Guan Xiyue was dressed in a brand-new peach-red outfit, adorned from head to toe and looking exceedingly pleased with herself as she was taken away in an ox cart.
The villagers had gathered three layers deep around the scene. Some were envious, some jealous, some sighed in regret, but most believed Guan Xiyue was headed for a life of comfort.
When people could barely fill their stomachs, what did it matter whether she became a concubine? The Zhou family was a house of wealth and luxury, where meat was served at every meal.
Strangely enough, as soon as Guan Xiyue entered the Zhou household, the eldest young master, Zhou Zhengye, who had been bedridden for half a month, managed to drink half a bowl of porridge and even sit up against the headboard.
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou were overjoyed, repeatedly exclaiming, “A lucky star has entered our home!” Meanwhile, the eldest young mistress, Madam Yu, secretly grew wary.
When Guan Xiyue served tea to Madam Yu, Zhou Zhengye—who had harbored the faintest trace of anticipation—silently lay back down again.
The layers of fat wrapped in that peach-red dress were simply too conspicuous to ignore.
Not to mention the thick, heavy eyebrows painted in black, the round, flour-white face, and the bright crimson lips. Her fleshy features were plastered with excessive makeup; the white was too white, the red too red. She was, frankly, very unattractive.
Madam Yu accepted the tea with a smile, thoroughly satisfied. She rewarded Guan Xiyue with a silver bracelet and lectured her on the virtues expected of a woman, urging her to bear children for the Zhou family as soon as possible.
Delighted, Guan Xiyue secretly glanced at Young Master Zhou. Seeing his handsome, upright features, she couldn’t help blushing shyly.
She was assigned a remote little courtyard along with a maid named Xiaoyun.
Xiaoyun was only twelve or thirteen years old. Though she had previously been a mere cleaning maid in Madam Yu’s courtyard, she had suddenly become the sole “senior maid” attending Concubine Guan.
Yet she was thoroughly depressed.
It meant everything inside and outside the courtyard would now fall on her shoulders. Serving such a foolish, hopeless concubine who would never win favor—what future could she possibly have?
Oddly enough, only a few days after Guan Xiyue entered the household, Young Master Zhou’s health continued to improve. He was still taking the same medicine, but this time it seemed to work. He could already walk around.
Faced with the plump Concubine Guan whose arrival had brought about this miraculous recovery, Zhou Zhengye felt miserable.
Whenever Guan Xiyue came to pay her respects and tried to grow closer to him under various pretexts, he flatly refused. At most, he would allow her to say a few words from outside the door.
Though Guan Xiyue was only fifteen, she was quite shrewd. Having read many romantic stories, she knew that as a concubine, her only real support would be the young master’s affection.
So one day, after Young Master Zhou once again refused to let her visit him, she charged straight into his room regardless.
Startled, Zhou Zhengye immediately ordered his servant Wang You to drag her out. To his surprise, Guan Xiyue was incredibly strong, and Wang You was no match for her.
As she was about to cling to him, Zhou Zhengye summoned all his strength and shoved her.
With a loud bang, her head struck the corner of a table, and she collapsed to the floor.
Meanwhile, Zhou Zhengye was drenched in sweat, his face pale as he stared at the gaudily dressed Guan Xiyue lying motionless on the ground, deeply shaken.
Madam Yu ordered that Guan Xiyue recuperate properly and declared that she was forbidden from entering the main courtyard again without permission.
No one noticed that after Guan Xiyue woke up, the tiny black mole beside her temple had turned bright red.
Guan Xiyue sighed inwardly.
Ancient times truly were full of dangers. Who would have thought that a simple shove would be enough to kill the original owner of this body?
Logically, she must have struck a vital part of her head. Now that she had taken over the body, she had no idea whether any hidden complications remained. After all, untreated brain injuries, lingering internal bleeding, or severe concussions were nothing to joke about.
As she slowly recovered, Guan Xiyue gradually figured out the setting of this world.
More precisely, it was a fictional dynasty.
The nation was called Great Ning.
Judging by the lingering chill in the air despite it already being May, she estimated that this region was somewhere in the central or northern part of the country.
Fortunately, the original owner had been physically sturdy, and her recovery was swift. After several days of bland vegetables and light meals, Guan Xiyue—who loved good food—felt as though countless claws were scratching at her heart.
Xiaoyun was also the type to shirk work whenever possible. Sometimes Guan Xiyue couldn’t even find a cup of hot water, and the girl was nowhere to be seen.
Basking in the sun within her small courtyard, Guan Xiyue closed her eyes and pondered her future.
First, she needed to recover completely.
Then she absolutely had to lose weight. This body’s excess fat was unbearable.
Most importantly, how was she supposed to escape the Zhou family?
As a concubine who could be bought, sold, or dismissed at will, it would not be easy…
Suddenly, a loud thud startled her.
Guan Xiyue jumped to her feet and looked around.
Near the base of the wall, behind an old locust tree, there seemed to be a figure lying motionless.
Grabbing a stick, she shouted sternly,
“Who goes there? Stop lurking around and acting mysterious!”
The person showed no response.
Thinking of her own sturdy build and layers of flesh, Guan Xiyue gathered her courage and approached.
To her surprise, it was an unconscious young man.
He had a high, straight nose, sharply defined lips, and sword-like eyebrows disappearing into strands of black hair that fell across his temples. His features were flawless, perfectly sculpted.
Only his pale complexion and tightly furrowed brows hinted at the pain he was enduring.
As she helped up this handsome stranger who had seemingly fallen from the heavens, Guan Xiyue found herself accepting the reality of her transmigration even more.
People who transmigrated always encountered extraordinary opportunities.
That was practically a law of nature.
Should she call others to help save him?
Or should she hurry and send him away?
Guan Xiyue had not forgotten her situation: she was a newly arrived concubine, and this was an unfamiliar man.
In this ancient society, such circumstances could easily lead to misunderstandings.
Before she could make up her mind, the handsome stranger seemed to regain consciousness.
Forcing open a pair of elegant phoenix eyes, he spoke softly:
“Save me, and you will be richly rewarded.”
After a brief pause, he added:
“Do not alert anyone.”