Jiang Nian leaned against the Imperial Concubine Couch, her face as pale as paper, gazing absently out the window at the maids and servants bustling in and out, carrying things. Her chest felt so tight she could hardly breathe, and the room was oppressively still.
Meanwhile, the Prefectural Residence was filled with laughter and cheer, as if celebrating the New Year. Three years ago, her father-in-law, Prefect Qi, had raised an army in rebellion. Now, he had finally captured the capital, ascended the throne as emperor, and sent people specifically to fetch his family.
Prefect Qi had four sons. Jiang Nian was the wife of the second son. The other three daughters-in-law were all noblewomen from prestigious families, well-matched in social status. Only she, Jiang Nian, was the daughter of a farming family, a mismatch in every way.
Jiang Nian’s father had once saved Prefect Qi’s life. To repay this kindness, Prefect Qi had his second son, Qi Heng, marry her.
A farmer’s daughter marrying into a noble family—it was like ascending to heaven in a single step. The villagers all envied the Jiang family and Jiang Nian’s good fortune.
But a rustic girl, uneducated and ignorant of etiquette, marrying into an aristocratic family was far from easy. Behind her back, she faced endless mockery and ridicule. Even the servants looked down on her with disdain. Her three sisters-in-law scorned to associate with her, always waiting to laugh at her misfortunes.
Plagued by deep insecurity, Jiang Nian always felt inferior in Qi Heng’s presence, too afraid to speak up even when wronged.
To be worthy of Qi Heng, she pushed herself to learn—to read, to manage accounts, to run a household, to master etiquette. She even vied to serve her mother-in-law. Yet all her efforts were met with scorn and derision.
Her relentless daily grind nearly drove her mad. She neglected herself so much that she lost her first child. After the miscarriage, Qi Heng remained silent for a long time. Terrified he might divorce her, she lived in constant fear and sorrow during that period.
The harsh words never ceased—they called her crude, claimed she wasn’t fit to hold a candle to well-bred young ladies. Determined to prove herself, she pushed to excel in everything, stifling her grievances. But in her mother-in-law’s eyes, she still couldn’t compare to a single pleasing word from the other daughters-in-law.
No one acknowledged her efforts. No matter how well she did, someone would still say she was unworthy of Qi Heng. Jiang Nian’s shame knew no bounds. It felt as if all her hard work had crumbled in an instant, leaving only resentment, frustration, and bitterness.
In Qi Heng’s presence, no one dared disrespect her, but behind his back, they freely hurled insults. After her father-in-law rebelled and Qi Heng went off to war, staying away from home for years, these people grew bolder, even humiliating her to her face.
She kept telling herself not to mind what others said—as long as Qi Heng treated her well, that was enough. Throughout their years of marriage, Qi Heng had only her by his side, with no messy bedroom servant girls. She ought to be content.
When her father-in-law sent for the family, she too packed joyfully. Since Prefect Qi’s rebellion, she and her husband had hardly seen each other all year, and she missed him terribly. But then, a careless remark from her fourth sister-in-law left her bedridden.
“Second Sister-in-Law, are you going to the capital too? Second Brother isn’t the same as before—he’s been enfeoffed as a Prince now, his status even more exalted. As the daughter of a farmer, if you know what’s good for you, you should take the initiative to divorce him. Spare yourself the humiliation in the capital.”
“A farmer’s daughter matched with a Prince—how ridiculous!” The maids who had come with the fourth sister-in-law covered their mouths, snickering.
Jiang Nian’s chest tightened with pain. She spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the floor. Seeing her vomit blood, the fourth sister-in-law panicked and fled in terror. If that fierce second brother found out she had bullied his wife, he would surely not let her off lightly.
Jiang Nian fell gravely ill, her body growing weaker by the day. Her mother-in-law, now the Empress, seeing her frail condition, ordered her to remain at the Prefectural Residence to recuperate properly while she hurried to the capital with her three daughters-in-law and a host of grandchildren.
Clutching the blanket beneath her with bitter resentment, Jiang Nian bit her lip until it bled, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on the doorway.
The heavy door creaked shut with a final thud. Everyone had left, leaving her utterly alone.
In her dazed state, she seemed to see her younger self—carefree and unrestrained—running through the fields before marriage.
“You wretched girl! You’re trampling my rice seedlings! Get up here now!” Jiang Nian turned to see a furious man standing not far away—it was her Sixth Uncle.
Tears welled in Jiang Nian’s eyes. Why was she seeing Sixth Uncle on her deathbed? Sixth Uncle was Grandmother’s late-born son, only a few years older than their generation of grandchildren. They had often roughhoused together as children.
“Sixth Uncle!” Jiang Nian rushed over and threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Sixth Uncle, have you come to take me home?”
Jiang Sixth Uncle was startled. Had he offended this little ancestor?
“I only scolded you once! Is it worth crying like this? If your parents and brother find out I made you cry, they’ll skin me alive!”
Jiang Nian wiped her tears and snot all over Jiang Sixth Uncle’s clothes. “Sixth Uncle, you’re still the one who treats me best. I’ll never bully you again.”
“Jiang Nian!” Jiang Sixth Uncle glared at the stains on his clothes, his face full of disgust.
“What did you wipe your nose with? It’s filthy! What man would ever marry you?”
“Sixth Uncle, what are you talking about? I’m already married.” Jiang Nian looked up at him with confused eyes.
Jiang Sixth Uncle threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Oh? Our little girl wants to get married!”
Jiang Nian grew increasingly bewildered. Sixth Uncle’s words were so strange. She glanced around—endless fields stretched before her, tender green rice seedlings swaying in the breeze, with clusters of farmers bending over transplanting rice shoots.
“This is…” Jiang Nian felt increasingly peculiar. Such a vivid dream—exactly like the fields she had run through as a child.
She looked back at Jiang Sixth Uncle, who clearly appeared as a youth not yet shed of childishness. Uncertain, she asked, “Sixth Uncle, how old are you this year?”
“Eighteen! Don’t you know how old I am?” Jiang Sixth Uncle reached out to feel her forehead. “No fever.”
“You’re eighteen, so I must be sixteen now.” Jiang Nian pointed at her own nose. She was two years younger than Sixth Uncle.
“Obviously!” Jiang Sixth Uncle hoisted his hoe and grabbed her arm. “It’s almost noon! Hurry home—I’m starving!”
Dazed, Jiang Nian let him lead her home. Along the way, villagers passing by greeted them cheerfully.
Since her marriage, she had rarely returned. The Prefectural Residence had strict rules, and she feared gossip, so she never interacted with the villagers. Now, everyone seemed so familiar and dear. Jiang Nian smiled and returned their greetings.
“Seventh Uncle!”
“Aunt Fang!”
“Little Tiger!”
She didn’t understand what was happening to her. Was this an illusion? It felt too real. Perhaps her deepest longing had manifested in this dream—on her deathbed, what she yearned for most was to return to Yong’an Village, the place that had raised her.
Yong’an Village was tranquil and peaceful, with villagers working at sunrise and resting at sunset. Scattered houses with neat fences dotted the landscape, most households raising chickens, ducks, and geese that chattered noisily, interspersed with occasional barks from dogs. By midday, cooking smoke curled upward from many homes.
Upon reaching the doorstep, Jiang Nian hesitated, too timid to step inside. Jiang Sixth Uncle pulled her firmly through the door.
“What’s wrong with you? Too scared to enter your own home now!”
Jiang Sixth Uncle set down his hoe and went to fetch water from the well to wash his face. A sprightly elderly woman emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of food, calling out in a robust voice:
“Everyone’s back! Time to eat!”
“Grandma.” Jiang Nian choked up as she called out. Old Mrs. Jiang put down the plate and casually wiped her hands with her apron.
“What are you standing there foolishly for? Go to the kitchen and bring out the dishes. All of you only know how to eat laze around—I can’t even be bothered to scold you anymore!”
“Alright! I’ll go get the dishes!” Jiang Nian smiled with red-rimmed eyes and walked toward the kitchen. On the kitchen counter sat two plates of leafy greens and one plate of dried-out steamed sweet potatoes.
As Jiang Nian picked up both plates and turned around, a slender figure blocked her path.
“Sister A’Nian, what delicious food has Grandma made?”
“Jiang Gu! You scared me!”
Jiang Gu was the eldest son of Fourth Uncle’s family, fourteen years old this year.
Grandpa and Grandma had six sons and three daughters in total. Apart from Sixth Uncle, all the uncles and aunts were married. The sons of Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle had also started families. Jiang Nian’s father was the third-born son.