That evening, word arrived that Wei Kang had returned to the Chen Manor to offer a formal apology. However, this had nothing to do with A’Jiao.
She was content to simply be a pampered infant who concerned herself with nothing.
On the seventh day of her reincarnation, Lord Yuan Deng appeared.
In the dead of night, while A’Jiao was fast asleep, she suddenly felt someone gently shaking her.
“Lord Yuan Deng!”
“Wake up. I’m here to give you a check-up.”
As Yuan Deng spoke, he pressed his hand against A’Jiao’s forehead. She felt herself enveloped in a wave of warmth. When his hand pulled away, she saw a small tablet emerge from her body along with it.
The Soul-Guiding Tablet.
Yuan Deng inspected the tablet meticulously before striking it back into A’Jiao’s body.
“It seems the treasures Lord Shen gave you are indeed useful. Of all the ghosts I’ve handled, your soul is in the best condition.”
“You have no idea—passing through the Mirror of Reincarnation is one thing, but there are so many other problems that can arise. In my group alone, three souls have already been sent back. I’ve got them tucked away in my Ghost Gourd right now; I have to take them back for registration in a moment.”
“Three? How did they go back so quickly?” A’Jiao was stunned. This was far too fast; she hadn’t felt any danger at all!
Yuan Deng sat down beside her and sighed. “One was abandoned in a mountain ravine right after birth and starved to death. Another choked while nursing. And the last one... ah, truly tragic. He fell out of bed at night and cracked his head open. I just came from his side; I stayed with him until he passed.”
“...How tragic,” A’Jiao lamented. To suffer such a fate immediately after birth!
Inside the Ghost Gourd, the three souls heard their conversation and nodded incessantly. Exactly! They thought they were getting a fresh start at life, only to be sent back so soon! *Waaaah!*
“And there’s more...”
“More?!”
Yuan Deng looked at A’Jiao with a serious expression. “Most of these souls suffer from some degree of spiritual dissipation. It seems that even though the power of the Reincarnation Platform was suppressed by the two Exalted Divinities, you mortal ghosts still find it hard to endure. The Exalted Divinities will resolve that once you return to the Underworld. You, however, have no issues at all. You’ve certainly lived up to all those protective talismans Lord Shen gave you.” These mortal ghosts were simply too fragile.
After A’Jiao’s reincarnation, those talismans followed her, though they were invisible to mortal eyes. Yuan Deng could see several of them still hanging securely around her neck.
“I couldn’t very well let Lord Shen’s kindness go to waste.”
“Alright, keep at it. I’m leaving now. I’ll check on you again in seven days.”
“Safe travels, Lord Yuan Deng!”
Before her voice could even fade, Yuan Deng’s figure had vanished from the room.
A’Jiao let out a breath of relief and drifted back to sleep. Infants truly were prone to drowsiness.
***
A month passed, and A’Jiao grew a bit more. The wrinkled skin she had at birth gradually became smooth and fair.
When the day of A’Jiao’s Full-Month Banquet arrived, the Chen family organized another grand celebration. A’Jiao was somewhat curious—she wondered how her Full-Month Banquet had been celebrated back in the Marquis of Tangyi’s manor in her past life.
To her, this banquet felt little different from the Third-Day Bath. The only change was that instead of Nanny Jin, she was being held by Ruan Qing. A crowd of noble ladies surrounded them, offering praises—some sincere, some performative—about how beautiful she had grown.
Old Madam Chen noticed that more families had attended this time compared to the previous banquet, and a smile of genuine delight crinkled the corners of her eyes.
Though A’Jiao still couldn’t see clearly at a distance, she could now make out things within a foot of her face.
The Second Master, Chen Ao, came rushing in, lifting the hem of his robes. He called out to the Old Madam, “Mother! The Great General is here!”
“Who?” Old Madam Chen suspected she had misheard.
“The Great General! Our brother-in-law is here!” Chen Ao was visibly excited. “Eldest Brother is accompanying him. He said he’s come to pay his respects to you, Mother.”
A’Jiao raised her barely-there eyebrows. Given her current status as a mere junior, Wei Qing hardly needed to attend her Full-Month Banquet in person; sending one of his sons would have been more than enough!
The Old Madam hurriedly straightened her clothes as the room grew boisterous.
A’Jiao heard the voice of the Eldest Master—her grandfather in this life: “Great General, this way please. Mother is currently chatting with everyone.”
“Very well. You boys, come and pay your respects to your maternal grandmother.”
A’Jiao had seen Wei Qing a few times in her past life, but so much time had passed that her memory of him was faint. She couldn't help but try to get a better look, though she could only see several blurred figures entering the room.
Upon seeing Old Madam Chen, Wei Qing stepped forward and greeted her with the utmost respect. Listening to him, A’Jiao noted there wasn't a hint of condescension in his tone. The young men following behind him also paid their respects to the Old Madam.
Old Madam Chen was overwhelmed by the honor, joyfully taking Wei Qing’s hand and praising his filial piety.
After a few moments of pleasantries, Wei Qing spoke. “Where is the child? Bring her here for me to see.”
Chen Yang immediately took A’Jiao from Ruan Qing’s arms and brought her to Wei Qing.
Wei Qing took the child into his arms. A’Jiao noted that his way of holding a baby was actually better than her cheap father’s.
Now that he was close, A’Jiao could see Wei Qing’s features clearly. His eyes and brows were handsome; he must have been a striking youth in his younger days. However, likely due to years of leading armies in the field, his complexion was dark, and his hands were covered in thick calluses. When he touched her, it was a bit rough.
*Mother was certainly ruthless back then to want him dead,* A’Jiao thought.
Wei Qing raised his hand, and Wei Kang quickly handed him a small box. The box emitted a faint, delicate fragrance and was carved with a pattern of twin lotuses on a single stalk.
“A small token for the child.”
The Eldest Master, Chen Xie, quickly pressed his hand over Wei Qing’s. “Great General, you mustn't. You already sent so many gifts when the child was born. We cannot accept more. Our family truly appreciates the sentiment.”
Wei Qing smiled. “That was different. This is a proper gift for our first meeting; you cannot refuse.” With that, he gently moved Chen Xie’s hand aside, took a jade pendant from the box, and tucked it into A’Jiao’s hand. “Do you like it?”
A’Jiao, playing her part, gripped the jade with both hands and waved it twice, letting out a silly, babbling giggle. She had become quite practiced at this over the past month.
Wei Qing laughed heartily. “See? The child likes it.”
The onlookers all joined in the laughter.
Wei Qing then asked, “Has the child been named yet?”
Chen Yang replied respectfully, “Yes. We call her Jiao-jiao.”
*Jiao-jiao?* Wei Qing felt the name was familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. He assumed it was simply a common name for a daughter. “It is a fine name!”
After playing with the child for a while, Wei Qing handed her back to Chen Yang and asked, “Where is Chuo? I saw him just a moment ago.”
Wei Yuan hurriedly looked around, her heart fluttering with a mix of nervousness and slight displeasure.
“He’s outside with his second uncle welcoming guests. Quickly, go call the Second Young Master!” Old Madam Chen’s mind raced. When her daughter was alive, she had mentioned wanting to arrange a betrothal between Wei Yuan and Chen Chuo. However, her daughter fell ill before anything was finalized. Wei Yuan had then observed three years of mourning. The Chen family hadn't dared to bring it up, unsure if the Wei family still recognized the arrangement.
Looking at the situation today, there was still hope.
When Chen Chuo entered the room, Wei Yuan was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected Chen Chuo to be so handsome!
Wei Qing nodded inwardly. He asked the young man about his studies and daily affairs. Chen Chuo’s speech and manner were poised and elegant, possessing a refined charm. Wei Qing was very satisfied.
Wei Yuan also felt a stir of attraction in her heart.
Seeing Wei Qing nodding repeatedly, Old Madam Chen was overjoyed.
Sure enough, she heard Wei Qing say, “Mother, when my late wife was still with us, she wished to settle the matter between Yuan’er and Chuo. Now that Yuan’er has been out of mourning for half a year, I believe it is time to finalize it. She is getting older, after all.”
“Our family naturally shares the same wish. We only worried that Yuan’er might be reluctant to leave home after losing her mother, or that you, General, would be loath to part with her. Thus, we didn't dare mention it.”
Laughter broke out on both sides.
Wei Yuan felt a wave of bashfulness, but she didn't dare speak.
A’Jiao huffed inwardly. *It looks like this Wei Yuan really is going to become my second aunt!*
Seeing her seniority being suppressed even further by the Wei family, A’Jiao felt a headache coming on.
***
That night, A’Jiao was placed on the bed. Chen Yang sat nearby, carefully examining the jade pendant Wei Qing had gifted. He waved it in front of A’Jiao, but seeing she had no interest, he simply tucked it into her hand for her to play with.
Only now could A’Jiao get a proper look at the pendant. It was carved with a pattern of mandarin ducks at play. On one side was inscribed: *“The mandarin ducks take flight, caught in the net. May the lord live ten thousand years, blessed with fortune and prosperity.”* On the other side: *“The mandarin ducks are on the dam, folding their left wings. May the lord live ten thousand years, enjoying lasting happiness.”*
“...” *Isn't this the damn jade pendant Liu Che gave me back then?*
When she had moved out of the Pepper Room Palace, she hadn't taken any of those things with her. They must have been reclaimed by the Palace Treasury and later bestowed upon Wei Qing as a reward!
To think it had ended up back in her hands. A’Jiao felt a bitter taste in her heart and tossed it aside. Suddenly remembering she wasn't in the Princess’s Manor anymore and that breaking it would be a disaster, she quickly let out a fake cry.
Ruan Qing hurried over to soothe her. Seeing the jade pendant cast aside, she feared A’Jiao might break it and prepared to put it away.
“Husband, it seems this jade the Great General gave Jiao-jiao is no ordinary object. Look at the box—this is the mark of the Palace Treasury. I remember when the General’s Manor sent over rewards from the palace before, they had this same mark.”
“It really is. We must store it away carefully.”
“By the way, why is the marriage between Second Brother and the Wei family’s young lady being settled so urgently? The betrothal is at the end of the month, and the wedding is in August. Could something have happened?”
“Regarding that, my uncle-in-law mentioned that a Lady in the palace is failing. He fears that if her funeral rites are grand, there will be a period of national mourning. Yuan’er is already fourteen; if they wait, she’ll be past the ideal age.”
“I see. No wonder. But with only two months, I’m afraid we won't be able to manage it well. Mother just told me to help with the preparations. Oh, I’m worried to death!”
“Qing-qing, don't be afraid. Just do your best. Uncle-in-law will surely send people to help. Nothing will go wrong!”
The young couple chatted for a while longer before handing A’Jiao to the wet nurse and retiring for the night.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 引魂牌 | Soul-Guiding Tablet | A spiritual item used to monitor or stabilize a soul during reincarnation. |
| 鬼葫芦 | Ghost Gourd | A magical vessel used by Yuan Deng to store souls. |
| 满月宴 | Full-Month Banquet | A traditional celebration held when a baby reaches one month of age. |
| 陈翱 | Chen Ao | A’Jiao’s second grand-uncle (Second Master of the Chen house). |
| 陈翓 | Chen Xie | A’Jiao’s grandfather (Eldest Master of the Chen house). |
| 鸳鸯于飞，毕之罗之。君子万年，福禄宜之 | The mandarin ducks take flight, caught in the net. May the lord live ten thousand years, blessed with fortune and prosperity. | Verses from the Classic of Poetry (Shijing), specifically the poem "Mandarin Ducks." |
| 鸳鸯在梁，戢其左翼。君子万年，宜其遐福 | The mandarin ducks are on the dam, folding their left wings. May the lord live ten thousand years, enjoying lasting happiness. | Verses from the same Shijing poem. |
| 国孝 | National Mourning | A period of mourning for a member of the imperial family during which festivities and weddings are forbidden. |
| 椒房殿 | Pepper Room Palace | The traditional residence of the Empress in the Han Dynasty. |
