Chapter 8: 008 Beauty, A Little Secret

The most dilapidated courtyard in the Han Prime Minister’s estate, once a place where anyone could come and go as they pleased, was now a place everyone avoided like the plague.

At this moment, Ziqing was sitting before her vanity, unclothed, carefully examining every inch of skin reflected in the mirror.

She was certain that her soul had transmigrated. The tattoos she once had on her body were gone, replaced by numerous old and new whip marks on her back and arms. If these weren't left by Han Xi'er, then who else could it be?

The face in the mirror was so similar to the one she had before she transmigrated. Her beauty back then had been cold and glamorous, but dressed in ancient attire, it possessed an indescribable allure.

Prime Minister Han had two wives. The first wife was Xia Wanyu, Han Xi'er’s biological mother and the current First-Rank Lady, Madam Han. The second wife was Ziqing’s biological mother, Mu Ci.

Back then, although Mu Ci was merely a concubine, her beauty was so legendary that it captivated the entire capital, earning her more favor than the first wife. Helplessly, she fell ill and passed away early. After Mu Ci was gone, the Prime Minister ceased to care for his daughter.

Han Ziqing had undoubtedly inherited her mother’s beauty. Looking at it from such close proximity, even Ziqing felt this face was unrealistically beautiful. Relying on distant childhood memories, she traced her skin carefully. Sure enough, she felt a thin layer behind her ear.

So, this face really did hold a secret!

A scene from when her mother was dying suddenly surfaced in her mind. In this very room, her mother had held her hand and told her, "Qing'er, all men in this world love beauty, and all are fickle. You were born this way, and I am powerless, having given birth to you as a concubine's daughter, inferior in status and position. This is all I can give you. Remember, never tear off that veil."

Was this a veil? It felt more like a layer of solidified makeup.

These were memories from when she was only three or four years old, so distant that Ziqing could barely recall them clearly. Despite a moment of hesitation, she carefully and slowly peeled back the membrane-thin layer on her face. Even she, usually so composed, couldn't help but feel nervous. After all, it concerned her appearance—everyone has a love for beauty!

However, as soon as the film was half-peeled away, revealing half of her true face, she panicked. Subconsciously, she hurriedly pressed the film back down, her small hand clutching her chest, her heart pounding wildly and unable to calm down for a long time.

How could it be like this!

If she could, she would never want to lift this film again. This was a secret! This was absolutely a massive secret; her mother had gone to such great lengths!

Ziqing sat stunned for a long time before she finally regained her senses. She carefully traced her face with her fingertips, looking at herself in the mirror with her delicate brows tightly locked.

If one is born with such a face, what is there to complain about?

As for her mother’s claim that a concubine’s daughter is inferior, she did not agree. If status is determined by birth, then what of orphans? A concubine’s daughter at least has a home, a father, and a mother, while an orphan has nothing! She had been an orphan since childhood, relying entirely on her own efforts to become a leader among mercenaries, sought after by everyone. In her world, status was always determined by strength, not birth!

She would keep this secret on her face for the sake of Han Ziqing and her mother, but the submissiveness and self-abasement of a concubine’s daughter—she would cast all of that aside!

Ziqing gently brushed over the lingering bite marks and hickeys on her collarbone, her sharp eyes darkening. She put on her night-traveling clothes and stood up to leave. It was time to find that Young Master Chen; she wanted to see if he would be as overbearing and tyrannical tonight as he was that night!

She vaulted over the wall and was about to leave when she heard a chorus of exclamations coming from Han Xi'er’s courtyard not far away.

"Oh no! The Eldest Miss’s face is cracking!"

"Someone come quickly! Get a doctor, the Eldest Miss’s face is splitting open!"

...

Ziqing let out a soft, cold snort and turned to leave. When she slapped someone, did they really think she was just playing around?