Chapter 2 - ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 2

That was on a hot summer afternoon when there was no breeze. The cicadas on the trees elongated their voices, calling out as if they would run out of breath the next moment, causing annoyance and agitation.

Li Zhizhi knelt on the ground, the bluestone bricks scorching under the sun. Sweat trickled down her forehead, sliding along her cheeks, as if her flesh and skin were about to melt. Just when she was about to collapse, the door creaked open, followed by footsteps emerging from inside. Li Zhizhi raised her head and saw many familiar faces, both male and female, looking at her with anger and disgust.

Li Zhizhi was dizzy from the scorching heat, her mouth dry and parched, and her whole body numb. But she still tried her best to speak up in defense, “It wasn’t me…”

A man’s cold voice interrupted her, “I’ll ask again.”

Li Zhizhi looked up, and the other party’s face was as calm as water. He asked each word, “Did you push Wan’er into the water?”

Li Zhizhi immediately shook her head, “No, it wasn’t me. She jumped into the water herself. I didn’t even touch her—”

“You’re lying!”

A sharp female voice interrupted her, “Is Wan’er crazy? Did she jump into the water herself? Do you know she was three months pregnant?”

How could Li Zhizhi have known? It was indeed Li Suwan who jumped into the water by herself.

She looked blankly at the girl in the red clothes, with a high bun and a golden hairpin. Princess Jing’an had never liked her, and now it was even less likely for her to let her go. She cursed viciously, as if she wished to trample Li Zhizhi into the mud.

It had always been like this. Everyone believed Li Suwan’s words and never believed her. They also looked down on her.

After all, in their eyes, Li Suwan was the true Miss Li from the Li Family, while Li Zhizhi was just a distant relative who had come to the capital seeking refuge after the death of her parents. She was lowly and rustic, always trying to compete with Li Suwan.

“How shameless!”

Princess Jing’an scolded angrily, “With Wan’er’s good character, she just woke up and pleaded for you, but you’re so vicious. You want to condemn her and her child to death! Every day you live in this world is a betrayal to her!”

The malice in her words was like a knife, making Li Zhizhi shiver. In the scorching summer, she felt a chill as if she had been exposed to the sun for too long. She felt dizzy and moved her cracked lips weakly to defend herself, “It wasn’t… me… I didn’t push her…”

She remembered something and said with difficulty, “There were servants present at the time. They must have seen it. Go and ask them…”

“I have already asked,” said the voice of the Crown Prince. “They all said they saw you do it. Now, do you have anything else to say?”

Li Zhizhi looked at him in disbelief, her eyes wide open. She raised her head and said, “It’s impossible…”

She suddenly realized that it was a trap. She shouldn’t have gone to the pool when Li Suwan called her. She shouldn’t have listened to her sarcastic remarks, mocking her as a pitiful creature. So what if you are the real Miss Li of the family? Didn’t you end up losing miserably? My brother, my mother, and my father all loved me the most. I even became the Crown Prince’s consort, bringing glory to the Li family. And what about you? Li Zhizhi, you would have been better off staying in the countryside. Why did you come back and bring shame upon yourself?

Every time I see you, I feel like I’ve tarnished my own eyes. But it doesn’t matter. Soon you will disappear from my sight.

So that’s what she meant.

Li Zhizhi suddenly realized. At that moment, she heard Princess Jing’an say, “Crown Prince, look at her unrepentant and denying face. She must be punished severely! Since she dared to push Wan’er into the water, let her taste some bitterness too, so she won’t harm anyone again.”

When Li Zhizhi was pushed into the water, she still found it incredibly absurd. She struggled desperately, trying to defend herself and deny it. It wasn’t me! I didn’t harm Li Suwan!

Why don’t you believe me?!

I didn’t do anything to Li Suwan!

The cold water filled her nostrils, causing a fiery sting. She couldn’t breathe at all. She struggled and tried to lift her head above the water, but she was ruthlessly pushed back in. She could only see a blurry green underwater, unable to see anything clearly or speak. Despair engulfed her like water, bringing a chilling coldness.

Let me go.

Let me go, please…

After some time, she had no strength left to struggle. Li Zhizhi, like a small pebble, gradually sank to the bottom of the water. In the moment before losing consciousness, she opened her eyes and looked up. The afternoon sun was bright and beautiful, shining through the shimmering water, golden and transparent. She saw those people standing by the pool, Li Suwan had come out at some point, with a look of panic and confusion, as if acting as usual.

Everyone comforted her, and Li Suwan looked down into the water. In a place where no one could see, she revealed a triumphant smile to Li Zhizhi.

Li Zhizhi opened her mouth, but couldn’t say a word. The water rushed into her mouth, and tiny bubbles slowly rose as she sank deeper. And she could only sink slowly into the soft sand and stones, which were softer than the hearts of those people.

Even though it was the height of summer, the water was so cold…

…

Li Zhizhi woke up in the middle of the night, shivering from the cold. She realized that the blanket had fallen to the bottom of the bed. She quickly picked it up and covered herself. The moonlight, like water, seeped through the window paper and cast a faint light on the floor, making everything seem unreal.

Li Zhizhi was a bit dazed. She reached out to touch the carved bedpost, the sensation was so vivid. So she had come back to life again?

In her dream, or rather, in the previous life, she was also Li Zhizhi, but that Li Zhizhi was already dead. Just like in this life, Li Zhizhi was the switched daughter of the Li family.

Fourteen years ago, Li’s parents were working in the capital and gave birth to a child. Unfortunately, the child had congenital deficiencies and poor health. Many doctors said they needed to use the best medicinal herbs to raise the child, otherwise, the child wouldn’t survive the first year.

However, the Li family was very poor. Li’s father was only a tile mason, and Li’s mother did sewing and patching clothes for others. They couldn’t afford precious medicinal herbs throughout the year. Just when things seemed hopeless, a woman from their hometown gave them an idea.

Her surname was Zhou, and she used to be a skilled midwife. Because of her good techniques, she had some reputation, and many wealthy families would hire her for childbirth. If she was quick enough, she could switch the Li family’s baby with the newborn from the other family. This way, the Li family would have a healthy child, and their own flesh and blood would survive.

Upon hearing this, Li’s parents were overjoyed and gave the midwife Zhou a sum of money to help them. Coincidentally, a prominent family named Li invited her to assist with childbirth in those days. Taking this opportunity, Midwife Zhou secretly swapped the two babies and took the child from the Li household.

Feeling guilty, Li’s parents lived in anxiety for many days, fearing being exposed. The next day, they left the capital with the child and returned to their hometown. Initially, they managed to keep the matter hidden; otherwise, it wouldn’t have remained a secret for fourteen years.

However, it seemed that the midwife Zhou, who had assisted them, had experienced a string of bad luck since then. Her husband became addicted to gambling and lost everything they had. They also accumulated debts. While assisting another family with childbirth, she accidentally made a mistake, resulting in the newborn’s death shortly after birth. Afterward, no one dared to seek her services, and Zhou had to take on menial jobs to barely make a living. Unexpectedly, within two years, their house suddenly caught fire, and only Zhou managed to escape. Her husband, son, and daughter-in-law all perished in the fire. Overwhelmed with grief, Zhou lost all hope and decided to become a nun.

After years of practicing Buddhism, Zhou remembered the wrong she had done in the past and suspected it was retribution. Fearing going to hell after death, she voluntarily approached the Li family and confessed the truth.

Thus, the truth was revealed, and after fourteen years, Li Zhizhi was finally brought back to the capital.

However, life in the Li household was not pleasant for her. Due to her rural upbringing, Li Zhizhi often spoke and acted timidly, with a rustic demeanor. Li’s wife disliked her, considering her a disgrace, and her older brother, Li Xingzhi, also paid little attention to her. They both favored Li Suwan.

Following suit, the servants in the mansion also began to look down on Li Zhizhi. They treated her with impatience and disdain while showing patience and good temper toward Li Suwan, as if they were two different people.

Unwilling to be neglected, Li Zhizhi began to try to compete for favor with Li Suwan.

They found fault with her lack of knowledge and crude behavior, so Li Zhizhi made great efforts to study and learn. She mastered skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as rules and etiquette. Often, she stayed up until late at night, even impressing her teachers.

Finally, Li Zhizhi managed to surpass Li Suwan. However, on that day, she discovered that everyone still favored Li Suwan.

Li’s wife believed that Li Zhizhi had a narrow mind, a strange temper, and liked to scheme. Li Xingzhi also warned Li Zhizhi, telling her not to always bully Li Suwan. Even their father, Li Cen, reminded her that Suwan had a frail body from a young age, so she should be more accommodating.

Li Zhizhi didn’t understand where she went wrong. She wasn’t bullying Li Suwan; she just wanted to receive what she rightfully deserved, such as fairness and respect.

It was as if in everyone’s eyes, only Li Suwan was the true Miss of the Li family, and she was the intruder.

Moreover, Li Suwan wasn’t as harmless and weak as she appeared. She always intentionally or unintentionally provoked Li Zhizhi and then put on an extremely innocent face afterward, asking why her sister was angry. She would say, “I’m sorry; it’s all my fault.”

Hearing such words made Li Zhizhi sick, but they easily stirred up indignation in others. People stood up for Li Suwan, speaking out against Li Zhizhi. As a result, Li Zhizhi’s situation worsened, and her popularity reached rock bottom. Many people believed that Li Zhizhi was not a good person, with an arrogant and overbearing personality, always bullying Li Suwan.

In this situation, Li Zhizhi’s reputation gradually became tarnished. So, when Li Suwan fell into the water, no one believed her, and no one came forward to speak up for her. No matter how Li Zhizhi tried to explain, it was in vain.

Later, Li Zhizhi died, drowning in the flower pond of the Crown Prince’s mansion.

…

“Miss, miss?”

Li Zhizhi snapped out of her thoughts. She had been sitting motionless since early morning, afraid to fall asleep. Whenever she closed her eyes, she could see the rippling water of the pond and feel the suffocating sensation of drowning, the coldness of the sand…

The old lady was still talking, but Li Zhizhi couldn’t hear clearly. She tightly grasped the corner of her blanket, finally coming back to her senses, and hesitantly said, “Granny?”

The old lady saw her like this and reached out to touch her forehead. She exclaimed, “You’re feeling warm. I need to inform Madam immediately.”

Li Zhizhi grabbed her hand, feeling the warmth and reality of the touch. It was true; she hadn’t died, or rather, she had come back to life!

The old lady was taken aback by being held and said with surprise, “Miss, you…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she fell silent because Li Zhizhi burst into tears. Big teardrops rolled down her cheeks, one by one, onto the blanket, blossoming into tiny flowers. The old lady didn’t know what to do and instinctively lowered her voice, saying, “Why are you crying? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Granny…” Li Zhizhi took a deep breath, blinked her eyes, and choked out softly, “I feel so cold.”

Even though it was midsummer at that time, the feeling of despair from being submerged in cold water remained. Every time Li Zhizhi thought about it, she had a sensation of numbness in her limbs, as if she were still lying at the bottom of that icy pool…

“Ah,” the old lady misunderstood and quickly pulled her blanket, scolding, “It’s probably because you didn’t sleep properly and kicked off the blanket, catching a cold.”

Li Zhizhi shook her head but didn’t argue. She silently pulled the blanket tighter around her and lowered her head, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a warm hand landed on her shoulder. Li Zhizhi instinctively raised her head and met the sympathetic gaze of the old lady. She seemed to be considering her words carefully and gently advised, “Miss, don’t be sad. I already told you yesterday. You’re new to the household, and you’re not familiar with Madam and Master yet. It will get better in the future.”

What…?

At first, Li Zhizhi didn’t understand what she meant, but soon she realized that the old lady was worried about her being upset. Li Zhizhi found it both laughable and ridiculous. If we talk about her previous life, she would indeed have been sad because of Li Cen and Madam Li’s indifferent attitude. But not anymore.

They don’t deserve it.

Li Zhizhi didn’t explain further; she just blinked and looked at the old lady, sincerely saying, “Granny, thank you. In this world, you are probably the one who treats me the best.”

This wasn’t a lie. Whether it was in her previous life or this life, the old lady was indeed one of the few people who treated Li Zhizhi kindly, and she remembered that.

The old lady had no idea about the reasons behind it. She was just a servant in the household, and hearing these words made her feel both flattered and puzzled. She repeatedly said, “I haven’t done much…”

Despite her words, she was happy. Her attitude toward Li Zhizhi became even better, and she kindly said, “Miss, you’re sick. I’ll go inform Master and Madam and call a doctor to check on you.”

She was about to leave, but Li Zhizhi held onto her, looking up and saying, “Don’t go, Granny. It’s not necessary.”

The old lady was surprised and asked, “How can that be?”

Li Zhizhi shook her head and said, “It’s just a minor illness due to the change of environment. It’s nothing serious. Since I’m new to the household, I don’t want to trouble Father and Mother.”

Hearing this, the old lady felt that Li Zhizhi was sensible and pitied her. She said, “You silly child. When you’re sick, you should see a doctor. How can that be considered a trouble? Besides, Miss used to get sick often before, and Madam and Master didn’t say anything. They still treated you well.”

Li Zhizhi lowered her eyes, concealing her sarcastic look, and whispered, “But it’s not the same…”

Yes, how could it be the same?

Li Cen only cared about his own reputation, and he was easily influenced. He never bothered with matters in the inner courtyard as long as they didn’t embarrass him. Madam Li hoped Li Suwan could climb high and become successful, giving her face. What was Li Zhizhi to them?

They both got what they wanted, while Li Zhizhi, this pitiful creature, silently drowned in the icy pool.

Perhaps it was out of mercy from heaven that she was given a chance to live again…

Li Zhizhi raised her head and smiled at the old lady, speaking kindly, “Granny, I know what to do. It’s just a minor illness. I don’t want to worry Father and Mother. Drinking a bowl of ginger soup will be enough. Please.”

“You, child,” the old lady sighed and pitied her, “Alright, I’ll go make ginger soup for you.”

Li Zhizhi smiled. In her previous life, she had been ill, and the old lady had informed Li Cen and Madam Li, who did call a doctor for her treatment. However, for some reason, Li Suwan’s condition worsened. After a few days, rumors suddenly spread throughout the household, saying that Li Zhizhi and Li Suwan had incompatible destinies, and Li Suwan would be doomed.

As a result, Madam Li began to dislike Li Zhizhi even more. She consulted a fortune teller, who claimed that the Li family should have only one legitimate daughter. Now that there was an extra one, there would naturally be a struggle. Therefore, both of them fell ill. The implication was that only one would die of the illness, and the other would recover.

Madam Li believed it to be true and eagerly asked if there was a way to resolve it. The fortune teller calculated for a while, took another sum of money, and finally offered a solution. The Li family would announce to the outside world that Li Zhizhi was a distant relative’s child, pretending to be a lesser daughter. This way, their destinies wouldn’t clash.

From that day forward, Li Zhizhi became the illegitimate daughter without a proper status. Her parents had passed away, and she came to the capital seeking refuge. The Li family adopted her and treated her as their own, earning Li Cen some praise for his benevolence and righteousness.

Heh, looking back now, it’s truly ironic.