Rebirth: My sister married my Husband while I Married Hers

After the Spring Banquet, Zhang Mei's youngest sister eagerly pleaded with their mother to exchange visiting cards with another family. That moment solidified Zhang Mei's suspicions-her sister had also been reborn.

In her past life, both she and her younger sister, Zhang Qian, had caught the attention of two prominent families at the banquet. One was the Xiyang Marquisate, a noble household with a long history of military achievements, passed down for generations. The other was the He family, a sixth-rank official family from the Ministry of Rites.

The Zhang family held a fifth-rank position, with their father serving as a book editor in the Hanlin Academy. Though not insignificant, their rank carried little real power or influence. A marriage to a sixth-rank official in the capital would already be considered a good match. To wed into a noble family like the Xiyang Marquisate was a dream too lofty to even entertain.

And yet, the Xiyang Marquis' household had taken an interest in them. But of course, they had their reasons. The young heir to the marquisate had a concubine he adored beyond reason. She was a woman of low birth, having come from a brothel, and he had once smashed up an entire restaurant in her defense. He squandered a fortune to compete for her favor, and when the time came, he paid ten thousand taels of silver to redeem her, bringing her into his home. He had even made a grand declaration-that he would love her for life. His devotion was so excessive that it left the Marchioness in constant distress, making her ill on multiple occasions.

Because of his shameless obsession, the noble families that once considered aligning themselves with the Xiyang Marquisate gradually withdrew. No respectable family wanted their daughter to enter such a disorderly household, only to be overshadowed by a low-born concubine.

With no better options, the Marchioness had no choice but to lower her standards. She no longer sought a prestigious match for her son but instead looked for a young lady of intelligence, virtue, and capability-someone who could bring order to their turbulent household. At the Spring Banquet, she set her sights on the Zhang family.

Despite the Xiyang Marquis' household being plagued with problems, such a match remained an extraordinary opportunity for the Zhangs. But in Zhang Mei's past life, that opportunity had never been hers.

As the eldest daughter, Zhang Mei should have been the natural choice, but her mother had died young, leaving her at the mercy of her stepmother-the current matriarch of the Zhang family. Favoring her own daughter, Zhang Qian, the woman ensured that when such a rare marriage prospect arose, it was Zhang Qian who seized it without hesitation.

Thus, Zhang Mei was arranged to marry into the He family, while Zhang Qian became the future Marchioness of the Xiyang Marquisate.

At first, Zhang Qian lived a life of splendor. Because her husband was deeply infatuated with his concubine, his parents sympathized with Zhang Qian and treated her exceptionally well. They entrusted her with the household's affairs early on and supported her in all things. Even when she quarreled with her husband, the Marchioness and the Marquis always took her side.

For a time, Zhang Qian thrived. She held great power within the household and was treated with immense respect.

But good fortune never lasts forever.

With the unwavering support of her in-laws, Zhang Qian grew increasingly intolerant of her husband's concubine. She could not bear the sight of the woman who had stolen her husband's affections, nor could she stomach the constant provocations. She fought back at every turn, refusing to yield.

But rather than pushing the concubine away, her resistance only served to deepen their bond. The more Zhang Qian opposed the woman, the more fiercely her husband defended her. Their love only grew stronger in defiance.

One fateful day, after a particularly heated argument, the young master of the Xiyang Marquisate finally lost all patience. Overcome with frustration, he made an impulsive decision-he eloped with his beloved concubine, abandoning the household and leaving Zhang Qian behind.

From that moment on, Zhang Qian became a disgrace. The same in-laws who once supported her turned their backs, their disappointment too great to conceal. Stripped of her authority, she was forced to live a lonely and humiliating existence, confined to her courtyard like a discarded widow.

While Zhang Qian suffered, Zhang Mei's life flourished.

After marrying He Wen, the second son of the He family, Zhang Mei found herself in a peaceful and fulfilling marriage. A year later, He Wen passed the imperial examination with the highest honors and was named the top scholar. His brilliance caught the emperor's eye, and he was soon appointed as a county magistrate in Jiangnan.

Being sent to Jiangnan was no mere posting-it was an opportunity. The wealthy and strategic region served as a proving ground for capable officials, a stepping stone to greater power.

He Wen exceeded all expectations. His governance was exemplary, earning him widespread acclaim and recognition from the imperial court. His rise was swift-he advanced from county magistrate to prefect, then to governor of Jiangnan. Eventually, he was recalled to the capital and promoted to a fourth-rank imperial censor.

From then on, his success was unstoppable. He gained the emperor's unwavering trust, climbed the ranks, and ultimately attained the prestigious position of prime minister-wielding power and influence that rivaled even that of a noble marquis.

Zhang Mei stood by his side through it all. As the wife of a powerful official, she shared in his glory and honor. When He Wen received an imperial decree bestowing additional titles upon him, Zhang Mei, too, was granted recognition. She enjoyed a status that few women in the empire could ever dream of.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qian remained trapped within the Marquis' residence, her days spent in bitter solitude. The years passed, and she grew accustomed to her isolated existence, but the tales of Zhang Mei's success never stopped reaching her ears. She heard of the love between Zhang Mei and He Wen, of the wealth and prestige they had attained, and of the boundless admiration they commanded.

The knowledge was unbearable.

Consumed by resentment, Zhang Qian's mind began to unravel. She often laughed to herself, her once sharp gaze turning vacant and distant. Then, one day, without warning-she was gone.

Zhang Mei barely had time to reflect on her sister's fate. Not long after, she caught a cold, and due to her fragile constitution, her health rapidly declined. Before she knew it, her life, too, had come to an end.