Chapter 1: Dancing on the Brink of Death

It was early autumn in the eleventh year of the Zhiming era. The autumn wind whispered past their ears, and wild geese left their cries echoing in the distance.

Miss Chu had broken off her engagement to a poor scholar. The man lived in abject poverty, with barely enough to feed himself, and he also had a sickly younger sister to care for.

Master Chu was so furious that he pointed at her forehead and scolded her.

“Pei Shuheng is exceptionally talented. Despite his younger sister having been bedridden with a chronic illness for years, he has never abandoned her. That alone proves he is a responsible man. You will absolutely regret this!”

Chu Xi lifted her chin proudly and replied to the enraged Chu He, “I absolutely will not!”

Yet who could have imagined that in barely a single day, the Crown Prince would be impeached by numerous court officials, toppled from power, and stripped of his title, while Pei Shuheng—the very man she had looked down on a thousand times over—would pass the imperial examinations with flying colors?

In an instant, he had become a rising star at court, earning high praise from Emperor Yu himself.

What?!

Pei Shuheng had passed the imperial examinations?

That man who could barely afford his next meal, whose pockets never held a single copper coin, had actually received an exceptional appointment to the Hanlin Academy from Emperor Yu? And he had even been made a third-rank official!

Upon hearing the news, Chu Xi fainted on the spot.

Chu He could only sigh and lament his daughter's foolishness. She had let such a desirable catch slip right through her fingers!

Just then, Pei Shuheng arrived at the Chu residence for a visit.

The shabby, repeatedly patched robe that had once been washed until its color faded had been replaced by a sapphire-blue silk gown decorated with calamus patterns.

A fine white jade pendant hung from his waist, and a jade crown adorned his head. His feet were clad in boots embroidered with golden threads forming swirling clouds. Tall and straight-backed, he carried himself with the elegance of a refined gentleman, as graceful and gentle as a breeze.

Chu He personally went out to welcome him and respectfully ushered him into the reception room.

A servant following behind Pei Shuheng presented a gift.

“My worthy nephew, your visit alone brings me great joy. Why have you gone to the trouble of bringing a gift as well?”

Chu He reached out to accept it, his heart filled with unease.

Yesterday, Chu Xi had made a scene while breaking off her engagement to Pei Shuheng, humiliating him in front of the neighbors, who had gathered to watch the spectacle.

Pei Shuheng had lost face completely. Now that he had passed the imperial examinations and risen to prominence, what if he decided to settle the score?

Although the Chu family was wealthy and influential, they were still merely merchants. How could they possibly stand against someone of his new standing?

“It is only a small token of my goodwill. I hope you will accept it.”

The young man's voice was clear and soothing, like sweet spring water or jade beads falling onto a plate.

Yet somehow, his composed demeanor only made Chu He more anxious.

“My worthy nephew, Chu Xi was terribly out of line. I have failed in my duty as a father. I beg you, for the sake of our past relationship, not to hold it against her.”

Chu He knew that Pei Shuheng was a man of exceptional talent. That was why, when the scholar had been down on his luck and struggling to gather money for his younger sister's medicine, Chu He had deliberately scattered silver coins in his path to help him get back on his feet.

That had eventually led to the engagement between the two families.

Chu He had no son and had long wanted to find a husband who would marry into the Chu family. If Pei Shuheng could become his live-in son-in-law, it would have been a happy arrangement for everyone.

Who could have expected things to turn out this way?

“You are worrying too much.”

Pei Shuheng set down his teacup. He was a man who remembered kindness. His younger sister owed her life to the Chu family, and he was well aware of Chu He's little schemes.

But Chu Xi was Chu Xi, and Chu He was Chu He. They were two separate matters and should not be lumped together.

“Then may I ask what brings you here today, my worthy nephew?”

Chu He addressed him as “my worthy nephew” again and again, displaying a warmth he had never shown before.

“To discuss the marriage.”

Pei Shuheng spoke calmly, as though the matter had nothing to do with him at all.

“This... this is wonderful!”

Chu He was overjoyed, as if a fortune had suddenly fallen from the heavens.

But given Chu Xi's behavior the day before, could Pei Shuheng truly have no resentment in his heart? They had clearly broken off the engagement, so why had he come back to discuss marriage?

Chu He could not help feeling suspicious.

Pei Shuheng understood his concerns but offered no further explanation.

“If you have any reservations, Uncle, that is perfectly fine. Just pretend I never brought it up.”

How could Chu He possibly let such an opportunity slip away?

However, he no longer dared to bring up Chu Xi. Otherwise, what was supposed to be a marriage alliance might turn into a bitter feud!

He therefore said, “My worthy nephew, there is something you may not know. I have another daughter, but she was not born to my wife.”

He paused, his weathered face flushing red with embarrassment.

Pei Shuheng had now obtained an official position, and the Chu family was already reaching above its station by aspiring to marry into his family. His other daughter, moreover, was born to a concubine.

Chu He knew that Pei Shuheng was unlikely to agree, so he hurriedly added, “But the difference in status between her and you is simply too great.”

“It doesn't matter. I'll marry her.”

...

In a secluded courtyard of the Chu residence.

“Miss, what are you still hesitating for?”

Chu Xi snapped out of her daze at the sound of a shrill voice beside her.

Her throat felt dry, and she wanted to find some water to drink. But when she turned her head, her entire body stiffened.

Where on earth was she?

“Miss, we mustn't delay any longer. If that little hussy hadn't been flaunting herself and acting so coquettishly, how could your marriage have fallen through? How could someone like Young Master Pei ever be worthy of her fantasies?”

A maid dressed in pale yellow stood beside her, chattering incessantly.

Chu Xi's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she listened.

That conversation sounded so familiar.

Wasn't that exactly what the maid beside the vicious female antagonist had said in A Scheming Concubine, the novel she'd stayed up reading until the early hours of the morning?

The female-oriented web novel updated painfully slowly, yet it consistently dominated the rankings on various reading platforms.

As its number-one fan, Chu Xi had spent a small fortune supporting it.

“Miss, you are the legitimate daughter of the family. She is nothing but the daughter of a lowly maid. How dare she steal your man? You must teach her a lesson!”

Chu Xi slowly lowered her head and looked at the dagger in her hand.

She recoiled in shock.

If she wasn't mistaken, she had transmigrated into the novel.

And not just into any character—she had become the vicious female antagonist she despised so much, the very woman she had wished would die as soon as possible.

In the original story, the villainess had been tormented to death by the female lead. When Chu Xi had read that part, she had been thoroughly delighted.

But now that she had become this wicked woman herself, she felt like crying.

At the thought of the female lead, her entire body jolted. She hurriedly raised her eyes and looked around.

A passage from the novel surfaced in her mind.

[Chu Xi was a shameless social climber who desperately wanted to become the Crown Prince's concubine. However, she was already engaged, which left her deeply dissatisfied. After much difficulty, she finally broke off her engagement to Pei Shuheng. But her triumph was short-lived, as the Crown Prince soon fell from power. What she had never expected was that Pei Shuheng would pass the imperial examinations just days later. The Emperor praised his profound knowledge and made an exception by appointing him to a third-rank official position. Upon hearing the news, Chu Xi was consumed with regret. Just then, Pei Shuheng returned to discuss their marriage.]

But the person Pei Shuheng was going to marry wasn't Chu Xi.

It was Chu Yiyi, the daughter of a lowly maid.

What was so special about Chu Yiyi, anyway?

By the time Chu Xi received the news, she was already furious. Even if she herself no longer wanted Pei Shuheng, Chu Yiyi certainly wasn't worthy of him!

Pei Shuheng wanted to marry a daughter born to a concubine?

Could it be that Chu Yiyi had secretly used her seductive charms to bewitch Pei Shuheng behind her back?

Pei Shuheng. Pei Shuheng.

That man was supposed to be hers. What gave Chu Yiyi the right to compete with her for him?

While in the inner courtyard, Chu Xi had heard the commotion. Enraged, she grabbed a dagger and stormed into Chu Yiyi's courtyard, threatening to disfigure her.

Every maid and housekeeper in the residence took orders from Chu Xi's mother. Who would dare stop her?

Some clever servants even went so far as to tie Chu Yiyi to a pillar and gag her with a strip of cloth before withdrawing, leaving Chu Xi to deal with her as she pleased.

Chu Xi raised her head and finally noticed Chu Yiyi, who was bound to the pillar.

The female lead's eyes were bloodshot as she glared at Chu Xi. From her expression, she was clearly furious beyond words.

Chu Yiyi couldn't move an inch, and there was nothing she could do to escape.

Silently, she swore to herself that one day she would step on Chu Xi's head and make her pay for everything.

When Chu Xi had read this part of the novel, she had found it immensely satisfying.

But now that she was the one in this situation, she felt utterly miserable.

In the future, the female lead would torment her until she was no longer recognizable as either human or ghost.

Was there still time to become best friends with the female lead? Could they become sworn sisters or something?

Anyone out there? Please, this is urgent!

Chu Xi hurried over, intending to untie the female lead.

But before she could do so, Master Chu's furious reprimand rang out from outside.

“You useless servants! Is this how you perform your duties? Do you think you've come to this household just to enjoy yourselves? Where is your Second Young Lady?”

The maids and housekeepers stammered, kneeling all over the ground.

Chu Xi's body stiffened.

Here he comes. Here he comes!

The male lead has arrived, complete with his protagonist halo!

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