15
For generations, my Shen family has relied on our own efforts, building wealth and reputation through diligence.
There has never been any such thing as a gold mine map.
Yet when that baseless rumor spread, everyone believed it wholeheartedly.
Then I might as well make the rumor come true.
After careful consideration, I finally marked the gold mine deep in the Cang Ngo mountains.
The terrain there is complex, with mountain ranges winding one after another.
It would take at least a month or two to get there.
More importantly, bandits from Hac Van Stronghold often roamed that area.
They were vicious and brutal, infamous throughout the realm.
I remembered Father once saying—
the chief of Black Cloud Stronghold hated government soldiers to the bone. Anyone in official boots who dared step into his territory would be flayed and hung at the stronghold gate as a warning.
To make them turn on each other, I deliberately had two identical maps drawn.
Then I split my people into two groups and sent them in different directions.
One map passed through the black market's underground network and conveniently fell into the Eldest Prince's hands.
I personally presented the other to the Second Prince.
I wasn't worried they wouldn't take the bait.
If there really was a gold mine, the more fiercely they fought over it, the more reason they'd have to destroy each other.
Power made people lose their reason.
I was only afraid they were lucky enough to survive.
So I spent a fortune hiring three groups of assassins renowned throughout the realm.
I had them lie in wait at the destination deep in the Cang Ngo mountains.
My Shen family was wiped out because of the boundless greed of those in power.
But the palace was heavily guarded, and I couldn't get in alone.
In that case—my father's debt is mine to repay.
That would be… only fair.
16
Before the bronze mirror.
I slowly straightened my collar.
This body was truly useful.
Even the pawnshop keeper was willing to pay ten percent extra when he saw this face.
Over the past month, under the pretext of currying favor with officials, I sold off all twelve shops and five estates held under the Xiao family residence's name.
I didn't spare the study's collection of antiques, paintings, and calligraphy either. One piece at a time, it all became real silver.
“Sir, these are the debt notes the officials sent over.”
Casey Turner hurried in, holding up a thick stack of debt notes with both hands, his expression respectful.
I reached out and took them, flipping through them casually.
The borrower listed on every one was Xiao Yunji.
In the three years since I married Xiao Yunji, I'd studied his handwriting day and night.
By now, I could imitate it so perfectly that no one could tell the difference.
Besides, the one who'd borrowed the money was “Xiao Yunji” himself.
Who would suspect anything?
Thinking of those people’s wary faces and how they’d shut the door the moment they saw me, I couldn’t help laughing.
I'd cleaned out every place where I could borrow money openly.
Now it was Madam Xiao's turn to put up her retirement savings.
Even before I became a wicked wife, she'd gone to great lengths to pry quite a bit of my dowry out of my hands.
Now it was time to make her pay back principal and interest.
When I entered Madam Xiao's courtyard, she was trying on a jade-studded golden phoenix hairpin before the mirror.
The moment she saw me, her wrinkled face broke into a broad smile.
“Yunji, you came at just the right time. Mother has her eye on a set of red jade at the Treasure Pavilion. It’s only eight thousand taels…”
I deliberately let out a heavy sigh, my face full of worry.
She frowned slightly, her voice tinged with concern.
“Yunji, are you having some trouble?”
I took the opportunity to clasp her hand.
“Mother, your son needs to take care of some people at the Ministry of Personnel…”
Before I could finish, her expression changed completely.
“Doesn't that wretched woman have a huge dowry? She won't hand it over?”
Her voice was full of resentment.
I kept up my pained expression and said helplessly,
“Alas, most of it is already gone. Mother, could you lend your son a little silver to tide things over?”
Madam Xiao hesitated.
I immediately pressed my advantage.
“Mother, don't worry. Once the gold mine business is settled, your son will petition to have you granted the rank of First-Rank Lady of the Imperial Court. Everyone who looked down on you will have to kneel before you.”
The old lady's expression shifted. “How much do you need?”
I answered without hesitation. “One hundred thousand taels.”
“What? Where am I supposed to get that much silver?”
She shouted, her eyes wide.
I kept coaxing her.
“You can borrow it from your family. Don't worry, your son won't take it for nothing. Three-tenths interest—how does that sound?”
At the mention of three-tenths interest, she looked pained at the thought of spending the money.
“Three-tenths interest is too low…”
“What's a little profit like that?”
I sweetened the offer, brimming with confidence.
“Once your son has control of the Ministry of Revenue, getting a few tea or salt permits will be easy money.”
Her cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.
It was as if she could see mountains of gold and silver before her.
She immediately turned and opened her private silver chest.
“Yunji, Mother has ten thousand taels. I'll give you that first, and I'll find a way to get the rest.”
I lowered my eyes, deftly concealing the mockery in them, and said softly,
“Mother, you're the best.”
Three days later.
To my surprise, she actually managed to gather two hundred thousand taels.
I later learned that she hadn't even spared her widowed cousin's retirement savings.
Looking at the silver vault, its chests piled high like mountains, I suddenly remembered Father's words:
Greed is the easiest weakness to exploit.
Princes and commoners alike.
I slipped into the black market.
Using Xiao Yunji's life as collateral, I borrowed another enormous sum.
17
After moving all that silver, there were only three days left in the two-month period.
The physician took Xiao Yunji's pulse and said his health was no longer a concern.
It was time to see him.
After being nursed back to health these past few days, he had indeed recovered considerably. His cheeks even had a healthy flush.
The debt had been repaid. It was time for me to reclaim this body.
“My lady…”
He spoke softly, his trembling voice tinged with hesitation.
“I've regretted it every day lately… I was wrong, wrong beyond forgiveness.”
At that, he began to choke up.
“I've suffered enough for what I did, and you've recovered. Can we start over?”
I gave a cold laugh and held the document out to him.
“Sign this.”
“You want a divorce?”
His hopeful expression froze at once.
He abruptly sat up, his voice rising sharply.
But a second later, as if he’d realized something, he quickly lowered his voice.
Then he dropped to his knees with a thud and grabbed my hem, trembling.
“My lady, I truly can’t live without you. Please give me one more chance. I swear I’ll love you and protect you from now on, and never let anyone hurt you, not even a little.”
Even though he was wearing my face, his pitiful act was truly nauseating.
I bent down, gripped his chin, and forced him to look up.
“You don’t have to sign.”
I pretended to take the document back.
“I’m Xiao Yunji now, anyway. Keeping another wife won’t be any trouble. You can keep this body forever.”
Almost as soon as the words left my mouth, Xiao Yunji lunged forward and bit down hard on his finger without hesitation. Blood immediately welled up.
Trembling, he pressed his bloodied finger to the document.
He did it all in one fluid motion, without the slightest hesitation.
“Now… can we switch back?”
He forced a smile and looked at me expectantly.
I calmly folded the divorce papers and tucked them into my sleeve.
“What’s the rush? Let’s wait a few more days.”
As I turned to leave, I caught sight of his nails digging deep into his palm.
He was clearly doing everything he could to suppress his fury.
His eyes were full of murderous intent, but he couldn’t do a thing to me.
I was in a very good mood.
Humming a silly tune, I closed the door.
18
I took the divorce papers to the authorities to make it official.
As I watched the official seal come down hard on the page, I finally let out a sigh of relief.
From now on, Xiao Yunji and I had nothing to do with each other.
Three days later.
I got up early.
In the bronze mirror, that face was still as handsome as ever.
I gave my reflection a knowing smile.
Xiao Yunji, we were husband and wife once. Before I fully return to this body, let me give you one last present.
I untied my belt.
I took out the anesthetic I’d prepared earlier and slowly applied it to my lower body.
The cold, sticky sensation was unpleasant,
but soon the area had gone completely numb.
I took a deep breath, aimed below my waist, and raised the blade.
Swish.
Blood immediately gushed out like a fountain.
It splattered across the floor like red plum blossoms in full bloom.
“Avery Reed!”
I called softly.
The small black dog that was always sneaking food from the kitchen came bounding in at once.
When it spotted the “toy” on the floor, it barked excitedly again and again, then snatched up its prize and scampered off, delighted.
After hastily bandaging the wound, I calmly lay down on the bed and silently waited for everything that was about to happen.
19
I woke after a long sleep.
My hand instinctively went to my chest. Feeling the softness beneath my fingertips, I sighed with relief.
I had finally returned to my own body.
I pushed open the door and stepped out. The Xiao family residence was eerily quiet.
There wasn’t a servant in sight.
Even the parrot’s cage beneath the hallway was empty.
Only a few leaves twirled across the courtyard, whispering softly as they fell.
The eyes and ears I’d planted around the residence emerged from the shadows and nodded to me.
Before I went to sleep, I’d already arranged everything.
I had the cruel servants who’d helped Xiao Yunji oppress me taken away and sold by the brokers.
For those who had done me no harm, I gave each person ten taels of silver as a parting gift.
As for Casey Turner—
He’d done countless terrible things while serving Xiao Yunji.