Rebirth
In the eleventh month of the forty-fifth year of Zhaohua (1546).
Dark clouds shrouded the entire Jin'an Marquis's residence, and raindrops fell from the sky, pounding heavily on the bluestone bricks, gradually creating countless splashes of water.
As the year draws to a close, it's been a long time since Beijing has experienced such heavy rain.
The main hall, which bore the plaque of "Loyalty to the Emperor and Service to the Country," was surrounded by soldiers in full armor. Awakened from her sleep, Xiao Yan only had time to hastily put on a few long robes. At this moment, she stood in front of the hall, coldly watching the person sitting at the head of the table.
“I told you, I have never seen these stolen goods. Someone is deliberately framing the Marquis of Jin’an’s mansion.”
She spoke earnestly, but the person opposite her seemed nonchalant. He took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, pointed at the evidence confiscated from the table, and said, "Miss Xiao, you can't say this to us. This is the Emperor's will. If there is any injustice, we should wait until Marquis Jin'an returns to meet with the Emperor."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression turned even colder.
The raid in the dead of night clearly indicated ill intent; moreover, the evidence was entirely fabricated and a frame-up.
It seems this trip is unavoidable.
Xiao Yan raised her eyes and said coldly, "The innocent are innocent. I, Xiao Yan, will obey the imperial edict. I hope you will not have any ulterior motives."
The newcomer chuckled softly, his expression meaningful.
"Of course, Miss Xiao."
...
At the end of November of the 45th year of Zhaohua.
The full moon hangs high in the sky, and the long night is silent.
Near a small stall close to the city gate, a dark figure huddled breathlessly under the cloth covering.
Suddenly, streaks of firelight shone through the thin fabric, and the iron boots, so close at hand, pounded on the bluestone slabs with a chilling sound.
A dense rustling sound came from afar, followed by approaching footsteps that stopped. The leading soldier stepped forward, bowed and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the nobleman before him: "Reporting, sir, we have not found any trace of the Xiao family."
"Have you searched everywhere?"
"yes."
Upon hearing this, the nobleman chuckled and asked again, "Really can't find it?"
The officers and soldiers felt a pang of unease, realizing that the nobleman was already displeased. They quickly knelt down and said, "It is our incompetence, perhaps we were too careless. Please allow us to search again."
The nobleman dusted himself off and said casually, "Heh, no need. Lie down."
Upon hearing this unsolicited order, the officers and soldiers were initially taken aback, but then quickly prostrated themselves under the increasingly impatient gaze of the nobleman.
The cloth didn't cover everything completely; the hem of the draped cloth hanging on the ground had a small opening, through which a piece of black cloth, which didn't match the pattern of the surrounding fabric, came into the soldiers' view.
It's a night-clothes outfit!
Before the officers and soldiers could even look up and report the news, the person hiding under the shelf suddenly jumped out, stepped on his head, and turned his unspoken excitement into a muffled groan.
Instantly, the sound of swords being drawn filled the air.
Layer upon layer of guards surrounded this small area of the city gate, making it impossible to pass through. The sword tip, gleaming with an eerie light, was aimed at the dark figure in the center. At a glance, there was nowhere to break through and nowhere to hide.
Standing in the center, Xiao Yan chuckled softly upon seeing the scene. With her golden embroidered clouds and black iron armor, she could command the entire Imperial Guard to arrest someone; it seemed she was indeed someone of importance.
The nobleman saw her chuckle but wasn't annoyed. He just smiled at her and said in a high-pitched voice, "Miss Xiao, oh no, daughter of a traitor, Xiao Yan, what brings you out of the city so late at night?"
A cold wind blew by, and Xiao Yan endured the chill that emanated from her body. Winter was approaching, and the nights were rather cold, especially since she had been hiding on the icy bluestone slabs for so long. It was too cold, too chilly.
After a moment, she smiled and met that chilling gaze.
“Eunuch Du is a wise man, so I won’t beat around the bush. My father would never betray the country. The Fourth Prince’s memorial is pure nonsense and slander.”
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Du let out an exaggerated "Ouch!" His shrill voice almost pierced eardrums: "Miss Xiao, you can't say such things! This is His Majesty's will. To call this slander is tantamount to saying His Majesty is not wise! This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"
Changing the subject, she pretended to be embarrassed and patted her mouth, then said under Xiao Yan's increasingly cold gaze, "Look at my memory, I've forgotten that apart from Miss Xiao, everyone else in the Xiao family is dead."
Her fingernails dug deep into her palm, and blood dripped down like threads, but Xiao Yan was completely unaware.
What a ridiculous idea of His Majesty! What an absurd idea of exterminating nine generations of a family! The Xiao family has served five dynasties, loyally guarding the frontier, fighting against the northern barbarians and driving out the barbarians, protecting the peace of the country and the well-being of the people. Although the family has been a prestigious military family for a hundred years, it has never had any disloyal thoughts!
Xiao Yan couldn't understand why such a loyal family would be labeled as traitors.
Thinking of her family members who had died tragically on the way back to the capital, Xiao Yan tightened her grip on the dagger hidden in her sleeve.
Previously, the Marquis's mansion was sealed off, and she was forced to go to prison. However, she did not expect to be imprisoned in the Fourth Prince's private prison, and she also received news that the Xiao family members had died tragically on their way back to the capital.
After finally escaping, he contacted his trusted confidant and wanted to leave the city to investigate the truth, but the city gates were sealed, and he could not leave.
At this moment, the Fourth Prince was clearly prepared. If she resisted, it would confirm the accusation that the Xiao family had betrayed the country. If she did not resist, she would be seen as guilty and forced to submit to the law. Either way, it was a dead end with no solution.
Looking at the faint candlelight reflected in the windows of the houses on both sides of the long street, a ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. The Xiao family's century-old reputation must not be ruined in her hands!
Seeing her wrist twitch slightly, Eunuch Du's expression hardened: "Stop her!"
"Pfft—"
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was ultimately a step too fast.
Xiao Yan gripped the hilt of the knife so tightly that her fingers turned white. The blood-soaked tip of the blade pierced through her back. Seeing the calm on Eunuch Du's face shattered, she laughed heartily. This stab had gone straight for his heart meridian; there was absolutely no chance of survival.
Dark clouds obscured the full moon, and the firelight flickered. Xiao Yan suddenly pulled the dagger from her heart, and with a splatter of blood, she shouted with all her might, "My Xiao family would never betray the country! If Heaven has a spirit, please clear my name!"
Her voice was loud, each word filled with anguish, powerfully cutting through the long street. Almost instantly, every house on the street lit up with candlelight, just like the unyielding stubbornness in her eyes.
A dark shadow ripped through the night sky and landed heavily on the ground with a dull thud. As the night sky gradually blurred and she felt a large amount of blood gushing from her wound, warming the cold, pale blue stone slab beneath her, Xiao Yan slowly closed her eyes.
"Boom!"
Dark clouds rolled in, and suddenly a thunderclap boomed.
A tiny white snowflake drifted down from the sky, and someone reached out to catch it, feeling the coolness spreading through their fingertips—it was the first snow. More and more people felt the snowflakes, and looking up, they saw a dense blanket of white, like layers upon layers of paper money for the dead.
The snow fell quickly and thickly, gently landing on Xiao Yan's still-warm body. From a distance, the red and white colors intertwined, like a proud red plum blossom growing in the snow.
An old man peered out through the drafty paper window and murmured, "This snow is so thick, I wonder if it's a good omen or a sign of disaster..."
"What a terrible thing!"
In November of the forty-fifth year of Zhaohua, the Marquis of Jin'an's family was accused of treason. Except for the eldest daughter who was alone in the capital, the entire family died on the way to be escorted away. In the same month, Xiao Yan, the only daughter of the Marquis of Jin'an, harbored treacherous intentions. Despite the advice of the fourth prince's confidants, she refused to listen and was given death at the city gate.
...
On the outskirts of the capital, a small, old horse-drawn carriage wobbled and swayed as it made its way through the snow-covered ruts towards the city.
Including the attendant who sat outside driving the carriage, there were only three people in the carriage. A charcoal fire was burning inside the carriage; it wasn't good quality charcoal, and the heat it produced was not very strong. Its only advantage was that it didn't produce black smoke.
Two girls sat in the carriage. One looked younger, with a childlike face, and was dozing off intermittently, as if she were extremely sleepy. The other girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, leaning against the carriage wall with a cloth bag behind her for cushioning; the bag contained several sets of clothes.
The latter's delicate brows were tightly furrowed, and her lips were somewhat pale, making her sickly face even more pitiful. Admittedly, she was not a beauty, but she was still beautiful in features, like the first snow in winter or a clear spring in summer, with a natural and lively charm.
"It's so cold."
When Xiao Yan groggily woke up, this was the only thought that popped into her mind. The chill seemed to have eyes, seeping into her thin clothes and creeping over her body. Xiao Yan couldn't help but think, rather inappropriately, that she probably hadn't felt as cold as she did the day she committed suicide.
A voice filled with surprise exploded in my ears.
"Miss, you're awake!"
Xiao Yan frowned and slowly opened her eyes.
Before Xiao Yan could figure out what was going on, she was suddenly pounced on, her back slammed against the carriage, a sharp pain shooting through her, and an itch rising in her throat. She couldn't help but cough.
The little maid probably didn't hear her, and hugged her even tighter without caring: "Miss, you scared Yuhe to death, waaaaah..."
Xiao Yan rubbed her forehead and gently patted her back. "Alright, alright, you...you stop crying now. Can you let go of me? I can't breathe."
This time, Yuhe heard it, sniffed, and got up from Xiao Yan's arms. Her eyes were red and swollen, like a little rabbit.
Xiao Yan's heart softened, and she couldn't help but soften her voice, "There are some things I can't remember. You called me Miss. Can you tell me what's going on?"
Upon hearing this, Yuhe pouted and was about to cry again, thinking that her mistress was making fun of her. However, she stopped herself under Xiao Yan's truly unfamiliar gaze and choked out, "You are Jie Xiangsi, the daughter of the governor of Danzhou. You have been without support since childhood. Two months ago, your master passed away. Fearing that you would be bullied without anyone to rely on in the future, he sent us to the capital to seek refuge with a distant aunt of the Jie family."
The cold wind howled through the gaps in the carriage doors.
Xiao Yan pressed her foot against the door, then spoke slowly, "To ease longing?"
“Yes, Miss, that’s your name.” Yuhe moved the stove closer to Xiao Yan, buried her face in Xiao Yan’s shoulder, and continued in a tearful voice, “Miss, you’re not so sick that you’ve forgotten your own name, are you? Waaaaah…”
Forgot?
Xiao Yan lowered her eyes. Of course she hadn't forgotten. However, her name wasn't "Jie Xiangsi." Her name was "Xiao Yan." She just didn't know why she, who had died long ago, became Jie Xiangsi. Or was it that she hadn't died completely yet, and all of this was just an illusion?
Looking out the window, all that could be seen was a vast expanse of white; nothing could be discerned on the road. Xiao Yan pursed her lips, lowered the window, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Yuhe, what year is it now?"
Yuhe thought for a moment and said, "The fifteenth day of the twelfth month of the forty-fifth year of Zhaohua."
Xiao Yan was taken aback upon hearing this.
December?
"Then...do you know anything about the Xiao family?"
"The Xiao family?"
Fearing that Yuhe might not know which Xiao family it was, Xiao Yan added somewhat hastily, "Yes, Marquis Jin'an, Xiao Yunyan."
Xiao Yunyan, a general of the Flying Cloud Army of the Great Zhao Dynasty, was her father.
Yuhe thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh and said, "I know! A traitorous official!"
"Traitor...a sinner?"
“Yes, Miss, it’s been all over the place. They’re saying that the Xiao family is in league with the Northern Yi tribes and is planning to rebel in the south. Luckily, the Fourth Prince exposed them, otherwise the world would have been thrown into chaos again. Don’t you think so, Miss?” After saying all that, Yuhe realized that Xiao Yan beside her had fallen silent at some point, her silence terrifying.
"Miss?" Yuhe waved her hand.
"Ah... I'm fine." Coming to her senses, Xiao Yan smiled palely at Yu He. "Let's not talk about that. Tell me how I got sick. Also, do you know which family Aunt Jie belongs to?"
Although she didn't know why her mistress stopped talking about the Xiao family, Yuhe still obediently began to tell Xiao Yan: "Miss fell ill a few days ago and had a fever for many days. Her fever has only subsided a bit today."
Hearing her say that, Xiao Yan belatedly felt a wave of weakness. She raised her hand to touch her forehead and found that it was still a little hot.
However, upon hearing the little girl's words, a strange and supernatural thought gradually surfaced in Xiao Yan's mind: Could it be that Miss Jie... died of illness? Otherwise, how could she explain appearing in Miss Jie's body when she was clearly dead?
After all, there are cases of people being resurrected through possession of another's body.
What if she was reborn in Miss Xie's body?
Just then, Yuhe continued, "Aunt Jie is said to be the wife of the Zhou family in the capital. I heard that the young master of the Zhou family is some kind of big...big..."
"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review," Xiao Yan said.
Yuhe clapped his hands: "Yes, yes, yes! That's it, Zhou Yanzhi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."
“Zhou Yanzhi…”
Xiao Yan pondered the three words she uttered, her tone filled with admiration, as if she were very familiar with this person.
She looked at Yuhe and said, "So, I'm Zhou Yanzhi's distant cousin?"
"Hmm...that seems to be correct."
"That's great!"
"Hmm? Miss knows the young master of the Zhou family?" Yuhe asked curiously. She was bought back to the mansion when Jie Xiangsi was eight years old. At that time, the master had already requested to be transferred from the capital to Danzhou and did not know about Jie Xiangsi's past.
Xiao Yan smiled and said, "I guess we know each other, but I don't know if he'll still recognize me."
Yuhe nodded, "Oh..."
Seeing the bruises under the little girl's eyes, Xiao Yan knew that she must have stayed up all night taking care of Xie Xiangsi. It was just a pity that Xie Xiangsi still couldn't make it through. The body in this place now belonged to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan let the little girl find a comfortable spot to lean on her shoulder and sighed silently.
Jie Xiangsi, I am Xiao Yan from the Marquis of Jin'an's mansion. I apologize for occupying your body. My family's grudge remains unavenged, and I need to borrow your identity to complete my unfinished business. If you are unwilling, I will personally apologize to you after I have finished my business.
Looking out the window again, I saw the snow falling all around.
Xiao Yan, no, it is Jie Xiang Si.
Jie Xiangsi's eyes sharpened instantly. The Fourth Prince, and the person who betrayed her.
She, Xiao Yan, has crawled out of hell to claim my life!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
