Chapter 1: The Fragile Threads of Yin Manor"

In the gentle warmth of March, the Yin family estate in Huaixi was bustling with activity. The reason: their fourth madam had returned home to visit relatives—a joyous occasion indeed.

The Yin family was considered affluent in Huaixi, though their origins were humble. Originally small-time merchants, they had expanded their business over three generations. By the time of the old master, they primarily dealt in mulberry tea and raw silk, and had even purchased an honorary official title.

Now, they were regarded as respectable gentry—exempt from bowing to officials and allowed to sit in court. However, compared to families with generations of scholarly tradition, they still lacked depth. To scholars, they were merely nouveau riche.

Fortunately, the family's conduct was commendable. As their wealth grew, they didn't oppress the locals; instead, they were charitable, building bridges and roads, earning a good reputation. Thus, despite their modest origins, scholars would nod in approval when mentioning them.

Especially since the old master's fourth daughter had married into a genuine scholarly family, elevating their status further.

This was all thanks to the old master's benevolence years ago.

Back then, a political upheaval in the capital led to many officials being exiled. Some couldn't endure the hardship and died en route. The old master, then a young man traveling, encountered such a case. The guards were waiting for the official to die before burying him and moving on. The old master noticed the accompanying boy's resilience amidst suffering—a trait he admired in "children of scholarly families." Moved by compassion, he paid for the official's treatment, saving his life.

He thought this encounter would fade with time. Unexpectedly, years later, the exiled official was reinstated and sought out his benefactor in Huaixi.

The boy had grown into a handsome youth, his noble demeanor undiminished by hardships. The old master was deeply fond of him.

Perhaps his affection was too evident, as the father remarked, "If not for Brother Yin, I wouldn't have survived to Yazhou. Without me, my wife and child would have perished. This child's life is owed to Brother Yin; let him become your son-in-law."

A son-in-law is considered half a son.

Now reinstated, his family status was beyond the Yin family's reach. This unexpected alliance delighted the old master.

Thus, the two families were joined in marriage, and the appropriately aged fourth daughter of the Yin family married into an official household as if in a dream.

Years after her marriage, the fourth madam returned home, and the Yin family warmly welcomed their daughter.

Amidst the celebrations, a minor misfortune occurred—the third master's concubine, Lady Yan, passed away.

"Why choose this time to die, dampening the joyous occasion? Lady Yan lacked consideration."

"Who can choose when to die?"

"But the old madam is displeased, showing our madam a cold face."

"Our master had asked the madam to raise the young lady in her quarters; she had agreed, but now, upset, she's reconsidering."

"Alas, our young lady is truly unfortunate..."

"No one else to blame but her birth mother."

The maids' voices weren't soft; at least, Yin Shi, lying in the inner room, heard them clearly.

She had been bedridden for two days and had sorted out her identity—she was the "her" mentioned in the last sentence, the daughter of the recently deceased Lady Yan and the third master, named Yin Shi.

Of course, the original "Yin Shi" had died the night her mother passed, her soul taken along.

The current Yin Shi had transmigrated from another world, reincarnated here.

"By the way, the young master is truly handsome."

The maids, thinking Yin Shi still asleep, chatted idly.

"You saw him?"

"I peeked when the madam and young master arrived—he's genuinely good-looking. If he grows up like this, imagine how handsome he'll be. They say Master Shen is a handsome man."

"My mother said that when the third and fourth madams were of marrying age, the old madam wanted the third madam, being legitimate, to marry Master Shen. But the old master arranged for Master Shen to see both from afar across a pond. He chose the fourth madam."

"The fourth madam, though illegitimate, was beautiful; naturally, her son is handsome too."

"The old madam scolded our madam not because of Lady Yan's untimely death, but because her own daughter, the third madam, became a widow last year, while the illegitimate fourth madam lives well, elevating our master in the old master's eyes. How could the old madam not be angry?"

"Shh..." another maid hushed, startled by the conversation.

"She's still asleep, right? Let me check."

The storyteller maid became cautious, as the young lady they served was eight years old—an age prone to repeating overheard words. If she repeated their gossip, they would be punished.

Yin Shi, having recently transmigrated, had limited information from the original child's memories. To survive, she needed more information. Hearing the maid approach, she quickly closed her eyes, feigning sleep.

The maid gently entered, lifted the curtain to check on her, then quietly exited, closing the partition door. "She's still asleep."

Another maid sighed, "So young and already motherless, poor thing."

The maid who had checked scoffed, "Still a young lady of the house; are we, born as servants, any less pitiable? Keep your compassion."

The other fell silent, then agreed, "True..."

The ensuing chatter held no useful information.

Yin Shi opened her eyes, gazing at the butterfly-patterned canopy.

It was exquisite—an artifact of fine craftsmanship even in another world.

Her second reincarnation placed her in a middling position.

"Middling" because the Yin family's ancestors were small merchants. In the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants ranked lowest. Her father, the third master, was an illegitimate son; she, in turn, was his illegitimate daughter.

Yet, "middling" also because her great-grandfather had worked diligently, and her grandfather and father had amassed considerable wealth and even purchased an official title. Though such titles in the Da Mu dynasty didn't confer real power, they altered one's social standing.

Thanks to their affluence, she, an illegitimate daughter of an illegitimate son, lived comfortably among the many branches of the family, adorned with gold hairpins and jade bracelets, dressed in fine clothes, and lacking nothing.

Compared to the gossiping maids, her status was worlds apart.

To claim her reincarnation was unfortunate would be overly sentimental.

Yin Shi exhaled deeply.

She had been bedridden for two days; it was time to rise.

Compiling the inherited memories and the gossip she'd overheard, Yin Shi sat up and called out, "Come... cough... someone come."

The maids in the adjacent room heard and entered. "Young lady, you're finally awake! Feeling better?"

Another added, "Now that you're up, quickly pay respects to the madam and master so they know you're well and can be at ease."

"Please recover soon. The other young ladies are all currying favor with the fourth madam; only our place is quiet."

"Now that Lady Yan is gone, your well-being depends entirely on the madam. If you can gain the fourth madam's favor, perhaps the madam will view you more favorably."