Ruan Yifei

At the beginning of the year, when Ruan Yifei first entered the Marquis family, she held so much hope and excitement. Her mind was filled with anticipation and happiness of finally recognizing her biological parents. 

Who knew that her parents didn't even have time to meet their long-lost daughter. They ended up going to their other daughter, who was ill at the time. 

With no choice, Ruan Yifei had to accept the arrangements of the first-rank servants and went to live in the Swallow Moon courtyard. 

Ruan Yifei was an understanding and obedient child. She didn't disturb her parents and didn't demand a lot of things from them. She was satisfied with just the roof and the food. It was much better than her life as a beggar and working without sleep to earn money for food.

Days were good, and nights were peaceful for Ruan Yifei, who finally returned to her original place. However, some people didn't think the same and harbored hatred towards her.

Ruan Yifei couldn't understand why everyone became even more dissatisfied with her. 

Unwilling to accept this, she thought of changing herself. Ruan Yifei began learning to read and write. It took her a long time to reach an intermediate level, and everyone laughed at her. They constantly compared her to Ruan Yue. 

She didn't care about this. Ruan Yifei worked hard and made splendid efforts. Despite her nasty past, Ruan Yifei was already literate in just one year of learning. She even became proficient in chess, calligraphy, embroidery, and painting. She quickly proved that, with effort, one could do the impossible. 

Surprisingly, Ruan Yifei stood on the same ground as Ruan Yue. She even won the Imperial Calligraphy Examination.

Feeling proud and happy for herself, Ruan Yifei happily returned home, expecting her family to praise her. 

Instead of that, what she received was a slap to her face from her mother.

"Unfilial child, how can you still appear in front of your elders with a smile on your lips?!"

"Kneel!" 

Confused, Ruan Yifei couldn't react quickly. She was forced to kneel on the rough ground in front of her parents, siblings, and servants. 

When she asked them what she had done wrong… Ruan Yifei couldn't believe what she heard. 

"Cheating?" Ruan Yifei stared at them speechlessly. "What do you mean I cheated?" 

Her father, Maqruis Ruan Jing, held the family's whip and said, "You stole Yue'er's painting and presented it to the master painters, claiming it to be yours. If this isn't cheating, then what else could it be?!" 

Even though Ruan Yifei tried to prove her innocence, no one believed her. Everyone sided with Ruan Yue, who came running with tears in her eyes and accusingly said, "Sister, I know we're not real-blooded sisters, but how can you do this to me? How can you steal and claim it as yours? I'm so disappointed in you, sister!"

Unable to bear their accusations. Ruan Yifei was in distress and alone. Then, as if she was possessed, Ruan Yifei pushed Ruan Yue. 

Because of her actions, Ruan Yifei was sent away to another residence in another province to reflect on her mistakes. 

There, she suffered another round of humiliation and bullying and almost died at the hands of bandits! 

Thankfully, before Ruan Yifei could lose her mind from all the hardships she experienced, the Marquis family called her back again.

Once she returned, Ruan Yifei knew she couldn't act wilfully again. She wanted to improve her relationship with her family and also live peacefully. 

Alas, she was too late. 

The only reason her biological parents asked her to return to their residence was not to continue their relationship or forgive her. 

They wanted to push her further to her death by giving her away to the Crown Prince, who was known to be a wastrel, a scoundrel, and a lecherous man who had caused the deaths of many women and children. 

As it turns out, Ruan Yue had caught the eye of the Crown Prince. Having no choice, the Marquis sent Ruan Yifei as a substitute and entered the Crown Prince's residence as a tongfang.

A/n: Tongfangs are servant girls used for bedroom matters. They were lesser concubines who still had to do their duties as servants. 

But how could Ruan Yifei accept this?

Naturally, she was unwilling to accept such an ending. So she tried to resist. 

But even then, she was still sent to the Imperial Palace and suffered at the hands of the Crown Prince. 

Before things could go past being unrepairable, Ruan Yifei stabbed the Crown Prince before she was captured. 

Following that, she will face a grueling end. Each of her limbs would be bound to a sturdy cow. Then, as the whip cracked, surging the beast forward, she would be ripped apart and die from the pain and shock.

That's how she was supposed to die. 

But as if the heavens took pity on her, a fire engulfed the palace.

And along with it, Ruan Yifei gladly welcomed its fiery embrace.