Opening her eyes, Su Qinglan felt heavy. Her entire body was so uncomfortable.
'Is this how the afterlife feels like?' she thought to herself as suddenly, she heard the voice of her maid.
"Young mistress, the carriage is outside... We are asked to get going!" Xuen said aloud as Su Qinglan immediately opened her eyes. Lifting her veil, she almost jumped from where she was sitting.
"X-Xuen?" She stammered, surprised to see her maid who looked so much younger. She looked exactly like she did when they had just left the Su residence.
In fact, the room she was in was identical to her room back at the Su residence.
Worried, Xuen stared at her young mistress, "Is anything wrong, my lady? You look like you've just seen a ghost!"
Just then, Zuen stepped in, "My lady, it's time to go. Your sister is already waiting in the front courtyard together with the master and madame!"
"What are you two talking about? Why are we here? Shouldn't I be dead!?" Su Qinglan questioned, absolutely confused as Zuen and Xuen exchanged looks, confused as well.
"M-My lady, what do you mean?"
Standing up, Su Qinglan walked towards her dressing table as she stared into the mirror in front of her. Her jaw dropped immediately at her reflection.
"I-I-I look so y-young!" she stammered slightly, glancing at herself from head to toe. Her waist was much fatter, yet she still had a curvy body.
Her face was much rounder and puffier than before. She knew well how much she had lost weight over the years. Gu Mo Yan had hit her and insulted her for eating too much and getting fat. He wanted her completely skinny, so she ate less than even one bowl of rice every day.
Even eating less than the average servants, even when she was the madame.
She hurriedly checked her body, her shoulders, arms, and thighs. They were still fair and spotless, unlike how they were back in the Gu residence.
With all the beatings and sufferings she had received from her husband and in-laws, her entire body was covered with bruises. Thus, she had to cover herself fully, earning her the title of 'Virtuous Lady' thanks to her dressing.
If only they knew the reason she covered herself so much.
'What the heck happened? I went back into the past!? But how?' she thought as suddenly they all heard the sound of the head maid.
"Lady Su Qinglan, please make your way to the courtyard, your carriage and family are waiting."
"Come on, my lady, we have to go." Zuen and Xuen took hold of her hands and dragged her out of the room, straight to the courtyard.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Su Qinglan caught sight of her father and his wife, Madame Su, who was smiling from ear to ear together with her husband.
"Our Su Rouyan will be getting married today, I can't wait," she muttered. Master Su slowly nodded, and soon the both of them caught sight of Su Qinglan.
Rolling her eyes, Madame Su barely gave her a look while Master Su formed a fake smile on his lips.
"Haha, oh look... Qingqing is here, finally. Now we just have to wait for Rouyan, and the two of you can leave for your home."
Staring at them, Su Qinglan just bit her lips bitterly. Her mother had passed when she was young. All her life she had been barely surviving at the Su residence, living in the shadow of her younger sister, who was spoiled and doted on.
Even in marriage, they cared less about her and more about Su Rouyan.
The Gu brothers were sons of one of the most prestigious merchant families in the Empire.
The first son, Gu Fengshen, was known for his handsome face and cold personality. Because of his good fighting skills, he was part of the crown prince's guards but after an unfaithful tragedy, he was crippled.
Meanwhile, the second son, Gu Moyan, was handsome, yes, but a complete prude. He was arrogant, a womanizer, and a complete fool.
Su Rouyan had chosen Gu Fengshen because he was the first son and a cripple who she could control while Su Qinglan had married the arrogant Gu Moyan instead.
Thinking she had made the right choice herself, after her marriage she realized Gu Fengshen was actually mistreated and looked down upon in the Gu family.
Meanwhile, Gu Moyan, who was spoiled, had a much better life. Su Qinglan was given special attention, but even that was all a charade. Deep within the residence, Su Qinglan suffered all sorts of torture from her wicked husband and in-laws.
Su Rouyan despised her husband, and he hated her too. She was bullied by the maids and was treated like trash, and he never once helped or cared about her.
Soon, the tragic fate between the two sisters ended.
Just then, Su Rouyan arrived with her maids. Dressed in her own lavish wedding dress, she looked better than how she would be five years later.
Madame Su's face lit up when she saw her younger daughter step into the courtyard.
"Ah, our precious Rouyan is here!" she said happily, walking over to hold her hand. "How beautiful you look today, my dear. The heavens have blessed you with such beauty."
Master Su smiled proudly, his hands folded behind his back. "Yes, yes. My Rouyan will surely bring honor to the Su family today. The Gu family is lucky to have her."
Rouyan bowed politely to her parents, her smile gentle, but when her eyes shifted and met Su Qinglan's, that smile flickered for a second.
Su Qinglan stood quietly beside them, her face calm and unreadable. Inside, her mind was racing.
'So it's really the same day… our wedding day.'
Her hands tightened around her sleeves.
'Is this fate giving me another chance?'
Rouyan looked radiant in her red wedding robe, her hair pinned up with golden ornaments. The faint scent of rose oil followed her every movement. Compared to her, Su Qinglan's own wedding dress was simpler, still beautiful, but not as eye-catching.
"Now that both of you are here," Master Su said, "we can finally begin. The Gu family should be sending their carriages soon."
But just as everyone began to move, Rouyan suddenly dropped her gaze and said softly, "Father… Mother… I have something to say."
The air grew still.
Madame Su frowned slightly. "What is it, dear? We don't have much time; the Gu family's servants are already on their way."
Rouyan bit her lip. Her hands trembled slightly, but her voice was steady when she finally spoke. "I… I don't want to marry Gu Fengshen anymore."
The courtyard went silent. Even the maids stopped breathing.
Master Su blinked in surprise. "What… what did you just say?"
Rouyan took a deep breath and looked up, her eyes firm. "I said, I don't want to marry Gu Fengshen. I want to marry Gu Moyan instead."
Madame Su's fan fell from her hand. "Rouyan! Do you know what you're saying? The Gu family's marriage arrangements were made months ago!"
"I know, Mother," Rouyan said quickly, her voice urgent. "But I've thought about it. Gu Moyan is the second son, but he has great talent and ambition. Gu Fengshen… he's too quiet, too weak. I don't want to marry a crippled man who's so cold towards people."
Su Qinglan's heart skipped a beat. Gu Moyan? Her eyes widened slightly as she turned to her sister.
'She… she knows.'
There was no other way to explain it. Su Rouyan's expression, the determination, the strange glint in her eyes, it was the same look she had before their deaths.
She's been reborn too.
Madame Su was already flustered. "Rouyan, that's nonsense! Gu Moyan may be handsome and confident, but everyone knows he's a womanizer! He drinks, gambles, and wastes his days with courtesans! Gu Fengshen may not be lively and a cripple but he is honorable and he's loved dearly by the Gu family!"
"I don't care!" Rouyan shouted suddenly, tears filling her eyes. "I don't want honor! I want Gu Moyan! If I can't marry him, I won't marry anyone!"
Her parents looked at each other, completely shocked.
Master Su frowned deeply. "Rouyan, this marriage was arranged by the Emperor's decree. You can't change it on a whim."
But Rouyan ran to him and grabbed his sleeve tightly. "Father, please! I beg you! Let me marry Gu Moyan instead. I'll make you proud, I promise! Please!"
Madame Su's heart softened at her daughter's desperate tone. "Master Su…" she whispered. "Maybe we can speak to the Gu family about it. Moyan is the younger son, yes, but he is still part of the Gu line."
Master Su rubbed his temples, letting out a long sigh. "And what of Qinglan then? You want me to switch her marriage?"
At his words, all eyes turned toward Su Qinglan, who stood silently to the side, her calm expression unmoving.
Rouyan's teary gaze shifted toward her sister. "Sister… please," she said softly, her voice trembling as if she were pleading. "You've always been so understanding. You're older than me, wiser than me. Please let me have this one thing. I'll repay you someday, I promise."
For a long moment, Su Qinglan said nothing. Everyone waited, watching her face carefully.
Then, slowly, she lifted her head. Her calm gaze landed on her sister's face the same sister who had stabbed her with a dagger just before their deaths.
"Alright," Su Qinglan said finally, her voice even.
Rouyan's eyes brightened instantly. "You'll agree?"
Su Qinglan nodded lightly. "Yes. But…" she said, her tone firm, "on one condition."
Everyone froze.
Rouyan blinked in confusion. "Condition? What condition?"
Su Qinglan folded her arms, her expression calm as always. "I want your dowry! Give me your dowry and I'll Marry Gu Fengshen and leave Gu Moyan For you!"