Steal My Fated Marriage? Fine—I’ll Wed the Tyrant and Seize the Throne! - Chapter 3 – Wanting to Change Her Good Friend’s Past Life’s Fate
The days that followed saw the Shen residence grow increasingly busy.
They had to prepare Shen Zhinian for the imperial selection while also arranging Shen Nanqiao’s upcoming wedding.
In her previous life, Shen Zhinian had married nothing more than a poor, shabby Xiucai, while Shen Nanqiao was destined to enter the palace as a noble lady. Naturally, all the finest things had been reserved for the latter.
But in this life, the situation was completely reversed.
Even though Madam Zhou had the heart to compensate Shen Nanqiao, the quality of Shen Zhinian’s clothes and jewelry far exceeded hers—something that had never happened in their past life.
Shen Nanqiao felt a twinge of resentment, but when she thought about her future as a first-rank titled lady, her mood quickly lifted.
After making it through a series of tedious and rigorous selection rounds, Shen Zhinian had reached the final stage—the palace selection. Her status in the Shen household grew more distinguished by the day.
The night before she was to enter the palace, Shen Nanqiao, wearing a lofty expression, strolled into Shen Zhinian’s courtyard and regarded her with a pleasant smile.
“Meimei, I spent quite a sum to gather this information. They say His Majesty favors the color light green. If you wear that color tomorrow, you’ll surely be chosen!
“Not only did I give you the chance to participate in the imperial selection, but I’ve also thought of this for you. You ought to be grateful!”
Shen Zhinian lowered her gaze to hide the fleeting trace of amusement in her eyes.
In their past life, among the lavishly dressed noble daughters, the light green outfit Shen Nanqiao had worn by chance made her appear refreshingly elegant. It caught the Emperor’s eye, and she was unusually granted the title of Guiren on the spot.
Given the Shen family’s standing, she should have first entered the palace as a seventh-rank Daying1 and only after serving the Emperor in bed could she have risen to the sixth-rank Changzai2.
But because of that light green skirt, the moment Shen Nanqiao stepped into the palace, she was already a fifth-rank Guiren. One could imagine how glorious her future had seemed!
Even so… Shen Zhinian hardly believed her Dijie would be so kind as to help her. There must be a hidden scheme behind this.
Still, to avoid unnecessary complications, Shen Zhinian put on a mask of gratitude.
“Thank you, Dijie!
“By chance, the household recently made a light green Suzhou-embroidered skirt for me. I’ll definitely wear it tomorrow!”
Shen Nanqiao smiled faintly, satisfied, and left without another word.
In her past life, she too had thought herself lucky at first.
It was only after suffering repeatedly at the hands of Guifei that she learned the truth—when the Emperor and Guifei first met, the consort had been wearing a light green skirt.
On the day of the imperial selection, Shen Nanqiao’s appearance bore a striking resemblance to Guifei’s youthful self, which was why the Emperor had made an exception and granted her a higher title.
Because of this, Guifei hated her to the core. She became the living target of the imperial harem, falling victim to countless schemes.
This time, she could finally distance herself from the harem, lofty and untouchable as the moon. Let Shen Zhinian, this vain woman, follow in her footsteps and suffer what she had endured!
…
The next day.
After Shen Nanqiao saw and confirmed that Shen Zhinian went out wearing a light green skirt, she finally put her mind at ease.
Inside the carriage.
Shen Zhinian ordered, “Help me change into the pale blue skirt that I asked you two to bring this morning.”
Handan, the maidservant, asked with confusion, “Second Young Lady, didn’t the First Young Lady say that His Majesty likes the color light green? Did she lie to you about it?”
Shen Zhinian smiled slyly.
“Silly girl, His Majesty granted the Shen family a spot in the imperial selection as a reward for Father. No matter what color the daughter of the Shen family wears, we are certain to be selected. So why go out of my way to do something unnecessary?”
Fuqu nodded in agreement while helping Shen Zhinian change her clothes. “This servant doesn’t believe the First Young Lady either.”
Before long, the two had finished redressing Shen Zhinian.
She wore a pale blue gauzy silk skirt embroidered with clouds. Her long black hair was held up with nothing but a magnolia hairpin, creating a natural harmony of allure and pure innocence.
Handan voiced her worry, “Second Young Lady, today is the final round of the selection. The other maidens must have put all their effort into dressing up. Won’t your appearance be too plain in comparison to them?”
Shen Zhinian held a bronze mirror and smiled as she gazed at the beauty reflected within it.
“Among a group of maidens dressed to the nines, what’s the first thing you’d notice?”
Even though she knew that the daughter of the Shen family was certain to be selected, she still had to leave an impression on the Emperor today.
Soon, the carriage entered the palace and stopped before Shunzhen Gate3, the entrance to the imperial harem.
The selected maidens had to disembark there and walk to the side of the Tiyuan Hall4, where they would wait.
Maidservants had no right to enter. So, under the guidance of a eunuch, Shen Zhinian followed the other maidens inside.
The scene was lively and crowded, as maiden after maiden arrived.
Even though those who made it to the final round were all beauties among beauties, the moment Shen Zhinian appeared, quite a number of gazes locked onto her.
The reason was simple.
The palace never lacked beauties, but a woman with such innate allure, who exuded charm even while standing quietly, was truly one of a kind!
Quite a few maidens felt alarm bells ringing in their hearts and secretly cursed her as a “hussy”!
But on such an important day, no one dared to stir up trouble. Even though jealousy burned within them, they maintained their composure.
Since the first round of the selection, Shen Zhinian had been searching for someone. Now, at last, she spotted her target!
Her heart leaped with joy, and she strode over eagerly. “Zhao Meimei!”
Zhao Yungui had been Shen Zhinian’s closest childhood playmate.
Her father was an official of the fourth-rank, but she never looked down on Shen Zhinian for her low status or the fact that she was a concubine’s daughter.
Shen Zhinian liked Zhao Yungui’s refreshing and big-hearted personality. They often played together, and because of this connection, Madam Zhou did not dare to be too harsh on Shen Zhinian. She spent several peaceful years in the inner residence.
After Father Zhao was transferred to Jiangnan, they never met again.
In her previous life, Shen Zhinian learned from Shen Nanqiao that Zhao Yungui was among the selected maidens. But because she showed disrespect toward the imperial family, she was berated by the Dowager Empress. Afterward, she ordered the guards to drag her out, and she was never allowed to join the imperial selection again.
The imperial family never declared Zhao Yungui unselected, so she still carried the status of a selected maiden. But she could no longer participate in the imperial selection, and no one would dare to marry her.
All she could do was hole up in her house for the rest of her life, living as an old maiden who, in the eyes of the world, brought shame to her family clan.
Even with Zhao Yungui’s carefree personality, she still couldn’t withstand such humiliation and devastation. After returning from the palace, she committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake.
When Shen Zhinian heard the news, she grieved for a long time.
Despite being a first-rank titled lady in her previous life, every time the memory crossed her mind, her heart ached with sorrow.
Which was why, when Shen Nanqiao had Shen Zhinian participate in the imperial selection in this life, she kept looking for Zhao Yungui. But, alas, there were too many maidens in the previous rounds of selection, and they never had a chance to encounter each other.
“Zhinian Jie?! It’s really you?!”
Zhao Yungui also recognized Shen Zhinian. Her bright, beautiful face lit up with surprise as she enthusiastically came over to greet her.
“I heard the Shen family got a spot in the imperial selection. I thought it would be your Dijie coming—how could they possibly give such a good opportunity to you?”
Seeing her good friend alive once again, Shen Zhinian was overjoyed. In her heart, she silently vowed to change Zhao Yungui’s fate!
edited on : 14 Apr 2025
Footnotes
- 答应 – Imperial Attendant
- 常在 – Palace Attendant
- 顺贞门 – Gate of Obedience and Virtue
- 体元殿 – Hall of Fundamental Principles
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