The dawn was just breaking. There were still dewdrops on the leaves, gently falling with the breeze.
In the suburbs, a carriage was moving at a leisurely pace. From time to time, there came a few soft coughs of a young woman from inside.
"Miss, have some water," the maid beside her said with concern, looking at her pale face. "Miss, a letter has already been sent to the Marquis Mansion. Why do you have to get up so early and rush on the journey? You've been in poor health. After days of traveling, how can you bear it?"
Fu Zhen gave her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. I'm used to getting up early at home. It doesn't matter."
"Moreover, I'm just coming here to seek help. How could I let the Marquis Mansion wait for me for a long time?" She laughed at herself and shook her head dejectedly.
If her family hadn't been so poor that they couldn't even afford to eat, and if her father hadn't even thought about selling her for money to buy wine, she wouldn't have sent a letter to the Marquis Mansion in despair.
After all, her mother had a very unpleasant quarrel with the Marquis Mansion back then.
Moreover, her mother had already passed away. Although she knew that her mother was from the Marquis Mansion, the two families hadn't had any contact for so many years. When she sent the letter, she didn't know if the Marquis Mansion would help her.
Fortunately, before she managed to stop her father from selling her by every means, the Marquis Mansion finally sent someone to pick her up.
This maid was from the Marquis Mansion. There were also a few housekeepers and old women following behind.
"Miss, don't say that. Once you arrive there, you'll be the second young lady of the Marquis Mansion. Who would dare to look down on you?" the maid Cui Huan whispered comfortingly.
Fu Zhen knew that this was just a comforting word, but she didn't say anything. She just nodded with a smile.
The Wu'an Marquis Mansion.
A beautiful woman was sitting upright on a carved rosewood chair, looking a little anxious. "The letter said yesterday that they were already outside the capital. I don't know where they are now."
The beautiful woman was Bai Ruochu, the mistress of the Marquis Mansion. The old woman behind her smiled and comforted her. "I know you're eager to see her, but it's just past Chenshi. Even if they got up at Maoshi and rushed on the journey, they won't be able to enter the city until Wushi."
Bai Ruochu sighed. "I'm just too impatient. This child is really pitiful. She hasn't had a good life since she was born. She lost her mother when she was seven years old. Now that she's just come of age, her drunkard father is trying every means to sell her. I just..."
She and Chen Xuan, the current Marquis of the Marquis Mansion, were childhood sweethearts. She also grew up with Fu Zhen's mother, Chen Peizhu, since childhood. Who would have thought that fate would play such a cruel joke? Chen Peizhu was blinded by a down-and-out scholar and eloped with him. Since then, they had lost contact.
If it weren't for the jade pendant carved with bamboo in the letter sent by Fu Zhen, she would never have believed that Sister Chen had lived such a down-and-out life for so many years. She never expected that she had passed away so early.
Every time she thought of this, she couldn't help but wipe the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Her eyes were red.
The old woman helped her back into the room and sat down, comforting her. "Now that we've finally brought the young lady back, the days to come will surely be better. Please calm down, madam."
Bai Ruochu nodded and showed a smile. "Nanny Li, go and check the Zhuqing Courtyard to see if there's anything missing or if there's any place that hasn't been cleaned properly. Check it again during this period."
Nanny Li agreed with a smile.
The sun slowly rose to the top of the sky. The hawking sounds in the city were continuous. As soon as the carriage engraved with the symbol of the Wu'an Marquis Mansion entered the city, it rushed straight to the Marquis Mansion.
"The young lady has arrived!"
The maid rushed in to report the news. Bai Ruochu stopped turning the ledger. Suddenly, she stood up and hurriedly called Nanny Li. "Quick, quick! Let's go outside and wait!"
The carriage stopped steadily at the door. Fu Zhen supported the maid's hand and carefully got off the carriage. An old woman at the door hurriedly greeted her with a smile. "The young lady is well. The madam is waiting for you inside."
Fu Zhen gave a shy smile. "Thank you, nanny, for leading the way."
The three - courtyard mansion was extremely spacious. The maids who were sweeping and serving tea came and went in a hurry, but their steps were light. They were very well - behaved.
Fu Zhen took all this in and secretly guessed the personality of her aunt whom she had never met. She couldn't help but become extremely vigilant.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she entered the innermost courtyard. After walking around a small pond, she looked up and met the eyes of the woman standing at the door. The next second, she saw that the woman's eyes were red. She even shed tears as soon as they met.
Fu Zhen didn't know how she felt. While her eyes were filled with tears, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhenzhen! My poor child..."
Before Fu Zhen could finish her salute, she was helped up. Madam Bai hugged her and cried. She was also already in tears. She leaned on Madam Bai's shoulder and sobbed.
Nanny Li behind them hurriedly advised. "Madam, the young lady's arrival is a happy event. After a long journey, she should sit down and have a good rest."
Madam Bai quickly wiped away her tears. "Yes, yes. Zhenzhen's homecoming is a great happy event. Good child, stop crying. Sit down."
After saying that, she quickly pulled Fu Zhen to sit down.
Madam Bai looked at Fu Zhen's red eyes. For a moment, she felt sad and self - reproachful. "It's all my fault. As soon as we met, I brought back your sad memories and made you cry."
Fu Zhen quickly replied. "How can this be your fault, aunt? Zhenzhen understands your kindness. I haven't thanked you yet."
After saying that, she stood up and gave Madam Bai a big salute.
Madam Bai didn't manage to stop her in time and said anxiously. "Zhenzhen, what are you doing? Why do you need to perform such a big salute between relatives?"
Fu Zhen looked up sincerely. "If you hadn't sent someone to pick me up, I would have been sold to a brothel long ago, struggling to survive. How could I be reunited with my relatives like today? The Marquis Mansion has saved my life. This salute is what I should perform."
In today's world, a woman's reputation was extremely important.
Back then, her mother eloped with someone. No one knew how many scolding names it had brought to the Marquis Mansion. If there hadn't been no other female relatives in the Marquis Mansion except her mother's generation, they might have even wanted to swallow her mother alive.
When she sent the letter, although she had attached the jade pendant, she was extremely nervous. She didn't know if the Marquis Mansion would take her back for the sake of her mother's death.
Fortunately, the Marquis Mansion still remembered the old friendship.
Fu Zhen's mind was full of thoughts, but on the surface, she still looked sincere and grateful.
She had been good at observing people's expressions and guessing their thoughts since she was a child. As soon as she saw Madam Bai today, she knew that this was a kind - hearted woman. Although she couldn't see anything else, just this kindness was enough for her to gain a foothold in the Marquis Mansion.
Madam Bai sighed and patted her hand. "Good child, you've suffered. From now on, in the Marquis Mansion, you should treat it as your own home. Don't be restrained. If you're short of anything, just come and tell me."
Fu Zhen replied with a smile. "Thank you, aunt."
Just as they were chatting, there was a noise outside. Fu Zhen looked up.
The person who came was wearing a silver - white brocade robe. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with auspicious clouds in gold thread. A light - gray belt was tied around his waist, and a white jade waist pendant was hanging on it. He looked imposing as he walked.
"Greetings to mother," he said, clasping his hands in salute. His voice was deep and cold, like the ice and snow on the branches in the early morning that hadn't melted yet.
Fu Zhen carefully sized him up.
She saw that his appearance was handsome and his eyes were as cold as a deep pool. As if he sensed someone looking at him, he glanced over lightly.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she avoided his gaze without a trace.
Sure enough, he was a young man from a noble family, nurtured by wealth and power. Even a casual glance was intimidating.
"This is your cousin, named Tingfeng with the courtesy name Shaochuan," Madam Bai saw Fu Zhen with her head down and was afraid that she would feel uncomfortable. She said gently, "You've been traveling for a long time. Why don't you go and have a good rest first? We'll have a good gathering in the evening."
Fu Zhen was just about to leave. Hearing this, she quickly stood up and bid farewell. "Yes, aunt. Zhenzhen will take her leave first."
After saying that, seeing Madam Bai nod, she followed the maid away.
When she arrived at the courtyard and lay on the bed, Fu Zhen finally felt a sense of reality as if her feet had touched the ground.
She let out a long breath. The suppressed fatigue welled up. In a moment, she fell into a deep sleep.
She thought that she would have a good dream after entering this wealthy family. Who would have thought that as soon as she fell asleep, she entered a strange world.
Before she could react, she saw another "Fu Zhen" walking towards her and then passing through her body.
She stared at her with wide, shocked eyes.