Chapter 1: Miss Song

“Hiss…”

Tan Yue woke up, feeling a sharp pain in her head.

She looked around the unfamiliar room and saw a woman sitting beside the bed.

Oh my god, where is this? Who is this?

Before she could even think, the woman beside the bed heard the noise, glanced at her, then hurriedly opened the door and ran out, tripping over the threshold on her way out.

Tan Yue was startled: This girl was running so fast, did she think she was a monster?

“Damn!” Tan Yue slapped her forehead.

Her head ached, her memory was hazy, and she couldn’t recall a single thing.

With a heavy head, Tan Yue hurriedly put on her clothes and tried to run out of this unfamiliar place.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she found herself unable to move.

[System has been automatically bound.]

The voice seemed to come from within her own head.

“Who are you? Get out of here.”

Tan Yue’s vision went dark, and she saw her own unconscious body before her. Her current state resembled the story of a soul leaving the body as described in the novels.

[Hello, host. I am the Lady Cultivation System. From now on, you will be my master.]

Suddenly, a glowing board appeared before Tan Yue.

At the top, it was inscribed with “Lady Cultivation System.”

Are you playing tricks?

Tan Yue didn’t believe a word it said, believing it was pure nonsense. She asked, “What is your purpose?”

[If you don’t do as I say, you will be in trouble. In serious cases, your soul will disappear.]

Tan Yue was actually a little shaken by this, but she couldn’t give in. Even if she was afraid, she felt she should act as if she were ready to die. “I won’t do it. Do whatever you want.”

[…]

Without hearing the system speak, she blinked back into her body.

[In ten seconds, you will trip and fall.] Tan Yue looked around and saw nothing on the ground. She walked forward without tripping.

“Aren’t you…” Are you kidding?

Before Tan Yue could finish her sentence, a wooden stick appeared out of thin air beneath her feet, tripping her to the ground.

[In thirty seconds, the water from the tea bowl will pour over your head.]

Tan Yue looked up at the round table and saw the tea bowl rise from thin air.

The tea bowl tilted, and the water poured directly onto her head.

[In ten seconds…]

“Fuck! Stop, stop, stop!” Tan Yue hurriedly interrupted the system. “Sister, stop talking! Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it now!”

No matter what the situation, calling each other sister first can improve the relationship. Maybe the outcome will be better.

The system continued.

[I’m older than you. The term sister isn’t appropriate. You should just call me Aunt from now on. From now on, you must learn the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery. You must walk with graceful steps and refrain from using vulgar language. My dear… In February, orioles are flying, and the willows on the bank are swaying in the intoxicating spring smoke.” Tan Yue turned around in time and proudly said to the system, “So, I’m pretty good at reciting poems, right?”

…Yes, I’m pretty good. Next time, I won’t pretend I didn’t hear you. The system replied after a moment’s silence.

“A Jiao!” As the system finished speaking, a woman in rich attire rushed in, followed by several maids.

Looking at the disheveled Tan Yue lying on the ground, the woman nearly fainted.

“It’s okay, I’m fine.” Tan Yue, lying on the ground, smiled at them and waved her hand, reassuring them not to worry.

The woman hurried over to help Tan Yue up. After a careful check, she confirmed she was alright. She then turned to the maidservants behind her and asked, “Caifu, why are you here alone? Where’s Caihe? Didn’t I tell you to take good care of the young lady? Is this how you’ve taken care of me?”

“Caihe… Caihe is feeling unwell, so she went to rest,” Caifu replied softly, standing in front of the woman.

Tan Yue recognized her; it was the girl who had just run out and tripped.

Tan Yue held her breath at this sight. Although she seemed to be the young lady the lady was talking about, she remembered growing up in the countryside with a very kind mother.

Her mother… she couldn’t recall what she looked like.

Hiss! Tan Yue’s head ached again.

She clutched her head. Why couldn’t she remember her mother’s face?

Tan Yue, unwilling to give up, tried to recall her mother’s appearance, but her vision shifted, and she fainted again.

When the woman saw Tan Yue faint, she quickly called for the maid to carry her to the bed and then went to fetch a doctor.

Drowsily, Tan Yue felt someone holding her hand, a warm one.

Soon, she heard the doctor say, “Young lady, there’s nothing serious. She just hit her head hard and has a slight concussion. She’ll be fine after some rest.”

“Very good, very good, thank you, doctor! Ajiao hasn’t fully recovered yet. Please, doctor, stay at home for a few more days.”

This was the woman’s voice.

After an unknown amount of time, Tan Yue opened her eyes to see the woman, her eyes red, holding her hand, as if afraid she’d leave.

“Ajiao, you’re awake?” the woman exclaimed happily, but then, fearing to startle her, she asked cautiously, “Ajiao, are you feeling any worse?”

After a moment’s pause, she realized the Ajiao the woman was referring to was her, and quickly shook her head.

“Oh, Madam, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not Ajiao. I’m just a child from the countryside. I have a mother, and her name is…” Tan Yue faltered at this point. Not only could she not remember her mother’s appearance, but even her name was lost.

“I know, I know everything…” the woman said, unable to hold back her tears. “It was all my fault back then. I caused you to be abducted by human traffickers.”

“I… I always thought you were still alive, Ajiao, so I never gave up looking for you.”

“Thankfully, God has mercy on me and allowed me to find you.” The woman reached out to touch Tan Yue’s neck, but Tan Yue instinctively recoiled.

The woman froze. Tan Yue looked up and saw a hint of hurt on her face.

But she quickly recovered and continued, “Ajiao, the jade around your neck was found for you by your uncle at the Treasure Pavilion. The texture and carving of this jade are unique. He said he gave it to his most beloved niece as a birthday present.” “

“Also, Ajiao, you have a plum blossom-shaped birthmark on your left shoulder. You were born with it. Not only you, but your grandmother and your aunt also have it.”

“There’s a small scar on the right side of your calf. It’s from when you were little, you stepped on your brother mischievously to climb a tree to pick fruit. You accidentally fell and scraped your calf on a branch. I scolded both you and your brother.”

As she spoke, the woman couldn’t help laughing. “I remember back then, you were such a crybaby, crying so hard. Your brother was so distressed that he told me not to scold you anymore and to scold him himself.”

The woman finished, wiping the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Your father, brother, and I wonder every day what Ajiao would be like now.”

“I’ve already written to them. I want to take you home. We didn’t get to see you grow up, and I don’t want to miss out on your future.”

“If…if you don’t want to go back,” the woman choked up again. “Then don’t come back. We won’t force you. You make your own decision.” “

Listening to the woman’s ramblings, Tan Yue’s heart was in turmoil. She had carried the jade with her for as long as she could remember, and the birthmark and scar she mentioned were also there.

So she might really be her biological mother.

What should she do then? Go home with her? What about her mother?

It was agonizing.

[The host suggests you go back with them. They are indeed your biological parents. Your biological father, Song Yunli, is the Minister of Rites, and your biological mother, Qiao Shuang, is a daughter of the General’s family. Going back with them will be more beneficial for your development as a lady.]

[And if you go back, you’ll have a chance to remember who your mother really is.]

“Damn!” The system was shamelessly eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Qiao Shuang had been watching Tan Yue with concern. Noticing her mood was off, she quickly asked, “Ajiao? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll go call the doctor!”

[Detecting the host’s use of impolite language. Ten seconds later…”

“No, no,” Tan Yue hurriedly stopped her. “I’m just asking for your shoulder to lean on.” “

Good Auntie! I didn’t say anything bad, I just wanted to lean on her shoulder.”

The system wasn’t being too harsh.

[Since you just met me today and must be feeling a little uncomfortable, I’ll let you go for now.]

[And since I wasn’t eavesdropping, your words are just like what you said to me. I can’t hear your true inner thoughts.]

“I see.” Tan Yue was startled, assuming she’d lost her privacy after being linked to the system.

“I’ll go back with you.” Tan Yue figured that since that was the case, this was the only way to go. Go back with them and figure out a solution later.

Although she couldn’t remember what her adoptive mother looked like, she remembered every moment she spent with her.

Looking at her biological mother before her, Tan Yue felt a pang of guilt. She had forgotten everything she’d said, so she wasn’t sure how to interact with her. She even struggled to say the name.

“Um…” Tan Yue hesitated for a long time before finally calling out the name. “Mother, I want to ask where you saw me?” “

Qiao Shuang’s eyes lit up when she heard Tan Yue address her, but she didn’t show any excitement, fearing she might frighten her.

After composing herself, she whispered softly, “I was praying at Lanruo Temple. Afterward, I tried my luck in the back hills where you disappeared, and I didn’t expect to actually see you, unconscious.”

“Then I brought you to the old house. While the nanny was caring for you, she told me about the jade you were wearing. In a moment of panic, I looked at your left shoulder and saw a plum blossom birthmark, and that’s when I confirmed it was really you. “

Lanruo Temple? So that’s where it is.

She and her mother had been living in a remote village in Qianxi, but had moved to Wu County in Lingnan two years ago. She hadn’t expected the Song family’s old house to be there either.

After Qiao Shuang finished speaking, they ran out of topics to talk about, and silence fell between them.

Before Tan Yue could even try to bring up a topic to lighten the mood, her stomach growled, breaking the silence.

The sound was a bit awkward.

To be honest, she had no idea how long she’d been unconscious, but she was definitely hungry after not eating.

Qiao Shuang quickly stood up. “Ajiao, are you hungry? I…I’ve been preparing porridge for you. You just woke up, so try something light. I’ll bring it to you!” “

She was too excited to think it through. Ajiao must be hungry after being unconscious for so long.

Without waiting for Tan Yue’s response, Qiao Shuang hurried out.

Watching Qiao Shuang’s departing figure, Tan Yue couldn’t help but laugh.

It seems this mother is quite kind. I wonder if the Song family is the same.

What if…

Never mind, Tan Yue sighed. Let’s just take it one step at a time.

Seeing that only a few maids were left in the room, and they couldn’t say much, Tan Yue asked the system, “Auntie, can you tell me about the situation at the Song family?” “

The current head of the Song family is Song Yunli, highly favored by the emperor. He has only one son and one daughter. His son, Song Qingqi, is currently studying at the White Deer Academy. He is highly educated, has no romantic partner, and is focused on pursuing a successful imperial examination. His daughter, Song Yuejiao (you), was lost at the age of five and has since been found. His wife, Qiao Shuang, is General Qiao’s youngest daughter. She fell in love with Song Yunli at first sight when he was paraded through the streets after becoming the top scholar, and sent a matchmaker to propose marriage. The couple is a loving couple, with no concubines. Her mother is Song Li.]

Tan Yue, upon reading the passage describing her parents, felt their experiences alone could be the subject of a love story.

However, Tan Yue was curious: “Auntie, why is the introduction of Old Madam Song only three characters?” “

[Key Figure To Be Unlocked]

Oh, Tan Yue stared at the words “Key Figure” for a moment. This Old Madam Song was no ordinary woman.

A moment later, Qiao Shuang came in carrying a bowl, unaccompanied by a maid, and sent all the other servants out.

She wanted to be alone with her daughter for a while.

The porridge was a little hot, and Tan Yue sipped it slowly while Qiao Shuang sat quietly beside her, watching her.

She wanted to cry, but she was afraid her daughter would worry, so she held back the tears.

Ten years had passed. She hadn’t looked at her daughter like this in ten years.

Tan Yue was no fool; she naturally sensed Qiao Shuang’s emotions. She took the initiative to scoop a spoonful of porridge and offered it to Qiao Shuang, “Mother, this porridge is delicious. Try it.” “

Qiao Shuang drank the porridge and, for some reason, found it incredibly sweet, seemingly dispelling all the resentment and fatigue she’d accumulated over the years.

Strange, it was plain porridge, without even sugar.

Because Tan Yue’s head injury hadn’t healed yet and she couldn’t travel, the two of them stayed at the Song family mansion for a while. During that time, Song Yunli and Song Qingqi couldn’t come, so they could only write letters as fast as they could to inquire about their well-being.

After Tan Yue recovered, the group began their journey back to Beijing.

On the way back, Qiao Shuang, worried that Tan Yue wouldn’t be able to adjust, kept chatting with her about interesting things at home.

With Song Yunli and Song Qingqi… There were also Li’s, Song Qingqi’s, and many more, but she hadn’t mentioned a single word to Old Madam Song.

As Qiao Shuang spoke, she recalled her daughter’s childhood agreement with the Pei family. Seeing her daughter’s curious yet somewhat yearning gaze, she ultimately didn’t bring it up.

The Pei family’s daughter was too dazzling. It would be great if Ajiao could marry someone the Song family could control, so she could live a peaceful and happy life.

Qiao Shuang vehemently rejected the idea she had just formed.

As for what to do, she still respected her own wishes. Moreover, Ajiao had just returned, and she couldn’t bear to see her marry off so soon.