No Repeats

The birthmarks

(Author's note: warning to all my wonderful readers that this chapter describes sexual themes and descriptions of torture, so read at your own risk. Please 'like' if you enjoyed reading so far, it's so motivating for me, thank you!)

Shu Mei's laughter turned into a wild and uncontrollable cry, tears streaming down her face and bewildering the two royals who are looking at her with a look of concern.

The girl cried tears of pain and hopelessness after hearing about her birthmarks and royal status, that was the last thing they expected when they told her the news. Maybe it came too quick and was too shocking for her to accept? They looked at each other in concern and heavy bleeding hearts as they wondered what painful experiences their darling daughter has experienced over the last eighteen years.

When Shu Mei heard that her birthmarks were not birthmarks but the seal confirming her royal status, she instantly remembered her past life and the pain she suffered. Just because she never had a chance to meet the Emperor and the Consort, she was doomed to a life of misery and pain because of them. But now, because of them, she will be elevated to the status of the empire's saviour. How ridiculous!

Flashback:

"Young Master, why do you always come back to this concubine at night? Big sister must be feeling lonely and upset right now, its not right to do the deed and then leaving her right away, it is your wedding night!" said Shu Mei as she struggled to push away the man that have crawled back into her bed late that night.

Shu Mei was his first bed warmer and the first woman in the harem, she was never given her own rooms and always shared his bed. Yu Li would take her with him wherever he went, especially brothels where he frequented so much. It was as if he wanted to teach her how these women entertained men by making her watch, but she was always bored and tired.

When Old Madame Huang threatened to cut him off the inheritance if he did not settle down and marry legitimate wives to carry the family line, Shu Mei was extremely happy. 

Seeing the gleeful look on Shu Mei's face, devoid of any jealous or dissatisfaction, Yu Li clenched his fist and agreed in a fit of anger before grabbing her hand and stormed out. The old woman immediately added in four beautiful women, each occupying a wing of the Huang Manor before sending match makers to the Shu daughter of a noble's family to be his main wife.

Those women ignored Shu Mei at the beginning due to her poor status and insignificant presence in the household until they realised that she wasn't get given her own residence because Yu Li kept her in his own private rooms. The jealousy was further fuelled and became raging fires after they experienced their moment of passion with him. There is nothing more insulting to woman than when her man ups and leaves after doing the deed, just to return to sleep with another woman.

The concubines grinded their teeth and inwardly cursed the woman who was stealing their husband from right under their noses in the most insulting way. They banded together to find trouble for Shu Mei, who had no backing or power in the Huang Manor, she was nothing to them. After the concubines joined, Shu Mei faced minor conflicts and troubles every step she took. Some days she would feign sickness so she could just hide in the room and not have to deal with them

Shu Mei became an expert at spotting petty schemes and traps that the concubines would prepare for her. Their favourite trick would be to get her to break something in front of Old Madame Huang, who was great at dishing out the most painful punishments that left no scars. 

Needles and various non-life taking poisons were her forte, it was enough to make one suffer so much pain that it is better to just die, but once it is over, then you quickly forget the pain. Shu Mei was terrified of the old woman, but she has got to admit that the matriarch only dished out punishments according to the house rules. She could only blame herself for being stupid and falling for those tricks.