Chapter 4: Ghosts and Good Intentions

“What’s the matter?” Madam Shen asked in surprise. “Did one of the maids at home neglect you?”

“Of course not,” Shen Ti replied. “They’re just too attentive.”

Madam Shen understood immediately and chided him: “That’s what I thought. You’re a treasured guest from the capital—shouldn’t the family be a little more attentive?”

“They’ve gone overboard. It’s uncomfortable,” Shen Ti said. “It’s one thing if it’s the servants. But when it’s blood relatives, cousins and brothers treating me that way—it’s unsettling.”

“And you think this makes people feel comfortable?” Madam Shen poked his forehead. “Don’t forget, this is your uncle’s home. Cousins are family for generations—break the bone, and it’s still connected by the sinew. Your brothers treat you warmly, and you’re already criticizing them? Is that the gentlemanly conduct you pride yourself on?”

Shen Ti thought for a moment. “Alright, I was wrong.”

But in truth, Master Yin the Third, his wife, even the old patriarch—everyone in the Yin family treated the Shen family as someone to be revered.

Because for the Yin family to rise from mere merchants to local gentry, even though the Shen family hadn’t done anything directly, just being related to such a powerful household was a protective charm in itself.

Over the years, having an official aristocratic family as in-laws had smoothed over many difficulties in their business.

And in any time or place, quality education is a scarce resource. The Yin family’s background wasn’t great, and even with money, there were things they simply couldn’t access. What was unattainable for them was commonplace for the Shen family.

If a family wanted to move up in the world, money wasn’t enough—they needed education. And education meant the possibility of holding office.

With this in mind, Master Yin and his wife earnestly instructed their children. But young people often lack proper judgment. To Shen Ti, his cousins’ “warmth” came off as excessive—bordering on sycophantic.

It made him uncomfortable.

Perhaps someone spoiled and self-indulgent might have enjoyed it. But Shen Ti, who had always held himself to high moral standards, found it unsettling.

He admitted fault only to acknowledge that it wasn’t right to speak poorly of his kin behind their backs—but he still didn’t believe the Yin family’s behavior was appropriate.

By comparison, he said, “Fourth Sister is quite nice.”

Madam Shen: “Oh?”

Shen Ti explained, “Her maid is rather snobbish, eager to curry favor—likely the type who flatters the powerful and steps on the weak. But Fourth Sister, though the same age as me, appears more composed than her three older sisters. Despite being in mourning, she didn’t wail uncontrollably. When I arrived, she came out to meet me but told me I was too young and didn’t let me inside, fearing I’d be affected by something unclean. Though as Confucius said, ‘The gentleman does not speak of ghosts and spirits,’ I’m not afraid of such things.”

“No matter how big a person is, they’re not bigger than the heavens,” Madam Shen disagreed, then nodded. “Still, this Fourth Girl sounds quite sensible—seems to have the bearing of a real elder sister.”

“Yes, indeed.” Shen Ti recalled Yin Zhi’s appearance—very pretty and pleasant to look at, with a gentle voice. Even while grieving, she didn’t lose composure. Everything she did and said felt proper. So he reproached Madam Shen: “Mother, why didn’t you give me a sister? Even a cousin like her would be nice.”

Madam Shen thumped him lightly on the head. “Nonsense.”

Then she asked, “Did you give her the silver?”

Shen Ti rubbed his forehead. “I didn’t mention it.”

Madam Shen didn’t worry. “The gifts we prepared—they’ll handle them properly. They won’t miss them.”

She sighed lightly. “Poor child…”

After Shen Ti left, Yin Zhi had just turned around when Qingyan, her maid, complained, “Young Master Shen came all this way to visit us. Why did you send him away?”

Yin Zhi replied seriously, “Auntie is still lingering in my room. He’s a child with sharp eyes—I was afraid he might get scared.”

Whether Shen Ti would’ve been frightened was uncertain, but Qingyan was clearly scared. “W-What? M-Miss, don’t say such things!”

“I’m not talking to you,” Yin Zhi said, sidestepping her, half-murmuring to herself, “You can’t even see her.”

Qingyan’s face turned pale.

She feared such things the most. Her lips trembled. “Is… is that true? Please don’t scare me. How can you not be afraid?”

Yin Zhi stopped and looked at her maid with a ghostly calm. “Why would I be afraid? That’s my aunt. She can’t bear to leave—she wants to see me more, stay with me a little longer. She says if she comes too close, she might wear me out and make me fall ill. So she tries not to drift around and just wants to sit quietly by my side.”

After this creepy display, Yin Zhi walked ahead like nothing had happened. “Let’s go see what my aunt sent me.”

Even as she spoke, she tilted her ear slightly, listening. Sure enough, Qingyan didn’t follow right away.

Yin Zhi’s lips curled ever so slightly.

The Yin household was a large four-generation family. As a concubine-born daughter of a concubine-born father, Yin Zhi had very few servants. Qingyan, just thirteen or fourteen, was already her chief maid. In fact, she was only a second-rank maid—Yin Zhi’s courtyard didn’t even qualify for a first-rank one.

A slightly younger maid named Qiaoque was another useful hand in the courtyard. Below them were a few small girls running errands and a rough-handed old woman for hard labor.

That was it. Just a handful of people.

Her wet nurse had passed away when she was very young. Since then, her biological mother—her father’s concubine—had raised her herself. So there were no elder women around the courtyard. As for a formal governess, only upper-tier households had those. The Yin family, while now wealthy, lacked the refinement. Their wealth showed mainly in their gold jewelry and lavish meals.

Still, Yin Zhi felt satisfied.

A whole courtyard to herself, and four people to serve her—what more could you ask for?

You want to fly to heaven?

In short, she was content.

Among all these people, Qingyan was the most familiar with “Yin Zhi.” And now that a new soul had taken over this body, Qingyan was the one she most needed to be cautious of and keep at a distance.

Back in her room, Qiaoque and a younger maid were sorting through the things Shen Ti had brought. Seeing her return, Qiaoque looked up and said, “Miss, these are all good things.”

Yin Zhi walked over for a look. There were several items she didn’t recognize. She remained calm. “Do you know what they all are? Keep them organized—don’t mix things up.”

Qiaoque replied, “Don’t worry, Miss. Of course we can’t mix them. These are spices and medicinal herbs. They must be stored separately to avoid moisture.”

Ah, no wonder she didn’t recognize them.

She dug through the original Yin Zhi’s memories. There was some basic knowledge there, but nothing deep—just superficial understanding.

After the Yin family’s daughter married into the Shen family, they did spend a few years improving the girls’ education. But it didn’t amount to much. These things depended on luck. Madam Shen’s high marriage was pure fortune. The other Yin girls didn’t have that luck and ended up marrying local matches of similar status.

The Shen family’s marriage to a Yin daughter had been an act of gratitude, not admiration for her talent or virtue. It was not something that could be replicated. Once the old patriarch realized this, he let it go.

So the next generation turned out about the same. There were female instructors at home, but since the girls didn’t need to take civil exams, the family didn’t pressure them to study. They learned fitfully—mainly as a pastime or for personal refinement.

The original Yin Zhi hadn’t shown any exceptional aptitude either. Everything she learned was skin-deep.

Which was great. Yin Zhi thought, pretending to be a slacker was much easier than pretending to be a genius. Made things a lot simpler.

“Ah!” Qiaoque suddenly cried out. “Miss, look!”

Yin Zhi snapped out of her thoughts and saw that a small, flat box had been opened, revealing four neat rows of tiny silver ingots.

Qiaoque picked one up and weighed it. “Each weighs five qian.”

One ingot was five qian. Five per row, four rows total.

Qiaoque was delighted. “That’s ten taels in total!”

Yin Zhi wasn’t yet familiar with the local economy, but judging by Qiaoque’s reaction, she knew ten taels was a considerable sum.

The little cousin hadn’t mentioned it at all. Did he not know?

No, she recalled Shen Ti’s upright, composed demeanor. A child with adult-level propriety, already managing social duties—he definitely knew what was in the gift.

He just didn’t feel the need to say it.

As far as Yin Zhi knew, the original “Yin Zhi” had never even met this aunt. For them to be this considerate—that really was kind of them.

She sighed gently and remarked to Qiaoque, “This is my actual aunt.”

Qiaoque turned to leave. “I’ll ask Sister Qingyan to store the silver.”

Yin Zhi: “…”

Right. Her money was all managed by Qingyan.

Qingyan was summoned, came in reluctantly, praised, “As expected of Madam Shen,” and then stored the silver in a locked box in the inner room.

That box even had a little copper lock.

Yin Zhi watched helplessly as Qingyan unlocked it, relocked it, then hung the key on her own waist.

Not being able to hold your own money was rough.

But that’s how things worked here. Keys weren’t held by the master of the house—they were managed by trusted older maids or close servants.

A master walking around with a bunch of keys on their waist? People would laugh.

Yin Zhi could only remind herself silently to adapt to local customs.

Qingyan told Qiaoque, “You stay in the room. I’ll be outside. Call me if needed.”

Then she slipped out.

Maidservants usually preferred indoor duties, so Qiaoque found this a bit odd.

But a little later, Qiaoque herself stepped outside, looking a little pale.

Qingyan didn’t dare approach. She waved. “Why are you out here?”

Qiaoque grabbed her sleeve. “Miss… she was talking to her aunt…”

Qingyan quickly covered her mouth and dragged her into a side room before letting her speak.

Qiaoque said, “She was talking to empty space—I thought she was mumbling to herself.”

“But she was actually talking to her aunt. I was terrified.”

“She told me not to be afraid, that her aunt just wanted to keep her company.”

The two girls looked at each other and shivered in unison.

Meanwhile, the youngest maid, Yunjuan, was playing with pebbles under the corridor when Qingyan called out, “Yunjuan, Yunjuan!”

Yunjuan clapped her hands and ran over. “Yes, Sister?”

Qingyan said, “The two of us have something to do. You go inside and serve the Miss.”

Yunjuan agreed and obediently went inside.

Yin Zhi had just scared off Qiaoque, and now seeing little Yunjuan come in, she was secretly pleased.

Yunjuan was only about eight or nine—similar in size to her—and usually did odd jobs. She wasn’t around the main room much and wasn’t as familiar with the original Yin Zhi. Much safer.

“You stay inside, then,” she said. “Go to the side room. I’ll call you if I need you.”

After sending Yunjuan away, Yin Zhi flopped onto the bed.

So comfortable. So relaxed. Nothing like the past two days.

She had already thought it through: what should she be doing right now?

Answer: Nothing at all.

With mourning obligations, there were no classes, no need to greet the main wife every day.

At this stage, she was supposed to stay in her room, quietly observing mourning until the concubine’s funeral. Likely, she’d remain in seclusion for a long while after.

For someone who had just swapped souls and traveled into another body, this was the perfect transition period.

Yin Zhi happily stretched out.

By evening, her father—the third son of the household—came to check on her.