The most exhausting part was indeed the days of performing the rituals.
To solidify her image as the "filial daughter," Yin Shi followed along for the entire process. By the end of each day, her legs were numb from kneeling, and she had to rely on Qiao Que and Yunjuan to massage them at night.
At such moments, she silently thanked the deity in charge of reincarnation for not having her reborn as someone who massaged others' legs.
Fortunately, the rituals lasted only a few days. When the final session concluded, Yin Shi breathed a huge sigh of relief.
With her hands clasped together, she silently prayed: "I’ve taken your daughter’s body and identity. I hope you and she can be reborn into my world. There are no concubines or those born of a concubine there—it’s a hundred, no, ten thousand times better than this place."
With the rituals over, Yin Shi asked Mother Gao, "What should I do from now on?"
Mother Gao countered, "What did the young lady do at home?"
Yin Shi immediately understood: Third Madam’s so-called "reliable" person wasn’t all that reliable after all. Mother Gao didn’t actually know what to do next either.
Before being assigned this duty, Mother Gao had been idle at home.
This assignment would last a year, and Third Madam naturally wasn’t willing to send her truly capable people to Yin Shi. Remembering that her dowry servant’s family had someone like this who often came to pay respects, she pushed her off to Yin Shi.
Yin Shi’s lips twitched.
Since that was the case, she said, "At home, it’s just the usual routines. I’m asking if there are any special rules here. Mother, go ask… or better yet, bring Master Chunyuan here so I can ask him myself."
She had initially intended to have Mother Gao ask, but on second thought, she decided to do it herself.
Earlier, the kindness shown by the original body’s aunt and cousin had made her think this era was quite gentle, without all the twists and turns of household strife often depicted in novels.
But Third Madam and Mother Gao made her realize that even without so many bizarre or extreme characters, ordinary people still harbored plenty of petty thoughts.
Take Mother Gao, for instance—she was merely a servant, yet she had subtly tried to assert control over Yin Shi, a young lady.
Human behavior is driven by self-interest, and viewing things through this lens makes everything exceptionally clear. Yin Shi had long understood this.
It was simply because she was a child that Mother Gao thought she could be controlled—by managing her money chest and the supplies sent over, skimming a little off the top. For Mother Gao, a year of this could likely accumulate a tidy sum of extra income.
Thus, money, supplies, and everything else were best kept securely in her own hands.
Mother Gao went to invite the guest monk, Chunyuan.
Chunyuan said, "Amitabha, there is nothing particularly special. There are morning and evening prayers daily. As the young benefactor is still young, you may attend if you wish, but it is not mandatory. In daily life, the abbot and the rest of us give lectures on the scriptures, which you are welcome to listen to."
Though this young female benefactor was still young, she was quite worldly-wise—clearly well-taught at home.
Having received a hefty pouch from her earlier, Chunyuan felt obliged to reciprocate and told her, "Also… since the young benefactor is still young, a prolonged diet of temple vegetarian food might be hard to endure. Your filial piety is evident and has moved the Buddha, so there’s no need to strictly adhere to vegetarianism. Our temple also has separate kitchens for benefactors, not mixed with the monks’. If you wish to cook in your own courtyard, that is also permissible. Whatever you need, there are many households nearby—all tenants of the temple—where you can buy chickens, grains, and other provisions."
Having eaten vegetarian food for days, Yin Shi’s face had taken on a pale, sickly hue. Hearing this, her eyes lit up.
She coughed lightly and still asked Mother Gao, "Is it appropriate for us to eat meat during the mourning period?"
When Gao Mama heard "we," her eyes lit up.
"It's no trouble at all," she assured, patting her chest. "I don't know about other places, but here in Huaixi, how many families nowadays properly observe mourning for a concubine? Even sons don't do it. For a young lady like you to do this is already deeply moving."
How exaggerated. But Yin Shi understood the message she was conveying—this birth mother was, after all, just a concubine, and she herself was only a girl. No one cared.
That was truly wonderful!
Yin Shi dabbed the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and choked up: "Concubine Yan also… often told me to eat more meat, saying it helps me grow… Well then, thank you for the reminder, Master."
Having a courtyard to live in, maids to serve her, and meat to eat.
What more could she want from such a comfortable life?
Upon further inquiry, she learned that eating meat required extra payment.
Yin Shi said, "I'll discuss it with Mama and let you know later."
Chunyuan then returned first.
Yin Shi asked Gao Mama, "Do you know how to cook? If you do, I'll give you the money, and you can handle it."
Before taking on this job, Gao Mama was a housewife. In this environment where men worked outside and women managed the household, Yin Shi didn't believe she couldn't cook.
Sure enough, Gao Mama rubbed her hands together excitedly: "Of course I can, of course I can. Young lady, you can rest assured leaving it to me. I'm known for my excellent cooking—everyone in our household knows that. It's just that the main kitchen is all First Madam's people, and our people can't get in, so I've been idle at home."
Yin Shi compared the temple's quoted price and added a little extra for Gao Mama: "I'll leave all the purchasing to you. I don't care how much you save, but with this money every month, I want to eat meat at every meal. If I don't eat well, we'll just go back to eating the temple's food."
Where money changes hands, there is profit to be made, and where there is profit, people naturally bend.
Gao Mama had failed to manipulate Yin Shi earlier and thought this job would have no perks, but unexpectedly, Yin Shi actively handed the perks to her.
This late Concubine Yan really knew how to raise a child, teaching Fourth Young Lady to be as sharp as a fox.
At this moment, she had completely lost her initial attitude and thoughts toward Yin Shi, her eyes filled with enthusiasm as she swore an oath: "Young lady, don't worry. If there's even one meal you don't eat well, may my husband stop bearing the surname Gao!"
Yin Shi smiled faintly: "I'm counting on you."
The monks had said that all those classes and sutra lectures weren't mandatory, so Yin Shi began her wonderful life of waking up naturally.
Though it was called waking up naturally, she still woke up at dawn. After all, there was absolutely no reason to stay up late here. Basically, after eating dinner at dusk and taking a short walk to aid digestion, they would blow out the lamps and sleep. And it was incredibly quiet—she could hear the insects chirping in the courtyard and even the sound of the wind rustling the treetops. Her sleep quality was exceptionally good.
Donglin Temple was located on a mountain, and the scenery was breathtaking. Especially now, in the sunny spring month of March, when the grass grew tall and orioles flew freely.
Yin Shi slept soundly, and when she looked in the mirror in the morning, her eyes were bright and her skin radiant—she was like the splendid spring scenery itself.
Such spring scenery should not be wasted. Leaving Granny Li to watch the courtyard, Yin Shi took Gao Mama, Qiao Que, and Yunjuan for a stroll on the mountain after breakfast.
The mountain wasn't high, and the temple was built at its peak. Looking down, she could see vast stretches of farmland and villages, and even the villagers moving among them.
Those fields were said to belong to Donglin Temple. Temples, after all, didn't pay taxes, and many were incredibly wealthy.
That monk Chunyuan had such a ruddy complexion that Yin Shi couldn't help but suspect he secretly ate meat.
At the foot of the mountain lay a village, with a winding mountain road accessible by carriage all the way to the temple gate. There was also a footpath consisting entirely of steps, meant for devotees to demonstrate their "sincerity." Besides these two routes, there were many smaller paths, likely trodden by sightseers exploring the greenery and secluded spots.
Donglin Temple offered services catering to all budgets, a practical approach and strong service ethic that Yin Shi greatly appreciated.
No wonder the temple thrived with incense offerings.
Leaving Old Lady Li to watch the courtyard, Yin Shi strolled downhill with Nanny Gao, Qiao Que, and Yunjuan.
By this time, the sunlight had brightened, dew on roadside grass blades occasionally glistened, and birds chirped crisply and pleasantly. Though the area was inhabited—looking downhill, the village houses were quite densely clustered—the environment felt remarkably pristine to Yin Shi.
It was like a spring outing.
Upon reaching the village at the foot of the mountain, vendors selling vegetables were easily found. Just as Monk Chunyuan had said, chickens and ducks were available too—as long as one had money, anything could be purchased.
Yin Shi had initially been curious to watch Nanny Gao haggle with the villagers to gauge local prices, but Nanny Gao smiled and shooed her away: "Qiao Que, accompany the young lady for a look around. Don’t wander too far—just familiarize yourselves with the nearby area."
Since she had already promised that any leftover money would be hers, Yin Shi tactfully stepped aside.
The sky was clear, the air fresh, and the spring scenery delightful, but she was, after all, in mourning and couldn’t truly treat this as a leisurely outing.
Besides, there would be plenty of time ahead.
Yin Shi took Qiao Que and Yunjuan for a brief stroll around the village outskirts, observing the women’s attire, especially their feet. After confirming she hadn’t seen a single pair of bound feet, she felt greatly relieved.
"Let’s go see if Nanny has finished buying the groceries. If she has, we’ll head back."
Qiao Que said, "Yes, let’s return early. The temple often hosts devotees, so everything is well-arranged. The young lady should stay up there properly and not come down the mountain again."
What Yin Shi saw as charming "pristine nature," Qiao Que regarded with disdain as rustic countryside.
Qiao Que had grown up in the Yin household since childhood, already considered a "distinguished maid" in the eyes of villagers. Moreover, as an indoor maid who didn’t perform rough labor, she looked down upon the cow and sheep droppings in the fields and the coarse clothing of the village women and children, eager to return to the refined quarters on the mountain.
Though the temple courtyard was somewhat inferior to home, it was clean and had all the essentials.
Yin Shi glanced at Qiao Que, then at Yunjuan.
This was the downside of being older. Though only twelve or thirteen, Qiao Que already had her own well-formed values.
Yunjuan was still fine—since she often helped with rough chores, she hadn’t yet developed the fastidiousness and refinement of the older maids and didn’t mind the surroundings too much.
So, to have servants who shared her values, they had to be cultivated from a young age, Yin Shi mused silently.
Selecting one’s own maids was truly a task every transmigration predecessor had to undertake.
"Staying cooped up in the courtyard every day—it’s not that I mind the boredom, but I worry it’ll harm my health," Yin Shi said. "We should still move around daily and stretch our limbs."
Qiao Que sidestepped a pile of cow dung, pinching her nose. "Then I’ll accompany the young lady for walks up there. Look at these people down here, staring at us."
That was indeed true. Though Yin Shi wore plain mourning clothes, the fabric of her garments still drew the villagers’ gazes.
They didn't approach, but being stared at like that was indeed uncomfortable.
"Alright, let's go back," Yin Shi turned around.
The three of them found Nanny Gao.
Nanny Gao had quite a harvest, with vegetables and eggs in her basket. She beamed with joy: "I've already arranged with them. They'll slaughter and clean the chicken before sending it up, as it's not appropriate to kill animals up here."
Thinking about having chicken soup soon, Yin Shi felt her mouth watering. She suppressed the urge and feigned a faint melancholy: "I'll tell Concubine later that it's not because I'm greedy, but for growing my body."
Nanny Gao quickly agreed: "Of course."
Qiao Que remembered that when they were still in the mansion, Concubine's spirit hadn't left yet. She didn't know if it had followed them here and grew frightened.
Back on the mountain, sure enough, Yin Shi started talking to the air again. Qiao Que felt her scalp tingle. The rituals were already done, why hadn't Concubine left yet? Was she still worried about Fourth Miss?
When Yin Shi called for someone inside the room, she pushed Yunjuan in: "Go quickly."
Nanny Gao saw this and asked strangely: "Why aren't you going?"
Only Qing Yan and Qiao Que knew about Concubine Yan floating around guarding Fourth Miss. Qing Yan was clever and had long told Qiao Que not to mention it to anyone else, fearing that if Yunjuan found out, she wouldn't be willing to go in and serve either.
So Qiao Que lied: "My stomach hurts."
Nanny Gao knew she was Third Madam's dowry servant and that there was no possibility of her being assigned to serve Fourth Miss, who was Born of a Concubine. Yin Shi was just a temporary mistress, not worth investing too much effort in.
As long as nothing happened, she didn't bother getting involved.
Thus, only young Yunjuan attended to Yin Shi closely, while Qiao Que served from outside.
This was good. Yin Shi revealed a satisfied smile.