No of Episodes: 384
Author: 玖拾陆 (Jiu Shi Lu)
Multiple Voices: 彩翎豆 (灯火下的阑珊）、翼夜凌峰 (Cǎi Líng Dòu (Dēng Huǒ Xià De Lán Shān), Yì Yè Líng Fēng)
Ebook
Summary:
Past Life:
Du Yun Luo (FL) was a spoiled and ungrateful lady. She was not happy when she found out she was engaged to Mu Lian Xiao (ML), who carries the title Ding Yuan Hou Shi Zi from the military family. The Du family cancelled the engagement. The 2nd Mu Madam, Lian Shi, proposed the engagement. Old General Mu and his two sons died in battle. When ML’s elder brother, Mu Lian Kang, went to collect their remains, he went missing. Hence, the title was passed on to ML. Lian Shi wanted ML to marry FL when she heard that FL was a spoiled brat and hoped that she would create chaos in ML’s life. So when the engagement got cancelled, she set a trap to make FL and ML fall into a lake in a temple. In order to preserve FL’s reputation, ML asked the Emperor for a royal edict to marry FL. ML dotted FL. ML died in battle, and FL became a widow for many years. FL didn’t become aware that the Mu family’s second branch had orchestrated the evil plan until near the end of her life.
FL died and woke up, going back to the time before she was engaged to ML.
Present Life:
Old Master Du is the ex-tutor of the Crown Prince. He has four sons and many grandchildren. FL is Old Master and Madam Du’s favourite. FL’s father is Du Huai Li, the third son of Old Master Du. Du Huai Li and his wife, Zhen Shi, have two daughters and one son. The first daughter is Du Yun Ru, engaged to a scholar named Shao Yuan Zhou; a son named Du Yun Di, the most promising scholar in the family; and FL. FL heard from her cousin, Du Yun Nuo, that her grandparents planned to betroth her to ML. This time, FL did not complain because she loves ML and wants to marry him. FL wants to protect ML. Du Yun Nuo is from the 4th branch, and her mother is a concubine. Fourth Madam Mu Liao Shi was in charge of raising her. Liao Shi’s elder sister is a concubine of Jing Guo Gong Shi Zi. Her daughter, An Ran Xian Zhu, was favoured by Jing Guo Gong until he asked for a Xian Zhu title for her. An Ran Xian Zhu likes ML and confesses to ML in public, but gets rejected. FL instigated her parents to ask the Mu family to ask for an emperial edict for the marriage proposal.
FL and ML’s first meeting was in a temple. This time, they did not fall into the lake, but FL had a small accident. She was pushed, fell down, and twisted her ankle. FL stared at ML, the person whom she had missed for many years.
Du Yun Di studied at a school away from home. His page boy told Zhen Shi that there was a girl named Shi Lian Er who tried to seduce Du Yun Di. When FL heard about it, she remembered that in her past life, Shi Lian Er set up a scheme to trap Du Yun Di and became his concubine. Du Yun Di ignored her, but Shi Lian Er caused a rift between Du Yun Di and his wife, Tang Shi. Tang Shi went through early childbirth, and the baby girl was born very weak and did not survive until she was two. Shi Lian Er caused a lot of heartache for the couple and trouble for the Du family. Zhen Shi made a stop at Li San School to visit Du Yun Di on her way back to her hometown to celebrate her mother’s birthday in Tong City. Zhen Shi and FL met Shi Lian Er, and both do not like her. They warned Du Yun Di to be careful of Shi Lian Er and tried to avoid her in the future.
Zhen Shi’s mother married Old Master Zhen after his wife passed away. Old Madam Zhen treated her stepsons very well, and they are also very filial towards her. Zhen Shi grew up in a loving family. While FL was in Tong City, something happened. Old Madam Zhen attempted to engage Zhen Wen Qian with FL, but Zhen Wen Qian rejected her. But when Zhen Wen Qian saw FL again, he regretted his decision. So during a temple outing, in his drunken stupor, he tried to break into FL’s room to confess to FL. FL escaped, ran into the bamboo forest, and bumped into ML. FL did not tell anyone of her meeting and also did not want to cause any trouble in the Zhen family.
ML was in Tong City to accompany his cousin, Mu Lian Hui, to collect some spring water for the Imperial Concubine. Mu Lian Hui left home three years ago to accompany the Imperial Concubine to stay in a temple and only recently returned to the capital city. Mu Lian Hui played a big part in the murder of ML in his past life. FL hated Mu Lian Hui. But Mu Lian Hui did not have a good ending in her past life either. She married Li Luan. Li Luan’s father, Li Xiang, who is the younger brother of the Emperor. After the Empress Dowager died, Li Xiang revolted. When Li Luan realised that his father would fail, he killed him. Li Luan and Mu Lian Hui were sent to live in the mausoleum as punishment.
FL, Du Yun Nuo, and all the young Du Masters were invited to attend a party at Cherry Blossom Park by Mu Lian Hui. FL was shocked when she saw Shi Lian Er was there. FL also met An Ran Xian Zhu. FL realised Mu Lian Hui is up to no good. FL asked Du Yun Nuo to change cloaks, and she sneaked to look for Du Yun Di to warn him of Shi Lian Er’s presence. FL bumped into ML. ML told FL that Mu Lian Hui said she would be wearing a red cloak. FL already knows something was very wrong. An Ran Xian Zhu is also wearing a red cloak today. FL met Du Yun Lang, told him about Shi Lian Er, and asked him to look after Du Yun Di. Du Yun Nuo, on the other hand, told An Ran Xian Zhu the conspiracy theory behind why Mu Lian Hui would agree to allow a nobody like Shi Lian Er to come to the party.
As expected, Shi Lian Er went missing. While looking for her, An Ran Xian Zhu almost fell into a lake. Fortunately, FL and Du Yun Nuo were able to pull her. Suddenly, they heard screaming and ran to see what happened in a room. They saw Li Luan and Huo Zi Ming in the room with a scantily dressed Shi Lian Er. Huo Zi Ming just got newly engaged to An Ran Xian Zhu. Li Luan is a prince, and he would not be responsible for Shi Lian Er. Huo Zi Ming has no choice but to take Shi Lian Er as his concubine. Shi Lian Er did not know that her future was very dim because An Ran Xian Zhu would make her life hell and Huo Zi Ming would ignore her.
The Empress Dowager invited FL to the palace. Old Madam Du already warned FL what to say. Empress Dowager has intended to give Mu Lian Hui to Li Luan as wife, but after the incident at the party, she sensed that Mu Lian Hui did not want to marry Li Luan. She got upset with Mu Lian Hui; hence, she purposely diverted her attention to FL to send a warning to Mu Lian Hui. FL met Princess Yun Hua and Nan Yang Xian Zhu. Princess Yun Hua and Nan Yang Xian Zhu grew up together. Nan Yang Xian Zhu is an orphan. Her father, a war general, died in a battle. Her mother killed herself after her husband died. Princess Yun Hua is very possessive, and she wants Nan Yang Xian Zhu to accompany her for life. Princess Yun Hua does not want Nan Yang to marry Li Luan. She wanted Nan Yang to marry into the Zhen family like her. But if Nan Yang were to marry the sick young master of the Zhen, she would probably end up being a widow. Princess Yun Hua asked FL to cooperate with her. FL does not mind because she also wanted Mu Lian Hui to marry Li Luan.
In her past life, Nan Yang married Li Xiang after being found in a compromising situation with Li Xiang. Nan Yang did not have a good ending. After Li Xiang revolted, she begged Princess Yun Hua to help save Li Luan’s life. In exchange, she hanged herself.
FL was invited to visit Gou Ming Temple by the Empress Dowager. Mu Lian Hui was invited as well. Mu Lian Hui lied to FL and said that ML does not like to celebrate his birthday because it reminds him of his father’s death. When FL bumped into ML, she gave him the birthday present. ML was very happy. They overheard the conversation between Nan Yang and Mu Lian Hui. Mu Lian Hui does not want to marry Li Luan and also does not want Li Luan to marry Nan Yang. FL pitied Nan Yang. FL could see herself in Nan Yang if Nan Yang married into the Zhen family. Since Nan Yang has feelings for Li Luan, she decided to keep Nan Yang’s meeting with Li Luan a secret. Mu Lian Hui set up a scheme to tarnish Nan Yang’s reputation but failed. Knowing that Mu Lian Hui did not want to marry him, Li Luan proposed to Nan Yang. Empress Dowager got upset with Mu Lian Hui and decided to give Nan Yang to Li Luan as wife.
The war is about to start with the Tartar Tribe. Old Madam Mu asked for approval for ML and FL to get married earlier. The next day, FL has to meet with the rest of the Mu family members and some of the important clan members. ML noticed FL disliked some of them. Lian Shi set a trap to make FL upset, but it did not work out. FL treasured every day she sent with ML. Both love each other deeply.
ML brought FL to see the lantern, and they met Ye Yu Zhi. Ye Yu Zhi is An Ran Xian Zhu’s brother and was in an awkward situation at home. His grandfather tried to stop him from getting a job. Ye Yu Zhi wanted to go to Xin Jiang to fight tartar. ML suggested that Ye Yu Zhi go to Lin Dong to join him instead. Ye Yu Zhi quietly left town.
FL found out that Lian Shi poisoned her to prevent her from getting pregnant. The poisoning stopped when ML went away to join the battle after a few months. Jiang Yu Nuan often comes to see FL, complaining that she misses Mu Lian Cheng and her bad dreams. In FL’s past life, because of these, she got extremely upset and tried to stop ML from going to battle. This time, FL purposely brought up the topic of Mu Lian Kang to make Jiang Yu Nuan’s sleepless.
FL found out Mu Lian Yu is having an affair with Mu Yuan Jing and her servant, An Niang Zhi. FL set a trap to catch them with the intention of making Lian Shi divert her focus. An Niang Zhi complained to Old Madam Mu that she was forced by Mu Yuan Jing to sleep with Mu Yuan Jing’s husband and Mu Lian Yu. An Niang Zhi took revenge and changed the anti-pregnancy drug. Mu Yuan Jing is pregnant with Mu Lian Yu’s baby. After the confession, An Niang Zhi hanged herself to die. Mu Yuan Jing is forced to abort her baby, locked up in her courtyard, and waiting for the right time to die. Mu Lian Yu is sent to the border to join his brother.
Jiang Yu Nuan gave birth to a daughter. ML and Mu Lian Cheng came back for the New Year break. ML got a secret mission from the Emperor. ML got transferred to Lin Dong. FL asked to follow ML, claiming that her first uncle’s family is in Lin Dong. Old Madam Mu agreed, hoping that this would increase the chances of FL getting pregnant faster. FL only arranged for a few trusted servants to follow her. FL told Zhou Shi her reason and warned her to be careful of Lian Shi.
FL settled very easily in Xuan City, in Lin Dong, with the help of her aunt, Yang Shi. ML works in Shan Yu Guang, which is a few days journey from Xuan City. FL got pregnant. Yang Shi and FL decided to tell the Mu family a few months later to prevent Lian Shi from trying to harm her. FL gave birth to a son. ML went back to the capital city to report to the Emperor. Old Madam Mu named ML’s son Mu Ling Yan.
The Empress Dowager recommended three husband candidates for Mu Lian Hui to pick as husbands. Mu Lian Hui picked Ping Yan Hou Shi Zi, Jing Shang, because his family is based in the capital city.
FL knows ML’s secret mission is to investigate Chang Ping Hou for keeping private soldiers for Rui Wang to revolt a few years later. ML, Du Huai Rang (FL’s uncle), and General Huang set a trap for Chang Ping Hou. They managed to destroy all the private soldiers. FL almost got hurt. Ye Yu Zhi went missing. When Ye Yu Zhi came back, he brought Mu Lian Kang with him. Mu Lian Kang said he lost his memory almost nine years ago. All he could remember was a very skilled horseman and a brother named A Xiao. Mu Lian Kang is married and has two children.
ML started to suspect his uncle, Mu Yan Mou. FL told ML her rebirth story. ML and Mu Lian Kang went to see Mu Tang on their way home. Mu Tang told them the truth. ML decided not to tell Old Madam Mu the truth but, at the same time, to keep a close watch on Mu Yuan Mo. Old Madam Mu eventually found out. Old Madam poisoned Mu Yuan Mo and stopped Lian Shi from recovering after a fall. Mu Lian Hui’s husband, Jing Shang, died earlier than expected. Mu Lian Cheng had a fall from the horse during a battle and became disabled.
FL gave birth to another son and daughter for ML. They lived till old age, surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
Mina & Nina 