The Battle of the Noble Ladies (Book 1)

Chapter 2 - Rebirth

After several days of gloomy weather, the first spring thunderstorm finally broke, with lightning flashing across the sky of the capital.

Song Chuyi was startled awake by the thunder, drenched in cold sweat, and sat up, gasping for breath.

She was back in her familiar yellow pearwood carved bed, with the pink gauze canopy her mother had chosen for her. Through the canopy, she could see the glass lamp still burning on the table.

It was warm, and the air she exhaled was warm... She pinched her face hard, and it hurt...

It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a dream. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

"Miss, you're awake?" Luyi's warm, familiar voice came from above. She quickly opened the canopy and felt Song Chuyi's forehead, finally sighing in relief. "Thank goodness, the fever hasn't come back."

Song Chuyi sat dazedly at the head of the bed, still unable to understand why she had died with hatred and then suddenly returned to when she was seven years old.

At this time, her grandmother still cherished her mother, Cui Shi, for her filial piety and gentleness, who had died giving birth to her brother. Her stepmother was still cautious, having only given birth to one daughter in the five years since her marriage.

In her previous life, when she was seven, she had a fight with her cousin, Song Chumi, and fell ill for several days, almost dying.

Fortunately, this recurring nightmare over the past half month now had a reasonable explanation.

As they spoke, the room was fully lit, and the maids came in one by one with towels and basins for washing.

Song Chuyi looked at each of them.

Hongyu, Huangyao, Qingtiao—all familiar faces.

She let Luyi place the steaming towel on her face, feeling every pore open, her eyes warm and misty with tears.

"Is the fever still not gone?" Nanny Xu entered, lifting the curtain, and saw Song Chuyi's tear-streaked face in the lamplight. She hurried to the bed, feeling her forehead with worry in her eyes.

This was Song Chuyi's wet nurse, who had accompanied her mother, Cui Shi, and had taken care of her since birth. She had been dismissed when Song Chuyi was eight. Counting her previous life, Song Chuyi hadn't seen her for over twenty years.

"Nanny Xu..." Song Chuyi's sorrow overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face.

Nanny Xu was instantly worried, not knowing what to do. Song Chuyi had always been domineering, and since her mother's death, she had been spoiled by her grandmother and father, rarely shedding tears. Seeing her cry now made Nanny Xu's heartache. She scolded Luyi, "How have you been taking care of her? I was only gone for half a day..."

Song Chuyi quickly grabbed her clothes, sniffing to stop crying, and looked at Nanny Xu pitifully. "It's not their fault. I just had a nightmare. Don't blame them."

The usually domineering sixth young lady was actually speaking up for the servants?! Everyone looked at each other, unable to react.

Why had she had a nightmare? Wasn't it because the fourth young lady had been too harsh? Nanny Xu sighed, feeling sorry for her, but couldn't criticize the master. 

She quickly helped her put on a cotton jacket and tied the belt. "Since you're better, you should go pay respects to the old lady. She was asking about you just now."

Song Chuyi nodded heavily, her obedience surprising everyone.

Nanny Xu thought she had become sensible after suffering a loss and falling ill, feeling both relieved and heartbroken.