RETURN TO BEFORE THE VILLAIN'S CORRUPTION

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CHAPTER 1: The Portentous Dream

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Back to Before the Villain's Blackening Author: Hua Qi Chapter 1: The Portentous Dream When Qiu Shi woke up, the moon had just sunk, leaving behind a faint, grayish-blue shadow in the sky that cast a bleak, miserable light. Beside the Arhat couch, the lattice window was left half-open. Large drops of dew clung to the slender edges of the plantain leaves, rolling down silently whenever the wind blew. On the fruit trees some ten paces away, the green, unripe fruits looked slightly more abundant than they had yesterday. A servant standing outside the door held a lantern, his voice filled with anxiety. Because he was blocked by several handmaidens stationed at the entrance, his words were slightly distorted. "Aunt Mingyue... I beg you, please go in and report to the young mistress." It was a youth's voice, carrying a trace of helpless desperation, completely unlike the mature, cold, and sharp tone from her dream. Qiu Shi sat up, gathering the blanket around her. Her long hair cascaded over her white clothing, soft, silken, and black as a gentle cloud, still carrying a faint, lingering fragrance. "Presumptuous! How can the young mistress's residence be intruded upon so recklessly?" Mingyue’s voice was heavy, laced with an displeased rebuke, yet she remained mindful and dared not raise her voice too loudly. "Madam has issued an order. The young mistress has been unwell these past few days and needs quiet rest. No one is permitted to disturb her." Qiu Shi’s finger, which was pressing against the space between her brows, paused. She vaguely remembered that she had quarreled with her mother the previous evening, and was currently under house arrest. Outside the tightly closed doors, a sudden thud resonated, it was the heavy sound of knees hitting the ground, followed immediately by one resounding kowtow after another. "I beg the young mistress to save my young master!" The person kneeling outside refused to leave, as if tightly grasping onto a final saving straw. Qiu Shi exhaled softly. At that heavy, muffled sound, her knuckles curled slightly. After a long moment, she pressed her throat in discomfort and said, "Mingyue, let him in." The noise outside fell silent for a brief moment, and then Mingyue's sigh of resignation echoed. "Yes." The room was filled with a pleasant, sweet floral incense. By the dressing table, various precious jewels and bracelets were scattered carelessly inside the cosmetics box. On the outer side of the screen stood a massive, hollowed-out mahogany cabinet, upon which sat many priceless jade ornaments and uniquely crafted wooden carvings. Even the beauty couch placed beneath the window was encrusted with massive jewels from head to toe, drawing the eye instantly. The servant kneeling at Qiu Shi’s feet was named Qingfeng, a personal attendant who served by Cheng Yi's side. "Greetings, young mistress." Qingfeng pressed his forehead against the floor, his voice frantic. "I beg the young mistress to save my young master!" Qiu Shi tapped her aching forehead with her slender finger. Due to the nightmare she just had, her voice was somewhat raspy. "What happened?" Enduring the sudden, harsh glares from Mingyue and the others, Qingfeng took a sharp breath and said, "After you left yesterday, Madam sent people to surround the Dongheng Courtyard and dismissed the medical officers. My young master’s high fever refuses to subside, and his wounds have torn open again. He hasn't regained consciousness even now. I truly had no other choice, so I presumed to come and disturb you." It was almost word-for-word exactly like the dream. Qiu Shi’s finger tapped against the edge of the couch. She remained silent for the time it took half an incense stick to burn. Standing to the side, a look of astonishment surfaced in Mingyue’s eyes. If this had been yesterday, the moment Qingfeng arrived, even before he could open his mouth, their young mistress would have already rushed off impetuously to see Cheng Yi. How could she be like this now, closing her eyes to contemplate even after Qingfeng had begged multiple times outside and repeated it again inside the room? Mingyue quickly snapped out of it, waved her hand, and scolded, "How dare a creature like you wag your tongue about Madam? Flying Fish Guards, drag him down." Qingfeng began to struggle. He was indeed loyal; he didn't utter a single word to plead for himself, only begging Qiu Shi to save Cheng Yi. "Enough." Qiu Shi’s jade-like feet touched the floor as the thin flannel blanket she wore slipped to her feet. She walked over to stand before Qingfeng, giving him a couple of scrutinizing glances before calmly instructing, "Mingyue, go summon a medical officer." Seeing that she intended to go out, Mingyue lowered her head slightly and reminded her anxiously, "Young mistress, Madam has placed a ban. You are not allowed to step outside." By this time, the sky was gradually brightening. The dark, bluish clouds unfurled like cotton candy, shedding one layer of color only to drape on another. Qiu Shi’s brows knitted as she said, "After this matter is resolved, I will go and plead guilty to Mother." Mingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that their conversation yesterday had been effective after all. Otherwise, given the young mistress's usual temperament, what she would have said right now would surely be along the lines of "How dare a mere few Flying Fish Guards block me?" Half a month ago, Qiu Shi had rescued Cheng Yi and settled him into a courtyard not far from her own Baitang Courtyard. She visited him every single day. Within a mere ten days, rumors had spread so wildly that they could no longer be suppressed. Before the sky was fully bright, Mingyue and Xuanyun walked ahead on her left and right, lighting lanterns as they headed south. As she walked, Qiu Shi reflected on everything. That dream, which was so vivid it could not be ignored, spoke of her noble birth, but it also foretold her miserable end. The turning point of her destiny began the very moment she saved Cheng Yi. For his sake, she would argue with her mother, fall out with her older brother, and break off her engagement with the fiancé she had been betrothed to since childhood. She would even resolutely pack a small bundle and leave her parents and home behind to follow Cheng Yi’s footsteps. That was the beginning of the dream. Later on, Cheng Yi attained the Great Dao and became the Master of Heavenly Power. Yet, what she received in return was not a harmonious marriage, but an imperial decree from the Heavenly Emperor. Her cultivation was stripped away, and she was imprisoned in a tiny courtyard on the edge of the Great Abyss of the Demon Clan. That was the conclusion of the dream. It was far more ridiculous and thrilling than any storybook she had ever read. But recalling everything that had occurred recently, Qiu Shi’s slender willow-leaf brows couldn't help but furrow again. One dream brings the flowers to bloom; another brings the leaves to fall. Even if she didn't believe it, she was already standing at the starting point of that very dream. She was currently grounded by her mother. If everything in the dream was correct, after news spread that she had defied her mother’s orders and grandly summoned a medical officer to treat Cheng Yi, her older brother would come looking for her. Qiu Shi was the youngest child in the family and the only girl. Her parents doted on her, and her older brother had spoiled her since childhood, never speaking a single harsh word to her. The only serious talk the siblings ever had was when he broke everything down to explain it to her, yet Qiu Shi had remained entirely unmoved, even saying many hurtful things in the heat of the moment without realizing it. If all of this was true, Qiu Shi felt that she was either possessed or had completely lost her mind. The two courtyards were not far apart; they arrived after making a turn and walking a short distance. The courtyard enclosed by a wooden fence was neither too big nor too small, complete with a front hall and a backyard. At the turn of late spring and early summer, many of the flowers planted in the yard had withered, leaving behind green fruits the size of thumbs. They hid within the dense, emerald leaves, scattered here and there, unnoticeable unless one looked closely. Surrounding the outside of the courtyard was a ring of secret guards dressed in crimson uniforms embroidered with Flying Fish patterns. Each of them stood with their backs perfectly straight, looking neither left nor right, making them impossible to ignore. Qiu Shi recognized the person standing at the courtyard gate. It was Lu Jue, a high-spirited young general who had just returned with his troops from the Great Abyss of the Demon Clan. "Young mistress." Lu Jue cupped his hands slightly and saluted her, his voice neither servile nor overbearing. "The Young Lord has ordered that starting today, entry into Dongheng Courtyard is strictly forbidden, though leaving is permitted." "The morning dew is heavy; you should take care of your health, young mistress. It is best to return to your courtyard and rest." Lu Jue worked alongside Qiu Shi’s older brother and treated her with a protective affection akin to a younger sister. However, his tone today was entirely bureaucratic, clearly indicating he was prepared for her to throw a tantrum and cause a scene. Right at this moment, the medical officer arrived as well. The entrance to the courtyard was only so large, and now more than ten people were crowding the space. Qiu Shi's brows furrowed once more. Throughout this entire morning, even within her dream, her brows had not relaxed once. Lu Jue braced himself for the impending storm. However, "Lu Jue." Qiu Shi paused for a moment, then added two more words: "Dear brother." The young girl wore no makeup; her ink-black hair and snow-white dress made her look like a fresh flower bud still carrying the morning dew. Coupled with that address of "dear brother," which clearly carried an undertone of yielding, the mask on Lu Jue's face began to crack. After a long silence, he rubbed his brow in resignation and said, "Qiuqiu, this is not a matter you can mess around with. The Young Lord has commanded that not even a single mosquito is allowed into Dongheng Courtyard." "I brought him back; I cannot just let him die in this courtyard." Qiu Shi thought for a moment, then said, "Leaving the Baitang Courtyard without permission was already something I intended to apologize to Mother for. Today, all the blame lies with me and has nothing to do with the guards. I will explain it to my brother myself." Lu Jue could be considered to have watched her grow up. Knowing that since she had spoken to this extent, she would definitely enter the courtyard today, he could only step aside. He wanted to say something, but knowing deeply that whatever he wanted to say had likely been repeated to her by others already, he refrained. Turning around, he waved his hand to his left and right. "Let them in." Qingfeng rushed into the room ahead of everyone, with the medical officer running behind him while carrying his medicine box. The closer they got to the western room, the more pungent the scent of medicine became. Once Qingfeng and the medical officer entered, the door remained open, and Qiu Shi stepped inside. The room possessed an antique charm. While its layout and furnishings were inferior to Qiu Shi's own courtyard, it did not appear meager by any means. Even though it had only been cleaned up and prepared for about ten days, everything added to it was of premium quality. Among them, the colorful glazed treasure vase standing on the cabinet, the twelve-paneled partridge landscape screen in the corner, and several other interesting and valuable trinkets had all come from Qiu Shi's own room. The medical officer carefully checked the pulse, examined Cheng Yi's wounds, and then stood up from the bedside. He cupped his hands toward Qiu Shi. "To answer the young mistress, Young Master Cheng's high fever was triggered by the repeated aggravation of his injuries. I will prescribe a few doses of medicine. Once it is brewed and consumed, the fever will subside, and he will be out of danger." "External wounds heal easily, but internal injuries must be nurtured slowly." Qiu Shi nodded gently and said, "You may leave." As soon as the medical officer and the attendants left, the room, which had felt somewhat crowded moments ago, emptied out. Qingfeng placed a clean, damp cloth over Cheng Yi's forehead, assuming Qiu Shi would watch over the bedside just as she had before. But when he looked up, he saw her sitting on a wooden chair beneath the lattice window, her fingers resting against her brow bone and her eyes half-closed, appearing somewhat distracted. Cheng Yi took his medicine, and though the temperature on his forehead receded, he remained unconscious. Qiu Shi sat for nearly an hour. Seeing that he still showed no signs of waking up, she rose and paced over to the bed. Observing this, Qingfeng silently and tactfully stepped aside, revealing a pale and gaunt face behind him. There was a type of person whose appearance was naturally gentle and refined. When awake, his eyes always seemed to carry a warm, thoroughly perceptive smile. Even when plunged into a deep slumber, his entire aura remained as pure and untainted as a handful of pristine snow. Cheng Yi was precisely that kind of person. Qiu Shi had even wondered why the Black Dragon Clan, who traditionally found pleasure in plunder and slaughter, would give birth to such a clean and pure clansman. As the morning sun broke through the layers of clouds, hurried footsteps approached from a distance. Outside the bedroom door, Mingyue intentionally lowered her voice to warn, "Young mistress, the Young Lord has arrived!" Qiu Shi suddenly lifted her eyes. Caught in the morning light streaming through the lattice window, her fingers involuntarily curled into her sleeves, and an absurd sensation of *'it really is happening just like this'* suddenly washed over her.

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