Volume One, Chapter Two: Are You Also Reborn?

Wen Yunmu felt a sudden jolt in her heart, as if the ashes of her soul, long thought extinguished, had been rekindled by the presence of someone she had not seen in years. Through the veil of distant memories and the golden glow of the morning sun, she slowly raised her eyes to look at the man standing at the doorway.

That elegant and handsome Prince Tang, once the sole protagonist of her girlish dreams, had grown up with her in the Marquis’s residence for more than ten years. He was her brother’s best friend, and had fondly ruffled her hair, saying, “Yunmu, I am your brother too.” Later, before her marriage, she recognized him as her sworn brother, but in her heart, she never truly regarded him as such.

In her previous life, she loved him obsessively, even though he never reciprocated. Everyone stood and bowed to Ye Chuiyun. He first returned Mr. Han’s greeting, then his gaze fell upon Wen Yunmu’s face. He had arrived early and had been sitting in the warm alcove; naturally, he witnessed her confrontation with Madam Qin.

Sharp-tongued, yet able to bend and yield, she could even stand her ground against the formidable matriarch of the Marquis’s household—this was truly surprising.

Their eyes met in midair. Indeed, she had changed.

Once, she and her brother were worlds apart. She had been meek and submissive, a noble lady with no opinions of her own, rarely speaking in his presence, and hardly ever daring to meet his gaze. Beautiful, yes, but like a clay figurine molded by a mediocre craftsman—dull and foolish.

But today, something was different, and this difference was a good thing. For the first time in ten years, he saw her eyes clearly: bright, resolute, and fearless, shining with a sharp vitality.

So alive!

Ye Chuiyun unconsciously smiled at Wen Yunmu.

She was startled. In her previous life, Ye Chuiyun’s defeat and death at Lushui was her fault. Who could say what his fate would be in this life? Her heart was already sealed, so why did he smile at her—so handsomely?

Wen Yunmu sighed inwardly. Well, if she couldn’t afford to provoke him, she could at least avoid him. After all, he never favored her in the last life.

During the break, Wen Yunmu pointed to the pastries and said, “Take this tray to Wei Yan.”

She brought Wen Yunxiu to the family school not out of sisterly affection, but for her own advantage. In her previous life, her fifth sister Wen Yunxiu was also unlucky. She and her mother, Concubine Zhao, had lived quietly and peacefully, but her third sister Wen Yunwan and Wei Yan, in order to hide their own affair, falsely accused Wen Yunxiu of adultery. It was said that it was her own maid, Dongmei, who reported the matter.

Wen Yunmu sneered inwardly. Dongmei must have acted under Wen Yunwan’s orders, merely shifting the blame onto Wen Yunxiu. Most tragically, Wen Yunxiu was strangled on Madam Qin Weishu’s orders that very day, and her mother drowned herself the next day. It was said they felt too ashamed to live, but in truth, both deaths silenced witnesses.

Her father returned from the frontier a month after Yunxiu’s death, but by then, all evidence was gone, and nothing remained.

After that, Wen Yunmu often saw her father sitting in the waterside pavilion, gazing at He Feng Pavilion where Yunxiu had hanged herself. About half a year later, Qin Weishu, taking advantage of her father’s absence on campaign, ordered the pavilion demolished under the pretext of grief, and had a rockery built in its place. From then on, Wen Yunxiu’s name vanished from the Wen household, buried with injustice and blood.

Yunxiu’s life ended before she could step beyond the inner chambers and begin anew, dying in the prime of youth.

“Wei Yan once discussed marriage with Second Sister; is this your way of giving him to me?” Wen Yunxiu asked bluntly, surprising Wen Yunmu.

Wei Yan’s marriage proposal had only ever been her father’s wish; neither family had formally discussed it.

“Sisters don’t talk about giving or not giving. You rarely go out, so take this chance to meet people. Say these pastries are handmade by you. Don’t worry, there’s nothing harmful in them. If, by chance, something is found amiss, the box was packed by Dongmei from my courtyard; interrogate her if needed.”

She spoke with polished courtesy.

“Thank you, Second Sister. After class today, please stay; I wish to speak privately with you.” Wen Yunxiu took the box straight to Wei Yan, but Wen Yunmu felt uneasy. Today’s Wen Yunxiu was sharp and incisive, quite unlike the girl she remembered.

“Wei Yan, autumn is coming, the days are longer. Please have some pastries—I made them myself.”

Wei Yan glanced at the girl before him, arched brows and almond eyes, gentle and quiet, even fairer than her two sisters.

He dared not look too long, focusing on the pastries instead. The flavor of preserved plum was delicate, making him eat another. When she left, he tapped the desk in front, asking Wen Xuqing, “Why have I never seen your fifth sister?”

“My fifth sister prefers medicine and rarely shows herself.”

“She knows medicine?”

“Her mother was a healer; she must have learned something—” Suddenly, Wen Xuqing’s mouth was blocked. Turning, he saw his own sister, Wen Yunmu, stuffing a pastry in his mouth, her sticky hand pressing his shoulder. “You little devil—”

“Brother, is it good?”

“It’s delicious.”

“I’ll bring more tomorrow—bring them to the training hall?”

“You never liked going there.”

“None of your business! Tomorrow, I’ll love it!”

Wen Yunmu set down the tray and turned away. Wei Yan, returning to himself, smacked his lips, “Compared to your second sister, your fifth is truly gentle.”

Wen Xuqing frowned, “My second sister is gentle, too—she just spoke louder today.”

“Your brother means you weren’t proper today—did you hear?” At the head of the table, Ye Chuiyun wore a barely perceptible smile as he asked.

“Oh, I heard.” Wen Yunmu replied offhandedly, eager to leave. She couldn’t afford to fall twice for the same man, especially when her vengeance was not yet repaid; she couldn’t waste her heart on him.

Watching her place the pastries on his desk, she seemed displeased, ignoring him. Before, though she rarely spoke, she always seized any chance to cling to him. Now, she avoided him like a plague.

Seeing her unwillingness to answer, Ye Chuiyun reached out, grasping her wrist, “Yunmu, are you well now after being ill?”

Wen Yunmu tried twice to pull away but failed. She raised her brows, “Has Your Highness studied medicine? Are you taking my pulse? If not, please let go. Men and women should not touch in public, lest rumors spread.”

Ye Chuiyun couldn’t help but laugh, “We grew up together—”

“What of it? That was then. Now I’m grown, soon to be married. Don’t drag me down—” Wen Yunmu pried his fingers off. “I’m better now; thank you for your concern.”

Ye Chuiyun smiled faintly, loosening his grip, letting her pull away, and said, “The palace sent some bird’s nest recently. I’ll have it delivered tomorrow for your health.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Wen Yunmu replied without feeling. She was foolish in her last life—Ye Chuiyun, usually cold to others, showed her extra care, and she’d foolishly hoped for a royal marriage. Now she understood: his kindness was only due to their childhood bond, not love.

Tame your heart, lock away your feelings—don’t be deluded!

An hour later, when everyone had left the family school, Wen Yunxiu tugged at Wen Yunmu’s sleeve, saying, “Second Sister, earlier you spoke of being reborn—I feel the same. Recently, I had a dream I wish to tell you about.”

Wen Yunmu idly played with her brush, asking, “What dream? Tell me.”

“I dreamed that I was killed by the mistress and Second Sister.”

Suddenly, Wen Yunmu felt a chill run down her spine.

“It was because Second Sister’s maid, Dongmei, caught me meeting Wei Yan at He Feng Pavilion and reported it to the mistress. The mistress had a maid examine me, found I’d lost my virtue, and within an incense stick’s time, the news spread through the inner chambers. In shame, I hanged myself.”

Wen Yunmu’s hand froze on the brush cup. She looked at Wen Yunxiu, who had tears in her eyes. Instinctively, Wen Yunmu wondered if Wen Yunxiu, too, had been reborn.

“I was wronged, merely punished in place of Third Sister. She drugged me, and Wei Yan—he forced himself on me. The examining maid was the mistress’s, and the one who strangled me belonged to Fourth Brother’s household.” Wen Yunxiu’s voice was already choked with tears. She quickly wiped her eyes and asked, “My dream ended there. If I could dream further, would my mother live or die?”

“She lives, but her heart is broken. She’s moved to a convent.” Wen Yunmu hesitated, not telling the full truth.

“That’s better, at least she’s spared the mistress’s torment.”

“Fifth Sister, mind your words,” Wen Yunmu cautioned, then asked, “How did you know Third Sister and Wei Yan had an affair?”

“Wei Yan told me himself—he said he and Wen Yunwan loved each other deeply. It started during their time at the family school.”

Wei Yan said so himself?

Wen Yunmu didn’t believe in dreams, but if Wen Yunxiu said Wei Yan confessed, she must have experienced it.

Thus—Wen Yunmu had her answer. If she could return, others might as well.

“Second Sister, I know you may not believe me, but I’ve died once already.” Wen Yunxiu pierced the veil, “Now, I just want those who harmed me to pay. Will you help me?”

“It was my maid, Dongmei, who exposed you and Wei Yan—am I not one of your enemies?”

“No, Second Sister. I know Dongmei was the mistress’s spy in your courtyard.”

Clearly, Wen Yunxiu knew far more of the truth than Wen Yunmu had in her last life. Wen Yunmu was silent for a moment, then said, “This is a serious matter. Why trust me? Are you not afraid my mother will report you?”

“If you hadn’t said you were reborn, I would never dare. But seeing you today, you are not the same as before. Also, I was ill just days before you, with the same symptoms, so I took a chance.”

“I see.” Wen Yunmu asked softly, “What do you want to do?”

“I want to kill Wei Yan and Wen Yunwan, and ruin Qin Weishu and Wen Xuming,” Wen Yunxiu said firmly. “Second Sister, if your dreams are true, will you help me?”

Wen Yunmu put away her brush and smiled faintly, “Of course. But let’s not discuss it now—”

From afar, she saw her third sister, Wen Yunwan, storming in alone.

Suddenly—smack—

A slap landed on Wen Yunxiu’s face.

Wen Yunwan, hands on hips, shouted, “Wretch!”