Chapter One: She Was Reborn

The third day of the twelfth lunar month arrived, and snowflakes danced through the air.

Song Tang leaned against the window, gazing out at the world blanketed in white, the tree branches frosted like a painting. She gathered her cloak more tightly around her and silently counted down in her heart, “Three, two, one.”

With a creak, the door opened, and a gust of cold wind swept in, carrying snowflakes with it.

“Young lady, Madam has sent word for you to come over.”

Song Tang set down her hand warmer and rose slowly. “Let’s go.”

She walked through the long corridors, winding through twists and turns, until at last she reached Lady He’s courtyard.

“Sister, you’re here!” Song Wei was sitting before Lady He, cutting paper window ornaments. At the sight of Song Tang, she immediately broke into a sweet smile.

Song Tang ignored Song Wei, paused before Lady He, and offered a slight curtsy, her expression cold. “Mother.”

Lady He’s face darkened instantly at Song Tang’s disregard for Song Wei. “Song Tang, who are you making that sour face for?”

“For her,” Song Tang replied, turning to look at Song Wei. In her previous life, her death at the hands of Mu Ziyu could not be separated from Song Wei’s involvement!

Song Wei froze, her eyes turning red at once. She stood up, her voice trembling as she choked out, “Mother, you and Sister sit for a while. I still have scriptures to copy and must return now.”

“Is cousin pretending to be pitiful again?” Song Tang sneered.

The accusation struck a nerve, and this time Song Wei truly began to cry, wiping her tears as she ran out of the courtyard.

Everyone in the household knew that, with Song Wei’s coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow, she was copying scriptures to burn for her long-departed parents.

Lady He and the master of the house both believed Song Wei to be pure and filial, and so cherished her all the more.

“Song Tang, must you speak so harshly?” Lady He’s temper flared.

“So calling her out for pretending to be pitiful is too harsh?” Song Tang replied coolly.

“She’s your sister, at least.”

“We weren’t born of the same mother.”

“She’s still your sister. She’s been registered under my name now,” Lady He insisted.

Song Tang was speechless. “Lady He, why are you so fond of raising other people’s daughters?”

“How is your aunt someone else? If not for your aunt back then, I’d never have married into this count’s manor.”

“Aunt did it for herself, to marry into a higher family. Her plan simply failed. Don’t try to make yourself look better than you are.”

“Still, your aunt is gone, and Wei’er is pitiful. We must treat her kindly.”

“If you want to be a saint, don’t drag me along.”

“Can’t you learn from Wei’er? She’s been well-educated and well-mannered since childhood, obedient and sensible, so much better than you.”

Song Tang let out a cold laugh. “Oh? Should I learn to put on airs like her? To seize what isn’t hers? Or perhaps to plot and steal someone’s love?”

“Song Tang! Listen to yourself—what nonsense! Not a trace of a proper lady’s manners!” Lady He said angrily.

Song Tang’s sneer only deepened. “And what is a proper lady supposed to be? Is a true lady one who must always endure in silence?”

Lady He knew Song Tang’s temperament and, with Song Wei’s coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow, dared not push her too far. Her tone softened. “Tang’er, you must attend tomorrow. Your sister Wei’er isn’t a true daughter of our house. If you don’t come, the noblewomen will gossip, and it’ll be hard for her to find a good match.”

“What does her marriage prospects have to do with me!” In her previous life, she would lose her temper, smash things, and end up with everything unresolved, suffering in silence.

Lady He, hot-tempered herself, took a deep breath. “What will it take for you to attend your sister’s coming-of-age ceremony? Give your mother some face, will you?”

“I’ll go, but I have two conditions.” Song Tang’s face was expressionless.

Lady He couldn’t tell what Song Tang was planning, but seeing her soften a bit, she also eased her tone. “What conditions?”

“First, I want Cai Die back before nightfall. Second, I want five thousand taels for clothes and jewelry.” Song Tang’s voice was unnaturally calm.

Lady He was taken aback, blurting out, “Cai Die was sold off years ago—how can we get her back? The five thousand taels I can give you.”

“No, I want both Cai Die and the five thousand taels. Not one less,” Song Tang said firmly.

Lady He’s brow furrowed and she was about to lose her temper when Chen Mama hurriedly whispered a few words in her ear.

At last Lady He’s brow smoothed. “Cai Die was sold to the Zhang family as a servant. I’ll send someone to buy her back shortly.”

Song Tang extended her hand. “Five thousand taels in silver notes.”

With a helpless glance at Chen Mama, Lady He gave her a silent signal.

Chen Mama immediately fetched the silver notes from the inner room and handed them respectfully to Song Tang.

Song Tang glanced at the notes, then tucked them into her sleeve.

“Thank you, Mother,” she said, and turned to leave.

“Song Tang, where are you going? Don’t forget to be on time tomorrow—don’t throw a tantrum!” Lady He called after her, but Song Tang pretended not to hear and hurried her pace.

In her previous life, she had not attended Song Wei’s coming-of-age ceremony.

At dusk, just after Song Tang had finished her evening meal, Chen Mama entered her courtyard.

Trailing behind was a small maid, covered in dust and dirt, so thin that she was little more than skin and bones.

Song Tang frowned, looking carefully. “Cai Die?”

“Yes, miss, it’s me!” Cai Die fell to her knees with a thud, tears streaming from her red eyes.

After four years apart, Cai Die had grown taller and older, but her features still bore traces of the girl she used to be.

Song Tang’s nose prickled with emotion. She strode forward and grasped Cai Die’s hand. “You’ve suffered all these years.”

Just looking at her, Song Tang could see that life had not been easy for Cai Die after being driven from the manor.

Cai Die shook her head, still sniffling, and said timidly, “Miss, I’m all right. To see you again—my life would be worth it, even if I were to die.”

“Miss Tang, let’s speak inside,” Chen Mama reminded gently.

Song Tang nodded, asked Chen Mama to return and report to Lady He, then led Cai Die into her rooms.

The maid Qiu Ling followed them in, making no move to leave.

Qiu Ling had been assigned to Song Tang by Lady He in later years. In her previous life, everything Song Tang did was reported by this maid to her cousin Song Wei, and she had even sown discord between Song Tang and the heir, indirectly leading to Song Tang’s death.

“Qiu Ling, go brew some hot tea, and have someone bring more charcoal for the brazier—the room’s grown cold.”

After sending Qiu Ling away, Song Tang sat Cai Die down and gently asked about her years away.

Cai Die, choking with sobs, haltingly spoke of her life after leaving the manor, sold as a servant to the third household of the Zhang family.

The tempers in the Zhang household were bad, and all the servants and maids suffered. Especially since she had come from the Song manor, the other servants bullied her on purpose, forced her to do the hardest work, and often left her without food…

Cai Die wept bitterly. Song Tang gently patted her hand in comfort. “You’re home now. I won’t let you suffer again.”