She had transmigrated—to be precise, she had borrowed a corpse to return to life.

This fact terrified Qi Yue. As a surgeon accustomed to life and death, she simply couldn’t understand such an incomprehensible phenomenon.

She faced the bronze mirror and examined her current self again.

The mirror was dim, and she couldn’t see her exact features clearly, but she could be certain she was a classical beauty. Look at those fine eyebrows and almond eyes. Qi Yue raised her eyebrows, glared, and finally smiled with pursed lips. The person in the mirror showed two deep dimples on her face.

Wow, Qi Yue couldn’t help but whistle. If she had looked like this earlier, even if the new girlfriend’s father was the hospital director, it probably wouldn’t have shaken her ex-boyfriend’s steadfast heart.

Looking at this age, Qi Yue reached up to pinch her face. Forgetting it was “her own” for a moment, she used too much force and couldn’t help but grimace and hiss.

Hmm, the skin wasn’t in great condition, probably due to being too thin. But for the twenty-seven-year-old auntie Qi Yue, it felt like being seven or eight years younger.

After familiarizing herself with “her” appearance, Qi Yue turned her attention to the room, starting to look around and touch things with great interest. Everything here seemed novel to her. Everything here was vivid and alive, filled with human presence, unlike the lifeless displays she’d seen in folk residence museums that completely failed to convey the luxurious life of ancient wealthy families.

As she wandered around, Qi Yue’s gaze suddenly stopped when she saw the emergency medical kit still lying on the ground. Her mind thundered, and her fresh curiosity immediately faded.

She had transmigrated! She was Qi Yue but also not Qi Yue! Even though that Qi Yue’s body still existed in the modern world, whether alive or dead, it was no longer her. There was no longer any trace of her in that world!

She would never see her parents or brother again! Her ex-boyfriend would never have to worry about her interfering with his soon-to-be-soaring life! The injured patient at the rural clinic would never wait for her to perform surgery again—though naturally someone else could replace her, another doctor would operate on him…

While A’Ru and A’Hao were changing clothes in their room, they heard faint crying sounds coming from inside. The two exchanged glances and, not caring about their loose hair, hurriedly ran over.

The Young Madam’s suppressed sobs came from inside the room.

“Young Madam, Young Madam,” A’Ru called out urgently, trying to push the door open but finding it barred from inside. This made her even more frightened, and she pounded on the door forcefully. “Please open the door, please open the door.”

Qi Yue sat on the ground leaning against the door, hugging the medical kit as tears flowed uncontrollably. While crying, she opened the medical kit, and oxygen supplies, gauze, tape, stethoscope, scissors, and other instruments came into view…

How did you follow me here? she murmured, running her hands over each piece of equipment she had personally selected.

In this strange place, I only have you…

“Young Madam, Young Madam, please don’t do anything foolish…” A’Ru was frantic with worry. Apart from the crying inside, she got no response. Thinking of today’s frights and all the grievances they’d endured, she slumped to the ground and began crying too.

“Young Madam, I know you’re suffering inside, but no matter how much you suffer, you must go on living…”

“Think of the Old Marchioness—for her sake, you can’t do anything foolish…”

“Think of how the Old Marchioness held on until your wedding ceremony before closing her eyes, all for you…”

“…You must be well, take care of your health, and wait for the Young Master to return. He’ll definitely take you away…”

“Without the Old Marchioness, you still have the Young Master…”

A’Ru couldn’t continue speaking and leaned against the door crying. A’Hao behind her had long since become a tearful mess.

The three people inside and outside the room cried to their hearts’ content in the rainy day, each thinking of their own sorrows.

Outside Qiutong Courtyard, several women in straw raincoats and bamboo hats passed by.

“What’s happening?” one of them asked, tilting her head to listen. “What’s going on in Qiutong Courtyard? Crying like this in broad daylight?”

Someone laughed.

“I just heard that the Young Madam from the East Residence played at hanging herself today. I guess now they’re at the part where they lay out the body and wail,” she said.

Everyone burst into laughter. The woman who had asked clearly didn’t know about this incident and frowned, shaking her head.

“We shouldn’t gossip about the East Residence’s affairs,” she said quietly. “She’s also a pitiful person…”

The women immediately stopped laughing and straightened their expressions, responding affirmatively.

“Let’s go. Deliver these things, pay respects to the Marquis and Madam, then hurry back. Our side can’t do without people either,” the woman said.

The group continued walking slowly. As the woman was about to turn into the side passage, she looked back. Qiutong Courtyard was shrouded in misty rain.

“Sigh,” she sighed softly. “Everyone said it was great fortune back then, not knowing that even good days come soaked in bitter water…”

She looked at Qiutong Courtyard once more, then turned into the side passage with the other women.

Here, A’Ru had been leaning against the door crying for who knows how long. She had cried herself out and was just silently shedding tears when she heard a click as the door opened.

“Young Madam!” Both maids looked up with surprise and joy.

Qi Yue looked at them.

“Get up, stop crying,” she said. Her voice was hoarse, whether from crying or the neck injury.

A’Ru and A’Hao immediately stood up, nodding through their tears.

“Cry when you need to cry. After crying, everything will be fine,” Qi Yue said, giving them a slight smile.

With her pale complexion and swollen red eyes, this smile wasn’t particularly attractive, but A’Ru and A’Hao were so happy they nearly cried again.

“Madam, let’s call a doctor…” A’Ru said.

“Call a doctor for what?” Qi Yue shook her head.

A’Ru paused, only then noticing that the Young Madam’s neck was wrapped in white cloth, though this white cloth looked quite unusual—she’d never seen anything like it before.

“Madam, you…” she couldn’t help asking.

“Oh, this?” Qi Yue touched it. Earlier, while looking in the mirror, she had already treated the wound on her neck. “I took care of it myself. No need to trouble outsiders.”

True, it wouldn’t look good to let it get out. A’Ru and A’Hao nodded.

“A’Hao, quickly go fetch water for the Young Madam to wash her face,” A’Ru instructed.

A’Hao responded and hurried off. A’Ru reached out to help Qi Yue sit down.

Being supported like this at such a young age felt strange to Qi Yue, but seeing that the maid’s actions were obviously habitual, and being new here, she decided to go with the flow rather than get beaten.

A’Hao came in carrying water and knelt in front of her.

“Young Madam, what’s wrong?” A’Ru and A’Hao asked in confusion, seeing Qi Yue suddenly stand up.

This kneeling was really… Qi Yue looked at the two maids’ surprised and worried expressions, forced a smile, and sat back down, allowing them to serve her.

Qi Yue watched curiously as A’Ru brought over a small box with exquisite painted patterns. What a real antique! She couldn’t help but run her hands over it—made of carved lacquer.

A’Ru opened it to reveal seven small compartments and helped her apply face powder, rouge, and lip color.

Qi Yue watched A’Ru clean her already washed hands, then dig out a small piece of balm from a little box and carefully apply it. She couldn’t help but want to exclaim in admiration—they even had hand cream!

After finishing this, A’Ru took the water basin from A’Hao’s hands. A’Hao stood up and took out a comb and pins to arrange Qi Yue’s hair. A’Ru picked a poppy flower from a blooming pot by the window and pinned it in Qi Yue’s hair.

Even going to a photo studio wouldn’t be this elaborate, Qi Yue thought to herself.

“All done, Young Madam,” A’Ru brought over the bronze mirror for Qi Yue to admire herself.

Qi Yue looked left and right and couldn’t help grinning and making faces. Compared to what she’d seen in the mirror earlier, she looked much more vibrant. Turning her head, she saw the two maids beside her looking at her with surprise, so she quickly composed herself and nodded.

“Young Madam, shall I go prepare food?” A’Hao asked for permission.

What time was it? Qi Yue instinctively raised her wrist to check her watch, but saw two twisted silver bracelets…

“Go ahead,” she said somewhat unnaturally, looking outside where the rain was gradually lessening and the originally gloomy sky was slightly brightening.

A’Hao curtsied and left.

“Young Madam, please rest for a while,” A’Ru reached out to help her.

“No need. You go help too. I want to be alone for a while,” Qi Yue shook her head.

A’Ru’s face showed some concern, and she hesitated for a moment.

“It’s fine. Go on. I’ve already acted foolishly once—it won’t happen again,” Qi Yue smiled at her, then added, “I’m sorry for frightening you all.”

Tears welled up in A’Ru’s eyes.

“Young Madam, it’s because we servants didn’t take proper care,” she said chokingly.

“It’s not your fault,” Qi Yue said. She didn’t know what to say to this maid who was completely a stranger to her, and didn’t dare say much, so she kept it brief and even waved her hand with a slightly impatient expression.

A’Ru immediately stopped talking.

“If the Young Madam needs anything, just call me. I’ll be in the courtyard,” she said, lowering her head and retreating. Whether intentionally or not, she didn’t close the door.

Qi Yue exhaled and relaxed her rigid posture. As the room fell quiet, her mind was still in chaos.

Was this real or fake? Had she really transmigrated? Become someone else? And in ancient times no less! Dear God, how was she supposed to live this life!