The peerless and dark princess

In her previous life, Luo Xi probably never imagined she would be reborn into this unknown dynasty. Five years had passed in a flash, and she had long forgotten she was Luo Xi, becoming Chu Wange completely.

Over the past five years, Wangge hadn't recalled anything about her past life. However, her recent impending marriage to Zuo Ci had made her suddenly remember that she was a spirit from another world, not a native of this place. Fortunately, she was now just twenty years old, and even in her past life, marriage at this age would have been legal.

Of course, in Dali, it was rare for women to marry after the age of twenty; most married around the age of seventeen or eighteen and stayed home to raise their families. However, the reason why Wangge and her friends married at this age was because of the previous emperor, Chen Yan, who had to postpone the wedding for three years.

Chu Lixiu and other brothers-in-law should have been very picky about their brother-in-law Zuo Ci, but they didn't expect that when Zuo Ci was getting along with Chu Wange, the enthusiasm was completely one-sided. Their sister didn't take this marriage seriously at all. Even the two brothers-in-law couldn't help but feel sorry for their brother-in-law, and they didn't know when their brother-in-law would be able to make their sister come to her senses.

As the wedding date approached, Chu Lixiu and the others noticed that Wange had shown little concern for matters like dowry and the banquet. While she didn't need to exert much effort, she should at least act like a bride. Everyone in the Prince of Yan's mansion was filled with confusion, wondering if she was actually getting married.

Seeing Wange like this, brothers Chu Lixiu and Chu Lixiao were filled with worry, so they sent their fiancée Dong Mingxue and Princess Gong Qingyu to test her feelings. As men, they naturally couldn't discuss these matters with Wange, and it was fortunate that Chu Moxuan didn't make things worse. Moreover, Chu Moxuan was now under someone's supervision and was relatively safe.

"Wangge, are you unwilling to marry Zuo Ci?"

"I'm not unwilling." Chu Wange looked puzzled. "My two future sisters-in-law, why are you asking this?"

"It's just that you seem a little..." Dong Mingxue chose her words carefully, fearing that her words would be abrupt, but she didn't know how to express her meaning exactly.

"Yeah, it's nothing, I just remembered some things from the past. Besides, unlike you who have living parents, I only have my aunt and uncle... I feel like I'm the only one left in this world, and I'm a little lonely." There was something strange in what Chu Wange said, but unfortunately no one could understand the true meaning.

Dong Mingxue and Gong Qingyu exchanged a glance. So that's how it was. Mu Heng had been beheaded, Chu Wanran had been poisoned, and Chu Wange's parents, aside from her younger brother Chu Haolin, were no longer alive. While everyone in Prince Yan's mansion doted on them, they couldn't compare to their parents. When someone gets married, it's natural to envy those with parents. It's also true that Wange and Zuo Ci were both pitiful, Wange even more so. Zuo Ci, at least, had been pampered while his parents were alive, but Wange... they were both future daughters-in-law of the Chu family, so they understood the reasoning.

How could Gong Qingyu and the others understand the loneliness Wangge spoke of? Wangge's loneliness didn't stem from Chu Wanran and Mu Heng, but rather from the fact that she felt like a solitary soul in this world, incompatible with this dynasty. Even though she tried her best to fit in, deep down she still retained the habits of her past life, still harboring a dislike for the overbearing imperial power, unable to find awe.

"Sister, you still have me." Chu Haolin stood by the window outside and whispered softly, "I'm with you."

Chu Haolin was almost eight years old, already a grown-up boy. Even Chu Lixiu and Chu Lixiao could sense something was wrong with Wange, so how could he, her biological brother, not feel anything at all? So when he learned that his eldest and second brothers had approached their fiancées to pry into his sister, Chu Wange's feelings, he deliberately tried to listen, but he hadn't expected to hear what his elder sister said.

Although Chu Haolin was the youngest, he was more sensitive than the others. This was all due to Chu Wange's three years of neglect. But he didn't know that the sister who ignored him was no longer alive. The sister in front of him was a soul from another world, not his biological sister.

Zuo Ci had long ago moved Chu Haolin's belongings to Prince Heng's mansion, waiting for Wange to marry and move in together. This was a plan he had made long ago. In fact, if Chu Haolin hadn't been only three or four years old at the time, Wange would have even considered buying her own house. However, the dynasty didn't allow it. Just like Mu Lanxin, who could have established her own household with her brother Mu Yuqi, and Mu Qiaoyun and her daughter, who had left on their own with the money, eventually...

"We will be your family from now on... and Prince Heng should be a caring person. If... you have children in the future, you won't feel lonely anymore."

"My princess is absolutely right. Look at my nephew, your future nephew." Dong Mingxue's eyes sparkled when she mentioned Zuo Yunhan and her brother Dong Mingrui's son. "My sister-in-law treats him like the apple of her eye..."

Listening to Dong Mingxue mention the infant Dong Huaiyu (a play on the meaning of Wu Jin Huaiyu), Wangge suddenly remembered how he had saved Chu Haolin when he first entered this body. Fast forward a few years, and that little boy had grown into a handsome young man, along with Qingyu and Mu Ying. No, he was now Jiang Lin again. A year ago, he had avenged his parents, but he still stayed by Chu Haolin's side...

Inside the room, Chu Wange's mind replayed the events of his past years, while Chu Haolin, standing outside, was also reminiscing. He couldn't recall much before the age of three, but he always remembered the day his elder sister rescued him from Grandma Gu and brought him to Tingxue Garden, never letting go of his hand. If Wange weren't his half-sister, he wouldn't want her to marry. But he didn't want the world to talk about his sister like that. Even if the man was a prince, in Chu Haolin's eyes, Zuo Ci was not worthy of his elder sister.

Chu Haolin knew, of course, that Chu Wange and he were half-siblings, and that his sister was supposed to be the most distinguished princess in all of Dali. But he also knew that his sister would not accept such an honor. How could the mere title of princess be compared to her happiness? Yet, he was secretly delighted. After all, in the eyes of the world, she was his biological sister, born of the same mother. This would only strengthen their relationship.

Chu Haolin understood that a woman's reputation was crucial in this era, and he was still young, unable to become a towering tree to shelter his elder sister from the wind and rain, instead causing her to worry about him. Yet, he truly appreciated his elder sister's advice and care. If he had a nephew in the future, he would definitely treat him very well, just as his elder sister treated him.

It’s a pity that he can only be a younger brother in this life. If there is an afterlife, he longs to be the one who can take care of his elder sister.