Reborn As The Wicked Little Sister-in-Law - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Befriending the Heroine to Spite Wei Chengyan

“If that won’t work, then why should I collude with you?”

Oh no, did I really just use the word ‘collude’? I’m definitely going to get scolded for that.

Lü Guiyan braced herself for a reprimand, but to her surprise, Wei Chengyan didn’t get angry this time. Instead, she shot her a meaningful, searching look.

“I thought you only loved money. I didn’t expect you to say something as idealistic as wanting to fly away as a pair with a lover. Since you crave love so much, why did you enter the Marquis’s manor to be someone’s concubine in the first place?”

Being spared from a scolding felt a bit unnatural to Lü Guiyan. She thought it over seriously and replied, “People are naturally full of greed. When you’re starving, you want money. Once you have money, you start craving other things. It’s normal; you shouldn’t find it strange.”

These words struck a chord in Wei Chengyan’s heart.

Indeed, Wei Chengyan didn’t ask for much right now. She only wanted her father’s recognition, to marry her childhood sweetheart Mu Yan, and to inherit the title of the Marquis of Pingyang. Those were her three small wishes.

“I am not as greedy as you. I only need to fulfill my three desires. I advise you not to think too much; you belong to the Pingyang Mansion now. It is impossible for you to go looking for some beloved.”

Then, as if remembering something, Wei Chengyan’s expression shifted abruptly. Her eyes turned fierce and threatening.

“If I discover that you have betrayed the Pingyang Mansion, I will make sure there is no place left for your Lü family to be buried.”

Despite her father’s lack of approval, she remained convinced that he would one day look at her with pride. In her mind, her father was simply being blinded by Auntie Lan. Once those concubines were dealt with, her father would see things clearly. This was Wei Chengyan’s current conviction.

Qi Yun relayed these thoughts to Lü Guiyan.

Lü Guiyan felt that, at least for now, Wei Chengyan hadn’t gone completely mad. She was only later consumed by desire and turned into a “insane beauty.” Her character archetype was “Beautiful, Powerful, yet Tragic.”

Before her own death, Lü Guiyan always believed fate was in one’s own hands. Only after dying did she realize that a person’s dull, painful life was often just a preset configuration from above. So-called rebellions against fate were merely scenes in a pre-written script. Humans are but a grain of sand in the vast sea of the mortal world—utterly insignificant.

Because of the Azure Glaze Crimson Fire curse, Lü Guiyan could not afford to pity Wei Chengyan. She had to harden her heart and complete the mission in this alternate world so she could receive a better “script” in her next life.

Therefore, Lü Guiyan told Qi Yun to stop telling her Wei Chengyan’s inner thoughts as much. She only needed to know how to drive Wei Chengyan toward darkness. Knowing too much about the other’s helplessness made her fear she would go soft and abandon the mission, just like how her character setting collapsed last time.

After the ordeal at Yunhua Pavilion and nearly being strangled by Wei Chengyan, Lü Guiyan no longer had the heart to admire flowers. She silently returned to her own tent. Perhaps because of the insights Qi Yun had shared, she felt quite dejected.

Qi Yun, calculate when I can finish this mission.

According to the settings, in one year. Right now, Wei Chengyan’s ‘Blackening Value’ is only 10%. If you can make that bar rise quickly and lead her to the ‘feat’ of killing her entire family, you can go back early.

Wei Chengyan’s blackening came from two main sources: her relationship with Mu Yan and Zou Shengshan, and her family. To accelerate the process, she needed to speed up the progress between the original male and female leads.

Where is Zou Shengshan right now?

She decided to befriend the heroine, Zou Shengshan, and then encourage her to woo the male lead just to spite Wei Chengyan to death.

After searching for a moment, Qi Yun replied: Zou Shengshan is currently delivering flowers in the southern suburbs. She’s about to encounter the second male lead, Jing Hongyi.

Good. Action is better than hesitation. Time to approach the heroine.

Lü Guiyan forced the thoughts of Wei Chengyan’s inner struggles out of her mind, composed herself, and headed out again.

Guided by Qi Yun, she arrived at the southern suburbs of Shangjing Forest. As she reached the area, she saw Zou Shengshan carrying a bundle of flowers toward a pavilion. A group of noble ladies was gathered there. This was a plot point where the heroine is bullied by the third female lead, Jing Ruoyun.

Because Jing Ruoyun had witnessed the scene at Yunhua Pavilion, she resented the heroine for earning Mu Yan’s praise. Here, the heroine would be humiliated by Jing Ruoyun, and the second male lead, Jing Hongyi, would play the hero.

Lü Guiyan was thrilled to know the plot in advance.

Yanyan, after the heroine is humiliated, you should swoop in. With her kind nature, she will surely be deeply grateful to you. Then, you can do whatever you want with her.

Whatever I want? Lü Guiyan frowned at the phrasing. It sounded a bit strange and suggestive.

Lü Guiyan crept over and hid in a thicket. From there, she had a clear view of the pavilion and could overhear their conversation.

Inside the pavilion, the heroine Zou Shengshan presented the carefully selected peonies. Jing Ruoyun was intentionally looking for trouble. She pretended to inspect them, and while Zou Shengshan wasn’t looking, she quickly plucked off several petals.

She then shouted angrily, “This is the flower you ‘carefully selected’?”

Confused, Zou Shengshan looked at the flowers. Three or four petals were indeed scattered on the stone table. She explained hurriedly, “Miss Jing, five days ago you sent word that you wanted a peony. We selected this one specifically and looked after it for days. It is currently in full bloom; it shouldn’t be dropping petals like this.”

Jing Ruoyun snapped, “Are you saying there’s nothing wrong with the flower, but something is wrong with me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I will take this back and replace it with another one for you, how does that sound?”

“Replace it? You make it sound so simple. I wanted a celestial specimen, yet you brought me a withered one. I think you brought this flower specifically to disgust me!”

“I didn’t!” Zou Shengshan defended herself desperately.

Lü Guiyan listened from the bushes. In the original story, the heroine was a kind, beautiful, but poor girl. Her mother was dead, her father was a drunkard, and her brother was young, forcing her to work at a young age. Because of her beauty, she was constantly envied by women her age and harassed by men.

This “pure and innocent” character setting reminded Lü Guiyan of her last failed mission, where her role had been similar. Being the “kind and beautiful” type was far too suffocating; being a “villainous supporting female” was much better. She was once again glad she chose this path instead of the miserable one.

Qi Yun, I remember each mission can have up to two ‘soul-transmigrating’ executors. Check if anyone else is in this book besides me.

For now, you are the only one. No other executors.

Oh well. Lü Guiyan felt a bit disappointed. She had hoped she could find a colleague to share experiences with.

Back in the pavilion, Jing Ruoyun used the petals as an excuse to demand compensation. Most of Zou Shengshan’s wages went to her brother or were snatched by her alcoholic father; she was penniless. Jing Ruoyun was relentless, stating that if she couldn’t pay, she would have to become her slave.

Hearing this, Lü Guiyan wanted to rush out and help, but Qi Yun stopped her.

Your status is low. You can’t help her by going out there. Just stay put and watch the show.

This reminded Lü Guiyan that she was currently just an unfavored concubine. She could act out inside the Pingyang Mansion, but she had no authority out here. She could only pray that Jing Hongyi would show up soon.

The other women in the pavilion followed Jing Ruoyun’s lead. Knowing she wanted to bully Zou Shengshan—and having heard about her encounter with Mu Yan—everyone turned against the girl.

“If you don’t want to be a slave to pay your debt, that’s fine. I’ll just have a middleman sell you to a brothel. Let’s see how a ‘tarnished’ woman like you can seduce Master Mu then!”

Someone tossed out those cruel words, leaving Zou Shengshan terrified. Watching this, Lü Guiyan felt exhausted by the drama.