Chapter 2: The First Encounter After Rebirth

Hearing what Chunmei said, Li Meihua wasn't the least bit surprised, nor did she show any anger. In her past life, she had been far too naïve and timid. Because of that, none of the servants in the residence ever took her seriously.

Even when she was managing the household, all their respect was directed toward Side Consort Chen Lianhua. To them, Li Meihua had always been invisible — a mere figurehead.

"Don't worry, I can bear with it," Li Meihua said quietly, her voice calm but laced with frost. "Just make sure to remember the name and face of the kitchen servant who said that."

She turned toward Chunmei. "And what about the hot water I asked for? Have they prepared it yet?"

Chunmei hesitated. "Fujin… they said there's no more hot water. You'll have to make do with cold water for tonight."

Li Meihua narrowed her eyes, her expression unreadable."Fujin," Xiaoyu said angrily, unable to contain her outrage. "They're treating you like you don't even exist!

Just because Side Consort Chen has been managing the household for two days, they now act like she's the real mistress of this residence. They follow her orders without question — they don't even respect you!"

Li Meihua's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Alright, I'll bear with it. Where is the prince now?" Li Meihua asked calmly.

"Fujin must have forgotten that today is the fifteenth. Since you were unconscious, the prince didn't come. He said he didn't want to disturb your rest and instead spent the night in his Longxuan Courtyard," Chunmei said gently.

"Fine. I want to rest for a while. I feel tired. Be sure to wake me up early before the prince leaves the manor," Li Meihua instructed.

"Yes, Fujin," Chunmei and Xiaoyu answered in unison. They put out the candles, leaving only a single one flickering softly by the bedside, before bowing and stepping out of the room.

After watching them leave, Li Meihua slowly got up from the bed and walked toward the dressing table. Her gaze fell on the bronze mirror, and the moment she saw her reflection, tears silently streamed down her cheeks.

Chen Lianhua… you would have never expected this, would you? That I would return from the grave?

This time, I will play your game better than you ever could. I will strip everything from you—just as you did to me in my past life.

She wiped her tears with trembling fingers, her reflection hardening with resolve. Then, she turned and returned to the bed, lying down quietly.

Not long after, Li Meihua drifted into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, she felt someone shaking her.

"Fujin, it's time to wake up. The prince will soon leave the manor," Chunmei's voice came gently.

"Sister Chunmei, what do we do?Fujin isn't waking up," Xiaoyu whispered, panic rising as she glanced at Li Meihua, who had turned her back to them and buried her head under the blanket.

"Don't worry, I'll wake her up. Go tell Sister Hongdou to fetch the food from the kitchen. Then send a servant to prepare hot water so Fujin can freshen up when she wakes," Chunmei instructed.

"Yes, Sister Chunmei," Xiaoyu replied and quickly left the room.

"Fujin, you have to wake up," Chunmei said gently, this time pulling the blanket off Li Meihua's body.

Li Meihua stirred reluctantly, her brows furrowing. Her eyelids fluttered open, still heavy with sleep.

"Fujin, now that you've recovered, Side Consort Chen and the other concubines will likely come to pay their respects. We must make sure they know who is truly in charge. If not, the servants will continue to act however they please," Chunmei said firmly, raising the bed curtain as she spoke.

Hearing Chunmei's words, Li Meihua's gaze sharpened.

That's right. She have been reborn.

This time, things will not go as they did in her previous life.

"Alright," she said calmly. "Help me freshen up. I need to speak with His Highness today."

Chunmei felt a strange tug in her chest when she heard Li Meihua refer to the prince as His Highness rather than husband. But she didn't dwell on it.

After Xiaoyu returned, the two maids quickly helped Li Meihua bathe and dress. They wrapped her in a red silk robe embroidered with gold peonies and drifting cloud patterns.

A pale inner lining traced the collar and cuffs, adding a gentle contrast. Chunmei tied a slim sash around her waist, while Xiaoyu smoothed the long pleated skirt and adjusted the sleeves until everything sat neat and proper.

"Fujin, quickly sit so I can do your hair," Chunmei said softly, guiding Li Meihua to the stool before the bronze mirror.

Chunmei gathered Li Meihua's hair into a clean, high bun and pinned it securely with a slender golden hairpin shaped like a phoenix in flight. Xiaoyu tucked away a few stray strands and added a small jade ornament at the side.

Then, using a soft brush, she applied a thin layer of powder to brighten Li Meihua's complexion. A hint of rouge colored her cheeks, and her lips were tinted a soft rose red.

After the final touches, Chunmei stepped back with a satisfied nod. The overall look was elegant, yet light—perfectly befitting her youth.

"Niangniang, will you be having breakfast and waiting for the imperial physician to check up on you, or will you be meeting the prince first?" Chunmei asked softly.

"We'll meet the prince first," Li Meihua replied coldly. "Also, send someone to inform Side Consort Chen and the other concubines that they must not be late today. Since I've recovered, the morning greetings can resume."

Without waiting for a response, she stood from the stool and walked toward the door, not sparing a single glance at Hongdou, who was busy instructing the servants on where to set the food.

Later… she would find a way to deal with Hongdou. A two-faced servant secretly working for Chen Lianhua? In the past, she would never have believed it—but now, she knew better.

It took nearly one ke (thirty minutes) before they arrived at Prince Jing's Longxuan Courtyard. Just as they reached the entrance, a palace eunuch stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Greetings to Wangfei," he said respectfully.

"Rise. Inform His Highness that I would like to see him," Li Meihua replied, keeping her tone firm and her expression cold.

She kept her posture straight, but the moment the eunuch turned away, her fingers curled tightly into Chunmei's sleeve.

She had overestimated herself. This body was still too weak. She had forgotten… she had just been reborn. The concussion hadn't fully healed.

Her steps faltered slightly, and dizziness clouded her vision. Had Chunmei not caught her in time, she might have collapsed right there at the gate.

The eunuch returned shortly afterward. "Wangfei, please come in. His Highness is waiting," he said, politely motioning for them to enter.

Chunmei didn't dare look around as she supported Li Meihua through the corridors. Prince Jing had always been cold to her mistress. In the year since their marriage, the number of times he had visited her courtyard could be counted on one hand.

They hadn't walked far when the eunuch came to a halt. "Fujin, please go in," he said with a blank expression.

"Chunmei, wait here for me," Li Meihua instructed quietly. She stepped forward, pushed open the door to the study, and walked in alone.

Inside, Longyuan Yucheng sat behind his desk, focused on reports and memorials. His face, always unreadable, didn't lift immediately.

Li Meihua's gaze fixed on him. Her fingers twitched slightly at her side.

If she had a blade, she would drive it through his neck without hesitation. The hatred surging within her… it nearly choked her. As much as she had once loved him in her previous life, in this life, she would despise him just as fiercely.

Sensing her presence, Longyuan Yucheng finally raised his head. For a moment, his eyes caught the flash of raw hatred in her eyes—sharp, undeniable—but it disappeared so quickly, he wondered if he'd imagined it.

She met his gaze with calm indifference.

Longyuan Yucheng cleared his throat and returned his attention to the memorial in front of him, his tone indifferent. "You said you wanted to see me. What is the matter?"

"Greetings to Wangye," Li Meihua said with a graceful bow.

"At ease," he replied flatly.

She walked over and took the seat across from him, her posture composed, her expression unreadable.

"I heard that Wangye instructed Side Consort Chen to manage the household during the two days I was unconscious," she said steadily.

"Yes, I did. Is there a problem?" Longyuan Yucheng asked, this time locking eyes with her.

Li Meihua's gaze didn't waver. "Now that I've recovered, I would like to resume my duties. After all, it would not be appropriate for rumors to spread that a concubine—no matter her title—is overseeing the household, when that responsibility should rest with the main consort."

She wanted to use this opportunity to mock him. Even if she's a side consort, she is still a concubine. No title can change her rank.

A flicker of surprise crossed Longyuan Yucheng's face. He hadn't expected such directness.

In the past, whenever she saw him, Li Meihua would lower her head shyly, unable to meet his eyes. She had once clung to her role as his virtuous wife, soft-spoken and gentle to a fault. It was tolerable in the early days of their marriage, but over time, her timidness became irritating. To him, it was a disgrace that his main consort couldn't even hold herself properly before others.

But now—this woman sitting before him? She was unrecognizable.