Chapter 1: Born from a Sea of Fire

Lin Ling suddenly felt a cramp in her left foot; her entire body went out of her control, and she could only bob up and down in the seawater.

"Help... me..." She hastily reached out her hand, trying to call for help to the people on the beach. However, wave after wave crashed over her, drowning out her cries and submerging her completely.

"Cough... cough..." A hoarse, low cough escaped her. Lin Ling felt as if her skin were burning, scorching and agonizing. Her throat was parched and rough, and a pungent, charred smell assaulted her senses, nearly suffocating her.

Her bleary eyes were forced open a mere slit. What she saw was not a sea bubbling with air, but a sea of raging flames. At this moment, she felt as though she were lying on ground heated by a massive fire, rather than sinking in icy water.

This must be a dream.

Thinking this, Lin Ling powerlessly closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

"Sister, wake... wake up, don't... leave me all alone." After an unknown amount of time, a sorrowful, heart-wrenching sobbing sound rang by her ear, mixed with hiccups.

The lingering charred smell stimulated Lin Ling's nerves. In an instant, she seemed to see a sky full of raging fire, accompanied by billowing thick smoke, enveloping a woman dressed in an antique sleeping robe. The woman was trapped to death in the room, unable to open the door, with no way out, only to be swallowed by tongues of flame.

Lin Ling wanted to reach out and pull her to safety, but for some reason, the fire actually spread along her arm to her body. In an instant, she, like the young woman, became a human torch.

"Ah—" Lin Ling screamed, her eyes snapping open as she bolted upright. She frantically checked her arms and body. Thankfully, nothing was wrong. She let out a breath of relief. It really was a dream.

Only... something seemed off.

Her hands seemed to have shrunk. How could such slender, small, fair, and flawless hands be hers? She remembered that during an outpatient clinic shift, her left hand had been slashed by an emotionally unstable patient. The wound was deep, bled profusely, and wasn't treated in time, leaving a knife scar that would never fade.

"Sister, you... you're finally awake."

Hearing the voice of someone overjoyed to the point of tears, Lin Ling turned her head. She saw a girl of about fourteen, dressed in a goose-yellow embroidered long gown, wrapped in a brown mink fur coat, holding a hand warmer, her neck tucked in. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, tear tracks streaking her palm-sized face. She was beautiful and delicate, gentle and graceful, looking pitiful and evoking tenderness.

Seeing her turn her head, the girl looked somewhat apprehensive, stammering and not daring to meet her eyes directly. She spoke in a soft, careful voice, as if afraid of angering her.

She was an orphan. When did she get a younger sister? And why was she lying on an antique wooden bed, covered by a brightly colored quilt?

Her head instantly felt a bit muddled. Her body still ached, and her left cheek throbbed faintly. Lin Ling closed her eyes, and distant memories gradually cleared, flooding into her mind all at once.

She had drowned to death, and had actually transmigrated. Moreover, she had occupied the body of that woman, Qin Wanyi, who had been doomed in the dream.

In the memories, Qin Wanyi was the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Qin Zheng of the Great Xing Dynasty. Her birth mother, Madam Ye, was the daughter of the former Minister of Revenue and the sister of the current Minister of Revenue, making her the Minister's niece as well. With such a prominent background, she was nevertheless neglected because her mother died early and her father doted on his second wife, Madam Zhang. However, relying on her status as the legitimate daughter, she opposed Madam Zhang at every turn, trying to drive her out. Madam Zhang, though a concubine, was also from an official family and was the mistress of the Prime Minister's residence; naturally, she was not so easily dealt with. Qin Wanyi's arrogance earned Qin Zheng's disgust, and he disliked her even more. Though she possessed a beauty that could topple cities, she sadly lacked a kind heart.

However, besides these things, she seemed to have forgotten something?

"Sister, you... how are you? Are you... unwell somewhere? I... I'll have Cui Lian go fetch Doctor He right away." Qin Suyue spoke with trepidation, afraid something else would happen to Qin Wanyi, yet also a bit awed by Qin Wanyi's silence. She hurriedly stood up, taking small quick steps, intending to leave. Perhaps because she had sat too long, the moment she rose, she stumbled and fell, hitting her forehead on the edge of the bed. A red mark swelled up instantly, her little face scrunched up, eyes welling with tears.

Their birth mother had died of postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to Qin Suyue. Qin Wanyi had not been good to this sister, even resenting her. She blamed all her current suffering on Qin Suyue. Qin Suyue had a weak personality, enduring everything silently. Though often beaten and scolded by Qin Wanyi, she never talked back, which only made Qin Wanyi escalate her abuse. However, in this Prime Minister's residence, only the two of them, born of the same mother, relied on each other. They were each other's only support. Why hurt one another? It was a pity the previous Qin Wanyi never realized this.

This time, Qin Wanyi survived the sea of fire. Besides this birth sister guarding her side, not a shadow of anyone else could be seen. They must all have thought she wouldn't survive. If Qin Wanyi were still alive, she would surely have realized who truly cared for her from the bottom of their heart. But she no longer had that chance.

Since she, Lin Ling, had been reborn, then as Qin Wanyi, she must protect this sister even more.

Thinking this, Qin Wanyi reached out her hand, wanting to help Qin Suyue up.

Qin Suyue stared blankly at that outstretched hand for a long time without reacting, tears pattering down her face.

"Miss, this servant has brought your evening meal..." Just then, a girl of about sixteen walked in from outside. Her complexion was slightly sallow, her frame thin and weak. Her eyes were clear and bright, yet held a hint of maturity. She wore a dark green long gown with a light green jacket, a circle of white fur at the collar, and her hair was tied in two small braids hanging over her chest. She was Qin Suyue's maid, Cui Lian.

Seeing the scene inside the room, Cui Lian's hand trembled, and the tray she carried, along with the bowls and dishes on it, fell to the ground.

With a "clatter," the sound of shattering crockery rang out loudly. Cui Lian rushed to the bedside in a panic and knelt on the floor.

"Eldest Miss, please don't be angry. Doctor He said the Eldest Miss might never wake up. The Third Miss has guarded you for five whole days without even changing her clothes. Please, for the sake of her hard work, don't hit her. This servant kowtows to you." As she spoke, Cui Lian began kowtowing heavily on the floor.

"Cui Lian, don't talk nonsense. My legs fell asleep and I fell myself." Qin Suyue hurriedly clarified. Cui Lian stared at the red mark on Qin Suyue's forehead, half-believing, half-doubting.

Qin Wanyi twitched the corner of her mouth, but her left cheek suddenly throbbed with pain.

"Hiss—" A hoarse sob escaped her throat. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch it.

"Sister, Doctor He said you mustn't touch the wound on your face." Qin Suyue was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing Qin Wanyi's hand. Qin Suyue's hands were small, but carried a trace of warmth.

After saying this, Qin Suyue didn't dare look Qin Wanyi in the eye, as if afraid Qin Wanyi would find out something.