Chapter 1: Married, Then Widowed

A burst of noisy sound woke the unconscious person.

Jiang Yunchu slowly opened her eyes; a cold glint flashed in her gaze as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings and the unfamiliar people.

"Shut up, are you mourning?"

The surrounding maids suddenly fell silent, looking at the usually timid young lady with faces full of doubt.

"Is this really their miss? She usually dares not say a word, let alone speak so loudly."

"Could she be possessed by some ghost?"

"Dead? If you're not dead, you have to marry me! Even if you hang yourself, you must marry out." Before the person arrived, the voice came—it was Madam Xiao.

The mistress of the Grand General's Manor is her birth mother's younger sister, also her maternal aunt by blood.

Jiang Yunchu lifted her head, wanting to see this person; in the female lead's memory, this person was like a yaksha—vicious and partial.

But…

Why did she see concern in Madam Xiao's eyes?

"What did the doctor say? Will it delay the wedding day?" Madam Xiao asked the maid beside her.

"Madam, the doctor said the miss only has chest congestion; nothing else, she'll be fine after two days of rest." Su Xin repeated what the doctor had just said.

Madam Xiao gave a cold snort: "Jiang Yunchu, whether you're alive, you'll bring a person to the Regent Prince's Manor; if you're dead, you'll bring a corpse. Whether human or ghost, you must marry into that manor!"

Jiang Yunchu said nothing, merely gazing indifferently.

To her, it really didn't matter; wherever she was, she was just staying put.

{Ding: Binding the transformation system. }

Below the system, there was a line of small text: "Transform the idle rich into ambitious youths who serve the nation and its people."

Jiang Yunchu blinked, digesting the memories that had suddenly appeared in her mind.

The original owner shared her name and surname; she was the unfavored eldest miss of the Grand General's Manor.

Although she was rarely scolded, she was completely ignored; everything her younger sister Jiang Yun Hui had was something she envied.

Furthermore, according to the female lead's memory, the Regent Prince's life or death is unknown; only an Imperial Noble Consort manages the manor, with just two children remaining.

The boy is six, the girl is four.

{Ding: Transformation target: Ning Hanmo. }

Painless childbearing, yet I must also bear educational responsibility? What a joke!

{Mission success: gain points; mission failure: lifespan reduced by ten years! }

Get lost, you bastard!

Jiang Yunchu's inner monologue had already begun spitting profanity: "What the hell is this damn system? Isn't this just an overlord's clause?"

Just…

"I'll marry!" Besides that firm voice, it carried a grit‑teeth determination.

In the quiet room, Madam Xiao had already prepared a reprimand, but upon hearing Jiang Yunchu's loud reply, she pressed her lips together.

Madam Xiao glanced at Jiang Yunchu and said, "You'd better think it through yourself."

"Although I'm not your birth mother, your dowry will not be lacking; this is the face of the Grand General's Manor, and I cannot afford to lose it."

"I'll move all of your birth mother's dowry over for you, so you won't curse me in your heart."

After Madam Xiao finished speaking, she didn't look back, leading the people away.

"All of you, get out." Jiang Yunchu drove the two maids out.

She lay on the wooden board bed, her body straight as a rod, her face pensive.

The vexing environment, the vexing system—after digesting the memories, she felt even more that life was not worth living.

Was it because she hadn't saved enough people?

Was it because she had sponsored too few poor students?

Even in death she couldn't rest peacefully, yet she had to come here to do a task?

On her wedding day, dressed head to toe in red with a large red veil, she was helped by the matron of honor onto the large red bridal sedan.

"Kick the sedan door!" the wedding officiant shouted.

Jiang Yunchu felt a bit dazed; there was still this part?

Just…

With a "bang!", not only the sedan door but the whole sedan shattered apart; if she hadn't reacted quickly, everyone would have seen her lying spread‑eagled on the ground.

"Haha~ Quick, look at that stupid woman—did she fall flat on her face?"

Before everyone had recovered from the shock, they heard a burst of childish chatter—who had arranged that just now, and do we need to say it again?

Ning Hanmo!

That brat really needs a good scolding!

Under the large red veil, Jiang Yunchu narrowed her eyes; why had all her resentment toward the transformation system shifted now?

"Brother, no!" At that moment, a girl's voice rang out, clear and soft, making people feel softened.

"It's fine; just watch me—I'll definitely make her crawl back where she came from, crying. Who does she think she is to even dream of entering our manor's gate?" Ning Hanmo let out a cold laugh.

This is only the beginning.

Jiang Yunchu, however, grew a bit curious—what extent does that brat's methods have? Just don't be too weak, or I'll lose interest.

"Step over the fire basin." The wedding officiant, as if seeing nothing, loudly recited the procedure; of course, his voice didn't tremble, making it sound even more convincing.

When she approached the fire basin, she saw the blazing fire within, flames leaping high.

"Heh~"

Her red embroidered shoe gave a slight hook, then she kicked the fire basin straight out, its position…

"Ah! Sis, run!"

"Fire!"

"Quick, save the Young Master and the young lady!"

Master and servants, in utter chaos.

The two children cried out in alarm and ran off; that little rascal, not yet so troublesome, knew to pick up his sister before leaving.

She controlled her strength, calculated the position, and kicked the brazier so it landed beneath the two children, ensuring no sparks would hit them.

"Worship the hall..." the officiant could barely go on.

What on earth is happening!

Even the officiant, in such a harmless position, is now facing danger at every step?

Worship the hall?

Jiang Yunchu stared at the Wang Fu gate opened only a crack, while the other few servants trembled at the side—what else is there not to understand?

Forget it, what's there to be angry about with a child?

She strode forward and kicked open the gate of the Regent Prince's Manor……

From above the gate, a basin of pitch‑black ink dropped straight down.

"Thud!"

"Smack!"

And that basin, with its gurgling sound, left nothing but a pitch‑black stain on the ground.

Ning Hanmo, who had been watching from afar, now had a face as dark as the ink on the ground, completely black.

"How is that possible? How could that stupid woman know?"

He had already driven away many tutors with this method; how could that woman have known in advance?

"Who among you snitched?"

The little rascal looked at the person beside him; those big eyes, if not for his constant mischief, would honestly resemble gemstones, flashing with brilliant colors.

"'It's my own stupidity; I can't blame anyone else.'"

Before the people beside Ning Hanmo could speak, a cold female voice came from the side, giving him a provocative look.

"'Who are you calling stupid?'"

The little rascal was unhappy—who sees him without praising his cleverness? This stupid woman actually calls herself stupid?

"'Look, you're so stupid you can't even understand what's being said.'"

"'Just this, just this, just this?'"

Jiang Yunchu pointed at the brazier, at the sedan chair, at the pitch‑black ink covering the ground, and smiled helplessly, saying, "If that'sall you've got, you'd better not embarrass yourself—otherwise it'll make our Regent Prince's Manor look like we're not very smart."