I had transmigrated, or more accurately, I had possessed another’s body. This reality terrified Qi Yue. As a surgeon accustomed to the stark realities of life and death, this utterly bizarre phenomenon was impossible for her to reconcile. She faced the bronze mirror again, scrutinizing her current self. The mirror was dim, obscuring the precise features, but it was undeniably the face of a classical beauty. Look at those delicate eyebrows and almond eyes. Qi Yue arched one brow, then widened the other eye, finally pursing her lips into a smile that carved two deep dimples into the reflection’s cheeks. Wow, Qi Yue couldn't help but whistle softly. If she had looked like this earlier, perhaps even her new girlfriend’s father, the hospital director, couldn't have shaken her ex-boyfriend’s steadfast devotion. Glancing at her apparent age, Qi Yue pinched her cheek. For a moment, she forgot this wasn't her own face and pressed too hard, wincing with a sharp hiss. Hmm, the skin quality wasn't great, probably too thin, but for the nearly twenty-seven-year-old Auntie Qi Yue, it certainly felt seven or eight years younger. Having assessed her new appearance, Qi Yue turned her attention to the room, beginning to excitedly look around and touch everything. Everything here was vibrant, infused with human presence, unlike the sterile stillness of the historical dwellings she’d seen in museums, which failed entirely to convey the opulent lifestyle of an ancient noble house. She wandered back and forth until her gaze abruptly snagged—it landed on the medical kit still lying on the floor. Her mind went blank with a thunderous boom, and the fresh curiosity instantly evaporated. She had transmigrated! She was Qi Yue, yet she was not Qi Yue anymore! Even if the body of the modern Qi Yue still existed, whether alive or dead, it wasn't hers; that world held no place for her now! She would never see her mother and father or her brother again! Her ex-boyfriend would no longer have to worry about her disrupting his path to soaring success! The injured patient at the rural health center would never wait for her surgery—though, of course, this body’s occupant would step in, another doctor would surely handle it...

A Ru and A Hao, changing clothes inside the room, heard faint weeping drifting over. They exchanged a look, ignoring their disheveled hair, and rushed out breathlessly. The suppressed sobs of the Eldest Young Mistress echoed from within the room. “Young Mistress, Young Mistress,” A Ru called out frantically, moving to push the door open, only to find it bolted shut. This heightened her fear. She pounded on the wood with all her might. “Please open up! Open the door quickly!”

Qi Yue sat on the floor, leaning against the door, clutching the medical kit. Tears streamed down uncontrollably. While weeping, she unlatched the case; the oxygen tank, gauze, tape, stethoscope, scalpels, and scissors—all the familiar instruments flooded her vision... Why did you all follow me here? she murmured, tracing each piece of equipment she had personally selected. In this strange place, you are all I have left...

“Young Mistress, Young Mistress, please don't do anything foolish...” A Ru was beside herself with worry. Beyond the crying inside, there was no response. Recalling the shock of the day and the accumulated grievances, she slumped onto the ground and began to weep too. “Young Mistress, I know your heart aches, but no matter how bad it is, you must keep living...” “Think of Old Madam! For her sake, you cannot do anything reckless...” “Think of how Old Madam held on just long enough for your wedding ceremony to finish before she closed her eyes for you...” “...You must take good care of yourself and wait for the Eldest Young Master to return; he will certainly take you away...” “Even without Old Madam, you still have the Eldest Young Master...”

A Ru choked on her words, leaning against the door and crying. A Hao, trailing behind her, had long since dissolved into tears. The three women, inside and outside the room, sobbed out their respective sorrows in the pouring rain.

Outside the Qiutong Courtyard, several older women wearing straw raincoats and conical hats passed by. “What’s going on over there?” one asked, tilting her head to listen. “What’s all that crying in the Qiutong Courtyard? It’s the middle of the day!” Another woman laughed. “I just heard that the Eldest Young Mistress of the East Residence tried to hang herself today. I suppose this must be the part where they’re crying over the funeral bed now.”

They all laughed, but the woman who had first inquired frowned, clearly unaware of the drama, and shook her head. “We shouldn’t gossip about the East Residence’s affairs,” she said quietly. “She’s a pitiable soul...” The other women immediately stopped laughing, composing themselves and answering, “Yes.” “Let’s go,” the first woman continued. “Deliver the items, send our regards to the Marquis and his wife, and hurry back. Our own mistress can’t be left unattended.”

The group resumed their slow walk. As the leading woman turned into the narrow alley, she glanced back; the Qiutong Courtyard was shrouded in a misty haze under the rain. “Alas,” she sighed softly. “They all said she was blessed with great fortune, but who knew that a good life could be steeped in bitter water...” She looked back one last time at the Qiutong Courtyard before turning into the alley with the others.

Meanwhile, A Ru had been leaning against the door, crying until her strength was gone, now just shedding silent tears. Then, she heard a distinct thud, and the door opened. “Young Mistress!” Both maids looked up in joyful surprise. Qi Yue looked at them. “Get up, both of you. Stop crying,” she said, her voice husky, perhaps from crying or perhaps from the injury on her neck. A Ru and A Hao immediately rose, nodding with tears in their eyes. “It’s alright to cry when you need to; it’s fine once you’re done,” Qi Yue said, offering them a faint smile. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen red; this smile was hardly beautiful, but A Ru and A Hao were so relieved they nearly wept again. “Young Mistress, please summon a physician...” A Ru requested. “Why call a physician?” Qi Yue shook her head.

A Ru paused, then noticed the white cloth wrapped around her mistress’s neck. However, the cloth looked quite peculiar—unlike anything she usually saw... “Mistress, your...” she couldn't help but ask. “Oh, this?” Qi Yue reached up and touched it. She had already tended to the wound in her neck while looking in the mirror. “I’ve fixed it; no need to trouble outsiders.” True enough, it wouldn't look good if word got out. A Ru and A Hao nodded in agreement. “A Hao, quickly fetch water so we can clean the Young Mistress’s face,” A Ru instructed. A Hao responded and hurried off. A Ru reached out to help Qi Yue sit down.

Being assisted in such a manner by someone so young felt strange to Qi Yue, but watching the maid’s practiced movements, she realized this was normal. Being new here, she supposed it was best to follow suit to avoid trouble. A Hao returned with the water basin and knelt before her. “What happened to the Young Mistress?” A Ru and A Hao asked, confused when Qi Yue suddenly stood up. This kneeling... Qi Yue looked at their surprised and worried expressions, managed a slight twitch of her lips into a smile, and then sat back down, allowing them to serve her.

Qi Yue watched curiously as A Ru brought over a small, exquisitely carved wooden box. It was a true antique; she couldn't resist reaching out to trace the lacquer finish. A Ru unfurled seven small compartments and helped apply her face powder, rouge, and lip color. Qi Yue watched A Ru carefully wipe her washed hands before digging a small piece of salve from a box and meticulously smoothing it on. She couldn't help but click her tongue in admiration—they even had hand cream! Once finished, A Ru took the water basin from A Hao. A Hao stood up and took out a comb and fine-toothed rake to arrange Qi Yue’s hair. A Ru plucked a poppy flower from the pot blooming by the window and tucked it into Qi Yue’s hair. Even getting professional portraits taken at a studio wasn't this meticulous, Qi Yue thought to herself.

“There, Young Mistress,” A Ru said, holding the bronze mirror out for Qi Yue to examine herself. Qi Yue looked from side to side, unable to stop herself from grinning widely. She looked even more vibrant than the reflection she’d seen moments ago. Turning, she saw the two maids watching her with astonishment, so she quickly composed her expression and nodded her approval. “Young Mistress, I shall go prepare the meal,” A Hao requested permission.

What time was it? Qi Yue instinctively raised her wrist to check her watch, only to see two intricately twisted silver bracelets. “Go ahead,” she said somewhat awkwardly, glancing toward the window. The rain had begun to ease, and the overcast sky was faintly lightening. A Hao bowed and left. “Young Mistress, perhaps you should lie down for a while,” A Ru said, reaching to support her. “No need. You go help out too; I’d like some time alone,” Qi Yue declined, shaking her head.

A Ru’s face showed concern, hesitating for a moment. “It’s fine. You can go down. I’ve already been reckless once; it won’t happen again,” Qi Yue smiled at her, then added, “I’m sorry for frightening you both.” Tears welled up in A Ru’s eyes. “Young Mistress, it was our failure to attend to you properly,” she choked out. “It’s not your fault,” Qi Yue said. Unsure what to say to this girl who was essentially a stranger, and hesitant to speak too much, she kept her replies brief, even adopting a slightly impatient air as she waved her hand dismissively. A Ru immediately ceased speaking. “If the Young Mistress needs anything, just call me. I’ll be in the courtyard,” she said, bowing before withdrawing. Whether intentionally or not, she left the door slightly ajar.

Qi Yue let out a breath and let her posture relax. The room fell silent, but her mind remained a turbulent mess. Is this real? Have I truly transmigrated? Become someone else? In the ancient times, for heaven’s sake, how am I supposed to live this life!

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