Chapter 1: Through the Princess

Chapter 1

Northern Tang, King Chu's Pheasant Courtyard.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the half-faded double happiness characters posted everywhere in the room. The soft rays emanated from the gilded edges, rippling on the walls and enveloping the entwined silhouettes.

There was not a shred of affection in Yuan Qingling's expression, only endurance and unwillingness.

They had been married for a year, yet he had not touched a hair on her. The day before yesterday, when they went to see the Empress Dowager, she sighed at the sight of Yuan Qingling’s flat belly, greatly disappointed, and brought up the matter of taking a concubine. Yuan Qingling had no choice but to tell the Empress Dowager that although they had been married for a year, their marriage was not yet consummated.

She did not want to tattle and complain. She just...could not accept it.

Since first seeing him at thirteen, her heart had been tied to him. She had used every means possible and finally married him as his concubine. She had thought that even the coldest stone could be warmed with her embrace, but she had overestimated herself in the end.

He was her husband, yet she could not detect a shred of pity in his eyes, only maniacal hatred.

“Ugh...”

A sharp pain made her unconsciously groan, but upon seeing the iciness in his eyes, the pain stabbed into her heart like a poisoned needle.

Screams rang out from the inner chambers of Pheasant Courtyard.

“The Consort has committed suicide!”

Darkness shrouded Pheasant Courtyard. Her wet nurse escorted the doctor out before turning back with a frosty expression.

“If Consort had wanted to die, she should have waited until His Highness finished with you and sent you back before dying. Don’t dirty the manor grounds and bring bad luck to His Highness.”

Yuan Qingling slowly opened her eyes and looked at the mean-spirited woman before her.

“Water...” Her throat was parched and practically smoking.

“If you had the ability to die, you have the ability to pour water for yourself.” After speaking, her wet nurse shot her a disgusted look and spat before leaving the room.

Yuan Qingling struggled to get up. Her whole body felt like it was falling apart from the pain. She crawled to the table and tremblingly poured herself a cup of water, gulping it down greedily before feeling revived again.

She looked at the wounds on her wrists, still somewhat stunned by everything that had happened.

Since childhood, she had been known as a prodigy. At ten, she finished high school and was admitted to Guangzhou Medical University. At sixteen, she obtained her doctorate and became the youngest PhD candidate of the 22nd century. She did not go into medicine after graduation. Instead, she studied biomedical science and earned another doctorate. Afterwards, she delved into virology at the virology research institute for two years before being recruited by a biotech company to develop a drug that stimulated brain development.