Although it was already past the third month in the capital, the chill had yet to dissipate. A young maid standing under the corridor tightened her padded jacket, cupped her hands together, and blew warm air into them. Shivering, she asked, “Nanny Su, when will the young lady wake up? She’s been ill for three days now. Should I go to the Duke’s residence to ask Third Master to find a physician for her? Even though our young lady is an outside mistress, she is, after all, the only one in Third Master’s household. Now that she’s running a high fever and it won’t subside, Third Master surely wouldn’t stand by and watch her die.”
The woman called Nanny Su was not very old, perhaps just over forty. Her plump, fair face was etched with worry. She glanced into the room, as if having made up her mind, and gritted her teeth. “Alright, then go quickly and come back soon. Don’t linger outside. If you can’t see Third Master, beg the Duke’s residence to spare some silver. We’ll find a physician for the young lady ourselves.”
The young maid, Ren Dong, nodded repeatedly. “Nanny, I understand. I’ll go right away.”
She lifted the hem of her skirt and turned to dash off when a delicate, weak voice suddenly called out to stop her. “Wait, don’t go!”
“It’s the young lady!”
“The young lady is awake!”
The door curtain lifted and fell again, letting in a gust of cold wind. The woman on the bed instinctively furrowed her brows.
She leaned weakly against the headboard, her ink-black hair, smooth as satin, piled loosely behind her, making her stunningly beautiful face appear as small as a palm. Though ill, she did not look haggard. Instead, the touch of sickness softened her enchanting allure, making her all the more pitiable.
The young maid turned aside to wipe the corner of her eye, feeling indignant on behalf of her mistress. Others said her young lady was fortunate to have caught the eye of the Third Young Master of the Pei family, but only those serving her knew the truth. Third Master had settled her in the outer courtyard and never visited again. A beauty like their young lady, left alone in the outer courtyard, not even daring to call for Third Master when she fell ill—what kind of good fortune was that?
Xi Ning was unaware of the young maid’s thoughts. With effort, she propped herself up against the headboard. The original occupant of this body had succumbed to a prolonged illness, and upon waking, the soul within had changed.
After absorbing the memories of the original owner, she quickly called out to stop the maid who was about to leave. “My health is no longer a concern. There’s no need to trouble Pei… Third Master.”
“Young lady!” The young maid stamped her foot in frustration, feeling her mistress was too humble.
Xi Ning, however, paid it little mind. Curving her lips into a reassuring smile, she turned to Nanny Su and said, “Please, Nanny, prepare some plain congee for me. I’m hungry.”
She tilted her head with a playful smile, adding a touch of liveliness to her lotus-like face. Nanny Su felt a pang in her heart, forcing a smile onto her face. “Yes, young lady, wait a moment. I’ll go right away!” With that, she pulled the still-protesting young maid out of the room.
“Nanny! Why are you listening to the young lady too? She’s so seriously ill. Third Master should come and see her.”
“Quiet! Shouldn’t we servants obey our mistress? Besides, have you forgotten what Third Master said back then? Our young lady may appear to be living in luxury, but who knows the bitterness inside?”
Nanny Su’s words silenced Ren Dong. She sniffled and pouted. “That’s because Third Master doesn’t know how wonderful our young lady is. If he knew, he surely wouldn’t let her suffer like this.”
In all her life, she had never seen such a beauty. How could their Third Master not know how to cherish her?
“Ah, if only Third Master would come.”
Yes, if only Third Master would come.Nanny Su tilted her head to glance toward the bedroom, but the heavy door curtain blocked her view. She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts in her mind, and turned to instruct the young maid.
“I’ll go prepare porridge for the young lady. You stay here and keep watch over her. Make sure she doesn’t fall asleep again.”
“Nanny, I understand.”
The corridor fell quiet once more. Xi Ning gazed at the bed canopy overhead and sighed.
Even after resting for most of the day, Xi Ning still found it difficult to accept this reality.
She, a distinguished agricultural Ph.D., had actually transmigrated into the role of a man’s kept mistress.
Pei Zhao, the third son of the Pei family, was the most outstanding young gentleman in the capital. His father was the Duke of Jin, and his mother was Princess Anyang. Although he had two older brothers, their presence did nothing to dim his radiance.
At a young age, he had achieved the rank of Tanhua (third-place scholar) in the imperial examinations. With his refined demeanor and unparalleled handsomeness, he was the top choice for marriage among noble ladies in the capital.
However, this virtuous and self-disciplined third son of the Pei family had purchased a seductive woman during his travels south and brought her back to the capital with great fanfare, settling her outside the estate. This shattered the hearts of countless noble ladies.
Everyone said he had been bewitched by this seductive woman, but only Xi Ning knew the truth: Pei Zhao had never touched her, nor had he even met her more than a few times. He had bought the original host merely to conceal his own “hidden ailment.”
Yet the original host had believed she had climbed to great heights, eagerly awaiting entry into the Duke’s estate day after day. She squandered all her silver but still never caught a glimpse of Pei Zhao. In the end, she fell into melancholy, became gravely ill, and allowed Xi Ning to take her place.
“Ah!”
Xi Ning couldn’t help but sigh again. Having received a modern education in her previous life, the thought of being a man’s kept mistress was more unbearable to her than death.
What was a kept mistress, if not a plaything who served with her looks? Pleased, the master might favor her; displeased, he would cast her aside. To put it bluntly, wasn’t this just being a mistress?
Xi Ning lowered her gaze. She absolutely refused to become a man’s possession. The original host’s deed of sale was in Pei Zhao’s hands, and she needed to find a way to retrieve it.
“Young lady, it’s time to eat.”
Just as Xi Ning was lost in thought, Nanny Su entered with a bowl of porridge.
Still unable to leave her bed, Ren Dong set up a small table over the bed for her. Nanny Su placed the meal on it.
A bowl of soft, well-cooked white porridge accompanied by a side dish of pickled cucumbers—simple but suitable for a patient like her.
However, as the porridge entered her mouth, Xi Ning subtly furrowed her brows.
There was too much water, diluting the flavor of the rice. Tasting the pickled cucumbers next, she found them overly salty. The cucumbers had likely been pickled for too long, making them soft and lacking the crisp freshness they should have.
Despite her hunger, Xi Ning forced herself to finish the porridge. When Nanny Su asked if she wanted another bowl, she shook her head.
“Bring me a cup of sugar water, please.”
Her current body was too weak, devoid of strength, and she needed to replenish some sugar.
“Of course.”
Nanny Su let the sugar water cool before feeding it to Xi Ning. Seeing a slight flush return to her cheeks, she finally felt relieved.
“Young lady, your health is still not fully recovered. You must rest more. Whatever you wish to eat tonight, just tell me, and I’ll prepare it for you.”
“Alright.”
Xi Ning nodded, not wanting to reject Nanny Su’s kindness. In truth, she had many cravings, but judging from the earlier porridge and side dishes, she had already gauged Nanny Su’s culinary skills. Her own discerning palate was likely something Nanny Su couldn’t satisfy.
After the two left, Xi Ning reached under the blanket and felt the bulge on her right wrist.
Fortunately, her smart wristband had followed her here.
Inside it were the research achievements from her previous life—seeds of various grains, vegetables, and flowers. Through her improvements, they not only yielded high quantities but were also of excellent quality.These seeds were priceless treasures in her previous life, let alone in this ancient era where resources were scarce.
Xi Ning closed her eyes slightly. These seeds were her means of survival in this ancient world. With them, she could live without relying on Pei Zhao.
When the time was right, she would ask Pei Zhao to return her deed of sale and regain her freedom.
Xi Ning’s illness took over half a month to fully recover. By the time she could get out of bed, the capital had already warmed up.
Nanny Su and Ren Dong were busy in the courtyard, with piles of clothes hung all over the yard.
Seeing her come out, the two of them quickly stood up.
“Young lady, why have you come out? There’s a breeze outside, please go back in!”
Xi Ning ignored her and looked at the clothes filling the courtyard, asking,
“What’s going on here?”