Volume One, Chapter One: Little Bitter Melon Is Reborn

As the golden crow sank in the west and the light of stars and moon arrived, the Marquis of Pingchang’s residence was ablaze with lanterns and festooned with banners, filled with boisterous celebration. Even the maids and young servants of the household were all dressed in new clothes, each one more spirited than the last.

Suddenly, a sharp reprimand shattered the harmonious scene.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you know today is Young Master’s first birthday? The whole household is busy, not a foot touching the ground, and yet you can’t stay out of the way? Instead, you bring bad luck here—get out!”

A bold old servant barked the words and gave Gu Changning a hard kick.

The small, thin figure flew forward and happened to crash into someone approaching.

“Gu Changning, are you blind? These clothes of your second uncle were especially made for today’s banquet at the Shu Brocade Workshop.”

The speaker was the second master of the Gu family, Gu Jingyu—a brash and domineering man.

“On a festive day like this, your disgraceful appearance will only make the family lose face. You’d best find somewhere to hide, so you don’t bring ill fortune to everyone.”

The third master, Gu Jinghuai, stood by coldly, showing not a hint of patience for Gu Changning.

Gu Changning, bewildered and dazed, looked around at the people, scratching her head in confusion.

Strange. Hadn’t she already died in the woodshed? How was she back in the courtyard again?

She remembered that not long after her mother’s passing, her father had remarried, taking Li Nanzhi as his new wife.

After the wedding, Li Nanzhi’s womb remained empty, and a fortune-teller declared that a girl in the household was bringing misfortune.

Immediately, she decided that Gu Changning was the jinx and began to torment and bully her in every possible way.

Her father turned a blind eye, and the cunning servants, adept at currying favor with the strong and trampling the weak, followed their masters’ example, beating and scolding her at every turn.

Eventually, Li Nanzhi bore a son, naming him Gu Xingze, five years younger than herself.

With a son of their own, Gu Jinghe and Li Nanzhi devoted all their attention to him, their dislike for Gu Changning growing ever deeper.

Gu Changning endured her younger brother’s endless teasing and did everything she could to please them, hoping to earn a sliver of their affection.

Alas, no matter how much she humbled herself or how carefully she served, not a trace of their care was forthcoming.

One day, her brother’s vicious dog bit her, and in self-defense, she kicked the animal away. Gu Xingze threw a tantrum, wailing uncontrollably.

Li Nanzhi ordered her to be beaten severely and thrown into the woodshed.

Gu Changning starved to death on her own twelfth birthday.

Remembering these things, a strained smile tugged at Gu Changning’s lips. Now, given a second chance at life, she vowed never to be tormented again, nor would she long for that illusory parental affection.

She would live for herself.

Today was her brother’s birthday banquet, as well as the day her uncle Gu Jingzhi would formally adopt a son.

He had been the only relative in her previous life who had never scolded or struck her, and the only one who remembered her birthday.

Every year, her uncle would have a bowl of sweet soup sent to her on her birthday.

As the legitimate son of the Marquis, Gu Jingzhi was renowned throughout the capital for his talent and handsome looks.

Yet now, he had not even secured an engagement, much less a child of his own.

Such a fine man, and yet thoroughly frail, forever steeped in the scent of medicine.

Fortunately, the emperor cherished and esteemed him, knowing he loved children; thus, he was permitted to adopt another Gu family child.

Only the second branch of the Gu family had many sons, so everyone urged him to choose the legitimate second son, Gu Xingchen.

Originally, her uncle had pitied the motherless Gu Changning and proposed to take in two children.

But when Gu Xingchen heard this, he threw a furious tantrum, rolling on the ground and insisting that if he was chosen, no one else could be. The eunuch sent to deliver the decree was thoroughly amused, and in the end, the matter was dropped.

Despite his illness, her uncle taught Gu Xingchen to read and write and bequeathed all his property to him.

Yet Gu Xingchen not only showed no gratitude but instead tormented the ailing uncle in every possible way.

Within a few years, her uncle passed away—before Gu Changning’s twelfth birthday.

That year, there was no sweet soup for her.

Gu Changning clenched her little fists, her mind made up.

She slowly lifted her head and said weakly, “Second and third uncles, I’ll be going now.”

The others paid her no mind, striding off in long steps toward Gu Xingze’s residence.

—

“Bite! Hurry up and bite! Useless thing—how are you supposed to compete with others like this?” At that moment, Gu Xingchen was crouched over, fighting crickets.

Displeased with his cricket’s performance, he kept kicking the young servant beside him.

“I’m so useless, I couldn’t even buy the best cricket in the capital for my brother,” Gu Changning stood outside Liuli Pavilion, her voice choked with tears as she muttered to herself.

Her sobs were quiet, but the words “the best cricket” reached Gu Xingchen’s ears.

“Hey, you jinx, come over here,” Gu Xingchen called imperiously.

Gu Changning wiped her tears and walked forward. “That cricket was large and beautiful, but it cost five taels of silver. I had no money, and it’s already been bought by General Du’s young son.”

At this, Gu Xingchen felt as though the sky was collapsing.

Du Mingli, General Du’s son, was forever opposing him—now he would be outshone!

Without another thought, Gu Xingchen called for a few servants and stormed out the door.

Having sent Gu Xingchen away, Gu Changning did not hesitate but ran straight toward Qingzhu Pavilion, where her uncle lived.

In truth, this was her first time coming to Qingzhu Pavilion, and unfamiliar with the layout, she poked her head into the courtyard, searching.

Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded by her ear, “Changning, what are you doing here?”

Gu Changning turned at the sound. It was her uncle, Gu Jingzhi.

“Uncle,” she called, and seeing him alive before her, a sudden sting filled her nose.

Gu Jingzhi gazed at the frail and bony girl before him, his expression faltering as he coughed softly. “What’s wrong? Have you been bullied again?”

His gentle voice was like music from heaven, and Gu Changning could no longer hold back her tears.

Gu Jingzhi assumed she was upset for not being allowed at her brother’s birthday banquet.

“Don’t cry. Stay with me today,” he said softly.

“I’d better find somewhere to hide, so father and mother won’t be angry,” Gu Changning murmured, her little head hanging low, never daring to hope she might be included.

“It’s all right. As long as I’m here,” Gu Jingzhi reassured her, softly ruffling her tangled hair.

Then, taking her small hand, he led her slowly toward the main hall.

Today, the entire marquis’s residence was adorned with lanterns and banners, but the main hall was especially ablaze with lights and festivity.

The Marquis of Pingchang and his wife stood at the entrance, greeting their guests. Upon seeing Gu Jingzhi approach, a faint displeasure flashed across their faces, though they dared not show it openly.

After so many years of marriage, this legitimate son had only just been born—they certainly did not want the family’s sickly son to bring misfortune.

But when Li Nanzhi saw Gu Changning behind Gu Jingzhi, she could hardly restrain herself.

If not for this jinx, her precious son would not have only turned one today.

At this thought, Li Nanzhi’s gaze grew even colder. “Changning, didn’t I tell you not to come out today, lest you bring ill luck to your brother?”

“Mother, I came today to bring a birthday gift for my brother,” Gu Changning replied, walking over and carefully holding out a red bracelet, her face earnest.

“The elders say that if a child wears a red bracelet on their first birthday, they’ll enjoy lifelong safety and good fortune. I made this myself, just for my brother.”