As for after she got married... Xie Zhaofan had no interest in that for the time being.
Asking her to get married at fifteen or sixteen and then plunge headfirst into the trivial battles of an ancient inner courtyard, schemes and machinations involving one man and a group of women—just thinking about it gave her a headache.
What kind of exceptional modern transmigrator would actively choose to live that kind of life when they clearly had other options?
No matter how handsome the man was, she couldn't joke with her own life.
Especially in this era where medical conditions were limited and women married and gave birth early; the slightest mishap during childbirth could mean the death of both mother and child. She had no desire to gamble with her little life.
In any case, she had a system and infinite Lifespan. She had plenty of time, so there was absolutely no need to rush into stuffing herself into a marriage.
At the very least, before she had thought things through clearly, she would definitely not consider it.
Thinking of this, Xie Zhaofan’s mood improved greatly. After washing her hands, she casually picked up a nearby handkerchief to dry them.
Sunlight filtered down through the gaps in the leaves in the courtyard. She subconsciously reached her hand into the light to look at it closely.
Those hands were slender and long, the ten fingers fair, and the skin so delicate there was hardly a blemish to be seen. Under the reflection of the morning light, they actually gave off a faint, lustrous glow like jade.
Even Xie Zhaofan herself couldn't help but look at them a bit entranced. Did this system not only provide attributes but also come with a beauty effect?
Moreover, no matter how much she messed around, she wouldn't develop any calluses.
In the future, even if she tossed stone locks or wielded swords and staffs every day, it probably wouldn't affect these beautiful little hands.
This was the system function she truly liked.
“Miss, your hands are truly beautiful.”
Chunxing stood to the side and watched for a long while, unable to help herself from offering a compliment.
Hearing this, Xie Zhaofan’s brows quirked slightly as she intentionally extended her hand toward her.
“Oh? Are you saying this Second Young Miss isn't beautiful in other places?”
Chunxing’s little mouth instantly fell open. She looked at the lady, then looked at that incomparably exquisite little face, and simply didn't dare to respond for a long time.
Xiahe couldn't help but giggle secretly from the side.
She had realized that the lady was good in every way, but her tongue was sometimes truly too sharp. If one didn't speak carefully, she could leave a person speechless.
However, after spending time together until now, they had also gradually grasped Xie Zhaofan’s temperament.
The Second Young Miss was indeed headstrong and indeed moody, but as long as they didn't cross her bottom line, she wouldn't actually make things difficult for them. She certainly wouldn't beat and scold the servants at every turn like she used to.
Especially regarding the matter of the eerie ornament; although the lady spoke of it dismissively, she had been trying to find a way to solve the problem for them.
Compared to the previous Second Young Miss who would strike and berate them over anything, the current lady, though strange, made them feel much more at ease.
The two had even begun to secretly feel fortunate that they could serve such a master.
Just as Xie Zhaofan was preparing to go back to her room to rest for a while, the courtyard door was pushed open from the outside.
A familiar figure walked in. When Xie Zhaofan looked up, she was momentarily surprised.
Xie Jinyi.
However, unlike on normal days, Xie Jinyi’s expression was clearly somewhat unpleasant, and there was even a bit of suppressed anger between her brows.
“Xie Zhaofan.”
She stood at the courtyard gate, her gaze falling straight on Xie Zhaofan.
“The item you sent to me the day before yesterday—what exactly is it?”
Xie Zhaofan blinked. Xie Jinyi was clearly already quite angry; her tone was even heavier than usual.
“Xiangling is currently plagued by nightmares. Today, she even had a direct seizure and nearly couldn't wake up.”
The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly went quiet. Chunxing and Xiahe looked at each other, and in their hearts, they understood.
As expected, that thing had not settled down.
Xie Zhaofan, however, didn't panic at all. In fact, seeing Xie Jinyi in such a rare state of anger, her heart felt strangely happy.
She had, after all, inherited the original host's memories and some of her emotions. Regarding this sister who had returned and immediately sat above her head, there was still some instinctive displeasure.
Now, seeing the other party suffer a little loss, some schadenfreude naturally sprouted in her heart.
Of course, she didn't truly hope anything major would happen to Xiangling; that was just an innocent little maidservant.
Therefore, Xie Zhaofan immediately put on an innocent expression.
“Sister, what are you saying? That’s just an ordinary ornament. I just thought it was quite interesting, so I sent it to you.”
“If you don't like it, just find a place to throw it away. How can you blame Xiangling falling ill on my head?”
Xie Jinyi was nearly provoked to laughter by these words.
“An ordinary ornament?”
She stared at Xie Zhaofan, her voice becoming even colder.
“You clearly knew that thing was not right. Chunxing and Xiahe were already plagued by nightmares because of it. Why did you still send it to my place?”
“And at that time, you even wheedled and nagged me, insisting that I accept it!”
Xie Zhaofan actually already had the answer in her heart, but on the surface, she still acted very aggrieved.
She blinked her eyes, forcibly squeezing out two teardrops.
“Sister, you’ve really misunderstood me. How could I understand such things?”
“I just thought the item was quite special and wanted to apologize to you. Who could have known it would be like this?”
Speaking to this point, she didn't forget to add a finishing blow.
“Furthermore, didn't I already tell Sister the day before yesterday that Chunxing and the others were feeling unwell? They only had a few nightmares. Sister even personally examined them back then and didn't say there was anything abnormal.”
Xie Jinyi was instantly left speechless because what Xie Zhaofan said was indeed correct.
When she had diagnosed and treated Chunxing and Xiahe that day, she had indeed only determined that the two had Qi and blood deficiency; she hadn't discovered the true location of the problem.
If it weren't for Xiangling suddenly having a seizure today and crying about how she had been having the same recurring nightmare for the past two days, she probably wouldn't have associated it with that bronze ornament.
Later, she had carefully consulted the ancient texts left by her master and finally confirmed that the bronze ornament was not a common antique but a special artifact related to grave-suppressing, which itself carried an extremely inauspicious aura.
Although she didn't know why this item would end up in the Prime Minister's residence, much less why it would suddenly target Xiangling, one thing was already certain.
It was definitely not an ordinary ornament.
Xie Jinyi took a deep breath, trying hard to calm her emotions.
“Do you have any idea what this kind of thing means for an ordinary person?”
Xie Zhaofan blinked her eyes, asking with feigned innocence.
“Sister, is it really that malevolent?”
“Why are Chunxing and the others fine after touching it?”
Xie Jinyi was silent for a moment before explaining, “Although this type of object itself may not necessarily actively harm people, the evil aura on it is extremely heavy. Someone with vigorous Qi and blood can still suppress it, but for a physically weak woman, a child, or an elderly person, they can easily be affected.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Xie Zhaofan had a look of realization, but in her heart, she had already quietly noted this pattern. It seemed this thing wasn't an indiscriminate attack.
Ordinary people were the easiest to strike, while martial artists or those with powerful physiques should be able to resist its erosion.
As for herself... Xie Zhaofan felt that she could probably walk sideways through the mundane world now.
Rate on N.U.
