1 Rebirth

"My lady, your cousin has sent over two bolts of exquisite Shu silk. Would you like to see them?" Aman, the maidservant, entered cheerfully, holding the silk in her hands.

Murong Yu stared at Aman in bewilderment. 

Murong Yu remembered she was drinking a medicinal concoction because Ji Chengxuan wanted a child. But instead of seeking someone else, he insisted on tormenting her. After finishing the medicine, she felt sleepy and went to bed. Unexpectedly, she woke up to find herself back at the age of fifteen.

Murong Yu had only just confirmed her rebirth moments ago. She thought, 'If I remembered correctly, Ji Chengxuan should have entered the residence around this time, hadn't he?'

"My lady, are you not feeling well?" Concerned, Aman quickly set the fabric down and came over to check Murong Yu's forehead.

"I'm fine." Murong Yu said as she shook her head, attempting to mask her inner turmoil. She picked up the bird's nest and silver fungus red date soup in front of her. Every early autumn, that was her essential drink.

These habits followed Murong Yu throughout her life. Even after her country fell and she became the Northern Lord, Ji Chengxuan's concubine, she continued to maintain them.

"My lady, if you're not feeling well, just tell me, and I'll go fetch the royal physician immediately!" Aman said.

"I'm fine," Murong Yu replied casually. "Has anything been exciting happening in the residence lately?"

"Not much to speak of." Aman replied as she shook her head.

"Really?" Murong Yu murmured, wondering if her memory was flawed.

After Murong Yu's country fell, she became Ji Chengxuan's concubine, a lesser wife. She had pondered endlessly about the time Ji Chengxuan had spent in her former residence and remembered that it was around this time that he was working in the residence.

"Go find out if the residence has acquired any new servants recently." Murong Yu instructed. She had never paid attention to such matters before. She couldn't have imagined that lurking in her own backyard was a dormant prodigy, waiting for the right moment to rise above all.

Assuming Murong Yu wanted to recruit new attendants, Aman obediently went to inquire. She soon returned and said with a smile, "My lady, you really are prescient. Indeed, there are new servants. Would you like to see them? I've asked the steward to bring them all over."

Murong Yu naturally wanted to see them. Not just see them; she also wanted to bring them into her own courtyard. However, for some reason, she felt somewhat apprehensive about meeting Ji Chengxuan.

During the years Murong Yu had spent with Ji Chengxuan, she could only rest when he was away from the residence. Otherwise, unless it was her time of the month, she was expected to serve him.

Murong Yu later realized Ji Chengxuan wanted a child. Her health had already deteriorated, and she suggested that he seek other women. He yelled at her and, after that, she had to obediently drink the medicine.

In Ji Chengxuan's presence, Murong Yu hardly dared to raise her voice. It was because, at that time, not only was he a low-status slave from the nomad tribe, but he had also been subjected to mistreatment.

Perhaps due to years under Ji Chengxuan's tyranny, Murong Yu found herself somewhat fearful of him. But then she thought, 'Nothing has happened yet, so what was there to be afraid of? Could he really drag me back to his bedroom like before?'

Steeled mentally, Murong Yu confidently led Aman outside. Aman looked at her mistress in confusion. Even when meeting the empress and other high-ranking ladies in the palace, her mistress was never this tense.

Upon exiting, Murong Yu saw the new servants standing there. Her heartbeat quickened momentarily. However, her brow soon furrowed. She asked, "Is this all?"

The steward bowed and nodded. He said, "These are all the new arrivals to the residence today, Lady Yu."

"Is that so?" Murong Yu said as she pursed her lips. She wondered, 'Did I remember incorrectly?'

"My lady, what's the matter?" Aman voiced her concern.