After Rebirth, I Chose a New Family That Treated Me Like a Treasure - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: After Catching the Adulterers in Bed

“Brother-in-law… don’t rush…”

“How can I not rush? Your sister will be here soon…”

“What, are you scared of her? She won’t be free for another half an hour…”

“Only half an hour? That’s not enough…”

“Brother-in-law, you’re so bad…”

The wind stirred the wisteria, rippling through the still waters of the spring pool.

Su Shuyao felt like she was dreaming.

In the dream, she hadn’t married yet.

She stood at the door of her boudoir, quietly listening to the obscene sounds coming from inside.

Even without trying, she could tell the man and woman inside were her fiancé Yuan Zu and her younger sister Su Mingzhu.

Her fiancé and her sister were in her room, on her bed, doing that disgraceful act.

The sounds from inside grew louder, as if deliberately meant for her.

“Brother-in-law, is sister’s bed softer, or is mine softer?”

“Not as soft as your body… Tell me, if your sister catches us, what will she do?”

“What can she do? Aiya, brother-in-law, you’re so bad…”

Yes, what could she do?

Her parents and siblings would definitely protect Su Mingzhu, turning a big issue into a small one, and the one in the wrong, the one stirring up trouble, would always be her.

Pain stabbed through her chest again and again…

She wiped her face. It was wet. Even though it was just a dream, why did her heart still ache?

The door opened, and Yuan Zu was pressing down on Su Mingzhu, thrusting like a dog.

When they saw her, both froze. Yuan Zu scrambled off Su Mingzhu, fumbling to pull on his clothes.

“Shuyao, let me explain, Shuyao, it’s not what it looks like…”

Su Mingzhu pulled the blanket over herself and propped her head on one hand, “Sister, I felt a bit tired and just came to lie on your bed. I happened to run into brother-in-law.”

Yuan Zu quickly added, “I was bored and came to look at your room. I didn’t expect Mingzhu to be here. It was just a coincidence.”

This dream felt too real. The faces of the shameless pair were clearer and more disgusting than in reality.

Su Shuyao said calmly, “Su Mingzhu engaged in illicit conduct with an outsider, bringing shame to the household. She should be punished according to family law.” Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway.

“Who said anything about family law?”

A gentle-looking woman stepped in, prayer beads around her neck, the faint scent of sandalwood clinging to her.

Her mother—Madam Wan.

Madam Wan believed in Buddhism and was known for her so-called compassion.

Everyone praised her for her kind and merciful bearing, but Su Shuyao had never seen even a shred of care or love from her eyes.

Su Shuyao said unhurriedly, “Mother, Mingzhu and Yuan Zu were caught in bed together, violating virtue and morality. By the rules of the marquis residence, they should be caned thirty times.”

“Servants, take them away.”

Two servant women responded, but when their eyes met Madam Wan’s, they paused and stepped back.

“Madam, I only came to Shuyao’s room to look around. I didn’t know Mingzhu was resting here,” Yuan Zu said shamelessly, still half-dressed. “Shuyao misunderstood.”

Su Mingzhu said timidly, “Mother, sister misunderstood. We really didn’t do anything.”

Su Shuyao stepped forward and pulled out a piece of red fabric from inside Yuan Zu’s clothes.

A red mandarin duck undergarment appeared, moist and delicate.

Su Mingzhu’s maiden name was embroidered on it.

Su Shuyao held it up and said indifferently, “If it was a coincidence, why do you have Su Mingzhu’s undergarment?”

Caught in the act. The evidence was clear.

Su Mingzhu and Yuan Zu’s faces changed.

Madam Wan’s fingers on her prayer beads paused.

Su Shuyao looked at the servants. “What are you waiting for? Tie them up.”

The two looked at Madam Wan.

Madam Wan continued turning her prayer beads and said, “If that’s really the case, then family law should be enforced.” She reached out. “Let me see the undergarment.”

Su Shuyao hesitated but handed it over.

Madam Wan glanced at it briefly and said, “This isn’t Mingzhu’s.”

Su Shuyao frowned. “Why not? Her name is embroidered on it.”

She stepped forward, wanting to flip it over and show the name.

Madam Wan took a step back and signaled the maids to block her.

“Shuyao, a girl’s reputation is important. Mingzhu is your sister, and yet you try to frame her?” Madam Wan calmly put the undergarment away.

Su Mingzhu lay on the bed, eyes lowered, pretending to be aggrieved. “Mother, I don’t blame sister. My reputation isn’t important compared to sister’s happiness…”

Su Shuyao froze.

Even in her dream, her mother was just as biased.

Suddenly, Madam Wan slapped her.

Her head jerked to the side, and her ears rang.

It hurt.

How could a dream hurt…

“Shuyao, are you only satisfied if your sister dies?!”

“Other sisters protect their younger siblings. Only you look for her faults every day, hoping for her death!”

“How did I raise such an ungrateful daughter?!”

Madam Wan’s chest heaved with rage as she pointed at Su Shuyao and cursed.

“Someone, take the eldest miss and lock her in the woodshed!”

Two servants stormed in and dragged her away.

As she was pulled toward the familiar yet strange scene, a sudden realization struck her.

This wasn’t a dream…

She had… been reborn.

She looked down and saw a fresh scar on the base of her left thumb—

She’d gotten that scar at sixteen while decocting medicine for Madam Wan and accidentally scalded herself.

She had returned to the year she turned sixteen…

Su Shuyao had been raised by the old madam and had learned to manage the household and the marquis estate’s business since childhood.

The residence’s vast expenses were supported by the silver she earned. The whole family enjoyed the fruits of her labor, yet privately they criticized her for appearing in public and bringing shame to the marquis name. When her eldest brother wanted to marry a courtesan, she opposed it. After he achieved success, he blamed her: Su Shuyao, you made me lose the love of my life!

Her second brother suffered a serious leg injury—she hired a famous physician and saved his leg. After becoming a military officer and earning merit, he resented her for meddling and being arrogant.

Her younger sister fancied a poor scholar. She had warned against it and analyzed the risks. After marrying into a wealthy family, her sister lived in luxury, yet hated her deeply.

Her father had offended a powerful figure and was imprisoned.

She spent a fortune trying to save him.

That day, she wore thin clothes and danced for an hour on the frozen river to please Princess Duan, who finally agreed to help.

Frozen to the bone, shivering and weak, she could barely walk home.

But when she returned, her father had already been released. The whole family was happily planning a hot spring trip to the villa.

No one cared whether she lived or died.

They said her sister was a lucky star, that she prayed sincerely and moved heaven to grant their father’s release.

No one believed her.

That was when she learned—she was just a placeholder. A fake daughter brought in to comfort Madam Wan after Su Mingzhu had gone missing.

Now that the real daughter had returned, this stand-in had to be discarded.

No wonder, no matter how much she gave, she never earned real affection.

Even her fiancé Yuan Zu said she was too scheming, unlike Su Mingzhu who was sweet and innocent.

That day, the whole family drugged her, threw her onto a bed with a stable hand, framed her for an affair, crippled her legs with family punishment, and stole all her property…

The entire household hated her and despised her.

Su Mingzhu, who never did anything but smile and act innocent, was loved and praised.

In their eyes, she wasn’t even worth a fraction of Su Mingzhu.

Remembering her past life, Su Shuyao turned pale, drenched in cold sweat. Pain pierced her chest over and over.

Such a family… should’ve been thrown away long ago.

The maids dragged her into the woodshed.

Madam Wan stood at the door, her curved brows giving the illusion of kindness.

“Shuyao, don’t mention today’s matter again. Do you know how important a woman’s reputation is? Because of your jealousy, Mingzhu cries herself to sleep every night, sick with worry.”

“You may feel good speaking harshly, but Mingzhu is ill from sorrow.”

“But she is kind and pure and never once blamed you. She even tries to persuade your brothers and the Yuan family’s young master to treat you better.”

“If you don’t apologize to Mingzhu today, don’t blame me for using family law!”

After saying that, she left.

Su Shuyao stood silently in the dark, damp woodshed, staring at the single shaft of light coming through the roof.

The punishment of the Wei Yuan Marquis Residence: caning.

She had endured it in her past life.

It hurt.

The pain stayed with her forever.

“Eldest Miss, just admit you were wrong. This place is cold and damp. Even healthy people will fall ill if they stay here too long.” Qiushuang’s eyes were red. “Just admit it and come out first.”

Su Shuyao looked at the sky and smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. Someone will come to get me soon.”

Just then, the stewardess Madam Wu came running, flustered.

“Eldest Miss, it’s terrible! Please hurry—Young Master is threatening to kill himself if he’s not allowed to marry a courtesan!!”

Su Shuyao lifted the corners of her lips and raised her eyes.

See? Someone came to invite her, didn’t they?