Chapter 2: Rebirth

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the residence of the Vice Minister of Rites, the Pei family, was bustling with carriages and horses. The main branch of the family, however, was particularly lively. Meng Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law, had just seen off the wife of the Director of Receptions from the Ministry of Rites when she noticed the manager of Jade Treasure Pavilion delivering jewelry. After reviewing the pieces, Meng Shi called for Shi Shun's wife, her personal maid, and instructed, "These jewelry pieces are for the young ladies to wear during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Each will receive one gold phoenix hairpin adorned with pearls and rubies, along with one additional hairpin."

Shi Shun's wife understood immediately: while the gold phoenix hairpins were identical for everyone, the additional hairpins would be distributed according to each lady's favor within the household. She first left the main branch, walked along the covered corridor, bypassed the second branch's courtyard, and headed straight to the rear chambers behind Old Madam Pei's Bright Distance Hall.

Old Madam Pei's Bright Distance Hall, however, was unusually quiet. This was not due to neglect, but because the old madam had been depressed since the death of her youngest son, Third Master Pei, several years ago. She had since handed over the household management to her daughters-in-law.

The rear chambers were occupied by Sixth Miss, the daughter of the eldest daughter-in-law, Meng Shi. As Shi Shun's wife was Meng Shi's personal maid, she naturally went to Sixth Miss's quarters first.

Sixth Miss, seven years old, was the cherished darling of both the old madam and the eldest madam. She was sitting upright at her desk, practicing her calligraphy.

Upon seeing this, Shi Shun's wife effusively praised her: "As expected of Old Madam's own granddaughter, you're truly different from others. Look at how beautifully you write!"

Sixth Miss, named Shun Niang, demurred a bit by the praise and said, "Please, don’t say that. If we’re talking about who writes the best in the family, it’s still Eldest Sister. I’m nothing compared to her."

"Look at you, Eldest Miss is already married and ten years older than you. How can you compare?" Shi Shun's wife flattered her even more.

Hong Ma, Sixth Miss's nurse, personally served tea to Shi Shun's wife and said, "Among the young ladies in our family, the one who loves to compete the most is still this one." As she spoke, she held up two fingers, indicating the second branch.

Shi Shun's wife took a sip of tea, cleared her throat, and offered her own commentary: "Eldest Miss has an excellent temperament and is very generous—everyone praises her. But Second Miss, her own sister, is completely the opposite, always competing and striving to be the best."

"Not only are Eldest Miss and Second Miss different despite being sisters, but Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss are also biological sisters with completely different temperaments," Hong Ma said with a laugh.

Shi Shun's wife agreed: "Fourth Miss is naturally beautiful, but she loves dressing up too much and is quite delicate. Her small-minded schemes are obvious to everyone, and her words often leave people amused and exasperated. Her younger sister, Fifth Miss, is clever and sensible, mature for her age, and very steady."

After exchanging a few more words, they tacitly avoided mentioning Third Miss, who was said to have an unlucky astrological chart and was often plagued by misfortunes. She was now living as a lay Buddhist in a convent in their hometown.

With that, Shi Shun's wife got down to business. She opened the jewelry box and let Shun Niang choose first. Shun Niang saw four hairpins neatly arranged inside, each with a different design: a filigree hairpin with figure motifs inlaid with gemstones, a gold hairpin inlaid with jewels and jade carved with flowers and butterflies, a gold hairpin inlaid with pearls and eight treasures, and a gold hairpin with a butterfly-and-peony design inlaid with gems.

Without hesitation, she chose the gold hairpin with the butterfly-and-peony design inlaid with gems. Shi Shun's wife breathed a sigh of relief—this hairpin was the most intricate and beautiful.

After leaving the rear chambers, Shi Shun's wife ran into Second Madam Lu and quickly stepped forward to pay her respects. Although Second Madam Lu's husband was a son of a concubine, she herself was the daughter of Old Madam Pei's younger sister, making her a dear niece. She was very close to Old Madam Pei.

Second Madam Lu was the mother of Eldest Miss and Second Miss. Upon hearing about the hairpin selection, she quickly mentioned that her daughters were at home.

After visiting the second branch, Shi Shun's wife passed through the corridor, where three small rooms stood with their doors open. Inside, Third Madam Lu was taking a nap.

Third Madam Lu's husband, Third Master Pei, had died young, leaving behind a posthumous child. Third Madam Lu had since observed widow's chastity and raised her son alone.

It was truly a pity—Third Master was Old Madam's beloved youngest son, a holder of a scholarly rank who had died young.

Without time to dwell on this, Shi Shun's wife continued through the corridor toward the west. The east side was occupied by the fourth branch, but since Fourth Madam Huo had no children, there was no need to visit. Beyond the west corner gate was the Pei family garden, which housed a large opera tower. Behind the tower were two small courtyards, adjacent to each other, separated only by a low wall.

Next to the rose trellis was the fifth branch's courtyard. Fifth Madam Cao was a second wife. The daughter from the first wife, Third Miss, was living as a lay Buddhist, while Fifth Madam Cao herself had no children. However, her maid had been promoted to concubine and had given birth to a son.

After bypassing the fifth branch, she finally reached the sixth branch.

The sixth branch was built near the water, its small courtyard lush and green, with a narrow path leading to the main house.

Two crisp-voiced young maids stood at the door, lifting the bamboo curtain to invite her in. As Shi Shun's wife entered, she was greeted by a warm, fragrant scent. In the center of the flower hall stood a Huanghuali screen, and behind it, in the secondary room, was a daybed where Sixth Madam Yu was resting.

Sixth Madam Yu was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. She wore a white silver-striped gauze blouse underneath a moon-white sleeveless jacket, with her jet-black hair tied in a drooping horse bun. The base of her bun was adorned with pearl pendants, and she wore two "drop of oil" gold hairpins on one side, with a kingfisher-feather chrysanthemum pinned at her temple.

Petite and delicate, with skin like congealed fat, she looked soft and fair. As the daughter of a Hanlin Academy compiler, she carried an air of scholarly refinement, appearing both noble and elegant.

"Greetings to Sixth Madam," Shi Shun's wife said quickly, paying her respects.

Yu Shi personally stepped forward to support her and smiled warmly. "There's no need for such formality here."

After thanking her, Shi Shun's wife explained her purpose: "First Madam has sent me to deliver jewelry for the two young ladies to wear during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

She obligingly opened the box. Yu Shi glanced at the contents and said with a smile, "Thank you for making the trip in such heat. Cui Lan, please give Sister Shi some money for a drink."

Shi Shun's wife knew that although Yu Shi was born of a concubine, her biological mother was said to be a merchant's daughter, so her dowry was extremely generous. She was known throughout the Pei household for her good temper and generosity, and everyone praised her.

Just as Shi Shun's wife was about to express her thanks, two young girls entered the room. The slightly taller girl in front was Fourth Miss Li Niang. She wore a pink vest and two passionflower hairpins in her hair. With a standard oval face and deep, sculpted features, she was as lovely as a peach blossom, a true beauty in the making.

The girl following behind was Fifth Miss She Niang, about eight years old. Like her sister, she had a tall, slender figure and an oval face, but her features were more relaxed, with bright eyes and white teeth, resembling distant hills and lotus flowers. She wore an off-white bodice inside, a light yellow gauze blouse outside, and an autumn-scented green horse-faced skirt underneath. In her hair, she wore only a pink silk flower adorned with pearls, and on her left arm, she wore a gold bracelet, giving her an elegant yet rich appearance.

She Niang hadn't expected to be reborn, let alone to return to the age of eight. Last night, she had thought it was all a dream. Today, after pinching herself and seeing everything familiar, though still somewhat shaken, she was almost certain she had truly been reborn.

This was the Pei family's most glorious era. Her grandfather served as Vice Minister of Rites, her uncle held an official post outside the capital, and the household was harmonious.

"Mother," She Niang and her fourth sister, Li Niang, greeted together.

Her mother, whom she had only vaguely remembered, was still young now. As She Niang was lost in thought, Li Niang, upon hearing that Shi Shun's wife had brought jewelry, kept glancing at Yu Shi, her eagerness plain to see.

Understanding her meaning, Yu Shi first dismissed Shi Shun's wife before saying to her two daughters, "Go ahead and choose."

Li Niang and She Niang went over together. Li Niang quickly picked out a hairpin but then said somewhat awkwardly, "Let Younger Sister choose first."

Everyone smiled kindly. In her previous life, Li Niang had also been like this—everyone thought her small-minded schemes were visible and even found them endearing, so no one minded. She Niang hadn't minded either back then, but only later did she realize that this sister was not as simple as she seemed.

So this time, She Niang held back. Looking at the two hairpins, she couldn't help but say, "You've already taken one. Why ask me? The pretty ones have probably already been picked by others. We're just choosing from what's left, and in the end, I always get the leftovers."

After years as empress, aside from being accountable to the emperor, she no longer needed to speak indirectly to please anyone.

In fact, she had discovered a talent of hers—she was particularly skilled at stirring up trouble. Sometimes, even unintentionally, she could make others quarrel.

Li Niang was momentarily stunned. Although her younger sister was younger, she had always yielded to her, and it had become a habit. Li Niang had only been pretending to be polite.

Upon hearing this, Yu Shi raised an eyebrow and glanced at her daughter. Gentle by nature, she rarely conflicted with others, so she said, "She Niang, what are you saying?"

"It's just the truth. If we were following age order, I wouldn't mind," She Niang retorted.

"You child, how about Mother picks a pair of earrings for you?" Yu Shi coaxed her younger daughter.

She Niang smiled. "Mother, I've always remembered the lines, 'Do not envy the peach and plum of spring; the osmanthus blooms and bears fruit in autumn.' But I was just upset for a moment."

"Our She Niang is so understanding," Yu Shi said, hugging her younger daughter. She thought to herself that while her elder daughter was beautiful and loved to act spoiled, making her husband dote on her, she herself, because her son was the Pei family's eldest grandson raised by his grandparents, often worried more about him. She had paid less attention to her younger daughter, never expecting her to say such things.

The eldest daughter-in-law managed the household, always prioritizing her own branch's interests. Even an eight-year-old could see it now.

She Niang looked at her mother and scanned the elegant, luxurious furnishings in her room. She couldn't help but recall how, after her mother's death in her previous life, she and her sister had been entrusted to the care of their aunts, and her mother's dowry had been emptied.

Later, when she married, her father used his salary to prepare her dowry. Fourth Sister, with her silver tongue, had said that the dowry was better taken to her in-laws to avoid envy, promising to return it when Younger Sister married, claiming she was more reliable than their aunts.

But after She Niang married the Prince of Jin as a Concubine, Li Niang made endless excuses to withhold the dowry. It was only after She Niang personally confronted her with leverage that she reluctantly returned twenty-five trunks.

Fortunately, her older brother had always taken care of and protected her. Sadly, he had fought desperately for her on the battlefield and died before turning forty.

Her brother had said he treated her well because their mother, on her deathbed, had said she was young and that their mother had always worried about him, neglecting her younger sister, so as her brother, he must protect her.

Thinking of this, she felt a pang of sorrow. She looked at her mother's rosy-cheeked face, puzzled. How could her mother, who seemed so healthy, die of illness just a year later?