Chapter One: Rebirth and the Gaining of a Doppelgänger

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“Demoness Wei Yanqiao, you have bewitched His Majesty, harmed loyal ministers, and committed countless heinous acts. Today, I, as an official, shall cleanse the Emperor’s side and sentence you to death as a warning to others!”

“Death to the wicked consort!”

“Death to the wicked consort!”

Wei Yanqiao stared in terror at the surging crowd below, torches blazing in their hands.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon Xiao Ceyun, seated on the high platform. He was the man she loved most, her only hope. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, save me! I am afraid!” she cried out, her voice laced with despair and helplessness.

She truly believed Xiao Ceyun would rescue her from this abyss. He had once cherished her so deeply, promising to shield her from harm and reproach.

Torches fell like rain into the pyre, igniting it in an instant. Flames roared, mercilessly consuming her body. A pain unlike any she’d ever known engulfed her, as if the world itself were shattering.

“Your Majesty, save me! Cough… Your Majesty, save me…” Wei Yanqiao screamed with all her might, her voice already hoarse.

“A demoness like you deserves eternal damnation!”

“Burn her!”

“Burn her!”

Surrounded by curses, Wei Yanqiao looked once more at Xiao Ceyun. In his cold eyes, there was not a trace of pity or affection—only endless loathing and disdain.

In that moment, Wei Yanqiao understood at last.

His fondness for her had been a calculated scheme, a deadly trap. Under the guise of sweet words and boundless favor, he led her astray, lulling her into arrogance and blindness. He deftly manipulated her, coaxing her to speak, unguarded, of eliminating certain ministers.

In the end, he purged those he had always wanted to remove, placing all blame on her, the so-called demoness, while he remained secure on his throne, ruler of all.

She regretted her naivety, the foolishness of having trusted an emperor’s love. She could not resign herself to such a death, nor to being a mere pawn in another’s hand. But it was too late; there was no turning back.

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“Ding—A powerful resentment and intense will to survive have been detected within this departed soul. Do you wish to be reborn?”

Reborn?

Wei Yanqiao answered without hesitation, “I do!”

“I can grant you one chance at rebirth. After assessment, you were deemed a villain who disrupted justice while alive. This time, if you can transform from villain to virtuous and die of natural causes, your challenge will be considered complete. But should you die again and return here, you will have failed. You will lose the opportunity to reincarnate, your existence erased; I will then replace you, become you, and be reborn in your stead. Are you willing to bind yourself to this wager?”

Without a second thought, Wei Yanqiao declared, “I am willing!”

Her voice was firm, unwavering. She did not fear her soul being devoured—far more terrifying was the thought of not dragging those she hated down to hell with her!

“Ding—Binding successful.”

From the boundless darkness, a figure slowly emerged, identical to Wei Yanqiao in every way.

A surge of indescribable shock welled up inside her.

The figure, her exact double, spoke without emotion: “From this moment on, I am your alter ego. Upon binding with you, I can replicate myself as someone exactly like you, possessing all your memories. Rest assured, I will always obey your commands and never defy your will. My execution will never surpass your authority. Moreover, my mind will remain in close connection with yours, assisting you in completing the challenge. However, if the challenge fails, I will reclaim control over this body and, as the true master, be reborn in the next life. Now, I shall send you back.”

Space convulsed violently. Darkness overwhelmed Wei Yanqiao, and she lost consciousness.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in her own resplendent, imposing bedchamber.

“Welcome back, Master.”

In her mind, there appeared a tiny version of herself—her alter ego.

She moved her hands and feet; the searing pain from her death was gone.

“Have I truly been reborn?”

“Master, I am now a complete being. I cannot remain inside you forever; I must live in the world as you do. We cannot share one body for more than thirty days, or your body will be gradually consumed and taken over by me. Once you lose control, the challenge is deemed a failure.”

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Wei Yanqiao asked doubtfully, “Aren’t you supposed to be loyal to me? Why would you seize control of my body?”

“The alter ego is loyal and assists the master, but this is the rule of the game: you must separate from me within the allotted time.”

“If you separate from me and are then killed by accident, does that concern me?”

“Once we are bound, your existence determines mine. Unless you die first, in which case I become the master in the next life. Rest assured, so long as you live, I will be eternally loyal. Should I betray or act against your orders, I will be erased entirely, and you will regain your freedom.”

As long as she continued to live, and skillfully made use of her alter ego, this duplicate would become her most capable ally.

“Master, please note: once I separate from you, I can never return to your body. Only if you die will I accompany you to the underworld and take your place. Please choose the time and place for our separation wisely.”

Once her alter ego emerged, there would be another her in this world.

But now, within this heavily guarded palace, if someone identical to her were to appear without reason, even if she were no demon, she would still likely be branded a monster and executed.

The alter ego must not separate from her within the palace; their only choice was to seek an opportunity outside.

“Shuiyao, dress me.”

The maid named Shuiyao glided lightly to her bedside. “Your Grace, you are awake,” she said softly, expertly drawing the bed curtains aside and hanging them neatly.

After washing and dressing, Shuiyao smiled and suggested, “Your Grace, the weather is lovely today, and the flowers in the imperial garden are in full bloom. Would you like to enjoy the scenery?”

Wei Yanqiao recalled that on this very day in her previous life, Xiao Ceyun had protected her in the imperial garden, punishing the concubines who had wronged her, publicly proclaiming his favor.

She lifted the corners of her lips and replied gently, “Indeed, I have grown weary of sitting in the palace. A stroll would do me good.”

Shuiyao’s face lit up with delight. “As you wish.” She quickly turned and called out, “Prepare the sedan! Her Grace is going to the imperial garden.”