My Fiancé Brought the Real Heiress to Force Me Out, but the Emperor Has My Back

Chu Yao was gravely injured while saving Prince Chen, Xuanyuan Rui! She would never be able to bear children, so the Empress Dowager, wishing to repay her, issued an imperial decree granting her marriage to Prince Chen and naming her his princess consort. He was forbidden from taking concubines for the rest of his life unless Chu Yao gave her consent. Thanks to Chu Yao, the He family rose rapidly in status, receiving official posts and noble titles. They went from a modest landowning family to the heart of the capital's elite. Everyone said Chu Yao was blessed with good fortune! Then, at her sixteenth birthday banquet, Prince Chen arrived with a pure and pitiful country girl. He declared that jealous concubines had switched the babies, stealing the He family's legitimate daughter and replacing her with an orphan from the streets. With the real heiress returned, the He family's attitude changed completely. To curry favor with He Lanyi, they disowned Chu Yao, hurling insults at her and accusing her of enjoying sixteen years of the He family's wealth and glory. They forced her to give up her place as Prince Chen's consort so He Lanyi could take it. Her blood brother threatened her with the tip of his sword. “You may have cleared the General's name, but Lanyi is the only sister I recognize. Make her cry, and I won't go easy on you.” Abandoned by everyone, Chu Yao was despised and belittled by the He family. They climbed the social ladder and secured wealth and promotions by trampling on her, while He Lanyi seized the place as Prince Chen's consort that should have been hers. Her own brother publicly petitioned to sever ties with her, using the family's honor as He Lanyi's dowry. Driven to hysterics and no longer of any use, Chu Yao was branded a madwoman and thrown out of the He residence. In the end, He Lanyi and her admirers had her violated and killed. Before she died, He Lanyi said, “Sister, you probably don't know why your family resents you so much. The He family was behind the whole true-and-fake heiress affair. Unfortunately, the people of the General's residence were framed and died unjustly. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to suffer all those years outside.” Chu Yao couldn't accept it. She had struggled through the first half of her life only for someone else to reap the rewards, and even after death she would be branded a villain who usurped another's place.