In the 36th year of the Dazhou dynastys Jianzhang era, Song Chuyi died in a play.

  In the early spring, after a gentle spring rain, the British Consulate General was bathed in warm sunlight. The entire backyard was covered with delicate butterfly orchids, and from afar, it seemed like a vast expanse of pale blue, set off against the newly bloomed camellias, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene that seemed almost otherworldly.

  The British gentleman celebrated his birthday and invited the most popular actor in Beijing to perform a play, which was extremely lively and joyful.

  Song Chuyi stiffened her body and curled up on the bed, motionless.

  The room was simply furnished, with only a carved flower bed and a few chairs, nothing else. Not at all like her original preferences, and even less could be seen the half dignity of Songs eldest daughter.

  Lu took this months salary back, just to see her intently listening to the noise outside, couldnt help but feel a sour nose, walked to the bed and tucked in the quilt for her, coaxed: "Its only been a few days since Qing, theres still a cold spring, madam be careful of the coolness, Ill close the window?"

  Outside, peoples voices are in an uproar, laughter ringing out like wind chimes carried on the breeze, making it impossible for anyone to be quiet.

  Song Chuyis face showed a mixture of joy and sorrow, and suddenly she rolled up her sleeves and started coughing violently.

  Lu Ying hastily reached out to pat her back, and when she touched her thin and bony body, she couldnt help but feel a sourness in her eyes: "Madam, dont think about it anymore, the Duke, he...hes just temporarily possessed by an evil spirit..."

  How could he be possessed by a ghost? He has always been very clear-headed. If someone was really possessed, it would have to be Song Chuyi herself! Song Chuyis face finally showed some expression, she pouted and seemed about to cry, still looking like a child with a hint of grievance, stretching out her hand for the green-clothed person to see.

  She has been coughing up blood for many days and her illness has almost worsened every day over the past half year.

  Lu Ying looked at the bright red blood in her palm, felt dizzy and faint, her body went soft and she knelt down on the ground, crying loudly.

  At this point, in the entire national government house, except for Qing Yi, there was no one else who would cry for her. Song Chu Yi used his other hand to touch her head: "Dont cry."

  Everyone will die someday, and she felt like she had lived long enough.

  Outside the window, the sunshine is bright and beautiful, colorful butterflies are flying, as if it were her youth, the scene is familiar, as if she just opened her eyes, still in the family school, inside the window is the teacher and sisters, outside the window is their own garden.

  And she was still that proud and beautiful Sixth Miss Song, rather than this humble and unassuming National Duchess.

  A gust of wind blew outside the window, bringing with it the unrestrained and joyful laughter of the girls, quickly pulling Song Chuyi back to reality.

  "The second lady gave everyone an extra months worth of pocket money."

  "I heard that the opera troupe invited today is from Jiangnan, and they are best at singing Huangmei Opera. The Duke specially invited them for the Second Lady."

  They chattered incessantly, like sparrows on a branch, their chirping voices annoying.

  Her face turned green with rage, her teeth biting into her lips so hard they were about to bleed, she was itching to go out and sew their mouths shut one by one. She turned around and looked at Song Chu-yi, her eyes pleading: "Miss, dont listen, dont listen... Theyre all talking nonsense."

  How could it be nonsense? Song Chuyi raised her strength and patted the green-clothed hand, but her eyes drifted to a distant place.

  The second lady in their mouths is the concubine of British public Shen Qingrang - also her own step-sister, Song familys eighth miss Song Chuning, who is Shen Qingrangs true and cherished mole.

  Shen Qing favored Ai extremely, and couldnt wait for her own death. He had already let the people in the mansion call her Second Madam, just waiting for this usurping First Madam to die, then he would support her to take the position.

  Song Chuyi was not heartbroken about all this.

  Before she came out of the boudoir, she had a very good relationship with her stepmother and stepsister. Three years ago, when Shen Qingrang saved Song Chuning from drowning, which led to Song Chuning having no choice but to marry Shen Qingrang as his concubine, she didnt even suspect anything.

  Whats sad is that she and Song Chuning are close sisters, but in the end, she was abandoned by everyone, while Song Chuning had everything go her way.

  But why did all this happen?!

  She clutched at her collar, almost unable to catch her breath, and bit her lip in anger. If she had made a mistake or been foolish, she would have ended up in this situation herself.

  But its not.

  She still remembered three days ago Song Chuning came to see her with a complacent look, his face smiling as usual, but the words he spoke were piercing.

  "Song Chuyi, youre at least born from the same father as me, how can you be so stupid?"

  Her opening remarks left everyone stunned, catching Song Chuyi off guard.

  "Do you really think that the Duke dislikes you because you were irresponsible and let the young master drown? He never liked you, from childhood to adulthood, he always liked me! I am his childhood sweetheart! If it werent for your constant nagging to marry him, how would I have ended up as a concubine?! No matter how good it sounds on the surface, in the end, Im not the original wife, and Ill still have to serve you tea!" Song Chuning grabbed her hair and dragged her from the bed to the ground, her expression ferocious and unlike her usual gentle demeanor.

  Her step-sister, who had always been gentle and generous, and whom she regarded as her own sister, approached her step by step, and a few words left her speechless.

  "I...I dont know..." She stuttered and fell to the ground, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Song Chuning, her mind reeling in confusion.

  Song Chunin stretched out her well-maintained hand, as smooth as a water lily, to pinch her neck, with a hook-like curve of her mouth that seemed both angry and mocking: "You dont know what?"

  I didnt know that my own sister also had deep feelings for Shen Qinglian... If I had known... If I had known... Song Chuyis heart felt sour and her face turned pale.

  She stuttered and stumbled, pulling on Song Chunings luxurious skirt with a tone that was almost pleading: "If I had known, I definitely... definitely wouldnt have competed with you..."

  At first, she went to great lengths to marry Shen Qingran as she wished. In the end, even her grandmother and father, who had always doted on her, grew tired of her and didnt want to talk to her anymore. Over the years, among her relatives, only Song Chuning was left with a close relationship with her. She was really afraid that in the end, she would be left alone, and no one in the world would treat her as if she were alive.

  Song Chuning burst out laughing at this moment, laughing so hard that he was doubled over, tears streaming down his face.

  "How can there be someone as stupid as you in this world?! Did you hear clearly what I just said?! I wasnt telling you about how much injustice Ive suffered, I was here to tell you just how foolish you are!" She stretched out her hand and flung Song Chuyi to one side, with an ease akin to throwing away a dead dog.

  "Do you know why your son will die?!"

  Song Chuyi clenched her fists, her face turned pale, and her pupils suddenly enlarged.

  "Because Shen Qing doesnt want to play the loving couple with you anymore, because youve already made Grandma and Father so fed up that they dont even want to see you. So as long as your son is dead, he can naturally hate you for this matter and make you scram to give me the position, do you understand or not?!"

  She really wished she was deaf at that moment.

  But she didnt.

  So many things that were never thought about before now have a reasonable explanation.

  Why was it that her sons wet nurse had never caused any trouble before, but on that particular day she happened to be absent; why did the doctor they went to invite take so long, taking his time until the childs breathing had stopped before he finally arrived...

  Song Chuyis hand clenched tightly on her own collar, with a sudden appearance of blue veins on her forehead, but only in exchange for Song Chunins increasingly cold laughter.

  "Song Chuyi, youre really stupid beyond help! Back then, you were so desperate to die that you even threatened your grandmother and father with death to force them to arrange this marriage for you. Now look at the result!"

  "In the end, the marriage didnt work out and instead became a grudge. Does Shen Qing have even a bit of love for you? He has a son with his own bloodline, but he can still bear to be ruthless towards him, its clear how much he despises you!"

  "Your mother is stupid, but I didnt think youd be even more stupid! If it werent for me holding back a belly full of anger and not wanting to let you die so happily, youd still be a confused ghost after death!"

  Song Chuyi recalled these and got a splitting headache, hurting so much that she wanted to roll around.

  Green clothes saw her panting, unable to catch her breath, and was about to pass out. She panicked, tears and snot streaming down her face, as she desperately tried to help her breathe while wailing loudly for someone to come.

  But where is anyone?

  She is no longer the Miss Song Liu of the Bo Mansion who was doted on by Old Madame, but a useless person who might stop breathing at any moment and was abandoned by Shen Qing, not even willing to take another glance.

  Song Chuyis eyes were bloodshot, her face was flushed red, and she panted heavily with difficulty.

  She was confused for a lifetime, but at the moment of her death, she was clear and somewhat cruel. In this marriage, she herself had responsibility, she sought death and life recklessly to marry Shen Qingran, it was her fault.

  However, from start to finish, Shen Qingyan never showed any dissatisfaction with this marriage.

  On the contrary, he was very diligent in sending kites with auspicious meanings and giving bangles as tokens of love.

  Once she was no longer of use to him, she became a shameless, sycophantic fool in his eyes. She was discarded and not even spared by her own son.

  She must be blind, blind to have taken a liking to Shen Qing, this wolf-hearted and treacherous thing!

  Severe pain struck, her consciousness was already somewhat unclear, and a heavy drowsiness made it difficult for her to open her eyes again.

  But she still used all her strength and stared with wide eyes.

  She hated it! Hated to the point of not being able to close her eyes even in death. She hated herself for being as stupid as a pig, and actually listening to her stepmother and stepsisters schemes. She hated herself even more for having been deceived by that scoundrel Zhongshan, which led to her estrangement from her grandmother and father, ultimately resulting in her own downfall and death.

  Consciousness gradually dispersed, and the scenery in front of her finally blurred, leaving only a hint of hatred in her heart that was about to burst out. Song Chuyis eyes were wide open, bleeding, before she reluctantly swallowed her last breath.

  Outside the window, a gentle breeze blows softly, and the sound of silk and bamboo is pleasant to the ear. The actor on the stage sings with a sorrowful tone.

  "I never thought that wealth and honor would be cast for a lifetime"

  Who would have thought that lifes calculations are clear in a moment of time?

  In those days I was also spoiled and willful

  Up to now

  "I am forced to believe in reincarnation."