The Abused Female Protagonist In The Angst Novel Is Actually A White Lotus - Chapter 1

Shen Sijing’s eyes were vacant as she allowed the maid beside her to place the pearl hairpin in her hair. Her ears were filled with endless auspicious blessings, which drew bursts of laughter from the elegant, richly dressed ladies surrounding them.

Of course, it was impossible to tell how much sincerity lay beneath that cheerful sound.

A maid raised the rouge box and lightly applied makeup to Shen Sijing’s face. The slight, delicate touch of makeup was enough to enhance her beauty by nine-tenths. Gazing at that celestial-like face, the maid chuckled softly, “Our Young Miss truly has one of the most remarkable looks in the capital; she is no different from a goddess descended from heaven.”

Shen Sijing pulled at the corners of her mouth in a smile at the beautiful face reflected in the bronze mirror, showing none of the joy one would expect after such praise.

Who would have thought that Shen Sijing was originally just a modern-day office worker? She had just graduated and started her job—she hadn’t even finished her internship—when she woke up here after crying herself to sleep while staying up late reading a book. Shen Sijing was quite self-aware; how could she possibly transmigrate as the protagonist? Sure enough, she was just a cannon fodder character in the book who happened to share the same name.

This book was a truly soul-crushing, abusive tragedy the author had written just to vent their frustrations! The female lead, Ling Qingyi, was bullied because she was brought back from the countryside. She tragically mistook the scumbag male lead for her savior, only to be tormented physically and emotionally by him. She eventually became utterly heartbroken and ended her life in a temple in the capital. And the original owner of this body? She was merely a sickly cannon fodder who simply coughed and coughed until she wasted away.

Shen Sijing felt immense heartache when she read it. Now that she had transmigrated here, even if she was destined to be a short-lived cannon fodder, she couldn’t just stand by and watch Ling Qingyi continue to be tormented right before her eyes!

Shen Sijing clenched her fists hidden beneath the wide sleeves, determined to steer the female lead back onto the right path. Her life was supposed to be brilliant and extraordinary.

The luxurious room was filled with several madams, the most distinguished of whom was Shen Sijing’s mother, Madam Shen.

Today, the Prime Minister’s residence was quite lively; it was Shen Sijing’s eighteenth birthday celebration. Everyone had once gossiped that a body as frail as Shen Sijing’s wouldn’t survive past eighteen, a notion the entire household deeply resented. Having finally made it to eighteen, they sent out invitations everywhere, daring those gossips to come and see for themselves.

Therefore, this birthday was Shen Sijing’s most grand and celebrated one.

Shen Sijing found it quite agreeable. In her original world, she didn’t even know who her parents were… her eighteenth coming-of-age ceremony had been a simple, rushed affair. It was nowhere near as solemn as this.

“Esteemed Madams, fruit, tea, and pastries have been prepared in the front hall. Might I suggest moving to the front hall to offer blessings to the Young Miss?” A wet nurse called out from outside the room. Madam Shen immediately stood up, inviting the ladies and young misses from the various households to proceed to the main hall.

“M-Mother… Mother…” Shen Sijing spoke awkwardly, a trace of nervousness on her delicate little face.

Madam Shen was about to leave but turned around when Shen Sijing called out, asking patiently, “What is it? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Shen Sijing was the Prime Minister’s only daughter. Her parents had no desire to restrict her with rigid rules, so it wasn’t surprising that Shen Sijing wasn’t well-versed in complex etiquette.

Despite this, the original owner had still been seen by everyone as a proper, high-born young lady.

“No, I’m not feeling unwell. I just wanted to ask, Mother, can I go to the front hall today?” Shen Sijing knew that given the original owner’s usual health, Madam Shen would probably refuse, but today was an exceptional day.

If her guess was right, the female lead, Ling Qingyi, would be dragged here to fill a seat, and the villainess would seize this very moment—with everyone present—to frame her.

She had to get there early.

As expected, Madam Shen looked hesitant. She was deeply concerned about Shen Sijing’s health, but she looked outside. The autumn maple leaves were a vibrant crimson, and perhaps Shen Sijing should see the beautiful scenery on her birthday.

So, for the first time, she nodded and agreed. Shen Sijing quickly thanked her, then stood up with the help of her maid, Yun Nian. Dressed in a white, moon-lit silk gown, she appeared pure and untouched by the world, while the pearl accessories highlighted her noble status, making her look both radiant and distinguished.

Madam Shen walked ahead a few steps to greet the arriving guests, and Shen Sijing followed her unhurriedly. Yun Nian held onto Shen Sijing’s arm, her eyes watching her nervously, as if this porcelain doll might shatter at any moment.

But the truth was… ever since Shen Sijing had transmigrated, all of the original host’s inexplicable illnesses had completely vanished. There was no longer any truth to the rumor that she wouldn’t live past eighteen.

The book recorded that Ling Qingyi had a tear-mole, like a spot of red cinnabar, at the corner of her eye, which made her look hauntingly beautiful. The capital even had persistent rumors that she was a fox spirit in human form, which was why hardly anyone was willing to interact with her.

When Shen Sijing arrived in the front hall, the madams and young ladies were already seated. Shen Sijing performed a slight courtesy and then stood up, scanning the room. She didn’t see the distinctive tear-mole.

“Where is the Young Miss of the Ling family?” Shen Sijing turned her head to ask Yun Nian. Yun Nian, however, sounded cheerful: “Aren’t the Ling Young Misses already here?” She subtly pointed to two girls sitting among the guests, laughing and chatting, neither of whom looked anything like Ling Qingyi.

Shen Sijing frowned and shook her head. “Not them. The Ling family has more than just those two daughters.” Hearing this, Yun Nian looked confused. She thought carefully and seemed to recall something: “Is Miss referring to… the Ling family’s illegitimate daughter whose reputation is so awful?”

That was the one. Ling Qingyi had been slandered by her two older sisters, who threw every bit of mud they could at her, making her thoroughly unpopular.

Shen Sijing felt a spike of indignation. To slowly change the female lead’s reputation, she would not only have to stop those two “good” sisters from spreading rumors but also prevent others from repeating them.

That included the people closest to her.

“Have you personally seen that illegitimate daughter harm her sisters or scheme out of jealousy?” Shen Sijing suddenly asked. Yun Nian was momentarily stunned by the question, but she quickly observed Shen Sijing’s expression and realized she must have said something wrong.

Yun Nian immediately knelt down. “Miss… this servant knows she was wrong. I promise not to spread gossip carelessly next time. Please don’t be angry…”

Shen Sijing nodded, extending her hand to help Yun Nian up. Yun Nian, of course, dared not take it; she stood up on her own, thanked her lady for the grace, but kept her hands to herself.

Shen Sijing understood that Yun Nian was being cautious, so she didn’t dwell on it, instead looking around anxiously.

During the original Shen Sijing’s birthday party, those two sisters had tormented Ling Qingyi in every way possible, even framing her for pushing the original host into the water. Shen Sijing’s face grew cold. Given the original owner’s health, she probably would have felt ill after drinking just a few mouthfuls of cold water, let alone falling into it.

It was clear how vicious their intentions were.

“Miss, should this servant go and look for the Young Miss of the Ling family?” Yun Nian asked tentatively. She hated to see her mistress worried.

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