Chapter 2: A Complete Transformation?

“Your Highness, why not let me kill her? If she goes out spreading rumors...”
Lingdang was anxious.

Watching Zhaojiao’s figure gradually fade into the snowy distance, Yin Sumo crossed his arms and smiled faintly.

“Don’t you find it amusing?”

“Huh?”

“An attempted hanging...” Yin Sumo couldn’t help but laugh.

She didn’t seem the type to hang herself so easily.

“Go investigate.”

“Yes!”

Yin Sumo stopped smiling, gazing sorrowfully at the ruins before him. He sighed softly and turned away.

After leaving, Zhaojiao didn’t return directly to the Xu residence; instead, she went to Wutong Street!

From Xu Jiajiao’s memories, Zhaojiao hadn’t obtained any useful information. Xu Jiajiao had little contact with the outside world, and her knowledge was limited...

Today, besides paying respects to her father, she intended to retrieve something—the Feng family’s military token!

Unexpectedly, she ran into Prince Su! She would have to find another opportunity to go again.

Wutong Street was a place where all walks of life mingled in the capital city, the best spot to gather news.

After wandering through teahouses and taverns, and strolling the streets and alleys, an hour passed.

“Miss, it’s getting dark. Let’s head back to the mansion.”

Yun Xiang was on the verge of tears.

“Let’s go! The night wind is chilly...”

Among the crowd, Zhao Jiao nodded lightly. The dim light stretched her figure long and far.

The snowstorm persisted, showing no sign of stopping.

The mistress finally agreed to return, and Yun Xiang felt a great relief.

“Why hasn’t she returned yet!”

At the entrance of the Xu residence, Aunt Meng was anxiously pacing, unable to stop looking out the gate.

With her was Xu Yunjun, Xu Jiajiao’s full brother, ten years old, with delicate and handsome features.

“Auntie, I’ll go look for her...”

Aunt Meng shook her head and sighed, “It’s dark already; where could you possibly go?”

Just then, a carriage drove toward them.

“It’s our mansion’s carriage, they’re back...”

Before the carriage stopped, Aunt Meng hurriedly lifted her skirts and ran over.

“Jiajiao...”

“Auntie!” Yun Xiang pulled back the carriage curtain, timidly calling out.

Seeing Zhaojiao emerge unharmed, Aunt Meng finally exhaled in relief.

“Where have you been? Coming back at this hour in such cold weather, you...”

Before Aunt Meng finished, Xu Yunjun rushed forward and hugged Zhaojiao tightly.

“Sister, when Father comes back, I’ll beg him not to let you marry into the Lu family. Sister...”

He was crying, tears and snot streaming down.

Zhaojiao instinctively tried to push him away, but as a truly ‘weak’ girl now, she couldn’t move him.

This was... Xu Jiajiao’s younger brother, Xu Yunjun?

“Auntie, young master, madam is still waiting. It’s cold, let’s go inside first.”

Lotus, Aunt Meng’s maid, spoke up just in time.

“Yes, yes, Yunjun, let go quickly~”

Thinking of madam still waiting, Aunt Meng nervously pulled the siblings toward the matron’s quarters.

“Don’t be stubborn once inside; behave yourself...”

At the door, Aunt Meng worriedly whispered to Zhaojiao.

Zhaojiao nodded in response; she had also planned to meet the matron of the Xu family.

Entering the house, a wave of warmth greeted them.

Madam Qiu, dressed in a dignified purple-gray satin jacket, sat drinking tea. Upon seeing Zhaojiao, she frowned and erupted.

“You’re young but temperamental. Who taught you these crying, throwing tantrums, attempted hanging tricks? If this gets out, people will mock us. What, you don’t even know how to greet your mother properly? All your manners were learned in vain! Kneel down!”

The teacup clattered sharply on the table.

Aunt Meng shuddered in fright.

Zhaojiao remained calm and unmoved. If she could stand up to the emperor’s wrath, this was nothing.

“If you want to beat or punish me, it will last at most three days. As long as I survive, once I leave the Xu residence, you, mother, will surely be infamous for mistreating your own daughter.”

Madam Qiu stared at Zhaojiao in disbelief.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Not a threat, just the truth!”

“You...”

Madam Qiu laughed bitterly with anger, “So be it. Having died once, you’re different now—daring and lawless. Bring the family discipline!”

Aunt Meng’s face turned pale as she quickly knelt to plead, “Madam, please forgive me. She just came back from the brink of death, confused and unaware. Please don’t take it out on her...”

Zhaojiao’s eyelids drooped slightly. So not all mothers in this world were cold and heartless.

Stepping forward, she gently helped Aunt Meng up and spoke softly, “Mother is magnanimous; she won’t blame you. Auntie, you two go out first. I need to talk with Mother.”

“...” Aunt Meng was shaken, wondering when her daughter had become so bold. How could she speak to the madam like that?

The atmosphere grew tense for a moment before Madam Qiu spoke slowly,

“You may go now.”

Aunt Meng and her son left, and the door was gently closed behind them.

“Speak your mind.” Madam Qiu scrutinized Zhaojiao, as if trying to read something from her.

Zhaojiao remained composed, smiling lightly and sighing softly, “I know that marrying me to the Lu family is not Mother’s true wish.”

Madam Qiu’s expression flickered with complexity as she withdrew her gaze.

“How come I never noticed before that Fifth Miss is so clever? Since you know I didn’t want you to marry into the Lu family, then you should understand that no matter what you say or do, it’s useless. In three days, you will marry!”

Zhaojiao smiled and approached the fire, warming her hands as if nothing mattered.

“That’s not necessarily so. Maybe the Lu family will come to withdraw the engagement in a few days.”

“Withdraw the engagement?” Madam Qiu was stunned, suspiciously eyeing Zhaojiao, thinking the girl had been reborn after her brush with death.

“Mother, if the Lu family comes to withdraw the engagement soon, will you graciously agree to let your daughter off?”

Zhaojiao looked at Madam Qiu with certainty.

Madam Qiu furrowed her brows, her gaze circling Zhaojiao, growing increasingly uneasy.

“What... did you do today? You reckless girl, I warn you—don’t mess around!”

“Don’t worry, Mother. I just went out for a walk. Oh, and I’ll be going out again tomorrow. Just letting you know in advance.” Zhaojiao smiled coyly.

“You’re not allowed to go anywhere!” Madam Qiu’s eyelids twitched, a bad feeling rising.

Zhaojiao sighed softly and shrugged, “That’s unlikely. Today, I promised Prince Su I would visit his residence tomorrow. If Mother forbids it, then please send someone to tell Prince Su.”

She was relying on borrowed prestige—when one is humble, what use is shame?

Though Prince Su was not the most favored among the princes, to the Xu family he was still an unattainable noble.

“What... what did you say?” Madam Qiu was stunned and stammered.

“It’s late, I won’t disturb you any longer. I take my leave.”

Much warmer now, Zhaojiao withdrew her hands, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

“Stop right there! Explain yourself...”

Madam Qiu hurriedly called after her.

Zhaojiao paused, her back to Madam Qiu, smiling faintly, “Mother, Father is obsessed with his career, but he should not lose sight of what matters or take extreme measures. You know Father is wrong, so why blindly follow him? At his age, his future is clear. He’s just unwilling to accept it. Trying to earn an official title for you is hopeless. Mother, you should worry more about eldest brother’s future.”

To maneuver smoothly in the future, she needed to first take control of the Xu residence—and to do that, she had to win over Madam Qiu!

Father, wait for Zhao’er to seek justice for you, Father...