While Third Madam was warmly catching up with Madam Shen, Yin Shi, having eaten and drunk her fill, finally washed up and combed her hair under Qing Yan's urging. She changed into mourning clothes, wearing no gold ornaments on her head—only two silver hair clasps.
Yin Shi gazed at the delicate-featured little girl in the mirror and couldn't help reaching out to touch her own face.
This little girl was truly beautiful.
Pitiful.
May she and her birth mother be reborn into good lives in another world.
No matter what, she was now "Yin Shi."
Yin Shi looked at the girl in the mirror once more, stood up, and began to take over "Yin Shi's" life.
First, she had to report to her legal mother, Third Madam Yin, to show that "Yin Shi" had recovered from the shock and fever.
Who would have thought that when she went to Third Madam's courtyard, Third Madam was at Madam Shen's courtyard, catching up with Madam Shen.
Upon hearing this, Qing Yan grew restless.
After all, Huaixi was just a small place, and everyone here yearned for the "capital." This yearning, when made concrete, fell upon Madam Shen, who had returned from the capital.
Qing Yan urged Yin Shi to go to Madam Shen's place.
Yin Shi sighed. She had specifically brought Qing Yan along because she thought the girl was clever, but who knew that greed could easily lead to foolishness?
She tugged at her mourning clothes. "Is this appropriate?"
It truly wasn't appropriate, but Qing Yan hesitated and said, "Perhaps the aunt will find the young lady pitiable and care for her even more…"
"Are you sure she won't find this outfit inauspicious and start disliking me because of it?" Yin Shi asked. "Can you guarantee that?"
Of course, Qing Yan couldn't guarantee it. She was just a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl—what could she guarantee?
If the aunt truly took offense and Third Madam became angry as a result, these consequences were not something a maid like her could bear. Qing Yan deflated.
Since all the maids around Third Madam had followed her to Madam Shen's place, Yin Shi simply checked in with the senior maid left behind: "Sister, please let Mother know I'm fine now."
"It's good that you're fine. The young lady is still weak and should rest more," the senior maid replied, neither warm nor cold.
It was just… everyone here was ordinary, earning their keep, doing their duties, and getting along in an ordinary way. It wasn't as dramatic or intense as some of the novels Yin Shi had read in another time and place.
Observing this, Yin Shi relaxed and returned to her courtyard with ease.
Not long after she returned, Third Madam came back. Upon hearing from a maid that Fourth Young Lady was fine, her mind wasn't on Yin Shi, and she simply said, "Noted."
Instead, she huddled with her trusted maid, Mama Sun, discussing Madam Shen's reaction: "Younger sister, how could the Shen family possibly let their son marry another girl from our family? Not to mention, our branch doesn't even have a legitimate daughter. I told him he was daydreaming, but he didn't want to hear it."
She snorted disdainfully.
Mama Sun tugged at her sleeve. "You should tone it down when you speak. Don't be so… ahem, watch your tone."
At the very least, she had to consider her husband's dignity.
Third Madam said, "I know, I won't gloat."
Even as she said this, she couldn't help but chuckle.
Mama Sun could only look up at the ceiling beams.
While Third Madam was laughing at her own husband, Yin Shi returned to her courtyard and relaxed. She dismissed the maids and spent time in her room, feeling her way around and familiarizing herself with everything there.
She had only circled the room twice when she suddenly heard voices outside. Soon, a maid rushed in anxiously: "Something terrible has happened!"
Yin Shi had just transmigrated over, taking on someone else's identity, and was feeling uneasy. At these words, her eyebrows twitched: "What's wrong?"
The maidservant said, "The young master cousin has arrived!"
"?" Yin Shi paused for a moment before asking, "Which young master cousin?"
The maidservant anxiously replied, "Who else could it be? It's the young master cousin from the Shen family in the capital."
If she wasn't mistaken, based on the information she had gathered from the maidservants' idle chatter over the past two days, that young master cousin from the Shen family in the capital was just a child around the same age as "Yin Shi," wasn't he?
Yin Shi sighed inwardly.
Perhaps to the people in the humble courtyard of an insignificant concubine-born daughter, a cousin from the capital was a big deal. So even facing a child, the maidservant was flustered.
On the other hand, it also showed that the quality of the maidservants in her courtyard wasn't very high. There were certainly high-quality maidservants, but they definitely wouldn't be assigned to her.
Fortunately, these maidservants were all in their teens. According to the rules of this world, in a few years, they would all be married off. She could then select new maidservants—ones she found pleasing—and slowly train them.
But she was getting ahead of herself. First, she had to deal with the present.
Yin Shi asked, "Where is the young master cousin?"
The maidservant composed herself before saying, "The young master cousin is in the courtyard. He insisted we announce him first."
With Qing Yan's earlier behavior in mind, Yin Shi understood immediately. Surely, someone in her courtyard had been overly eager toward the cousin from the capital and had presumptuously invited the young boy into the main house without consulting her—only to be refused.
Although Yin Shi had transmigrated here, she still understood some of the customs of this era.
But for a child around her own age to be so particular about etiquette was a bit startling. Was it really this strict? Yin Shi's nerves, which had just relaxed, tensed up again.
She hurriedly straightened her clothes and said to the maidservant, "Where is he? Take me to him."
The maidservant led her outside. As Yin Shi stepped over the threshold of the main house, she saw a young boy standing at the foot of the steps, with two maidservants behind him.
Her own maidservant, Qing Yan, was standing nearby with an ingratiating smile.
Hearing her come out, Shen Ti looked up. The two children, one on the steps and one below, locked eyes for a moment.
Yin Shi marveled. The maidservants hadn't been wrong—this so-called young master cousin was truly good-looking.
Even at such a young age, his features were perfectly proportioned—nose like a nose, eyes like eyes. As long as he didn't grow awkwardly, who knew how many young girls he would charm when he grew up.
When Shen Ti saw the young girl on the steps, the lines "Her beauty, fragrantly nurtured and jade-carved; her fine nature, pure as ice and smooth as jade" flashed through his mind. This cousin was as lovely as snow-dusted blossoms, pitifully motherless.
His pity deepened, and he called out, "Cousin?"
Yin Shi quickly descended the steps to greet him: "Are you the Shen family cousin?"
Shen Ti bowed: "My given name is Ti, and I have yet to receive a courtesy name. Cousin may call me Shen Ti."
Despite his young age, his bow and speech were proper and mature, like a little adult.
But as soon as Yin Shi stepped down and stood beside Shen Ti, she towered over him by half a head. At their age, it was like this—girls grew first, while boys developed later.
Yin Shi's tension instantly dissipated—no matter how proper his manners, he was still just a child. Nothing to fear.
Instead, a wave of affection welled up in her. The child was incredibly polite, yet spoke so seriously—it was utterly adorable!
She said softly, "I know of you. Everyone has been talking about Aunt and you these past two days. I didn't expect you to come to my place."
That tone was the kind adults use when speaking to children. In another time and place, it would be called a "cutesy voice."
To Shen Ti's ears, it sounded gentle and endearingly childish. He stated his purpose: "Mother knows that Cousin has recently suffered the loss of a loved one, but she is unable to get away, so she sent me to visit you. Cousin, please accept my condolences."
What grief did Yin Shi have? She wasn't the real "Yin Shi" anyway. Afraid her acting might fall short, she quickly raised her arm, using her sleeve to cover half her face, and mumbled an "Mm," as if choking back sobs.
She had originally intended to invite Shen Ti inside to sit, but after his few remarks, she changed her mind.
She had only just arrived in this world and was still in the adjustment phase. Although the other party was a child, he seemed to understand etiquette and formalities even better than she did. It was better to avoid trouble than invite it—no need to bring him inside.
The less she did, the fewer mistakes she would make.
She remembered that in many places, it was said that children had bright, perceptive eyes, which was why they weren't allowed to attend funerals and such. Borrowing this reasoning, she covered her face with her sleeve, pretended to sniffle a couple of times, and said, "Cousin, you've come from so far away. I should invite you inside to sit, but I am in mourning, and you are still young. It's best not to involve yourself in such matters."
Ever since Yin Shi had stepped out, Qing Yan had been trying to catch her eye with meaningful glances. But no matter how hard she tried, Yin Shi had turned the young master of the Shen family away at the door, failing to seize the opportunity to befriend him. Qing Yan was so frustrated she could have fainted.
Yet, in front of such an esteemed guest, she couldn't say anything—especially since she had eagerly invited the young master inside earlier, only to be coldly refused. All she could do was glare daggers at Yin Shi.
Yin Shi pretended not to see.
Shen Ti also seemed not to notice and politely said to Yin Shi, "Excessive grief harms the body. Cousin, you must rest more and take care of your health. I won't disturb you any longer. Here are some local specialties Mother and I brought from the capital—just a small token of our thoughts. Please don't find them unworthy."
How could such a young child speak with such perfectly polite phrasing? In the world Yin Shi came from, this kind of wording and tone were only used by people with some social experience—those too young simply couldn't manage it.
Yin Shi was impressed.
She couldn't afford to underestimate this child in the slightest and had to match his formality as she thanked him.
She then personally escorted the child to the courtyard gate.
"Cousin, there's no need to see me off," the little boy said. "Cousin, please pay attention to your diet. Even in mourning, don't neglect your routine and harm your health."
It was afternoon, and the sun was shining brightly.
The little boy had delicate, handsome features, and his eyes were bright and earnest.
At that moment, Yin Shi, who had only been in this world for two days, suddenly felt everything around her become real—the brick carvings, the wooden door, the maid beside her, and the young boy before her all took on a tangible, authentic quality.
Yin Shi finally let go of the vague, dreamlike feeling that had been hovering around her.
She was "Yin Shi" now.
This was Yin Shi's cousin. The aunt she had never met, the young cousin, esteemed guests from afar who had come to show concern for Yin Shi, who had just lost her mother, at the earliest opportunity.
In that moment, this world felt a little less frightening.
Yin Shi relaxed, her shoulders easing as she sincerely thanked him again: "Cousin, please be sure to convey my regards to Aunt."
Children were sometimes more sensitive than adults, able to sense sincerity and hypocrisy alike.
Looking into Yin Shi's eyes, Shen Ti could feel her genuine emotion.
He nodded. "Cousin, there's no need to see me off."
The young boy walked with measured steps, unhurriedly returning to the courtyard where his mother had lived before her marriage, to report back to her.
Seeing him return, Madam Shen said, "That was rather quick."
Then she asked, "How is Little Fourth?"
Even the most pedantic old scholar wouldn’t remain rigidly upright for all twelve hours of the day; at home, they too might lean back, slouch, or prop up a foot.
With no outsiders in the room, Shen Ti relaxed in front of his mother, no longer maintaining the cautious and proper demeanor he had shown earlier in front of the relatives. Lifting himself up, he also climbed onto the couch, finally revealing a bit of a childlike air as he said, "Cousin is fine, but the maidservant isn’t much."