Chapter 5

The young Madam Lin was a concubine-born daughter of the Lin family. She had never gotten along with Ji Chan's mother, but they still kept in touch over the years.

Lady Xiao Lin was a concubine-born daughter of the Lin family, and had never gotten along with Ji Chan's mother, yet they still maintained contact over the years.

Ji Chan had once eavesdropped on the mothers' gossip. It was said that young Madam Lin had admired her future brother-in-law, the Marquis of Jinyang, in her youth, causing quite a stir. Soon after, she was married off to Zhao Ming, a second-rank jinshi scholar of that year.

Ji Chan used to eavesdrop on the mothers' gossip, and according to them, Lady Xiao Lin had admired her future brother-in-law, the Marquis of Jinyang, in her youth, causing quite a stir before she was quickly married off to Zhao Ming, a second-rank Jinshi of that year.

The mothers all believed she kept shamelessly visiting the marquis's household because she still hadn't given up on the marquis.

The mothers all believed that the reason she still shamelessly kept ties with the marquis's household was that she hadn't given up on the marquis.

After marriage, young Madam Lin lived well—she had both sons and daughters, and her husband doted on her in every way.

After marrying, Lady Xiao Lin's life was good—she had both sons and daughters, and her husband doted on her completely.

Her husband had used the Lin family's connections to stay in the capital and had since risen to Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a fourth-rank official.

Her husband had used the Lin family's connections to stay in Shangjing back then, and had now risen to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, a fourth-rank official.

Ji Chan only saw this aunt during festivals and holidays, exchanging barely a few words. Their relationship was distant, so she never expected that after being cast out of the marquis's household, this aunt would still be willing to associate with her.

Ji Chan only saw this aunt during festivals and holidays, exchanging barely a few words—their relationship was quite distant. She never expected that after being cast out of the marquis's household, this aunt would still be willing to associate with her.

Hearing Mother Sun's words, Achan replied, "I'm grateful for Aunt's concern. It's all fine now."

After hearing Mama Sun's words, A Chan replied, "I appreciate Aunt's concern. It's fine now."

"As long as you're safe, miss." Mother Sun patted her chest as if letting out a huge sigh of relief. Being caught by the Mirror Justice Bureau and coming back alive was already a stroke of luck.

"As long as you're safe, miss." Mama Sun patted her chest, as if letting out a huge sigh of relief. Being taken by the Mingjing Division and coming back alive was already a stroke of luck.

At the same time, she felt a flicker of surprise. The young lady's tone seemed slightly different from before—smoother to the ear somehow.

At the same time, she felt a flicker of surprise—there seemed to be something different about the young lady's tone of voice compared to before, as if it sounded more pleasant now.

Achan smiled and asked softly, "Mother Sun must be tired after waiting so long. Would you like to rest inside?"

A Chan smiled and asked softly, "Mama Sun must be tired after waiting so long. Why not rest inside for a while?"

She fished the key from her hidden pocket to open the door, but Mother Sun quickly declined: "This old servant won't rest. I'm just passing on the madam's message. She said she hasn't seen you in a while and would like to invite you for a chat. Would you be free tomorrow?"

She fished out the key from her hidden pocket to open the door, but Mama Sun quickly refused: "This old servant won't rest. I'm just here to deliver a message from the madam. She says she hasn't seen you in a long time and would like to invite you over for a chat. Would you be free tomorrow?"

"Since Aunt invites me, I naturally have time."

"Since Aunt invites me, I naturally have time."

"That's good, then. Rest well tonight, miss. I'll come fetch you tomorrow."

"Very well, miss. Go back and rest well. This old servant will come to fetch you tomorrow."

Having delivered her mistress's message, Mother Sun didn't linger. She returned to the carriage, and soon the driver urged the horses away.

Having delivered her mistress's message, Mama Sun didn't linger. She returned to the carriage, and soon the driver urged the horses away.

Achan stood by the door watching the carriage depart before turning to unlock it. As expected, a face full of dust greeted her, and the cold was so biting she could barely stand.

A Chan stood by the door watching the carriage depart before turning to unlock it. As expected, she was met with a face full of dust, and the cold was so biting she could barely stand.

This had originally been a general store, two stories tall. After it was reclaimed, the shelves had been removed, leaving the first floor empty—not even a stool in sight.

This had originally been a general store with two floors. After it was taken back, the shelves had been removed, leaving the first floor empty—not even a stool in sight.

She closed the door and went upstairs. The second floor was just as cold, but at least it had a few more things than below.

She closed the door and went up to the second floor. It was just as cold up there, but at least it had a few more things than downstairs.

A crude wooden bed stood with neatly folded bedding. A wooden cabinet against the wall held undergarments and a new set of winter clothes. In the corner of the cabinet was a wooden box containing some loose silver—about ten liang or so.

A simple wooden bed stood there, the quilt folded neatly on it. Against the wall was a wooden cabinet containing undergarments and a new set of winter clothes. In the corner of the cabinet sat a wooden box with some loose silver coins, about ten taels in total.

A brazier sat under the bed, filled with ash and some half-burned charcoal.

A brazier sat under the bed, filled with ash and some half-burned charcoal.

With the brazier, at least she wouldn't be kept awake by the cold tonight.

With the brazier, at least tonight she wouldn't be too cold to sleep.

Achan turned and went down to the back courtyard. Though the shop was poorly located, it had one advantage: a well in the backyard, along with a storage shed, a kitchen, and a latrine.

A Chan turned and went downstairs to the backyard. Though this shop was in a poor location, it had one advantage: a well in the backyard, along with a storage shed, a kitchen, and an outhouse.

If not for that well, which made the shop's price much higher than others, it would never have remained unsold. Fortunately, that was why she had a place to stay.

If not for this well, the shop's price wouldn't have been so much higher than other properties, and it wouldn't have remained unsold for so long. Fortunately, that meant she had a place to stay.

The storage shed held charcoal and four loads of firewood she'd bought earlier. The kitchen had rice and flour, so she didn't need to go out and buy more.

The storage shed held the charcoal she'd bought earlier and four loads of firewood. The kitchen had rice and flour, so she didn't need to go out and buy more.

Feeling unwell, Achan didn't want to move, but she'd been locked up for seven days and had to clean herself. She boiled a pot of water in the kitchen, closed the door, and took a quick bath by the warmth of the stove.

Feeling unwell, A Chan really didn't want to move, but she'd been locked up for seven days and had to clean herself. So she boiled a pot of hot water in the kitchen, closed the door, and took a quick bath using the warmth from the stove.

While wiping herself with the hot water in the wooden tub, Achan carefully avoided the whip scars. The doctor in the prison had given her ointment to stop the bleeding, and over these days, the wounds had scabbed over and were healing.

As she wiped herself down with the hot water in the wooden tub, A Chan carefully avoided the whip wounds on her body. The prison doctor had given her ointment to stop the bleeding, and over these days, the wounds had scabbed over and were beginning to heal.

As the cloth passed over her waist, Achan was startled to find that under the hot water, a ring of thin black lines had surfaced on her skin.

When the cloth reached her waist, A Chan was startled to find that under the hot water's touch, a ring of thin black lines had appeared on her skin.

The lines looked as if they'd been born there, but in Ji Chan's memory, there had been no such marks on her body when she bathed.

The lines looked as if they'd been there since birth, but in Ji Chan's memories, there had never been such marks on her body when she bathed.

Then she noticed the same black lines on her knees and elbows. These marks had clearly appeared only in the past few days.

Then she noticed the same black lines appearing on her knees and elbows. These marks had clearly only emerged within the past few days.

Perhaps... she touched her neck. If her limbs had them, there should be a line here too.

Perhaps... She touched her neck. If all four limbs had them, then there should be a mark here too.

Was it because of these lines that her body felt so weak? Achan couldn't be sure.

Was it because of these marks that her body felt so weak? A Chan couldn't be sure.

But they were clearly connected to the earlier possession. Unfortunately, she had no leads and no solution, so she could only take things one step at a time.

But they were clearly connected to the earlier soul possession. Unfortunately, she had no clue what to do about them and could only take things one step at a time.

Fortunately, after she finished wiping herself, the lines faded.

Fortunately, after she finished drying off, the marks faded away.

That night, she lit charcoal in the room, warming it slightly, and managed a decent sleep. But she woke frozen at the end of the yin hour. The charcoal in the brazier had burned out, and her stomach was growling with hunger.

That night, she lit the charcoal in the room, finally warming it up a little, and managed to get a decent sleep. But she was woken by the cold near the end of Yin time, the brazier's charcoal all burned out, and her stomach growling with hunger.

Wrapped in her quilt, she lay motionless on the bed, radiating an air of utter despair. Being human was too miserable—having to eat three meals a day and being so vulnerable to freezing. The more she thought about it, the more hopeless it seemed.

She lay wrapped in her quilt without moving, radiating an air of utter despair. Being human was just too miserable—having to eat three meals a day and being so easy to freeze to death. The more she thought about it, the more hopeless it seemed.

Her consciousness and instincts wrestled, and in the end, her strong will overcame the hunger. It wasn't until the beginning of the si hour, when Mother Sun came to fetch her, that she ate a few pieces of chestnut cake in the carriage to quell her hunger.

Consciousness and instinct wrestled with each other, and in the end, her strong will overcame the hunger instinct. It wasn't until the beginning of Si time, when Mama Sun came to fetch her, that she ate a few chestnut cakes in the carriage to quell her hunger.

Mother Sun watched Achan elegantly finish an entire plate of chestnut cake and sighed inwardly. What a pity—a legitimate daughter of a marquis's household, now reduced to such a state, apparently without even breakfast.

Mama Sun watched A Chan eat an entire plate of chestnut cakes with elegant poise and sighed inwardly. What a pity—a proper legitimate daughter of a marquis's household, now reduced to such a state, apparently not even having had breakfast.

By the time Achan finished eating and drank a cup of hot tea, the carriage had stopped at the Zhao family's gate.

By the time A Chan finished eating and drank a cup of hot tea, the carriage had already stopped at the gates of Zhao Manor.

Mother Sun led her through the inner courtyard, past a long corridor, and arrived outside the main hall.

Mama Sun led her through the inner courtyard, past a long corridor, until they stood outside the main hall.

Perhaps their timing was unlucky. No sooner had they entered the courtyard than Achan heard a sharp female voice from inside: "So what if I'd be a second wife? I want to marry him!"

Perhaps their timing was unlucky. No sooner had they entered the courtyard than A Chan heard a woman's shrill voice from inside: "So what if it's as a second wife? I want to marry him!"

From the sound, it was her cousin Zhao Wenyue, whom she'd only seen a few times as a child.

From the voice, it should be her cousin Zhao Wenyue, whom she'd only met a few times as a child.

Zhao Wenyue was clearly arguing with her mother about her marriage. Who was she so determined to marry that a Left Censor-in-Chief's daughter would willingly become a replacement wife?

Zhao Wenyue was clearly arguing with her mother about her marriage. Who was she so determined to marry that the daughter of a Left Vice Censor-in-Chief would willingly become a replacement wife?

Mother Sun clearly hadn't expected this scene either. Her expression turned awkward for a moment, but seeing Achan act as if she'd heard nothing, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Mama Sun clearly hadn't expected this scene either, and her expression turned awkward for a moment. But seeing A Chan act as if she'd heard nothing, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She hurried forward, pushed open the main hall's door, lifted the curtain, and announced loudly, "Madam, this old servant has brought Miss Chan."

She quickened her pace, pushed open the main hall's door, lifted the curtain, and announced loudly, "Madam, this old servant has brought Miss Chan over."

Mother Sun's voice interrupted the quarreling mother and daughter. Young Madam Lin took a few deep breaths before saying, "Come in."

Mama Sun's voice interrupted the quarreling mother and daughter. Lady Xiao Lin took a few deep breaths before saying, "Come in."

Achan entered the main hall, and a wave of warm air hit her. The first thing she saw was her aunt, young Madam Lin, reclining on a luohan bed. She looked much the same as in Achan's memory, except her belly was heavily swollen—she was pregnant.

As A Chan entered the main hall, a wave of warm air hit her. The first thing she saw was her aunt, Lady Xiao Lin, reclining on a Luohan Bed. She looked much the same as in A Chan's memories, except her belly was prominently swollen—she was pregnant.

Young Madam Lin's daughter, Zhao Wenyue, had just been arguing with her mother and now stood to the side. When she saw Achan enter, her gaze held a hint of hostility.

Lady Xiao Lin's daughter, Zhao Wenyue, who had just been arguing with her mother, now stood to the side. When she saw A Chan enter, her gaze carried a hint of hostility.

Achan felt puzzled. She seemed to have no dealings with this cousin. Where did the hostility come from?

A Chan couldn't help but feel puzzled. She seemed to have no history with this cousin—where did this hostility come from?

"Achan pays respects to Aunt." Achan stepped forward to greet young Madam Lin.

"A Chan pays respects to Aunt." A Chan stepped forward and bowed to Lady Xiao Lin.

Her self-address didn't arouse suspicion, as the two characters sounded alike. Before Madam Lin passed away, she had sometimes called her daughter Achan as well.

Her self-address didn't arouse Lady Xiao Lin's suspicion. After all, the two characters sounded similar, and when Lin-shi was still alive, she sometimes called her daughter A Chan as well.

"Come sit." After calling out to her niece, Lady Xiao Lin impatiently dismissed her daughter. "Enough, stop angering me here. Go back."

Zhao Wenyue seemed to feel their earlier quarrel hadn't been satisfying enough. She refused to let it go, even pointing at A Chan as she demanded, "Is it because of her that Mother doesn't want me to marry Young Master Xue?"

Young Master Xue? That surname made A Chan's eyes flicker. Which Xue?

Lady Xiao Lin's face went cold at once. She slapped the low table hard and said bitterly, "You could be a proper principal wife, yet you insist on being a second wife. You've only seen that Xue Mingtang a few times, and already you've lost your head."

Xue Mingtang. Of course A Chan knew that name—Madam Xue's own younger brother. That night of the Lantern Festival, the words "Lord Xue" had been carved into Ji Chan's mind.

What a coincidence.

As a mother, Lady Xiao Lin believed she was thinking of her daughter's best interests in every way. But Zhao Wenyue didn't see it that way. In her eyes, her mother was the villain trying to tear lovers apart.

And she had long known the real reason her mother didn't want her marrying the promising Young Master Xue: because Xue's older sister had married her uncle as a second wife. Her mother would block her marriage over such a trivial matter!

Zhao Wenyue didn't want to shout and make a scene for A Chan's entertainment, but she wasn't about to let her off easily either. Her words came out especially venomous. "Mother doesn't need to put on such a high-minded front. I know your heart belongs to the Lin Family. But everyone in Shangjing knows now that Aunt committed adultery. Everyone's curious who my cousin's real father is.

The fault isn't Uncle's, and Young Master Xue's sister isn't to blame either. Mother needn't force the grudges of your Lin Family onto your daughter."

Hearing this from her daughter, even Lady Xiao Lin was dizzy with rage. She pointed at Zhao Wenyue, but before she could speak, her stomach began to ache in sharp spasms. The terrified maids swarmed around her, and Mama Sun ran out to fetch a doctor.

Zhao Wenyue seemed to finally realize she had caused trouble. While the main room was in chaos, she slipped away.

The doctor arrived quickly and prescribed prenatal medicine, telling Lady Xiao Lin to rest and avoid anger.

After seeing the doctor out, Mama Sun couldn't help but advise, "Madam, you're carrying a child now. You finally conceived a young master. Please control your temper and stop quarreling with Second Young Lady."

Lady Xiao Lin snorted coldly. "Am I the one quarreling with her? She's clearly trying to anger me to death. And the master too—I don't know what's gotten into him, but he actually thinks that Xue Mingtang is decent. My daughter cannot just be married off to some Sixth-rank Official. Even if she can't marry into a Duke or Marquis Family, she can't marry like this."

Mama Sun sighed. The madam had been this way for years—no amount of advice ever stuck.

Though Lady Xiao Lin had a sharp tongue, her temper faded quickly. Once her stomach stopped hurting, she finally remembered A Chan, who had been left waiting.

"I heard you encountered a demonic disaster on Lantern Festival night. Are you all right now?"

A Chan sat in her chair and replied, "It's fine now. The lord from the Mingjing Division investigated and confirmed I had nothing to do with it, so they released me."

"Good. Your mother is gone. In all of Shangjing, I'm your only relative now. Don't drag me into trouble."

A Chan smiled. What else could she say? That her aunt was just outspoken?

"You're eighteen now, aren't you? It's all your mother's fault for keeping you—she didn't even arrange a marriage. Now look. It's not easy to find a good family."

A Chan lowered her eyes and said softly, "A Chan must observe three years of mourning for Mother. I have no heart for marriage."