Chapter 1: Exile to Lingnan
In a cramped and dimly lit thatched hut, Yu Ying lay on a low bed made of dry rice straw, staring vacantly at the hut's ceiling.
Yu Ying had been lying there for three days.
Three days ago, she had transmigrated.
From initial bewilderment to breaking down in tears, and finally to her current state of numb emptiness, Yu Ying had experienced a whirlwind of emotions.
Drawing from the memories of this unfamiliar body's original owner, Yu Ying had gained a basic understanding of her situation.
She had not only transmigrated but also into a novel she had recently finished reading.
In the book, the male protagonist, after being mistakenly swapped at birth, lived as the son of a governor for twenty-one years, instead of his true identity as the son of a criminal.
This comfortable life was disrupted when the real young master was recognized and returned.
Having endured twenty-one years of hardships, the now-darkened true young master sought various ways to take revenge on the male protagonist.
Not only did he bribe the yamen runners to break the male protagonist's legs on his way to exile in Lingnan, but in a fit of anger after being rejected by the male protagonist's beautiful and unmarried fiancée, he forced the protagonist to marry an ugly and malicious woman, thus humiliating him.
After marrying the protagonist, this vicious woman tormented his family in every possible way and, following a general amnesty, fled with all the food from the house.
But she didn't get far before tumbling down a steep slope and was found dead the next day, frightened to death.
It was at this moment that Yu Ying transmigrated, becoming the scarcely mentioned ex-wife of the male protagonist in the book.
Recalling this, Yu Ying raised her hand with a headache, covering her eyes with her arm.
Over these three days, even without stepping outside, she had gained a rough understanding of her current situation – at this time, the male protagonist's family was impoverished, with not a single grain of rice at home.
From the original owner's memories, Yu Ying also learned that she was now in a world ruled by a tyrant and dominated by corrupt officials.
The original owner's father had been a royal physician, but was beheaded for misdiagnosing the emperor's favorite concubine, and all the female members of the family were exiled to Lingnan.
The present Lingnan was not the prosperous region of later times but a place of backwardness, poverty, and danger.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying couldn't help but sigh in resignation.
What should she do now?
She had pondered this question for three days.
Unable to escape her reality, Yu Ying was forced to accept her current situation and resolved to survive with all her might.
As she pondered, her stomach growled loudly.
Yu Ying touched her belly, having barely eaten anything these past few days, surviving only on a few bites of wild vegetable soup each day.
The intense hunger forced her to leave the straw bed, put on a pair of cloth shoes beside the bed, and slowly, with her weak body, make her way outside.
Reaching the door, she hesitated for a moment before slowly lifting the thatched curtain of the hut.
It was early summer, and the sun was setting, casting a twilight glow all around.
The setting sun, shrouded in the dusk, wasn't dazzling, but since Yu Ying had spent three days in the dim thatched hut, her eyes still struggled to adjust to the light, forcing her to shield them with her hand.
After adapting for a while, she slowly stepped out of the hut into the empty courtyard, pausing there to gaze at the distant mountains, their layers and peaks stretching endlessly.
Once again, Yu Ying's expression turned vacant.
How is this any different from being in an undeveloped mountain in the modern world?
Lost in her thoughts, Yu Ying was suddenly startled by the sound of a bamboo pole tapping the ground behind her.
Hearing the noise, the dispirited Yu Ying turned to look.
The source of the sound was an elderly woman with gray hair, a face lined with wrinkles, and a frail, thin frame.
In these three days, Yu Ying had only seen this old lady twice, and they hadn't exchanged a single word.
She hadn't thought about it before, but now she guessed that this old lady must be Luo Shi, the male protagonist's biological mother.
Who would have thought that this woman, appearing to be in her sixties, was actually not even fifty yet.
To emphasize the male protagonist's tragic story, his mother passed away soon after their reunion and before he could come to terms with it.
Luo Shi was wearing a coarse cloth garment so worn that its original color was barely discernible, the cuffs frayed to threads, with several patches all over it, the only difference from a beggar’s attire being its relative cleanliness.
Luo Shi, evidently having poor eyesight, held a bamboo pole for guidance, squinting as she walked out of the thatched hut.
She carried a clay pot in her arms, seemingly noticing the blurry figure in the courtyard.
Even without seeing clearly, Luo Shi could guess who it was. She didn’t acknowledge Yu Ying but walked numbly to an old water jar.
After touching the jar for a moment, she slowly scooped two ladles of water into the pot, then crouched in front of a rudimentary firewood rack.
Indeed, the male protagonist's family was so impoverished they didn't even have a kitchen, let alone a stove for cooking.
Yu Ying’s gaze drifted past Luo Shi, focusing on the shaky thatched hut behind her.
She thought that even a slightly stronger wind could blow these two thatched huts down.
This courtyard had just these two thatched huts.
One hut was where she resided, and the slightly larger one housed the male protagonist's family.
The conditions were indeed dire, but Yu Ying was aware that if she wanted to survive, she couldn't leave this place now.
The original owner had no connections and less than ten coins to her name. How could she survive if she left here?
Moreover, the safety in ancient times couldn’t compare to modern times, let alone in Lingnan, known as a barbaric land.
Staying offered at least a shelter from wind and rain, and following the protagonist could provide her with more chances to live. Leaving, however, would likely lead to a slim chance of survival.
Since she decided to stay and follow the male protagonist, she needed to integrate into his family.
After much hesitation, Yu Ying, limping due to a twisted ankle, slowly approached Luo Shi.
The noise of her walking, caused by her injured foot, alerted the wary Luo Shi.
On hearing the sound, Luo Shi, with her withered, trembling hands, hurriedly reached for the bamboo pole.
Seeing Luo Shi so on guard, Yu Ying explained, “I just wanted to help you.”
Luo Shi frowned upon hearing this, her vigilance towards her daughter-in-law's changed attitude intensifying: “I can manage on my own, no need for your help.”
Luo Shi's refusal was within Yu Ying's expectations.
The original owner had been extremely vile, insulting and even physically assaulting the Fu family during her half-month stay, and had even stolen all the household’s food during her escape. Luo Shi's current wariness towards her was understandable.
Moreover, when the original owner was carried back by the villagers, the small bag of taro she had was missing, likely taken by someone seizing the opportunity.
Although Luo Shi was concerned about the food, it was already gone, and she couldn't possibly interrogate each household. She had no choice but to accept reality, growing even more displeased with her nominal daughter-in-law.
Luo Shi had hoped this nominal daughter-in-law would flee far away and never return. She never expected her to take all the food when she ran away, and even less so for her to return.
This daughter-in-law was sent by the officials to be her son's wife, and Luo Shi dared not let her son divorce this wicked woman casually.
Moreover, now that she had returned, Luo Shi couldn't just drive her away or risk starving her to death and causing a homicide. Reluctantly, she had to swallow this grievance.
Luo Shi was so guarded that Yu Ying had to momentarily set aside her plans of integrating with the male protagonist's family. Just as she sighed again, she felt a sharp pain on her back; a small stone had hit her and then clattered to the ground.
An angry voice came from behind her.
"If you bully Grandma, you'll have me to answer to, you bad woman!"
Frowning, Yu Ying immediately turned around to look.
The one who threw the stone at her was a boy who looked about five or six years old but was actually nearly eight.
This boy was Fu An, the nephew of the male protagonist.
At that moment, Fu An was glaring fiercely at Yu Ying, holding the hand of his thin and small sister with his left hand.
The girl appeared to be only two or three years old, but in reality, she was likely a year or two older.
Both siblings were dirty, wearing clothes that were ill-fitting and barely sufficient to cover their bodies.
Lingnan, one of the three major exile destinations, also known as the land of barbarians, was undoubtedly a harsh and impoverished environment.
Seeing the whole family dressed inadequately, struggling for food, and living in thatched huts at constant risk of collapsing, Yu Ying felt a chill in her heart, facing unprecedented uncertainty about the future.
She didn't know if she could adapt to such a harsh environment or if she could improve the situation to survive in this era.
Chapter 1: Exile to Lingnan
In a cramped and dimly lit thatched hut, Yu Ying lay on a low bed made of dry rice straw, staring vacantly at the hut's ceiling.
Yu Ying had been lying there for three days.
Three days ago, she had transmigrated.
From initial bewilderment to breaking down in tears, and finally to her current state of numb emptiness, Yu Ying had experienced a whirlwind of emotions.
Drawing from the memories of this unfamiliar body's original owner, Yu Ying had gained a basic understanding of her situation.
She had not only transmigrated but also into a novel she had recently finished reading.
In the book, the male protagonist, after being mistakenly swapped at birth, lived as the son of a governor for twenty-one years, instead of his true identity as the son of a criminal.
This comfortable life was disrupted when the real young master was recognized and returned.
Having endured twenty-one years of hardships, the now-darkened true young master sought various ways to take revenge on the male protagonist.
Not only did he bribe the yamen runners to break the male protagonist's legs on his way to exile in Lingnan, but in a fit of anger after being rejected by the male protagonist's beautiful and unmarried fiancée, he forced the protagonist to marry an ugly and malicious woman, thus humiliating him.
After marrying the protagonist, this vicious woman tormented his family in every possible way and, following a general amnesty, fled with all the food from the house.
But she didn't get far before tumbling down a steep slope and was found dead the next day, frightened to death.
It was at this moment that Yu Ying transmigrated, becoming the scarcely mentioned ex-wife of the male protagonist in the book.
Recalling this, Yu Ying raised her hand with a headache, covering her eyes with her arm.
Over these three days, even without stepping outside, she had gained a rough understanding of her current situation – at this time, the male protagonist's family was impoverished, with not a single grain of rice at home.
From the original owner's memories, Yu Ying also learned that she was now in a world ruled by a tyrant and dominated by corrupt officials.
The original owner's father had been a royal physician, but was beheaded for misdiagnosing the emperor's favorite concubine, and all the female members of the family were exiled to Lingnan.
The present Lingnan was not the prosperous region of later times but a place of backwardness, poverty, and danger.
Thinking of this, Yu Ying couldn't help but sigh in resignation.
What should she do now?
She had pondered this question for three days.
Unable to escape her reality, Yu Ying was forced to accept her current situation and resolved to survive with all her might.
As she pondered, her stomach growled loudly.
Yu Ying touched her belly, having barely eaten anything these past few days, surviving only on a few bites of wild vegetable soup each day.
The intense hunger forced her to leave the straw bed, put on a pair of cloth shoes beside the bed, and slowly, with her weak body, make her way outside.
Reaching the door, she hesitated for a moment before slowly lifting the thatched curtain of the hut.
It was early summer, and the sun was setting, casting a twilight glow all around.
The setting sun, shrouded in the dusk, wasn't dazzling, but since Yu Ying had spent three days in the dim thatched hut, her eyes still struggled to adjust to the light, forcing her to shield them with her hand.
After adapting for a while, she slowly stepped out of the hut into the empty courtyard, pausing there to gaze at the distant mountains, their layers and peaks stretching endlessly.
Once again, Yu Ying's expression turned vacant.
How is this any different from being in an undeveloped mountain in the modern world?
Lost in her thoughts, Yu Ying was suddenly startled by the sound of a bamboo pole tapping the ground behind her.
Hearing the noise, the dispirited Yu Ying turned to look.
The source of the sound was an elderly woman with gray hair, a face lined with wrinkles, and a frail, thin frame.
In these three days, Yu Ying had only seen this old lady twice, and they hadn't exchanged a single word.
She hadn't thought about it before, but now she guessed that this old lady must be Luo Shi, the male protagonist's biological mother.
Who would have thought that this woman, appearing to be in her sixties, was actually not even fifty yet.
To emphasize the male protagonist's tragic story, his mother passed away soon after their reunion and before he could come to terms with it.
Luo Shi was wearing a coarse cloth garment so worn that its original color was barely discernible, the cuffs frayed to threads, with several patches all over it, the only difference from a beggar’s attire being its relative cleanliness.
Luo Shi, evidently having poor eyesight, held a bamboo pole for guidance, squinting as she walked out of the thatched hut.
She carried a clay pot in her arms, seemingly noticing the blurry figure in the courtyard.
Even without seeing clearly, Luo Shi could guess who it was. She didn’t acknowledge Yu Ying but walked numbly to an old water jar.
After touching the jar for a moment, she slowly scooped two ladles of water into the pot, then crouched in front of a rudimentary firewood rack.
Indeed, the male protagonist's family was so impoverished they didn't even have a kitchen, let alone a stove for cooking.
Yu Ying’s gaze drifted past Luo Shi, focusing on the shaky thatched hut behind her.
She thought that even a slightly stronger wind could blow these two thatched huts down.
This courtyard had just these two thatched huts.
One hut was where she resided, and the slightly larger one housed the male protagonist's family.
The conditions were indeed dire, but Yu Ying was aware that if she wanted to survive, she couldn't leave this place now.
The original owner had no connections and less than ten coins to her name. How could she survive if she left here?
Moreover, the safety in ancient times couldn’t compare to modern times, let alone in Lingnan, known as a barbaric land.
Staying offered at least a shelter from wind and rain, and following the protagonist could provide her with more chances to live. Leaving, however, would likely lead to a slim chance of survival.
Since she decided to stay and follow the male protagonist, she needed to integrate into his family.
After much hesitation, Yu Ying, limping due to a twisted ankle, slowly approached Luo Shi.
The noise of her walking, caused by her injured foot, alerted the wary Luo Shi.
On hearing the sound, Luo Shi, with her withered, trembling hands, hurriedly reached for the bamboo pole.
Seeing Luo Shi so on guard, Yu Ying explained, “I just wanted to help you.”
Luo Shi frowned upon hearing this, her vigilance towards her daughter-in-law's changed attitude intensifying: “I can manage on my own, no need for your help.”
Luo Shi's refusal was within Yu Ying's expectations.
The original owner had been extremely vile, insulting and even physically assaulting the Fu family during her half-month stay, and had even stolen all the household’s food during her escape. Luo Shi's current wariness towards her was understandable.
Moreover, when the original owner was carried back by the villagers, the small bag of taro she had was missing, likely taken by someone seizing the opportunity.
Although Luo Shi was concerned about the food, it was already gone, and she couldn't possibly interrogate each household. She had no choice but to accept reality, growing even more displeased with her nominal daughter-in-law.
Luo Shi had hoped this nominal daughter-in-law would flee far away and never return. She never expected her to take all the food when she ran away, and even less so for her to return.
This daughter-in-law was sent by the officials to be her son's wife, and Luo Shi dared not let her son divorce this wicked woman casually.
Moreover, now that she had returned, Luo Shi couldn't just drive her away or risk starving her to death and causing a homicide. Reluctantly, she had to swallow this grievance.
Luo Shi was so guarded that Yu Ying had to momentarily set aside her plans of integrating with the male protagonist's family. Just as she sighed again, she felt a sharp pain on her back; a small stone had hit her and then clattered to the ground.
An angry voice came from behind her.
"If you bully Grandma, you'll have me to answer to, you bad woman!"
Frowning, Yu Ying immediately turned around to look.
The one who threw the stone at her was a boy who looked about five or six years old but was actually nearly eight.
This boy was Fu An, the nephew of the male protagonist.
At that moment, Fu An was glaring fiercely at Yu Ying, holding the hand of his thin and small sister with his left hand.
The girl appeared to be only two or three years old, but in reality, she was likely a year or two older.
Both siblings were dirty, wearing clothes that were ill-fitting and barely sufficient to cover their bodies.
Lingnan, one of the three major exile destinations, also known as the land of barbarians, was undoubtedly a harsh and impoverished environment.
Seeing the whole family dressed inadequately, struggling for food, and living in thatched huts at constant risk of collapsing, Yu Ying felt a chill in her heart, facing unprecedented uncertainty about the future.
She didn't know if she could adapt to such a harsh environment or if she could improve the situation to survive in this era.
