The night in April was slightly cool.

Su An'an stood by the window, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, and her excited expression slowly calmed down.

The last scene in her memory was in Pauper's Alley, a cold winter, and snow finally fell in Luocheng, the first snow.

She was wrapped in an old, tattered cloak, curled up in a corner, shivering as she watched the white snow in the air.

Her once beautiful face was now marred and ugly, so much so that even the dirtiest beggar was startled, kicking her to move away.

Her once slim and delicate fingers were all frostbitten and ulcerated, the cold had numbed her to the point where she felt no pain.

The swirling snowflakes were as affectionate and dreamy as the snow at the Plum Blossom Banquet in Luocheng back then.

Trembling, she reached out to catch a flake, the contrast between the white and the filth was stark, reminding her she was no longer the pampered young lady she once was.

There was no going back.

At that moment, her heart was desolate, and a warm tear slid down her cheek.

Her hand dropped suddenly, and her turbulent life came to an end.

How short, how absurd.

When she woke again, it was the pink gauze canopy, the calming fragrance, the warm bedding, and those hands still as fair as jade, without frostbite, without ulcers, intact as before.

She was stunned for a long while before she reacted, grabbing a second-class maid to ask about the year; when she learned it was March 23rd in the eighteenth year of Yongjia, her eyes widened suddenly, and she fell sitting on the bedside.

March 23rd, the day before her wedding, also a crucial day in her life.

It was on that day Su Pingping had instigated her to escape the marriage, turning her life upside down ever since.

Now, was she back?

She pushed away the supporting maid and walked to the window, suddenly pushing it open.

The fragrance of azaleas instantly overwhelmed her senses, the cool breeze stirred the hair draping her shoulders, and the luxuriant grapevines covered the trellis, lush and vibrant.

This was her Zilan Courtyard.

She was truly back.

Maid Cui Yan came in carrying a pot of fresh tea, and upon seeing the lady standing by the window since waking from her nap, quickly put down the tray and brought a cloak, "Miss, the wind by the window is strong, don't stand too long, you might catch a chill."

The warmth covering her brought Su An'an back to her senses, and she looked at the long-lost face in front of her, awkwardly calling out the name she had uttered countless times, "Cui Yan?"

"Yes, miss, I'm here," Cui Yan responded obediently, helping her tie the laces.

Looking down at Cui Yan skillfully tying a bow, Su An'an suddenly felt a warm sensation in her eyes.

Cui Yan was still here.

After tying the laces, Cui Yan looked up at the lady's worried look, thinking she was still troubled over the marriage, she couldn't help but mutter, "Miss, take my advice, don't be stubborn anymore, marry in peace tomorrow. Even though that Shen Young Master is not in good health and lives in seclusion in the countryside, he's still the Heir of the Marquis Mansion, you're not losing out in terms of status."

"And now this matter is already set in stone, with no more changes. Once the bridal sedan arrives tomorrow, you'll become part of the Shen Family, and if you insist on making a fuss about backing out, your reputation will surely be ruined; who would dare to propose to you again?"

"Miss, let's accept fate; serve your husband well after you marry, maybe when that Young Master Shen passes away, he can give you a letter of divorce and set you free."

Su An'an used to be most annoyed by Cui Yan's nagging, as Cui Yan was two years older and chosen by her mother before she passed as a personal maid, but unfortunately, this maid had a too straightforward disposition and always lectured her, which made her weary. In the end, she concealed her plan to escape, leading to irrevocable consequences.

Now hearing her nagging, Su An'an felt a deep sense of nostalgia, so profound that her eyes stung.

In her previous life, after she secretly fled the marriage, she never heard another kind word.

Nor did she see Cui Yan again, only to hear that Cui Yan was sold off by the Lu Family after she left, casually married to a farm manager, living a hard life, and passed away even before her own time.

It was then that she realized Cui Yan's goodness, her earnestness.

Suppressing the bitterness in her eyes, Su An'an held Cui Yan's hand, "Yes, I know; I'll marry obediently tomorrow, don't worry."

Cui Yan was shocked for a moment, had the lady suddenly figured it out?

She was just causing a fuss about running away a few days ago.

But since the lady said so, Cui Yan felt relieved, thinking perhaps the lady had acknowledged some inevitability.

Cui Yan timely advised a few more words, "It's good that the miss understands, don't blame me for being talkative. That Young Master Shen, it is rumored, has a great temperament, and is gentle and elegant, though weak, with proper care he might get better; the miss shouldn't be too pessimistic."

Not pessimistic, the current Su An'an wasn't pessimistic at all.

What's it to marry a sickly person or to bring joy? Could it possibly be worse than wandering in the previous life, freezing to death on the street, being severed from family, being erased from the family registry, forever homeless?

Nothing is worse than that.

She patted Cui Yan's hand, "Don't worry, I'm fine, not pessimistic at all. Sometimes people need to accept fate; I just suddenly understood this, Cui Yan, you needn't worry."

A hint of relief spilled over Cui Yan's eyes; the lady was finally not being stubborn.

After a few more reminders, Cui Yan planned to go down and see why the kitchen dishes weren't served yet, taking a step, a report came from outside, "Miss, the Second Miss is here to see you."

Cui Yan paused, glancing back worriedly at the lady.

The Second Miss is the lady's stepmother Lu's daughter, the second legitimate daughter of the Su Mansion.

The two have a good relationship; the lady always trusted the Second Miss the most, treating her like her own sister; but the mind of the Second Miss wasn't necessarily what it seemed.

Cui Yan had openly and secretly mentioned that the Second Miss wasn't as simple as she appeared, but the lady didn't believe it and thought she was causing discord, angrily punishing her to do menial work in the kitchen for three months, recalling her back only during her mother's memorial period.

Now, the lady finally came around, please don't let her chatter with the Second Miss and cause any more trouble.

Cui Yan hesitated to speak, sighed, and retreated silently.

Because she and her sister always preferred to speak without maids present.

When Su An'an suddenly heard of the Second Miss, her fingers unconsciously tightened, and her previously calm eyes instantly churned with a stormy undercurrent.

Unfortunately, Su Pingping didn't notice, stepping briskly and happily forward, dismissing the maids, then intimately holding her arm, saying, "Sister, are you still worried?"

"Don't worry anymore, sister, I've thought of a good idea to help you."

A single "sister" instantly opened up Su An'an's memory.

Before running out of oil and burning out in her past life, the last person she saw was Su Pingping.

In Pauper's Alley, she was dressed in luxurious clothes, with a condescending attitude, and poured out many suppressed resentments and ridicule.

"Do you know that every time I call you sister, I feel nauseous; I am clearly older than you, what makes you my sister, what right do you have to be my sister, just because of the legitimate status you rely on."

"Now, even your legitimate status is gone; even if you have to call me sister, you are not worthy; you are only fit to crouch in this Pauper's Alley and fight with dogs for food, hahaha."