Chapter 1 - Will There Really Be Retribution?

In the spring of the twenty-first year of the Zhihe era, as the last bit of frost slowly melted from the withered branches of the crabapple tree, the carved window was slightly pushed open.

 

Shen Roujia propped her chin on her hand, gazing at the desolate scene outside. She couldn’t suppress the joy on her face. “Spring is here…”

 

For ninety long days, she had endured these hopeless days.

 

She was about to die, in this year’s spring.

 

Shen Roujia sometimes wondered if doing too many bad things would really bring retribution.

 

Back then, in the Shen Corporation, she had schemed her way up, using ruthless tactics for ten years to transform from an illegitimate daughter to a legitimate heir.

 

To achieve her goals, she used every possible means.

 

Even pretending to be in love was just an act she performed without blinking an eye, fooling one person after another.

 

But just as she obtained the inheritance certificate and reached the final step to the top, she inexplicably ended up in this world.

 

Yes, that’s right, Shen Roujia not only transmigrated into a book, but she also became a pitiful character who died at the beginning of the story.

 

Moreover, she found herself in a blank period before the book’s events even started.

 

The original character with the same name, Shen Roujia, only left a brief mention at the start of the book.

 

“In the spring of the twenty-first year of the Zhihe era, there was a great victory at the border, and the Crown Princess passed away.”

 

The original character was the male lead’s unforgettable white moonlight, a woman whose death made the male lead remember her for a lifetime. She was not a simple person.

 

As for Shen Roujia, as a minor character who didn’t even know her own background, all she could do was wait obediently for death. Once the plot ended, she could return to inherit the family business.

 

At that moment, a concerned voice interrupted her thoughts, “Your Highness, why are you standing in the wind again? Your cold from last time hasn’t fully recovered.”

 

Shen Roujia coughed lightly, her gaze falling on the round-faced maid. She spoke softly, “Xiao Fu, I’m fine. It was just stuffy inside, so I opened the window to get some fresh air.”

 

Xiao Fu was the maid who originally served Shen Roujia, simple-minded and easy to control.

 

Xiao Fu frowned with concern and pouted, “Master is really cruel, throwing you into the Eastern Palace and ignoring you.”

 

Shen Roujia spoke with understanding, “Xiao Fu, my brother has his reasons for his actions. I cannot abandon the Shen family.”

 

Xiao Fu grew even more indignant, “Why does it always have to be you who sacrifices? You clearly don’t want this. Look at the Eastern Palace, does anyone truly treat you as their mistress?”

 

Hearing this, Shen Roujia pursed her lips slightly, her eyes darkening as she lowered her gaze quietly.

 

In her heart, Shen Roujia kept a mental note to settle the score with this unseen Crown Prince.

 

Since they had been brought into the Eastern Palace in a low-profile manner.

 

They faced all sorts of difficulties, were mistreated, and even the servants showed them no respect.

 

Though the Eastern Palace was not as large as the emperor’s harem, it was no less filled with snobs and opportunists.

 

Until recently, the meals were still passable, but starting this month, not only was the firewood insufficient, but even the food had no meat.

 

Shen Roujia recalled the moldy buns she saw this morning, and it still made her feel nauseous.

 

People said good people don’t live long, but Shen Roujia felt she had endured enough. She had never suffered such hardships before.

 

Spoiled by her mother since childhood, and groomed for high society, had she gone through all that effort just to suffer now?

 

Shen Roujia smiled slightly, her eyes curving into pretty crescents. She said to Xiao Fu, “I remember that on the 28th of the first month, we could get double the firewood. Did you go to collect it today?”

 

Xiao Fu nodded repeatedly and then replied in frustration, “I was worried about the cold, so I went early. But they said our allotment hadn’t arrived yet and that everything was being used for His Highness. They told me to come back for news later.”

 

Shen Roujia didn’t show any particular emotion, but asked gently, “Who is in charge of the internal affairs?”

 

Xiao Fu, though simple-minded, had learned a lot from chatting with other maids in the Eastern Palace. She replied, “It’s Sir Gao Huaichang from His Highness’s side.”

 

Shen Roujia frowned slightly, “Is he also responsible for distributing supplies?”

 

Xiao Fu hesitated before shaking her head, “No, it’s the old maids who handle that.”

 

Shen Roujia nodded and slowly closed the window, “Xiao Fu, help me remove my makeup. After that, go find a doctor for me.”

 

Shen Roujia paused for a moment, looking Xiao Fu up and down, “Can you meet Sir Gao Huaichang?”

 

Xiao Fu, puzzled by her usually non-confrontational mistress’s sudden change, asked, “Yes.”

 

Shen Roujia smiled in satisfaction and whispered instructions into Xiao Fu’s ear.

 

Xiao Fu’s expression lit up with excitement. Covering her mouth, she whispered, “Will this really work…”

 

Gao Huaichang, with a kind face, hurried over, fearing something serious had happened. “What’s going on, Xiao Fu? Don’t cry.”

 

Hearing the commotion outside, Shen Roujia smoothly pulled up the quilt.

 

When Gao Huaichang and the doctor arrived, they saw the Crown Princess looking pale and exceptionally thin.

 

“Your Highness, Sir Gao is here.”

 

Shen Roujia coughed as she tried to sit up, “Xiao Fu, I told you to get a doctor. Why did you alarm them?”

 

Gao Huaichang respectfully lowered his head, not daring to look directly at Shen Roujia.

 

“Your Highness is seriously ill, why did no one inform His Highness? What are you doctors doing?”

 

The young doctor immediately knelt down, “It’s my fault.”

 

Shen Roujia coughed and panted, “It’s no one else’s fault, it’s my own. I’ve been spoiled by my brother since childhood and can’t stand the cold. Xiao Fu, quickly ask Sir Gao to sit.”

 

Seeing this, Xiao Fu hurried to fetch a chair for Gao Huaichang.

 

Gao Huaichang, feeling flattered, quickly declined, “Your Highness, this is too much. I’m not worthy of such treatment.”

 

Shen Roujia’s smile faded slightly, pretending to be generous.

 

She waved her hand comfortingly, “It’s fine. The servants in my courtyard are lazy. Sir Gao, as His Highness’s trusted aide, shouldn’t be neglected.”

 

Gao Huaichang’s face darkened as he glanced at the idle maids outside the window.

 

He pursed his lips, then said thoughtfully, “It seems quite cold in here. Why isn’t there any firewood? Even though spring has started, the ice in Beihu hasn’t melted yet.”