Chapter 5: Changing Fate!

Slap—!

“Ah!” Ji Shulan clutched her face in pain, staring at Liu Qingmei in disbelief. “Mother, how could you hit me?”

Liu Qingmei’s usually composed face was now clouded with an indescribable anger.

“Fool! What exactly did Ji Hua say to you?”

Ji Shulan immediately shook her head, resolute. “That wretched woman has no right to order me around! I made my own decision!”

Liu Qingmei raised her hand and tapped Ji Shulan’s head. “The Crown Prince or the Prince, the Empress or the Princess Consort—can’t you tell who holds more honor?”

After all these years, she had finally awaited her daughter’s marriage.

At first, everything was set for Ji Shulan to marry the Crown Prince, with everything proceeding according to plan. Yet, Ji Shulan had changed her mind.

Ji Shulan clenched her fists tightly. “Mother, if you insist on forcing me to marry the Crown Prince, when I return to my room, I will take the white pill and end this life!”

Her words were not hollow.

“You…!” Liu Qingmei’s face twisted with frustration. “Such immense fortune is right before you—tell me, why refuse the Crown Prince?”

Ji Shulan was distraught, her fists clenched harder.

“The reason I refuse is because I have already died once!”

Liu Qingmei’s expression darkened, growing impatient. “What on earth are you talking about?”

Ji Shulan trembled all over, crouching on the floor, hugging her knees.

In her previous life, the Crown Prince had insisted on marrying Ji Hua, and the Emperor had granted his wish.

But they were unwilling, deliberately preventing the eunuch from announcing the imperial edict, giving them a chance to switch bridal sedan chairs.

She and Ji Hua looked alike.

Wearing the same wedding gown, with veils covering their faces, no one could detect the switch.

By the wedding night, it was a done deal. Even the Crown Prince and Prince Xuan noticed something amiss too late.

She had believed she would become the supreme Crown Princess, the future Empress!

But that was only the beginning of her hell!

The Crown Prince was furious and nearly flayed her alive that very night. Her body was covered with whip marks, and every day salt was rubbed into her wounds—literally salt!

The pain was so unbearable, she soon lost the strength to scream.

The Crown Prince only fed her a meal every three days!

Unable to live, yet unable to die.

Now, having a second chance at life, she would never dare again!

Liu Qingmei crouched before her, removing Ji Shulan’s hands from her ears.

“Explain clearly—what exactly happened?”

Ji Shulan could no longer hold back and poured out everything from her past life.

Liu Qingmei’s face stiffened. She listened for two full hours, unable to fully comprehend.

Reborn?

How perplexing those two words were.

“Mother, do you think I would joke about such a thing? These are my true experiences. Besides, the one who ascended the throne was not the Crown Prince, but Prince Xuan!”

Ji Shulan’s voice grew excited.

That final sentence shattered Liu Qingmei’s composure.

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