Su Jin sat on the bed, staring blankly at the antique-styled room in front of her.
She held a copper mirror in her hand, reflecting her fair skin, black hair, white teeth, bright eyes, and the panic and disbelief within them.
She was sure she was dreaming.
All of this in front of her wasn't real.
She had only succumbed to her friend's repeated pleas to accompany her and her aunt to Wutai Mountain to pray to the Bodhisattva for a relationship. On a whim, she had asked for a fortune stick, which said she would marry within seven days. A 27-year-old single woman getting married in seven days—wasn't this a joke?
She scoffed, crumpled the fortune paper into a ball. Her friend came over to snatch a look. Amid the playfulness, she slipped, hitting the Bodhisattva's feet, and instantly saw stars, falling backward.
When she woke up, she was lying on this intricately carved bed that had a faint sandalwood scent, awakened by a doctor using a silver needle.
Su Jin repeatedly told herself this wasn't real, but the pain on her forehead was so clear, as well as the footsteps she heard in her ears.
An adorable maid with red, tear-filled eyes entered, holding a red and gold tray with a bowl of dark medicine, and stepped forward saying, "Miss, the medicine is ready, please drink it while it's hot."
The maid's name was Xingxing.
She handed the medicine to Su Jin, who didn't move. The maid, eyes reddened, choked, "Miss, once you drink this, you'll remember things from before."
Listening to her sob, Su Jin was afraid she would burst into tears.
When she first woke up, she didn't recognize anyone. After the doctor diagnosed head trauma, prescribed medicine, and left, this maid leaned by her bed, eyes shining, saying, "Miss, you're really good at playing sick this time, you almost fooled me. But Miss is smart. Playing sick means you don't have to worry about being punished by Master and Madam; they won't have the heart to even be stern with you."
The maid babbled on while Su Jin looked at her blankly, asking, "And who are you?"
At the time, it was just her and the maid in the room. The maid was stunned and, realizing Su Jin truly didn't remember her, began to cry loudly, leaving Su Jin with a splitting headache.
However, from this maid's mouth, Su Jin managed to learn many absurdly comical things.
Just half an hour ago, this maid, with tears in her eyes, proudly told her she was the famous female bandit of the Daqi Dynasty, the cherished daughter of Su Qingyun, the Feihu Village Chief of Qingyun Mountain, and Mrs. Tang, newly titled as the legitimate daughter of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, and the current Emperor's lifesaver.
Last name Su, single name Jin.
What a coincidence, both called Su Jin, only she was 27, and this body was only sixteen.
Two months ago, Su Jin and the maid were boating on the lake at the foot of Qingyun Mountain and happened to save the embattled Emperor. Given the treacherous terrain of Qingyun Mountain, which was easy to defend and hard to attack, the court sent troops to suppress them annually, only to suffer crushing defeats.
The Emperor took the opportunity to grant amnesty and title Su Qingyun as Marquis Dongxiang, and bestowed upon him this grand Marquis Mansion.
Three days ago was the celebratory day of Dongxiang Marquis Mansion's relocation. It should have been full of distinguished guests and well-wishers, yet no one came except for a gift dispatched by the Emperor.
The reason was simply that Marquis Dongxiang mentioned wanting to find a suitable match for his children at the banquet; traditionally, noble girls marry at sixteen, and Su Jin would turn sixteen in a month, while her older brother, Su Chong, was already nineteen.
Avoiding any entanglements with Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, all civil and military officials steered clear, turning Dongxiang Marquis Mansion into a laughingstock in the Capital. People whispered behind their backs that Dongxiang Marquis Mansion's rustic ducks couldn't attract anyone, yet dared aspire for swans from outside.
Trying to reach for something beyond one's grasp, Marquis Dongxiang was fuming, overturning the table, saying, "Is my daughter Su Qingyun a flood or a beast that they criticize her so behind her back! They think staying away will keep them safe? If my daughter fancies someone, even buried in the ground, I'll dig him out for her!"
Mrs. Tang glared at him saying, "Who are you going to snatch for our daughter?"
Marquis Dongxiang thought for a moment and said, "I think the two young masters of Jibei Marquis Mansion are quite good...."
The conversation between Marquis Dongxiang and his wife was overheard by the maid. She came back to comfort Su Jin, who lay crying on the bed, reassuring her that she wouldn't remain unmarried, as the Marquis would snatch a groom for her.
Wiping away her tears, Su Jin said, "What if I don't like whoever father snatches? If there's to be any snatching, I'll do it myself."
Thus, early in the morning, Su Jin dressed up, full of spirit, and went out with her maid. After a turn around without finding anyone to her liking, just as she was about to head back, she saw a man riding a horse. Exceptional in looks and bearing, he eclipsed the bustling street.
Staring at his enchanting appearance, Su Jin's heart raced wildly.
Then, led by lust completely clouding her intellect, Su Jin didn't bother to find out who he was and simply abducted him, binding him with the Emperor's gifted whip and took him back.
The maid excitedly told Su Jin that when she returned to the mansion, she was shouting, "Father, Mother, I brought back the most, most, most handsome man!" while running inside.
Her excitement made her trip over the threshold, falling flat on the ground, collapsing and fainting from joy turned into sorrow.
Su Jin knew what happened next.
Thinking about the current predicament, the imaginary black lines on Su Jin's forehead kept dropping down as she asked, "Have the people from the Duke Mansion left?"
That's right, the man she 'brought back' was indeed the young master of the Duke Mansion.
After Su Jin fainted, the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was thrown into chaos. In a hurry to get her a doctor, they locked the man in the woodshed. By the time the doctor woke her up with a silver needle, the Iron Armor Guards of the Duke Mansion had already surrounded the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion. Marquis Dongxiang and his wife personally escorted the young master out of the woodshed and sent him away.
However, just as the young master stepped out of the Marquis Mansion's gate, he spat out a mouthful of blood, his lips turned purple, and he fainted. He was carried back by the Duke Mansion's people.
The maid guessed that the young master of the Duke Mansion might have been so humiliated that he committed suicide by poisoning.
Su Jin, however, thought the possibility of suicide was low. If he had been seeking death, he wouldn't have waited until leaving the Marquis Mansion. It was just sheer bad luck for the young master to get abducted while strolling down the street, but hopefully, he would be fine.
More importantly, when would she wake up from this nightmare? If she really had traveled through time, she'd truly be infamous for abducting men in broad daylight!
The maid shook her head, saying she was busy brewing medicine and didn't know if the people from the Duke Mansion had left.
Outside, familiar footsteps echoed as the maid turned to see Mrs. Tang approaching.
Mrs. Tang, with her delicate and dignified appearance, showed no trace of a bandit's aura. However, her face now wore a heavy frown. Taking the medicine bowl from the maid, she sat by Su Jin's bed and softly said, "Drink your medicine obediently. This time, you've caused too much trouble. If you don't take your medicine, your father will truly be angry."
Su Jin blinked. Did that mean neither Marquis Dongxiang nor she was angry?
Ah, they were indeed her real parents after all.
Su Jin took the medicine bowl in her hands and gulped it down in two swallows. The bitterness made her tongue feel like detaching, and she had to eat several preserved fruits to suppress the taste.
Outside, Marquis Dongxiang stepped inside, his expression angry, unlike the worried look on Mrs. Tang's face. Just then, the Iron Armor Guards of the Duke Mansion had warned that if the young master remained unharmed, they'd withdraw. But if anything happened, they would flatten the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Moreover, no one, including Marquis Dongxiang, was allowed to step outside the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Marquis Dongxiang was fuming with anger, and Su Jin feared he would scold her. After all, she was occupying someone else's daughter's body, and getting scolded was something she had to endure. Yet, Marquis Dongxiang suddenly changed his tune and said to her, "You truly are my daughter, Su Qingyun. Your taste is impeccable. The young master of the Duke Mansion is handsome, of a good family, and has an excellent constitution.
It's just a shame that he is too frail to live beyond a year or two. Such a man cannot be the son-in-law of our Su Family. Let him go. Tomorrow, I'll get you another one. Maybe not as handsome, but definitely strong and healthy."
Su Jin was dumbfounded.
Was this not being angry? It seemed quite the opposite!
Come on, spoiling your daughter should have a limit. The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion was surrounded, packed tight with people!
Mrs. Tang glared at Marquis Dongxiang and said, "Don't teach our daughter bad habits! The Duke Mansion's Iron Armor Guards have surrounded our mansion, and our food will only last for three days. After three days, our family with hundreds of mouths will be left with nothing but the northwest wind to fill our stomachs."
Marquis Dongxiang dismissively replied, "If they like surrounding us, let them be. In Qingyun Mountain, haven't we been surrounded three to five times a year?"
Mrs. Tang glared at him again. Marquis Dongxiang chuckled and said, "The Duke Mansion is reasonable. Young Master Xie is ill, and vomiting blood isn't entirely Jinjim's fault. It's just a bit of shame. Once their anger dissipates, they will naturally withdraw the Iron Armor Guards."
The words seemed logical, but their family were bandits after all. They abducted the young master of the Duke Mansion without any justification and now talked about reason with the Duke Mansion. The perspective seemed quite peculiar!
Mrs. Tang wasn't as optimistic as Marquis Dongxiang. She worriedly said, "This is the Capital, where noble families care most about face. I doubt this matter will be resolved so easily."
Marquis Dongxiang believed Mrs. Tang worried too much. "Jinjim saved the Emperor. Even if the Duke Mansion doesn't care about a monk, they have to respect a Bodhisattva. They wouldn't go as far as to want Jinjim's life. Young Master Xie clearly dislikes Jinjim and wouldn't be willing to marry her. The Duke Mansion wouldn't want a bandit-ish Eldest Young Madam either."
How did she look bandit-like?
Su Jin quietly glanced at the copper mirror beside her.
Although Marquis Dongxiang's thoughts were quite optimistic, things went far beyond their expectations.