Chapter 1: The Lone Phoenix's Rebirth.
In the fifth year of Kangding, one hour before the Beginning of Winter, it was a day of absolute death, a time of yin and yang transition, a day of solitary phoenix inauspiciousness, a day of great misfortune.
When life is bad, even dreams bring bad luck. Ye Mu dreamed of her mother-in-law, or more accurately, her mother-in-law from her previous life. Her features were thin and bony, but her cheekbones were high, giving her a sharp and mean appearance that was immediately noticeable.
The scene in the dream was both terrifying and too familiar; it was the second day of Ye Mu's postpartum confinement in her previous life.
At that time, Ye Mu's milk supply was still low, so Ye Mu instructed her maid Zijing to find a wet nurse. This was overheard by her mother-in-law, who was soothing the baby by the bed. She suddenly rushed over, pinched Ye Mu's nipple, and uttered through her thin, sharp lips, "Why waste money? Just squeeze some milk. No wet nurse outside can compare to breastfeeding yourself. Don't let my grandson get stupid from overfeeding."
Those withered, wrinkled hands suddenly touched him. Ye Mu was caught off guard and couldn't react for a moment. He stood there in shock.
A moment later, the sticky, sweaty smell of hands assaulted her nostrils, and the pain belatedly struck. What flowed out was not milk, but blood. Drops of blood dripped down from her chest, staining the brocade quilt red. Ye Mu's heart and lungs trembled, and she screamed repeatedly, pushing the person in front of her away with all her might.
"Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister, wake up."
Six-year-old Ye Mu slowly opened her eyes amidst the shoving, still shaken. Her once pink lips had lost all color, turning deathly pale, like the morning frost of this season.
"Is Fourth Sister having another nightmare?"
Ye Mu slowly turned her head to look in the direction of the sound. Moonlight dappled through the gaps in the bamboo screen, and thin shadows framed Zijing's face like a fence. It wasn't the evil mother-in-law from her dream.
She looked around. The room was the west wing where she had grown up since childhood, not the main house of the Jiang family. Looking at herself, her hands were chubby and she was still a child, not a daughter-in-law of the Jiang family.
Ye Mu let out a long sigh and hugged the person in front of her, "A-Jing, A-Jing."
"Ah Jing is here, Fourth Sister, don't be afraid." Zi Jing hugged Ye Mu. "Fourth Sister, tell me, what did you dream about? Why were you so scared that you were sweating profusely?"
Although Ye Mu retained memories of her past life, she was still a little baby when she woke up, and her voice was still childish and sweet, "An evil old woman is trying to grab me... grab my chest."
"Fourth Sister is so small, where would you get your breasts?" Zijing said, both amused and exasperated, patting her back to comfort her. "Could it be that you were frightened by those young boys and girls you saw on the street a few days ago?"
In the Great Jin Dynasty, there is a sacrificial custom on the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter). Right now, there are stalls selling incense, candles, and joss paper everywhere on the streets. The stalls are filled with paper effigies of boys and girls, with their faces missing a pair of eyes, leaving two dark holes that make people's hearts pound. Children who see them will inevitably have nightmares.
Ye Mu shook his head, "No, A-Jing...you don't understand."
Zijing chuckled at her childlike, sweet voice and mature tone, hugged her tightly and gently shook her, "Oh my little darling, yes, yes, our Fourth Sister is the most sensible, even more so than sixteen-year-old Ajing!"
Ye Mu couldn't explain it clearly; even she herself found it difficult to explain, as she was someone who had lived a second life.
In her past life, she was the fourth daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an, and should have lived a life of glory and wealth. However, she met Jiang Si, a poor man, and in order to marry him, Ye Mu did not hesitate to defy her family.
To prove herself, Ye Mu accompanied her from a down-on-his-luck youth to a high-ranking official. Over the course of seven years, everyone said that the couple was loving and respectful to each other. However, only she knew that beneath the honor of being "Madam Jiang" lay discord between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, her close friend becoming a mistress, and the absurdity of swallowing bitterness to save face.
Despite its brocade-like exterior, it will eventually reveal its tattered state.
After Jiang Si entered the cabinet and became the Grand Secretary, he not only wanted to elevate his mistress to the status of a secondary wife, but also wanted to raise Ye Mu's three-year-old son under her name, citing Ye Mu's weak health and inability to raise a child. Ye Mu refused, but was falsely accused by her mother-in-law and divorced under the pretext of jealousy.
Ye Mu was banished back to her mother's home, just as the Marquis's mansion was being raided. Jiang Si, who held immense power in the court, framed Ye Mu and submitted a memorial, stripping the Ye family of their title of Marquis of Yong'an, and causing the entire Ye clan to be exiled to the remote borderlands.
Her maternal family suffered because of her, and Ye Mu felt ashamed and couldn't bear it, so she went to exile with her clan. In her previous life, she died of illness during the snowy exile.
As the soul drifted away, crows circled around the corpse. Suddenly, Ye Mu heard a Buddhist chant approaching from afar. He could not make out the details, but he could see a hazy light and shadow, as if a monk in a red robe was standing beside the corpse with prayer beads in his hand.
The moon is bright and the wind is gentle. The chanting of sutras is like a verse. The sound of pearls echoes as crows fly away. The surrounding filth is cleansed, leaving only the bright light of Buddha.
Ye Mu felt his body gradually warming up amidst the chanting. Suddenly, a blinding white light ripped through the chaos, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself back seven days earlier, transformed into a six-year-old child.
Such a bizarre encounter, if told to anyone, would likely be dismissed as the ramblings of a madman.
Ye Mu nestled in Zi Jing's arms, her little mouth slightly pouting. She mumbled a couple of times, then her eyelids drooped, she yawned slightly, and drifted off into a deep sleep.
-
The following day was the Beginning of Winter.
Before the sun had risen, the cold air had turned to frost.
The warm room was cozy and inviting, with the silver charcoal incense burning brightly, effectively keeping the chill out of the carved doors and giving off a languid and relaxed vibe.
Ye Mu was awakened by the voices in the courtyard, his eyelids still heavy.
"...Fourth Sister had a nightmare last night and only slept soundly around midnight. She's still sleeping soundly right now," Zijing said softly.
"Alright, let her nap a little longer," Mother Liu said softly. "But today is the Winter Solstice Festival, and the old lady has to leave for the family temple at 3:45 a.m., so we can't be late. Let her get up and wash in a couple of quarters, and be quick about it."
The Bauhinia should respond.
Ye Mu curled up in the soft, warm brocade quilt, listening to the footsteps of her mother and Zijing fading into the distance. She slowly opened her eyes and began to ponder the affairs of the manor.
The Yong'an Marquis's mansion, where she lived, was one of the most prestigious noble families in the capital. The mansion occupied most of Changning Street, with vermilion gates, high walls, and deep courtyards.
The old lady still presides over the mansion, and the three branches of the family have not separated and all live in this imposing mansion.
Ye Mu's father, Xing San, was known as Third Master Ye. He was the youngest son of the old lady, but he was carefree and disliked worldly affairs. He stayed at home in retirement, which made the status of the third branch of the family in the mansion somewhat delicate.
She was the fourth child among her siblings, the youngest in age, and was known as "Little Fourth Sister".
Before long, Zijing tiptoed in, lifted the curtain, and called out gently, "Fourth Sister, it's time to get up. Today is the Winter Solstice Festival, and we can't be careless."
Ye Mu obediently sat up and let Zi Jing wrap her in a thick floral satin jacket. While she was washing up, Zi Jing specially chose a red gold plum blossom hairpin inlaid with rubies, which made Ye Mu's double buns look particularly charming.
At the very beginning of the Mao hour, just as the sky was beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn, the chill in the air intensified.
Ye Mu was wrapped up like a little rice dumpling. Led by Zijing, she followed her mother, Liu, out of the west courtyard where the third branch of the family lived and into the main courtyard.
The main courtyard was already brightly lit, with many people around.
The eldest and second sons have also arrived.
The eldest uncle, Master Ye, is the current Marquis of Yong'an. With a solemn expression, he was giving instructions to the steward in a low voice. The eldest wife, Madam Wang, dressed in a dark purple jacket and skirt, exuded the air of a matriarch and directed the servants to deliver the sacrificial offerings to the ancestral hall in the backyard.
The second wife, Zhou, wore her hair in a high bun, adorned with pearls and jade. She stood beside Wang, holding Ye Qing, who was two years older than Ye Mu. Her chin was slightly raised, and her eyes revealed a hint of arrogance.
As Ye Mu and his entourage approached, Madam Zhou glanced sideways, her gaze lingering on Ye Mu's silver-red floral jacket before ignoring her. Ye Qing, however, called out softly, "Third Aunt, Fourth Aunt."
Liu smiled and agreed. Ye Mu took her hand from Zijing's and walked to Ye Qing. She took out a twisted dough stick wrapped in a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to her. "Third sister, you got up so early. Have you had breakfast yet? You'll be kneeling in the ancestral hall for a long time later. You can hide this in your sleeve and have a bite if you get hungry."
"Fourth Sister is so thoughtful." A warm feeling just appeared in Ye Qing's eyes as she reached out to take it, but Zhou Shi suddenly slapped her hand away. "Are you short of food? You dare to accept things handed to you by strangers? You have no manners and just make yourself a laughingstock."
Ye Qing's hand immediately turned red, and her eyes also reddened. She lowered her head and dared not make a sound.
Liu stepped forward and gently pulled Ye Mu back to her side, saying softly, "Second sister-in-law, you're too kind. It's just a small token of affection between children. Fourth sister-in-law is thinking of her sister and specially prepared more."
"So the idea of stealing food from the ancestral hall actually originated here. Just like the seedlings of a tree bear the fruit of a tree, the children raised all have the same temperament."
Ancestral hall sacrifices often last for several hours. Families would prepare snacks for their young children in their sleeves to help them eat and avoid exhaustion. This was a tacit understanding and consideration from the elders of the clan. How could Zhou Shi not know this? She was just looking for an excuse to make things difficult for them.
Liu was usually gentle, but she was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to refute. Ye Mu had forgotten that there was such a thing when he was a child in his previous life. Perhaps because he had made things difficult for her so many times, this was already a small matter. Zhou disliked her mother and would make a big deal out of the slightest mistake, making them lose face in public.
“Second Aunt is right, Fourth Sister really shouldn’t have thought of eating in the ancestral hall,” Ye Mu looked up, her childish voice clear and crisp. “But was Second Aunt referring to Fourth Sister when she said ‘outsider’? The Thousand Character Classic says, ‘Brothers are of the same blood and branches.’ Grandmother said that a family is like branches on a tree, sharing the same roots and blood. Third Sister and I both have the surname Ye, and we share the same ancestor. How can we be outsiders? Fourth Sister doesn’t understand.”
Zhou Shi hadn't expected that the little maid from the third branch of the family, who usually only cared about eating, would be so quick-witted today, even quoting classical Chinese and the old lady's words. Her face darkened slightly, and she raised an eyebrow, about to reprimand her for "being glib and flattering," when Wang Shi, who was standing nearby, spoke up.
“Alright,” Madam Wang turned her head, “It’s good that the children are loving and caring for each other. Don’t be too particular about these little things. The ancestral worship is coming soon, so let’s get everything ready and go.”
As the wife of a marquis, once she spoke, even if Zhou was dissatisfied, she had no choice but to shut her mouth, glared at Liu, and pulled Ye Qing forward.
The family temple was located in the northeast corner of the Marquis's mansion. The mansion was deep and spacious with winding corridors. Ye Mu was picked up by Zi Jing and nestled in her arms eating a pancake, his thoughts still lingering on what had just happened.
My mother, Liu, came from a family of scholars and officials, a completely different background from my second aunt, Zhou, who came from a merchant family. However, my maternal grandfather was an incorruptible official in charge of the grain transport and had thoroughly investigated corruption at the checkpoints. He had dealt a heavy blow to Zhou's family, and that's how the feud began.
Now that her maternal grandfather has long since retired to his hometown, and her second uncle, Master Ye, has secured a fifth-rank official position at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Zhou Shi has been trying to suppress the third branch of the family and establish her authority by provoking trouble.
Ye Mu took a big bite of the biscuit. In her previous life, she only figured out the situation in the mansion when she came of age, but it was too late. At that time, Zhou Shi had already taken charge of half of the household affairs, and the third branch of the family was marginalized and had no say at all. She could not sit idly by and had to make plans as soon as possible to let her mother take charge of the general affairs in the mansion and gain a foothold.
"Cough! Cough cough..." Perhaps she took too big a bite, or perhaps she was lost in thought, because the pancake got stuck in Ye Mu's throat, making her face turn red and tears stream down her face.
"Slow down, slow down." Zijing had just put her down in front of the stone steps at the entrance of the ancestral hall when she saw this and was so frightened that she quickly bent down, put one arm around her and gently patted Ye Mu's back with the other hand, "My little darling, no one is going to take it from you, why are you eating so fiercely? Calm down."
Yes, no matter how many plans she had in her heart, she was still just a six-year-old child who couldn't even eat a biscuit properly. How could someone so weak fight for a place for her mother in the mansion?
"Little Fourth Sister!"
A clear, melodious call rang out, and Ye Mu, hearing the voice, hurriedly peered out from beside Zijing, her eyes brimming with tears.
A young man dressed in a bamboo-green brocade robe walked out of the moon gate with a smile.
His figure was already beginning to show its uprightness, and his brows were open and untouched by the hustle and bustle of the world. Even the biting cold wind could not hide his youthful intensity. He raised his eyebrows and shook his clothes, and his brows suddenly opened up and broke through the morning mist.
These fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boys are full of youthful vigor and high spirits.
A note from the author:
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My story has started! Thank you everyone for adding it to your favorites [pat on the head]. I already have 200,000 words in reserve, keep reading!! My next pre-order is "Spring Falls on Two Branches," a story about a younger brother's immoral behavior; please add it to your favorites! [shy]
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