Chapter 1 — The Proxy Sister

My biological sister was married into the Prime Minister’s estate, and now she is dead. When her husband came to report her passing, he stood in the grand hall, his gaze heavy with sorrow, and pleaded with clasped hands:

"Before she departed, Cham Nguyet gave strict instructions that her younger sister, Hien Am, must be married to me as my successor. If this wish is not fulfilled, she will not be able to close her eyes even in death."

To maintain the bond with the Prime Minister's household, my father did not hesitate for a moment and immediately agreed. That very day, as I sat by the window embroidering a wedding robe, a divine script suddenly materialized before my eyes: 【As the secondary character, do not marry him! The female lead is only faking her death to provoke the male lead; she will return in three years to rekindle their romance.】 【The only reason she insists on you marrying in her place is to prevent the concubines in the manor from usurping the position of legal wife and mistreating her young son.】 The needle pierced my finger, blood dripping onto the silk and staining the unfinished robe with a layer of deep crimson.

"Three years, you say..."

"Manh Cham Nguyet, I shall certainly manage the Prime Minister’s estate well on your behalf, so that you shall not be disappointed."

1

My biological sister, Manh Cham Nguyet, possessed beauty that could topple kingdoms and talent beyond compare. As the primary wife of the Prime Minister’s only son, she was shrewd and understood perfectly how to command a man’s heart. Throughout their three years of marriage, she held the young master spellbound, his devotion entirely hers. She was arrogant because of this, often gloating before us younger sisters who still sat waiting in the quietude of our chambers:

"Managing the household affairs all day is so dreadfully dull. Life is short, and one should savor it to the fullest. Out there, the blossoms and the moonlight await us."

What those blossoms and moonlight truly meant, none of us understood. After all, of the four daughters of the Manh family, she was the only one married off into such glory. Then, one day, she sent home a letter:

"My husband is bewitched by a wretched woman, his mind clouded. I shall make him understand the true price of losing me."

No one expected that she would truly end her life. Our parents were heartbroken, weeping as they clung to one another in the mourning hall. The son-in-law knelt there, his appearance haggard, his tears falling incessantly. He sobbed, "Father, Mother, it is all my fault. We argued that day, and because Cham Nguyet had such a stubborn temperament, she acted on a sudden, dark impulse..."

"It is just that the concubine in question was a gift bestowed by the Empress herself, and it was difficult for me to treat her too harshly..."

Speaking of this, a man of such stature, the only heir to the Prime Minister, a man of noble status, completely disregarded his pride, burying his face in his hands and wailing. His cries were so wretched that even the listeners felt their hearts shrivel. Even my parents ceased their lamentations to comfort him. Only we three sisters stood to the side, our expressions cold, feeling utterly misplaced amidst this tragic spectacle. My sister, who used to cry for half a day over the slightest scratch, had now supposedly hanged herself out of spite. I could not reconcile this. Since when had Manh Cham Nguyet become so resolute? But before I could dwell on it, the husband cut through my thoughts.

"Before she passed, Cham Nguyet insisted that her younger sister, Hien Am, must become my successor, or she would die with deep regrets."

His demeanor—his name was Thoi Te Minh—was incredibly grating. He frowned at me, as if looking at something he found utterly repulsive.

2

My parents, only moments ago drowning in the grief of losing a daughter, were now stunned. This news hit them like a falling jade, leaving them at a loss for how to react. It took a long moment for them to regain their composure.

"My poor, dear daughter..."

"Surely, it was because she could not bear to leave her newborn child. The little one is so young, not even old enough to call out for its mother."

Father reached out and pulled me toward them.

"Hien Am is good—sensible and obedient."

"She has raised her two younger sisters single-handedly; I believe she is fully capable of caring for my grandson."

Thoi Te Minh’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this.

"Cham Nguyet’s wishes are, of course, paramount."

"It is just that my wife has only just passed, so I do not wish to hold a lavish ceremony."

"Since this is merely a marriage to continue the lineage, there is no need for grand displays."

"Our two families are old allies, so we can waive the tedious formalities."

My parents nodded repeatedly, praising the husband’s wisdom. With just a few words between them, my lifelong marriage was settled in such a cavalier fashion. I, the one involved, was not given a single chance to speak.

3

From the moment the engagement to the Prime Minister’s estate was set, my stepmother locked me in my room, forcing me to focus on the wedding robe. At night, as I sat by the candlelight stitching the final seam, the divine script began to manifest in lines before my eyes. 【Do not marry there! The female lead is faking her death to manipulate the male lead; she will return in three years.】 Faking her death. I latched onto those words instantly. At that moment, I believed the script nine parts out of ten. Lines of text continued to appear, revealing the tragic fate awaiting me. 【You will be framed by the nursemaid beside Manh Cham Nguyet, leading to a miscarriage. Thoi Te Minh will have you whipped thirty times and locked in the ancestral hall. In your despair, you will set yourself on fire there.】 After my death, the two of them would shed a few crocodile tears before living out their days in bliss. But for me, that would not be enough. If I was to be filled with such resentment, I would have to drag them both down into the abyss with me! To let them live happily ever after while I suffered would surely mean I had lost my mind. And as for the child I would spend three years nurturing? Once Manh Cham Nguyet returned, he would turn on me without a moment's hesitation, trampling over me.

"In the end, you are only a lowly concubine's daughter; how could you ever be worthy of being my mother?"

I had always detested Manh Cham Nguyet, but I never intended to harm a child. Who would have thought I would raise such an ungrateful ingrate? Watching the images flash across the script, I curled my lips in a cold smile.

"Manh Cham Nguyet, I shall certainly take good care of everything in the Prime Minister’s estate for you; I will not let you down."