The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Chapter 2: Rebirth

Within the grand courtyard, defined by limestone slabs and vermilion pillars adorned with intricate Begonia carvings, raindrops traced paths down leaves after a night's downpour.

An exquisitely crafted incense burner, shaped like a miniature animal, released a fresh costus root fragrance, perfuming the early autumn air.

Tiny, colorful tassel sachets hung from each corner of the bed, emitting a pleasant scent. Nearby, two tall maids diligently fanned the person resting on the ornate couch.

"Falling into the water during such cold weather must have given her a serious fever. The Young Lady has slept for a whole day and night, and the physician indicated she should have woken by now. Why is there still no sign of movement?" the maid in green inquired, her face etched with worry.

"Gu Yu, it's nearly been half a shichen. Why hasn't the doctor arrived yet?" the other maid, clad in purple, pressed.

"The Second Mistress was watching closely, and this incident is being kept quiet within the residence," Gu Yu explained. She glanced at the figure on the bed, adding, "The Furen and Master are not in the capital, and the Eldest Young Master is also away. Lao Furen also shows favoritism towards the East courtyard. Seeing that Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang have yet to return after seeking a physician, it's likely they were obstructed. Is this not equivalent to pushing the Young Lady towards her demise? This cannot happen. I must go and find out."

As these words were spoken, a faint sound came from the person on the bed.

"The Young Lady is awake!" the purple-clad maid exclaimed in surprise, rushing to the bedside. She watched as the young woman slowly sat up, rubbing her forehead.

"Jing Zhe..." Shen Miao murmured.

"This servant is here," the purple-clad maid replied with a smile, taking Shen Miao's hand. "Is Lady feeling better? After sleeping for a day and night, the fever seems to have subsided, but you were still unwell. I was considering summoning a physician again."

"Does Young Lady desire some water?" Gu Yu offered a cup of tea.

Shen Miao regarded the two maids before her with a look of bewilderment.

She recalled having four trusted first-rank maids: Jing Zhe, Gu Yun, Bai Lu, and Shuang Jiang. All were intelligent and quick-witted girls, yet tragically, not one remained by her side in the end.

During her time as a hostage in Qin, Gu Yun had sacrificed herself at the hands of the Qin Crown Prince to shield Shen Miao from humiliation. Bai Lu perished alongside Wan Yu during her marriage journey, while Shuang Jiang died in the Inner Palace amidst a struggle for favor with Mei Furen.

As for Jing Zhe, she was the most beautiful among them. In an effort to aid Fu Xiu Yi's ascension to the throne and win over influential officials, Jing Zhe was voluntarily offered as a concubine. She used her charm to garner support but was ultimately killed by the official's wife under a fabricated pretext.

Upon learning of Jing Zhe's death, Shen Miao had wept uncontrollably, nearly suffering a miscarriage.

Now, seeing Jing Zhe standing before her, as beautiful as ever, and Gu Yu smiling at her, both maids appearing to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, Shen Miao found herself momentarily lost in a trance.

A moment later, she let out a bitter smile and closed her eyes. "The visions one sees before death are so incredibly lifelike."

"What is Young Lady saying?" Gu Yu set the cup aside and touched Shen Miao's forehead. "Has the fever addled your senses?"

Feeling the cool, real touch of the hand on her forehead, Shen Miao's eyes snapped open, her gaze sharpening. She slowly lowered her head, examining her own hands.

There lay a pair of fair, delicate hands with neatly trimmed nails. They appeared to be the hands of someone pampered, smooth and charming to the touch.

These were not her hands.

Her hands had become rough from the constant handling of court affairs with Fu Xiu Yi, transcribing account books like a mere servant in Qin, battling within the Inner Palace for Fu Ming and Wan Yu, and washing clothes in the Cold Palace – her hands were calloused, and her joints swollen. How could they possibly possess such delicate features now?

"Bring me a mirror," Shen Miao commanded. Though her voice was still weak, the tone was resolute.

Gu Yun and Jing Zhe exchanged a bewildered glance. Finally, Jing Zhe retrieved a mirror and handed it to Shen Miao.

The reflection in the bronze mirror showed a young lady with a round face, a full forehead, large, slightly reddened almond eyes, a modestly rounded nose, and a small mouth. It was the face of a child, not strikingly beautiful, but possessing a lovely, fresh charm and an appearance of gentle demureness.

Such was the visage of a young lady whose beauty the Imperial family lauded as one capable of bestowing ‘good fortune upon her husband’.

The mirror Shen Miao held suddenly tumbled to the floor, its shattering resonating with a sharp crack. As the sound echoed, an immense, stormy wave churned within her heart.

She pinched herself ruthlessly, and two streams of tears began to fall.

The Heavens had not forsaken her! The Heavens had not turned their back!

She had returned!

Gu Yun and Jing Zhe sprang up, startled. Gu Yun swiftly moved to gather the scattered fragments, her voice laced with anxiety, “Young Lady must be careful not to cut her legs.”

“Why is Young Lady weeping?” Jing Zhe dabbed at Shen Miao’s eyes with a handkerchief, only to have Shen Miao gaze back strangely, murmuring, “I… I have returned…”

She clutched Jing Zhe’s arm, demanding, “What year is it?”

Jing Zhe, though somewhat alarmed, answered truthfully, “Year sixty-eight of Ming Qi. Is anything amiss with Young Lady? Does any part of your body feel unwell?”

“Year sixty-eight of Ming Qi, year sixty-eight of Ming Qi…” Shen Miao’s eyes widened. In Ming Qi sixty-eight, she was fourteen years old. It was the very year she encountered Fu Xiu Yi, fell foolishly in love with him, and pressured her father into arranging their marriage. It was the year she forced Fu Xiu Yi to wed her!

And now… Gu Yu’s voice reached her ears, “Young Lady shouldn’t frighten us servants. Your fever has only just subsided slightly; perhaps your mind is still unclear. That Eldest Young Lady is truly too cruel, practically wishing for Young Lady’s demise…”

In her previous life, Shen Miao had spent most of her time attending to Fu Xiu Yi’s needs, and the days within the Shen residence felt utterly mundane. Yet, she could recall this particular event with crystal clarity, just as she remembered every detail concerning Fu Xiu Yi.

Shen Qing had informed her that Fu Xiu Yi intended to visit the Second and Third Shu ladies at the Shen residence, and had enticed her to sneak a peek. Upon reaching the garden, Shen Qing had instead shoved her from the rockery.

After being pulled from the pond, with other officials present, the incident became a widely spread joke about Shen Miao. Her infatuation with Prince Ding, which had been the talk of the capital for half a year, was now amplified by this event, cementing her as a public laughingstock.

In her past lifetime, upon waking, she had accused Shen Qing of pushing her into the pond, but no one believed her. Shen Miao, enduring the unfairness, was confined to the temple by Old Madam until after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Shen Yue later secretly helped her escape and brought her to the Yan Bei Hall for a chrysanthemum appreciation event, where she committed numerous social blunders.

Shen Miao closed her eyes.

The Shen family comprised three households. Shen Xin headed the first, Shen Miao’s father, and was the son of Old General Shen and his principal wife. The principal wife passed away in her middle years, prompting Old General Shen to marry a second wife. This second wife bore Shen Gui for the second household and Shen Wan for the third. Following Old General Shen’s demise, the second wife became the current Old Madam. The Shen family remained united, with all three brothers supporting each other, a familial harmony that became a notable anecdote.

The Shen family boasted a proud military heritage. In Shen Xin’s generation, while the first household maintained its military influence, the second and third households pursued paths as literary officials. Shen Xin was frequently away on military campaigns, and Madam Shen accompanied him. Shen Miao was thus left at the Shen residence under the care and tutelage of Old Madam and the two other Shen Madam figures.

Despite their instruction and guidance, she failed to make any progress, remaining an ignorant and incompetent