Chapter One: Changed

When Xu Ruojin awoke, every inch of her body ached, her limbs felt limp, and before she could even open her eyes, a pungent bitterness of medicinal herbs assaulted her senses.

Suddenly, a hand pinched her nose. She wanted to scream, but before she could utter a sound, a large bowl of medicine was forced down her throat.

She coughed uncontrollably, choking on the bitter concoction, and the medicine bowl clattered to the ground.

A shadow dashed outside, shrieking, “Second Miss is alive! Master, Madam, Second Miss has woken up!”

Xu Ruojin sat dazed, clutching her chest, and looked around in disbelief. Where was she?

The house was a ramshackle structure with dirt walls and tiles, cobwebs clustered in the corners of the ceiling, and a battered wooden stool beside the bed missing one leg.

She glanced at her own hands, and at her thin, skeletal feet—none of this belonged to her.

Shocked, she tried to sit up and call after the person who’d just run out, but a piercing pain split her head, her throat seized up, and not a sound escaped her lips. Her mouth gaped silently for ages, unable to form a word.

Scenes played out in her mind, fragments of memory belonging to this body.

Her eyes widened in horror, and before she could recover, the doorway curtain was yanked open, and a shrill voice lashed out before the person even entered:

“Useless, worthless thing! You actually survived! We arranged a fine match for you, and you nearly drowned yourself falling in the lake. You’ve disgraced the Xu family. If the master’s promotion suffers because of your stupidity, I’ll make your life worse than death!”

Xu Ruojin looked toward the voice and saw an ordinary-looking middle-aged woman.

She wore an indigo dress, with a peony-embroidered cape draped over her shoulders. Her narrow, dangling eyes glinted with venom, sending chills down one’s spine.

She hurled insults, and when Xu Ruojin didn’t respond, reached out and viciously twisted her arm.

“Are you mute? Can’t even speak now? You’ve only got that sly fox face to catch men’s eyes, and you actually think you’re something special? Let me tell you, since you didn’t die, you’ll keep paving the way for the master’s promotion!”

“The marriage to the Zhangs was already reaching above our station. You’ve caused such a mess, the master doesn’t know how to clean it up. Luckily, the Zhangs aren’t holding it against us. You’ll see them again in a few days—if you disgrace the Xu family once more, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

The barrage of curses buzzed in Xu Ruojin’s ears as memories continued to reel in her mind. She desperately wanted to scream but couldn’t utter a sound, while the maid knelt, begging for mercy:

“Madam, Second Miss has only just woken up, her body is still weak. Please let her recover…”

“Impudent! Who gave you the right to speak?”

Madam slapped the maid hard. “You never speak properly in front of her, always sowing discord, and now you go running to the master when she revives? You little wretch, you’re up to no good!”

“Give her twenty strokes and drive her out as a reward—she’s not allowed to stay in the Xu household!”

“Madam, spare me! Let me stay to care for Second Miss, I beg you…”

The crackling of slaps echoed, followed by the maid’s sobs.

Xu Ruojin wanted to intervene, even ask what was happening, but as soon as she reached out, her body suddenly froze, her head spun, memories whirling like a fast-forwarded reel, and everything blurred before her eyes.

Madam slapped away her raised hand, ready to continue berating her, but Xu Ruojin collapsed back on the bed.

With a cry, Madam pointed at her trembling, “Quick, see if she’s dead!”

A servant came forward and checked her breathing. “She still has breath, probably just fainted.”

“Useless thing.”

Madam patted her chest and ordered, “Find another maid to watch her, force down more medicine. We can’t afford to neglect this marriage. Even if she dies, she must marry first. The master and young master’s futures depend on this little fox!”

Xu Ruojin regained consciousness only when night had fallen.

She looked down at her still frail and powerless limbs, her heart steeped in bitterness.

Memories overlapped in her mind—her own, and those belonging to another. She couldn’t help but give a wry smile. Was this a soul reborn in another’s body?

Even if she wished to live again, Heaven’s test was far too harsh.

The illegitimate daughter of Xu Yaohui, registrar of Lin County in the Wei Kingdom—she found this identity hard to accept.

But what could she do? Bash her head against the wall in hopes of landing in a better family?

Xu Ruojin smirked at herself, recalling the scenes that had played out in her mind, and worried about what she’d face next.

The previous owner was Xu Yaohui’s illegitimate daughter, brought home and despised by the official wife, Madam Yang, who left her in a forgotten corner for fifteen years.

But just days ago, the Xu family somehow climbed the social ladder and abruptly arranged her betrothal to the grandson of a Ministry of Personnel official. Before the engagement, Madam Yang took her to the Zhang household as a guest.

Madam Yang claimed she slipped into the lake, but only Xu Ruojin knew the truth—she’d been pushed.

And the culprit was the very man she was to marry…

She had no chance to protest; no one would believe her, and Madam Yang would insist she wed regardless.

Was she really to marry the man who killed her predecessor?

Xu Ruojin refused.

Even if she grudgingly accepted this identity, she would never marry someone capable of murder.

She touched the pendant that had been digging into her side—a translucent jade ruyi, its quality clearly mismatched to her impoverished status.

Her head throbbed. She vaguely remembered it belonged to the person who saved her, and she’d accidentally pulled it off.

The maid, fearing Madam Yang would snatch it away, had secretly tucked it under her.

She had no idea who that young master was, only a vague impression of his features, and for now, any hope of returning it was impossible.

Rubbing the bruises on her arm from Madam Yang’s earlier pinch, Xu Ruojin sighed deeply.

No matter what, she must first recover. Since Heaven had granted her another chance, she ought to treasure it.

In her previous life, she’d been a student of pharmacology, though she’d only learned theory and never practiced. But wasn’t theory the foundation of everything?

She refused to believe that, having lived twice, she could not carve out a brilliant existence. Otherwise, wouldn’t that betray the predecessor who’d been killed?

“I’ve taken on your life, so I must live it fully—not only for myself, but for you as well.”

Xu Ruojin whispered encouragement to herself.

A maid unfamiliar to her entered from outside. Seeing Xu Ruojin awake and watching her, she hurried over to look closely.

“Since you’re awake, you should get up and eat.”

Her tone was flat, without the reverence due a mistress. “My name is Spring Grass, and I’ll be serving you from now on.”

“What about Millet?” Xu Ruojin remembered the previous maid—Millet—who had pleaded for her and been beaten.

Spring Grass’s eyes widened. “You don’t know? After her punishment, Millet was married off.”

Xu Ruojin was speechless, a pang of guilt for Millet welling in her heart.

Seeing Spring Grass’s resigned and bitter expression, Xu Ruojin said softly, “It’s hard luck for you.”

Being assigned to her must be the lowest post in the household.

Spring Grass paused, pursing her lips. “It’s nothing. I’ve always been unlucky. But, forgive my boldness, you’d best obey Madam’s orders, or none of us will see better days.”

“Obey! Certainly, I’ll obey!” Xu Ruojin replied, but in her heart she thought, I’ll obey that shrew’s orders, will I!