Volume One, Chapter Five: The Sole Victim

Page (1/3)

Song Shuning had no experience living in ancient times, but she believed that whether in ancient or modern times, family members should help each other. She took two steps forward and stood in front of Song Shuyun, looking up at Lu Shiyan with a glare and said in a deep voice, “My sister and I just arrived home and were discussing breaking off the engagement with our mother. Who is this gentleman? On what grounds does he barge into our home and question my sister without cause?”

Seeing Song Shuning protect her, Song Shuyun felt touched. She pulled Song Shuning aside and quietly said, “This is a senior fellow apprentice from my time learning martial arts in Longjiang.”

Lu Shiyan realized his mistake. He clenched his fist and coughed lightly, about to greet them properly, when Song Shuning interrupted, “Oh, so you’re a senior fellow apprentice! I thought it was our father coming back, so eloquent!”

Song Shuyun burst out laughing softly.

Lu Shiyan's face instantly flushed red.

Song Shuning looked at Song Shuyun still able to laugh and blinked. Was her sister really such a carefree person? How could she still laugh under these circumstances?

Realizing her own lapse, Song Shuyun cleared her throat and said to Lu Shiyan, “We will discuss the matter of breaking off the engagement ourselves. There’s no need for your concern. Instead of questioning me here, perhaps you should better care for your cousin.”

Song Shuning’s eyes lit up — gossip!

The book had mentioned that Song Shuyun had always liked her senior fellow apprentice, Lu Shiyan, who also treated her specially. But once, when he took his cousin out with fellow apprentices including Song Shuyun, they encountered bandits. To protect his cousin, Lu Shiyan pushed Song Shuyun away and took a blade meant for her.

That blow had deeply wounded the heroine’s heart...

Their tangled feelings were particularly distressing to witness, but Song Shuning was stubborn and wanted to see if Song Shuyun eventually ended up with this male lead...

However, she saw the main antagonist ascend the throne, witnessed the divine doctor avenge the original owner, yet never saw whether these two, who later became adversaries, ended up together before she abruptly died!

Now these two were right here, letting her enjoy the spectacle up close!

Hearing Song Shuyun mention his cousin, Lu Shiyan frowned slightly. “Why do you always have to be at odds with her? She’s just an ordinary girl, unlike you…”

“Hey, hey, what do you mean by that?” Song Shuning couldn’t stand it. How could he say his cousin was just an ordinary girl, unlike Song Shuyun?

“Does that mean my sister isn’t an ordinary girl?” Song Shuning placed her hands on her hips. “What does her ordinary appearance have to do with her? My sister only wants you to care for her more. How does that mean she’s at odds with her? If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak at all! Leave our home quickly and don’t delay our important discussion!”

After finishing, Song Shuning glanced at Song Shuyun, who, seeing her protective stance, couldn’t help but smile before coldly looking up at Lu Shiyan. “Mr. Lu, our family does not welcome you. Please leave.”

“Song Shuyun, must you sever ties with me so decisively?” Lu Shiyan’s face darkened, his gaze icy as he looked at Song Shuyun. In a low voice he said, “I have already explained that day’s situation clearly. It was chaotic then. Yu’er couldn’t fight, so I…”

Page (2/3)

“Mr. Lu, there’s no need for so many explanations. I have already left the sect and no longer care about those things.” Song Shuyun said coldly, summoning a maid. “See the guest out.”

The maid stepped forward and gestured politely to Lu Shiyan. He cast a heavy glance at Song Shuyun and said in a low voice, “You will regret this.”

Song Shuyun turned away without looking back.

Song Shuning pouted. What else can these men do besides make threats?

What’s with today’s authors? Why can any man be the male lead now?

That polite and handsome gentleman from earlier was actually portrayed as the main antagonist. That’s not right!

Her sister should try harder to put that main antagonist on top, make him the male lead!

Thinking about that main antagonist, Song Shuning’s eyes flickered. If they couldn’t take the initiative to break off the engagement, then maybe that main antagonist could?

After all, he later became emperor!

Looking at her mother sitting in the main hall and her sister standing before her, Song Shuning felt exhausted. She had once thought that studying medicine required a sharp mind, but now, having crossed into this book set in the ancient era, she realized that to survive here, even one sharp mind was not enough!

That night.

Song father finally returned home hurriedly. Seeing his wife and daughters waiting, he stepped in and sighed, “I have heard about today’s events. The marquis also came to see me. It seems the engagement between Jyun’er and Lin Shizi will not proceed.”

Song Shuyun breathed a sigh of relief. “When will they come to formally break the engagement?”

“They should visit tomorrow, Lady Lin will return your betrothal token. Your mother will also return Lin Shizi’s token, and that will settle the matter.” Song father’s face showed helplessness. “It will be hard on you.”

Song Shuyun shook her head. “I should feel lucky. This happened before I was married off. Our family hasn’t suffered any loss. There’s still time to start over.”

Song Shuning listened quietly nearby, clenching her hands tightly. Whether in the novel or now in real life, no matter how she escaped, others suffered no loss. Song Shuyun had gotten what she wanted, freeing herself from the engagement, Lin Shaoxuan and Jiang Qingya were finally together, and only Song Shuning was left as the sole victim.

In the novel, the original owner suffered endless humiliation and died. Now that she was here, the original owner still couldn’t survive.

Song Shuning returned to her room sullenly, lying on the bed and staring at the flickering candlelight, plotting how to avenge the original owner.

She definitely couldn’t do it alone. She wouldn’t develop a talent for palace intrigue in a short time. She would have to seek help...

After thinking it over, she closed her eyes. Suddenly, the handsome and peerless face of Shen Qiyuan appeared in her mind. She snapped her eyes open and sat up. “He said that as long as he could ease his pain, he would guarantee her safety in the capital. If she could cure his poison, he would ensure their family’s steady rise in the capital!”

Page (3/3)

Given their family’s status and her abilities, they couldn’t shake those who killed the original owner — but the future was yet to come.

Just wait!

One day, she would repay the insults and suffering inflicted on the original owner a hundredfold, even a thousandfold!

Capital City, Prince Rui’s Mansion.

Shen Qiyuan lay painfully in the cold water pool, his head pounding and his whole body burning hot to the point that veins bulged. Even the ice-cooled water couldn’t ease the burning sensation. He felt as if he was about to ignite.

He gritted his teeth, restraining himself from howling in pain.

The guards standing watch nearby looked on with pity. Among them, Mo Feng, who had appeared with him earlier in the Star Plucking Tower, stepped forward anxiously. “Master, I’ll go fetch Miss Song. Didn’t she say she could relieve your pain with acupuncture?”

Shen Qiyuan suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Mo Feng. His deep eyes were bloodshot and terrifying. He slightly tilted his head and said hoarsely, “True. I should see if she’s telling the truth or just playing me.”

Hearing this, Mo Feng immediately said, “I’ll go bring her right away.”

He then hurriedly left the room.

Shen Qiyuan grabbed a piece of ice and placed it on his chest, glancing into the darkness. “When did the emperor’s men leave?”

“About fifteen minutes ago.” Another guard said solemnly. “Master, shall I go kill someone to vent your anger?”

Causing chaos and killing someone was easy. The emperor wouldn’t suspect it was them!

“Want to kill someone?” Shen Qiyuan sank deeper into the water.

The guard said, “I want to avenge you!”

“Then go to the palace and kill the emperor.” Shen Qiyuan closed his eyes and spoke calmly.

The guard was stunned and quickly knelt, admitting his fault. “I was reckless. Please punish me, Master.”

Shen Qiyuan ignored him, sinking completely beneath the water.