Seeing that Mrs. Yao had gradually gotten the hang of things, Song Zhaoxi returned to Ji Changfeng’s room.
The bedroom was simple but tidy, filled with traces of a man living there—someone she barely knew.
Her gaze fell on the bed, and for some reason she suddenly recalled Mrs. Yao’s earlier words. Her face flushed red, and she quickly shook the thought away, mentally scolding herself.
As a night owl, she couldn’t fall asleep so early. Under the dim glow of an oil lamp, she took out the fabric she had bought and began cutting and sewing clothes.
She chose a lotus-green fabric for herself. In her past life, when she worked on ancient costume designs, she had always preferred bright, vivid colors like red. But her previous body had been voluptuous—a completely “seductive beauty,” as people would say.
She looked down at her current body and sighed heavily.
No curves in the front or back. Barely an A cup. Pathetic.
She briefly mourned her former 36C figure, then quickly got to work, cutting the fabric into a simple rural-style garment. She did want to make something prettier, but since she was living in the countryside, standing out too much would only bring trouble.
Before she knew it, the night had deepened. She yawned and fell into a heavy sleep.
She had a strange dream.
In it, she saw carved beams and painted halls, pavilions and towers. Elegant women in luxurious robes were speaking about something. One woman held her gently in her arms, teasing her affectionately.
Then the scene shifted.
A dark, damp prison cell. A woman’s piercing scream echoed in her ears, the smell of blood thick in the air. Someone struck her hard on the head, and after that—nothing.
When she opened her eyes again, it was still faintly dawn outside.
Voices came from beyond the window. She listened carefully—it was Ji Xue.
So early in the morning, what was she doing here?
The day before, at the market, Ji Xue had learned from Ji Pingping that Ji Changfeng’s school break was coming soon. She immediately asked her family for a new hairpin and bought a piece of fabric, planning to make a new dress before he returned.
Back then, the Ji family was poor, and the village head’s family had rejected any marriage discussions between them and Ji Yuanchuan. Who would have thought Ji Changfeng would later become a scholar?
And yet, somehow, a foolish girl had gotten there first.
Ji Xue told herself that Ji Changfeng could never possibly like Song Zhaoxi. But since Song Zhaoxi was now his nominal wife, she had to lower herself and win over the Ji family first.
She took out her savings—two qian of silver—and handed it all to Mrs. Yao with a sweet smile.
“Auntie Ji, I know your family has been struggling. Please take this money.”
But Mrs. Yao didn’t accept it at all and immediately pushed it back.
“You child, how could we take your money?”
Seeing her refusal, Ji Xue secretly relaxed. She had never intended to actually give them money—she was only there to show goodwill and highlight the gap between herself and Song Zhaoxi.
“Please just take it,” she said, hooking her arm affectionately around Mrs. Yao’s.
“If you can accept money from that idiot, why are you being so distant with me?”
“That’s not what you say,” Mrs. Yao said in surprise. “You’re not part of our family to begin with.”
She awkwardly pulled her arm away.
Ji Xue: “……”
At that moment, the wooden window creaked open.
Leaning against it, Song Zhaoxi tried not to laugh.
“Auntie Ji, if someone’s offering money, just take it. If you feel embarrassed, I can help you keep it.”
Ji Xue’s expression changed instantly. “Song Zhaoxi! That money is mine for Aunt Ji! What right do you have to take it?”
“We’re family. It doesn’t matter who holds it.”
Without hesitation, Song Zhaoxi reached out to take it.
Startled, Ji Xue quickly stepped back and clutched the silver tightly to her chest.
Seeing this, Mrs. Yao finally understood—this girl wasn’t sincerely trying to help at all. She sighed.
“Miss Ji Xue, if there’s nothing else, you should go back.”
Exposed, Ji Xue’s face flushed red, but she still refused to leave.
At that moment, Old Madam Ji’s voice came just in time, easing her awkwardness.
“Oh, isn’t this the village head’s daughter? Come in and sit! Our Changfeng will be back soon—you should visit more often.”
She had clearly been eavesdropping for a while, and her words carried obvious intent.
Of course, she didn’t actually want Ji Xue to marry into the family. A scholar like Ji Changfeng was not worthy of a village head’s daughter.
But right now, anything that could disgust or annoy Song Zhaoxi was worth doing.
Old Madam Ji immediately began flattering Ji Xue extravagantly.
“Look how pretty the village head’s daughter is. When our Changfeng sees her, he’ll surely be captivated. Unlike some people—dirty and worthless, like a toad stuck in a latrine, just disgusting!”
Song Zhaoxi: “……”
Poor Ji Changfeng—he had just been demoted to a “latrine occupant.”
Ji Pingping, meanwhile, grew more and more pleased with herself, thinking her earlier worries were unnecessary.
What could a random orphan girl possibly compare with her?
Not interested in dealing with these odd people any longer, Song Zhaoxi shut the window.
After sitting in the main hall for a while and whispering with Old Madam Ji, Ji Xue eventually left after breakfast. The Ji family went to work in the fields, leaving no one to pay attention to her.
So she went up the mountain again.
She wanted to confirm something.
Following a route she remembered from her past life, she arrived at the place where she had once lived in the countryside—and found, incredibly, a dilapidated thatched hut.
It had clearly not been lived in for years; even the roof had partially collapsed.
When she stepped inside, she felt a sudden shock.
On the broken table were neatly arranged rows of bottles and jars—ancient-style rouge, balm, eyebrow ink, and even a few bottles of expensive modern skincare products she had once made herself.
A strange unease rose in her heart.
If the last time she found those two lingzhi mushrooms could still be dismissed as coincidence, she could no longer deceive herself now.
She stood there in silence for a moment, then tucked everything into her arms and turned to leave the mountain.