April. Morning mist lingered thick in the air. Early-rising sparrows hopped onto the bamboo chair in the courtyard, chirping noisily as if urging people out of bed.
Miss Player was awakened by the racket. She yawned, climbed up from the canopy bed, and casually pulled a cloth doll into her arms from beside the thin pillow.
The doll was shaped like a dog, nearly half her size—not a stylized toy, but surprisingly lifelike.
Its eyes held three different colors, glistening as though wet, vivid and lively. Its body was yellow, the fur so realistic it looked fluffy yet felt smooth to the touch.
The old, worn longevity-pattern quilt had been replaced with a soft, pale-green silk duvet. Wrapped around her, it was almost weightless—warm and comfortable at once. A row of wooden railings had been installed along the bedside, the inner sides wrapped in fine silk embroidered with blooming flowers, exquisitely beautiful.
She did not rush to get out of bed. Instead, she opened the game panel to review the major events that had occurred during the “Time Fast-Forward.”
【You received a name: Jiang Yushu.】
【The household purchased a new batch of servants. Population increased.】
【You fell gravely ill. The family accepted the possibility of your early death; only Madam Sun held onto hope, tending to you day and night without rest.】
【You recovered. Madam Sun lost five jin.】
【At half a year old, you learned to say “Grandmother.”】
【Your relationship with your elder brother is extremely poor. No matter what the family tries, you refuse to call him “Brother.”】
【You fell ill. Cold-induced fever.】
【You recovered. Madam Sun lost five jin.】
【At one year old, you can correctly name most objects and speak sentences of around five words without stuttering.】
…
【At three years old, you fell ill. A total of fifty-three taels of silver was spent. Madam Sun cursed as she cared for you and lost five jin.】
【You recovered.】
There had been three major recorded illnesses, two of which had nearly cost her life.
Sigh. It could not be helped—her initial Constitution was only 3.
Miss Player refused to admit that constant crying as an infant might have had negative effects on her health.
Taozi tiptoed into the inner chamber like a thief, only to find that her young mistress was already awake. The small figure sat quietly on the bed, clutching the cloth doll, staring straight at the bed curtains with a solemn, jade-like little face—utterly adorable.
“My dear young lady, you’ve just recovered. You mustn’t catch a chill.”
Taozi gathered the loose silk duvet and wrapped it tightly around her, repeatedly warning her not to climb out before daring to leave to fetch the clothes warming over the incense burner.
Miss Player watched her busy figure with her head tilted, finding it strange.
This maid who served Madam Sun… was still in Yinian Hall? She flipped through the “Major Events” again, but could not find any record of her father Jiang Yan taking a concubine, nor any mention of concubine-born siblings.
In the previous run, Madam Sun had been impatient to arrange a concubine for Jiang Yan even before Qian Yuanyuan had finished her confinement. The candidate had long been chosen—Taozi.
The reasoning had been brutally simple: if you cannot bear a son, let a concubine do it.
During that unstable postpartum period, when her hormones fluctuated wildly and her emotions were fragile, Qian Yuanyuan would hold herself together in front of others. But late at night, in silence, she would cradle Miss Player and cry without a sound.
Miss Player had heard her say many times, “Mother only has you.”
She had pitied her, sympathized with her, even admired her a little—for never blaming her suffering on her daughter’s gender, for gritting her teeth and raising her carefully. Year after year, day after day together… though they were not truly mother and daughter, they had become something like half of that bond.
Unfortunately, her sincerity had been misplaced.
Jiang Yan had initially refused to take a concubine. But after Madam Sun brought it up repeatedly, and Qian Yuanyuan eventually agreed, Taozi became his bedchamber attendant when Miss Player was half a year old. She only gained the formal title of concubine after bearing her first son.
Taozi was not Jiang Yan’s only concubine. His rank permitted two, and though he did not exceed the number, he filled the quota completely.
The other concubine had been given by Qian Yuanyuan herself—her maid Yinzhu. The Second Miss Jiang who later framed Miss Player for adultery with a servant in the Capital was Yinzhu’s daughter.
To understand what had happened, Miss Player opened the game panel, found the search bar for “Rewind,” and with a thought, replayed the past events related to taking a concubine.
Having just experienced time rushing forward like a leaf swept along a river, the sensation of time freezing and flowing backward now felt much less intense. What intrigued her instead was her current state—something she had never experienced in the previous run.
As the dazzling colors faded, Miss Player realized the location had not changed. She was still in Yinian Hall. But something about the perspective was different—the table, chairs, and even Taozi standing nearby all seemed larger.
The objects had not changed.
She had.
Miss Player realized she had grown smaller again.
And within this smaller body, she could not control the character.
An immersive first-person replay of past events? That was quite engaging.
Outside, night had already fallen. Madam Sun was frugal and never lit lamps in the courtyard. On a moonless night, the outdoors was pitch black.
Three people sat around a square table. Miss Player was one of them. Opposite her sat Jiang Yan; beside her, Madam Sun.
Several greasy empty dishes had already been scraped clean, and the rice bowls were empty. The meal had clearly reached its end.
Madam Sun beckoned to Taozi. “Come here.”
Taozi, clearly aware of what was about to happen, lowered her head shyly and stepped forward.
Madam Sun said to her son, “Your wife has given birth to Youyou for over a year now, yet there has been no further news. There is only Jingxing as a boy in this family—your lineage is too thin. Today, I will make the decision for you. You will take a concubine. Taozi will go with you to the main room tonight.”
Jiang Yan glanced at Taozi’s flushed cheeks, desire flickering in his eyes before quickly fading. He refused, “That won’t do. Adding someone to my household requires Yuanniang’s consent.”
A loud crack rang out.
Miss Player’s hand moved on its own, smashing the bowl in front of her.
She could not help but let out a soft “Wow.” Time the player had not personally experienced was not blank. For NPCs, every day was real. The AI system continued the character’s behavior based on prior patterns.
“Taozi is mine!”
The character declared it domineeringly.
Jiang Yan slammed the table in anger. “What are you doing?”
Madam Sun, however, was not angry in the slightest. She pulled the child into her arms and coaxed her, “My dear, don’t be afraid.”
Jiang Yan locked eyes with the child, his anger instantly fading by more than half, his voice dropping low.
“What sets humans apart from beasts is that we can speak. Without propriety, one cannot stand. Youyou smashing her bowl at the table is improper behavior and should be punished.”
Madam Sun turned and glared at him like a beast protecting her young, her tone hard.
“If you want my life, just say it! Taozi, go to the kitchen and fetch a meat cleaver for your master. My neck is right here—go on, chop!”
Jiang Yan: “…”
Having subdued her son, Madam Sun said to the child, “If Taozi becomes your father’s concubine, you will soon have younger brothers and sisters. Then you won’t be the youngest anymore—you’ll be a big girl.”
The character shook her head repeatedly. “Children born of Mother are smart and beautiful. How could concubine-born children be as good? Besides, ‘legitimate and illegitimate mixed together is the root of household disorder; in a minor official’s family, it is even worse.’ Father should not take a concubine.”
Madam Sun understood the first part but not the classical phrasing that followed. Jiang Yan, however, understood it perfectly. He knew such words could not come from a one-year-old child—this had to be parroting.
“Who told you this?” he asked.
Even as he spoke, he already had an answer.
Sure enough, the character replied, “Grandmother Huang told me.”
The character had her own wisdom. Miss Player nodded in satisfaction.
Jiang Yan’s expression shifted rapidly. He looked at Taozi for a moment, then looked away. It was true that his mother had carefully selected Taozi, and she would not disgrace him. And as a man, he acknowledged his own nature. But compared to his career, restraint became easy.
He wanted to advance far too much.
He had no intention of displeasing Lady Huang, especially since Magistrate Huang was a filial son.
Jiang Yan said to Madam Sun, “Mother, do not bring up taking a concubine again…”
…
Miss Player exited the “Rewind” function, her mouth slightly open.
What was the ultimate form of revenge? Not eliminating danger in its infancy—but erasing the very chance for one’s enemy to be born.
The threat of Second Miss Jiang had vanished without a trace. She had not even acted personally. A single instance of “Time Fast-Forward” had butterfly-effected the danger away.
After a moment of surprise, she accepted it as only natural.
Soft, measured footsteps approached from afar. Midwife Ma entered, carrying a white porcelain bowl, followed by Tiangua and a seven- or eight-year-old maid. The bowl contained milk, warm and perfectly tempered.
Miss Player found it strange that the wet nurse had not been dismissed.
In the previous run, she had not had a wet nurse. Madam Qian had fed her personally.
Feeding had been troublesome, and by half a year old she had switched to goat’s milk.
The family had even kept a goat for that purpose.
By the time Miss Player had been carefully cleaned and carried to the dining table, Madam Sun entered, a light sheen of sweat on her body. Compared to three and a half years ago, she had changed so much that Miss Player almost failed to recognize her.
The old lady had lost at least twenty jin.
Madam Sun had originally weighed around one hundred and thirty jin and stood about one meter sixty-five tall.
It was said she had always been strong and sturdy for a woman, but before Jiang Yan passed the examinations, she had never had the chance to gain weight.
Most of that weight had been put on in the years after Madam Qian married in.
Now her waist was trim, her steps light. Most importantly, her eyes were bright and her complexion ruddy. Three years later, she seemed seven or eight years younger.
“We agreed on morning exercise, yet you failed to get up again.”
Madam Sun sat down, taking the towel Taozi handed her to wipe her sweat. She wore a light cotton top and trousers, while Miss Player, beneath her inner garment, still wore a padded jacket. Though not thick, it was clear the two of them lived in entirely different seasons.
Miss Player, of course, had no idea what agreement they had. But she was well-versed in handling “Time Magic”—anything she did not know, she simply skipped.
“What are we eating today?” she asked.
A bowl of steamed egg custard sprinkled with minced meat was placed before her, along with a small white plate holding three white-flour buns. The chair she sat in was specially made, much like a modern child’s dining chair, securing her body in place with a soft cushion beneath her. In the corner stood an ancient version of a baby stroller and a walker. The entire Yinian Hall carried the atmosphere of raising a child.
After breakfast, Miss Player extended her arms.
Madam Sun personally lifted her down, wiping her face and hands clean.
Taozi lifted the curtain. Madam Qian entered with her maid Yinzhu, performing a full greeting and smiling warmly.
“Mother, your daughter-in-law has come to pay her respects.”
Miss Player quietly watched from the side.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Madam Sun said, “It’s getting late. Take Youyou out. Go early and return early—don’t let her catch the wind.”
Madam Qian agreed and left Yinian Hall.
The servants inside filed out in an orderly stream.
Miss Player leaned in Taozi’s arms, looking ahead. Passing through the first gate, the covered corridor extended in a looping pattern toward the main courtyard where Madam Qian lived.
Most official residences were two courtyards deep, and in some lower counties, only one. But Cuixi County, with its silk, walnuts, iron mines, and a river port large enough for ships, was prosperous—an upper-tier county.
Its yamen residence was therefore far grander, a three-courtyard estate with the main hall at its center. Rare trees grew in the yard. In a large bluestone basin, lotus leaves spread wide, red koi surfacing occasionally to stir ripples and release bubbles.
“Why is my childhood name Youyou?” Miss Player asked, secretly admiring how pleasant her voice sounded—more melodious than any songbird.
Madam Qian walked past the stone basin as the koi darted shyly beneath the leaves. She replied gently, “Youyou is the sound a young deer makes. Your grandmother thought your crying sounded just like a fawn’s call.”
“Oh. So ‘Youyou’ was given by Grandmother. Then what about ‘Yushu’?”
“Your father proposed several names. Lady Huang said this one was the best.”
In this life, she was still called Yushu—but her childhood name was different from the previous run.
Ding-ling—
The bronze bells hanging from the eaves chimed crisply. Miss Player stared at them swaying and could not help reaching out.
This sound had been the most familiar melody of her previous life.
Taozi paused, lifting her higher. Just as Miss Player’s fingers were about to touch the ancient bronze bell, Madam Qian, already at the hanging flower gate, turned back and urged,
“Youyou, hurry. The carriage has been waiting for us for quite some time.”
Looking down from above, Miss Player asked, “Where are we going?”
Madam Jin Sui, standing beside Madam Qian, stepped forward with a smile.
“Replying to Miss, today we are going to ‘Qian Embroidery’—a cloth shop under Madam’s name.”