It was March, the time when spring flowers were in full bloom. It had only been a few days since the results of the imperial examination had been announced, and children on the streets and alleys had once again begun to sing "The Scholar's Excursion," a song performed every three years.

Everyone in the Imperial City is speculating which young master will be this year's champion.

The girls whispered amongst themselves, speculating about which young master was so accomplished, possessing the talents of a top scholar or even a top scorer in the imperial examinations.

For this, the young ladies have been diligent in going out recently, not this teahouse or that winehouse, all for the sake of taking a look at the gentlemen's talents and elegance.

Those who go with the intention of finding a match, will find one. Those who go without any expectations, simply join in the merriment.

The daughters of Changning Hou's mansion were no exception. Aside from Xie Yixiao, who was currently ill, the other daughters had all dressed up and gone out early in the morning.

As noon approached, a light drizzle fell outside the window.

Xie Yixiao sat on the wooden bed by the window, her face pale. She leaned against a pillow, lying crookedly, watching the unfamiliar world outside in the rain.

Through the distant rain curtain, I hear a child's singing voice coming from somewhere down the street.

Just as an old friend visits a familiar place, a new bride is embroidered on the bridal chamber.

I wonder, sir, what is your most dashing quality?

Imperial City Gate, Emperor's Tower.

Riding a horse across the street, what joy is there? Carrying spring wind to buy wine...

Dressed in a short jacket embroidered with orchids, she exuded a gentle and refined air. She resembled a solitary orchid blooming in a secluded valley, or perhaps a cluster of pure white jasmine blossoms. Especially now, with her pale complexion, there was an added touch of pitiable fragility.

But her temperament was gentle, yet her eyes were exceptionally beautiful. They were large almond-shaped eyes with long eyelashes, adding to her charm.

It was like a still painting had come to life, vibrant and full of motion.

At this time, a maidservant walked in from the doorway and curtsied to her through the beaded curtain: "Miss, your wife has come to see you."

As soon as the words left her lips, Xie Yixiao turned to look. A noblewoman in a snow-blue long-sleeved round-neck jacket lifted the beaded curtain and walked in, the bead curtain falling with a crisp sound as it brushed against her hair.

Xie Yi smiled and twitched her eyelids, feeling a little annoyed. She thought she'd have someone replace this beaded curtain later.

When your heart is content, listening to this sound can be quite pleasant. However, when your heart is troubled, it becomes truly annoying.

Upon seeing this, the visitor's face paled, and with a worried expression, he began, "Yi Xiao, I heard that yet another physician from the estate was summoned to the courtyard last night. What happened?"

"Aunt, please come take a look. I had a slight fever last night, but the doctor prescribed medicine and after taking it, I feel much better now."

Xie Yixiao smiled and regained her composure, then raised her eyes to look at the noblewoman before her.

This is the original aunt, the wife of the Marquis of Changning, Zhou Shi. She is the biological mother of Yu's cousin.

Xie Yixiao still can't believe she wore it.

And she even transmigrated into an ancient times traversal novel, becoming the vicious cousin of the main character.

The vicious cousin in the book had a wicked mind and cruel methods. After her plot was exposed, she was thrown out to be fed to dogs by the male lead, King Hainan, and died from being bitten alive.

It's only been a few days since I arrived, and just the other day, I was feeling dazed and confused, thinking it was all a dream. But yesterday, I suddenly realized that I had been transported into a book, and worse, my fate was to be killed by wild dogs! At that moment, I was completely dumbfounded.

I had several nightmares about being bitten to death by dogs throughout the night. In the middle of the night, I came down with a fever. If it weren't for Yuan who has also been sick recently and a maid checking on me in the middle of the night, I would have probably died right there.

After the ordeal, I just want to hug myself and tremble.

Zhou shi came from an ordinary family. She married into the Hou family because her family had done a favor for the Lord of Longning, but after many years as the mistress of the house, she had also cultivated a good demeanor.

She was holding a square handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms in her hand, wearing a cloud bun hairstyle, with two pairs of jeweled and gold hairpins and a jeweled and gold hairpin shaped like a plum branch on top of her head. She had a gentle and dignified manner.

Zhou sat down on the other side of the wooden bed, only a few inches away from Xie Yixiao. There was a plum blossom screen between them. A maidservant brought over a cup of hot tea.

De's gaze lingered on Xie Yixiao's pale face for a long moment, then he frowned and asked, "Didn't you just recover well a few days ago? How come you're sick again? Didn't you take the medicine? Where is your maidservant? Why didn't she persuade you properly?"

Xie Yixiao has been sick for more than a month.

The reason for this was that after the coming-of-age ceremony in January, she immediately expressed her admiration to her cousin, Gu Zhixuan, hoping he would marry her and form a good relationship. However, Gu Zhixuan rejected her.

After returning, he fell seriously ill and remained bedridden for over a month. A few days ago, something seemed to have changed within him.

After Xie Yixiao came, she was still dazed and confused for a few days, not knowing what to do.

Yesterday, I suddenly discovered that I was the tragic and vicious supporting character in a book. I had several nightmares of being thrown out to be fed to dogs. How could this child possibly be okay?

"This worried Aunt, and we also advised her. But Yi Xiao felt that the medicine was bitter and nauseating to drink, and after drinking it, she felt unwell, so she refused to take it. In this way, we cannot blame ourselves."

Zhou said, "You don't need to speak for them. If they haven't served their master well, it is their fault."

The maidservant at the side hurriedly knelt down and pleaded guilty: "Forgive me, Madam."

The girl before you is one of the two top maidservants from the border region, named Mingjing. She possesses a certain charm, with a mole below her ear that resembles rouge. She is a quiet and elegant young woman.

There's also someone named Ming Xin, who has a baby face and seems to talk constantly, chattering away like a magpie every day.

Whenever I see Xie Yixiao, I feel that this world has a certain degree of reality. This world exists, and the people in front of me are also living beings, not just paper figures that only exist in words.

Xie Yixiao's eyelids twitched. She found it really difficult to respond to this scene where everyone else was kneeling.

“Auntie, please don’t blame us. I know I was wrong. Next time, I will definitely take my medicine properly.”

"That's just perfect." Zhou shi merely wanted to say a few words to remind the maid, but hearing Xie Yi smile like that, she didn't hold on any longer. She let go and allowed her to stand up.

"You all go wait outside. I have a few words to say with your daughter."

Mingjing glanced at Xie Yixiao, seeing that she had nodded, so he replied with a "yes" and got up to retreat outside the room to guard it.

Xie Yixiao still had a smile on her face, her fingers tapping lightly on the pattern at her sleeve. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, her expression faltering as she hesitantly asked, "I wonder what aunt means?"

Zhou seemed a bit hesitant, swallowing hard for a while before saying: "Since you were ill, I didn't want to tell you. Your eldest sister, that scoundrel, ran away with her marriage letter and vanished without a trace."

Xie Yixiao's fingers clenched involuntarily. She thought to herself, "Sure enough, they have come."

【Author's Note】

Little Yu brought a new book to meet everyone, hoping the fairies and little fairies like it~ Also, please give a good review! A good review, the new seedling needs to be taken care of~

(Editor in charge：the handmaid's tale a novel)