1 Rebirth

The scorching heat, the heart-wrenching pain… In her daze, Lu Xiang could vaguely hear someone talking outside.

"It's been two days. Is Fourth Sister still not awake?"

"Not yet, Miss Mingzhu."

"I'll go in and take a look. Is the medicine for Fourth Sister ready?"

"In a minute."

"Alright, bring it over quickly when it's done."

"Yes, Miss Mingzhu."

There was the sound of the curtain being lifted, and a faint fragrance wafted over. Lu Xiang slowly opened her eyes, but before she could see clearly what was in front of her, she immediately heard a surprised voice.

"Fourth Sister, you're finally awake!"

The voice was so familiar that it was nauseating. Before Lu Xiang could come back to her senses, she saw a red figure walk over and sit down on the edge of the bed.

Lu Xiang's pupils constricted when she saw the face clearly. Her hatred poured out uncontrollably, and her gaze burnt as though she wanted to eat someone alive.

Lu Mingzhu…

It was Lu Mingzhu!

Could it be that the heavens saw that she had died miserably and sent Lu Mingzhu down to hell to accompany her?

No, the face was clearly one of a young age.

A trace of doubt flashed across Lu Xiang's heart. How could such a young Lu Mingzhu be the same person as the vivacious and vicious person she saw before she died?

Her fingers subconsciously tightened around the blanket on her body. The softness and smoothness of the blanket made her look down subconsciously.

She saw a pair of fair hands, each finger as alluring as jade.

This was… her hand?

Lu Xiang's eyes were filled with shock. Her hands had become rough and ugly, like withered branches, a long time ago. Moreover, because she had been shackled all year round, her fingers deformed and no longer had their former luster…

Lu Mingzhu was so immersed in the joy of Lu Xiang waking up that she did not notice the ever-changing expression on Lu Xiang's face.

"That's great, Fourth Sister. I was so worried about you during the past few days when you were unconscious. How are you? Are you feeling unwell anywhere… Yun Zhe, bring the medicine in quickly."

Yun Zhe…

Lu Xiang's heart skipped a beat when she heard this name. The next moment, she saw a young girl in a pink dress walking in hurriedly. Her face was full of surprise when she saw Lu Xiang with her eyes wide open. Then, her own eyes turned red, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Boohoo, Miss, you're finally awake." Yun Zhe stood by the bed with the medicine and cried from grievance and joy.

Lu Xiang's throat tightened. She lifted the blanket and got out of bed suddenly. She stood in front of Yun Zhe and raised her hand, trembling as she touched Yun Zhe's face.

Her palms were wet. It was Yun Zhe's tears. They were so real.

Lu Xiang felt as if someone had taken a hammer to her heart. Grief whistled through the gaping hole, but it was instantly filled with joy as well.

"Yun Zhe… Yun Zhe…" Lu Xiang muttered softly. She was full of guilt and happiness.

Before her was a personal maid who was loyal to her. However, she believed Lu Mingzhu's lies and did not listen to Yun Zhe's explanation. She had caused her to suffer injustice and die in vain in the end.

At this moment, Lu Xiang was extremely sure that she had been reborn!

Yun Zhe stared blankly at Lu Xiang, who was crying silently. She was a little stunned and did not dare to move.

Lu Mingzhu frowned slightly. She couldn't understand what Lu Xiang was doing. After hesitating for a while, she said, "Fourth Sister, are you feeling unwell? Hua Mei, get a doctor quickly."

When Lu Xiang heard Lu Mingzhu's voice, she pulled back her hands to wipe her tears before looking at her again. "No need for that."

Her voice was faint and hoarse, usual from one recovering from a serious illness. Her black eyes were like a clear stream. She looked harmless, but in the depths of her eyes, invisible deep hatred swelled.

Hmmph…

"Lu Mingzhu, karma is real. I'm back," she thought.

"In my previous life, you bullied me, humiliated me, harmed me, and killed me!"

"In this life, I will let you taste the pain and despair I felt, one by one."

As the hot oil poured into her mouth and flowed into her body, the heart-wrenching and corrosive pain made her wish she was dead.

She would definitely repay this grudge a thousand times over.

"It's good that you're fine." Lu Mingzhu smiled innocently. Then, she looked at Yun Zhe and took the medicine bowl from her hand. She said gently, "Yun Zhe, go to the kitchen and see what there is to eat. Fourth Sister has been unconscious for two days. She must be hungry now that she's awake."

Yun Zhe did not know about Lu Mingzhu's ruthlessness. When she heard her words, she was annoyed at herself for not thinking about that earlier. "Yes, yes. I'm such a scatterbrain. I'll go now."

"There's no need for that." Lu Xiang took the bowl of medicine expressionlessly and stopped Yun Zhe. Then, she looked at Lu Mingzhu. "Is there anything else?" She tried her best to suppress the hatred in her chest. Her voice actually trembled from trying to suppress it.

There is no urgency. With her rebirth, she wouldn't be as naive and sweet as she was in her previous life. She wouldn't be fooled by this mother and daughter again.

"Was she trying to chase me away?" Lu Mingzhu thought.

"I… I'm fine." Lu Mingzhu was stunned for a moment before feeling awkward. "Fourth Sister, have a good rest then. I'll leave first."

Lu Xiang looked at her quietly without nodding or saying anything.

Under her dark gaze, Lu Mingzhu felt pangs of guilt washed over her. She turned around and left in a hurry.

"Yun Zhe, pour away the medicine," Lu Xiang said coldly as she looked at the black liquid medicine in her hand.

"Ah? Why?" Yun Zhe was stunned. "Miss, is there a problem with the medicine?"

"The smell is disgusting to me."

Yun Zhe looked at Lu Xiang in surprise. She was frowning and had a horrible expression on her face, as if she had really smelled something extremely disgusting.

However…

"Miss, good medicine is usually bitter. You'll be fine after drinking it."

Lu Xiang smiled at her. "Make me another bowl of it then."

Yun Zhe did not understand, nor did she need to.

She would definitely protect and ensure that this loyal little girl has a carefree life for the rest of her life.

It wasn't the medicine that was disgusting. It was what was mixed in it.

When she woke up, Lu Xiang remembered that she had been reborn eight years back. She was 13 years old this year. Two months ago, her father brought Lu Mingzhu and her mother back to the Lu family.

She fainted as she had lost her footing and fell into the water.

In her previous life, everyone, including herself, thought that she had lost her footing due to carelessness.

However, after going through betrayal and a tragic death, Lu Xiang was certain that Lu Mingzhu had deliberately pushed her into the water.

At this time in her previous life, Lu Mingzhu also expressed great concern for her. She personally fed her the medicine she brewed and pretended to reveal the injury on her arm by accident.

She had asked in confusion then, "Why is Third Sister injured?"

Lu Mingzhu smiled and said that she had bumped into something by accident. However, her personal maid, Hua Mei, said indignantly, "Fourth Miss, you don't know. When you fall into the chilly water, the low temperature has caused some damage to your body and your life is in danger. Our Miss was anxious. When she heard that there was a home remedy whereby human flesh can work as a medicinal catalyst to cure all illnesses, she cut off her own flesh and cooked it in the medicine for you."

It was laughable that she was touched by the 'gesture' then.

She was the third daughter of the Lu family, but because she was younger than Lu Mingzhu, she was pushed down the rank and became the fourth Young Miss of the Lu family.

On the other hand, Lu Mingzhu became the third Young Miss of the Lu Family, and Madam Liu was promoted to the position of the legitimate wife of her father. Later on, most people thought that Lu Mingzhu was the daughter of the legitimate wife, and no one cared that she was in fact, the real daughter of the legitimate first wife.

Lu Xiang could not help but laugh at herself for not being able to see through such a lame act in her previous life and had even believed it foolishly.