Chapter 3: Returning to Age Ten!

Pain! How could she feel such skin-piercing pain again? The intense sensation in her arm assaulted Mu Xinnuan’s brain!

“Madam, the young miss has woken up.” A somewhat youthful voice rang out, and at that moment, Mu Xinnuan’s eyes opened.

“Nuan’er, you’re finally awake! Let Mother take a look—is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?”

Mu Xinnuan was stunned. This gentle and beautiful woman before her—if not her mother, then who could it be? But surely, she must be dreaming? No! Mu Xinnuan shook her head. She was already dead; what kind of dream could a ghost have?

Perhaps the movement was too abrupt, for Mu Xinnuan suddenly saw stars, and the world began to spin!

“Silly girl, you’ve only just woken up, don’t move around so much.” Madam Li said, then hurriedly ordered, “Go and fetch the manor physician, and send someone to tell the Master that the eldest young miss has woken up.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Hearing the voice of her maid, Chun Tao, Mu Xinnuan finally confirmed that she was truly still alive! She looked down at her arm and remembered that when she was ten years old, she had been greedy for play and tried to climb a tree like her younger brother. She hadn’t made it up, but instead fell and injured her arm.

“Mother!” Although Mu Xinnuan’s voice was low, the excitement within it was unmistakable.

“My child, you’ve finally woken up! You nearly scared your mother to death.” Madam Li’s eyes reddened, and she reached for a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes.

Mu Xinnuan forced herself to sit up and smiled, “Mother, please don’t cry. Isn’t your daughter perfectly fine?”

“You child, what was so fun about that? You just had to go and learn to climb trees like the others! You simply have no sense of propriety.” Madam Li said, both anxious and angry.

Mu Xinnuan knew that her mother’s scolding was primarily out of concern. But before she could speak, she heard the rustle of the door curtain; it was her younger brother, Mu Qingxuan.

“Is Sister feeling better?”

Seeing her brother’s youthful little face again, the excitement in Mu Xinnuan’s heart was impossible to suppress! In her previous life, this brother was the first of her loved ones to leave her. It was precisely because of his passing that her mother had become overwhelmed with grief, lingering on her sickbed, weeping day and night, and gradually losing favor—all of which played right into the hands of that woman, the Song clan! She had sown discord between her parents, causing her mother to die in the end without even being able to see her father’s face!

Of course, she only learned of these things after she died and was wandering the world as a ghost. While the Song clan’s deliberate meddling was a factor, the root cause was her brother’s death!

After all these years, to see her brother alive and well again—Mu Xinnuan’s first thought was to find a way to prevent that tragedy! Upon reflection, wasn’t it this very year?

“Good brother, I’m fine now. I’ve made you worry as well.”

“You’re still speaking up for him! If it weren’t for this little monkey egging you on to climb trees, how would you have gotten hurt?” Madam Li said with dissatisfaction.

Mu Xinnuan smiled faintly and extended her right hand, signaling for Mu Qingxuan to come closer. “Brother, have you been studying well these past few days?”

Mu Qingxuan nodded quite obediently. He had been close to his sister since he was small; perhaps because they were only two years apart, they always had endless things to talk about when they were together.

“Sister, it’s all my fault. When you’re better, I’ll make that twig whistle for you.”

Mu Xinnuan’s heart warmed. This twig whistle was made from newly sprouted branches; it wasn’t particularly difficult to make, but there was a certain technique required to make it blow loud and clear.

“Alright, Sister will wait for it.”

“Is A-Nuan awake?” Hearing a deep, resonant voice, Mu Xinnuan’s heart skipped a beat! In her previous life, she had watched with her own eyes as her father died at the hands of Mu Qingyuan. That cup of poisoned wine had caused her father to suffer from stomach pain for a full half-hour before he finally died, appearing as if he had succumbed to a lung disease! Compared to her mother and the others, her father had suffered the most!

“Father, it is all this child’s lack of filial piety that has caused you worry.” The moment Mu Xinnuan opened her eyes today, she had seen three relatives who had long since passed away; naturally, her emotions were stirred! Seeing her father in good health now, tears immediately fell.

“Stop crying! Look at you, my A-Nuan is so big now, yet you’re still a crybaby!” Mu Chang’an teased.

Mu Xinnuan let out a giggle, laughing through her tears. “Father is mean! You only know how to bully A-Nuan.”

“Alright, alright! Father is mean, and only Mother is good, is that it?” Seeing his precious daughter smile, Mu Chang’an’s face softened. He sat on the footstool by the bed and examined her carefully before saying, “It’s a good thing you didn’t break our A-Nuan’s head in that fall. Otherwise, where would I find such a clever daughter again?”

Madam Li couldn’t help but interject, “Master, really, how can you spoil the children like this? Be careful, or you’ll spoil them rotten!”

“Look at what you’re saying. They are my own children; if I don’t spoil them, who will?” Mu Chang’an said. Seeing his son hiding timidly behind his mother, his face hardened. “Qingxuan, come here.”

When Mu Qingxuan heard his father call him, his body trembled; he knew this punishment was unavoidable! He looked at Mu Xinnuan as if seeking help, but seeing her shake her head slightly with a smile in her eyes, he felt reassured.

He mustered his courage and stood before his father. “Father, this child knows he was wrong. In the future, I will never dare to lead Sister into such dangerous games again.”

Mu Chang’an’s face was stern, bearing no resemblance to the man who had just been speaking to Mu Xinnuan. “It is good that you know! You are the legitimate son of this manor, and your sister is the eldest legitimate daughter. You must learn to respect her; never again be as reckless as you were this time!”

“Yes, Father.”

“Have you finished today’s lessons?”

“Reporting to Father, they are finished.”

“Very well. Come, follow me to the study; I shall test you.”

“Yes, Father.” Although Mu Qingxuan was mischievous, he was still quite afraid of his somewhat rigid father! He lowered his head and followed behind him. At the doorway, he turned back and stuck his tongue out at Mu Xinnuan, making her burst into laughter!

It was so good. With her loved ones by her side, no amount of wealth or status mattered. As long as they were all alive and well, everything was perfect!

Mu Xinnuan gripped her mother’s hand tightly, secretly swearing in her heart: Since the heavens had given her a chance to live again, in this life, even if she had to kill everyone, she would find a way to keep her family safe! As long as her family was well, what did it matter if she ended up in the Avici Hell after death? She would have no fear!

【Author’s Note】: Today’s chapters have all been uploaded. Dear readers, see you tomorrow!