Chapter 1: She Is Zhao Jiao
Two years after Feng Zhaozhao’s death, she suddenly came back to life.
She became a concubine daughter of the Xu Mansion, named Jiao Jiao.
Jiao Jiao’s birth mother was Concubine Meng of the household—a woman born beautiful but meek and timid, tightly controlled by the mistress of the house. The mistress used a mix of coaxing and pressure to force her to agree to marry Jiao Jiao off as a secondary wife to a man nearing fifty. But Jiao Jiao was stubborn, refusing to comply and attempted to hang herself.
In the bitter midwinter, snow drifted thickly.
Feng Zhaozhao lay by the bed, frowning slightly as she listened to Concubine Meng’s tear-tinged rambling.
“Why are you so stubborn? It’s like you’re tearing my heart out...”
“It’s all my fault for being powerless, letting you and Jun’er suffer together. But what could I do...”
Feng Zhaozhao didn’t want to hear any more.
“Get out!”
Perhaps because hanging had damaged her throat, her voice was hoarse.
Concubine Meng froze, tears still clinging to her face.
“Jiao Jiao...”
“Don’t worry, I won’t seek death again. You don’t have to stay by me. Please leave.”
She refused to marry; there were always other ways—no need to die over it.
Concubine Meng bit her lip, trembling slightly. “My poor Jiao Jiao, it’s good you’ve come to your senses... The mistress said your dowry is more generous than the others’, and though you’re marrying into the family as a secondary wife, life won’t be too hard...”
Feng Zhaozhao responded perfunctorily.
Concubine Meng wanted to say more, but seeing her daughter’s gaze turn to the window, unwilling to engage, she awkwardly said, “...It’s my fault for being useless. I’ll leave now. Just don’t do anything foolish again...” She clutched her handkerchief with a sorrowful expression and turned away.
Finally, silence. Feng Zhaozhao sneered and shook her head. This Concubine Meng was indeed weak and easy to bully, but at least she still cared for her daughter.
Unlike her own mother...
Her mother was Princess Chang of Da Zhao, named Yin Ling, a woman second only to the emperor himself in Da Zhao! Truly iron-hearted, for her, nothing mattered but imperial power!
For the sake of power, Yin Ling married Feng Zhaozhao’s father and bore her, the renowned Princess Hezhao of the capital.
From childhood, she was betrothed as the Crown Princess of Da Zhao. When she was wed, there was no crown prince; whoever she married would become the crown prince—a unique honor of Da Zhao.
But this glory became a sharp sword that cost her father his life!
Someone secretly reported her father’s rebellion—ironclad evidence!
Her father was loyal to Da Zhao with all his heart; how could he rebel?
She remembered the day clearly: it was her coming-of-age ceremony when the military prosecutor suddenly stormed in. Panicked, she knelt, begging her mother, the emperor’s uncle, and her grandmother to investigate thoroughly, to believe her father. Despite her pleading until she bled, they never relented.
Her beloved father, unable to bear her helplessness and fearing she might act impulsively and lose her life, gritted his teeth, confessed under duress, and severed ties with her, claiming his affection had only been to use her someday...
Alas, her father’s desperate sacrifice for her became a joke—the imperial family’s way was to eradicate the root!
Knowing she was skilled in martial arts, her mother deliberately let her set up a memorial altar for her father, slipping poison into the incense. Those around her were transferred away by design; her martial arts faded, leaving her powerless and at others’ mercy.
She vividly recalled her mother saying, “I married your father to fulfill a royal mission... No one shall covet the Yin family’s realm. If your father cannot manage, neither can you... I didn’t want to give birth to you, but the emperor said if there were no children, he would be uneasy... If he is uneasy, the court is unstable. The emperor’s throne was hard-won; how could I let him worry? I had the imperial physician confirm you were a girl before giving birth, but he raised you as capable as a son. Did he truly have no other designs? The emperor saw his ambition with just one decree naming the crown princess...”
She said, “Zhao’er, don’t blame me. If you were less clever, I could have protected you for life. But you learned your skills and are too smart... The emperor won’t spare you if he cannot find the Feng family’s military token. You’re stubborn like your father; you wouldn’t hand it over even in death. I won’t ask; if you die, the token is lost, and the Feng family army will surely submit. It’s only a matter of time. This way, you’ll suffer less...”
She watched her mother ignite the altar, the flames burning fiercely...
And so, she was burned alive by her own birth mother...
“Miss! I know your heart is heavy... Why don’t you plead with Master? Maybe he’ll soften and you won’t have to marry.”
The maid’s voice pulled Feng Zhaozhao from her thoughts. She wiped her damp cheeks, hiding all her emotions.
Since Heaven gave her a second chance at life, she would cherish it. She would seek justice for her father and make them pay with blood! Even if it meant overturning the entire realm!
Rebellion, they say? Fine! She would let them have their wish!
From now on, she would be called Zhao Jiao, living well as Xu Jiao Jiao’s counterpart. But first, she had to solve the immediate problem. Looking up at the maid speaking to her, she asked,
“Yunxiang? What day is it today? When is the wedding?”
Yunxiang blinked in surprise. “Mistress... Have you forgotten? Today is the tenth day of the winter month! The wedding is on the thirteenth—three days from now!”
The tenth day of the winter month...
It was her birthday, and also... her father’s death anniversary!
Zhao Jiao threw off the covers and rose. “Fetch my clothes.”
Yunxiang hurried to comply, helping her dress.
“You should have done this sooner. There are always ways. Just don’t... I’ll accompany you to find Master right now.”
Zhao Jiao remained silent. Finding him was useless; why would Xu Jiao Jiao hang herself? In her memory, Xu Jiao Jiao’s father, Xu Guodong, was a fifth-rank official devoted to his career. A family of officials willing to marry their daughter to an elderly merchant must have some ulterior motive—and a significant one.
She examined herself in the mirror. She had a good face, but was too delicate.
“Let’s go.”
Yunxiang followed, thinking silently: Mistress has crossed the threshold between life and death; she seems different now.
As they walked, Yunxiang realized they were going the wrong way and hurriedly reminded her, “Mistress, Master’s courtyard isn’t this way...”
“I’m not looking for him. I’m leaving the mansion to prepare a carriage.”
Leaving the mansion???
“M-Mistress, where are you going?” Yunxiang panicked. If anything happened to her again, the lady would be beaten to death by the mistress. She had already suffered once for hanging herself.
Zhao Jiao did not slow down. “Don’t worry, I’m not seeking death. I’m going to a place... I’ll be back soon.”
Throughout the estate, servants looked on in amazement.
Is this really the fifth young lady? Wasn’t she nearly dead from hanging? The mistress forbade rumors—could it have been just gossip?
“Fifth Miss! You’re leaving the mansion?”
At the gate, the doorman asked in surprise.
“What? Can’t I?”
Zhao Jiao raised an eyebrow lightly. Her glance scared the doorman into lowering his head, silent and obedient. The Fifth Miss’s gaze was terrifying!
Seeing the red marks on her neck, the doorman shivered and looked again, but she had already gone.
“Miss... where are we going?”
Yunxiang carefully supported Zhao Jiao into the carriage and asked cautiously.
Zhao Jiao ignored her and ordered the coachman, “To Fufeng Street in the northern part of the city.”
Once seated, Yunxiang was anxious. “Miss, maybe we should go back.”
Zhao Jiao opened the window and stared silently outside.
The capital city remained bustling, but to her, everything felt changed.
Passing a shop selling incense and paper offerings, Zhao Jiao called the carriage to a halt and sent Yunxiang to buy some.
“Miss... what do you need these for?”
Yunxiang felt uneasy, the atmosphere eerie.
“To pay respects to someone...”
“Pay respects?” Yunxiang grew more puzzled.
Zhao Jiao fell silent. The carriage rolled on to Fufeng Street.
The cold, desolate street unnerved both Yunxiang and the driver.
“Miss, what are we doing here? I heard... this place is haunted.”
“You two find a place to shelter from the wind and snow. I’m going alone. No need to follow.”
Her tone brooked no argument, stopping Yunxiang in her tracks.
The once-magnificent residence of the Marquis Zhongyong was now a ruin. Even the neighboring houses had been emptied, as if escaping some terror.
Snow covered everything, but Zhao Jiao seemed able to smell the sickening stench of burning.
Two years had passed since she and her father died. Surely no one in the royal family was still watching this place...
Alone, she stepped into the ruins, trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.
A traitor deserves no tomb. She was gone—who would bury her father? Were his bones still buried beneath this snow?
Father, your Zhao’er has returned.
Father! Zhao’er is here!
Stumbling without direction, the biting wind did not faze her.
“Prince, we should leave quickly. If someone sees us, it will be trouble!”
A voice behind a broken wall made Zhao Jiao freeze. She controlled her breathing, composed her expression, and slowly turned.
Before her stood a tall, aloof man, strikingly handsome, dressed all in white, as though blending with the heavens and earth.
Prince? Zhao Jiao was certain she had never seen this man before.
The man spoke, “Who else would come? When I was young, the Marquis Zhongyong did me a favor and I respected him. On his death anniversary, shouldn’t I come to light incense?”
“But you can’t say that aloud, lest others hear...” The attendant looked around nervously.
“Looks like someone did hear. Lingdang, your hearing’s failing; you deserve a punishment...”
Suddenly the man turned toward the broken wall.
Before Zhao Jiao could react, a sharp sword was pressed against her neck—such swift skill!
“Who are you? Why are you here?”
Lingdang asked fiercely, the sword gleaming coldly.
Zhao Jiao ignored the blade and met the man’s gaze.
Who was this? There was no prince with another family name in the current dynasty. The only possibility was the Sixth Prince, Yin Sumo, who had been sent away since childhood. Was this him returned?
Her reaction made the man’s eyebrows lift slightly—such audacity! As he studied her, he noticed the marks on her neck and looked again with some interest.
“I’m here... to pay respects to a friend of the Marquis Zhongyong.” Zhao Jiao spoke, knowing that without giving the man a reason not to kill her, she would die today.
The man crossed his arms, stepping closer lazily. “Friend? What kind of friend would make a young girl risk death to honor a traitor?”
Zhao Jiao held her breath, meeting his half-smiling, half-serious eyes steadily.
“My friend’s name is Feng Zhaozhao, the former Princess Hezhao of the Marquis Zhongyong’s household.”
“Paying respects for Princess Hezhao...”
The man raised an eyebrow, glancing at the bamboo basket she carried. She really had come to offer sacrifices?
Zhao Jiao lowered her gaze and nodded faintly. “The entire capital knows the Marquis loved his daughter dearly... After such a devoted father’s death, no one tends to his memorial. The Princess must be heartbroken in the afterlife. Fortunately... besides me, there are still those who dare to pay respects to the Marquis. I thank the Prince on her behalf.”
She called him “Prince,” confirming she had overheard their conversation earlier.
Her voice was soft, calm, ignoring the sword as she bowed, then turned and knelt to offer incense.
“Prince?” Lingdang asked, seeking permission to act.
The man raised a hand to halt the sword, crouching next to Zhao Jiao.
“A friend of Princess Hezhao?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you afraid to die?”
“I once tried hanging myself but failed.”
“...”
That was true fearlessness!
The man fell silent.
Zhao Jiao continued her solemn offering.
“Marquis, today I bring incense on behalf of Zhaozhao. She said you were the best father in the world and wished to be your daughter again in the next life...”
Father, Zhao’er has come to see you. Wait for me—Zhao’er will avenge you!
Father, I miss you so much...
Father!!!
Her head struck the soft snow, which stained red.
The man studied her intently.
That blow was sincere, not an act.
“I’ve heard many rumors about Princess Hezhao and am quite curious. Since you are her friend, I suppose you know her well. Would you be willing to tell me about her?”
“I would, but the maids are waiting. I fear they might worry. A few words won’t do justice; may I come to your residence tomorrow to speak in detail?”
“...Very well! Interesting indeed.”
“Where is your residence, Prince?”
“The Su Prince’s Mansion in the eastern city.”
Zhao Jiao secretly relaxed and bowed. “I will remember. I take my leave!”
It was indeed Yin Sumo!
Perfect timing—tomorrow she would settle the Lu family’s marriage matter as well.