Chapter One: An Alarming Entry into the Villain’s Manor, The Onset of Predicament

Startled Into the Villain’s Residence, Adversity Arrives

“Villain? Second marriage? Me?” Qu Wanqing jolted upright from the intricately carved wooden bed, the embroidered quilt with mandarin ducks playing on the water slipping off to reveal a pale yellow nightgown beneath. Glancing around, she took in the room’s antique furnishings and the unfamiliar faces—a surge of alarm rang through her heart.

Transmigrated into a novel? She was all too familiar with this tired trope! She, a modern independent woman of the twenty-first century, had awakened to find herself in the body of a notorious villainess in a fabricated ancient world—and one who was about to remarry, at that! Had she gotten the wrong script? Worse yet, her predecessor’s infamy was so widespread that everyone in the household hated her to the core.

“Well, well, the young lady’s finally awake? I was starting to wonder how long you planned to play dead!” A sharp, caustic voice rang out as a plump, jowly old woman entered. This was Granny Lin, infamous in the estate for bullying the weak and flattering the strong, always seeking out easy prey. Granny Lin snorted, “No sense of propriety!” The surrounding maids and servants dared not gossip aloud, but the contempt and ridicule in their eyes stung Qu Wanqing like needles.

Taking a deep breath, Qu Wanqing forced herself to remain calm, suppressing her anger as she spoke evenly, “Granny, I acknowledge my past mistakes. From now on, I will be more careful with my words and actions. I hope you will guide me.”

“Guide you? Do you deserve it?” Granny Lin sneered. “Since you know you were wrong, go reflect on your actions in the woodshed behind the estate! Once you’ve thought things through, you can come out.”

Cleaning the woodshed? That was naked humiliation! Qu Wanqing clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly broke the skin. No, she couldn’t just submit like this! She wasn’t someone to be trampled on.

Just then, Qu Wanqing felt a wave of chill emanate from behind Granny Lin, as if something filthy had set its sights on her. Her golden finger—the cheat skill—had awakened!

“Granny Lin,” Qu Wanqing suddenly said, a cold smile curling her lips, “have you forgotten your place? I may have erred, but I am still the young lady of this household. How dare a servant like you be so insolent? If I truly go to the woodshed today, tomorrow I’ll have the steward drive you out. Let’s see how arrogant you are then!”

Granny Lin instantly paled with fright.

“Fine, I’ll go! Who’s afraid of whom?” Qu Wanqing refused to back down, turning to march out. “I’ll go see Steward Zhao and get justice!” Granny Lin was livid, her face turning green, but she dared not actually stop Qu Wanqing and could only follow behind, cursing under her breath.

Before Steward Zhao, Granny Lin spiced up her account of the incident, concluding with, “This young lady is getting more and more outrageous—even an old servant like me isn’t spared her temper!”

Steward Zhao already disliked the original Qu Wanqing, and this only added fuel to the fire.

“Qu Wanqing, how dare you!” he thundered, slamming the table and glaring at her. “Granny Lin is a senior in this household, and you dare contradict her?”

At that moment, Qu Wanqing sensed that chilling aura again, stronger than before—this time directed at Steward Zhao! Looking up, she saw a large flowerpot above his head teetering dangerously. Around him, faint shadows swirled. Realizing danger was imminent, she quickly warned, “Steward, watch out!”

He was stunned for a moment, then snorted dismissively, “Superstitious nonsense!” But before he finished, the flowerpot crashed down with a bang, shattering on the chair where he’d just been sitting. The pot spun in the air, drawing terrified looks from the crowd, and with a thunderous crash, shards flew everywhere. Steward Zhao’s face went deathly pale and he trembled from head to toe.

Seizing the opportunity, Qu Wanqing declared, “Steward Zhao, if you dare bully me again, this will be your fate. Don’t think I’m still the pushover I once was.” Steward Zhao was furious but dared not speak. The other servants, too, were visibly shaken, looking at Qu Wanqing with newfound wariness.

In the ensuing chaos, Qu Wanqing’s gaze swept the crowd and settled on a man in a blue robe standing quietly in the corner—tall and elegant, with refined features. This was Jiang Yu, the estate’s strategist. He watched the proceedings with unfathomable eyes, giving nothing away. Perhaps he could help her? Hope flickered in Qu Wanqing’s heart, and she was about to approach him, but Jiang Yu subtly turned aside, avoiding her gaze as if he hadn’t noticed her at all. Her heart sank; evidently, this strategist wasn’t easily approached.

“Young miss…” Cui’er, her timid maid, edged to her side, eyes full of worry.

“I’m fine,” Qu Wanqing forced a smile to reassure her. Cui’er, ever fearful, was of little help in such circumstances.

“Oh dear, what’s happened to elder sister now?” A coquettish voice sounded, and a woman in a pink dress sauntered over—it was Concubine Su, one of Qu Wanqing’s sworn enemies.

“I heard you quarreled with the steward. I was so worried for you,” Concubine Su said, hiding a mocking smile behind her hand.

“Thank you for your concern,” Qu Wanqing replied with a falsely sweet smile, “but you needn’t trouble yourself over my affairs.”

“My, what a thing to say—I'm only trying to be kind,” Concubine Su continued, her words dripping with insincerity. “After all, as a woman about to remarry, it wouldn’t do for you to be the subject of ridicule.”

Qu Wanqing picked up a nearby cup of tea, swirling it lightly. Just as Concubine Su was about to deliver her most cutting remark, Qu Wanqing splashed the tea onto her face and coolly said, “If you speak so recklessly again, it won’t just be a cup of tea next time.” The crowd stared in astonishment.

Concubine Su’s expression darkened as she shot Qu Wanqing a venomous glare and stalked away.

Night fell. The woodshed was pitch-black, with only a sliver of moonlight filtering through the cracks in the window. Lying on a crude straw mat, Qu Wanqing found sleep impossible. Everything around her felt foreign and unsettling.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from outside, as if someone were whispering. Could it be related to her impending second marriage? Qu Wanqing’s heart raced. Clearly, she’d need to investigate thoroughly tomorrow.

She rose silently, crept to the door, held her breath, and listened intently to the noises outside—the wind rustling the leaves, distant dogs barking, and… a low, guttural sound, like the breathing of some wild beast…