Chapter 13: The Past of Nie Sangyu

It is often said that placing your hand on your chest before falling asleep can lead to nightmares. Jiman followed the advice and unsurprisingly, she dreamt of Niesangyu once again.

She was actually quite beautiful, but her eyes were filled with too much resentment, making it uncomfortable to look at her. In the dream, Niesangyu, dressed in a white gown, was crying incessantly, the sound of her sobs both long and hysterical.

Jiman stood by for a while before approaching her and offering a handkerchief, saying, "No one can hear you crying, so there's no point in shedding so many tears."

However, Niesangyu ignored her and continued wailing. She pointed forward, and a water screen appeared in the empty space, showing various scenes. Jiman turned to look and saw some events unfolding.

Niesangyu, dressed in red, was welcomed into the mansion by Moyuhou with a faint smile. They entered together, and Niesangyu, under her veil, was tearfully happy. However, Moyuhou left at dawn due to an incident involving a maid.

Upon waking and not finding her husband, Niesangyu learned that Moyuhou had rushed to help a maid who had fallen into water, which angered the main lady. In her impatience, Niesangyu sent away all the maids from the house while Moyuhou was absent.

Ning Yuxuan's gaze towards her changed, and when they shared a room afterwards, he would light incense and sleep with the lights out.

Then, Moyuhou welcomed Qian Lengxue into the mansion. She was elegant and amiable, and Moyuhou never visited Niesangyu again after she arrived. Night after night, Niesangyu wept in the desolate Rose Garden, but received no compassion.

Later, Qian Lengxue and Liu Hanyun also entered the mansion, and Moyuhou no longer held any affection for Niesangyu. She learned to be gentle, to sit quietly and embroider for him, but she never regained his attention. Frustrated, she tried to end her life with poison but was rescued.

"Not loved, despised, unattained. Must I not even die?" she cried.

Jiman's heart stirred. Niesangyu at that moment must have been truly desperate, willing to give up her life for a man who didn't love her.

Moyuhou was flirtatious, enjoying the company of various women, and had never genuinely loved anyone. Upon the advice of the royal concubine, Niesangyu recovered, believing she still had a chance.

Jiman found herself admiring her — to think that even when Moyuhou showed no affection, she still believed he could love her.

So Niesangyu recovered, merrily staying by Moyuhou's side until another woman appeared, and the despair she felt then was indescribable. Niesangyu stood in the way, stubbornly preventing Moyuhou from presenting his engagement gift.

Moyuhou pushed her aside and rode off. Disheveled and in tears, she went to the palace, hoping that the royal concubine would help her stop Moyuhou. However, she was reprimanded by the emperor and lost her position as the main lady.

Jiman felt a pang of sympathy; Niesangyu's actions, though unbecoming for a main lady in ancient times, clearly stemmed from the depth of her love for Moyuhou. She failed to realize that she had married a duke destined for multiple wives and concubines, and she clung to him like a child refusing to let go of her possession.

However, Jiman sighed, looking at the tear-streaked Niesangyu. She loved Moyuhou to the point of desperation; that's the only explanation for her actions. Contrary to the vicious, scheming second female lead portrayed in novels, she seemed easily manipulated, losing her composure whenever Moyuhou was involved.

"Let me see all this. Are you trying to tell me something?" After a moment's thought, Jiman said, "Do you have an unfulfilled wish? Shouldn't you tell me so that I can fulfill it for you?"

Niesangyu looked up, her tear-reddened eyes meeting Jiman's before gesturing towards the water screen.

As the scene shifted, Moyuhou was sitting tenderly in a pavilion, and Niesangyu, smiling, draped a cloak around him. Moyuhou looked up, filled with fondness.

Jiman shuddered. This was undoubtedly a scene Niesangyu had imagined!

"You want him to fall in love with you?" Her lips twitched, and Jiman decisively shook her head. "That's impossible!"