She absolutely must not die.
After Jing Chun came out, she secretly made a bowl of Iced Snowball Dessert, avoiding Nanny Wu, and brought it to Pu Jinyu.
"Miss, your monthly cycle is about to come, so I used less ice. And since your stomach has always been weak, I also reduced the sugar."
Jing Chun carefully observed her expression, lowering her voice to coax her.
The young lady before her slightly lifted her lashes, gazing at the iced sweet soup on the table, remaining silent for a long while.
Seeing this, that strange, unsettling feeling rose again in Jing Chun's heart.
She didn't know what was wrong today, but she kept feeling that Pu Jinyu was different from usual—especially quiet and still. Her face was expressionless, her eyes downcast, making it impossible to discern any emotion.
Could it be that Nanny Wu's words had struck a sore spot in her heart? It seemed quite possible.
Pu Jinyu had been raised in the countryside since childhood. After returning to Jingcheng, the wedding date between the Yan and Pu families was approaching, with little time left.
To transform her and teach her the habits of the eldest young lady, Pu Wange, Madam Pu was extremely strict. Nanny Wu was even more so, often punishing Pu Jinyu with the ruler when she did something wrong, never holding back.
While hitting her, she would scold her, saying her rustic nature was too strong, her every gesture and movement reeked of a lowly upbringing, exuding an air of poverty—all of which had to be corrected!
Twisting her ear, she berated her to always remember her identity. From the moment she stepped into the Pu Family until she married out, she was no longer the Outer Chamber Daughter Pu Jinyu, but the legitimate daughter of the Pu Family, Pu Wange. She could not make a single mistake in her actions! She even mentioned Pu Jinyu's birth mother, Concubine Ruan.
It must be known that Pu Jinyu deeply loved and trusted her concubine mother. If not for her, Pu Jinyu probably would not have come to Jingcheng to enter the Pu Family and endure such humiliation.
It was precisely for Concubine Ruan's sake that she had been swallowing her grievances all along.
Pu Jinyu had been enduring it all. At first, she cried, but later, she only held back until her eyes turned red. Even when beaten for mistakes until her back was drenched in cold sweat, she never shed a single tear. Standing in the deep courtyard of the Pu Family, her figure was slender and frail, soft yet exuding a resilient strength.
Before the wedding, the Yan Family used a brief period to carve her into the likeness of Pu Wange, covering her with a red bridal veil and seating her in the bridal sedan to be married off.
Originally, it was thought that this marriage would only need to be maintained for a month or two, or half a year at most, before she could be exchanged back. Who could have known that the eldest young lady would fall gravely ill, never to recover, and pass away?
She had to continue maintaining this Marriage Alliance in the name of the Pu Family's eldest young lady.
Because the time spent "carving" her before the wedding was too short, when she remained silent, she resembled Pu Wange by about sixty or seventy percent. However, there were still many Flaws. If someone close approached, they would inevitably notice the differences between the two and sense something amiss.
The Yan Family had stood tall in Jingcheng for a century, always prominent and ranked as the foremost noble family in the capital. The Pu Family's ancestors were originally on par with the Yan Family, but in later years, the Pu Family declined, unable to compare with the Yan Family, and even had to rely on them to maintain their glamour.
This marriage alliance absolutely could not afford the slightest mistake. If discovered, the Pu Family would truly be finished—they could not afford to offend the Yan Family.
Therefore, Madam Pu sent Nanny Wu over to continue controlling every moment in her spare time, disciplining Pu Jinyu.
Nanny Wu's words were as unpleasant as before. Knowing that Concubine Ruan was Pu Jinyu's weakness, she liked to use Concubine Ruan to provoke her, forcing her to correct herself.
Whenever Concubine Ruan was mentioned, Nanny Wu’s words were always too harsh, and Pu Jinyu would become fiercely protective, her eyes reddening as she argued with Nanny Wu. Later, she stopped arguing aloud but would glare coldly at Nanny Wu instead.
This time, Nanny Wu had brought up Concubine Ruan again, and Pu Jinyu was likely angered by it.
“Miss, you—” Jing Chun was about to say more, intending to mention Concubine Ruan’s recent situation—how she was doing well in the Pu Family, how Nanny Wu’s words were unintentional, and urging Pu Jinyu not to take them to heart.
But Pu Jinyu had already picked up the jade spoon. Stirring the Snow Yuanzi, she cut Jing Chun off, saying, “Thank you for your concern.”
Jing Chun’s lips trembled slightly, and she could only change her tone. “…This is what this servant ought to do.”
The young lady’s movements as she ate were now exceptionally elegant, every gesture carrying the shadow of Pu Wange.
After these three years, Pu Jinyu’s original temperament had been nearly worn away. She truly resembled Pu Wange—so very much like her.
Jing Chun had followed Pu Wange since childhood. Aside from Madam Pu, no one knew Pu Wange better than she did.
Now, looking at Pu Jinyu’s profile, Jing Chun felt somewhat dazed, as if seeing the shadow of Pu Wange from the past. But then, certain thoughts crossed her mind, and she fell silent.
Noticing her gaze, Pu Jinyu stopped eating and turned to look at her.
Meeting Pu Jinyu’s eyes, that uneasy feeling instantly resurfaced in Jing Chun’s heart.
Because the young lady’s gaze was particularly deep and dark, like a perilous black pool—unpredictable when it might surge, concealing a faint, razor-sharp edge.
Why did she feel this way? Could it be that Third Miss knew something?
But she never stepped beyond the inner gates—it was simply impossible.
In her presence, Jing Chun inexplicably felt as though her innermost thoughts and secrets were being laid bare.
Third Miss had been perfectly fine this morning. What could she possibly know? She couldn’t know anything.
Perhaps she was just too hurt by Nanny Wu’s scolding, which was why she appeared so utterly despondent.
Jing Chun forced a smile and asked what she was looking at. “Is the Snow Yuanzi not to your liking, Miss?”
Pu Jinyu enjoyed rock sugar frost, but because her health required careful nourishment, less was added, likely making it not very sweet.
Pu Jinyu stared at Jing Chun for a long time, until the other woman began to feel slightly unnerved.
Only then did she turn her head away and reply, “No.”
She lowered her head, stirring with the jade spoon, watching the melted ice. A trace of imperceptible mockery flickered in her eyes. “This Snow Yuanzi is very good.”
When she looked up again, the young lady’s face had regained its usual, proper smile. The Cosmetics-adorned appearance was clearly Pu Wange’s face, yet when it moved, it didn’t quite resemble her anymore, faintly revealing Pu Jinyu’s underlying features.
She said, “Jing Chun, you’ve done very well.”
“I must thank you.”
Thank her for all these years of helping her elder sister deceive her, indirectly coaxing her, winning her trust, making her believe she was a good person, a confidante.
Leading her to give her heart willingly, to willingly serve as her elder sister’s substitute in this deep mansion, living through fire and water in her place, only to meet a tragic end in the end.
Back then, she truly thought Jing Chun was a good person.
“Miss, what’s come over you today? Suddenly thanking this servant—this is all what this servant ought to do for you.”
It felt strange. Jing Chun couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was strange, but she had a sense that Pu Jinyu’s words carried hidden meaning.
“Is that so…” the young lady murmured softly, the words catching in her throat.
What is it that one is born to do, that must be done, that one absolutely must do?
"Miss…" Jing Chun was about to speak again when Pu Jinyu interrupted her for the second time.
"I won't eat anymore." She set down the jade spoon, asking Jing Chun to take it away, and said there was no need to make it again in the future.
Jing Chun was taken aback. "Why?"
Of course, because it was nauseating.
Pu Jinyu slowly wiped her lips, saying calmly, "Nanny Wu doesn't like it. If she finds out, you'll be fined again."
"Besides, didn't you say it yourself? I need to take care of my health now and shouldn't eat chilled things anymore, as it could harm my stomach and body."
Though her words were flawless and left no room for criticism, the unease in Jing Chun's heart did not dissipate. That strange feeling lingered, and she felt as though Pu Jinyu had changed, yet she couldn't pinpoint exactly how.
Unable to figure it out, Jing Chun quickly took the Snow Yuanzi away.
When she returned, Pu Jinyu was holding a brush, reviewing the accounts, and auditing the items needed for the banquet to be held in two days.
Madam Yan had two sons and two daughters. The second daughter had just married yesterday and would return to her family home in three days. Though Madam Yan knew full well that Pu Jinyu handled matters meticulously, she still specifically sent someone to instruct that the return banquet must be handled flawlessly, with no mistakes.
If it weren't for the fact that Pu Jinyu had been tirelessly preparing for her sister-in-law's wedding day and night in recent days, she wouldn't have been so exhausted as to take a break in the afternoon, only to be caught and reprimanded by Nanny Wu.
Jing Chun also knew she was tired. After all, the Yan Family had vast estates and numerous affairs to manage. Dealing with everything inside and out every day—how old was Pu Jinyu, really?
Back then, Concubine Ruan had said the two sisters were close in age, but in truth, Pu Jinyu was much younger than Pu Wange.
She had never learned household management from a young age. Reading and managing accounts were things she had to pick up hastily. To appear experienced and capable, the effort she later put in went without saying.
When she first married into the family, she wasn't yet responsible for managing the Yan Family's household affairs.
But ever since General Yan's old injury relapsed two years ago, Yan Chiyun—Madam Yan's eldest son, originally Pu Jinyu's brother-in-law and now her husband after the substitution marriage—took over the family's authority. Consequently, the management of the Yan Family's household affairs fell onto her shoulders.
To familiarize herself with the Yan Family's affairs and avoid mistakes, Pu Jinyu truly dared not sleep soundly or for long, staying up day and night until she had lost a significant amount of weight.
Even now, as she gradually became more adept, she remained on edge.
Without needing further instruction, Jing Chun stood by her side, helping her grind ink.
The past few years had been too arduous. At such a young age, Pu Jinyu had strained her eyes, leaving her with poor eyesight and blurred vision. She had to lean in closely to see, and extra candlesticks had to be placed nearby.
Jing Chun focused intently on grinding the ink and helping her double-check the Account Book. While shifting the rice paper, she accidentally bumped into a nearby candlestick. Seeing it about to topple onto Pu Jinyu's concentrated hands, Jing Chun hurriedly reached to steady it, about to warn her to be careful.
But before she could utter a word of warning, Pu Jinyu, without lifting her gaze or shifting her line of sight, effortlessly moved her hand away and took the Account Book with her.
Her calm and composed movements seemed almost prescient, as if she had known the candlestick would fall and had avoided it just in time.
Jing Chun was stunned. Was it… a coincidence?
It must have been.
Pu Jinyu remained expressionless, instructing Jing Chun to clean up the spilled candle wax before resuming her work with the brush.
Jing Chun, "…"
This small incident was quickly forgotten amidst the busyness, and Jing Chun soon put it out of her mind.
Dinner was held as usual in the main hall, with all the sisters-in-law present. Pu Jinyu attended to her parents-in-law and elders during the meal, served medicinal soup afterward, and then reported to Madam Yan on the matters concerning the household after the Wedding Banquet.
By the time she returned, it was already very late. Jing Chun helped her undress, saying the hot water was ready.
She gave a soft hum. "You may leave. I’ll manage on my own."
Jing Chun asked if she didn’t need assistance, but Pu Jinyu didn’t reply, already stepping into the bathing chamber.
As she sank into the bathtub, the warm water soothed her skin and muscles, gradually amplifying and then dissolving her weariness.
Savoring the warmth, she leaned back and closed her eyes. The hot water slowly submerged her face, washing away the Cosmetics that adorned her appearance until they smeared into a blur.
Before long, submerged in the water, Pu Jinyu felt an unbearable suffocation, growing more and more stifling.
She held her breath for a long time, until her consciousness began to fade, water filled her ears, and her strength was sapped by the suffocating pressure. Just as she was on the verge of death, she suddenly opened her eyes underwater, gripped the sides of the bathtub, and surged upward.
Gasping for air, she breathed heavily, even breaking into frantic coughs.
Her entire head dripped with water, and the liquid in her ears trickled out as she rose.
After what felt like an eternity, she wiped her face with both hands, turned her head from side to side to drain the water from her ears, and finally regained her composure.
She couldn’t die, not like this.
It would be too pathetic, too humiliating.
Having lived a lifetime as a substitute and a shadow, reborn into this world, why should she die this way?
The executioners who gnawed away at her and tormented her still slept soundly, free from worry.
She glanced at the bronze mirror in the distance and saw her true face, stripped of the Cosmetics, revealed in its original form.
As Pu Jinyu stepped out of the bathtub, voices greeting someone respectfully echoed from outside.
Jing Chun, waiting outside, hurried in. Upon seeing her face, she paused briefly before urgently reminding her that the master had returned home early today.
She should hide her face, untouched by Cosmetics.
But instead of lowering her head to conceal her features as Jing Chun hoped, Pu Jinyu raised her eyes and looked outward, fixing her gaze on the tall, slender figure entering the room.