The Betrayal and the Plan

Ye lily remembered it all too clearly now. That day, she had been so innocent, so foolish. She stood in the garden with her cousins, laughing and talking about their dreams for the future. When someone mentioned Crown Prince Xuan Huang Hao, Ye lily blurted out, "When Father returns from his campaign, I'll ask him to arrange my marriage to Crown Prince Xuan!"

Her words were simple, spoken without a second thought. After all, her father was a powerful general. If he wanted to marry off his daughter to the Crown Prince, it wasn't entirely impossible.

But those words sealed her fate. Moments later, she felt a sharp shove from behind. Before she could react, she tumbled into the cold pond below. Everyone gasped, but no one moved to help her. And standing above her, smirking, was Ye Amy—her own cousin.

That incident became the talk of the town. People laughed at her clumsiness, calling her desperate and shameless. But deep down, everyone knew the truth: Ye Amy had pushed her.

"Miss, Second Miss Ye Amy has arrived to see you," announced a servant.

lily's maid, Biyu, frowned. "Why does she come now? Our young mistress is still weak. Does she not care if Miss catches a chill?"

Gu Yu nudged Biyu gently, whispering, "Be careful what you say."

Before they could discuss further, Ye Amy entered the room. She wore a pale pink dress embroidered with delicate chrysanthemums, paired with a white pleated skirt. Her hair was styled elegantly, and her face radiated kindness and concern.

"Fifth Sister," Ye Amy said softly as she approached the bed. "How are you feeling? I've been so worried since hearing about your accident. Please forgive me for not visiting sooner—I didn't want to disturb your rest."

lily studied her cousin carefully. On the surface, Ye Amy seemed sincere. But lily knew better. This girl wasn't here out of concern; she had an ulterior motive.

In her past life, this visit had ended badly. Back then, Ye Amy had tried to play the peacemaker, urging lily to forgive her elder sister for the "accident." But when Ye Amy mentioned Crown Prince Xuan, lily lost control. She accused Ye Amy of pushing her into the pond, only to be scolded by Grand Madam and punished severely.

This time would be different.

"I'm fine, Second Sister," lily replied calmly. "There's no need to worry. It was just an accident—I slipped and fell myself."

Ye Amy blinked in surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected such a response. Recovering quickly, she shook her head. "Fifth Sister, don't lie to protect others. We both know Elder Sister made a mistake. Please forgive her. She feels terrible about what happened."

lily smiled faintly. "It's truly nothing. My head still hurts, though. I'd like to rest more. Let's talk tomorrow at Grand Madam's gathering."

With that polite dismissal, Ye Amy had no choice but to leave.

As soon as Ye Amy left, Biyu muttered under her breath, "What nerve! She comes here pretending to care, but we all know she wants trouble."

Gu Yu nodded. "She's trying to stir up conflict between Miss and First Miss. If they fight, she gets to sit back and watch."

lily chuckled softly. "Exactly. As the saying goes, 'When the clam and the bird fight, the fisherman benefits.' She thinks she can manipulate us both."

Her maids exchanged glances, surprised by their mistress's newfound wisdom. Gone was the timid girl who used to cry over every insult. In her place stood someone sharper, colder, and far more dangerous.

Alone with her thoughts, lily reflected on her past mistakes. She had been naive, trusting everyone around her. She believed the compliments people gave her—"gentle," "modest," "virtuous." But in reality, they saw her as weak and stupid. Even after marrying Crown Prince Xuan, she remained a laughingstock compared to other noblewomen.

No more.

This time, she would take control of her destiny. She already suspected that Ye Amy and Ye Cindy both harbored feelings for Crown Prince Xuan. Their jealousy drove them to sabotage her at every turn.

"Well," lily thought with a sly smile, "if they love him so much, why not let them have him? I'll make sure neither of them gets what they want."

Her revenge plan began to form. She would expose the schemes of the second and third branches of the Ye family. They owed her family blood—and she intended to collect every drop.

Biyu hesitated before speaking. "Miss, I must warn you… Second Miss isn't trustworthy. She always pretends to be kind, but she has her own agenda."

lily nodded. "I know. Don't worry—I won't fall for her tricks again."

Her calm demeanor reassured her maids, but it also unnerved them. There was something different about their young mistress. Her eyes, once filled with fear and confusion, now gleamed with determination. She looked like someone who had seen battles and emerged victorious.

lily leaned back against her pillows, her mind racing. She recalled how Ye Cindy and Ye Amy had confessed their love for Crown Prince Xuan near the end of her last life. At the time, she had been too broken to care. But now, she saw it as an opportunity.

"They think they can ruin me?" she murmured. "Let's see how they feel when I ruin them instead."

She decided to start small. First, she would sow discord between Ye Cindy and Ye Amy. Then, she would expose their true nature to the rest of the family. Finally, she would ensure that neither of them ever came close to Crown Prince Xuan.

As for the second and third branches of the Ye family, she would dismantle their power piece by piece. They had betrayed her family once; she wouldn't let them do it again.

The next morning, lily rose early. Despite her lingering weakness, she dressed carefully and prepared to face the day. Today marked the beginning of her new life——a life where she would no longer be a pawn or a victim.

With a confident smile, she stepped out of her room. The mansion awaited her, its black-and-white walls stark against the bright sky. Raindrops still clung to the banana leaves, glistening like jewels. The air smelled fresh, tinged with the scent of burning incense.

"Let the games begin," lily whispered to herself.

And so, the battle for revenge and redemption commenced.