Chapter 1

In the tranquil countryside, far removed from the bustling capital of Luoyang, a small house stands discreetly, surrounded by the encroaching embrace of a dense forest.

Flickering candles glow warmly from the windows, illuminating a small patch of the darkened woods while leaving the rest cloaked in shadow.

Inside, a young lady lies motionless on an ornate antique bed, her delicate form eerily still, reminiscent of a porcelain doll left forgotten.

This young lady is the Third Miss of the Xu family, known as Xu Ling Ai. She has been relegated to the margins of her family's life; a mere shadow in a home filled with whispers and indifference.

Her father, Minister Xu Bei Hong, is a powerful figure, but since the untimely death of her mother, his affections have been claimed by the Second Madam Gu, who now presides as his legitimate wife.

A grim prophecy from a shaman foretold calamity with her presence in the Xu Manor—a burden that weighed heavily on her young shoulders.

For almost seventeen years, Xu Ling Ai has navigated a world where she felt utterly alone, estranged from the warmth of familial love and connection.

Yet, three days prior, a shocking misfortune transpired: she slipped into the cold embrace of the river's depths and was lost to the world until an elderly woman named Jiang Mama pulled her from the water's grasp.

What remained unknown to everyone was that within the heart of her seemingly lifeless body, another soul had stirred—a soul brimming with frustration and defiance.

Suddenly, her still form jolted upright, convulsing in a violent coughing fit as if she were expelling the very river that had almost claimed her.

"Cough, cough!" she gasped, desperately trying to reclaim her breath, her heart racing.

As her eyes darted across the unfamiliar room, overwhelmed by the strange surroundings, bewilderment mixed with clarity.

She squeezed her eyes shut, rubbing them as if to awaken from a vivid nightmare. When she opened them again, the realization struck her—this was indeed the same room, and yet everything felt so surreal.

"Dang it! Where am I?" she exclaimed, glancing down at her own body garbed in a flowing white tunic and loose pants.

Just then, an elderly woman dressed in a vibrant green robe burst into the room, her cheeks wet with tears. She rushed to Xu Ling Ai's side, enveloping her in a heartfelt embrace.

"Miss, you've finally woken up! I was so worried!" her voice trembled, laced with exhaustion and relief.

Panic surged through Xu Ling Ai as she pushed away and shouted, "Stay right there! Don't come near me. Did you kidnap me? But that's impossible! I thought I died in the river..." Her mind spun, grappling with the absurdity of her predicament.

"What is this familiar yet utterly surreal scenario? This room resembles those wuxia dramas I adore on television! HOLY CHICKEN NUGGET! Have I time-traveled to an ancient era?!!" Her mind raced, and the waves of shock overwhelmed her senses, causing her to faint again.

"Miss! Miss! Please wake up! Don't leave this old woman alone! I will also perish!" Jiang Mama's desperate pleas pulled Xu Ling Ai back to consciousness, prompting her to shake off the remnants of her fainting spell, pretending as if nothing had transpired.

"I just slipped. No need to worry," Xu Ling Ai said, her voice steadying as she began pacing, piecing together the fragments of her bizarre new life.

Her gaze landed on an antique mirror across the room, which reflected not just a face but a new identity. This delicate version of herself was a stark contrast to the twenty-one-year-old burdened with endless tasks and struggles in her previous life.

'The skincare regimen in ancient times doesn't seem too shabby,' she mused to herself, an unexpected observation amidst the chaos.

Jiang Mama watched her young mistress with a mixture of concern and confusion, sensing the shift in Xu Ling Ai's demeanor. The girl before her seemed transformed, her language and mannerisms strange and unfamiliar.

"What do I call you?" Xu Ling Ai asked, determined to navigate the awkwardness of addressing someone who held a position of respect in this era.

"You... you forgot about me, Miss? I am Jiang Mama," the elderly woman stammered, bewildered. Xu Ling Ai nodded earnestly, trying to give a reassuring smile despite the whirlwind of thoughts coursing through her mind.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, extending her hand for a shake, only for Jiang Mama to flinch away in surprise.

'Has God granted me a second chance at life? Or is this some cruel cosmic punishment for my rash words?' Xu Ling Ai pondered, her eyes widening at the realization of her last moments of anger before the plunge into the river.

"Jiang Mama, could you speak a little more simply? I didn't have the chance to learn the ancient dialect, and I'm struggling to understand you," she requested earnestly, her frown deepening.

Jiang Mama looked at her with bewilderment and then burst into soft laughter as if the strangeness of the situation finally made sense.

"Forgive me. This whole situation is quite difficult to grasp," Xu Ling Ai admitted. "I need a clear explanation of everything about my new life."

Without hesitation, Jiang Mama began to narrate the intricacies of Xu Ling Ai's existence, weaving together the events that had led to this peculiar moment.

'So, I am indeed Xu Ling Ai in this lifetime? Living out here in the forest might just be the perfect way to evade scrutiny,' she thought as her mind absorbed the information, still preoccupied with the gravity of her new reality.

Feeling restless despite the knowledge shared, Xu Ling Ai made a sudden dash from the room, her heart pounding with excitement and uncertainty as she stepped outside.

The world that unfolded before her was a breathtaking tapestry of nature, a forest brimming with life, serenity, and untamed beauty.

"You son of a duck! How could you do this to me?" she bellowed at the expansive blue sky, frustration rising within her.

A flash of thunder erupted from the clouds above, its rumble resonating in sync with her discontent.

"I didn't ask you to send me hundreds of years back! Yaish!" The only response was the tranquil rustle of leaves in the wind and the distant call of birds as if the universe shrugged off her indignation.

'I guess I'll have to make this identity work for now!' she resolved, determination slowly replacing her bewilderment.

"Miss, have you forgotten everything?" Jiang Mama's voice cut through the ambiance with an air of gravity.

"Jiang Mama, I must have hit my head on a rock when I fell into the river. My memories will come back to me soon enough," Xu Ling Ai fibbed, not quite sure how to convey the truth of her situation.

"By the way, which dynasty is currently ruling?" she asked, finally remembering to inquire about the pivotal details of her new life.

"It is the Han dynasty and the current emperor is Emperor Wu."

"Really?"

There are a lot of popular dynasties, but why did she get into the one she didn't focus on? Thus, she hates history subject.

"Teacher Lee I suddenly missed you." She could only exhale a heavy breath.

When she was in high school, she always slept when it was a historical subject. She always got detention because of it. Surprisingly, she always passed the exam.

She does remember some parts of the dynasty. But it was too little. Fortunately, she lived in the forest or else how is she going to stay alive?

"Anyway, Jiang Mama can you tell me where did I drown?" Xu Ling Ai needs to find her way back to hell as soon as possible so the real body owner can return to her body.

One Week Later

Sitting in the corner of her chamber, she was embroidering silks with a frown etched on her face. As she continued stitching, her patience finally snapped.

"This is so tiring, pretending to be a noblewoman! I don't need a second chance; I'd rather go back to hell!" she whined, tossing the embroidery aside.

"HOLY MOTHER COW! Why is this hair so long?" Her real personality broke through the delicate facade. She still hadn't gotten used to the long hair. Frustrated, she leaned her head on the table.

After her transmigration into the ancient world, she learned to stop cursing as she did in the modern world. She feared that if she crossed the line, the gods might punish her by sending her straight to the Stone Age.

It had been one and a half weeks since she found herself trapped in the body of an ancient lady. She had tried to accept her fate and act like a proper noblewoman—but she had failed miserably.

Jiang Mama, her elderly caretaker, had insisted on calling a physician to check on her strange behavior, but she had refused. After all, she knew her situation better than anyone else.

"I call this my body, huh? This is all your fault, God!" she muttered bitterly.

Living in this ancient world was mind-numbingly dull. Without the internet and social media, life felt unbearably empty.

While others might have been grateful for a second chance, she was not. She would have preferred to skip this life altogether and head straight to hell.

She was a 21st-century girl who couldn't survive without modern conveniences and technology.

Now, she had to relearn everything just to fit into this new world. How? She had spent the last twenty years living her carefree modern life.

Here, she was like a newborn, clueless about the strict rules of womanhood and ancient society. It wasn't easy to change overnight.

Sometimes, she would dance and sing pop songs to shake off her boredom, only to be scolded by Jiang Mama for her "vulgar" movements.

She tried her best not to sing or dance in front of the old woman anymore, but she still missed her old life terribly.

"What if my idol makes a comeback? How am I supposed to go on living like this!" she cried out in frustration.

Looking up at the sky, she glared as if addressing someone. "You could've at least sent me my laptop and phone!"

P.S.

Would y'all want to transmigrate into your own country's ancient era?

VOTE and COMMENT if you like this chapter!

Thanks! 💖 - Renes