In the bitter cold of winter, on the arduous road of exile.
Madam Fu took out a cold, hard steamed bun from her chest and secretly stuffed it into Fu Shinian's hand, "Quick, eat it, don't let anyone see."
Smack!
A whip suddenly lashed onto Madam Fu's back, and she cried out in pain, falling to the ground, the prison clothes that were already in tatters now soaking in blood.
"Who allowed you to hide food!" The officer shouted, viciously landing another whip.
"No!" Fu Shinian cried and rushed forward to protect Madam Fu, but she was pulled away by the officer.
Mr. Fu threw himself over Madam Fu, only to be kicked aside by the officer.
Mr. Fu could only shield Fu Shinian in his embrace, covering her eyes, "Don't look, Shinian, don't look..."
After a while, there was no more sound of Madam Fu's cries, not even a hint of noise.
With her ears covered, Fu Shinian could only hear something being dragged nearby.
Fu Shinian forcefully pulled down Mr. Fu's hands only to see Madam Fu being dragged away silently by the officers.
Fu Shinian's eyes turned red as she screamed, "Mother!"
Her scream drew the attention of the nearby officers.
Three officers approached Fu Shinian menacingly, "Isn't she the daughter of an official family? Look at this journey, her tender skin has become rough."
Mr. Fu tightly protected Fu Shinian, "I beg you, have mercy."
"To hell with you!" An officer kicked Mr. Fu over, reaching toward Fu Shinian.
"Master!" Aunt Cheng suddenly knelt before the officers, clutching an officer's leg, "Master, she's just a child, what does she know? I know many things, I can..."
Aunt Cheng, holding back her disgust, cast a seductive glance at the officer.
The officer sneered, dragging Aunt Cheng away, "Alright, I see you're still charming."
As she was dragged away, Aunt Cheng looked back at Mr. Fu, silently saying, "Protect Shinian."
Mr. Fu's eyes turned red as he covered Fu Shinian's ears.
But he couldn't stop hearing Aunt Cheng's cries, her muddy tears mixed with the dirt on her face, covering her cheeks.
After an unknown period, Aunt Cheng also fell silent.
Those officers emerged from the small forest, fastening their pants, yet Aunt Cheng was nowhere to be seen.
"Mother!"
"Aunt!"
Fu Shinian suddenly awoke from her nightmare with a start.
"Miss!" Chunmian hurried over to support the startled Fu Shinian, seeing her covered in cold sweat, "Did you have a nightmare, Miss?"
"A nightmare?" Fu Shinian calmed herself, seeing the concerned face of Chunmian.
She looked around and found herself still lying on an ornately carved pearwood bed, with her favorite golden nanmu dressing table not far away.
She had a dream, a dream where she was in a story written by future generations.
In the dream, this was called a novel, and the female lead, Lin Qingqing, was the daughter of the superintendent of the Imperial College. Though of low status, she was prideful and aloof, falling in love with the male lead Xiao Fengxing. For his career, she endured everything, watching him get engaged and marry a malicious supporting female character, yet still deeply loving and unwavering.
Finally, the entire family of the malicious female character was exiled for choosing the wrong side, and Lin Qingqing was able to marry Xiao Fengxing, who inherited the title of Marquis Changping, elevating Lin Qingqing to Marchioness.
Their deep love became a storied romance.
As for herself, she was just a passerby supporting character in the book, but her parents, brother, and half-sister were all heinous villains in the story.
Her father was a fourth-rank assistant minister at the Ministry of Justice, who lost his position and was exiled due to offending the female lead while trying to connect with the male lead's family, the Marquis Changping.
Her mother, the legitimate daughter of the prefect of Jingzhao, opposed the female lead constantly to protect her children and was beaten to death on the road to exile.
Her older brother, Fu Changqin, liked the female lead and constantly opposed the male lead, dying as a villainous character to save the female lead.
Her half-sister, Fu Mingzhu, was the male lead's vicious fiancée, who, upon discovering the mutual affection between the leads, bullied and framed the female lead. Shortly after marrying the male lead, Mr. Fu was exiled, and the male lead quickly divorced Fu Mingzhu, sending her to the Bureau of Merit.
"Chunmian, what time is it?" Fu Shinian asked as she recalled the original text of her dream.
"It's already the fourth quarter of the forenoon."
Fu Shinian hurriedly got out of bed, "Quick, help me get dressed."
Now that she was aware, she must not let her family be harmed by the main characters!
She had to steer her family away from the original plot!
First, she had to make Fu Mingzhu break off the engagement with Xiao Fengxing.
Fu Shinian got dressed and rushed to the main hall, where she saw Madam Fu chatting with Aunt Cheng while eating fruits.
"Tomorrow is the Marquis's flower appreciation banquet, how is Mingzhu's preparation?" Madam Fu was asking.
"Mother! Aunt!" Fu Shinian, seeing Madam Fu and Aunt Cheng, recalled the scenes from her dream.
Thankfully, they were still safe.
Remembering her mother being beaten to death so she could eat, and Aunt Cheng sacrificed protecting her, Fu Shinian couldn't help but tear up.
"What's wrong?" Madam Fu held Fu Shinian and gently wiped her falling tears.
"Nothing, just woken up from a nightmare." Fu Shinian pouted, looking aggrieved.
"Come and try this Hami melon." Aunt Cheng smiled, pulling Fu Shinian over, "My brother brought it back from the Western Regions, it's really sweet."
"Uncle's back!" Fu Shinian's eyes lit up with joy, and after taking a bite of the Hami melon, her mood sweetened along with it.
Hearing her call this Aunt Cheng's brother 'Uncle,' Aunt Cheng couldn't help but tear up, quickly covering with a handkerchief.
Being able to marry into the Fu family truly was a blessing earned over lifetimes.
The main wife was kind, taking care of her, and allowed her not to refer to herself as a servant in the residence.
Fu Changqin and Fu Shinian, as the legitimate son and daughter, never treated her as an outsider and got along with Fu Mingzhu as if from the same womb.
Speaking of Mingzhu, Aunt Cheng said to Madam Fu, "Speaking of the flower banquet, Mingzhu and Lin Qingqing are heading to the shop to pick out some beautiful jewelry, they are about to leave."
Flower banquet!
Fu Shinian remembered that the Marquis's flower banquet was rare, with strict invitation conditions that not everyone could attend; they needed to have knowledge and appreciation of flowers.
However, the invited individuals could bring someone along.
At this time, Fu Mingzhu was already engaged to the male lead Xiao Fengxing, hence received the invitation.
Lin Qingqing's father was just a sixth-rank minor official.
But for some reason, Fu Mingzhu took care of Lin Qingqing and brought her along.
This also gave the opportunity for that scoundrel Xiao Fengxing to meet privately with Lin Qingqing.
It was because Fu Mingzhu saw their private meeting that she, unable to let go of Xiao Fengxing and under Lin Qingqing's deliberate guidance, drugged Xiao Fengxing and foolishly gave herself to him.
Letting Lin Qingqing lead a group to catch her disheveled on Xiao Fengxing's bed.
Because of this, Xiao Fengxing despised Fu Mingzhu even more.
Almost making Fu Mingzhu go from wife to being carried as a concubine into the Marquis's residence in a small sedan.
It was Madam Fu's loss of face begging at the Marquis's residence that led to the marriage originally planned for next June, hurriedly happening after the incident.
No grand wedding, no dowry of ten miles, Fu Mingzhu became a laughingstock in the capital ever since.
This time, she would do whatever it took to watch over Fu Mingzhu, preventing her from stepping into Lin Qingqing's trap.
She wouldn't allow Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing to take advantage of Fu Mingzhu while planning against her!
Fu Shinian quickly stood up, "Is Sister heading out already?"
"Not yet, but she should be on her way by now," said Aunt Cheng.
"I'll go find Sister!" Fu Shinian said as she ran out.
Luckily, she caught up with Fu Mingzhu at the gate.
Fu Shinian called out to Fu Mingzhu, "Sister!"
"Slow down, no rush," Fu Mingzhu turned to Fu Shinian, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, "What's the matter, rushing so much that you're all sweaty."
"Sister, you are going to the flower banquet tomorrow, can you take me along?" Fu Shinian asked, holding onto Fu Mingzhu's arm.