After several days of gloomy weather, the first spring thunderstorm finally broke, with lightning fshing across the sky of the capital.

  Song Chuyi was startled awake by the thunder, drenched in cold sweat, and sat up, gasping for breath.

  She was back in her familiar yellow pearwood carved bed, with the pink gauze canopy her mother had chosen for her. Through the canopy, she could see the gss mp still burning on the table.

  It was warm, and the air she exhaled was warm... She pinched her face hard, and it hurt...

  It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a dream. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

  "Miss, you're awake?" Luyi's warm, familiar voice came from above. She quickly opened the canopy and felt Song Chuyi's forehead, finally sighing in relief. "Thank goodness, the fever hasn't come back."

  Song Chuyi sat dazedly at the head of the bed, still unable to understand why she had died with hatred and then suddenly returned to when she was seven years old.

  At this time, her grandmother still cherished her mother, Cui Shi, for her filial piety and gentleness, who had died giving birth to her brother. Her stepmother was still cautious, having only given birth to one daughter in the five years since her marriage.

  In her previous life, when she was seven, she had a fight with her cousin, Song Chumi, and fell ill for several days, almost dying.

  Fortunately, this recurring nightmare over the past half month now had a reasonable expnation.

  As they spoke, the room was fully lit, and the maids came in one by one with towels and basins for washing.

  Song Chuyi looked at each of them.

  Hongyu, Huangyao, Qingtiao—all familiar faces.

  She let Luyi pce the steaming towel on her face, feeling every pore open, her eyes warm and misty with tears.

  "Is the fever still not gone?" Nanny Xu entered, lifting the curtain, and saw Song Chuyi's tear-streaked face in the mplight. She hurried to the bed, feeling her forehead with worry in her eyes.

  This was Song Chuyi's wet nurse, who had accompanied her mother, Cui Shi, and had taken care of her since birth. She had been dismissed when Song Chuyi was eight. Counting her previous life, Song Chuyi hadn't seen her for over twenty years.

  "Nanny Xu..." Song Chuyi's sorrow overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face.

  Nanny Xu was instantly worried, not knowing what to do. Song Chuyi had always been domineering, and since her mother's death, she had been spoiled by her grandmother and father, rarely shedding tears. Seeing her cry now made Nanny Xu's heartache. She scolded Luyi, "How have you been taking care of her? I was only gone for half a day..."

  Song Chuyi quickly grabbed her clothes, sniffing to stop crying, and looked at Nanny Xu pitifully. "It's not their fault. I just had a nightmare. Don't bme them."

  The usually domineering sixth young dy was actually speaking up for the servants?! Everyone looked at each other, unable to react.

  Why had she had a nightmare? Wasn't it because the fourth young dy had been too harsh? Nanny Xu sighed, feeling sorry for her, but couldn't criticize the master.

  She quickly helped her put on a cotton jacket and tied the belt. "Since you're better, you should go pay respects to the old dy. She was asking about you just now."

  Song Chuyi nodded heavily, her obedience surprising everyone.

  Nanny Xu thought she had become sensible after suffering a loss and falling ill, feeling both relieved and heartbroken.

  Luyi then brought a cup of red date tea with a smile. "Yesterday, the young dy reminded us to wake her up today to pay respects to the old dy, no matter what."

  Huangyao finally had a chance to speak and said, "The old dy loves our young dy the most. She already said there's no need to rush to pay respects, just to rest well. I think the young dy shouldn't hurry, just say she's still unwell, and it will also put the fourth young dy in her pce."

  Nanny Xu gred at her and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about?! How can paying respects to the old dy be deyed?"

  Song Chuyi's heart sank at the sight of Huangyao's smiling face.

  The conflict with the fourth young dy, Song Chumi, was originally just a child's quarrel. But in her previous life, she had been maniputed into pretending to be ill for over half a month.

  At first, the third dy, Yun Shi, visited daily, but after learning that she was pretending to be ill to force the old dy to punish the fourth young dy, she simply sneered and went back to severely punishing her daughter.

  She still remembered how, from that moment on, her third aunt's gaze never looked at her the same way.

  Hongyu quietly draped a cloak over Song Chuyi's shoulders, carefully straightening her clothes, and stood silently by her side.

  Luyi and Hongyu were her mother's people, born into the Cui family. They were well-mannered and had excellent temperaments. However, their fates in the previous life were not good.

  Hongyu was sold off early for some unknown reason. Although Luyi stayed with her, she was never favored. It wasn't until her son died, and she was treated coldly in the Duke of Ying's mansion, that Luyi, whom she had always neglected, stood by her side without hesitation.

  Song Chuyi gnced at the two of them but said nothing as she stepped out into the morning breeze.

  The camellias pnted in the Marquis's residence were all in bloom, their bright red flowers opening vigorously in the morning sun, bringing joy to anyone who saw them.

  There were no flowering trees around Ningde Courtyard, only neatly trimmed rge-leaved privet trees, lush and full of life.

  Song Chuyi led Luyi and Huangyao through the winding corridors, where they saw several maids feeding sparrows. The maids greeted her with bright smiles.

  Someone called out, "The sixth young dy is here."

  Immediately, someone lifted the curtain and smiled at Song Chuyi. "You finally came. The old dy has been asking about you."

  It was Yushu, a gentle and kind maid favored by the old dy.

  Seeing Yushu lift the curtain, Song Chuyi walked inside.

  As soon as she entered, the warmth from the heated floor drove away the chill.

  The old dy sat at the head of the room, talking to the heir's wife. When she saw Song Chuyi, her smile faded slightly.

  At this time, the old dy was still willing to be kind to her. Although she would get angry, it was because she still had hope for her, unlike ter when she wouldn't even look at her and was indifferent to everything she did.

  Song Chuyi felt a pang in her nose and knelt down properly. "Granddaughter greets grandmother, wishing you peace and good health."

  Unlike her usual unruly self, the seven-year-old girl performed the etiquette fwlessly, pleasing everyone who saw her.

  Everyone was momentarily stunned.

  The old dy had just finished listening to the third dy and was quite angry, intending to ignore Song Chuyi for a while. But seeing her like this, her anger dissipated, and she couldn't help but sigh, her expression softening. "Get up."

  Song Chuyi stood up and respectfully greeted the other dies.

  When it was the third dy's turn, she looked at Song Chuyi with a mocking smile. "I was just about to take your fourth sister to kneel and beg for your forgiveness. How could you greet me first?"

  Her tone was sarcastic, and her smile didn't reach her eyes.

  "Mother!" Song Chumi called out urgently, then realized they were in the old dy's Ningde Courtyard and didn't dare say more, gring at Song Chuyi instead.

  No matter what had happened, it was inappropriate for an elder to embarrass a junior in front of everyone. The first dy, the heir's wife, lightly coughed and smiled at the third dy. "You're so pyful at your age. Be careful not to scare the children."

  The first dy was the heir's wife, and the Marquiss's residence would be hers in the future. If the other branches were to split off one day, they would be nothing.

  The third dy didn't dare disrespect her, so she forced a smile but still felt indignant. She sighed and said, "The doctor said you were not ill and could get out of bed. It's understandable to be angry with your fourth sister, but be careful not to harm your own health and worry the old dy."

  In her previous life, they had encouraged her to feign illness while simultaneously badmouthing her to the third dy and the old dy.

  Although she was genuinely ill this time, the doctor had already said she wasn't sick, and with the schemers in her room, she had to pretend to be well.

  Holding a grudge against her cousin over a small quarrel and pretending to be ill to worsen her cousin's punishment was not a good reputation to have.

  Unexpectedly, Song Chuyi didn't defend herself. She lowered her head and softly apologized to the third dy and Song Chumi. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have spoken rudely to my fourth sister."

  The third dy's smile froze.

  She hadn't expected Song Chuyi to admit her fault so readily.

  Song Chumi was also incredulous, then thought that Song Chuyi was indeed trying to trip her up by pretending to be ill to get the old dy to punish her. She became even angrier and turned away with a cold snort.

  The old dy, sitting at the head, snorted and asked sternly, "So, you pretended to be ill to falsely accuse your fourth sister?"

  As the actual head of the Marquis's residence's inner courtyard, the old dy's position was crucial, especially for a girl like Song Chuyi, who had lost her mother and had a stepmother.

  Everyone understood this in the previous life, except for Song Chuyi herself.

  Everyone held their breath, and Huangyao's face turned pale, about to speak in defense.

  But Song Chuyi knelt down first, her clear eyes meeting the old dy's gaze without flinching, sincerely admitting her mistake. "Yes, I was wrong. I argued with my fourth sister and caused trouble for the third dy and my fourth sister."

  She didn't specify what trouble.

  The old dy was very wise, having experienced much in life.

  In the previous life, the accusations were true, so the old dy was genuinely disappointed in her.

  But in this life... Song Chuyi lowered her head, a cold smile pying on her lips.