Pain……

A heart-wrenching pain, no matter how agonizing, would never compare to the pain of not being able to take revenge and kill one’s enemy.

Beads of sweat rolled down Gu Lingzhi's forehead as she opened her eyes. She stared at the ceiling above her, confused where she was.

Was I not in the Lin family’s servant room when I gave up and took my life? How did I end up here?

Knock, knock.

The knocking on the door pulled her out of her flashback.

A familiar and yet strange voice came from the other side of the door.

"First Mistress, I am here to deliver you your medicine."

Gu Lingzhi's head snapped towards the door and disbelief filled her eyes.

Xiao Tao? Even if she had died once, she could never forget this voice.

A personal servant whom she had once regarded as a sister had fed her a bowl of poison. Xiao Tao had killed Gu Lingzhi for her own selfish gains. It was the last thing she remembered before she died. It was a memory etched deep in her mind, never forgotten.

However, she was originally in the Gu Clan’s house. How did she end up here?

Gu Lingzhi looked at her surroundings. To her surprise, she found the room familiar.

This was her room… It was her room when she was still in the Gu family.

Propping herself up, she assessed her surroundings and realized that her hands which laid on top of her blanket were white and faultless. The scars in her memories were not there. Those scars which she bore from the caning she had received… they were all gone.

"What’s going on?" Gu Lingzhi pulled open her dress in shock. It surprised her to look down at her body and see that her skin was perfect and spotless. It was as though the painful memories she had were nothing but a dream.

The lack of response from Gu Lingzhi led to another two knocks and several questions, "First Mistress? Are you asleep?"

Without waiting for a response, the person outside pushed the door open and entered. A delicate and pretty figure wearing a servant maid's attire walked in with a serving tray.

Upon seeing her wide-eyed mistress, she fell into a temporary daze but soon recovered. With a smile on her face, she spoke. "First Mistress, why didn’t you say anything if you were awake?"

Gu Lingzhi stared hard at Xiao Tao. She felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck her brain which jumbled up her thoughts.

If she remembered accurately, this was how Xiao Tao had looked when she was 14. However, five years had gone by since that incident. How could Xiao Tao still look the same as before? 

"First Mistress, are you okay? Why are you looking at me like that?" Xiao Tao felt uncomfortable under Gu Lingzhi’s intense gaze and her hands were noticeably trembling as she held tightly onto the serving tray. Her heart jumped at the sight before her. Could it be that this wastrel knows something?

Gu Lingzhi remained silent and continued to stare at her. As Gu Lingzhi’s gaze moved downwards, realization struck as she saw the serving tray in Xiao Tao’s hands.

In her memories, it was this exact serving tray which had held a bowl of medicine. The bowl of medicine which contained some special ingredients that would make one lose consciousness and then grow disoriented. In that muddle-headed state, her cousin, who was a guest in the household, would then violate her. Her stepmother would guide her father in to catch them in the act of "adultery" before chasing her out of the household. She would end up as a concubine to that same cousin.

As the horrid memories surfaced in her mind, Gu Lingzhi shut her eyes from the pain.

"Pass me the bronze mirror." Looking at Xiao Tao in front of her, an impossible thought flashed through her mind.

Xiao Tao pursed her lips together as she thought about how she would soon no longer be a servant to this crippled mistress. She reluctantly retrieved the copper mirror from Gu Lingzhi’s dresser.

Upon seeing her reflection in the bronze mirror, Gu Lingzhi thanked the heavens silently. Her reflection revealed her long, shapely eyebrows and crystal clear eyes. With a sharp nose and dainty lips, her beauty carried a hint of youthfulness. This was how she had looked when she was 15.

Although Gu Lingzhi did not understand what was happening, she knew that fate had given her another chance at life after dying from her hellish experiences. She had been… reborn.

Looking at what was going on, today would be the day when she had become a victim to Lin Yue-er’s schemes, which caused her life to become a living hell.

"First Mistress, are you alright?"

"I am fine." Gu Lingzhi revealed a tight smile. Since I am given a chance to relive my life, I won’t be the one suffering this time.

Anyone and everyone who had harmed me in my previous life will get the retribution they deserve!

"First Mistress, if you are fine, please drink this medicine before it turns cold."

Seeing as how Xiao Tao was encouraging her to drink the bowl of medicine, Gu Lingzhi revealed a cold smile and commanded, "Kneel!"

Her icy cold tone made Xiao Tao jump in surprise.

"First… First Mistress, what’s wrong?" This was the first time she had yelled at her. Has she sensed something?

"What’s wrong? Didn’t you hear me telling you to kneel?"

She had never seen her mistress being so fierce and domineering before.

When Xiao Tao still did not move, Gu Lingzhi smiled coldly and threw the copper mirror at Xiao Tao's knees.

Not expecting Gu Lingzhi to do something like this, the pain caused Xiao Tao to fall to her knees.

"If you had listened to me from the start, you wouldn’t be in pain now," Gu Lingzhi said menacingly. She stood up and peered at her servant from above.

When she thought about how much she had trusted this girl and how she treated her as her sister, the hatred in Gu Lingzhi’s heart soared. This ‘sister’ of mine is the very same one who betrayed me! 

"Do you remember the consequences of plotting against your own master in the Gu family?"

Still puzzled over the sudden change in her mistress’s attitude, a look of confusion and panic filled Xiao Tao’s eyes. However, she maintained her composure and protested, "First Mistress, I do not understand what you are saying!"

"You don’t understand what I’m saying?" Gu Lingzhi chuckled and picked up the bowl of medicine that was set aside. "Maybe drinking this bowl of medicine will help you understand.”"

Xiao Tao finally believed that Gu Lingzhi had realized something was up. However, she recalled the people backing her and then the panic in Xiao Tao’s eyes disappeared. She straightened her back and stated, "So what if you know? Madam will not help you."

This was because the person who gave Xiao Tao the task was the wife of the leader of the Gu family, Lin Yue-er.

"Who said I would go find Madam Lin?" Gu Lingzhi looked at her maid like she was an idiot. "My father is the person deciding everything in the Gu family now, not Madam Lin."

Gu Lingzhi struck an imposing figure as she stared down at Xiao Tao, "Who do you think that woman will protect if my father finds out about this? You or herself?"

"You! You will not get to meet the Clan Leader..." Xiao Tao argued. "The leader has too many things to take care of! He wouldn’t have time to entertain a wastrel like yourself!”

Gu Lingzhi chuckled. "You really think so? Let’s make a bet on whether I can meet my father then.”

Seeing the confident and determined smile resting on Gu Lingzhi’s face, Xiao Tao hesitated. When she thought about the changes in Gu Lingzhi’s attitude today, Xiao Tao gritted her teeth and snarled, "Just tell me what you want me to do, First Mistress."

Indeed, Xiao Tao was smart and could adapt to the situation. It was no wonder she could easily betray Gu Lingzhi in her past life.

Gu Lingzhi’s gaze locked onto Xiao Tao and complicated feelings flashed through her eyes. However, an ominous look filled her eyes in the next instant.

"I know that you have always been in love with cousin Bi Lingcan from the Bi family. I shall give you a chance..."