“Rebirth: Married Into the Wolf Tribe as a Wife”

The poor little girl was thrown into the dark, dense forest. Her eyes were bruised and swollen, and her small face was covered in dried bloodstains, as if it had been smeared on, making it impossible to recognize her original appearance. The wounds on her body seemed to have embedded into her skin, her clothes torn and ragged, and her small feet were exposed, turning bright red from the cold. She struggled to lift her battered body, her cracked, blood-streaked lips trembling between purple and pale as she bit down on them. Several times she almost succeeded, only to collapse back to the ground. In the foggy haze, a tall figure appeared before Murong Yue. “Little one, come back to my place with me!” A voice with deep magnetism lingered in the little girl’s ears. The wolf king, Mo Ye, extended his hand. Murong Yue, thinking that survival was the priority, firmly placed her small hand in his large one. It seemed fate enjoyed playing tricks on her. She couldn’t remember how she ended up here, only vaguely recalling her mother pleading with her father. “Your Majesty, please, Yue’er is your and my sister’s biological daughter. Please, spare her! Your Majesty, I beg you! Please, please…” The Empress saw Consort Li, the Emperor’s new favorite, ordering people to torture Yue’er, accusing her of cursing the little prince in her womb, which led to his death. Since Yue’er was an infant, she had always been by the Empress’s side, calling her “Mother Empress” as soon as she could speak. It had been nearly seven years now, and the Empress had long considered Yue’er as her own child. Yue’er was tortured beyond recognition. Her once-clear eyes were now bloodshot, and the tears that flowed from them were tainted with blood, but she couldn’t even make a sound. Her tiny body trembled constantly, and it tore at the Empress’s heart, nearly making her die from the pain. She desperately tried to rush forward and stop the cruelty, but Consort Li’s guards blocked her at every turn. Unfortunately, the title of Empress had long since become a mere formality. She collapsed before the Emperor, desperately banging her head on the ground, begging for mercy. Even though her head was covered in blood, the Emperor showed no sign of compassion. “Please, sister, spare Yue’er! She’s just a child! How can she endure such torture?” The Empress cried, lunging toward the cold-hearted Consort Li. Consort Li didn’t even spare her a glance, gritting her teeth, clearly wishing to see Murong Yue torn to pieces. “Hmph! This wicked woman dares to harm my little prince. I cannot allow her to live!” Ever since the Emperor took Luo Qianrou as his concubine (title: Li), he had become completely absorbed in the pleasures of the harem, neglecting the country’s affairs. After the sudden death of the little prince, his temperament changed drastically. It was strange indeed that the seven-year-old Murong Yue could recognize her true form as a fox spirit. Others always thought Consort Li was alluring and enchanting, distracting the Emperor from his duties, never once considering that this seductive woman was not human. Murong Yue was naturally kind-hearted, and everyone in the palace, young and old, loved her. Emperor Murong Jin had once treated her as his precious jewel and adored her deeply. Her appearance was indeed captivating. Her delicate, almond-shaped eyes radiated intelligence, and her small nose and cherry-like lips made her incredibly cute. Since Empress Shangguan Yuyao had suffered a miscarriage with her first pregnancy and was unable to have more children, she showered even more love on Yue’er, dressing her up to be charming and adorable. The little girl grew more and more enchanting with each passing day. At just seven years old, she was already a stunning beauty in the making. In the palace, Consort Li and Yue’er were always in close proximity. It was unclear whether Consort Li was jealous of her beauty or feared her extraordinary abilities. She probably worried that as Yue’er grew older, she would become harder to deal with. Today, that fear finally turned into murderous intent. Murong Yue had recognized Luo Qianrou’s true form as a fox spirit, but recently, she no longer trembled in fear every time she saw her, as she had when she first entered the palace. Perhaps it was because Consort Li had not actually done anything to harm anyone. One day, with the weather just right, Yue’er was playing in the garden with a few of her brothers and sisters. By chance, they encountered Consort Li, who was accompanied by a group of maids and eunuchs, out for a stroll to admire the flowers. Everyone knew that Consort Li was now the Emperor’s most favored concubine. Although she was difficult to serve, she was notoriously generous when rewarding the palace servants. The maids and eunuchs serving her had grown accustomed to flaunting their power. The eunuch assisting her had his head lowered so much it seemed he might as well be trying to kiss the ground beneath her shoes. A few clever maids scrambled to the front to shield her from the sun with an umbrella. At this moment, the Emperor’s youngest son, Murong Ting, who looked to be about three years old, ran up to Consort Li and tugged at her sleeve. “Consort Li, Consort Li, come play hide-and-seek with me, hide-and-seek…” Murong Ting was the son of Consort Shu, the Emperor’s most beloved little prince. Consort Shu had always been quiet and unassuming, never engaging in jealousy or competing for favor. She had risen to the rank of concubine largely due to her son, and the Emperor had grown fond of her gentle nature. Additionally, she had given birth to a healthy, chubby first son, and the little boy was lively and adorable, often visiting her chambers. However, ever since Luo Qianrou, the new favorite, entered the scene, the Emperor’s visits to Consort Shu’s quarters had become less frequent. Now, Consort Shu was left standing by her palace door each day, gazing longingly and hoping for the Emperor’s arrival. It wasn’t until now, when she had Murong Ting with her, that she could enjoy some comfort. She could eat and sleep with him, personally care for him, and the time spent together helped ease many of the long, lonely hours. “How dare you! Get away from me! You’ve dirtied my clothes, and I’ll make you pay for it!” Consort Li shouted. As she spoke, the little prince was shoved far away and fell to the ground, immediately bursting into loud cries. The maids and eunuchs who were accompanying him rushed to help him up, but Consort Li, while lazily admiring her nails, now stained with the color of the peach blossoms, murmured softly, “I won’t let him see the sun tomorrow.” Consort Li let out a cold snort. Her seductive eyes now radiated a chilling, terrifying aura, and the entire courtyard fell silent, not daring to make a sound. The little prince’s cries were abruptly cut off by the oppressive atmosphere. Luo Qianrou, Consort Li, despised the boy’s mother. The woman usually appeared delicate and weak, seemingly uninterested in worldly affairs, yet she had the good fortune to give birth to such a healthy, lively boy! What infuriated Consort Li the most was that the man she loved pampered this child so much! Seeing him made her blood boil. “Ting’er, don’t be afraid. Be good, your elder sister will help you up,” said Murong Yue, and everyone was stunned, turning to look at the person who spoke. It was Murong Yue, the Emperor’s third daughter. “Consort Li, will I be able to see the sun tomorrow?” Her dark, clear eyes blinked as she timidly stared at the “fox” in front of her, whose brows were furrowed in anger. Luo Qianrou was momentarily speechless at the question. The audacity of this little girl, daring to openly oppose me! For some reason, Luo Qianrou always felt a sense of unease whenever she saw Murong Yue. Though Yue’er wasn’t an evil fox spirit, after all, humans and demons were fundamentally different. If it weren’t for her desire to experience what humans called “love stronger than gold,” she wouldn’t have bothered staying in the palace even for a moment longer. Wealth and power meant nothing to her. “Oh~ so it’s Yue’er. I was wondering who had the audacity to defy my orders,” Consort Li said with feigned surprise, her eyes lifting to the sky. “Hm, if Yue’er wants to see the sun, of course, she will. But…” She pretended to gaze at the sky. “Tsk tsk tsk… such nice weather, but it looks like it’s about to change. We might not see the sun tomorrow… Heh…” The once clear sky had suddenly become overcast, almost as if answering the third princess’s question. The matter was soon forgotten. Consort Shu, of course, knew the true intentions behind it, but due to her timid nature and lack of powerful family connections, she kept quiet. Moreover, since the child wasn’t seriously harmed, she decided to let it go.