Chapter 11: Rebirth of the Soul

She drifted in a state of half-sleep for a long time, feeling as though she had been force-fed bitter medicinal juices several times, before falling back into a heavy, dazed slumber.

When she saw the guards dragging a blood-soaked Lin Siyuan and throwing him before her, Lin Jinyan jolted awake.

The sky was just beginning to dawn, and the candlelight had already been extinguished, leaving the room in dim visibility.

The dry ache in her throat made her feel as if she had returned to that freezing side hall, yet before her eyes was clearly her own bedchamber.

The discomfort in her throat caused her to cough lightly. The maid by the bedside rubbed her eyes, saw that she was awake, and asked softly with a smile

"Miss, are you awake? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

Lin Jinyan looked at the maid, fell into thought for a moment, and then spoke

"I feel fine. Where is my aunt?"

"The General's wife has been tending to you without even undressing for two days and three nights. She went to rest in the side hall in the latter half of the night after your fever broke and you fell into a deep sleep. She should still be sleeping; would you like me to fetch her?"

Lin Jinyan: "No need to call her. Keep your voices low so she can rest well. Bring me a cup of water, and do not wake the others."

"Yes."

After drinking two cups of water, Lin Jinyan's throat felt much better. Her hands gripped the quilt tightly as she asked, feigning nonchalance

"Where is everyone else in the manor?"

"The Old Master and Old Madam, the Master, the Young Master, and the Second Madam have all come to see you a few times these past two days. The night before last, when you had a fever, the Young Master was so scared he was nearly in tears. The General's wife has been looking after you constantly, and General Gu and the young master of the General's manor also came to see you yesterday."

Lin Jinyan slowly exhaled, feeling the tension in her bones ease. They were all here... her closest and most beloved ones were all here.

"Miss Yuexue has been feeling extremely guilty for failing to look after you properly and letting you fall into the water. During these two days of your illness, Miss Yuexue has been in the small Buddhist hall praying for you. The Old Madam tried to persuade her to rest several times, but she refused; she has become quite thin."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jinyan's relaxed body instantly stiffened, her eyes filled with hatred and bloodlust. Fortunately, the room was still dim, so the maid could not see her expression clearly.

Lin Jinyan spoke coldly, emphasizing every word: "Zhou Yuexue is praying for me in the Buddhist hall?"

Hearing the doubt laced with coldness in Lin Jinyan's voice, the maid spoke hesitantly

"Is something wrong, Miss? Haven't you and Miss Yuexue always been close? It is only natural that she would be worried given her kind heart."

Lin Jinyan took two deep breaths to suppress the surge of hatred

"It is nothing. I am a bit tired and will sleep for a while longer. If anyone comes to visit, tell them I am much better and will pay my respects once I have regained my strength. You may go."

"Yes. Please sleep well, Miss. I will go brew some porridge for you to eat when you wake."

Once the maid had left, Lin Jinyan lay on the bed and began to organize her thoughts.

She had clearly died. Why had she returned to this Mid-Autumn night twelve years ago? If this were a realm of ultimate bliss, the presence of the loyal and upright members of the Gu and Lin families would make sense, but why would that poisonous woman, Zhou Yuexue, be here as well?!

She surveyed her surroundings; it was indeed her bedchamber. Was everything that happened in the palace merely a dream? No—how could those tragic, bone-chilling, and heart-wrenching scenes be a dream?

Had Heaven, moved by the loyalty of the Gu and Lin families, allowed her to foresee the future? But she had experienced all of it personally. Could it be... she had returned to life? Returned to a time before everything had even begun?

Lin Jinyan's thoughts were thrown into chaos by her own realization. Calming herself to think carefully, if everything now was real, then she had truly returned! Everything could be done over! The Gu and Lin families might avoid such a tragic end!

No! She would never allow the Gu and Lin families to meet such a fate!

(End of Chapter)