Chapter 1: Rebirth, Donation of Merit, and Loss of Property

"Madam, it's bad! The general has died for his country!"

In Lingxi Pavilion, Song Yanxi had just woken up from a nap when the maid Zhuzhi came in hurriedly to report, with tears on her face.

Song Yanxi's body swayed and she almost fell down.

"Madam, be careful!" Zhuzhi quickly supported Song Yanxi, "Madam, now that the general is gone, the mansion still depends on you to take charge of the overall situation. You must hold on!"

"Wuwuwu... Sister Zhuzhi, Madam and the General have always been in perfect harmony. Now that the General is gone, how will Madam live?"

A cold light flashed in Song Yanxi's originally dazed eyes, and she looked at the little maid Taohua who was crying sadly.

Taohua was originally bought by Lin Tingfeng to serve her.

In her previous life, when the news of Lin Tingfeng's death in battle came, it was this little maid who kept repeating in her ears how deeply in love and loving she and Lin Tingfeng were.

She would seize any opportunity to cry.

She cried so hard that she was trapped in memories, and bit by bit she imagined Lin Tingfeng as a perfect husband, and completely lost the will to live.

After taking care of Lin Tingfeng's funeral, she committed suicide in front of Lin Tingfeng's grave.

But for some reason, after her death, her soul did not dissipate, but was pulled back to the general's mansion by a force.

Her husband Lin Tingfeng, who had died on the battlefield, also came back and brought back a woman.

The woman was Princess Shihan, the daughter of Duke Anguo, and also Lin Tingfeng's sweetheart.

Only then did she realize that Lin Tingfeng faked his death just to trick her into dying.

Only after she died could he rightfully take possession of her dowry and property and marry his sweetheart.

On that day, Lin Tingfeng went to the palace to ask for permission to marry him based on his military achievements.

A month later, Lin Ting married his new bride in great fanfare, and no one forgot that she was just a pile of dry bones.

Only her grandfather, mother and younger brother came to Lin Tingfeng's house on the day he married his new bride, holding her tablet and asking for justice for her.

At the same time, news of his grandfather's treason was also sent to the palace.

Lin Tingfeng led his troops to search and found letters from his grandfather that showed he was collaborating with the enemy.

My grandfather's entire family was beheaded, from the eighty-year-old woman to the infant baby, no one was spared.

At the last moment, my grandfather even knelt down and begged Lin Tingfeng, asking him to give away the youngest baby in the Yan family for the sake of Yan's support for him and for the sake of Song Yanxi, so as to leave a bloodline for the Yan family.

But Lin Tingfeng stabbed the child to death with a sword and then pierced his grandfather's heart.

My grandfather didn’t know that those secret letters to the enemy were put into the Yan family by Lin Tingfeng.

Only when all the members of the Yan family died could he possess everything in the Yan family.

He wanted to wipe out the Yan family, so how could he agree to his grandfather's request and leave a bloodline for the Yan family?

"Madam... wuwuwu..."

I heard Zhuzhi crying.

Song Yanxi came to her senses and found that she was already in tears.

It was not for Lin Tingfeng who faked his death, but for his stupid self in the previous life and for the Yan family members who died tragically.

In this life, she will never let that heartless Lin Tingfeng succeed in his evil schemes again!

"The imperial edict has arrived!"

A shrill voice from the yard interrupted the sad atmosphere in the house.

Song Yanxi wiped away her tears, asked Zhuzhi and Zhuyu to re-dress her, and then hurried out to receive the order.

"… General Lin was posthumously conferred the title of Marquis of Changxin, and was granted a hundred acres of fertile land and a thousand taels of gold…"

Song Yanxi listened respectfully to the long list of rewards. "I thank the Emperor on behalf of the general. I also ask the eunuch to tell the Emperor on my behalf that the general has passed away and left no offspring to inherit the title. Please revoke the title. When the general was alive, he was most concerned about the soldiers on the frontier. Please donate all the rewards to the soldiers on the frontier on behalf of the general and me."

The eunuch who delivered the imperial edict could not help but wipe his eyes when he heard Song Yanxi's words, "Madam is so righteous. I will go back and report to the emperor."

"Madam, no!"

Seeing the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict taking his men away, Taohua became anxious and called out.

Song Yanxi stood up with the help of Zhuzhi, and his cold eyes fell on her, "What did you say?"

Taohua couldn't help but flinch under Song Yanxi's gaze, but she still said, "Madam, the rewards the emperor gave to the general were all earned by the general's life. How can you give up the title and even donate all the rewards?"

Song Yanxi's face darkened. "Do I need a little maid like you to teach me how to deal with the emperor's reward?"

"Madam, please calm down. It's Peach Blossom that has overstepped the boundaries."

Taohua quickly lowered her head and apologized respectfully, but a trace of resentment flashed in her eyes.

Song Yanxi actually refused the title of general given by the emperor and donated all her finances. Is she crazy?

She had to send a message to inform the general and the princess quickly.

Song Yanxi's cold gaze swept over her, and after easing up, he looked at Zhuzhi, "Zhuzhi, order the palace to replace the lanterns with white ones, hang white silk, and set up a mourning hall. No matter what, the general's funeral must be properly planned."

"Yes, ma'am." Zhuzhi immediately took the order.

"Zhuyu, come in with me."

Zhu Yu followed Song Yanxi into the house, but saw Taohua hurriedly leaving the yard.

"Madam, that person has passed away..." Zhu Yu looked at the quiet Song Yanxi, thinking that she was too sad, and wanted to persuade her.

Song Yanxi's face turned serious. "Zhu Yu, there's no need to say anything else. I have something to tell you now. Find Nanny Zhang and Nanny Chen and immediately count my dowry. The banknotes, valuables, farmland, and property deeds should be quietly sent back to the Marquis' Mansion and handed over to my mother."

"Also, you..." Song Yanxi whispered in Zhu Yu's ear, "After this is done, you and Zhu Zhi will sort out the accounts of the general's mansion and return them to the old lady. Tell her that I'm too heartbroken over the general's death to be able to manage the household."

"Madam, you..." Zhu Yu looked at Song Yanxi in disbelief, but before she finished her question, she bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, I'll do it right away!"

After Zhu Yu left, Song Yanxi called Zhu Guo to help her change clothes.

At the same time, he instructed Zhulu, "Zhulu, keep an eye on Taohua for me and report her every move to me."

The four maids, Zhuzhi, Zhuyu, Zhuguo and Zhulu, were all brought from her mother's home. They grew up with her and were as close as sisters.

Zhuzhi is efficient and effective in his work and is a good housekeeper.

Zhu Yu is smart and sharp, and good at financial management.

Zhuguo and Zhulu have been practicing martial arts since childhood. They are ordinary maids on weekdays, but if she encounters danger, they will be her death warriors!

In her previous life, after she died, Zhuzhi and Zhuyu died in the wedding hall on the day of Lin Tingfeng and Zhuang Shihan's wedding in order to seek justice for her.

In order to avenge her, Zhuguo and Zhulu assassinated Lin Tingfeng, but they were ambushed by mistake and died from arrows piercing their hearts.

Thinking of the deaths of these four maids in her previous life, Song Yanxi's heart ached.

Zhuguo changed her into mourning clothes, and seeing that there was not much sadness on her face, she felt very distressed.

I wanted to persuade him, but I didn't know how to start.

Song Yanxi saw what she was thinking, reached out and patted her hand gently, "Don't worry, your girl is fine."

"Madam?" Zhuguo looked at Song Yanxi in shock.

From the first day of the young lady's marriage to the general, she didn't allow them to call her Miss, and told them to call her Madam. What's going on now?

"On the day we married, he went to the battlefield, and we never consummated our marriage. Now that he has died for his country, there is no reason for me to stay with him forever. From now on, you can still call me Miss!"

As soon as Song Yanxi finished speaking, Zhuguo almost cried for joy.

They all thought that the young lady was so calm because her heart had died along with her brother-in-law, so she was just forcing herself to remain calm.

Now it seems that the young lady has really come to terms with it.

As long as their young lady is well, nothing else matters.

Song Yanxi had just walked out of the yard and was about to go to the mourning hall when she saw Taohua supporting the old lady of the general's mansion and Lin Tingfeng's mother coming in hurriedly.

Song Yanxi's eyes swept over Taohua. This thorn in her side, Lin Tingfeng, was quick to call for help.

She squatted down and bowed, "Mother-in-law, why did you come here in person?"

Madam Lin's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. "You resigned the title given to Feng'er by the emperor and donated all the rewards?"