There was a phrase I heard once while having a celebration party with the crew of one of my film sets.
A member of the cast had gotten so drunk that she started sharing details of her scumbag boyfriend and how he cheated on her, lied to her, and then still dumped her.
She ranted for so long before finally stopping and gave a warning to us all. We laughed it off then, but now I see just how true her words were:
"Trusting a man truly is the beginning of all misfortune."
---
"Ah, Miss Su, why are you staring so intently at this prince's face? Is there something on it?"
"No, there is nothing. It's just that you reminded me so much of a man I once helped out of the goodness of my heart."
"Ah, really? Well…"
"But it then turned out he was nothing more than a lying scumbag who even dogs would spit on. So that's why, even if there is a resemblance, I know the prince could never be such a person. Right?"
He awkwardly clears his throat and turns away in guilt.
This bastard actually lied to me and now comes to pull this stunt minutes into me coming home.
What, did Old Man Chen's donkey get so bored it decided to kick his head in?
"Prince Zhenbei, are you familiar with our Jingxin? She just returned home today, so I have to apologize for the poor reception."
"It's okay. I was merely stopping by. Please continue. I will take my leave now."
We all bow once more as we send him off.
---
"Big sister, you only just returned to the Su mansion and you have already caught the attention of Prince Zhenbei. How fortunate you are. I'm just a bit scared that maybe your fortune might clash with Father's."
"Wan'er, watch the words that come out of your mouth."
"Sorry, Mama. I was just a bit worried and spoke out of turn."
She fixes her with a stern glare and then turns back to me.
"I was not able to finish the introduction properly. This is your eldest brother, Su Jin; your second brother, Su Siyan; your third brother, Su Ming; and this is your little sister, Su Wanwan."
"Hello everyone. I am Su Jingxin, and I will do my best to get along properly with everyone. But I also have a rule."
"A rule?" My eldest brother looks at me with confusion and curiosity.
"Yes. I am good to those who are good to me and bad to those who choose it. I never look for trouble, but if it comes my way, I am not scared of it either. So I really do hope we get along well."
They all exchange looks with one another and burst into fits of laughter.
"Exactly! This is the charisma a daughter of my Su family is meant to have," my father comments as he holds me affectionately.
"Alright, alright, let me show Xin'er to her courtyard. It's already so late; she should rest."
My mother takes my hands and guides me to a huge courtyard on the west side of the mansion that has been luxuriously and elegantly decorated.
"From here on out, this Zhira Pavilion will be your courtyard. Mama made sure to give detailed instructions on how it should be decorated, using only the best of everything. Do you like it?"
"I like it. I like it so much. Thank you, Mama. Mother is the best to me."
I give her a slight kiss on the cheek, and she beams like I just made her day.
"Alright, my little treasure, you should go rest for now. Tomorrow we will talk some more, okay?"
---
I am woken up by a barrage of maids practically barging into my room.
"Hey, who are you all?"
"Good morning, young miss. We are the maids assigned to take care of you by the madam. Master, madam, and the young masters are already waiting for you at the main hall."
"Oh, alright then. Let's get ourselves ready."
They help me take a bath with roses and goat milk and change me into comfy silk. Wow, is this the life of a rich young heiress?
Maybe even if they don't turn out so good, I just might stay. After all, who doesn't love a life of riches?
But this really seems like the plot is already falling out of place. I was meant to die, and the Su family wasn't really spoken about in the script. Maybe they aren't really powerful.
"Miss, we're here."
The maid's voice draws me out of my thoughts as she points at the hall where I am to meet my family inside.
Family? When was the last time I had used that word to address people? How laughable.
"Xin'er greets Mother, Father, eldest brother, second brother, and third brother."
"Xin'er, please sit."
I do as instructed and sit beside my third brother, purposely ignoring my dear little sister.
"Xin'er, our Su family holds the title of marquis and is also a high-ranking minister of the Department of War. We are a family of valiant generals who have remained neutral to all political struggles and simply protect the borders. The borders are currently at peace; that is why your brothers are home."
"We might not be the most powerful, but our power as a neutral family is truly sufficient."
I am doing my best to organize all I know about ancient ranks in my head while trying to keep up, but one thing I can say for sure is that my family is a powerful leading family of the neutral faction—which is also the faction the original female lead belongs to.
If that is so, then why were they never mentioned?
"Xin'er, your father isn't trying to scare you by telling you all this. All he is trying to say is that our Su mansion is not one that can be easily trifled with, so no one would dare bully you while you're here."
"Of course, my little sister has to be one of the capital's most prestigious," my third brother chimes in almost immediately.
"Exactly. We also plan to hold a recognition banquet for you soon, so everyone in the capital knows that my little treasure is back home."
"Thank you, Mother. I appreciate your concern and intentions. I leave everything to you to handle, then."
She gives me a slight nod and stands to dismiss us all.
"Wait, Mother. Please, can I go out to explore the capital city for a while?"
"Sure, just go with one of your brothers."
"No, Mother. I would like to go alone. Don't worry, I will absolutely not allow anyone to bully me, and I will be back before nightfall. Please say yes. Please, Mama."
She gives me such a soft and doting look as she meets my pleading gaze and allows me to leave.
I instantly run out, not allowing them another word as a safety measure—can't have them changing their mind on me, can I?
I leave the mansion and start walking around the bustling capital city. The last time I was here, I left as a corpse. Now, returning, I am coming back as a noble lady. What a funny coincidence of life.
---
"Young miss, it isn't safe to walk around the capital city looking so dazed. You might run into shady people."
I turn to the voice who just spoke, and my previously sunny expression sours instantly.
"I fail to believe that after running into you, it's possible for me to run into anyone far more shady. I shouldn't be that unlucky, right?"
"Xin'er, you used to call me Zhou'er with so much endearment. Now you look at me like an enemy. Isn't that too mean?"
"I saved your life, and you lied to me. Even if I was mean, you would also be tagged an ungrateful wolf who knows neither propriety nor manners."
"Okay, I admit I hid my identity, and for that, I apologize. But now that you're back with your family, keeping me close would be beneficial to both you and your family. After all, you might not find another man as handsome, powerful, and kind as me in this capital."
I let out a mocking laugh at his words.
"Three-legged roads are hard to find, but you see, two-legged men are everywhere. So please get over yourself."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
And as if to prove my point, I immediately look around and lock eyes with a handsome man in fine silk walking just behind me and hold onto him.
I look at him one more time and make a silent prayer to whoever is up there to not allow me to run into another scumbag.
"See? Haven't I already found a man whose beauty can be said to rival yours? So I really don't know what you're so proud about."
I see him suppress a smirk as he tries to look serious.
"Are you sure that's your choice?"
"Yes. Even this handsome stranger would be a hundred—no, a thousand times better than you."
"Alright, then."
He looks at me, smirks, and then turns to the man I was still holding onto before bowing slightly.
"Your subject pays his respect to the crown prince."
Instantly, everyone around stops and also drops to their knees and bows.
"Your subject pays their respect to the crown prince, heir of the nation."
"Crown prince?"
I stare at him, and he meets my stare with an interested and bewildered gaze. And as if the universe wasn't done mocking me, one word that sealed my fate came out of his mouth:
"Interesting."