chapter 2:second chance
"Second miss, wake up" a gentle voice called out to the sleepy young girl, giving her a soft tap on the shoulder.
Quin Yan's sleepy eyes fluttered open, greeted by the invigorating freshness of the early morning. Her ebony gaze blinked repeatedly, fixing upon the gentle smile adorning her loyal and devoted maid's face. Reacting swiftly, Quin Yan sat upright, her arms enveloping her faithful companion. "Jin Yu, I never thought I would lay eyes upon you again," she uttered with a melancholic tone etched in her voice. Jin Yu and Lu Xia, her personally appointed maids, possessed a steadfast loyalty unmatched by any others. They had proven their unwavering dedication to her by being willing to sacrifice their very lives to ensure her safety. Jin Yu's life, tragically claimed by the malicious accusations of poisoning Imperial Concubine Ming, left a bitter heartache in Quin Yan's soul. And to compound her sorrow, Lu Xia had valiantly sacrificed herself, selflessly preserving Quin Yan's existence.
Jin Yu's face lit up with astonishment as she realized why the Second Miss was so delighted to see her. However, she decided to go along with it, allowing the Second Miss to embrace her tightly. "Second Miss, you must release me now. It's time for you to bathe," Jin Yu said with a gentle smile, extricating herself from Quin Yan's enthusiastic hug.
Quin Yan gazed at Jin Yu in shock-filled bewilderment. However, to her utter disbelief, Jin Yu had already passed away. Quin Yan's attention shifted to her delicate hands, now with an unprecedented softness and an unexpectedly diminished size. She then directed her gaze towards her tender and petite feet, finding no sign of a single blemish or Scar.
" Jin yu, can you tell me how old I am?" Quin Yan asked while gripping the quilt tightly, almost on the verge of tearing it apart. Mixed emotions of happiness and anxiety filled her heart as she wondered if she had been granted another opportunity to experience life once more.
Jin Yu sensed that something must have happened to the second Miss while she slept. "Second miss you are fourteen now, and in six months, you will turn fifteen," Jin Yu replied obediently.
Quin Yan couldn't believe her luck - it seemed that fate had granted her a precious second chance at life. After her elder sister's malicious actions had cut her first life short, Quin Yan felt a wave of disbelief wash over her. She cautiously pinched her own face, hoping to dispel any notion that she was merely dreaming. The lingering pain confirmed that she was indeed living in the tangible world, and to her amazement, she had been transported back in time to a time when everything was still in order. In this reality, she had yet to be engaged to the crown prince - instead, she was still the cherished daughter of the Quin residence. In this timeline, Quin Yan had not yet been reduced to the position of a shameful second daughter.
"Where's dad?" Quin Yan asked as she got out of bed. Standing on the floor, she loved the sensation of her feet touching the ground, something she was denied in her previous life.
Jin, yu said, "Master had departed to the royal court for some urgent matters."
Quin San agreed with a nod and made her way to the bathroom. As she entered, steam enveloped the air, promising a comforting warmth. A smile graced her face as anticipation filled her thoughts—diving into the embrace of the hot water. In the midst of her delight, Quin couldn't help but wonder, "But where has my jiejie ventured off to?"
"The Grand miss is getting ready to go to school," Jin Yu said as she walked into the bathroom to fetch soap for Quin Yan.
Quin Yan nodded once more, her father had insisted on their enrollment in an educational institution. However, she had always harbored apprehensions towards attending formal schooling. It had greatly impacted her previous life as she struggled with basic reading skills. Regrettably, the crown prince used this as an excuse to deny her the esteemed position of being the princess consort, instead suggesting she become a concubine. The crown prince argued that he required a literate princess consort who could assist him in various matters. Furthermore, even Quin Fei, due to Yan's limited knowledge, had resorted to bullying her
Recalling the bitterness lingering from her previous existence, Quin Yan made a solemn vow to seek retribution. Determined to emerge triumphant in this new life, she resolved that nobody would be able to defeat her. Quin Fei and Shi Feng would undoubtedly face the consequences of their actions.
Quin Yan sighed in the bathtub, "Once she leaves, get a carriage ready for me to go to school," Quin Yan said, catching Jin Yu off guard. Of course, everyone knew how much she hated going to school. She had constantly complained about the coursework being too difficult. But now, she was unexpectedly asking for a fancy carriage to take her to school. It appears that the second Miss has undergone quite a transformation after a nap.