"It was just a small effort, Madam. Please don't take it to heart," Mo Lixia said softly. She glanced at the sky. "I should get going."
She took the pastries she had just bought out of her basket and handed them to the little boy. "Here, these are delicious."
The boy looked at the treat with longing eyes, then looked up at his mother for permission.
"Thank you, Miss."
As soon as the woman nodded, the boy grabbed the pastries, unwrapped the oil paper, and began devouring them. The woman watched her son eat ravenously, tears welling up in her cloudy eyes.
There was too much suffering in this world. Mo Lixia knew she wasn't a saint. She turned and walked away silently.
However, after taking only two steps, she stopped. Turning back, she took five taels of silver from her small purse and pressed them into the woman's hand. Then, without a word, she turned around and strode quickly toward the market.
The woman stood frozen, staring at the silver in her hand. Mist filled her eyes.
Who would have thought that she, the First Wife of a prestigious clan, would fall to such a state? Her husband was weak and rarely home, and even when he was, he never visited her courtyard.
She lowered her head and stroked her son's hair, her eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow. "Chen'er, do you remember what the Big Sister looks like?"
"Mommy, Chen'er remembers. Big Sister is very pretty, isn't she?" The boy blinked his large, watery eyes.
"Yes. Big Sister is not only pretty, but she is also our benefactor. Chen'er must remember this well. If you meet your benefactor in the future, you must repay her. Do you understand?"
"...I understand, Mommy." The boy nodded ignorantly.
Mo Lixia returned to the market to buy some daily necessities. She browsed the ancient cosmetics stalls but eventually walked away.
Looking at the lead-heavy powders and rouges, Mo Lixia, who was never picky, couldn't bring herself to buy them. She was twelve or thirteen now, an age where skincare was important. But using these ancient cosmetics for too long would only age her skin faster.
Instead, she bought some sweet almonds and wax, planning to make her own skincare products using the methods her grandmother had taught her in her previous life.
She didn't dwell on the mother and son she had saved. In this feudal era, the relationships between wives and concubines in wealthy families were toxic—much like the age-old conflict between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Few were harmonious.
Mo Lixia felt fortunate. At least she hadn't been reborn into a family like that.
On the way back in the afternoon, Aunt Liu wasn't on the cart. The villagers said she had gone to visit relatives in town. Without her, the journey was much more peaceful.
"Master, Lixia is back!"
As usual, Mo Lixia called out as soon as she entered the courtyard.
This time, there was no response.
Mo Lixia didn't think much of it. She put away her purchases before entering the bedroom.
"Master, I bought big bones today. We can have bone soup later," she said cheerfully, sharing some funny stories from the market.
Qian Chuan lay on the bed, his eyes closed, silent.
Sensing something was wrong, the smile on Mo Lixia's face slowly faded. She walked to the bedside, disbelief rising in her chest, and reached out to check his pulse.
Her hand froze.
The heavy, suffocating feeling she had suppressed all day suddenly exploded, enveloping her in a dark cloud of gloom.
"Master..."
Mo Lixia took Qian Chuan's withered, ice-cold hand and pressed it against her cheek.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Her heart felt like it was being sliced open by a dull blade—a heavy, silent agony.
In this moment, her only family in this world had quietly left her.
Heaven... why? Why must I live alone again? You are so cruel...
Lonely people always remember everyone who has ever appeared in their lives. The family members in her life were always so fleeting. Sometimes, Mo Lixia felt like she was a jinx, cursed to bring death to all her loved ones.
One month later.
Mo Lixia sat by the bedroom window, looking gaunt and sorrowful. She had lost a lot of weight.
Outside, the wind and snow howled, making the lonely courtyard feel even more lifeless.
Her master had been buried for over a month. Mo Lixia had hired a Feng Shui master to select a good spot on the peak of Mount Pei. The scenery there was beautiful, and the view was wide. She knew her master would like it. With the giant snake guarding the mountain, no one would dare disturb his rest.
Watching the goose-feather snow fall, Mo Lixia finally snapped out of her daze and let out a long sigh.
She went to the kitchen to heat the kang. She hadn't left the house in a month. Even the patients in the village seemed to know and didn't come to disturb her.
Shen Muqing had visited several times to deliver game meat, but Mo Lixia had refused him. She knew it wasn't easy for the widow and her son to survive.
Dinner was just a few mouthfuls of leftover porridge from the morning. When her master was alive, she used to cook elaborate meals. Now, she was too lazy to cook for just herself.
Just as she finished heating the bed and prepared to sleep, she heard urgent knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" Mo Lixia asked from the door.
"Lixia. It's me, Brother Shen."
Hearing Shen Muqing's voice, Mo Lixia hesitated for a moment before opening the door a crack.
"It's late. Is something wrong, Brother Shen?"
"It's... my mother," Shen Muqing looked anxious. "She's been coughing non-stop for days. She's taken medicine, but it's not working, and now she has a fever. I had no choice but to trouble you."
Hearing that Aunt Shen was sick, Mo Lixia didn't hesitate.
"Wait a moment, Brother Shen. I'll go with you."
She went back to the bedroom to grab a cloak and picked up her medical kit from the pharmacy before following him out into the snow.
Shen Muqing and his mother lived in three small wooden huts at the foot of Mount Pei, on the outskirts of the village. They had no land. Mo Lixia had heard from Uncle Liu that Aunt Shen wasn't originally from this village. She made a living by embroidery to support Shen Muqing's studies. Shen Muqing was sensible; as he grew older, he hunted to help support the family while attending school.
The snow was falling harder, making walking difficult.
Shen Muqing carried a paper lantern and walked slightly ahead, positioning himself against the wind to block the chill for Mo Lixia.
Along the way, he turned back to look at her several times, looking like he wanted to speak but stopping himself.
Mo Lixia found it almost amusing. She looked up and asked, "Brother Shen, if you have something to say, just say it."
Shen Muqing glanced at her, then lowered his head and walked a few more steps in silence. Just when Mo Lixia thought he wouldn't speak, a voice drifted back, carried away by the wind.
"I've made you suffer."
"Hmm?" Mo Lixia frowned. "What did you say?"
The wind was too loud. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself.