Chapter 162 The Noble Young Master of a Marquis's Family (Part 1) The Noble Young Master's Revenge and Love Story...

When Song Ce opened his eyes again, he found himself sitting in a rocking chair, covered with a thin woven mat. He sat up straight and immediately felt a little dizzy, somewhat like the state of sobering up after drinking too much.

Before him lay an exquisitely elegant pavilion in the middle of a lake, surrounded by water and mountains. A gentle breeze stirred, and the jade bells hanging from the eaves tinkled softly. Listening to the clear chimes, Song Ce slowly closed his eyes and began to examine the unfamiliar memories that had suddenly appeared in his mind.

The original owner of this body came from a noble family; his grandfather was Song Chengming, the Marquis of Weiwu, a first-rank official of the Great Yue Kingdom. After Song Chengming died in battle, the original owner's father, Song Zhixiao, inherited the title of Marquis of Weiwu. To show his favor, the emperor gave him a sinecure of the fourth rank in the Ministry of Revenue, ostensibly to review criminal cases, but in reality, it was a nominal position with no real power.

The original owner's mother was the Princess of Yongping, personally bestowed by the late emperor. Because her father, the Marquis of Danyang, risked his life to protect the emperor, the late emperor was grateful and issued an edict to confer the title of princess upon his only daughter, so her wealth and honor went without saying.

Song Zhixiao and Princess Yongping were betrothed by the emperor. After their marriage, the couple were loving and harmonious, living in perfect harmony. Only six months after their marriage, Song Zhixiao became pregnant with the original owner of the body. After the original owner was born, she was showered with love and affection, truly regarded as a precious treasure.

When the original owner was nineteen years old, on a clear autumn day, he took his servant to Yunding Temple to enjoy vegetarian food. There, he happened to meet a lovely girl with almond-shaped cheeks and peach-like face.

The girl's name was Sun Qing'er. Although she was simply dressed, she was clever and mischievous, and her appearance was very endearing. When the original owner of this body twisted his ankle while climbing, Sun Qing'er immediately took off his shoes and socks and treated him with medicine without any hesitation.

And so, the naive and inexperienced original owner of this body fell in love at first sight with the innocent and kind girl in front of him.

Later, during casual conversation, the original owner learned that Sun Qing'er's identity was not simple; she was actually the third young lady of the Rongguo Duke's mansion. Because her mother's background was not prominent, and she was merely a concubine of the Rongguo Duke, Sun Qing'er was not favored. For many years, the mother and daughter suffered constant bullying in the Duke's mansion, and even a second-class servant could trample on them.

The beauty was heartbroken and wept, which naturally aroused great pity in the original owner. So when he returned to the Marquis's mansion, the first thing he did was to run to the main courtyard and beg his mother to propose marriage to the Duke of Rong's mansion on his behalf.

"My son is in love with the third young lady of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion. I beg my mother to do me a favor."

Princess Yongping was delighted to see the original owner of this body's innocent and love-struck appearance, but she did not agree hastily. Instead, she sent someone to investigate the identity of this third young lady.

Because the original owner of this body did not explicitly state it at the beginning, not only the servants but even Princess Yongping assumed that he had taken a liking to the legitimate daughter of the third son of the Rongguo Duke's mansion. Therefore, the documents presented by the servants all mentioned the legitimate third daughter, Sun Yiyao.

Princess Yongping examined the two families closely and found that their families were well-matched in terms of both status and age, making them a suitable match. Therefore, after confirming the original owner's feelings, she personally led her entourage to the Rongguo Duke's residence.

Soon, the two families solemnly exchanged birth charts and set a wedding date for the two.

On his wedding night, when the original owner lifted the veil, he saw that the bride was not Sun Qing'er, the woman he was betrothed to, but a stranger he had never seen before. A surge of anger at being deceived overwhelmed him. He slammed down the bridal scales, rushed to the main courtyard, knelt down, and said that the girl in the bridal chamber was not the one he loved, and hoped that his mother could give him an explanation.

Princess Yongping was startled by the original owner's devastated appearance and asked in bewilderment, "Your new wife is the third daughter of the Rongguo Duke's mansion, whom you sought out yourself. What's wrong with her?"

The original owner was shocked and hurriedly said that the woman he liked was not the third girl in the bridal chamber, but someone else. Since they had mistaken the third girl's identity and the two of them had not yet consummated their marriage, it would be better to simply send her home than to become a resentful couple.

This was the first time the original owner had ever seen Princess Yongping so angry.

Ignoring everyone's attempts to stop her, she personally took out a riding whip and lashed the original owner of the body severely. It was only after Sun Yiyao learned that her newlywed husband had been punished by Princess Yongping according to family law that she hurriedly ran over with her maid to beg her to show mercy.

Out of respect for the bride, Princess Yongping, with a stern face, ordered her servants to carry the original body back to the courtyard and instructed that no one was allowed to gossip in the mansion, and anyone who violated this rule would be given thirty strokes of the cane and expelled from the mansion.

And so, the original owner of this body had no choice but to reluctantly consummate the marriage with Sun Yiyao and become husband and wife.

Later, the original owner learned from the servants of the Rongguo Duke's mansion that on the very day of his wedding, Sun Qing'er was sent by the Rongguo Duke to the Crown Prince's mansion as a concubine. Although the original owner was heartbroken, he also understood the implications, so he did not do anything out of line.

The problem was that Sun Qing'er was not favored after marrying Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang. The original owner of this body encountered Sun Qing'er several times at banquets, and almost every time she saw her with red eyes and a forced smile. Not only that, Sun Qing'er also sent a letter to the original owner through her personal maid, saying that her life was like a drifting duckweed, and that she and the original owner were not destined to be together. Her greatest regret in life was not being able to spend her life with the one she loved, and so on.

Upon learning that his beloved girl was so depressed, Yuan felt great pity for her. Over time, the two began to secretly meet in secret.

In order to see Sun Qing'er every day, the original owner of this body began to deliberately get close to Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang. Because of his noble background, Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang also treated the original owner of this body with great courtesy.

The original owner thought that life could continue like this, until one day, Sun Qing'er secretly invited him to meet, saying that she had been diagnosed with pregnancy the day before and that she had been pregnant for more than a month. Upon hearing this, before the original owner could even feel bitter, Sun Qing'er said with certainty that the child in her womb was his own flesh and blood.

Seeing his beloved girl clutching his sleeve in panic, saying she hadn't been intimate with the Crown Prince for three months and that if he found out, he would surely kill her, what should she do?

Just as the two were snuggling together discussing their strategy, they were unfortunately caught in the act by the Second Prince Zhao Xuanhong, who had come looking for the jade pendant.

The original owner of this body was so frightened that her legs went weak. She immediately pulled Sun Qing'er down to her knees, begging the Second Prince to spare their lives. Zhao Xuanhong simply smiled at this and walked away without saying anything.

That night, the original owner received a secret letter stating that he had to do something for him, and that he would be richly rewarded upon its completion. Most importantly, his secret with Sun Qing'er would remain a secret forever, and no fourth person would ever know it.

Seeing this secret letter, which was half threatening and half enticing, the original owner had no choice but to take the risk and secretly bribe the palace servants of the Imperial Household Department to change the four-clawed dragon on the crown prince's robe into a five-clawed golden dragon with special silk thread.

At the banquet celebrating the Northwest Army's return to Beijing, Commander-in-Chief Yuan Jingtian publicly revealed the truth.

This Yuan Jingtian was none other than the father of the Second Prince's wife, Yuan Tingyu. The Second Prince's faction naturally wouldn't let go of the incriminating evidence that the Crown Prince had delivered to their doorstep.

The emperor was furious upon seeing this and angrily denounced Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang for disloyalty and injustice in the court.

At this critical juncture, several court officials known for their integrity stepped forward to plead for Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang, stating that there must be more to the story and that it would not be too late to punish the Crown Prince after the truth was uncovered.

Upon hearing this, the emperor became even angrier and immediately ordered the imperial guards to imprison the entire Crown Prince's household and all those involved in the crime. At this moment, the court officials knelt down in unison, pleading with the emperor to investigate the matter. Seeing this, the emperor could only suppress his anger, but without further ado, he dismissed the Crown Prince from all his posts and confined him to his residence.

Later, for some unknown reason, rumors gradually spread that all of this was actually the wolfish ambition of Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang, who intended to force the emperor to abdicate and seize the throne so that he could ascend to the throne as soon as possible.

Zhao Xuanzhang was extremely worried and furious. He was the eldest son of the Empress and was well-regarded both in the court and among the common people. If nothing unexpected happened, the highest position would be his sooner or later. He had no reason to take the risk of committing such a treasonous act in public.

As soon as this voice was heard in the court, many ministers who supported the crown prince requested the emperor to thoroughly investigate the matter and clear the crown prince's name.

As the emperor grew older, he felt increasingly uneasy looking at the vigorous crown prince and the chorus of support for him in the court. He was no longer the diligent and ambitious ruler he once was; having been on the throne for so long, he had changed.

At some point, his attitude changed from caring and supporting him to being tired and resentful. He resented his own son, his eldest son, who was growing up, becoming more outstanding and popular than him, and constantly threatening his supreme position.

At this moment, the Second Prince instructed his subordinates to forge secret letters between the Crown Prince and the envoy of Yan, and sent his undercover agents to present these so-called treasonous evidences to the Emperor, falsely accusing the Crown Prince of being a wolf in sheep's clothing and unfit to be the heir apparent, and of failing the Emperor and the world.

Those secret letters were clearly stamped with the Crown Prince's personal seal.

The emperor, clutching the secret letter, wept bitterly and issued a repentant edict in court, ordering palace servants to deliver a cup of poisoned wine to kill Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang. Thus, the "Eastern Palace Rebellion" was suppressed with an iron fist in just three months.

Since Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang was dead, the emperor mercifully stated in court that the crime would not extend to his family. The Crown Princess and Consort Sun Qing'er were just women, and there was no evidence to prove their involvement. After their health was verified, they could return to their homes and would not be forced into the inner palace. They could continue their normal lives.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, the Crown Princess cried out three times, "Heaven is unjust! Heaven is unjust! Heaven is unjust!" before crashing into the coffin and following Crown Prince Zhao Xuanzhang in death.

The original owner never expected that the emperor would actually be so ruthless as to order the death of the crown prince, who was the heir apparent! He didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of him! Overwhelmed with fear, the original owner fell ill.

Three days later, the Second Prince, dressed in plain clothes and accompanied only by one subordinate, personally visited the original owner of this body.

Despite his ailing body, the original owner of this body questioned the Second Prince in a low voice, asking him why he had tried to kill the Crown Prince. The Second Prince simply smiled at him, offering gentle words of comfort and concern, but did not answer his question.

Just then, Sun Qing'er, disguised, slowly walked out from behind the Second Prince.

Looking at the two people's identical gentle smiles, the original owner couldn't help but shiver coldly... He suddenly had a terrible idea. Everything, from his chance encounter with Sun Qing'er to her meeting with him in secret with the Second Prince, all the way to the downfall of the Crown Prince's faction, was all planned by someone.

The culprit is obvious.

That night, the original owner suddenly fell ill with a heart condition and died of "fear" at home.

After the original owner died, his soul did not leave, but was instead trapped in the Marquis of Weiwu's mansion, unable to take a single step out.

Since the Second Prince Zhao Xuanhong ascended the throne, he has done nothing good. He issued edicts to plunder the people's wealth, embark on extravagant construction projects, indulge in pleasure-seeking, and live a life of debauchery—the very behavior of a foolish and incompetent ruler destined to bring about the downfall of his country. His example set a bad example for the entire court, which quickly collapsed.

And what about Sun Qing'er, who helped Zhao Xuanhong frame the crown prince?

After acquiring younger and more beautiful concubines, Zhao Xuanhong naturally wanted to salvage his reputation. Less than six months after ascending the throne, he sent men to banish Sun Qing'er to the cold palace, leaving her to fend for herself.

What fate awaits a concubine who has fallen out of favor and has no family to rely on is not something Zhao Xuanhong needs to consider.

Over the next two years, the original owner watched as Song Zhixiao, who had suddenly lost his child, and Princess Yongping fell ill and were bedridden. Meanwhile, his wife Sun Yiyao, whom he had never looked at properly, served him tirelessly without ever uttering a word of complaint.

Even so, Song Zhixiao and Princess Yongping did not last long, passing away one after the other within a year.

At the mourning hall of his mother, Princess Yongping, the original owner noticed that his wife, Sun Yiyao, looked much more haggard than when she first entered the manor. Fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes, and there were also faint strands of white hair at her temples.

The catalpa trees at the Marquis of Weiwu's mansion have turned green and then yellow, then yellow and then fallen leaves, and in the blink of an eye, it is already the sixth late autumn.

The tyranny and cruelty of the Great Wei Dynasty aroused great indignation among the people, and rebel armies rose up in various places. The new emperor, Zhao Xuanhong, hurriedly dispatched a large army to suppress the rebellion, but with little effect. At the same time, the Yan army took the opportunity to advance south, with its vanguard reaching the capital, which would soon be captured.

Upon receiving this news, the frontline officials hurriedly reported to the palace. The new emperor was greatly alarmed and immediately ordered an inventory of the palace's private property. At the same time, he summoned his trusted eunuchs and guards, and, along with his favorite concubine, fled the capital overnight, riding south to escape the enemy.

Upon hearing that the emperor had fled the city, the soldiers and civilians in the capital also packed their belongings and fled in all directions. Within just three to five days, the city became crowded and chaotic, with countless dead, wounded, and victims.

The masters of the Rongguo Mansion were all busy packing their valuables and fleeing the capital. Sun Yiyao's own brother sent someone to deliver a message, asking her to leave with the Rongguo Mansion's caravan.

Sun Yiyao shook her head, propped herself up, and divided the family fortune in two. She gave half to her brother to go south to seek refuge, and gave the other half entirely to Mo Yu.

The original owner's soul floated outside the window of the main room, looking at the flickering candlelight inside and listening to Sun Yiyao's intermittent coughs, his heart filled with grief. He floated into the room to check on her, only to find that she was so weak that she didn't even have the strength to get out of bed.

The woman on the bed was no longer beautiful. She clutched the wedding dress she wore when she married the original owner of the body, staring blankly in the direction where the original owner had been, and murmured, "Husband, have you come to take me away?"

The original owner of this body cried out and reached out his hand. The instant their hands clasped, the original owner felt a white light before his eyes, and in a daze, he heard someone ask him, "What is your wish?"

This time, the person making the wish was still the same person. He knelt down, crying, and said that as long as the person who was tasked with fulfilling his wish could do so, he was willing to give up all his lifetimes, including his soul.

His first wish was to take revenge on Sun Qing'er and the Second Prince, so that they would live in torment and suffering forever, enduring the pain of burning hearts every day. His second wish was for his parents to be safe and happy, and for his wife, Sun Yiyao, to live a happy life. His third wish was to be a loyal and virtuous minister, since too many innocent people had no one to turn to because of his mistakes. Therefore, he sincerely hoped that the mission takers could change all of this.

After receiving the original owner's memories, Song Ce couldn't help but sigh. During the years the original owner spent as a ghost, he must have seen many things clearly!

At this point in time, the original owner of this body and Sun Yiyao had already exchanged their betrothal gifts and set a wedding date. Three months later would be their big day.

Thinking of this, Song Ce was about to get up when he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. The person who came was none other than Mo Yu, the servant of the original owner.

"Young master, you should go back and have your meal."

Song Ce nodded and said calmly to Mo Yu, "Okay, let's go."

-----------------------

Author's Note: The sky has fallen [frightened] I posted the wrong thing, Word ruined me [frightened] I posted Ji Qing's story, ahhhhh I changed it, my little darlings please read it again [please][please] (kneeling on the ground with tears in her eyes)

A new story begins!