TFSRITA Chapter 27

In a small village near Wen County, at the Yan family estate:

Yan Ying woke up from her midday nap and, without calling for her maid, casually reached for an empty cup. She covered it with her right hand, and after a short moment, the cup was filled with water. The water was clear and transparent, and she drank it in one gulp, savoring the sweet taste. After finishing, she felt noticeably refreshed.

This was a power she had gained after her transmigration.

Perhaps to compensate for her untimely death in her previous life, Yan Ying found that after she crossed over into the body of this world’s Yan Ying, she had a mystical spring in her palm. The spring was simply a small well of water. Though it seemed large, she couldn’t enter it herself, but there was enough space around it to store a few items.

The spring water could cure all ailments. When she first arrived in this world, her new body was nearly ruined, but thanks to the spring water, she had recovered. The original owner of the body had been weak and mild-mannered, but Yan Ying was not. From her past life experiences, she knew all too well that to live well, one had to be ruthless.

So, as soon as she arrived, she dealt with a few maids who had betrayed their mistress or were behaving improperly. Since then, the remaining servants treated her with utmost respect.

But that wasn’t enough. Yan Ying felt that since she had taken over this body, it was only right to avenge the original owner. The few maids she dealt with were just the beginning; the Yan family was her real target.

The original owner had been a pitiful soul, too naive to see the intricacies of the family’s schemes. But Yan Ying saw everything.

Yan Qing, the eldest daughter of the Yan family, appeared to be noble and virtuous but was, in fact, a calculating and ruthless white lotus. She constantly played the part of a fragile and innocent woman, but she was sharper than anyone else.

She had used the original owner as a scapegoat, deflecting the schemes of the concubines onto her. Even the illness that led to her banishment was partly Yan Qing’s fault. If she hadn’t complained that the mansion was too quiet, forcing the prime minister to bring in a performance troupe, the concubines wouldn’t have vied for his favor, leading to their downfall and the original owner’s misfortune.

Although the concubine responsible was eventually sold off, the original owner contracted smallpox and was sent to this estate to recover.

This so-called “innocent” white lotus had brought harm upon the original owner, and Yan Ying had no intention of letting it go unpunished. It was unfortunate that Yan Qing was already in the palace.

As for the prime minister, even though he was the original owner’s biological father, he had ignored her and allowed the concubines to mistreat her, caring only for Yan Qing!

Yan Ying closed her eyes, hiding the cold glint in them. To get her revenge, she needed to find a way to make the prime minister take notice of her.

As she was lost in thought, a knock suddenly came at the door.

Yan Ying disliked having anyone stand guard at night, so she always kept her door tightly shut while she slept.

“Miss, someone has arrived from Chang’an,” the maid’s voice came through the door.

Yan Ying immediately stood and went outside.

Upon seeing her, Siyu, the maid, was once again struck by her beauty. The young lady had become even more stunning recently. Her delicate face had blossomed, growing more radiant and captivating. Her water-like eyes sparkled, her brows curved gracefully, and her slender figure was elegant yet not fragile. Everything about her seemed perfectly balanced.

“Lead the way,” Yan Ying said calmly.

She had grown used to the maid’s gaze. With the nourishment from the mystical spring, her skin, appearance, and even her facial features were continuously improving.

Siyu quickly nodded and led the way.

When Yan Ying arrived in the main hall, she saw a man in his thirties standing there. From the original owner’s memories, she recognized him as one of Prime Minister Yan’s personal attendants—a man with more authority than even the steward.

“Uncle Zhou,” Yan Ying greeted him with a sweet smile.

Zhou Deng looked at her, clearly surprised. She had grown even more beautiful during her time away. She looked healthier and more vibrant than she ever had in the mansion. His eyes gleamed; with such beauty, the prime minister’s plan could certainly succeed.

“The prime minister has sent me to bring you back to the mansion,” he said.

“Back?” Yan Ying was surprised.

“Yes, the prime minister has been concerned about you. Now that you’re well, he naturally wants you to return.”

Yan Ying’s expression flickered for a moment. She had thought of many ways to attract her father’s attention, but it seemed she had been summoned back of her own accord. She quickly agreed.

This estate was just an ordinary farm. Though peaceful and picturesque, nothing was holding her here, so they prepared to leave swiftly. The very next day, Yan Ying set out for the mansion.

Uncle Zhou had to return to the capital due to urgent matters, but he left plenty of people to ensure her safe journey home.

The journey was slow, with the carriage swaying so much that Yan Ying’s bones ached. She spent most of the trip drowsy.

In the ancient world, the pace of a carriage wasn’t fast, especially with a noble lady on board. The servants dared not push too hard for fear of her falling ill again. After a full day of travel, they had only covered half the distance.

On the second day, just as they emerged from a mountainous area and entered a forest, they spotted a bloodied young man lying in the middle of the road.

The carriage came to an abrupt stop, causing Yan Ying to frown. She opened her eyes in irritation and scolded, “What’s the hold-up now?”

The driver hesitated, staring at the figure ahead, nervously replying, “Miss, it seems… it seems there’s a dead man up ahead.”

Yan Ying’s eye twitched, and she immediately pulled back the curtain. She spotted the young man lying on the ground. Despite his dirty and disheveled appearance, his handsome face was still apparent. She was about to order them to move him aside when she paused, then said, “Check if he’s still alive. If he is… bring him into the carriage.”

“Yes, Miss…” the driver responded, though with some reluctance.

In the palace, Yan Qing was unaware of what was happening outside. Ever since Granny Jiang had been struck down by Emperor Jiye with a bowl to the head, the Empress Dowager had ceased sending people over, and the restrictions on Yan Qing had been lifted.

She spent her days practicing martial arts and occasionally taking walks. The other concubines, still shaken by the recent events, dared not provoke her, leaving her life relatively peaceful.

As for the upcoming selection of concubines, Yan Qing was aware of it but paid it little mind, as it had nothing to do with her.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.