Song Miaozhu had long decided the role her first Lingxi paper doll would play. She wasn't crafting a mere servant or warrior. This was to be her steward, her confidante, her companion in both mortal and Underworld realms. When the time came to breathe life into the figure she had so meticulously built, she moved without hesitation.
The spirit infusion ritual, known as "dotting the spirit," was divided into five phases: Enlightenment, Knowledge Transfer, Body Crafting, Power Bestowal, and Soul Invocation. Each stage imbued a different aspect: intellect, knowledge, form, cultivation, and personality.
The more spiritual energy invested in a particular phase, the more refined the result.
For this first creation, Song Miaozhu focused heavily on the Enlightenment and Power Bestowal stages. She didn't want a mindless doll or a pretty face with no function. She wanted someone sharp, someone capable, someone who could stand beside her without needing constant instruction.
A high-functioning wisdom-type—able to manage her affairs, cultivate independently, raise spirit beasts, absorb spirit fragments, and keep her sprawling assets in order. A keeper of her home, and possibly, her heart.
In the first phase, Enlightenment, she gave everything she had. The doll inherited the full depth of her intellect. The moment she awakened, she would possess Miaozhu's clarity, perception, and adaptive thinking.
In the second phase, Knowledge Transfer, Miaozhu was more selective. She passed on foundational skills—basic cultivation, etiquette, daily routines, language use. Enough for her to function without being lost or confused upon awakening.
Advanced skills, like estate management or political maneuvering, were barely touched. Not because Miaozhu was withholding, but because she simply lacked the knowledge herself. What she didn't know, she couldn't transmit.
But that was the beauty of intelligence. With the right mind, anything could be learned. Miaozhu had already assembled a library of books and bookmarked dozens of instructional videos. She could even hire ghost instructors if needed.
And whatever her doll learned, she would passively absorb through their spiritual bond.
As Enlightenment and Knowledge Transfer completed, a faint shimmer appeared in the doll's glassy eyes. Spirit was taking root.
Then came Body Crafting.
This was where the paper stopped being paper.
Miaozhu worked with quiet precision, refining each detail until her creation seemed more human than construct. She didn't aim for brute strength. That wasn't her purpose. What she refined was agility, flexibility, and realism—every joint fully articulated, every surface alive with warmth and texture.
The doll's physical condition was comparable to that of a healthy, agile woman in her prime. Not a battlefield combatant, but far sturdier than a ceremonial paper servant. She wouldn't tear at a touch or crumble in the rain.
Most importantly, Miaozhu made sure her form remained supple, graceful, and light on her feet—traits necessary for independent cultivation.
By the time Body Crafting ended, the woman before her looked entirely real. Not merely beautiful, but balanced. Lifelike in every sense.
But there was no time to admire her handiwork.
The fourth stage, Power Bestowal, required complete focus. Miaozhu channeled all the spiritual energy she had saved, pouring it into the doll's meridians, guiding it through her pseudo-dantian. She pushed past her limits until the doll's cultivation stabilized at the third tier of the Blue Spirit level.
A respectable foundation.
Then came the final and most delicate step: Soul Invocation.
Unlike the earlier stages, this one required restraint. If she wrote the personality too tightly, the doll would become rigid. Forced. Unnatural.
She didn't want that.
So she left space.
Instead of a script, she offered a seed—a light touch, a set of intentions whispered into spirit.
"Cautious," she said inwardly. "So you'll act with care and avoid reckless harm."
"And disciplined," she added. "So you'll make use of that brilliant mind I've given you."
She said no more.
With the final pulse of energy, the ritual was complete.
For the first time in years, Miaozhu felt her strength collapse in on itself. It was a familiar, almost nostalgic sensation—exhaustion so deep her limbs forgot how to hold her.
She swayed.
But she never hit the ground.
A pair of cool, steady hands caught her.
"Careful, Master."
The voice was soft, mellow, with a restrained warmth that sent a strange ripple through her chest.
She knew these hands. She had shaped them herself. Long fingers, graceful lines, faintly scented with a blend of cedar and lotus that she had personally infused during the crafting process.
But the voice—she hadn't programmed that.
A Lingxi doll's voice was usually shaped during Body Crafting, but she had chosen not to customize it. She had simply allowed it to manifest.
It was luck, then, that had given her this voice: clear, composed, gentle with just enough strength beneath it.
Not too low. Not too high. And somehow... familiar, in a way she couldn't place.
The doll helped her into a nearby chair, moving with quiet elegance.
"I will transfer spiritual energy to you."
She didn't object. Their spiritual roots were perfectly aligned. She had created her, after all. The flow between them was seamless, warm and even.
A steady stream of energy entered her meridians. Soothing. Nourishing.
Within moments, her dizziness faded.
"That's enough," Miaozhu murmured, voice still faint. "I can take it from here."
The doll withdrew her hands.
"Come stand in front of me," Miaozhu said. "Let me see you properly."
The woman moved without question, stepping lightly into view. Her expression was calm, her gaze steady.
Miaozhu studied her in silence.
Those eyes—cool and focused—held a subtle hint of thoughtfulness. Not distant, not hollow, but observant. Curious.
She looked like someone who thought before she spoke, who kept her feelings close but not hidden. Every line of her face held intention. Elegance, yes, but more than that: presence.
"…From now on," Miaozhu said quietly, "your name will be Song Zhangli."
A soft nod. "Thank you, Master, for granting me a name."
The voice again—so composed. Miaozhu paused.
She hadn't expected this… level of detachment. It wasn't coldness, but there was a sort of distance, as if Zhangli was still figuring out the rules of her own existence.
"Stop calling me 'Master,'" Miaozhu said suddenly.
It felt strange. Too formal. Too hierarchical. Zhangli wasn't a disciple. She wasn't a servant. Miaozhu didn't even like the word "owner."
But before she could offer alternatives, the woman inclined her head and said, "Then I will call you Miss."
Direct. Respectful. Just distant enough.
"Smart girl," Miaozhu muttered under her breath, a wry smile creeping onto her lips.
She leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment.
"Please rest and focus on recovering your strength," Zhangli said. "I will take care of things here."
With graceful efficiency, she moved to gather the remaining crafting materials left on the table. Everything was sorted, stored, wiped clean. Not a sound wasted. Not a movement too quick or too slow.
Song Miaozhu watched her from the corner of her eye, fingers curling lightly around the armrest.
This wasn't just her creation.
This was someone she could trust.
And maybe—just maybe—someone she could love.
But there was no rush. She had built Zhangli to last. There would be time.
Time to watch. To speak. To learn. To feel.
For now, she simply closed her eyes and let the comfort of presence wash over her. For the first time in years, she wasn't alone.
===
Hi everyone~ Just dropping by with a little update ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
One of my other translation projects, titled My Daughter is the Empire's Lucky Charm, is now fully translated!
Yup, I've completed the whole thing! ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶
It's still updating on the site, but you can look forward to daily releases until the end.
As for my next project, I'll be diving into a post-apocalyptic rebirth story. The female lead is a mother who survived two years after the world ended, only to be reborn before the apocalypse began. In her first life, she was mistreated and used by her husband and his mistress. But in this second life, she's determined to protect her daughter and live for herself. Revenge? Oh, absolutely. But her child comes first.
Like most apocalypse+rebirth stories, she has a space with still-time storage. Alongside her daughter, she forms a small survival team: a male gym instructor, a college student, a women (I forgot her exact pre-apocalypse jobs) with her grandmother. Oh, and if I remember right... there's a dog too!
This isn't a zombie apocalypse, by the way—it's a full-blown natural disaster apocalypse.
What left the deepest impression on me was the twist near the end. I honestly didn't see it coming. Without spoiling too much, let's just say that by the final chapters, most of humanity is wiped out by a disaster so bizarre and illogical... it actually works as a narrative gut punch.
After that novel, I plan to return to ancient Chinese historical fiction, specifically set during the Qin Dynasty and though it shares some vibes with Lucky Charm, but it's at least twice as long. Expect more intense kingdom-building, politics, and national development!
I'm also eyeing a novel where the female MC is the daughter of Wu Zetian, the first Female Emperor in Chinese history. I haven't read it yet, but the premise sounds fascinating, so I've added it to my list of upcoming translations. Both are fairly long works, but I think you'll enjoy them!
On the flip side, I've decided not to pick up that popular novel about a female police officer transmigrating to ancient times, fleeing danger, and becoming an empress. While the story has its strong points, the heroine's core beliefs just don't align with mine. I enjoy kingdom-building and strategic development, but one of her major principles really grated on me. And since translation is more than just a one-time read, forcing myself to work on something I clash with would feel like mental torture (´-﹏-`). I wouldn't be able to bring my best to the table that way.
I might also start working on a yuri-themed ancient historical novel—daily updates, maybe one chapter per day. That one's still in the planning stages though, so no promises yet!
Thank you for reading my ramblings and for supporting my work! Stay tuned for more exciting stories ahead~ (≧▽≦)💕