Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Forced to Marry in Her Place and Go into Exile—I Throw Her into the Lotus Vat “Once the wedding ceremony is over, you'll obediently go into exile in my place.” “How dare you glare at me? Have you forgotten your place?” With a sharp slap, Shen Qingmei was sent sprawling to the ground. Her elbow struck a stone, and a piercing pain shot through her. She opened her eyes. Her vision gradually cleared, and through the red bridal veil over her head, she saw the dazzling red silk that filled the wedding hall. A young woman stood looking down at her. Her face was covered by a gauze veil, and she was wrapped in sable fur. Her chin was raised, and her round, youthful face was full of disdain and contempt. Shen Qingmei staggered to her feet. The remnants of the body's memories told her that this woman was her legitimate elder sister, Shen Qingxue. She lowered her head and looked at herself. She appeared to be fifteen or sixteen years old. Beneath the red bridal veil, a scarlet wedding dress wrapped around her thin, frail body, and her hands were covered in fine calluses. This was not her own body. Her last memory was of the time after the apocalypse began. As the captain of a search-and-rescue team, she had driven an RV out on a rescue mission, only to be chased into the mountains by zombies. Then she had encountered an avalanche, and after that… there was nothing. At that moment, unfamiliar memories surged into her mind. The original owner of this body, Shen Qingmei, was a sixteen-year-old daughter of the Shen family born to a concubine. Her mother had died young, while her father, Shen Changqing, was a fifth-rank official in charge of escorting grain. Today, she was to marry Commandant Gu Jingjue, while her legitimate elder sister was to marry Xiao Jin, heir to the Marquis Who Guards the North. But Shen Qingxue had caused a scene on the day of the wedding and demanded that the brides be switched. Because something had happened to the Xiao family. A month ago, the Xiao family's army had been defeated. Thirty thousand men had fallen on the battlefield, and only one person had returned alive. Xiao Jin. He had been struck by a poisoned arrow, leaving both his legs crippled. He had been removed from his post and ordered to remain at home pending an inquiry. The Censorate had submitted a memorial accusing Xiao Jin of delaying military action. The emperor, muddleheaded and failing to investigate the matter thoroughly, had issued an edict ordering the execution of the entire Xiao family. Later, the Empress Dowager pleaded for leniency, while veteran ministers staunchly defended them. The Grand Secretariat drafted a ruling: the Xiao family would be exiled three thousand li away, to Hanzhou. Shen Qingxue had panicked. She had bribed officials to secretly swap the marriage contracts and birth-date records. She had also asked Gu Jingjue, the officer in charge of escorting the exiles, to help her force the original owner to take her place as the bride. The original owner had died of rage on the spot, allowing Shen Qingmei to transmigrate into her body without difficulty. She had only just sorted through these thoughts when a man dressed in a black flying-fish uniform strode into the wedding hall with his head held high. A snow-white fur-trimmed cloak covered his shoulders. In his hands, he held a bright-yellow imperial edict. His features were stern, his brows and eyes dark, and his straight back was as proud and solitary as a pine in winter. The newcomer was the original owner's fiancé, Gu Jingjue. He strode over to Shen Qingxue. His deep, resonant voice carried a hint of reproach. “Xiaoxue, didn't I tell you not to come?” Shen Qingxue pressed close to him with a coquettish smile, her expression gentle and tender. “My younger sister is marrying in my place. How could I not come to see her off?” Gu Jingjue tenderly straightened her collar. The warmth in his gaze was something the original owner had never seen before. Shen Qingmei felt a faint stab in her heart. She saw memories of the original owner bringing him cotton-padded clothes in winter and silk in spring… Those memories rolled past like slides, making her chest feel tight. Shen Qingmei drew a deep breath. In her heart, she said to the original owner: Let those six years of childhood affection be considered wasted on a dog. Gu Jingjue finished straightening Shen Qingxue's clothes. Only then did his gaze fall on Shen Qingmei. He paused slightly before looking away awkwardly. He hurried over, grabbed Shen Qingmei, and dragged her into a corner. Gu Jingjue gently lifted a corner of her red bridal veil. Then he took a bottle of medicine from his sleeve and lowered his voice. “Mei'er, this is a secret medicine that can make you appear dead. Hurry and drink it. Once the ceremony is over, I'll report that you've died and arrange for you to leave.” With a sharp slap, Shen Qingmei knocked his hand away. The medicine bottle rolled across the floor. Gu Jingjue froze. Only then did he take a proper look at her. He suddenly realized that she was different. It was still the same face. But all its former weakness had vanished, like a cold moon breaking through the darkness, its radiance faintly revealed and its sharp edge just beginning to show. He withdrew his probing gaze and spoke hoarsely. “Mei'er, I know I've wronged you by making you marry in her place, but things have already come to this. The only way to save you is to fake your death and escape…” Fake her death and escape? That plan was utterly unreliable. If she listened to him, she would have to hide her identity for the rest of her life, living like a rat everyone wanted to drive away. If she were caught, she would face the ultimate punishment: execution by beheading, with her head displayed in public. “I might as well go into exile,” Shen Qingmei said. “Absolutely not!” Gu Jingjue immediately objected. “Why? I understand now. You're afraid I'll lose my chastity on the way into exile and tarnish your reputation!” “You're afraid I'll expose the fact that you switched the brides.” One mocking remark followed another. Each one tore through his respectable facade with the precision of a scalpel. Gu Jingjue's cold, handsome face could no longer hold its composure. His expression cracked like a sheet of ice. “That's not it. Don't let your imagination run wild. After all, we grew up together. Surely our affection counts for something…” “You still have the nerve to mention affection?” “Don't insult those words.” Shen Qingmei felt as though she had swallowed a fly. She turned her head and ignored him. Shen Qingxue had been straining her ears to listen. When she heard those words, her expression changed, and she shrieked, “How dare you go back on your word in front of everyone? Do you think I can't do anything to you once you're married?” “Someone, hold her down! Force the medicine down her throat first, then make her perform the ceremony!” Two older servant women rolled up their sleeves and moved forward to seize her. Shen Qingmei tore off the red bridal veil and flung it to the ground. The moment it fluttered down, the entire hall fell silent. All the guests stared blankly at her. Their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg. “Isn't that the Shen family's young daughter born to a concubine?” “How is she the one performing the ceremony with the heir?” “Who switches brides on the very day of the wedding?” The murmurs grew louder and louder. Seeing that she could no longer hide the truth, Shen Qingxue simply tore away the gauze veil covering her face as well. With her chin raised, she said, “What are you making such a fuss about? This isn't my fault. The Xiao family is being exiled. I can't possibly go with them and throw my life away, can I?” At that moment, the old marquis's wife, Madam Dou, rose from the seat of honor and waved her hand. She was nearly sixty, her hair completely white. Her gaze was as still as the depths of a well as she stared at Shen Qingxue. “The Xiao family has treated you well. Are you truly so eager to betray us?” Shen Qingxue retreated half a step guiltily, then raised her head again. “The Xiao family is already finished. What can you do to me?” The old lady tightened her grip on her cane, her face turning livid. “The old marquis once saved your father's life. Is this how you repay him?” “Old woman, don't drag the previous generation's favors into this,” Shen Qingxue said with a curl of her lips. “People climb toward high places, while water flows toward low ones. I'm merely acting in my own best interests.” Madam Dou looked at her, the shock in her eyes gradually turning into disappointment. She had misjudged this woman. She was selfish and vicious. She was no longer worthy of being the Xiao family's granddaughter-in-law. At last, the old lady turned her head away. “From this day forward, you are no longer the Xiao family's granddaughter-in-law.” Among aristocratic families, honor and trustworthiness mattered most. With conduct like hers, she was no longer worthy of being part of the Xiao family. Shen Qingxue did not care in the slightest. She merely smoothed her hair. “That's exactly what I wanted.” At that moment, Xiao Jin, dressed in a scarlet wedding robe, slowly raised his head and cast Shen Qingxue a cold glance. His cold, dark-amber eyes were filled with chilling ruthlessness. Even the wedding robe's blazing color could not suppress the extraordinary chill in his expression. Under that gaze, Shen Qingxue could not help turning her head away. Shen Qingmei was about to bend down to pick up the marriage document. But Shen Qingxue stepped forward and planted her foot on it. Shen Qingmei jabbed her with an elbow, sending her stumbling aside. As she picked up the document, she sneered, “Get out of the way. A good dog doesn't block the road!” “You…” Shen Qingxue's expression changed abruptly. She raised her hand to strike her. Shen Qingmei shoved her aside in return. Shen Qingxue stared into her utterly fearless eyes. A jolt of unease ran through her heart instead. Why was she different from before? Seeing how Shen Qingxue bullied the weak but feared the strong, Shen Qingmei laughed coldly to herself. The emperor's edict imposed collective punishment on nine degrees of kinship. The Shen, Xiao, and Gu families were connected by marriage ties; none of them would escape. Once the edict was read aloud, she hoped those two could still maintain their lofty, superior attitudes. Seeing that the bride-switching had been exposed, Gu Jingjue could no longer conceal the matter. His face livid, he waved his hand. A squad of constables rushed through the doorway and surrounded everyone. “The family's property is being confiscated!” “No one is allowed to move!” “All of you, squat down on the ground!” The courtyard instantly descended into chaos, with people running about in panic. The constables lashed out at anyone they saw with their whips. After Gu Jingjue had everyone crouching on the ground, he raised his head and let out a cold laugh. He ordered the constables to set up an incense altar. Then he solemnly took the imperial edict from his sleeve, raised his head, and shouted, “Xiao family, prepare the incense altar and receive the imperial edict!” Seeing Gu Jingjue busy arranging the altar, Shen Qingxue recalled how she had shown fear moments ago. Grinding her teeth, she said, “You little slut! Have I been too lenient with you?” She waved her hand. “Hold her down! Force the medicine down her throat!” Two strong servant women seized Shen Qingmei by the arms, one on either side. At the critical moment… A mechanical voice suddenly exploded in Shen Qingmei's mind. 【Apocalypse RV System bound successfully. Body-enhancement serum retrieved. Bonus starting weapon: stun baton.】 The RV system from her previous life had actually followed her here! Shen Qingmei was ecstatic. Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately retrieved the serum and drank it. A wave of heat spread through her entire body. Her limbs, which had been soft and weak, visibly became firm and powerful. She abruptly drew the stun baton from beneath her robes, using the thick fabric to conceal her movements. With a sizzling crack, a flash of electricity leaped out. The two sturdy servant women collapsed to the ground as though struck by lightning. Before Shen Qingxue could react, someone had already grabbed her by the collar. Shen Qingmei twisted her wrist and lifted Shen Qingxue completely off the ground. Gu Jingjue's expression changed drastically. He reached out to stop her, but it was already too late. With a loud splash, Shen Qingxue was thrown into the large water vat beside them, where lotuses were grown. Water sprayed in every direction.