After Duan Mingxi married Gao Zhan, she followed the rules diligently, adhered to the three obediences and four virtues, and showed respect and filial piety to her parents-in-law.
Gao Zhan helped the new emperor ascend the throne, earning the merit of following the dragon (supporting the new ruler). His first action was to divorce her under the pretense of disrespecting his parents-in-law and having no children. He then petitioned the emperor to grant him a marriage with the woman he truly loved.
After ten years of marriage, she remained a virgin yet was burdened with the disgraceful reputation that could drive someone to their death!
Enduring a decade of humiliation had become a cruel joke. Presented with a letter of divorce, she plunged a dagger straight into Gao Zhan’s chest and set a blazing fire to burn the entire Duke Gao mansion—those who had feasted on her misery—into ashes.
She vowed to drag the entire Duke Gao mansion down with her in death!
When she opened her eyes again, she had returned to the time before she married Gao Zhan.
She was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Dingyuan Marquis household, who had been lost outside for over a decade. Upon being reunited with her family, she faced a cold and unloving mother, an indifferent father, a malicious younger sister, and a worthless brother.
This time, she tore apart everyone’s schemes, rejected the marriage proposal from the Gao family, and instead aligned herself with Rui Wang.
Everyone said she was ruthless, heartless, and utterly devoid of morality—a venomous lotus who lied through her teeth and committed countless wicked deeds!
Duan Mingxi was determined to see for herself how Gao Zhan could gain favor without the rich dowry she once provided.
Without the wealth of her adoptive parents, how could the Dingyuan Marquis household repeat the splendor and glory of the past?
In this life, the Gao family could forget about achieving the merit of following the dragon. She would support the crown prince’s greatest rival to ascend the throne.
The merit of following the dragon? She will claim it for herself.
And the future emperor? He will be hers too!
