Ji Mingzhu was reborn.
One moment, she was in the birthing room, writhing in agonizing pain; the next, she found herself in the middle of a grand banquet.
Familiar faces filled her vision.
Amidst the clinking of cups and the exchange of toasts, the sounds of laughter and chatter surged into Ji Mingzhu’s ears.
In her daze, a wine cup tipped over, soaking her sleeve.
The clear, icy sensation jolted Ji Mingzhu awake. This was no dream.
“Look at this girl, drunk before she’s even had a drop.”
The beautiful woman beside her leaned over, using a handkerchief to wipe away the wine.
“The winter is cold. What will we do if you catch a chill?”
The woman was close, her concern plain for all to see.
Ji Mingzhu whispered, “Aunt, I am fine.”
The woman she addressed as Aunt was the mistress of the Xie family’s second branch, Madam Guan. She shared no blood relation with Ji Mingzhu.
Ji Mingzhu was born into a family of generals. Her father had died on the battlefield when she was a child.
Three years ago, her mother fell gravely ill. Fearing that Ji Mingzhu would be left destitute and alone, and that greedy relatives would devour her inheritance, her mother had entrusted her to her close friend, Madam Guan.
Under the protection of Madam Guan and the Xie family, Ji Mingzhu had managed to preserve the majority of her family estate.
Now that she had reached her Ji-ji, it was time to start looking for a marriage match.
Ji Mingzhu sat in a stupor. Madam Guan, thinking she was upset over the spilled wine, comforted her gently.
“It’s all family here. Don’t be nervous.”
Having been reborn and returned to a time before she had any involvement with that man, Ji Mingzhu felt utterly transfixed.
The words seemed to enter one ear and exit the other.
Madam Guan found it strange. Mingzhu was usually very poised; a small mistake shouldn’t have left her so unsettled.
“Quickly, go back and change your clothes. Today is A-Zheng’s big day; you must not lose your dignity.”
A-Zheng…
A tall, slender figure immediately surfaced in Ji Mingzhu’s mind.
The man had elegant features and a noble temperament. A scholar who could stabilize the world with a pen, and a warrior who could settle the heavens and earth on horseback—he was the object of affection for countless noble ladies in the capital.
If her memory served her correctly, today’s banquet was to celebrate his triumphant return.
Thinking of the man who evoked such a tangle of love and hate within her, Ji Mingzhu’s heart felt as though it had been pricked by a needle.
A fine, dense pain flared up.
Before she could dwell on the hurt, Madam Guan had already instructed a maid to help her up.
“If you’re feeling unwell, just rest in your room. When the guest of honor arrives later, I will offer him congratulations on your behalf.”
It happened that Ji Mingzhu had no desire to see Xie Yunzheng either. She bent her knees in a Wan-fu-li.
“Aunt, then I shall take my leave first.”
“Mhm, go on.”
With a graceful bow to the noble ladies at the head table, Ji Mingzhu retreated from the hall with quick, light steps.
The reality of rebirth was too inconceivable. Her heart was in a state of chaos, and her pace quickened as she walked along the covered corridor.
It was as if a predatory beast was chasing her from behind.
“Young Miss, please walk slower. Watch your step.”
It had just snowed again. Flakes had drifted into the corridor, forming a thin layer of ice that could easily cause a fall.
No sooner had Jinzi finished speaking than she saw her Young Miss round a corner and plunge headlong into the chest of a tall man.
The man wore a black cloak and had a face as handsome as carved jade, yet the aura he exuded was colder than the frozen world outside.
A single, casual glance from him was enough to make one’s scalp tingle.
Jinzi hurriedly bowed. “Greetings to Shi-zi-ye.”
When Ji Mingzhu had first arrived at the Xie household, Xie Yunzheng had already left for the battlefield.
If not for the memories of her past life, today should have been their first meeting.
The familiar scent of cold cedar drifted into her nose, and Ji Mingzhu’s body felt as if it had been frozen solid.
Even her reactions were several beats slow.
A soft bundle had suddenly crashed into his arms, carrying a fragrance unique to women. Xie Yunzheng’s eyes darkened abruptly.
A flash of sternness crossed his gaze.
Just as he was about to reprimand her, the soft bundle in his arms suddenly pulled away.
“I did not mean to offend you. Please do not take offense, Shi-zi-ye.” She quickly stepped back two paces, bowing in apology.
Xie Yunzheng was tall. From his vantage point, he could clearly see the pearls and emeralds in the woman’s hair.
Every piece was exquisite and costly.
Looking at her attire, she wore only the finest fabrics—not the style of a maid or a concubine.
A white fox-fur muffler wrapped around her slender neck, and teardrop-shaped white jade dangled from her ears, making her face look no larger than a palm. With her head lowered and eyes downcast, no one could see the expression in her eyes.
Xie Yunzheng’s gaze lingered for only a fleeting moment before he strode forward.
His attendant followed closely behind, whispering a reminder, “Shi-zi-ye, that was the young lady from the Ji family. She came to seek refuge with the Second Madam three years ago.”
Xie Yunzheng’s footsteps paused.
The Ji family… then she likely hadn’t thrown herself into his arms on purpose.
The icy chill in his eyes thawed slightly.
Upon reaching the corner, Xie Yunzheng did not know why, but he reflexively looked back.
The woman stood beneath the eaves. The dim lamplight washed over her, making her appear as if she were radiating a holy glow.
She remained in her bowing posture, revealing half of her beautiful profile.
Even though there was a distance between them, Xie Yunzheng had an intuition that her skin would be like snow and her cheeks like peach blossoms, with the texture of fine jade.
As soon as the thought arose, Xie Yunzheng startled himself.
Since when did he have such thoughts about women?
The ice that had barely begun to melt in his eyes froze over once more.
The Duke’s manor was so vast, yet they just happened to run into each other, and she had even fallen into his arms.
Was all of this truly a coincidence?
Having been husband and wife in her past life, and he being the person she loved, Ji Mingzhu had spent no small amount of effort studying Xie Yunzheng.
Therefore, although his glance just now had been fleeting, Ji Mingzhu had still captured it.
A mocking curve touched the corner of her mouth.
In Xie Yunzheng’s eyes, she had likely become a woman of scheming intentions once again.
The rebirth had happened too suddenly; Ji Mingzhu’s love and hate for Xie Yunzheng were both at their peak.
The thought of being misunderstood by him still caused an uncontrollable ache in her heart.
She let out a quiet breath.
Ji Mingzhu told herself that, having been given a second chance, she would absolutely not repeat the same mistakes.
Regardless of who he held in his heart, it had nothing to do with her.
In this life, she would stay far away from Xie Yunzheng.
Once Xie Yunzheng’s figure had completely vanished from the corridor, Jinzi instinctively patted her chest.
“Shi-zi-ye is even more terrifying than before. Young Miss, we must be more careful in the future; we cannot bump into Shi-zi-ye again.”
“We were lucky this time. The last woman who threw herself into Shi-zi-ye’s arms was thrown out in front of everyone.”
Ji Mingzhu nodded. “Don’t worry. From now on, I will avoid any place where he might be.”
Jinzi explained, “That’s not what I meant, I just wanted you to know that Shi-zi-ye is not someone to be trifled with.”
Xie Yunzheng was the eldest son of the primary branch.
His father was the Ding-guo-gong, and his mother was a Jun-zhu.
His status was already noble enough, and now with military merits to his name, he was indeed an existence that could not be provoked.
Ji Mingzhu didn’t know where she had gotten the courage in her past life not only to pursue him but also to believe she could melt this block of ice.
Facts proved she was wrong.
Otherwise, when she was suffering through a difficult labor, how could Xie Yunzheng remain so indifferent?
If she died, perhaps Xie Yunzheng would set off firecrackers in celebration and then joyfully marry his heart’s desire.
Ji Mingzhu composed her thoughts and turned to walk in the opposite direction.
She wore a fiery red cloak, the most vivid color amidst the icy white world.
She walked further and further away, without looking back even once.