1 The Beginning

The Imperial City. Yuan Household.

The festive mood of Elder Rong's 70th birthday celebration was in full swing when Yuan Xing made her way through the crowd of guests.

Her movements were quick and silent, like a snake, slithering through slight gaps without making a fuss. Unfortunately, she was eventually spotted. "You brat!" Elder Rong's voice sounded out behind her. The guests around her were startled before making way for Elder Rong.

"Hey, is that her?" someone asked in the crowd.

"Yeah, that's the young miss of the Yuan clan. She's absolutely beautiful, isn't she?"

Another person gasped, "I thought she was nothing more than a country bumpkin but who could have guessed…?"

"A chicken will never become a phoenix no matter how good-looking she is. She's just a distant relative of theirs," a young girl hmphed. Obviously this one was a twat.

Yuan Xing ignored the whispers and turned around. Her perfect bow-shaped lips curved into a devilish smirk that lit up her entire face. The sight was so devastatingly beautiful that both boys and girls blushed. It was no wonder since she seemed to possess a face that could be said to be heavenly.

"Gramps." Yuan Xing slowly walked forward.

Elder Rong narrowed his eyes and scoffed, "You blasted girl! Where have you been!?"

Yuan Xing's lopsided grin remained intact which seemed to infuriate the elder even more.

"Here I was thinking you wouldn't come at all…" his eyes seemed to scan her up and down, "I don't see my present on you. You brat, don't tell me you forgot your own grandfather's birthday!"

She opened her mouth to reply when a mocking voice interrupted the conversation, "What kind of gift can she possibly give you that can meet your standards, Grandfather?"

Yuan Xing narrowed her eyes at Yuan Min. What a fool. What did he hope to achieve by humiliating her? She sighed. The jealousy of an illegitimate child was indeed frightening. She had always read about this type of family drama in novels, shrugging it off as fiction, however, when she arrived at the Yuan household, she soon realized reality may not be so different from fiction.

"Dearest second brother, before you inquire about my gift, would it not be better for you to perhaps learn some manners instead? Hmm? To interrupt a conversation, especially between an elder and their junior, is incredibly rude! Pity, it seems that all your brain cells have been rendered useless whilst your tongue wags without stopping to think using whatever's left in that pebble you call a brain!" she snapped back without a change in expression. Snickers filled the hall and Yuan Min's face turned red as his eyes flashed with hatred and humiliation.

"Ahem, there should be none of that now. This is a happy occasion. Refrain from shaming our family," Elder Rong narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low admonishing tone. Yuan Xing rolled her eyes before rummaging in her pocket and finding the object. "Gramps, I bought this jade bracelet and had it blessed by a Buddhist monk."

The old man with greying hair hurriedly took the jade bracelet from her hands and carefully inspected it with a pleased look in his eyes. "Very good, very nice…." he mumbled. Even though Elder Rong was not her biological grandfather, Yuan Xing wholeheartedly loved and respected him as a real grandchild would. Elder Rong was one of the few members of the Yuan household that truly cared for her amidst the scheming uncles, cousins, and other elders. "Gramps, I'll take my leave now. Elder sister Chang is probably waiting for me."

Elder Rong waved her off and Yuan Xing briefly glanced at Yuan Min's enraged expression and chuckled. She quickly took her leave before he could change his mind. That old man could be more pig-headed than her when he wanted to be.

Yuan Xing usually didn't like these high-class party scenes but for her Gramps' sake, she made an exception. She preferred the wild and upbeat feeling that clubs gave her, much unlike the proper and posh manner seen in banquets amongst rich families like these. Probably the reason why so many members of the distinguished Yuan clan were so displeased with her. Her wild-child persona rebelled against many of the old traditions.

Luckily for her, no one bothered her because she was just a distant relative of the Yuan's, which did not count as much. Yuan Xing kept to the outskirts of the party and found a dark corner where she would be able to keep an eye on everyone. She was leaning against the wall when an interesting conversation caught her ear…