Chapter 6: 006 恶魔觉醒

In the previous dynasty, the State of Liang dominated the Central Plains. The final emperor was both foolish and tyrannical, and his reign coincided with years of continuous drought. Crops failed, famine spread across the land, and the world fell into chaos as uprisings erupted in many places. Among them, the Jiangnan Army, led by Commander Ji Han, was the largest. It was rumored that Ji Han had successfully prayed for rain by releasing a seven-colored koi into the Huai River, thereby gaining the Mandate of Heaven. With this, he commanded millions of soldiers to flatten the capital, kill the foolish emperor, and capture a hundred members of the imperial family. The fleeing royals in the north were forced to exchange the young new emperor, who had just ascended the throne, as a hostage to reach an agreement, dividing the realm at the Taihang Mountains. This resulted in the current South Liang and North Liang.

Ji Han, the founding emperor of South Liang, ascended the throne and married the daughter of the former dynasty's Grand Secretary Jiang as his Empress. He enfeoffed the only female general, Shangguan Changsheng, as Prince Gong, and the strategist Ning Zhengqing as Duke of Fanguo. The patriarch of the great Li clan was enfeoffed as Duke of Feng'en. It was Ning Zhengqing who had proposed the strategy of using the seven-colored koi to pray for rain, while Shangguan Changsheng had observed the celestial phenomena to seize the opportunity, thereby helping Ji Han win the hearts of the people.

However, of the original "One King and Two Dukes," only the Duke of Feng'en remained alive. Even Emperor Longwu spent most of his time bedridden, leaving the administration of state affairs to the Crown Prince.

As Shangguan Erya gradually regained her memories, she saw several maidservants and old women surrounding a plump, wealthy-looking old lady, passing by in a hurry. Several elegant ladies beside her whispered among themselves, "How could such a filthy thing happen?"

"In the past, she relied on the fact that an Imperial Prince of a different surname was still alive to even deceive the one above. In reality, she is nothing but a useless fraud using a stolen reputation!"

Someone else snorted, "She must have climbed into the Second Young Master's bed of her own accord, hoping to secure a good marriage for herself!"

Another chimed in, "How shameless. Otherwise, with that reputation of hers, what high-ranking household would ever marry her?"

The old lady leading the group cast a furious, sidelong glance and barked, "The matter hasn't been fully investigated yet. If you keep gossiping here, this old lady fears it will shorten my lifespan just hearing it!"

The crowd immediately fell silent; after all, this was the birthday banquet of the Grand Madam of a Ducal House, and no one dared to invite such bad luck.

Watching them walk away, Shangguan Erya couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and sneer. Were they talking about her?

Just as she thought to follow them, she heard someone calling out softly in the distance, "Eldest Miss, this servant has found you!"

The newcomer hurried forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her to the side. Shangguan Erya turned to see a young girl with braided temples; her youthful face was filled with anxiety. Once they had moved aside, the little girl cried out in surprise, "Eldest Miss, why is your forehead injured?"

Only then did Shangguan Erya remember that the little girl was her maid, Qingwei. The two had grown up together and shared a deep bond, but she had been missing since she became intoxicated earlier today.

Qingwei failed to notice any strangeness in Shangguan Erya's expression and said to herself, "It is all my fault, Eldest Miss. If I hadn't gone to fetch Qinghua, I wouldn't have failed to stay by your side to protect you. Let me see, is the injury serious?"

Shangguan Erya could see that her concern was genuine. Despite being younger, she was still thinking of protecting her. She also remembered that during the past few years, only Qinghua had stayed by her side, though in her previous life, after marrying into the Duke of Fanguo's manor, all her close companions had been replaced by the Princess Consort.

Having lived two lives, this was the first time she had encountered such a loyal girl.

Shangguan Erya smiled from the bottom of her heart. "It is nothing serious."

Qingwei did not believe her at all. "I will go and beg the Princess Consort to find a physician to treat your wound immediately. I am not afraid of her scolding me; I am truly worried that a scar will be left on your forehead!"

She was already crying out of heartache. "Every time, Eldest Miss, you swallow your grievances. I heard all those things people were saying about you. If I weren't afraid of shaming you, I would definitely go up and argue with those gossips!"

She truly hadn't expected the little girl by her side to be so spirited.

Moved, Shangguan Erya spoke with an air of dominance, "Why not! It should have been me protecting you. In the past, I was not strong enough, which allowed you to suffer such humiliations for my sake. From now on, if such a thing happens again, just go up and teach them a lesson. If anyone dares to harm even a hair on your head, I will make them regret being alive!"

The setting sun bathed Shangguan Erya, the warm light making it seem as though a layer of gold had been inlaid around her. It was as if an invisible power was awakening within her body, radiating an imposing aura that made it impossible to look directly at her beauty—or her ruthlessness.

Qingwei's tears fell uncontrollably once more. In truth, she wasn't surprised at all. This was how the Eldest Miss should truly be: a beauty with a cold edge, a heroic figure with an unyielding spirit, unruly and peerless!

Shangguan Erya smiled and tapped her on the nose. "You've cried your face messy. Why don't we go do something bad together right now?"

Qingwei's eyes lit up. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and nodded hurriedly.

Shangguan Erya curled her lips into a wicked smile. "It is time for us to make our entrance in this grand play!"

***

At this moment, in a side room in the backyard of the Duke of Fanguo's manor, several ladies who had happened upon the incident were gathered.

A helpless female voice spoke from within the room, "Grand Matriarch, it is my failure to teach my daughter that has brought shame to both families. But regardless, Erya is still my daughter under my name. Since she truly loves the Second Young Master, please, for my sake, let us settle the marriage between the two children."

"Sigh, truly, the hearts of parents are pitiable. Princess Consort Gong is really not having an easy time; one can only blame that Eldest Miss of the Prince Gong's manor for her lack of shame!"

The surrounding guests discussed the matter fervently, while the Princess Consort inside the room grieved in silence.

Just then, someone shouted anxiously outside the room, "Princess Consort! Princess Consort! I have found the Eldest Miss! She is over here!"

The smile on the Princess Consort's lips instantly froze, and her gaze turned chillingly toward the door—