Rebirth as a Wind Cultivator - Chapters 1-3

Rebirth as a Wind Cultivator

Chongsheng Feng Xiu

All Roads Lead to the Phoenix Princess

Yi Lu Feng Gongzhu

Blurb

When Li Mei dies in a traffic accident after another soul-crushing retail shift, she awakens in a familiar yet dangerous world—inside her favorite game, Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles. Now inhabiting the body of Lin Xiulan, the scorned second daughter of a noble family, she finds herself thrust into a nest of vipers where her very existence is an offense to those around her.

Armed only with her knowledge of the game and the wounds from a lifetime of dealing with entitled customers, Xiulan refuses to play the role of the family’s punching bag. Determined to rise above her circumstances, she must master immortal alchemy, tame arcane spirit beasts, perfect her martial arts, and face off against her scheming sisters and stepmother.

But in the Kingdom of Arinthia, where power means everything and weakness invites destruction, Xiulan must do more than simply survive and fade into the background.

With the knowledge of a devastating future that awaits the realm’s beloved Crown Princess, she’ll need every ounce of her modern wit and growing abilities to prevent a catastrophe that would ruin the entire realm—assuming she can survive her own family long enough to do anything about it.

Chapter 1: Standard Transmigration Opening

Li Mei trudged down the neon-lit street, her feet aching from eight hours of retail hell. The familiar green and orange sign of 7/11 beckoned through the smog-tinged evening air. Inside, fluorescent lights hummed as she grabbed a cup of instant ramen and a package of cookies—the dinner of champions.

The walk to her apartment building took her past a series of overflowing dumpsters and graffiti-covered walls. A tower of garbage bags teetered precariously near the entrance steps. She sidestepped just as a bag slumped sideways, spilling rotting vegetables onto the concrete.

“Thanks for the cleanup, Jerry,” she muttered. The landlord was supposed to take care of things, but he was perpetually absent. No surprise there.

She didn’t have the energy to deal with it, so she hurried upward. The sounds of city life pulsed—screeching tires, blaring horns, and the yowls of alley cats fighting over territory. Through paper-thin walls came the nightly song of her neighbors before she even made it inside.

“You never listen!” screamed 4B, while 4D’s bass-heavy music thumped in counterpoint.

Li Mei hurried to unlock her apartment door and escape inside. Even if the walls weren’t soundproof, it was quieter.

A clean lavender scent welcomed her home.

At least here she maintained control, even if her life had spiraled elsewhere. The Art History degree hanging in the entrance hall mocked her daily—a $60,000 piece of paper leading to a dead-end retail job. The student loan statements arrived monthly, their numbers suggesting she’d be paying until retirement.

A hum sounded from the microwave as she nuked her ramen. After a quick shower to wash away the day’s frustrations, she settled into her worn office chair. The laptop screen illuminated her face.

Gaming night beckoned! Tomorrow was one of those rare days off and she’d be able to sleep in.

She double-clicked the Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles icon and a familiar loading screen materialized with its swirling phoenix emblem. The microwave’s unhappy reminder beep interrupted her anticipation.

“Right. Food.”

She left the character select screen displaying her carefully selected and built characters.

A minute later, the kitchen counter held her steaming cup of ramen, but there was a problem. She’d forgotten to buy something to drink. A quick check of the fridge confirmed it: nothing but an ancient bottle of soy sauce and half an onion.

The vending machine across the street beckoned through her fourth-floor window. Its LED display cut through the evening haze like a commercial lighthouse.

Li Mei grabbed her wallet from the coffee table, stuffing it into her jacket pocket with a curse. It’d cost twice as much, but there was no way in hell she was walking all the way back to the stupid convenience store.

The stairs creaked under her feet as she descended while street-level sodium lights cast the ignored trash in a sickly orange glow. She stepped off the sidewalk and began to cross the street, fishing out her wallet. The vending machine’s prices glowed in red LED numbers.

A flash of white light swept across the pavement. The screech of tires filled her ears.

The Mitsubishi Fuso’s chrome grill consumed her field of vision. Impact.

Darkness.

 ***

Pain throbbed through her skull in waves of agony. Fractured thoughts swirled like autumn leaves caught in a storm.

A boyish voice pierced through the haze. “Sister Xiulan! Please wake up!”

The desperate cry echoed strangely, both foreign and achingly familiar. She reached up, fingertips meeting warm wetness matted in her hair. The touch sent lightning bolts of pain through her head.

“Ah!” A sharp hiss escaped through clenched teeth.

“Sister Xiulan?” The voice shifted from despair to tentative hope.

Li Mei tried to push herself upright. The world tilted and spun in nauseating circles.

“Don’t move! Captain Bai went to fetch help. You’re hurt badly!”

The boy’s face swam into focus—delicate features, wide eyes brimming with tears, silk robes covered in dirt, branches and her blood. Lin Zhang Wei. My little brother. The knowledge crashed into her consciousness like a thunderbolt.

“What... what’s happening?” The words tumbled out thick and clumsy. How do I know him? Where am I?

“The carriage axle snapped.” Zhang Wei pointed upward. “We fell when it tipped.”

Through double vision, she tracked his gesture. A steep embankment rose above them, dense with cypress trees. Twenty feet up, a lacquered carriage lay crushed between two massive trunks, its door hanging askew. Higher still, a body draped grotesquely over a thick branch, dark liquid dripping steadily onto the leaves below.

There was no sign of the horses.

Shouts echoed from above through the branches. “The young master went down there after her! Hurry!”

A cold shiver ran down her spine. The words carried more concern for Zhang Wei than for her injuries.

These people don’t care if I live or die. The thought caught her off-guard.

Zhang Wei clutched her arm tightly, pressing his face against the silk sleeve of her robe. Without thinking, she reached out and patted his head. The gesture felt natural, filled with an inexplicable warmth despite her confusion.

Why do I feel such affection for this child I’ve never met?

“Sister Xiulan, are you going to be okay? Does it hurt?” Zhang Wei’s eyes glistened with fresh tears.

“Of course it fucking hurts.” The modern curse slipped out before she could stop it. “Who is Xiulan?”

Zhang Wei jerked back, staring at her with wide eyes. “But... you’re Second Sister Lin Xiulan!”

She pressed her palm against her throbbing temple. The last clear memory blazed through her mind—headlights, screeching tires, the cold pavement. Now she sat at the bottom of a mountain path beside an ornate wooden carriage that belonged in a period drama.

What is happening to me? One minute I’m being run down in the street, the next I’m in some ancient Chinese setting?

“You’re bleeding!” Zhang Wei tugged at his silk sleeve until the fabric tore with a sharp rip. He folded the material into a makeshift bandage and pressed it against her head.

She attempted to push herself up onto shaky legs again, but the world spun violently, trees and sky blending into a nauseating whirl.

“No! Please stay down.” Zhang Wei guided her back to the ground, cradling her head in his lap.

Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows across her face. Birds called to each other in melodic trills. The rustle of wind through cypress needles mixed with the distant crash of a mountain stream.

How can I be Xiulan? I’m Li Mei. Just Li Mei. She touched the tender spot on her forehead where blood matted her hair. Unless... unless Xiulan died when she hit her head. Just like I died when that truck...

This is ridiculous. Like some cheap Isekai plot device. But then why does everything feel so real?

“Help! Down here!” Zhang Wei’s shout echoed off the mountainside. “Sister is hurt!”

The sound of boots sliding on loose earth grew closer as men descended the steep bank.

She stared at Zhang Wei’s worried face. He’s right though. I am Xiulan. Lin Xiulan. The knowledge settled into place like puzzle pieces clicking together. My brother Zhang Wei. Mother Lin Zhao Lian. Father Lord Lin Tian. First-born daughter of the third concubine.

The most hated daughter in the Lin family.

The realization jolted through her system. She pushed herself upright despite Zhang Wei’s protests.

“I’m fine.” She steadied herself with one hand on the ground.

“Young Master Wei!” The guards reached the bottom of the embankment, rushing toward them.

“You must help Sister Xiulan first!” Zhang Wei planted himself between the guards and the steep embankment. “She’s injured! I’m fine.”

Xiulan grabbed a low-hanging branch to steady herself. The unfamiliar weight of layered silk robes tangled around her legs as she attempted to stand. Her foot caught in the hem, sending her stumbling forward.

“Careful, Miss Lin.” A guard steadied her arm.

Above them, ropes snaked down the embankment. Two guards lashed together branches and strips of wood torn from the wrecked carriage, creating a crude seat.

“Young Master Wei must ascend first,” announced the lead guard.

Zhang Wei tensed. “No! Sister Xiulan—“

“It’s fine.” Xiulan squeezed his hand. “Go up. I’ll follow right after.”

Zhang Wei’s bottom lip trembled, but he allowed the guards to secure the rope around his waist. The makeshift seat creaked as they lifted him skyward.

Once he disappeared over the ridge, the guards turned to her. She grunted as they cinched the rope tight around her waist. The wooden seat dug into her thighs through the silk layers.

“Ready below!” A voice called up.

The ascent jerked and swayed. Branches scratched at her arms. The embankment’s loose soil crumbled beneath the seat with each bump. Her head throbbed in protest at the jolting movement.

But she made it, only to crest the ridge into organized chaos.

A line of ornate carriages stretched along the mountain path. Guards in matching uniforms moved between supply wagons. Servants rushed back and forth, carrying bundles and boxes.

Memory struck like lightning. They were headed to the county capital for Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration. The woman had replaced Xiulan’s mother after bearing Lord Lin multiple children.

The very woman who viewed Xiulan as nothing more than a reminder of her mother’s fall from grace.

The crashed carriage had delayed the entire convoy. Xiulan steadied herself against a cypress tree as a guard unclasped the rope harness.

“Wait here. The physician should be here soon.” The guard strode away without a backward glance.

The mountain path bustled with activity, yet no one offered her a place to sit. Zhang Wei had vanished. Blood trickled down her temple, each throb bringing waves of disorientation. The unfamiliar weight of silk robes dragged at her shoulders.

Carved wooden wheels creaked against stone. Two women emerged from a nearby carriage, their emerald and sapphire robes catching the filtered sunlight.

Her sisters—Lin Qian, Lin Fei. Not friends.

They approached with measured steps. Fei’s laughter cut through the mountain air. “Look, Sister Qian! Her robes finally match her status.”

Xiulan glanced down. Dirt and grass stains marred the once-pristine silk. Tears exposed the lighter underlayers and blood droplets dotted the fabric like crimson flowers.

“I hit my head, but I think I’m okay.” The words came out uncertain, the sentiment caught between two lives.

Qian’s painted lips curled. “How do you plan to make up for delaying Mother’s celebration?”

“What?” Xiulan blinked. How was this her fault? The accusation made no sense. The carriage had plummeted off a cliff. She wasn’t the driver.

“Kneel and kowtow six times.” Fei lifted her chin. “Perhaps then we’ll forgive you.”

“It’s not my fault.” Xiulan pressed her palm against her throbbing temple. “I hit my head and I need to rest. Please leave me alone.”

Surprise flickered across Qian’s features.

Fei’s face flushed red. She stepped forward like a snake and the slap cracked against Xiulan’s cheek.

“Sister Xiulan!” Zhang Wei’s horrified shout pierced the air.

Years of retail rage bubbled up, along with a sea of hazy grievances and Xiulan’s fist connected with Fei’s nose.

Cartilage crunched, and her sister crashed to the ground with a piercing shriek.

Chapter 2: Trampling Puff

Li Mei stepped to the side as Qian lunged toward her with outstretched hands. Xiulan’s fist connected with the other girl’s jaw with a satisfying crack.

The eldest sister collapsed beside Fei in a heap of silk and broken pride.

The world spun. Blood pulsed behind Xiulan’s eyes as fear and adrenaline warred in her system. What did I just do? The thought barely registered before Fei’s shrill voice cut through the mountain air.

“Guards! Kill her! Kill this beast!”

Sharp pain lanced through Xiulan’s ankle as Fei’s manicured nails dug into flesh like daggers. Xiulan pivoted and drove her foot into her sister’s already broken face. The crunch sent her sister rolling away with fresh screams.

Both her sisters wailed on the ground, their perfect makeup streaked with tears and blood.

The guards stood frozen, weapons half-drawn as they stared at the scene.

Zhang Wei bounced on his toes, beaming like it was New Year’s Festival. “That was… amazing, Sister Xiulan,” he whispered as he came over.

Exhaustion crashed over her in a giant wave. Her legs trembled beneath the weight of her robes. Zhang Wei guided her toward a nearby carriage, helping her settle onto the wooden seat.

Time blurred. Servants shuttled Qian and Fei and their shrieks away for treatment while she waited.

The physician finally appeared, his robes pristine despite the dusty mountain path. The man’s expression was unreadable, a mix of calm efficiency and professional detachment. “Greetings to the second daughter. I am Jin Wei and will treat you,” he announced with a slight bow.

“Doctor.” Xiulan winced at even the slight movement of turning her head to meet his gaze. “I think I have a concussion.” Her voice was low, tinged with both pain and exhaustion.

Jin Wei’s eyebrows rose slightly. “A perceptive diagnosis, Miss Lin,” he remarked, setting his leather medical bag down beside her.

He carefully examined her head wound, his fingers gentle yet firm, parting her hair to assess the injury. She flinched as he applied a disinfectant, the sting biting through the dull ache. “The impact was severe, but the wound is clean,” he noted clinically. A clean white bandage replaced her little brother’s silk triage.

Her ankle was bad, too. Crescent-shaped cuts marred the skin. Jin Wei’s expression remained neutral, but there was a faint tension in his hands as he dabbed medicine over the wounds. “These gashes will need to be kept clean and treated daily to prevent infection,” he said, his voice steady as he pressed a clean bandage over the bleeding scratches. “You’re fortunate the skin wasn’t torn further.”

When he reached her bruised knuckles, Jin Wei paused for a moment, glancing up at her. “I assume this injury is recent?”

Xiulan’s lips curled into a faint, wry smile. “It was self-inflicted.”

Jin Wei nodded, seemingly unaffected by the confession. He applied a cool poultice, the herbal scent strong and earthy. “This should reduce the swelling.”

“You likely have a concussion,” he continued. “While not immediately fatal, you could become very ill. Symptoms may worsen, and you’ll need constant monitoring.”

“Sister!” Zhang Wei cried, clutching her sleeve with sudden urgency. “Will she be okay?” His young voice was shaky, caught between fear and hope.

“It could prove fatal without proper observation,” Jin Wei replied gravely, glancing briefly at Zhang Wei. “The next few days are critical, so she should not be left unattended.”

Jin Wei quickly gathered his supplies, packing them back into his bag. “My apologies, but I must return to attend the eldest daughter again, as commanded,” he said with a bow.

“Thank you for your help, Doctor Jin Wei,” Xiulan managed.

Jin Wei paused, surprise flickering across his face, before he offered another bow and then hurried away.

A guard approached with stiff shoulders and a practiced bow. “Apologies, Second Daughter, but we must place you in the supply wagon. No carriages remain available.”

“What nonsense!” Zhang Wei stomped his foot. “There’s a perfectly good carriage right here! How dare you insult the Second Daughter of the Lin family!”

The carriage window creaked open. A pale face peered out, eyes wide with fear.

That face... I know her. The familiar sensation washed over Xiulan like cold water. Memories that weren’t quite her own surfaced—shared meals, whispered conversations, gentle smiles.

“Sister Suyin,” Xiulan whispered.

“You can’t ride with me!” Suyin gripped the window frame. “They’ll take revenge! Zhang Wei, come quickly before they associate you with her and beat you again!”

This family is a real mess. Xiulan rubbed her temples.

“No!” Zhang Wei planted his feet. “I won’t abandon Sister Xiulan! This is wrong!” His voice rose with each word, drawing attention from nearby servants.

“Zhang Wei.” Xiulan touched his shoulder. “Go with Sister Suyin. I’ll be fine.”

“But—“

“Please. For me.”

Zhang Wei’s shoulders slumped. He climbed into the carriage, shooting worried glances back at her.

“Lead me to my spot,” Xiulan ordered the guard.

The supply wagon lurked at the back of the convoy, piled high with crates and bundles. No cushions. No blankets against the mountain chill.

Once she was situated, the guard left her alone. It wasn’t long before they began to move. Each bump and jostle sent fresh shocks of pain through her ankle and temple.

Somehow, getting to where they were supposed to be going didn’t seem like it would be any better.

Actually, it felt worse, like an impending cloud of doom.

The fear seeping in was clearly another echo from Lin Xiulan…

They were moving so slow. At least it would take them all day to get anywhere.

***

Xiulan leaned against the rough wooden slats of a crate, tilting her face toward the sky. The thick, layered silk robes cocooned her against the crisp air. Through gaps in the overhead branches, patches of azure peeked between wisps of white clouds.

Fresh buds dotted the trees—it was definitely early spring.

She tucked her arms deeper into the voluminous sleeves, grateful for the warmth even if it couldn’t do anything about the comfort. The hard planks beneath offered no cushioning, each bump and jostle wakening her injuries.

Focus. She needed to sort out this mess.

The memories flowed like water—both foreign and familiar. Her mother ranked as third concubine to Lord Lin, stripped of her position as his first wife after becoming barren.

Madam Zhang had swooped in to claim that title, along with all its privileges. House Song, her mother’s family, had already fallen before then, so there was no one to protest the treatment.

The family hierarchy took form in her mind: Qian and Fei, Zhang’s scheming daughters. Lin Jin, the precious heir and father’s favorite. Then there was Zhang Wei, sweet but dismissed as merely a backup child. Only he and Sister Suyin showed her any genuine kindness among her siblings.

Everyone else might as well paint ‘enemy’ on their foreheads.

Her father ruled Blackmere County as the provincial magistrate. Something about that name tickled at her memories—not Xiulan’s memories, but her own. Why did it seem so familiar?

She raised her hand toward the sky, squinting past her fingers at the drifting clouds. The wagon hit another rut, nearly toppling her sideways. Fresh pain bloomed.

Jin Wei’s treatments had helped, but bouncing around in a supply wagon definitely qualified as the opposite of proper medical care.

The sun slipped past its zenith, casting long shadows through the thinning trees. Xiulan braced against another jolt as the wagon descended from the mountain pass onto more level ground. A clear stream meandered alongside the road, widening into a gentle river that reflected the afternoon light.

Tendrils of smoke curled above the distant tree line. The forest opened into rolling grasslands, revealing a stone-walled settlement that dominated the landscape. That triggered fragments of memory—this wasn’t just any town, but the county capital of Blackmere.

The Lin Family Manor they’d left rivaled it in size, though both paled compared to the grander cities she’d known in... another life?

From her position at the back of the convoy, she watched the massive gatehouse doors swing wide. The procession crawled forward through throngs of festival-goers who packed the approaching road.

Everyone wanted to attend Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration—a thought that sent ice through Xiulan’s veins.

Qian and Fei will be center stage at the banquet. The realization tightened around her throat like a noose. Their mother’s reaction to the earlier fight would be...

Xiulan pulled her knees to her chest and rested her aching head against them. Escape tempted her, but phantom pain ghosted across her skin at the thought. She’d tried before—when? The memory slipped away like smoke, leaving only echoes of punishment.

The gentle swaying of the wagon lulled her into an uneasy sleep despite the thrum of the crowd. That didn’t last long, though, and nearby shouts jolted her awake.

“Find Lin Xiulan! She escaped!”

“The Lord demands she account for her actions!”

Guards and soldiers swarmed the area, their voices rising.

Chapter 3: Gathering Clouds

Of course those scheming sisters set this up.

Xiulan suppressed a bitter laugh. The shouts continued around her, boots thundering past the wagon.

“Guard!” Xiulan projected her voice toward a soldier rushing past.

The guard skidded to a halt, spinning around. His eyes widened as he spotted her sitting in plain view in the supply wagon. “Miss Lin?”

“Over here! I found her!” The guard’s shout drew others like moths to flame.

Armored figures converged on the wagon, hands on sword hilts. A burly guard with a scarred face stepped forward. “Why did you hide in here?”

The crowd parted as heavy footsteps approached. She recognized him like she had her other family members: Bai Chen, Captain of the House Guard.

He strode through the gathering, his weathered features instantly recognizable. He carried himself with a steady confidence. Not an enemy. From what she could gleam, he was utterly upright.

Xiulan glanced down at her ankle. Blood had seeped through Jin Wei’s bandages, staining the white cloth a brownish red. She lifted her gaze to meet Bai Chen’s eyes.

“I am exactly where you put me after the accident. Where else would I be?” The words rang clear across the sudden hush.

Several guards shifted uncomfortably, averting their eyes.

Xiulan squeezed her forearm. “Did you really expect the Second Daughter of Lin family to get out of this supply wagon with her injuries, all on her own?”

Bai Chen clasped his hands and bowed deeply. The assembled guards hastily followed suit. “The House Guard apologizes for the Second Daughter’s treatment! Send steps for the Lord’s Second Daughter at once!”

Two guards scrambled up onto the wagon, their armor clanking against the wooden slats. The mobile steps arrived and then settled against the back with a solid thunk. Xiulan gripped the offered hands, focusing on each movement as she navigated toward the steps.

Bai Chen extended his calloused hand at the bottom. The world tilted sideways as she descended. Her knees threatened to buckle, but his steady grip kept her upright.

“Can you walk, Miss Lin?” Bai Chen’s question cut through the growing fog in her mind.

“I...” The courtyard spun lazily. “I don’t think so.”

“Bring the palanquin!” Bai Chen’s command echoed across the yard.

The next few moments blurred together. Silk curtains brushed against her arms. The gentle sway of being carried. Wooden poles that creaked rhythmically.

Reality snapped back into focus amid the bustle of city streets as they went around the corner.

Merchants and civilians pressed against building walls as guards cleared their path. The palanquin bearers’ steady footsteps carried her past shops with elaborate displays and toward a massive walled structure that dominated the skyline.

Through gaps in the curtains, Xiulan spotted servants unloading wagons from the convoy. Her bearers passed under an ornate archway where ceremonial guards stood at attention, their polished armor gleaming.

They entered a sprawling courtyard packed with silk-robed figures. Jeweled hairpins glinted in elaborate coiffures. Embroidered rank badges marked officials and wealthy guests. The wave of whispers rippling through the crowd seemed to follow her.

Xiulan glanced down. Blood had soaked through the bandages on her ankle, creating stark crimson patterns against the white cloth. A warm trickle down her temple explained the renewed throbbing in her head. The rough wagon ride had reopened her wounds and added fresh bruises. She touched her face and her fingers came away red.

Some entrance to Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration.

Wailing pierced through the silk curtains of the palanquin.

Thinking back to how successfully she’d taken down Fei and Qian, maybe her own state was for the best.

Qian and Fei’s theatrical sobs were easily recognizable—they’d perfected that particular skill over years of manipulating their father.

“That violent creature must be dealt with!” Madam Zhang’s shrill voice cut through the afternoon air. “She attacked my precious daughters on this day! I demand the severest punishment!”

Xiulan traced the dried blood on her temple. The familiar numbness spread through her chest. What could they possibly do to her now? Death held a little less fear after experiencing it once… twice…? already.

The palanquin halted. Xiulan pushed aside the curtain and stepped out onto the cobblestones.

Fresh whispers rippled through the gathered crowd at her bloodied appearance. She straightened her spine and walked forward, each step sending a sharp pain through her injured ankle.

Lord Lin stood ahead, his official robes pristine in the afternoon sun, the deep crimson fabric sharply contrasting with the earthy tones of the crowd. His heavily embroidered collar framed a face marked by authority and indifference, while dark hair swept back neatly revealed silver strands that hinted at his age.

Behind him, Qian and Fei dropped their sobbing act for brief moments to shoot venomous smirks in her direction, despite Fei’s badly swollen nose and bruised face, and the dark bruising forming along Qian’s jaw. They’d washed away the dirt and blood, but the damage remained stark in the afternoon light.

Madam Zhang practically vibrated with rage beside her husband, but Xiulan ignored her.

Her fate rested in her father’s hands alone, so she’d focus only on him. His stern features betrayed no emotion as she approached.

Xiulan planted her feet firmly on the cobblestone, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through her ankle. The gathered crowd blurred at the edges of her vision. Her hands clasped together in what she hoped was a proper greeting.

“Lin Family’s Second Daughter greets her noble father.”

Scattered laughter rippled through the crowd. Qian stepped forward, her silk robes rustling against the stones. “Does she think she’s a martial artist now?”

Heat crept up Xiulan’s neck. The proper greeting should have been a curtsy—the realization hit like ice water. “This daughter apologizes for the improper greeting. My injuries prevent me from making the proper movement.”

Lord Lin raised his hand, silencing the whispers. “Honorifics are of no import.” His deep voice carried across the courtyard. “Explain yourself. Why did you beat your sisters on this day? Surely you understand the importance of Madam Zhang’s birthday celebration? The loss of face in front of so many distinguished guests?”

Like falling off a cliff in a carriage was her fucking fault at all? She clenched down on her first response. No, he would have focused only on what Qian and Fei fed him. She needed to redirect that to the facts about what had happened.

Xiulan lifted her chin, meeting Qian and Fei’s smug expressions without flinching.

“My carriage fell off a cliff, and I sustained injuries in the fall.” Blood trickled down her temple, but she ignored it. “When the men pulled Zhang Wei and me up with ropes, Sister Fei attacked. I defended myself, and Sister Qian joined the assault.”

The smugness drained from her sisters’ faces. Madam Zhang’s mouth fell open, her perfectly painted lips forming a small ‘o’ of shock.

None of them had expected a rebuttal—not from Xiulan. The memories flooding through her mind painted a clear picture: a timid girl, beaten down by years of abuse, who would have accepted punishment without protest.

That’s okay, I will speak up for both of us. These snakes don’t deserve any platitudes.

Qian surged forward. “That girl insulted us when we expressed concern for her health! We merely requested an apology!”

Lies, lies, lies.

Lord Tian’s fingers drummed against his ornate belt, his brows furrowed as he glanced between his daughters. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool spring air. The entire gathered crowd seemed to focus on him.

Zhang Wei burst through the crowd, his small finger pointed accusingly at Fei. “She slapped Second Sister first! Before Jin Wei could even treat her!”

Madam Zhang’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she stared at Zhang Wei. The murderous glint in her gaze sent ice through Xiulan’s veins. Her sweet little brother had just painted a target on his back.

“Qian.” Lord Tian’s stern voice cut through the tension. “Is this true?”

“We... we were just...” Qian’s practiced composure cracked. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air.

“The Honored Physician greets noble Lord Lin.” Jin Wei stepped forward with a formal bow, cutting off Qian’s stammering. “This servant treated the Lord’s First and Third daughters at their insistence before approaching Second Daughter Xiulan.”

“She sustained severe injuries from the fall.” The doctor’s open palm fell toward her as he explained. “The second altercation worsened her condition significantly.”

Jin Wei’s clinical gaze swept over Xiulan’s bloodied form. “Her current state has even worsened now, becoming critical. It appears she was neglected after treatment. Without immediate action, she risks death.”

Lord Tian’s face darkened to a dangerous shade of crimson. “Jin Wei! Explain how her condition worsened after your treatment!”

The throbbing in Xiulan’s head intensified. The cobblestones beneath her feet seemed to tilt and sway. She steadied herself.

It was time to seize the moment. “Father.” The word scratched against her dry throat. “They called the honorable doctor away and ordered me to ride in the last supply wagon of the convoy for the rest of the trip, alone.”

Maybe that wasn’t entirely true. She hadn’t heard what her sisters had said after all, but it was what had happened.

The gathered crowd fell silent. Even the birds stopped chirping as Lord Tian’s rage rolled across the courtyard in palpable waves.

“WHO?” His roar echoed off the stone walls. “Who dared issue such an order?”

Captain Bai Chen stepped forward and dropped into a formal bow. “My Lord, First Daughter Qian commanded this after the altercation.”

Xiulan watched Qian’s face drain of color. The smug superiority evaporated like morning dew under a harsh sun.

“How DARE you!” Lord Tian whirled on Qian. “What gives you the authority to treat your sister this way?”

“She... I...” Qian’s perfect composure crumbled. “She needed punishment for—“

“PUNISHMENT?” Lord Tian’s fist slammed against the nearby railing. The sharp crack made several guests jump.

Madam Zhang glided forward, placing a delicate hand on Lord Tian’s arm. “My dear husband, please remember today’s celebration. Our guests...”

Lord Tian squared his shoulders and faced the assembled crowd. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he raised his hand.

“Physician Jin Wei, attend to Second Daughter Xiulan immediately!” His voice carried across the courtyard like thunder. “Daughters Qian and Fei will remain confined to their rooms for the duration of the banquet!”

The world spun faster. Xiulan bowed low, ignoring the stabbing pain in her ankle. “Thank you, honored father, for caring for this daughter.”

There appeared to be firsts for everything.

Darkness cut the thought short as it rushed up to meet her again, but this time, strong arms caught her before she hit the ground.