Chapter 2 Rebirth

Xia Ansheng felt like she had just woken up from a long and bizarre nightmare, filled with absurdity and surrealism.

But the heart-wrenching pain and deep-seated hatred made her feel suffocated, as if she were being burned alive.

She struggled to wake up from the endless abyss, opening her eyes in terror.

Her sister, Xia Anran, was sitting by the bed, her eyes swollen from crying, her face pale like the blooming gardenia in the courtyard, dazzlingly white and pure.

"Ansheng, you're finally awake!" Xia Anran tightly held her hand, tears of joy streaming down her face. "I was so scared, I thought you wouldn't wake up."

Her sister's warm and smooth hand felt so real that Xia Ansheng was momentarily dazed.

She forced a smile, turned her head, and saw the twilight outside the window. The warm setting sun cast a gentle golden light on the carved window lattice, and the fragrance of gardenias wafted in with the cool evening breeze, faint and elusive.

The fragrant breeze and warmth, just like every dusk before her sister's marriage, so peaceful and touchably real.

It seemed that fate had given her a second chance.

"Sister?" Xia Ansheng grinned foolishly, trembling as she tightly held her sister's hand, feeling the preciousness of regaining what was lost. "Was I unconscious for a long time?"

Xia Anran nodded, holding back her tears. "It's been three days and nights, and even your breath was faint. But Mother was reluctant to call for a doctor, fearing that it would bring bad luck to Ziyu's marriage. She insisted on leaving you to fend for yourself in the estate."

I begged Father desperately to delay it for two days, otherwise I would have been at a loss. Ansheng, you must never act recklessly again. People are no match for fate. Let's forget about this marriage."

Xia Ansheng looked up and saw the fading bruise on Anran's forehead, a mark left by her pleading with their father.

Xia Ansheng felt a pang of pain, wondering how her sister had endured these long and fearful three days alone.

Three days and nights? Ziyu's marriage?

It was three years ago when she returned, and at that time, her sister Xia Anran was still unmarried. Unfortunately, their mother had passed away, leaving no room for change.

When their mother was still alive, she had arranged a good marriage for Xia Anran with Meng Jinglun, the son of the Minister of Rites. At that time, the Meng family was not prominent, and the match was considered suitable. But now, Meng Jinglun had achieved success and was on the verge of becoming a jinshi, and the Meng family had risen in status.

On the other hand, their father had remained stagnant in his position as a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue, neither outstanding nor mediocre. As a result, the marriage with the Meng family seemed unattainable.

Their stepmother, Xue, had wasted Anran's youth for several years. Now, Anran was eighteen, and Ansheng was sixteen, and even Ziyu had come of age.

Xue finally revealed her true intentions and sent a matchmaker to the Meng family to propose that Ziyu marry Meng Jinglun instead of Anran, in order to enjoy wealth and prosperity.

Three days ago was the day when the mistress of the Meng family came to inspect the prospective bride. The sisters were still in the dark, full of joy and excitement.

Ansheng was assigned to the kitchen early in the morning, using all her skills to make Anran look good in front of her future mother-in-law.

Ziyu easily deceived Ansheng and took credit for the sisters' handiwork, winning the favor of the Meng family's mistress.

In her anxious anticipation, Ziyu's arrogance and conceit struck Ansheng, and she couldn't bear it. She fought fiercely with Ziyu, and even the maid, without hesitation, struck her with a club, causing her to fall into a coma for three days.

In her previous life, she had woken up from the coma and immediately rallied, causing chaos in the Xia family. Her father was thoroughly disappointed, and her stepmother pretended to dissuade her, sending her to recuperate in a remote estate outside the city.

Then, everything was set in stone.

Anran lost her good marriage, and Ansheng later lost her beloved sister.

It seemed that all the disasters began from here, one after another.

"What about your marriage? What happened?" Ansheng asked anxiously.

Anran lowered her head in sorrow, clutching her hands tightly and choked back a sob.

"Father said... that you were not worthy of the Meng family."

"Father has been blinded by greed!" Ansheng pounded the bed fiercely, speaking each word with determination.

A man who indulged his concubine and mistreated his wife was one thing, but to trample on his own daughter was simply unforgivable!

"Let it go, Ansheng. Marriage is a matter of fate, and we must obey our parents and the matchmaker's words."

Ansheng fixed her gaze on Anran, resolute and unwavering. "By our parents' orders? Back then, when Mother forbade the Xue family from entering the Xia residence, they harbored deep hatred towards her. Do you still expect her to find a good match for us? That's wishful thinking! Sister, this is the only chance to change your fate. We cannot afford to sit back and let it happen, digging our own graves!"

"It's no use, it's too late," Anran shook her head helplessly. "Ansheng, I don't have the luxury of choice. I have to accept my fate... The Meng family has already presented the betrothal gifts today, they are waiting outside. The engagement date is set for three days from now."

It suddenly dawned on Ansheng that in her past life, Xue Shi, fearing that time was running out, had sought out a Daoist from the Southern Temple, and after spending a large sum of money, convinced the Meng family that three days later would be an auspicious day for the wedding. As a woman of nineteen, if she missed this opportunity, she would have to wait another three years due to astrological conflicts. Amidst the chaos and confusion, the wedding date was hastily set.

Three days later? If the die was cast, it would be too late to change anything. She and her sister were nothing more than fish at the mercy of others.

Since the heavens had granted her a rebirth, she could not afford to make the same mistakes again and let the tragedy unfold once more.

What was lost was beyond her control, but what she had now must not slip away.

Ansheng was determined to defy fate, protect her sister for the rest of her life, and ensure that the executioner who had harmed her and her family would never have a chance to do so again!