Chapter One: Celebrating the New Year

The tenth year of Yonghe, Great Qi Dynasty, Lunar New Year’s Eve

Within the city of Suzhou, lanterns and festive banners were strung up everywhere, filling the air with a joyous and harmonious atmosphere. Though the hour was still early, faint bursts of firecrackers could already be heard in the distance—no doubt the handiwork of mischievous children unable to wait for nightfall.

To the east of Suzhou, nestled a typical Jiangnan-style residence, its spacious courtyards adorned with festive decorations. On the doors hung the character for “blessing,” and the windows were framed with bright red paper cuttings, imbuing the home with a rich sense of the New Year.

At that moment, four boys in the courtyard were setting off the latest style of firecrackers to appear in Suzhou that year. The new design produced thunderous noise and, had it been night, would have lit up the darkness with dazzling flashes. Unfortunately, as the sun had yet to set, only the explosive sounds echoed, with no spectacle of light to accompany them.

Gu Jiaoyan, dressed in a peach-pink gown with a rose-red satin cloak trimmed in white fox fur, her head covered by a hood and hands cradling a hand warmer, gazed longingly at her four spirited older brothers at play. Boys truly were brimming with energy, clad only in thin jackets, yet able to race about the entire courtyard. She looked down at herself, bundled up like a dumpling, and still could not quite shake the chill.

Wasn’t the south supposed to be warm? In previous years, Suzhou had never been this cold. What had happened this winter? The biting cold rivaled that of her previous life in the northeast, enough to freeze a person to the bone.

Indeed, her previous life. Within this five- or six-year-old girl’s body resided the soul of a twenty-eight-year-old woman. In her past life, she had been Gu Yunxin, a girl raised in the northeast whose grandfather was a renowned traditional physician.

Under her grandfather’s influence, Yunxin had been fascinated by medicine since childhood, and upon growing up, enrolled in medical school. Yet, she did not study traditional medicine, but western medicine, specializing in surgery. Her family had objected, believing that if a girl must study medicine, it should be traditional or internal medicine, not surgery—after all, surgeons were constantly performing operations, often confronted with gruesome wounds.

But Yunxin was passionate and diligent, and her intelligence and dedication saw her skills grow ever more refined, her reputation ever more celebrated. The accident occurred while Yunxin was attending an international medical symposium abroad; she could never have foreseen that her life would end in a plane crash.

When she next awoke, she had become a newborn baby girl, able only to babble. Five years had passed since she arrived in this world, and despite her every effort, Yunxin could not return to where she had come from. At last, she resigned herself to her fate, settling into life as the youngest daughter of the Gu family.

Fortune had treated her kindly, placing her in a good family. The Gu family’s patriarch, Gu Chengyong, had come to Suzhou five years prior and became a constable in the local yamen. Suzhou, famed as “heaven on earth,” was a land of prosperity and abundance, and though Gu Chengyong was only a constable, he had nonetheless managed to accumulate respectable wealth.

The residence they now lived in had cost over five hundred taels of silver, with further sums spent on furnishings and landscaping. Gu Chengyong was capable and respected at work, and at home, he was devoted to his family. Together with his wife, Madam Feng Ziyu, he had four sons and one daughter. The couple’s love was deep, and for more than a decade, their harmony had never wavered.

Gu Jiaoyan, the cherished daughter long awaited by her parents, had been doted on since birth. Not to mention her four doting older brothers, each more protective than the last, always fearful she might suffer the slightest grievance.

In such a family, Gu Jiaoyan was undoubtedly content and happy. After abandoning her longing for her past life, she settled into her new world, coming to cherish her family in this life as well.

After tonight, she would be six years old. Six! Not far from growing up. Jiaoyan had no other wish but to become a little older and find a skilled physician to take her as an apprentice, so she could study medicine in earnest—a skill she regarded as essential for survival.

Why had she insisted on surgery in her past life? Now, she realized that none of her previous expertise was of much use here. There were no surgical instruments, no antibiotics, no anesthetics; all her proud techniques were rendered useless.

Ironically, the bits and pieces of traditional medicine she had learned from her grandfather as a child were far more practical. Yet, she had only scratched the surface, never studied systematically. This was why she was so eager to find a master—her love of medicine was woven into her very bones, and she was unwilling to abandon her greatest passion.

“Young mistress, come inside quickly, it’s much too cold today. Take care not to catch a chill.” Behind her, a maid of fourteen or fifteen approached, gently urging Jiaoyan. “Madam says the reunion dinner is about to begin and sent me to fetch you and the young masters inside.”

Her daydreams interrupted, Jiaoyan turned to the courtyard and called to her brothers, “Big Brother, Mother says we should come in and get ready for dinner.” Her clear, sweet voice rang out.

Upon hearing her call, the four boys—who had been thoroughly enjoying themselves—quickly put away their firecrackers and hurried to her side. “Little sister, why are you so bundled up? You look like a silly bear,” teased the third brother, Wenzhi, at the sight of her.

The eldest, Wenxiu, tapped his younger brother on the head. “Mind your words. How could our lovely little sister look like a silly bear? Don’t listen to your third brother, little one—you look absolutely adorable. It’s so cold today that wearing more is only right.”

Wenzhi rubbed his head, protesting, “Big Brother, I was just joking with Jiaoyan. Did you have to hit me?” In truth, the blow was gentle, but the brothers were used to such horseplay and felt obliged to complain.

The second brother, Wenqi, reached out as if to smack him as well. “Still talking? Hurry inside, or if Father hears you teasing our sister, you’ll be punished with horse stance for sure.”

At this, Wenzhi stuck out his tongue and dared not speak further. “Fine, I said nothing—let’s go eat, I’m famished.”

The four brothers gathered protectively around their sister, following the pretty maid ahead into the main hall. Southern houses typically lacked heated walls or beds, but the cold was so intense that braziers had been placed all around the hall, making it quite comfortable inside.

A large table was set in the center of the room, laden with dishes. Beside it stood a woman of about thirty-two or three, her features dignified and elegant, her demeanor gentle and refined—none other than Madam Feng Ziyu, mistress of the Gu family.

Seeing her children come in from the cold, she smiled and fussed over them, “Are you cold? You should dress more warmly when playing outside. Look how thinly you’re all dressed, yet you dare run about. I can’t imagine what’s happened to the weather this year, it’s so terribly cold. You must be careful not to catch a chill—especially during the New Year.”

“Mother, we’re fine, look—our hands are warm. A real man doesn’t fear the cold,” boasted the third brother, hopping to his mother’s side and proudly holding out his hot little hands, clasping his mother’s slightly cool ones. “See, Mother? Even inside, your hands aren’t as warm as mine,” he said triumphantly.

Madam Feng touched his forehead and cheeks, relieved to find nothing amiss. “You rascal, always so full of energy. All right, go wash your hands—time for our reunion dinner. Once we’ve eaten, you can stay up for the New Year’s vigil and set off as many fireworks as you like, I won’t mind.”

With that, the boys dashed off to wash up. Madam Feng turned, laughing at her daughter, bundled up like a dumpling. “Jiaoyan, take off your cloak, dear—look at you, wrapped so tightly. It’s not that cold in here, so change and get ready to eat.”

Jiaoyan untied her cloak, which the maid Liyue quickly took to hang on the rack. “Mother, why is it so cold this year? The moment I step outside, the chill seems to seep straight into my bones. Won’t many people suffer in such weather?” she asked with concern.

“I’m not sure. Your father grew worried and has already gone to check on some of the places where the people gather. It should be all right—the magistrate just distributed quilts and charcoal a few days ago. I imagine most families will weather this winter safely,” Madam Feng replied, her tone as much to reassure herself as her daughter.

Even as she spoke, there was a stir in the courtyard, and soon footsteps approached. A man entered from outside, declaring, “This weather is almost as cold as our old home. Ziyu, burn more charcoal tonight. I wouldn’t be surprised if it snows.” The newcomer was none other than the head of the Gu family, Gu Chengyong.

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My apologies for the delay in updating these past few days. I’ve revised the opening of the new book and will be re-uploading it starting Monday. I will carefully consider all your suggestions—thank you to everyone who has offered valuable feedback. This is my fourth novel, though to be honest, my confidence wanes with each one. I hope you’ll enjoy this story, and I’m deeply grateful for your continued support. Thank you.