Volume One, Chapter One: A Substitute Bride for a Fortunate Marriage

The bridal sedan chair touched the ground, yet for a long time, no one came to assist her. Lin Wanti sat upright inside, her lips curling into a cold smile beneath the bridal veil. This was clearly an intentional humiliation.

Outside the sedan curtain, the shrill, caustic voice of Qiu Shuang, the senior maid of the Prince’s Residence, rang out: “My, what airs the Lin family’s illegitimate daughter puts on! Does she expect our prince to come out and greet her himself?”

The matron of honor, wearing a forced smile, tried to explain in a low and humble voice, “Miss Qiu Shuang, the bride is wearing a veil and can’t see the road—”

Before she could finish, the sedan suddenly lurched. Caught off guard, Lin Wanti nearly toppled over. She steadied herself with a deep breath, suppressing her irritation. It seemed the servants of the Prince’s Residence were even more ill-mannered than she’d imagined.

If not for the bizarre twist of fate that had brought her to another world and placed her in this body, she would never have meddled in such affairs. With her medical skills, she could have lived freely wherever she pleased. Why should she stand in for the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter and marry in her place, just to bring good fortune to that sickly Prince Murong Yunyi?

At last, someone lifted the sedan curtain, but not to help her out—rather, to urge her impatiently. “Bride, the prince is waiting in the main hall. Come out quickly!”

Lin Wanti steadied herself on the door of the sedan and stepped out slowly. Though her vision was blocked by the veil, she sensed the crowd’s curious, appraising, and above all, contemptuous and disdainful gazes.

Without betraying any emotion, she took in the expressions around her.

In the main hall, Murong Yunyi sat at the place of honor, his black brocade robe accentuating his sharp and austere features. His deep-set eyes seemed to pierce straight through to one’s soul. He watched Lin Wanti, who arrived late, his lips pressed thin in a fleeting, inscrutable appraisal.

Led by the matron of honor, Lin Wanti began to walk toward the main hall. Just as she was about to cross the threshold, a crisp “crack” sounded—a cup of hot tea was splashed on the ground, soaking the hem of her skirt.

“Oh dear!” Qiu Shuang exclaimed theatrically. “How could the bride be so careless, knocking over the teacup?”

Lin Wanti steadied herself, her gaze turning icy beneath the veil. She had clearly felt someone trip her, and the culprit was none other than Qiu Shuang at her side.

Feigning concern, Qiu Shuang reached out as if to help Lin Wanti, but the latter deftly avoided her touch.

“Miss Qiu Shuang,” Lin Wanti’s tone was calm, betraying no emotion, “I am wearing the bridal veil and cannot see the way. How could it be as you say—‘carelessly’ knocking over the cup?”

Qiu Shuang’s face stiffened, clearly not expecting Lin Wanti to refute her in public.

Rumor had it that Lin Wanti, the illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s household, was a timid fool.

Forcing herself to swallow her anger, Qiu Shuang managed a false smile. “What do you mean by that, bride? Are you accusing me of deliberately framing you?”

Lin Wanti ignored her question. Instead, she knelt down, dipped her finger into the spilled tea, and brought it to her nose for a sniff.

“This tea...” She paused, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd, finally settling on Qiu Shuang. “It seems to have been tampered with.”

Qiu Shuang’s complexion changed instantly, and she instinctively took a step back. The maids and servants around them held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The atmosphere in the hall froze.

Murong Yunyi had watched the entire scene with cold detachment, but now a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes. This woman was far more intriguing than he had anticipated.

“What was added to the tea?” he finally spoke, his voice low and magnetic.

Lin Wanti rose slowly, a subtle smile playing on her lips beneath the veil. “Your Highness, do you wish to know?”

“Do you wish to know?” she repeated, a hint of challenge in her voice.

She stood there, neither servile nor overbearing, her veil hiding her expression but not the confidence and composure radiating from her.

Seeing this, Qiu Shuang hurriedly knelt, wailing, “Your Highness, I am wronged! I only accidentally knocked over the cup, I did not add anything to it! This Lin family daughter is trying to slander me!”

She deliberately emphasized the words “Lin family’s illegitimate daughter.”

Lin Wanti let out a cold laugh, unhurriedly taking a spotless handkerchief from her sleeve and wiping the tea from her skirt.

“Miss Qiu Shuang, you keep insisting I knocked over the cup, but my skirt is soaked while your clothes remain spotless. How do you explain that?”

Qiu Shuang was left speechless, stammering and unable to reply. The servants began to exchange whispers, suspicion growing in their eyes as they looked at her.

Murong Yunyi remained seated, his expression unreadable, as though none of this concerned him. His deep eyes revealed nothing of his thoughts.

Lin Wanti returned the handkerchief to her sleeve, then slowly lifted her head to face Murong Yunyi.

“Your Highness, the tea was laced with croton powder. Even a small amount causes severe diarrhea. The tea was brewed by the residence’s maids, and I am certain there are capable people here who can investigate and uncover the truth with ease.”

She paused, her tone turning heavier. “On this auspicious day, such an incident was clearly meant to disgrace me. But if I am shamed, so too is the entire Prince’s Residence. I wonder how Your Highness will handle this?”

Murong Yunyi still did not speak, casting only a faint glance at the kneeling Qiu Shuang.

His silence made Qiu Shuang even more anxious and fearful.

She was the daughter of a former subordinate, whose father had died saving Murong Yunyi. Out of gratitude, the prince had brought her from the countryside and raised her as the chief maid, living in luxury equal to or better than the daughters of noble families in the capital. Before Concubine Su entered the residence, Qiu Shuang had always acted high and mighty, seeing herself as one of the household’s mistresses. She would often boast to the lower-ranked maids that the prince would eventually take her as a concubine, if not his princess.

But now, with both a concubine and a princess entering the residence, she remained just a maid, and her status had fallen sharply, especially under Concubine Su’s suppression. Naturally, she was resentful.

Lin Wanti was supposed to be a coward—what harm could it do to bully her a little? Only this time...

She realized now that the prince had no intention of defending her.

Seeing Murong Yunyi remain silent, Lin Wanti did not press the matter further. In this household, she would have to tread carefully and plan every step. Today was merely the beginning; the road ahead would be long.

She took a deep breath and turned to the matron of honor. “The auspicious hour is approaching. Let us proceed.”

The matron, dazed for a moment, quickly recovered and replied, “Yes, my lady.”

The wedding ceremony continued. Led by the matron, Lin Wanti walked steadily toward the main hall, her manner poised and graceful, as if nothing untoward had happened. Yet beneath the veil, her lips curved into a cold, hard line.

This Prince’s Residence was indeed a den of vipers. But she, Lin Wanti, was no soft fruit to be squeezed at will.

Just as she was about to step into the main hall, Qiu Shuang suddenly looked up, a flash of venomous hatred glinting in her eyes.