Rebirth

The pain still lingered in my ravaged body, my limbs severed. A bucket of cold water was poured directly over my head, jolting me awake, leaving me to watch myself become a cripple.

In extreme agony, I struggled in despair. My childhood sweetheart, Xu Mu, held a long saber, looking at me with disgust. He then used a piece of white silk to wipe the blood from the blade: "Too filthy."

I couldn't believe this was the man I had cherished in my heart for over ten years.

Xu Mu and I had been betrothed since childhood. For ten years in the pleasure quarters, I had used the money from selling myself to care for his widowed mother. Yet, upon our reunion after so many years apart, all I heard was a cold remark:

"Too filthy. To bear the name Ying'er and commit such despicable acts, death is a blessing for you."

I hated it so much. I had never enjoyed an ounce of glory when the Su family prospered, yet I had to bear all the hardships for Su Yue Ying when the clan fell on hard times.

Despicable? I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

The Su family committed a heinous crime. Su Yue Ying, as the daughter of a criminal official, was worth less than a dog in the pleasure quarters. Yet, when you wanted me to take the blame for her, why didn't you call me despicable then?

The freezing river water gradually engulfed me. I remembered my mother again. That day, she knelt before the General's Residence, her cries piercing the heavens: "My child just wants to live; she harmed no one. What crime has she committed..."

I felt someone dragging me up.

"This is the Eldest Young Lady of the Su family, Su Yue Ying."

That sentence echoed in my ears again.

Throughout ten years in the pleasure quarters, I don't know how many times I asked myself what would have happened if I had denied being Su Yue Ying that day.

I struggled to open my eyes. Two soldiers dragged me roughly, heavy shackles about to be placed around my neck.

This scene was strangely familiar, as if I had returned to the day the family property was confiscated years ago.

I immediately opened my mouth, uttering the words I had buried for ten years: "I am not Su Yue Ying."

In my previous life, when I was taken away, my father promised he would definitely come to save me. He said it was just a few days in prison as a substitute for Su Yue Ying, that the Su family would handle everything, and I wouldn't suffer.

I believed him then, but little did I know, that wait would stretch into ten long years.

I looked directly at the two soldiers: "I am not Su Yue Ying. You have arrested the wrong person. How will you explain this to the Emperor?"

The two soldiers seemed hesitant.

My father stood coldly by, shouting: "Silence!"

I immediately pointed at him: "Look, even a mere servant dares to shout at me. How could I possibly be the Eldest Young Lady of the Su family?"