Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 1

In the height of summer, the oppressive heat was stifling.

Even the few carp in the pond could barely swim, gathering under the shade of the bridge, lazily weaving through the cracks in the stones to avoid the midday sun.

“Yichun, did the Household Physician come by at noon? Is the young lady feeling any better?”

By the corridor near the wall, an elderly woman with graying temples approached the courtyard, asking as she walked. A thin layer of sweat had already formed on her forehead.

Ahead of her, two maids were still supporting a graceful woman.

The maid in a blue dress, who was guarding the courtyard, saw them and immediately led the other maids forward. They all knelt and saluted the woman: “Greetings, Madam.”

The woman gently raised her hand, the pearls and jade in her hair swaying lightly.

Only then did Yichun dare to rise, answering respectfully, “Replying to Matron Du, the Household Physician has already come to check the pulse at noon. The young lady is still unconscious and has not woken up yet.”

As soon as she finished speaking, another blue-clad maid hurriedly pushed open the door from inside and called out anxiously to everyone, “The young lady is awake! Quickly, summon the Household Physician!”

—

Inside the room, a breeze carried the summer’s heat, brushing against Xiao Wangshu’s face.

Xiao Wangshu leaned against the headboard, her gaze somewhat vacant.

The intricate embroidery on the quilt, the red lacquered carved canopy bed, the antique screen-everything she saw seemed to challenge her sanity.

The young lady is awake?

The maid’s shout still echoed in her ears. Xiao Wangshu slowly raised her hand, staring at her own fair and slender fingers.

These were not her hands.

Her hands had done too much dirty and hard work since childhood, covered in countless chilblains and scars. Even after using the most expensive treatments later on, they could never be this delicate.

These were hands that had never touched spring water.

“Miss! How are you feeling? Is there anywhere that hurts?”

Yichun hurried to the bedside, looking at Xiao Wangshu’s current expression, a nervous look appearing on her face.

The young lady seemed a bit dazed-could it really be, as the Household Physician said, that she had injured her head?

“Wangshu, why aren’t you speaking?” The graceful woman walked to the bedside, gently brushed aside her wide sleeve, and sat down at an angle next to her.

Xiao Wangshu looked up at her. The moment she saw the woman, it was as if a gate in her mind had been opened, and all the memories of this body began to flood in.

Along with them came her own memories.

Fourth Miss Xiao of the Prime Minister’s Mansion-Xiao Wangshu, the Prime Minister’s wife-Fang Qin’er, the maid Yichun, Matron Du… Why were these people so familiar to her?

Xiao Wangshu frowned slightly, then a flash of white light passed through her mind, and she was momentarily absent-minded.

That’s right!

It was that book!

She was in the late stages of stomach cancer, staying at the nursing home, and the caregiver had given her that book to pass the time!

“Wangshu?” Fang Qin’er sat by the bed, looking at her daughter with a hint of worry, waving her hand in front of Xiao Wangshu’s eyes. “Why aren’t you speaking? Does your head still hurt?”

After saying this, Fang Qin’er immediately turned to the elderly matron beside her and instructed, “Wet Nurse, send someone to urge the Household Physician again.”

Matron Du responded at once, “This old servant will go right away.”

With that, Matron Du bowed and withdrew, leaving the room with two maids.

Xiao Wangshu steadied herself. After accepting all the memories of this body, she suppressed all her doubts and shock, looked at Fang Qin’er, and said, “Mother, you needn’t worry. I am fine, just a little dizzy from lying in bed for so long.”

Fang Qin’er frowned slightly and asked, “Really?”

Before Xiao Wangshu could answer, she continued, “Don’t be stubborn. Let the Household Physician take a look, just in case.”

Unable to refuse Fang Qin’er, and feeling a bit weak herself, Xiao Wangshu simply agreed, “Very well, I’ll listen to Mother.”
Her daughter’s response was perfectly normal, and Fang Qin’er did not notice anything unusual. She reached out to tuck the corner of the quilt for Xiao Wangshu.

The summer bedding was not thick, as thin as a sheet, yet it still felt stifling when laid over the body.

Xiao Wangshu said nothing. Out of Fang Qin’er’s sight, she quietly opened the inner corner of the quilt, letting the heat escape.

“Wangshu, you…” Fang Qin’er sat by the bedside, glanced at Xiao Wangshu, and then sighed helplessly.

Seeing her mother’s hesitant expression, Xiao Wangshu lowered her eyes and asked directly, “Mother, what is it you wish to say?”

Of course, she knew what Fang Qin’er wanted to say.

Xiao Wangshu, the Fourth Legitimate Daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion-her father, the Prime Minister, wielded power second only to the emperor; her mother, the legitimate daughter of the powerful Fang Family, was now the Matriarch of the Xiao Mansion, managing all household affairs.

With such a background, the original Xiao Wangshu should have been able to walk with impunity in the capital of Wei.

And in fact, she did – at least, until she was blinded by love.

Once Xiao Wangshu was overcome by love, she neither entered the palace with her sisters to assist her father in restraining the emperor, nor married into a suitable allied family to consolidate interests. Her heart and mind were filled only with that elegant and brilliant Second Young Master Mu.

Was Second Young Master Mu a good match?

Of course he was.

In the book, he helped the emperor overthrow the treacherous Prime Minister, aided the royal family in regaining control of the court, and soared to power thanks to his merits. Young and promising – how could he not be good?

The elegant and brilliant Second Young Master Mu was certainly a good man.

But with opposing positions and conflicting interests, no matter how good, he was not someone to be pursued.

“Wangshu, Mother knows you dislike hearing these words, but you are the Fourth Legitimate Daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. You must not be too willful in all things.”

After saying this, Fang Qin’er saw that Xiao Wangshu’s expression remained calm, without any excessive reaction, so she continued:

“That Second Young Master Mu is not your destined one; he has no intention toward you. Your father has tried to win over the Mu Family many times, but they refuse to accept his goodwill. Thus, if not friends, they are foes.

“Previously, your father did not stop you, hoping to follow your wishes and let you marry into the Mu Mansion. But now you see it yourself – the Mu Mansion is loyal to the emperor and cannot coexist with our Prime Minister’s Mansion.

“Since this is the case, why not let go of these thoughts? Let Mother look around and find you a suitable match.

“There are many outstanding young men in the capital. Among the officials close to your father, several of their sons are quite decent. If you marry one of them, with your father supporting you, no one in your husband’s family would dare mistreat you.”

Xiao Wangshu had read these exact words in the book before.

Now, hearing Fang Qin’er sit by her bedside and earnestly persuade her in a gentle voice, the feeling was entirely different.

In the book, after Fang Qin’er tried to persuade her, the original Xiao Wangshu, impatient, lost her temper and declared that she would marry no one but Second Young Master Mu.

After that, she became even more reckless, doing everything she could to please Second Young Master Mu, exhausting all the love her parents had for her, and exposing every secret of the Xiao Family to their political enemies.

It was thanks to the Fourth Legitimate Daughter of the Prime Minister’s Mansion that Second Young Master Mu was able to help the emperor overthrow the treacherous Prime Minister.

“Wangshu? What do you think?”

After waiting a long time without a reply, Fang Qin’er probed again.

Xiao Wangshu returned to herself, lifted her eyes to Fang Qin’er, and replied with her usual pride and arrogance, “I understand. Mother, you need not worry about this matter. I know what is important. If I cannot have it, then so be it. I will not let you or Father be troubled by me again.”