The place fell into a strange silence as the eunuch was rewarded with a teal of silver and went out.
The Imperial edict had been for her, not for her elder sister.
Her heart raced, panic threatening to overwhelm her. Yet, Jin Yue swallowed hard, her eyes flickering to her father, Lin Zhao, and her stepmother, Madame, who sat stiffly across the room. Their expressions—disbelief, tension, thinly veiled disdain—snapped her back to her senses. No… I can't show my shock.
She pulled herself together quickly, hiding her bewilderment behind a mask of indifference. Her lips curled into a small, cold smile as she observed their reactions. They're not happy about this. Of course, they wouldn't be. This engagement would mean they could no longer treat her like a mere shadow in the household—a daughter in name but not in truth. How ironic.
Jin Yue's gaze sharpened as she met her father's eyes. She could almost read the resentment simmering beneath his composed exterior.
Jin Yue decided to make the most of the situation. She could feel her sisters' stares, Lin Mei and the others, barely concealing their contempt and disbelief. Her voice, steady and sweet with mockery, broke the silence.
"Ah, what wonderful news!" she began, turning to her father with a faux look of delight. "I must thank you, Father, for always speaking so highly of me to the Imperial family. Who would've thought they would choose me?" Her smile widened, but her eyes glinted with malice. "Surely, I'll make a fine bride for whoever they deem worthy of my… modest position."
Her stepmother's face twisted, but Jin Yue pressed on, "After all, as my dear sister once said, who could possibly want me? Perhaps a quiet scholar or some minor official? Oh, but now… now I suppose even my sister's words will have to be revised." She shot Lin Mei a look, her voice soft and mocking. "Imagine that...a humble girl like me, destined for something greater. How the tables have turned, haven't they?",our Lin family is truly destined for something greater...now with a connection to the imperial family.
Lin Zhao's expression hardened,After all, she wasn't truly his daughter...just a child his concubine had brought into the Manor. A secret he had kept hidden all these years, known only to him. The thought of this unwanted girl now being elevated by an Imperial decree have infuriated him.
and Jin Yue felt a twisted satisfaction as she saw his expression, she continued. "Ah, Father, stepmother… I'm sure you must be so proud. This engagement certainly makes things more complicated, doesn't it?" She paused, her gaze drifting lazily toward her sisters. "How unfortunate for you all that now… you'll have to treat me like the legitimate daughter of this household."
The tension in the air grew thicker, and Jin Yue's heart raced in quiet triumph. Though her future was uncertain, she could at least savor this small victory—mocking the family that had always looked down on her.
Lin Zhao's face darkened at Jin Yue's mocking tone, but he quickly composed himself, forcing a strained smile. "Jin Yue, why would you say such things? You are my daughter, of course. This engagement is… a great honor for you." His voice, though attempting to sound warm, was tight with underlying frustration. His eyes flickered with something close to desperation—knowing full well the consequences if others questioned his treatment of her.
Beside him, Madame's lips pursed into a thin line. She, too, forced a smile, though it looked more like a grimace. "Indeed, Jin Yue. You are part of this family, and we only want the best for you. This engagement is a blessing for us all." Her words dripped with bitterness, but she dared not voice her true thoughts. The Imperial edict had changed everything.
Jin Yue watched them, amused by their pathetic attempts at civility. How quickly they change their tune, she thought, her heart brimming with satisfaction. But there was no need to drag this charade out any longer. She had gotten what she wanted for now.
Feigning exhaustion, she gave them a polite smile. "I appreciate your kind words, Father, Madame, but I'm feeling quite tired from all the excitement. If you'll excuse me, I'll retire to my room."
Without waiting for a response, she stood gracefully and turned to leave. Her pavilion awaited...a luxurious space she had been given recently due to her status as the supposed 'saint.' The irony was not lost on her; they'd only ever acknowledged her when it became politically advantageous.
As Jin Yue entered the quiet serenity of the pavilion, she found her mother waiting for her. In the original owner's memory this woman has always been gentle and loving to her ,jinyue couldn't help feeling a sense of attachments to this woman. The woman stood with a gentle smile, her posture always composed and serene, and her eyes radiated the warmth Jin Yue had rarely known in her life. The sight of her mother made something soften inside Jin Yue's heart a sense of comfort she couldn't easily explain.
"You've returned," her mother said softly, stepping forward with a warm, soothing tone. "I heard about the engagement. Such… unexpected news."
Jin Yue gave a genuine smile. Despite the turmoil of the day, this woman had always been the one constant in her life, the only source of care in an otherwise cold world. Even though she had never truly known familial love in the modern world, It made her believe, despite everything, that this woman truly was her mother.
"Yes, it seems my future is now being decided for me," Jin Yue replied, her voice gentler, more trusting than before.
Her mother reached out, brushing a hand across her shoulder in a gesture that felt reassuring, offering the comfort Jin Yue so often craved. "You must be tired. Rest for now. There will be much to discuss soon."
"Of course, Mother." This time, Jin Yue's voice carried a softness of affection. Her affection to this woman...who had been the only one to treat her with kindness. To Jin Yue, this warmth felt like the closest thing to family she had ever known.
As she made her way deeper into the pavilion, the tension of the day slowly melted from her body. In her heart, she clung to the belief that this woman cared for her, even when the rest of the world seemed to turn its back.
_____
Jin Yue sat by the window of her pavilion, finally settled in her room after the day's events. She gazed out into the night, her mind heavy with everything that had unfolded. the transmigration, The Imperial edict, her identity as a saint, the engagement to someone she hadn't even met...it all seemed too surreal.
She leaned back, pressing a hand to her chest. I've transmigrated. Even now, the thought seemed impossible. Hours had passed since the strange lightning that had brought her here, and while she had tried to make sense of it, the reality of her situation still felt like a dream she couldn't wake from. This is no dream. It's real.
Her memories of the modern world were still vivid, and part of her wanted to cling to that past. But here… in this world, someone actually cared about her. Her mother, the only person who showed her warmth, was here. Jin Yue felt that Perhaps... this world isn't so bad.
The life she had lived before felt so cold, so empty. In this world, she had a chance to live differently. And now, with her new status, things could change. She could be in control, finally free to live the way she wanted. A spark of determination flared in her chest. Fine. If I'm here, I'll make the most of it. I'll live as I please.
As for her fiance?
Huh! she will find a way to do with him.
But for now, there was something else she needed to take care of. She had no intention of sitting around, waiting for her fate to unfold. I need to go out tomorrow, she decided.
___
Jinyue has been trying for days now to go out but she had been denied permission, from her mother,the Madame and her father.
It made her feel imprisoned, but apparently, a proper lady is supposed to be at home in her boudoir making scarves and daydreaming!
Am sorry, but that's not me!
She had no intention of sitting around, waiting for her fate to unfold. I need to sneak out tomorrow, she decided. It had been too long since she'd felt the freedom of the outside world. The manor walls felt suffocating, and there were things she needed to see, to experience for herself.
---
The next morning, Jin Yue slipped out of her room with practiced ease. The servants were preoccupied, and no one seemed to notice as she made her way toward the courtyard, her mind already racing with plans for the day.She remembered the bright lights of the stage, the rush of adrenaline as she performed acrobatics in front of amazed crowds. In the modern world, she had been incredibly talented...not just in her studies, but in nearly everything she put her mind to. From mathematics to languages, to physical feats, she excelled at it all.
But her true passion had been acrobatics. She could twist and turn her body in ways that seemed impossible to others. Graceful, swift, and light on her feet, she had mastered the art of movement. The applause from the audience had meant little to her; what she had loved was the freedom of it. The feeling of flying through the air, weightless, defying gravity.
And now… here I am, she thought, her fingers curling slightly as she remembered her past. Her skills had already proven useful since her transmigration. Escaping the eyes of the servants in this manor was child's play compared to the disciplined training she had undergone back then. She could slip in and out of places without anyone noticing—a talent that had become second nature to her.
With her acrobatic training, Jin Yue knew she could leave the manor unnoticed whenever she pleased. And today, after everything that had happened, she felt an overwhelming need to breathe the air outside these stifling walls.