MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 128: This is what being an unwanted daughter looks like!

Chapter 128: This is what being an unwanted daughter looks like!

As Hua Jing and Xia Lin walked away from the trembling Mei Rong, the air between them buzzed with unspoken plans. The scent of fragrant plum blossoms drifted through the garden paths, mingling with the faint sounds of music from the banquet hall.

Xia Lin, ever the cautious one, side-eyed her mistress before finally giving in to her curiosity. "Are you really going to help her?"

Hua Jing smirked, the corners of her lips curling mischievously. "Of course. I told her she found the right person, didn’t I?"

Xia Lin sighed, rubbing her temples. "But, my lady, that girl is carrying Jiang Lei’s child. And you hate Jiang Lei."

"Exactly," Hua Jing quipped, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Which is why helping her will be very satisfying."

Xia Lin let out an exasperated breath. "So, what’s the plan?"

Hua Jing clasped her hands behind her back, strolling leisurely as if she were merely enjoying a pleasant evening walk instead of plotting the downfall of a cheating scumbag. "Simple. Mei Rong is going to be the surprise guest of honor at this wedding."

Xia Lin nearly tripped. "You—what?!"

Hua Jing gave her an innocent look. "What better way to congratulate the happy couple than by introducing them to the real gift Jiang Lei left behind?"

Xia Lin groaned. "This is madness."

"Correction—this is justice," Hua Jing corrected, a wicked grin playing on her lips. "Jiang Lei deserves to have his lies exposed, and Mei Rong deserves to have her voice heard. And, as for Hua Ling and her dear mother..." She chuckled darkly. "Well, let’s just say I’m very interested in how they’ll react when their perfect wedding turns into a scandal."

Xia Lin gave her a wary look. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

Hua Jing shrugged. "Revenge is a dish best served with wine and a front-row seat."

They continued walking, their laughter blending with the night breeze. But then, just as Hua Jing was about to make another quip, her steps faltered.

Her eyes landed on a small, dilapidated courtyard tucked away in a secluded corner of the Hua Manor.

The laughter died on her lips.

She stopped walking.

Xia Lin followed her gaze, her expression turning solemn.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, its once-red doors now faded and chipped. The stone path leading to the entrance was cracked, with moss creeping over its edges. The windows were covered in dust, and the wooden beams looked like they had not been maintained in years.

It was small. Forgotten. Abandoned.

And yet, this...

This was supposed to be her home.

The place where the original Hua Jing had lived.

A strange feeling stirred inside her—one she couldn’t quite name.

She took a slow step forward, her fingers grazing the worn wooden frame of the gate.

"This is it, isn’t it?" she murmured, almost to herself.

Xia Lin hesitated before nodding. "Yes. This was your courtyard before you married into the palace."

Hua Jing exhaled, a humorless smile tugging at her lips. "How fitting. Even the house was treated like an unwanted stain."

Xia Lin bit her lip, unsure of what to say.

Hua Jing tilted her head, observing the ruins of what should have been a home. It was clear no one had set foot here in a long time.

She let out a quiet chuckle, but there was no real amusement in it.

"So this is what being an unwanted daughter looks like..."

Hua Jing’s fingers tightened around the wooden gate as she took in the stark contrast before her.

Her courtyard—if it could even be called that—was a crumbling, abandoned ruin, left to decay like an unwanted relic of the past. The paint on the doors had long since peeled away, revealing the raw wood beneath. The stone pathway was uneven, weeds curling around the cracks like nature itself was trying to reclaim it.

But just beyond it—mere steps away—stood Hua Ling’s courtyard.

And it was magnificent.

The walls were adorned with fresh coats of red and gold, glowing under the lanterns that lined its entrance. A beautiful peony tree stood proudly in the center, its petals fluttering like silk in the evening breeze. Servants bustled about, tending to the courtyard’s upkeep, ensuring that not a single speck of dust tarnished its elegance. Even from the outside, the inside looked warm, welcoming—a place fit for the beloved daughter of the Hua family.

Xia Lin let out a low whistle, arms crossed. "If this isn’t favoritism, then I don’t know what is."

Hua Jing let out a snort, her lips curling into a smirk. "No, this is more than just favoritism," she mused, tilting her head as she admired the gall of it all.

Placing the real daughter right next to the discarded one?

It wasn’t just favoritism.

It was a statement.

A reminder of who held value in this household and who did not.

Xia Lin gestured toward the glowing courtyard. "Hua Ling must have loved having your room this close. Easy access if she ever wanted to rub her good fortune in your face."

Hua Jing’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice dramatically. "Oh, I bet she did. I can just see it now—her peering over her silk curtains, looking out the window just to make sure I was still suffering."

Xia Lin rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t hide the smirk tugging at her lips. "You do have a talent for theatrics, my lady."

Hua Jing placed a hand over her heart. "Why, thank you! If I ever return to my old world, I’ll be sure to win another Best Actress award."

Xia Lin did not understand but she still sighed. "If only those awards could save you now."

Hua Jing let out a soft chuckle but then turned her gaze back toward her abandoned courtyard.

The humor slowly faded from her face.

It was one thing to know she had been treated like a ghost in this house.

It was another thing entirely to see it with her own eyes.

Her smirk remained, but there was a glint in her gaze—something unreadable, something buried deep beneath the layers of confidence she wore so well.

And then, without another word, she took a step forward.

Into her courtyard.

Xia Lin hesitated before following, watching her mistress closely.

The moment Hua Jing crossed the threshold, something shifted.

A strange sensation crawled up her spine—familiarity.

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the space, taking in every detail. The furniture was sparse, covered in dust and neglect. The wooden bed was simple, with no ornate carvings like those in Hua Ling’s room. A small writing desk sat near the window, its surface scratched from years of use. There was even a single shelf, its contents long gone, save for a single porcelain cup tipped over on its side.

The air inside was stale, untouched for who knew how long.

Yet, somehow...

It felt as if echoes of a past she didn’t remember lingered in the corners, whispering in the silence.

A strange weight settled in her chest.

Her fingers brushed against the edge of the desk, and a sudden wave of something unexplainable washed over her.

A memory—or was it a feeling?

Pain.

Loneliness.

Hopelessness.

She swallowed.

This was where the original Hua Jing had lived.

Where she had cried.

Where she had suffered.

A bitter taste filled her mouth.

Her past self may not have belonged to this place, but for some reason, a deep, unshakable anger coiled in her chest.

She clenched her fist.

This was supposed to be her home.

And yet, it had never been one.

Xia Lin shifted behind her. "My lady?"