hadn't been intimate with Huo Changyuan before. Now that she was pregnant, she wouldn't let him touch her body. During that time, Huo Changyuan stayed at home. Cheng Yumo came to talk to her every day. Cheng Yujin touched her increasingly round belly. She only felt that with her child, her husband, and her younger sister by her side, life was really peaceful and she had no regrets.
However, the expression on the servant girl's face became more and more strange. The Dugeaux wanted to say something several times but stopped. Seeing Cheng Yujin's happy expression, she couldn't bear to say it in the end. However, Cheng Yujin wasn't a fool. She sensed that something was wrong and carefully interrogated the servant girl. Only then did she know that when she was unconscious and taking care of the baby, Huo Changyuan often talked and laughed with Cheng Yumo. They acted intimately.
Like a thunderbolt on a clear day, Cheng Yujin was stunned. She ridiculed herself. She called herself a perfect and flawless young lady in vain. She actually made such a ridiculous mistake. Cheng Yujin only thought that she didn't have enough energy and couldn't take care of them often. Therefore, Huo Changyuan and Cheng Yumo had more opportunities to interact with each other and made such a disgraceful mistake. One was her husband, the other was her younger sister. Cheng Yumo didn't want to make things difficult for both of them no matter what.
Therefore, when Huo Changyuan went to the barracks to train the soldiers, she called Cheng Yumo in and beat around the bush to say a lot. She thought that she left enough face for both of them. Any sensible daughter would definitely understand after hearing this. Unexpectedly, Cheng Yumo understood but ran away crying, thinking that she was humiliated by Cheng Yujin.
Cheng Yujin was angry and ignored her. That day, Cheng Yumo got a carriage and went home. The Huxue Clan sent someone to ask, but Cheng Yujin just smiled and said carelessly, leaving the last trace of face for Cheng Yumo and Huo Changyuan.
She thought that she was being extremely benevolent for a wife and sister to do this. She was waiting for Huo Changyuan to come back and give her an explanation. Unexpectedly, when Huo Changyuan came back from the barracks and heard that Cheng Yumo had left, he immediately turned around and chased after her, leaving Cheng Yujin standing alone in the room. Facing a room full of servants, she didn't know how to react for a long time.
When Huo Changyuan came back, he looked at her coldly and called her a "poisonous woman." Until her death, Cheng Yujin didn't understand. She helped Huo Changyuan take care of the family matters and endured her difficult mother-in-law, but Huo Changyuan and her younger sister had a secret relationship behind her back. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with her?
Cheng Yujin gave birth prematurely while feeling depressed. She gave birth prematurely and had a difficult labor. After giving birth, the Huxue Clan was busy visiting their grandson and didn't care about Cheng Yujin who was lying on the delivery bed. Cheng Yujin lost a lot of blood that day and died quickly.
In the dream, she died, and Cheng Yujin finally broke free from the nightmarish state. But her soul was unable to leave her body, as it continued to float in the Marquis Jingyong Manor, watching the story unfold with her own eyes.
So, from another perspective, the story was like this.
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