Angel tried to control her body but found she couldn’t. Frustrated, she cursed, “Idiot!”
An Jiu’s footsteps faltered. Startled yet oddly hopeful, she asked, “Who… are you?”
“You can hear me?” Angel was surprised but quickly remembered the situation. “Listen to me. Go back to the window and look outside.”
She could see what Mei Jiu saw but couldn’t control her eyes.
“I…” Mei Jiu hesitated, wavering.
“If you don’t listen, forget about Ah Shun. You won’t even be able to save yourself!” Angel said coldly. She thought lazily that even if Mei Jiu listened, she might not make it out alive. Angel simply couldn’t understand or tolerate someone being so foolish. It was just a matter of dying, but shouldn’t one at least try to die without regrets?
An Jiu wanted to go out and save someone, but Angel’s voice seemed to come from within, unconsciously influencing her.
Angel could sense her inner struggle and added nonchalantly, “If you want to be a fool who harms others and yourself, then go ahead and leave!”
Angel was certain the soft-hearted girl would listen, but to her surprise, Mei Jiu began slowly walking towards the exit.
Angel wanted to glare at her but could only try to regain control of the body.
However, controlling one’s body is an innate ability. There’s no trick to it; it exists naturally and is difficult to reclaim once lost. Even though Angel’s control over her body had once been a hundred times stronger than the average person’s, she was now helpless.
As she struggled against Mei Jiu’s consciousness, she suddenly felt a splitting headache. A white light flashed in her mind, and everything went dark.
She could hear a man’s voice speaking nearby but couldn’t make out the words. Finally, she heard Ah Shun’s heart-wrenching cry, “Sister!”
…
Dawn was approaching. A thin crescent moon hung in the night sky. Frost covered the blue roof tiles, reflecting the dim moonlight and sparkling like silver-threaded brocade.
Warm orange lights had begun to appear, intertwining with the frosty moonlight and accentuating the layers of buildings.
A manor in the northern part of the city was brightly lit.
The courtyard featured craggy rocks and winding corridors. Beyond a moon gate lay a spacious courtyard. The plaque above the main hall bore the character “Yu Wei Residence” in an elegant, flowing script.
As Mei Jiu awoke, Angel saw a middle-aged woman with tear-stained cheeks.
Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her porcelain-like skin was pale. She wore a dark green long coat that made her face appear even more wan.
“Mother!” Mei Jiu cried, seeing the woman struggle to rise.
The woman quickly pressed her down, choking back tears. “Don’t be afraid, my child. Mother is here.”
Simultaneously, Angel felt a strange memory seeping into her soul, scene by scene, all about this woman.
The woman was called Mei Yanran, born into the Mei family. Unlike other families, the Mei clan never married their daughters out, only accepting sons-in-law into the family. That’s why Mei Jiu bore her mother’s surname. The rest of the memories were images of mother and daughter relying on each other while living away from home.
Angel was on full alert. Was she about to be consumed?
But despite her keen awareness, she was powerless to stop it.
“An Jiu’er, we’re home,” Mei Yanran said with a smile tinged with sorrow. Her beautiful face was like a pear blossom in the rain, about to fall.
Mei Jiu didn’t notice her mother’s unusual state. Instead, she brightened at her words. “Will I be able to see Father?”
At the mention of this person, Mei Yanran’s fragile demeanor showed a hint of strength. “He’s gone. He’s been gone for several years now.”
Angel couldn’t decipher this strange attitude but didn’t care to ponder it. She idly admired the beautiful face before her through Mei Jiu’s eyes.
Honestly, she had never seen such a beautiful woman in her life.
“Is Fourteenth Miss awake?” a crisp voice called out.
Mei Jiu looked up to see a girl of fifteen or sixteen entering through the curtains. She had a round face with a gentle smile and deep dimples on either side of her mouth, giving her a kind appearance.
“Lady Yan, Fourteenth Miss,” the girl said happily, bowing in greeting.
“Rise,” Mei Yanran said, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief before turning to Mei Jiu. “This is Wen Cui, the maid assigned to you by the Old Madam of Bi Xiang Residence.”
Before Mei Jiu could speak, Mei Yanran gave Wen Cui a calm look. “An Jiu’er doesn’t understand the family situation yet. I’ll have to trouble you to look after her, Miss Wen Cui.”
“This servant wouldn’t dare,” Wen Cui quickly bowed.
“Rest well. I’m going to sleep for a while,” Mei Yanran said, gently patting Mei Jiu’s hand. “Don’t be afraid.”
Mei Jiu felt uneasy, but seeing her mother’s pale face and swollen eyes, she swallowed her words.
Angel sensed Mei Yanran’s unusual emotions and knew that “coming home” might not be a happy occasion.
“Fourteenth Miss must be hungry. Shall I have some porridge warmed up for you?” Wen Cui asked.
“Mm,” Mei Jiu nodded.
Wen Cui called out, “Serve the meal!”
She placed her hand on Mei Jiu’s wrist to check her pulse. “Fourteenth Miss is out of danger, but having not eaten for a long time, you can only have light, soft foods. Shall I help you up?”
Mei Jiu was surprised that a maid could read pulse. After a moment, she awkwardly replied, “Thank… thank you.”
Having suddenly gone from a commoner to a young lady of a great family, Mei Jiu didn’t know how to act or even where to put her hands.
Soon, six maids entered with washing utensils to help Mei Jiu freshen up. Wen Cui supported her as they went to the outer room. “It’s just past noon, not quite mealtime yet. Please make do with this for now, and forgive any shortcomings.”
Mei Jiu nodded nervously.
Angel scoffed at her timidity. Mei Jiu was startled and suddenly stopped.
“Fourteenth Miss?” Wen Cui asked with concern. “What’s wrong?”
Mei Jiu lowered her eyes, suppressing her confusion. “It’s nothing.”
Given Wen Cui’s earlier words, Mei Jiu expected only porridge. She was shocked to see a table full of light but delicious-looking dishes.
Standing beside Mei Jiu, Wen Cui ignored her surprise and smiled as she served her. “My lady, I’m not familiar with your tastes. Please let me know if there’s anything you like.”
“I’m not picky,” Mei Jiu said softly. She had never dreamed of eating such fine food in her life. How could she be picky?
As the delicious flavors spread across her palate, both Angel and Mei Jiu were stunned.
The two souls’ craving for food made Mei Jiu forget her manners and she began to eat heartily.
“My lady, your digestion is weak. Please chew thoroughly,” Wen Cui reminded her. “Don’t eat too much.”
Angel instinctively turned to glare at the noisy person.
Wen Cui froze, a chill running through her body. But then a strange joy appeared on her face, and her manner became even gentler.
After the meal, Angel suddenly realized that for a moment, she had unintentionally controlled Mei Jiu’s body! Did this mean… she had a chance to possess this body?
Mei Jiu, trying hard to adapt to her new identity, was completely unaware of the ill intentions lurking within her.
With Wen Cui’s kind face and deliberate gentleness, Mei Jiu quickly warmed up to her. She even boldly asked, “Wen Cui, where is this place?”
“This is Mei Manor,” Wen Cui explained with a smile. “Our area is called Meihua Village, covering over 200 mu of land, with a large lake of about 100 mu. All of this belongs to Mei Manor. Meihua Village has 973 people in total, but our household has less than 400. There are 64 masters, and now with Lady Yan bringing you and the Fifteenth Miss home, we’ve added three more.”
She continued at a steady pace, “Not to mention the front court affairs, in the backcourt, the Old Madam of Cha Yun Residence and the Old Madam of Bi Xiang Residence are the most respected. The Third Madam, who manages affairs, is the legitimate daughter-in-law of the Old Madam of Cha Yun Residence. This is enough for you to know, for now, my lady.”
Mei Jiu had never imagined a family could have so many people. Her mind was in a whirl, and she nodded dazedly.
Seeing her fatigue, Wen Cui thoughtfully said, “My lady should rest a bit more. You’ll need your energy to greet the Old Madam early tomorrow.” She helped Mei Jiu lie down and tucked her in. “I’ll be right outside the door. Just call if you need anything.”
“Mm,” Mei Jiu was exhausted but not very sleepy.
The maids left with Wen Cui, and the room fell silent.
Mei Jiu climbed out of bed and peeked into the outer room. Seeing no one, she sighed in relief.
She sat on the edge of the bed and tentatively asked, “Are you there?”