Mother Swap

My father fell in battle, and the emperor took my younger sister and me into the palace to raise us. I was placed in the empress's household, while my sister was registered under the Consort's name. The empress had been neglected for years, and her position was little more than a formality. The Consort, by contrast, was famed for her beauty and basked in the emperor's favor. My sister obediently took the beautiful Consort's hand, gloating as she watched me follow the stern, unsmiling empress back to her palace. Who could have guessed my sister would take after the Consort? At a palace banquet, her dance captivated the world, catching the eye of a foreign prince. She was sent far away to marry him for the sake of peace, where she suffered terribly. My life was dull, but I married the new top scholar. We were devoted to each other, and everyone envied us. When my sister returned to court to visit her family, I tried to help her escape, but she shoved me off a tall building.

"You only have it so good because you were raised by the empress!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we entered the palace. This time, my sister respectfully knelt at the empress's feet and timidly said, "Your subject's daughter wishes to stay by your side!"

I was stunned. Who rushes to jump into a pit of fire?