Chapter 1: The Incident

During the 38th year of the reign of Emperor Zhengxi of the Yuan Dynasty, there was a lively scene in front of the mansion of Lian Family, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works. Carriages and horses were bustling, and people were coming and going.

The ancestors of the Lian family had produced several Jinshi and Juren scholars, and even two Zhuangyuan scholars, one of whom was the grandfather of Lian Lao Ye. Later, he was appointed as a Grand Academician of the First Rank. Lian Lao Ye's father was a Bangyan, and his younger brother was a Tanhua scholar. The three generations of the Lian family in the capital were well-known.

Today was the sixtieth birthday of Lian Lao Ye's wife, and everyone had come to pay their respects. She was dressed in a red Five Blessings and Longevity coat, with a dark red skirt adorned with gold motifs. Her hair was neatly arranged, and she looked kind and peaceful.

Lian Lao Ye was chatting with the guests when a maid in a red silk coat came in and whispered something in her ear. Lian Lao Ye frowned, indicating that something was amiss. However, she quickly turned back to the guests and continued talking as if nothing had happened.

Soon, there was a commotion outside. A maid rushed in and said, "Madam, something terrible has happened. A madwoman has taken Master Lin hostage."

Lian Lao Ye's heart skipped a beat. The maid was referring to Lin Shao, the legitimate son of Lian Yuebing, who had married into the Lu Yanghou's residence. Although Lian Yue was a concubine, the legitimate son of the original wife had passed away, making Lin Shao the prime candidate to inherit the title of the Hou.

Lian Lao Ye immediately went to the scene of the incident, followed by the others. When they arrived, they saw a woman with long scars on her face, holding a sharp knife to Master Lin's neck. The tip of the knife was poised to take his life with a single move.

Lian Yuebing screamed, "Who are you? Why are you holding my child hostage?"

The woman with the knife sneered, "What's the matter, Lian Yuebing? Have you forgotten me so soon? It's a busy life for the nobility, but we've been sisters for over ten years."

Lian Yuebing carefully examined the woman and was filled with horror. "You... you're Yueyao? But how is that possible? Aren't you dead?"

Lian Lao Ye looked at the woman holding the knife with a grim expression. "Someone, take her down."

Upon hearing Lian Lao Ye's command, the sharp blade pierced the tender skin of the child. Coldly, the woman said, "Anyone who dares to come closer, I will take his life. Lian Yuebing, don't move."

Lian Yuebing grabbed Lian Lao Ye's arm and pleaded, "Mother, please, don't. She will hurt Lin."

Lian Lao Ye glared at Yueyao. She wanted to silence this woman, as she was sure she would say something reckless. However, she hesitated because of the child in Yueyao's hands. If anything happened to Lin, the Lian family would surely face retaliation from Lu Yanghou. It was a precarious situation.

Yueyao looked at Lian Lao Ye and smiled. The smile sent chills down Lian Lao Ye's spine. "So, even you know about innocence? Mo Shi, people reap what they sow. You used all the wealth of our second branch to pave the way for your children, using my marriage to elevate your children's status. When I was of no more use to you, you callously sold me to the merchant Zhou Shu in Haicheng. You even declared me dead. They say a woman's heart is as venomous as a scorpion's, but yours is even more poisonous."

After Yueyao's words, there was an uproar. The assets of the second branch of the Lian family were not insignificant. The Lian family's second master had been a high-ranking salt inspector for several years, accumulating a substantial amount of wealth. Additionally, the wife of Lian Dongbo, Ma Shi, was the eldest daughter of the Marquis Ma's family, and she was renowned for her beauty.

Some of the onlookers turned their eyes to the Lady of the Shen family. Feeling the scrutinizing gazes, she turned cold and said, "Miss, you were declared deceased. My family was unaware, and my younger uncle even mourned for you..."

As soon as Mrs. Shen's words fell, Lian Yueyao sneered, "Stop with the fake sympathy here. The second young master of the Shen family has caught the eye of the daughter of the Marquis's family. I, an orphan without parents, am hindering the second young master's path to success. The Shen family wants to break off this engagement, but they don't want to bear the reputation of being untrustworthy, so they came up with this vicious scheme. It's all my fault for being so foolish to believe you, Mo Shi, and suffer injustice without anyone to speak up for me." With a sharp look at Mrs. Shen, Lian Yueyao continued, "If the Shen family wants to climb the social ladder and look down on me, an orphan, I have nothing to say. But to ruin me just to achieve your goal! The Shen family dares to boast about being a family of integrity and righteousness, yet they are truly shameless to the extreme. If my father knew, he would surely regret saving such hypocritical people."

Mrs. Shen listened to Lian Yueyao's cutting words with a changing expression. She was not very clear about the matter of breaking off the engagement, but she knew that the Lian family's master had indeed saved her husband's life, which was a great favor. This was why the Shen family still had some dealings with the Lian family even after Lian Yueyao's death.

At this moment, Mrs. Lian, the matriarch of the Lian family, immediately stepped forward and said, "Miss, what you're saying is truly unbelievable. Even if the Shen family wants to break off the engagement, they could simply arrange another marriage for you. How could they sell you to a merchant as a concubine? You are the daughter of the Lian family. Do you know what kind of situation you would put the Lian family in by making such accusations?"

Lian Yueyao laughed with a touch of sorrow and, looking at the women present, gritted her teeth and said, "I don't know what deal Mo Shi and Zhou Shu had. All I know is that Mo Shi sent me to a rural estate and shortly after, married me off to a scholar named Zhou Shu, who was said to be taking the imperial examination. But Zhou Shu was not a scholar; he was a wealthy merchant. I was just a concubine bought by Zhou Shu, and I knew that I would ruin my appearance in the future... This face, I scarred it with my own hands." After speaking, Lian Yueyao touched the long scars on her face.

The women present, seeing the terrifying and intersecting scars on her face, no longer doubted Lian Yueyao's words. A woman would not self-mutilate unless she was driven to the brink of despair.

Mrs. Lian felt the scrutiny and even disdain from the crowd and trembled visibly. She was truly afraid. If this matter were confirmed, the Lian family would be finished. At this moment, Mrs. Lian looked at Mrs. Shen, hoping that she would intervene to prevent the Lian family from losing its standing in the capital.

The matriarch of the Lian family, Mrs. Lian, did not show any emotion on her face and looked at Lian Yueyao with a cold gaze, "Enough, release the child."

At this point, Lian Yueyao's expression returned to calm, and she looked at Mrs. Lian, saying, "Mo Shi, if I fall into your hands, I will be better off dead. I don't want to suffer anymore. I'm tired and just want to join my parents in the afterlife." With that, the sharp tip of the knife pierced the child's neck. It had only grazed the skin before, but now it went straight in.

Seeing the blood flowing from the child's neck, Lian Yuebing exclaimed in shock, "Yueyao, I beg you, let go of my child. Please, let go of my child. He's still so young."

Upon hearing Lian Yuebing's plea, Lian Yueyao looked up at the sky and murmured, "Mother, you told me that people's hearts are treacherous and to protect myself, but I didn't listen to you. Mother, in my current situation, I don't blame anyone but myself for being so blind. Father, Mother, I miss you so much." With that, Lian Yueyao released the child and knelt on the ground.

This action relieved the people around them. Lian Yuebing held her frightened son, tears streaming down her face.

Upon seeing Lian Yueyao release the child, Mrs. Lian shouted, "Guards, take her away. Don't let her spout nonsense here..." Detain her, and then find a way to minimize the damage caused by these words. Even if the damage cannot be undone, it should be reduced to the lowest extent.

Before Mrs. Lian's words could be carried out, everyone saw Lian Yueyao turn the knife around and plunge it into her own chest, then pull it out forcefully. Instantly, blood gushed out like a fountain, and she fell to the ground.

Mrs. Lian of the Shen family fainted at the sight. She was not scared into fainting, but rather by the consequences of this matter.

The usually composed Mrs. Lian of the Lian family, upon seeing Lian Yueyao lying in a pool of blood, felt a heavy weight in her heart. If Lian Yueyao had not died, she could have found a way to minimize the damage, but now that Lian Yueyao was dead, there was no way to erase the impact. The Lian family might be facing a catastrophe.

This matter spread quickly, and a memorial was submitted to the emperor, who chose to withhold it.

Not long after, the Left Minister, Li Guoxing, who was a close friend of Lian Yueyao's father, also submitted a memorial to the emperor.

The emperor still chose to withhold it.

The emperor's attitude led people to speculate about his intentions. No one dared to submit another memorial. Each person had their own guesses as to the reasons behind it.

The situation reached a stalemate.

On this day, the wife of the heir of the Duke of Qi's mansion, Lady Luo, went to the palace to visit her aunt, the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was a very wise person and knew that the emperor was not her biological son, so he might not be as filial as a real son. Therefore, after the emperor ascended the throne, she only enjoyed herself and did not interfere in anything, with her only pleasure being to listen to folk stories. The Empress Dowager naturally received the emperor with the attitude of a dutiful son. Their mother-son relationship was very harmonious.

After hearing her niece's account of this woman's ordeal, the Empress Dowager felt a hint of pity for her. With this hint of pity, she had a long conversation with the emperor, implying that the matter should be handled leniently. As a result, everyone involved in the case found their own resolutions.