Chapter 5: Accidentally Entering a Brothel

Looking at the person in the bronze mirror, Jiuqing still felt a sense of daze. This Bai Jiuqing clearly shared a fifty-percent resemblance with her former self; she finally understood why she had been reborn into this body—at least in terms of facial features, they were extremely consistent.

As she tidied herself up, she deftly used a hairpin to coil all her hair up. The advantage of not being in the palace was that she no longer had to worry about her image; she could do as she pleased.

Lüyi was in the wardrobe selecting today's clothes for her, but given her status in the manor, there weren't many clothes she was actually permitted to wear. "Miss, are you going to wear this one with white silk flowers or this one with white butterfly patterns?"

Jiuqing glanced at Lüyi. She was holding two white dresses, comparing them against her own body. The clothes of this Bai Jiuqing were indeed all quite bland colors. "Is there any difference between what you're holding? To me, they look like the same thing."

She paced to the wardrobe and, seeing a sea of plain colors, couldn't help but sigh. She had always loved vibrant colors; how could she accept Bai Jiuqing's taste so quickly? Lüyi continued to chatter incessantly by her side.

"Miss, what's wrong with you? Didn't you love white the most before? I think Miss looks best in white, just like a fairy. It's precisely because you are so beautiful that the Eldest Miss is jealous of you. Originally, there were quite a few people proposing to you, but someone was spreading rumors outside, saying that Miss had gone mad lately and had scared all the suitors away. It must have been the Eldest Miss's doing... Miss, your life is truly bitter. Madam passed away early, leaving you alone in the manor to watch people's faces, not only..."

"I've got it," Jiuqing suddenly spoke up.

"Got what? Did Miss think of a way to deal with the Eldest Miss?" Lüyi spoke without pausing for a single breath. Jiuqing had witnessed this over the past few days; one must never let her start talking, or she would ramble endlessly. It was only with difficulty that Jiuqing managed to divert the topic.

"Isn't there a red dress here? I'll wear this one today." Jiuqing pulled a red long dress from a corner of the wardrobe; this color suited her heart perfectly.

Lüyi looked as if she had nearly bitten her tongue. "Miss, so that's what you meant. I thought... Miss, you really don't take your marriage matters to heart. The Eldest Miss has already been engaged to the Fourth Prince for a long time. She isn't in a hurry, but why are you, a lone soul, so indifferent?"

Jiuqing, who had previously found her loquacious, was unexpectedly struck by this sentence. ****Ting was actually engaged to Su Muran? In her memory, that man, who seemed gentle and refined, almost never approached women. However, she figured the two of them probably wouldn't have any feelings for each other.

Donning the red garment, she began to walk outward. "Miss, where are you going?" Lüyi was somewhat panicked by this. The lady never wore vibrant colors; was she actually planning to go out while wearing something so bright red?

"I'm going out for a stroll," Jiuqing said without hesitation.

"Oh, my dear Miss! You were just falsely accused of eloping, and now you want to go out again? You're really giving the Eldest Miss more topics to talk about!" Lüyi's face was full of tension.

"Do you think she won't find topics if I stay obediently at home? If someone views you as a thorn in their eye, she will find you annoying whether you are standing or sitting. She will spare no effort to eliminate me. I've seen plenty of people like that. I am going out. Even if I am nothing much, I am still the Second Miss, am I not? Stay home and watch the house; I'll be back soon." Jiuqing patted Lüyi's head.

"But..."

"No 'buts,' be good." Her words weren't heavy, yet they somehow made Lüyi feel unable to argue, leaving her with no choice but to obey. The Miss had returned, but her temperament had become much more forceful. The former Miss, who only knew how to hide in corners and didn't even dare to look people in the eye, had finally changed. However, she said she had seen plenty of such people; Lüyi had always lived in the inner chambers, so who had she seen?

Taking advantage of Lüyi's daze, Jiuqing left the house feeling satisfied. She was already quite familiar with most of the Prime Minister's manor. The eldest sister, ****Ting, and the pervert Bai Yuchen were both born of the First Madam. Although her own mother had not been favored, her maiden family's background was quite good, and she had brought a significant dowry when she married in.

Logically speaking, with Jiuqing's originally submissive personality, how could she have invited such a life-threatening disaster? Realizing this layer of the truth, she felt as if she had just woken from a dream. Her eldest sister's killing her had only one purpose: seeing that she was already engaged and that her marriage was not far off...

Although Jiuqing was not liked, her mother's original dowry was indeed substantial. Therefore, the Eldest Miss went to great lengths to obstruct others from proposing, even attempting to kill her, all for the sake of that rich dowry.

There were several concubines in the manor; although they were favored, they ultimately had no say in matters, so they merely watched the drama from the sidelines. In short, the warmth and coldness of this world were largely like this.

Jiuqing strolled along the river embankment, watching the willows brush against the levee as the warm breeze intoxicated the tourists. Water curtains pushed the waterwheels, and several women by the river chatted while washing clothes, while several children ran around happily nearby.

Seeing such a scene, she still felt some emotions in her heart. That man was a good emperor, but he was not a good husband... Her heart was suddenly filled with a complex mixture of feelings. When he had not yet ascended the throne, he had nothing, and he only had her by his side.

She had accompanied him through bloody battles, stepping over white bones and through crimson blood to reach that position. The position he promised her lasted only two years. Now that he had obtained the world, he had lost her.

No matter how many women were by his side, not a single one could ever take her place. The position of Empress had remained vacant; should she feel a smile? Past memories swirled in her mind, while she was actually churning with thoughts of how to return to the imperial palace and personally kill those who had harmed her, one by one.

*Thump.* Her body was suddenly bumped, startling her out of her thoughts. "Miss, I am sorry," a man said, having accidentally bumped into her.

"It's fine," she said indifferently. Just as she turned her head, a cloud of white powder came rushing toward her. *Oh no,* were the only two words that appeared in her mind before she fell into darkness.

Her head was constantly spinning. She struggled to open her eyelids. Her vision went from blurry to clear. Before her eyes was a sea of pink: a pink bed, pink curtains, and an enticing fragrance permeating the room.

The tassels on the bed curtains swayed gently, indicating that someone had just been here. She moved her body, only to find that her hands and feet were bound, and her body felt limp, unable to exert any strength.

"Hey, she's awake. Hurry and notify Auntie Wang." A crisp female voice drifted in, followed by the sound of a door closing.

"Who are you?" Jiuqing asked, enduring the discomfort in her body.

"Miss, my name is Qiuhe. I will be the maid serving you from now on." A girl wearing a pink gauze dress with two small braids came over obediently and bowed. Before Jiuqing could react, what on earth had happened?

The door was pushed open forcefully again, and a woman dressed in gaudy, flamboyant clothes swaggered in. Looking at her attire, Jiuqing understood instantly: she had been sold to a brothel.