Chapter 1

In the early hours before dawn, the night was heavy with dew. The carved lacquer and silk lantern still burned softly, its pattern symbolizing peace through the seasons blurred in the flickering firelight. From the side chamber came faint sobbing of a woman, accompanied by a man’s deep, repeated sighs.

Outside, an elderly servant woman drew her cloak tighter and clasped her hands in prayer to the heavens.

“Heaven above, please watch over the Fifth Miss.”

The Fifth Miss was none other than Jiang Si, the legitimate daughter of Jiang Shen, the third son of Grand Tutor Jiang of the Dayin Dynasty.

A few days prior, Jiang Si had inexplicably caught a chill and had been burning with fever that refused to subside. Her mind would waver between delirium and fevered ramblings, terrifying her mother, Madam Gu, who kept vigil through the nights without daring to close her eyes.

“Master, do you think Yuge will pull through this time?”

Yuge was Jiang Si’s childhood nickname.

Since birth, Jiang Si had suffered from a congenital weakness, her frail body difficult to nurture. Years ago, when Jiang Shen was posted far to the remote Qiu Shui County, he had heard a local belief that weakly born girls were hard to raise, and that giving them a robust, yang-filled nickname might ensure a long life.

Jiang Shen looked at his wife, her eyes swollen from crying, then at their pale daughter on the bed, and sighed again. Suddenly, he exclaimed, “Yuge’s face is so pale—is the fever breaking?”

Madam Gu hesitated for a moment, then hurried over to feel her daughter’s forehead, exclaiming, “Master, Yuge’s fever is gone!”

The girl on the bed kept her eyes tightly shut, her skin as delicate as thin paper. Her slightly pointed chin stirred a pang of sympathy, and Madam Gu’s eyes welled with tears once more.

“Yuge, mother is here.”

She held her daughter’s hand, pressing it gently against her cheek.

Jiang Shen placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder and patted it lightly in reassurance. “These years, you have followed me as I traveled from place to place. Many times she was gravely ill but always pulled through. This time will be no different.”

When he first entered service, he was assigned to a distant post, and Madam Gu was pregnant at the time. They loved their youngest daughter all the more for being born and raised away from the capital, so they pampered her like a treasure. Any hint of trouble sent them into restless worry.

“Master, if Yuge’s fever is gone, why hasn’t she awakened?” Madam Gu forced herself to hold back tears.

At that moment, the girl’s long, dark eyelashes fluttered, and she struggled to open her eyes briefly before closing them again.

In a voice barely above a whisper, she murmured, “Father, mother…”

“Yuge!”

The couple called out together, their eyes fixed anxiously on her, afraid to miss the slightest sign. Under their watchful gaze, Jiang Si slowly lifted her eyelids once more.

The man, refined and gentle; the woman, beautiful and tender—their loving gazes met hers.

So these were her parents in this life. How wonderful.

Jiang Si thought, then her heavy eyelids closed again.

“Father, mother, I’m so sleepy. I want to rest a little longer.”

In her half-dreaming state, she had felt as if she had lived through a long nightmare.

In her previous life, she had been treated as nothing but a blood bag, oppressed and ignored as she grew up. After starting work, her parents constantly pressured her for money to buy houses and cars for her brothers, relentlessly demanding until she was squeezed dry.

To earn more money and escape such a family, she worked overtime to exhaustion. When her body finally collapsed, her mind even considered death as a release.

Reborn, the memories left by the original soul were all beautiful.

When the first light of dawn streamed through the carved window, she finally woke fully and saw her family clearly.

Madam Gu’s eyes were red-rimmed from sleeplessness, and Jiang Shen’s stubbled chin was visible. Behind them stood a handsome young man dressed in a black uniform—their second son, Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan served in the Capital Guard and was the only one among the Jiang family’s sons to forsake letters for the military. Last night, he had been on duty and couldn’t return home but rushed over as soon as he was off.

“Yuge, why are you staring at us so? Have you lost your mind from the fever?” He waved his hand before her face.

Jiang Shen growled, “You scoundrel, what nonsense are you talking?”

Madam Gu scolded him as well, “You’re an adult and act like a child. Yuge likes you the most, so apologize to your sister quickly.”

Jiang Xuan took their scolding without anger and even chuckled, looking joyfully at Jiang Si. “I’m just happy Yuge woke up. When I’m happy, I can’t keep my mouth shut. Please forgive me, sister.”

Madam Gu smiled through tears and chided him for his mischief, then scolded him for not taking things seriously, urging him to change clothes quickly lest he bring outside dirt inside.

Jiang Xuan winked at Jiang Si and left with a light step.

The hour was late, and Jiang Shen had to rush to his post.

Madam Gu stayed behind to care for her daughter personally, feeding her porridge and wiping her face without entrusting the task to anyone else.

In the fire basin made of yellow huanghuali wood, the coals burned bright. The warm room was arranged with exquisite taste: a rosewood dressing table and round stool, a small ornate jewelry box atop it, and a simple plum vase on the right.

Luxurious silk curtains draped like flowing water, shimmering bead curtains, intricately carved furniture, and a profusion of ornaments all spoke of the owner’s favored status.

Jiang Si obediently sipped her porridge, one spoonful at a time, like a fledgling being fed.

“You’ve been ill these days. Mother has sent word to the tutor to excuse you from studies. Rest until you’re fully recovered,” Madam Gu said softly as she wiped the corner of her daughter’s mouth.

Jiang Si shook her head. “Mother, I’m well now. I’ll return to my studies tomorrow.”

In her previous life, she had finally begged for the chance to attend university, only to be forced to juggle part-time jobs and never focus on her studies. In this life, she wished to truly enjoy the undisturbed student days.

Madam Gu frowned, hesitant to speak.

Recently, she had heard rumors that Yuge’s relationship with the Crown Prince of the Fu Kingdom was somewhat unusual. Though not obsessive, it had stirred some gossip. For this, her elder sister-in-law had hinted she should restrain Yuge to prevent scandal that might shame the Jiang family.

The Third House was their branch, the only one of Jiang Shen’s wives with a concubine-born son. The daughter of a concubine-born son could never hope to connect to the crown prince’s household—this much she knew.

She wanted to warn her daughter but seeing the pale little face, she swallowed her words, deciding to wait until the girl’s health improved before broaching the subject.

“Yuge, your body is still weak. Perhaps you should rest a few more days?”

“Mother,” Jiang Si leaned closer, breathing in her familiar scent. “Grandfather always said, ‘Diligence leads to excellence, while idleness breeds neglect.’ If I rest longer, I’ll fall behind my studies and struggle to catch up.”

“You’ve changed after this illness. It’s like you’re a different person.”

Indeed, she was a different person now.

Lowering her eyes, Jiang Si resolved that with parents who loved her deeply and a brother who cared for her, she would live more earnestly and prevent the tragedies of the story from unfolding.

Yes, she was not only reincarnated—she had also entered the story.

The original Jiang Si was a mere cannon fodder supporting character—a naive, innocent girl who had been deceived by the male lead, who had only courted her to spite the female lead. Believing in his affection, she gradually fell helplessly in love.

When she discovered the truth, she could not bear it and changed into a paranoid, twisted person. She obsessed over the male lead, endured ridicule, repeatedly schemed against the female lead, and brought disgrace upon her family, ultimately costing her her life.

After her death, the male lead repented and sought to cherish the one before him, reconciling with the female lead.

Her closest relatives suffered tragic fates: her mother fell ill and died soon after, her elder brother, sister-in-law, and nephew perished in a shipwreck on their way to the funeral, her father sank into despair and drowned his sorrows in drink, and even her once optimistic second brother became gloomy.

Now that she had become Jiang Si, she would never allow any of this to happen again.

...

The Third House had returned to the capital half a year ago. Their residence was naturally inferior to the First and Second Houses, but the Jiang family was wealthy and Grand Tutor Jiang was not harsh to concubine-born sons. Whatever was proper to provide was given to them. The other two houses treated them reasonably and courteously.

After news of Jiang Si’s awakening spread, both houses sent over tonic medicines and supplements. Madam Gu, not wanting her daughter disturbed, sent all visitors to the main hall to speak, citing concern for her daughter’s recovery.

Once alone, two maids who had been waiting outside came in to attend her.

Their names were Zhu Ping and Zhu An. Zhu Ping was taller and had a more delicate face; Zhu An was plumper but with fairer skin.

“Miss, are you really going to resume your studies tomorrow?” Zhu An asked softly while helping Jiang Si comb her hair.

In the carved and painted glass mirror set with jewels, the reflection showed a small face no larger than a palm. Pale as jade, delicate as a flower, with a youthful beauty that was both pure and captivating. The most striking features were her clear, unblemished eyes, clearly cherished and loved by her family, untouched by the world’s harshness.

Such a girl should never suffer such a tragic fate.

Jiang Si turned her gaze toward the dresser, where a silk-covered basket lay.

Zhu Ping hesitated as she brought the basket forward. “Miss, you’ve just recovered and mustn’t strain yourself. If you like, I can finish the embroidery for you. That way, you’ll have it ready in time for the Crown Prince’s birthday.”

Inside the basket were all the tools for embroidery, along with a half-finished piece stretched on the frame. On the deep blue brocade, the design of auspicious clouds and green bamboo was only half completed.

This embroidered cloth was meant to become a scented sachet.

In a few days, it would be the eighteenth birthday of Murong Cheng, Crown Prince of the Fu Kingdom. Born to nobility, he was the most dashing young man in Yongding City. The original Jiang Si had planned to present the sachet to him.

He was, in fact, the male lead of the story.

Lowering her brows, Jiang Si replied, “Hmm. My acquaintance with the Crown Prince is still slight. Such a gift may be improper. Perhaps a fine inkstone would be a more suitable present another day.”

She untied the embroidery frame and casually tossed the cloth into the fire basin.

The flames flickered and consumed the cloth, leaving behind only ash.