In the Kingdom of Beili, in the small village of Peach Blossom.
The summer cicadas chirped relentlessly, as though they had uncovered a shocking secret about the Xu family in the village.
At the eastern end of the village, under the apricot tree in the old Xu family courtyard, sat a sweet little girl. Her ancient-styled clothes, patched up in layers, were covered in dust, and her sparse, yellowish hair swayed gently with the breeze. Yet, her lovely little face and large almond-shaped eyes stirred an inexplicable tenderness in the hearts of those who saw her.
"Xu Fubao, go feed the chickens."
A girl dressed in a vibrant red outfit barked orders at the younger child, her tone laced with irritation.
Xu Fubao lifted her eyes, her large, pitiful eyes filled with innocence as she replied, "Sister, I just fell into the river yesterday. Grandma said I don't need to do any work."
"You've really grown bold, haven't you? Daring to disobey me now? I was feeding chickens when I was five, and now you're five too, so you should know how to do chores by now! Falling into the river isn't an excuse! Hurry up and go!"
Xu Jinfeng raised her hand, preparing to strike Fubao as she had done so many times before.
"Mother, Grandma said I could rest for three days! But sister is making me feed the chickens!"
Fubao stayed still, but raised her voice, shouting with all her might. Her tiny frame produced an unexpectedly loud sound.
Song Xiangyu, upon hearing the noise, rushed out and immediately pulled Xu Jinfeng into her arms.
"My precious little one, can't you just endure these three days? Have you forgotten how close you were to being beaten yesterday?"
Xu Jinfeng clenched her little fists tightly, her eyes fixed on Xu Fubao with seething hatred. In her past life, Fubao lived a life of ease, while she herself suffered a miserable fate. Now, the heavens had given her a chance to be reborn, and she was determined to reclaim everything that belonged to her.
Yesterday, she had pushed Fubao into the river, but the girl had survived—a mistake on her part. However, the next time, Fubao might not be so lucky.
"Fine."
Xu Jinfeng grudgingly relented and reluctantly headed to the chicken coop to feed the chickens.
Song Xiangyu glanced around the empty courtyard and scolded Xu Fubao. "Oh, you're quite something! Yesterday, you didn't drown, and today, not only can you speak, but you're also tattling? Let me tell you, your father's not at home, and I make the rules here! If you tattle again, I'll make you sleep in the woodshed!"
Just the sight of this daughter filled Song Xiangyu with rage. Five years ago, after being abandoned by her husband in the capital, she had no choice but to bring her newborn daughter to this forsaken village, where she ended up marrying Xu Dahai. Once a daughter of a prominent family in the capital, she had fallen so low that she was now married to a mere hunter, raising a rural bumpkin. And this child, barely a hundred days old, had become mute. How could she not hate her?
Whenever she looked at Xu Fubao, a fire of unspoken resentment surged in her heart, ready to explode.
"Mother, I know... cough, cough..."
Little Fubao curled into a ball, trying to apologize, but was seized by uncontrollable coughing.
"Shut up! You were better off mute!"
You should have drowned yesterday, saved me the trouble of seeing your wretched face!
Song Xiangyu turned and went back into the house, not wanting to spare another glance at Xu Fubao.
"Ah! Help, Mother, help! Waaaah!"
Suddenly, screams of terror echoed from the chicken coop where Xu Jinfeng had gone.
Song Xiangyu sprinted toward the noise, and Xu Fubao turned her head to watch.
Oh my heavens.
Inside the coop, five hens had transformed into warriors! Xu Jinfeng had become the target of their united wrath, their new mortal enemy.
One hen flew onto her head, pecking viciously at her scalp. Another took to the air, biting at her face, neck, and hands, while others attacked her toes...
At only six years old, Xu Jinfeng stood no chance in this battle. Fortunately, Song Xiangyu rushed in, grabbing a broom to beat the chickens away.
"Cough, cough..."
Xu Fubao stifled a laugh, but the sound that came out was a cough.
"Ouch!"
Xu Jinfeng tried to flee, but slipped, landing flat on the ground.
"Grandma! Xu Jinfeng, that brat, crushed two of the hens!"
Little Xu Junming, a six-year-old boy from the second household, witnessed the entire spectacle and eagerly ran to report it to their grandmother.
Hearing her grandson's shout, Grandma Xu hurried out. Upon reaching the coop, she saw two hens lying lifeless on the ground, and her head buzzed with anger.
Song Xiangyu quickly shielded Xu Jinfeng behind her. "Mother, Jinfeng didn't do it on purpose. She was just feeding the chickens when those beasts suddenly attacked her…"
"Shut up! Jinfeng, huh? Can she lay eggs, or can she fly? She crushed my chickens on purpose, she's greedy for meat!"
"I must have been too kind to you both, and now you dare walk all over me! Junming, fetch my feather duster!"
She'd just planned to send those eggs to her daughter in the neighboring village. Now that the hens were dead, how was she supposed to keep her promise?
Xu Jinfeng hated this biased, venomous old woman with all her heart. In her previous life, it was this grandmother who always looked down on her and favored Xu Fubao, leading to the chain of events that ended with Fubao becoming an empress. This life, things would be different.
"It's all Xu Fubao's fault! It's not my fault! If you want to hit someone, hit her!"
Xu Jinfeng wasn't about to sit there and take a beating. She tried to dodge her grandmother and grab Fubao, intending to use her as a shield.
After all, grabbing Fubao was as easy as picking up a chick. Letting her take the beating was a small favor to ask.
Xu Fubao remained seated under the apricot tree, motionless, watching Jinfeng charge toward her.
Song Xiangyu's eyes lit up with delight, thinking her daughter was smart for using Fubao to take the punishment. These lowly villagers weren't fit to lay a hand on her and Jinfeng, the capital-born ladies.
However...
Fubao looked toward the gate, extending her little hand as she called out sweetly, "Granny Wu!"
Granny Wu?
Everyone turned to see Old Lady Wu, the village chief's mother, walking past the gate.
Grandma Xu froze. Yesterday, Granny Wu had visited their home and brought food for her granddaughter. Though she didn't care much for Fubao, using her granddaughter to curry favor with the village chief's family was a brilliant move. If Granny Wu saw her beating her granddaughter, that dream would be shattered.
Thinking quickly, Grandma Xu grabbed Xu Jinfeng with one hand and the feather duster with the other.
"You little wretch! Not only did you let Fubao fall into the river, but now you've crushed two of my hens! Do you think I'm too old to notice? And you still have the nerve to use Fubao as a shield for your own mistakes? How heartless can you be?!"
Grandma Xu, enraged, began beating Xu Jinfeng with all her might, cursing her loudly enough for the neighbors to hear.
"Ah! Grandma, stop! It hurts! I was wrong, I know I was wrong! Waaaah!"
As soon as Fubao called out to Granny Wu, Jinfeng knew she was in for a beating.
She wasn't stupid—apologizing and begging for mercy would save her from some of the blows and leave a good impression on Granny Wu.
"Don't call me Grandma! I didn't give birth to a brat like you! I'll beat you to death!"
What had started as a show had turned into an all-out beating. Grandma Xu had long wanted to thrash this ungrateful child and finally had her chance.
"Mother! Jinfeng knows she was wrong! Please stop, or you'll kill her!"
Song Xiangyu couldn't bear to see her daughter, once a proud young lady of the capital, being beaten by a peasant woman.
But Grandma Xu was lost in her rage, unable to stop.
In the Xu family courtyard, the sounds of scolding and crying echoed.
Xu Fubao swung her little legs and smiled sweetly—the sound of it was delightful.