Chapter 1: The Sisters' Rebirth

Chapter 1: Sisters Reborn

Huizhou Prefecture, She County.

As night fell, the streets and alleys were quiet, with only the occasional sound of a dog barking.

A team of government officials suddenly burst into the Song residence. The lead official declared that the medicinal herbs the Song family had sold to the Northwest Army were substandard and had caused deaths, and that they were under orders to raid the house and bring them to justice.

"Oh no! The backyard is on fire!"

"Hurry and put it out! The eldest miss and second miss are still in their rooms!"

"Save them!"

The Song residence descended into chaos, with cries erupting everywhere.

An ordinary carriage emerged from an alley beside the Song mansion, hurrying toward the city gates.

Inside the carriage, Song Jin held her younger half-sister, Song Xiu, feeling dazed and uneasy.

Old Man Qin, who was driving, said, "Eldest Miss, once we reach Qin Family Gully, tell everyone you are from the neighboring county and that your parents have both passed away."

"Understood," Song Jin replied.

"I have discussed it with Master Song. The one betrothed to you is my son, Qin Mingsong. He is eighteen this year, already holds the title of *xiucai*, and is currently studying at the Ziyang Academy in the prefecture city..."

According to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, crimes did not extend to daughters married into other families. Thus, when Song Kuan saw the disaster befalling the Song family, and it happened that his old acquaintance Old Man Qin was staying at the house that night, he betrothed his daughters to the men of the Qin family.

The Qin family had only two marriageable men.

One was Old Man Qin’s youngest son, Qin Mingsong; the other was the eldest grandson of the main branch, Qin Chi.

Song Jin was betrothed by her father to Qin Mingsong.

Her younger half-sister, Song Xiu, only fourteen, was promised to Qin Chi.

After this catastrophe, the once-wealthy Song family had completely collapsed.

Song Jin gripped the corner of her dress. Although she had been reborn, she had returned a step too late and failed to resolve the Song family’s death trap.

*Forget it,* she thought. *I’ll take things one step at a time.*

The journey from She County to Qin Family Gully was over eighty *li*; even with continuous travel, they would not arrive at the Qin home until the next day.

Following Old Man Qin’s arrangements, Song Jin and Song Xiu were put into the same room.

The room was kept very clean.

There was a bed that was still in decent condition, a slightly worn wardrobe, a square low table, and in the corner, a six-legged washbasin stand holding daily toiletries.

Beside the wall stood a large bookshelf filled with books, ranging from the *Three Character Classic* and *Di Zi Gui* to the *Great Learning* and the *Analects*, most of which were related to the imperial examinations.

The books and papers were arranged neatly, without a single crease, showing how much the owner cherished them.

According to her memories from her previous life, this must be Qin Chi’s room.

Presumably, because Qin Chi had not yet returned, Old Man Qin had allowed the sisters to stay here.

"Sister, are we really staying in this room?"

As soon as Song Xiu saw the cramped and simple room, she was filled with disdain. "I’ve grown up so much, and I’ve never lived in such a wretched place."

"Children of farming families usually have to squeeze into one room; it’s already good enough that we have a private room," Song Jin said, accustomed to her half-sister’s willfulness.

Moreover, the situation was perilous now. It was a blessing that the sisters had survived at all; they were in no position to be picky about their living environment.

Song Xiu stopped speaking, but as she secretly glanced at Song Jin, her eyes were filled with malice.

In her previous life, she had married Qin Chi and become a widow early on. Yet, in the second year of her marriage, Song Jin had become the wife of a *juren*.

At seventeen, she had remarried a poor *xiucai*, eating chaff and vegetables every day, suffering under a wicked mother-in-law. Song Jin, however, had a charmed life; within two years, Qin Mingsong had passed the imperial examinations as a *jinshi*, enjoying boundless glory.

Later... she had been tricked by a man into becoming a secret prostitute in another city! She lived a life worse than a dog, in total darkness, and when she died, there wasn't even anyone to collect her body!

Why was it that her sister could marry the refined and elegant Qin Mingsong? Why did she get to be an official's wife and live a life everyone envied?

And why was she only able to marry a sickly weakling and become a widow so early?

Why?!

Was it just because her sister was born two years earlier than her?

Before she died, Song Xiu was filled with resentment, hating the unfairness of heaven.

She never expected that after death, she wouldn't go to hell, but would return to the time when the family had just met with disaster, on their way to the Qin family for the first time!

Song Xiu wept with joy.

She believed this was heaven compensating her, allowing her to live again. This time, she would not marry that sickly weakling.

She would marry her brother-in-law!

She would be the official's wife; the glory would be hers, and the good life would be hers...

"Sister, are you feeling any better?"

Song Jin asked with concern as she spread out the bedding on the bed.

Song Xiu used her usual spoiled tone: "Much better. Sister, do we really have to marry these mud-legged peasants? Why didn't Father find us someone in the city?"

"Sister, watch your tongue!"

Song Jin understood her father's actions. "We are in no position to pick and choose now. If you want to survive, follow Father's arrangements."

"I can't win an argument with you." Song Xiu pouted unhappily. Suddenly, her eyes darted around, and she stood up, clutching her stomach. "I need to relieve myself."

With that, Song Xiu ran out.

From the moment the trouble started at home until now, Song Jin hadn't closed her eyes. She had no energy to worry about her sister; besides, they were at the Qin house, so nothing major should happen.

She sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to rest. However, her mind uncontrollably drifted to her father, whose fate was unknown, and the Luban box he had hurriedly shoved into her hands.

Song Jin got up, grabbed her bundle, and found the Luban box. She had learned the mechanism as a child.

Thus, she opened it with ease.

Inside the box were ten silver ingots, a stack of banknotes, household registration documents, and a few pieces of jewelry.

Song Jin skillfully opened the bottom mechanism. Sure enough, something was hidden inside: a letter and a copy of the *Song Family Pharmacopoeia*.

This *Song Family Pharmacopoeia* was the foundation of the Song family's livelihood for generations, recording the processing techniques for hundreds of medicinal herbs.

Because of this, the Song family had stood firm in the prefecture for a century. The herbs they sold were always two or three parts better than others on the market, and the prices were fair, making them highly sought after by physicians.

Song Jin opened the letter.

The letter explained several things, instructing her to memorize the contents of the pharmacopoeia and then burn it, warning her never to let it fall into the hands of others. It also mentioned that the Song family's disaster was likely caused by a noble in the capital coveting the pharmacopoeia.

At the end, it urged her to strive to live and not let others scheme against her...

The deep fatherly love and earnest guidance between the lines made Song Jin’s eyes turn red with sorrow.

The happiest and most beautiful time in her previous life was when she was under her father's protection. But back then, she was young and ignorant, always complaining that her father was too stern.

Only after losing him did she realize how precious he was, but the child wished to provide for the parents, yet the parents were no longer there...

Just then, soft footsteps sounded outside the door.

Song Jin wiped the tears from her face and hurriedly stuffed the letter and the book into her bosom.

The door was pushed open.

Song Xiu carefully brought in a bowl of egg and brown sugar water, acting solicitous. "Sister, are you hungry? The kitchen boiled some egg and sugar water; it's still warm. I’ll bring you a bowl right away so you can fill your stomach."

Song Jin drank the sugar water.

After a long while, Song Jin’s expression changed, and she thought to herself, *Oh no.* "Sister, you—"

Before she could finish the sentence, she lost consciousness.

*Author's Note: This story is set in a fictional dynasty; readers should not treat it as historical fact. Additionally, some of the professional knowledge involved in this text comes from the internet, but most is derived from "The Complete Collection of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing," "Encyclopedia of Chinese Medicinal Materials," "The Great Dictionary of Identification of True and False Chinese Herbal Medicines," and the "Pharmacopoeia."*

*(End of chapter)*