In world where a young mistreated princess died in the Ancestral Hall...

Here, in this one, she died on her bed, where 'another' woke up in her place.

This person was once, a woman who was a cold-blooded killer, thief, and will do any crime asked of her.

"...in exchange for my life as a gutter rat, I'm a princess now." she thought dourly.

Princess her new body may be but the fact is-she was trash due to being unable to cultivate.

Weak, useless, sickly, and a known fool to the public.

Her own father who was an Army Captain looks at her in disgust, allowing his concubines and their children to bully her.

They use HER money, while forced to live in squalor. The only one who stayed by her side is the girl who was raised alongside her to be her handmaiden: Dongling.

She used what power she had left, to continue doing Ken in order not to lose her powers completely. It was a dying ember. She needs the bonfire she once had.

And hone a long-neglected side of her Psychometry...to read objects. Or anything she counts as an object. She usually reads people as information from brains was more valued in her line of work, when she became an adult. But when she was young, she was a source of information on ALL objects. Knowledge she spouted was recorded down, even stuff scientists didn't know about. This enabled the city to exploit trash some more to frighteningly-effective degrees, and how to eat well to keep bodies stronger. What food type is more nutritious, medical benefits and the like, and how best to prepare them. They don't care for gourmet foods, they care more for what keeps them in top shape, taste-be-damned. For the sake of giving rise to stronger future generations.

She can be patient.

She practiced Ken until she can no more. For Citizens of Meteor City, bare minimum requirement, is having enough Aura Reserves to last you six hours, and hone your body and combat skills to your peak base strength, speed, reflexes, reaction time and agility. And everyone is forbidden to get rusty. They must always hone their skills for the survival of the city as a whole, and mastery of Nen Compatibilities in order to easily create Hatsu without trouble, and weaponize it effectively before you're even 16 years old. For at 16, you start working for the city. Food, Medicine, Information, Resources, you must go out and bring home those crucial goods. That, and be doggone creative with innovation and recycling, to create goods out of trash.

Once you're physically at your peak along with combat skills and nen levels up to standards of the elders, you are now an adult, and can work for the city.

As a Specialist, she has it as:

Specialist - 100

Conjuration and Manipulation - 80

Transmutation and Emission - 60

Reinforcement - 40

Meteor City.

Where everything is thrown away. Even unwanted children.

Children are raised by the Community, developing strong bonds because they were all the same. Unwanted. Thus the Unwanted, wanted each other for they were there for them. Everyone adopted each other, with a hatred for the outside world who threw them away. Lived as a Community. Children raised by the Community.

Little Huang Beiyue was discarded the day her mother died when she was eight years old of illness. Only then did her status plummet rock-bottom. Her horrible treatment became open within Xiao Household.

With Ken, she gained some power and health, healing herself drawing on the power of that 40%. Her ruined body by illness...or not?!

Poison!

And Concubine Xue gives her poison, pretending its medicine for her lifelong illness?

"Hooo? So that's how it is?" Pakunoda thought in contempt. "Very well!"

She went to the cabinet to look at the jar of medicine that was half-empty, with a dark green color to it.

The night is still young. Young, by a bandit's standards.

Taking the jar with her and using Zetsu, she crept to the main family kitchens, and reinforced the poison in the jar, before patiently dipping some of the top layer of the favored tea leaves of Xiao Yun and Xiao Rou in the kitchen. She waited for it to dry by patiently blowing on them, before putting it back. As revenge for Concubine Xue poisoning her, and gifts meant for Huang Beiyue taken by Concubine Qin for her daughter Rou.

The fortune and other Lam Cards can wait. There's no hiding place in her...house right now!

Sure enough, day one alone, Xiao Yun and Xiao Rou fell ill at the exact same time, causing quite the panic in the estate.

'There's a weird ruckus tonight...wonder what's going on.' Dongling wondered, bringing home meat buns for them to eat.

As far as Pakunoda remembered, Dongling took on Embroidery to sell for money. Thus she was skilled with the needle. Her handkerchiefs sell for 30 copper coins, or 3000 jenni when she compared the market prices.

'Beats me. I'm just glad nobody will come here tonight.' Pakunoda, impersonating Dongling's princess told her. If she's impersonating her, might as well steal her identity. 'We better eat quick...and we'll talk tonight when we're sure nobody's coming here.'

'Alright...what about?'

'I made up my mind.'

Dongling felt a shiver down her spine, as for once in her life...her lady made icy cold glare in her eyes.

'We have been discarded. So why should we care about them?' Beiyue told her. 'I got lucid enough...to teach you a few new ideas.'

Days passed by, the girls got worse while Beiyue cranked up her Reinforcement to heal faster. What's in the pantry was all gourmet the rich enjoys. But it seems no matter what world, rice, wheat, barley and oats exist. Here, rice, wheat and barley is for human consumption. Oats are for horses.

But nutrition levels are high. Higher than in her old world. To prevent financial stress on Dongling, she makes the girl buy grain and goose eggs. Things they can cook by simply boiling them at home. More importantly, they have no smell when cooked. That, and buy large livestock bones from the butchers.

She had to explain to the baffled maid as to WHY. This way, they can get some nutrition from unlikeliest of sources.

And Beiyue increases the dosage, that the whole family knows its a poisoning, not an illness, but also - a poison that cannot be cured according to the Royal Physician.

'This poison is a rare Heaven-Class Poison...Xiao-duwei, who did you anger to warrant this?' the physician frowned. 'There is no cure for Cold Sleep poison! This is a banned poison in the state and owning one will get you a hair cut of shame and a hundred paddles in public! Naked!'

"This can't be happening!" Concubine Xue and Xiao Yun thought, pale-faced. "Why am I poisoned worse than that trash?!"

"This can't be happening! Rou'er! My Rou'er!" Concubine Qin sobbed with her daughter who was afraid for her life.

'Not that I know of! I never offended anyone!' Xiao Yuancheng sputtered as Concubines Qin and Xue broke down on their daughters, and their sons pale-skinned.

The Royal Physician inwardly scoffed.

Did he seriously say that...?

Princess Royal, Princess Long was a sought-after lady for her beauty, wit and merit! Yet he of all people was bestowed her by the Grandqueen! A decision that angered many, including the Crown Prince of the time that at war against Dongli Country, the nobles withdrew their support in retaliation, leaving the Imperial Army all alone against Dongli's massive armies, a battle even Princess Royal had trouble winning! It does NOT help that on the Royal Wedding Banquet, he was flirting with Qin-erguniang when he went off somewhere and a Eunuch caught them in the act!

'You really need to rethink those words, Xiao-duwei. For it cost you two of your daughters.' said the Royal Physician grimly with a meaningful gaze. 'Think way back. Well, I'll take my leave.' Yuancheng sputtered as the old man left with his bodyguard, leaving the grieving family behind.

'I didn't see such grief when Princess Beiyue fell ill.' said his bodyguard in discontent.

'This is because Princess Royal ensured this family will never benefit off royal resources for making her wear a green hat on her wedding day no less. They should even consider themselves lucky that they still get to live in HER estate even after her death, that's generosity enough as it is when in a normal situation, they'd be booted back to the Xiao's former residence upon her death.' the physician scoffed. 'And you know how rich families work. Those not useful are ignored at best or mistreated at worst while those who are useful are doted on, effectively applying Conditional Love in the household, and the children pick up on that early on.' he sighed as he took out a signal flare and lit it up in the sky, showing a symbol of a black shattered pill. 'Princess is unlucky, but this should turn her fortune around.'

'Er...boss?'

'This is one of my jobs, when usage of an illegal pill is found. This is a kept secret, so nobody gets away with a crime like this.' said the Physician. 'The Black Cavalry will be here in minutes, but the entire cavalry will search all wealthy households indiscriminately.'

And he wasn't kidding, when a grim-faced Geng Zhong marched in.

'Situation?'

'Cold Sleep Pill is used on Xiao's erxiaojie and sixiaojie.' said the physician as the Black Cavalry prepared themselves.

The culprits are usually, IN the household itself, first!

'Search the whole manor! Leave no stone unturned!' Geng Zhong barked as the Black Cavalry flowed into the estate. 'Round up the servants so they don't interfere!'

Two shocking things were found.

1. Concubine Xue has a small stash of said poison in her room in a small jar, and a bigger jar of mysterious liquid in her residence...in Bishui Pavilion? Why does she live here when EVERYONE knows this is Princess Beiyue's Pavilion?!

2. Princess Beiyue lives in a shack! Not to mention she was actually being poisoned over time which was actually the true nature of her illness when they checked the jar of medicine she sips from! Guess where she got it?

'XIAO YUANCHENG WHAT A GOOD MAN YOU ARE!' Geng Zhong roared as he had him and Concubine Xue arrested. 'You two are under arrest for possessing Cold Sleep Pill and making Princess Beiyue live in a filthy shack WHILE she's ill!' the whole family froze, pale-faced as they didn't know that they were found out until now! 'You lied to the royal family for years and we got the entire truth from the Princess! What nerve!'

'Concubine Xue you poisoned my daughter didn't you!' Concubine Qin cried. 'Karma bit you back! My daughter won't die alone, bitch!' Concubine Xue could not refute as poison was found in her house! Nobody will believe her now! 'Rou'er...' Concubine Qin sobbed on her dying daughter.

'Princess Royal Estate will be cleared out immediately! Princess Beiyue will reclaim her home as soon as all of you, servants included, are booted out within the day!' the furious Head of Censorate declared. 'What you bought with Princess' money, will be confiscated and rightfully returned to her!'

This scandal, rocked the city of Linhua and the Emperor was furious with his brother-in-law and his concubine who not only poisoned Princess Beiyue since she was very little with one of the most banned poisons declared since the founding of the country that lead to her infamous reputation today which wasn't really her fault, the scheming concubine even tried to poison Xiao Rou, the fourth miss of the family! But apparently she got a little clumsy, ending up poisoning her own daughter too!

That, and the family lied to the Emperor for years when since the last visitation of the Royal Physician about her fate, she was immediately taken out of her own residence, and made to live in a shack with her only maid. And the Princess' annual income from two fiefs? Why, they're enjoying themselves with HER money while making her live like a pauper! What audacity?!

Concubine Xue got the punishment for possessing a banned pill. She was interrogated in the dungeons without mercy, before her public paddling.

Xiao Yuancheng was fired from his post, as well as the Xiaos are no longer an Imperial Family. He has no face to give, and dragged his family down with him! This in turn, gave Xiao Zhongqi problems as well in the military as well as the Mercenary Guild. He lost the respect and companions he once had, and now faces hostility all around him.

'Beiyue, you're thankfully better off compared to most.' said the Emperor, Huang Fengshuang as he visited her in the reclaimed Master Residence that was occupied for years by Senior Master and Master Xiao.

Because to conceal the fact that she was poisoned, she was fed trace amounts guised as medicine as when the jar she has was studied, most of it was juice from random weeds, and a drop of the poison!

'It does not change the fact that I still have poison.' said Beiyue. 'The declaration that I will not live up to 18 is no doubt when I'll be murdered after making full use of my money for their cultivation.'

'Just say the word Beiyue, I'll gladly dish out revenge on your behalf!' the Emperor promised her.

In the princess' memory, she was doted on by the Emperor despite her uselessness and genuinely cares for her that the bitter princess in her body's memory often wished he was her father instead.

But upon checking the man, the Emperor, is NOT her father.

Ah well.

'Killing them would be kindness.' said Beiyue. 'Let them live, knowing they are alone in this city, with the stigma of criminal upon them.' she smiled. 'Who would associate with them now? Who would hire them now? They have nothing, other than a very-neglected residence they won't even fit in. Not our problem.'

The Emperor was in discontent, actually pouting until it dawned on him what she wanted. Its indeed, a lot crueler!

'Then will you and Dongling be alright here? You insisted you don't want any more servants to help her out.' said the Emperor worriedly.

'We don't trust anyone who's not you.' said Beiyue. 'Everyone threw us away for what wasn't my fault from the start, so we don't want them nor do we care. They are not welcome here nor in our lives. The two of us will be alright by ourselves. Besides, Dongling is healthy unlike me. Cleaning the whole estate will be her physical training, and she still remembers mother's martial arts lessons. Combine that with cultivation, she is truly all I need. If I was ever engaged and I don't know that, please null it for me. Oh, and you may want to ask where the Xiaos put the papers and other requirements. Their problem, not mine.'

The Emperor's heart broke, but nodded.

'Alright. But I will personally plant guards to guarantee your safety.'

'Mm.'

'And your tutoring will continue still...I'll have to find a teacher I can actually trust with you.' the Emperor choked out. 'Since you collapsed, that bastard made your teachers quit four years ago and I don't know their true opinions about you either...as you are now, you can't join Lingyang College. You'll be home tutored until you can catch up.'

'Very well.'

Once the Emperor is gone with his aides...

'Princess...' Dongling looked at Beiyue.

'We have what's stolen back. Stuff bought out of my money which the Emperor will sell for me back in the marketplace so I can get the money back, then Space Rings the Xiaos gained with my money and cultivational herbs and elixirs. Those will be ours now.' said Beiyue, granting Dongling a Space Ring, and some money. 'Buy the foodstuff we need to grow into strong adults. And one of every vegetable and fruit in the market for me to study, so I'd know what to buy next for our kitchen. Tea leaves too.'

'Yes, miss!'

'And you no longer need to Embroider any more...it will be I financing us from now on.' said Beiyue softly. 'You've done well enough.' she told the tearful maid kindly, before she wore a dark look on her face again. 'And I will change our lives. I waited. Hoped. And trusted...yet nobody came to do right by us. It took a scandal for things to get done. Its why I truly believe we are all alone. It's just us in this piece of shit city.' she said. 'For now, buy us what we need, along with condiments and spices. The ring you have, can fill up a mansion. And buy yourself new clothes and shoes.'

Dongling choked with joy. New clothes and shoes when before she had to sell fifty handkerchiefs just to buy herself a new outfit every six months?! And now she can buy as much as she wants?!

'T-thank you so much!' and politely dismissing herself, Dongling ran off.

Beiyue has no doubt about Dongling's rock-solid loyalty to her. This was because the original princess was a kind, gentle person, and Princess Huiwen raised them both as sisters, despite being aware of their social status as lady and handmaiden. But never once did Beiyue treat her like a servant, in fact, wishing she really was her sister, than the likes of Xiao Ling and Xiao Rou who openly bullied her.

Pakunoda who originally only cared for 'her people', grew to like Gon and Killua, who, despite their allegiances, willing to do good by them and placed value in their lives, that they don't want any more fights and killings.

Meteor City who were Unwanteds who thought nobody outside gave a shit about them. They wouldn't BE there if their parents cared about them. But she saw hope in Gon and Killua, and rightfully got back the boss(in a way). But while the boys DID do them good, Kurapika offended them all by killing Uvo. So she vouched for the kids, while giving up herself to give information at her last moments for their revenge.

In this world its no different.

Princess she may be, she was still trash. Discarded. Her mother, her handmaiden Jianqiu who was posthumously given the title Princess Renyi for her loyalty, the Emperor, the Grandqueen and Princess Xihe. Such few people that cares, for a girl who has no future in a world where strength is everything.

Dongling was discarded with her and they know it.

These past few days, she was teaching Dongling. And taught her how to fight like a Nen User even if she didn't teach the girl Nen as Dongling has a functional set of Spirit Veins and Meridians linking to her Dantian. She was cultivating after there's enough food for the day.

And now that they got back treasures, she gives Dongling things that are of no use to her as a Cultivator that Beiyue would rather hone what she's got, than put effort in a useless venture and waste her time. Though she kept the beauty pills.

She has functioning Aura Nodes which were awakened by force when she reincarnated here.

"It'll be a loooong while." Beiyue thought dryly. But as a good spider, the troupe is patient, for the sake of Mission Success.