Chapter 1

Chapter 1

When I woke up, Grandma told me someone was at the door looking for me.

She looked nervous, her withered fingers gripping my hand tightly, her eyes filled with wariness.

The people at the door were clearly noble folk we couldn’t afford to offend.

The leader had a pale, clean-shaven face; he was quite old but had no beard.

Though he was smiling, the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. His gaze was sharp, and he spoke with an air of absolute authority.

He politely requested to speak with me for a moment.

Grandma stepped forward to shield me, but I gave her a gentle hug, assuring her it was fine, and followed the man to a quiet spot.

As we walked, the men he brought with him fanned out, automatically setting up a perimeter to keep others away. They looked highly disciplined.

The pale-faced man introduced himself as Liu Ying and told me to call him Steward Liu.

He asked me many trivial questions: how old I was, how my family treated me, when my parents had passed away, and how Grandma and I made a living.

I answered them one by one.

He pondered for a moment. “If my calculations are correct, a stroke of great fortune is about to befall you, young lady. Just wait at home in peace.”

He gave me a bag of silver, told me to stay put, and led his men away.

The bag holding the silver was made of fabric more exquisite than anything I had ever seen on the wealthiest ladies.

Everything matched the scenes from my dream.

After I returned, I couldn’t sleep all night.

Grandma seemed to realize something.

She hesitated to speak, but in the end, tears fell. She simply held my hand and said, “We have wronged you.”

She repeated that phrase over and over.

I comforted her. “Father and Mother were very good to me, and so are you, Grandma. I haven’t been wronged. I’m the only girl in the village who can read and write; my parents gave their all to give me the best. Don’t overthink it, Grandma. Wherever I go, I will carry you with me.”

Three days later, they returned.

This time, a young lady dressed in magnificent silks stepped down from a luxurious carriage.

She glanced around, unable to hide the contempt in her eyes.

She gave a small smirk and then ignored me entirely.

I looked at Liu Ying.

Liu Ying explained the situation to Grandma and me.

His explanation was brief, mentioning neither the palace nor the Empress.

He simply said that years ago, a person of high status and my mother had their children swapped during the chaos of war. Now that I had been found, they naturally wanted to take me back.

The girl who came today was the fake daughter who had been swapped with me. Having been raised by the noble for many years, a bond had formed, so the plan was to raise both of us together.

He smiled. “You won’t mind, will you, young lady?”

His manner was certain, as if he was positive I would agree.

I looked at Grandma. Grandma looked at the girl. The girl’s face twisted with irritation, and she turned her back on us impatiently.

Indeed.

She had grown up in the lap of luxury; she looked down on me, and she looked down on Grandma.

But Grandma clearly saw traces of my father in the girl’s face, and her eyes turned red.

Liu Ying added, “You are a kind-hearted soul. The noble will treat your grandmother well and provide for her in her old age. However, for your sake, it is best if she remains here. I will make the proper arrangements.”

I understood.

I raised my eyes and looked steadily at Liu Ying, saying calmly, “If you want me to go back, you can. But let that young lady stay here and live with me in the village for half a year. Otherwise, you should all just leave. I was born to a lowly life; I cannot accept such fortune.”

“How could that possibly work?”

The first to object was the young lady.

Her almond eyes were wide with anger, her fingers clutching a handkerchief, wringing it fiercely.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I supported Grandma as we walked back.

We went inside and closed the door.

Grandma was already covered in tears.

She grabbed my hand and said, “Nannan, you must go back. That is your home. With the silver, I can live a good life.”

She was lying.

She was old; what she cared about wasn’t silver, but companionship.

If both granddaughters were gone, no amount of silver would make her happy.

I didn’t know why I hadn’t taken Grandma to the capital in my dream, but I wouldn’t do that now.

Wherever I went, I would carry Grandma with me.

Liu Ying came to negotiate several more times, but I ignored him completely.

His presence began to draw the attention of the villagers, so his visits became less frequent.

One night, not long after I had gone to sleep, I sensed someone in the room.

Startled awake, I saw a man in magnificent clothing standing quietly in the room.

He had handsome features and was very good-looking.

He asked me, “Why do you insist on leaving Ah Si behind? If Ah Si stays, she will only be a burden to you. Isn’t a life of wealth and honor better?”

Only then did I learn the girl’s name was Ah Si.

I didn’t know what to say, so after a moment’s thought, I spoke plainly. “She looks down on me, and she looks down on her own origins. But one cannot forget where they came from if they wish to find a better place to go.”

“Good! Well said!” He lightly clapped his hands, his eyes suddenly brightening. “‘Only by remembering one’s origins can one find a destination.’ A wonderful sentiment. I shall grant your wish. We shall meet again in half a year.”

He pulled up his cloak, opened the door, and left with a light step.

I lay back down and stayed awake all night.

Early the next morning, I got up as usual to sweep the yard and feed the chickens, geese, and pigs.

There was a knock at the door.

I opened it to see Ah Si, dressed in peasant clothes and clutching a bundle of coarse cloth, her face full of resentment.

Her eyes were red with grievance.

“Are you satisfied now?”