Volume One, Chapter Two: I Demand One Hundred Taels of Gold as My Dowry!

Shen Zhi: "..."

What?

Shen Zhi stood rooted to the spot, dazed and stunned. With her hands on her hips, she felt as if she couldn't catch her breath, the words she had been about to speak stuck firmly in her throat.

As she regained her senses, she retorted internally: [What kind of nonsense are you spouting?]

[Do you have any idea what you're saying? Do you realize who you are asking me to woo?]

That is Pei Jing!

The most dangerous, most cruel villain in this entire world!

She remembered that in her previous life, someone had attempted to assassinate Pei Jing, only to have their features literally separated from their skull.

The mere thought of that scene made Shen Zhi shiver. It felt as if she were next in line to have her face parted from her brain.

[Host, please accept the mission!]

Accept it? She’d rather eat dirt!

She had just declared a moment ago that she would rather die than marry the Seventh Prince. To change her mind now would be a complete humiliation.

Shen Zhi was so angry she felt as if she were going to smoke.

Seeing her attitude, Zhong Lengyu became stern. "You’ve lost your mind! Someone, drag her to the Old Madam’s room! Bring the family discipline!"

Shen Zhi’s brows knit together. In the next second, she was seized.

The Old Madam sat in the room, watching as Shen Zhi was hauled in. She didn't react, merely taking a sip of tea before setting it down. "Zhi'er! You are not young anymore. Marrying the Seventh Prince is a tremendous honor."

Shen Zhi chuckled inwardly. If it were truly such an honor, why didn't she let Shen Qi marry him instead?

The Shen family was divided into two branches. The Old General, after his first wife passed away—the mother of her father, Shen Zhan—had remarried. The current Old Madam was that second wife. She had borne a son and a daughter, and her son, Shen Wen, was Shen Qi's father.

When Shen Zhan was young, the Old Madam had forced the two sons to split into separate branches. Shen Zhan, possessing exceptional ability, was eventually appointed the Protector General of the Country by the Emperor.

In her past life, in order to woo Pei Huai and complete the system's mission, she had begged Shen Zhan desperately. Shen Zhan, having only one daughter and unable to bear seeing her unhappy, had knelt before the Emperor and traded his lifetime of military achievements for this marriage arrangement, forcing Shen Qi to marry Pei Jing instead.

Because of this, Shen Zhan was forced to align himself with the First Prince and eventually died on the frontier.

It was well-known that Shen Zhan would protect his daughter at all costs. Even if the Old Madam wanted nothing more than to force Shen Zhi to marry Pei Jing, she dared not openly defy Shen Zhan. If Shen Zhi were to say she was unwilling, Shen Zhan would likely tear the second branch of the family apart!

Yet, the original Shen Zhi had been foolish and cowardly, trusting Shen Qi and Zhong Lengyu implicitly, obeying their every word. After she had transmigrated into this body in her previous life, she had been single-mindedly focused on the system's mission, failing to see people for who they were and ignoring all advice, ultimately meeting such a tragic end.

Shen Zhi pursed her lips. "In that case, Grandmother, are you trying to defy the Emperor's decree?"

The Old Madam looked at her. "The Emperor only ordered that the two daughters of the Shen family marry into the royal line. As for which one marries whom, I don't think the Emperor cares."

"Mother! This little brat is sharp-tongued and vicious! She just defied me time and time again! It's truly unfilial!" Zhong Lengyu sat beside the old woman, immediately beginning to complain.

Shen Zhi sneered. "Look at yourself! Are you even worth my respect?"

"You!" Zhong Lengyu was so infuriated she felt faint. Had the girl been possessed? She was usually so timid and obedient.

"Grandmother, look, my sister even slapped me earlier..." Shen Qi ran to the Old Madam, weeping and sowing discord. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have gone to provoke my sister..."

She cried with such abandonment that the Old Madam’s heart softened immediately.

"Shen Zhi! What do you think you're doing! I'm not dead yet!" The Old Madam hammered her cane against the floor with a deafening thud, her eyes sharp and fierce as if she could devour her.

Shen Zhi felt as if the very air were vibrating. It was clearly Shen Qi who had provoked her, and she had even been lashed by a whip herself, yet the Old Madam was as blind and lame in judgment as ever, favoring them to an absurd degree!

She looked at the two of them with impatience. "My marriage is not for you to decide! However, if you want me to take Shen Qi’s place, it’s not impossible."

Seeing her attitude soften, the Old Madam narrowed her eyes. "Oh?"

Shen Zhi curled her lips. "I must personally give Shen Qi twenty lashes! If she can endure that, I will marry in her stead!"

"Shen Zhi! Have you lost your mind! I tell you! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Hearing this, Shen Zhi burst into laughter. "Why? Are you afraid? When you were whipping me in my room earlier, why didn't you think about this moment? Since you don't have the attitude of someone asking for a favor, then I have nothing to discuss with you!"

Shen Qi’s face turned deathly pale. If Shen Zhi were to be the one holding the whip, whether she could even survive long enough to meet Pei Huai was a question. The Old Madam and Zhong Lengyu looked grave; this Shen Zhi was becoming increasingly difficult to control! She was clearly just looking for revenge!

"Not willing? Fine. Then I’m leaving. I wish you a happy wedding, sister!" Shen Zhi turned and walked away.

Watching her about to step out the door, the Old Madam gritted her teeth. "Stop right there!"

Shen Zhi’s lips curled upward, barely holding back a laugh.

She turned back. "Does Grandmother have more to say?"

"It’s just twenty lashes! Someone! Bring the whip for the Young Miss!"

"Grandmother!" Shen Qi shrieked. "Grandmother! I don't agree! You can't! Shen Zhi will beat me to death!"

"That is only one condition!" Shen Zhi stood her ground. "I also want ten thousand taels of gold as my dowry!"

"Shen Qi! Don't push your luck!" Zhong Lengyu stood up, her eyes murderous. "Don't be so greedy!"

Shen Zhi scoffed. "Greedy? Aren't you? Aunt, think clearly. This Pei Huai may very well become the Crown Prince. If Shen Qi marries him, she will be the Crown Princess. Are you really willing to trade your daughter's position as Crown Princess for ten thousand taels of gold just to let her avoid marrying the cruel and cold-blooded Pei Jing?"

"To sacrifice the position of Crown Princess for ten thousand taels of gold... that is truly..." She smiled but said no more.

The Old Madam watched her relaxed demeanor, feeling a flicker of doubt. "Since you know this, why are you willing to give up the marriage?"

"I know I am not worthy of the First Prince."

Shen Zhi sneered in her heart. Playing the martyr once was enough; if she did it a second time, she would be truly stupid! She would gladly leave this "good fortune" to Shen Qi. She wanted to see if, without her interference, Pei Huai could still love her with such singular devotion!

But she certainly wouldn't let them have it easy.

The Old Madam’s expression eased slightly upon hearing this. She nodded. "At least you are sensible. Since that is the case, I will satisfy your conditions."

"I want to do it now! And if the ten thousand taels of gold are not in my room by the end of the day, I will not marry! Grandmother, I hope you won't force me to send a message to my father via express courier."