"This little girl is so chubby."
"What's wrong with being chubby? Look how smooth and delicate her skin is!"
"She's so cute, just like a newborn puppy..."
"Nonsense! She's much sturdier than a puppy!"
"..."
Ye Qianning woke to the sound of a noisy argument. She pushed through the headache and propped herself up.
She then glared at the few buzzing insects in front of her. She could understand animals, which unfortunately meant she was constantly being insulted by them—
She waved her hand to shoo them away. 'Who looks like a puppy!'
CREAK. The door was pushed open from the outside.
"Pangtuan, why are you up?" An old woman hurried to the bedside and placed a hand on her forehead. "The fever's gone, but you're still sweating. Lie down quickly before you catch a chill."
'Pangtuan...'
Ye Qianning obediently lay back down, still unable to get used to the name.
The old woman tucked the thin blanket around her. "Some men from the local authorities came today and took the Jade Pendant. They said they've found your father and need it for confirmation. In a few days, he might even come to take you back to his estate."
It had been three days since Ye Qianning transmigrated. Her new body was that of a chubby six-year-old girl, and she had all the original owner's memories.
Before she died, the original owner's mother had told her that her father was a nobleman in the Imperial City, leaving behind a Jade Pendant as proof of her identity.
Fourth Granny had traveled with her for over a year, wandering all the way from the distant Nanyuan to the Imperial City. Unfortunately, the little girl had died without ever meeting the father she so desperately longed to see.
"I'll go brew some more medicine for you in a bit." Fourth Granny lovingly stroked her pale cheek. "You've suffered so much. From now on, our Pangtuan will only have good days ahead of her."
"Fourth Granny, what if Father doesn't like me?" Ye Qianning's voice was soft and sweet.
'If it weren't for the original owner's dying wish to find her father, I wouldn't have waited here for three days.'
"Nonsense. What father doesn't love his own child?" Fourth Granny comforted her softly.
Ye Qianning clutched the blanket with her chubby little hands, sighing internally. 'Fourth Granny is a simple country woman. How could she possibly understand the deceit and intrigue of the Imperial City?
'A nobleman from the Imperial City is bound to have a complex background. I've seen that Jade Pendant—the quality is superb. An ordinary wealthy family couldn't possibly afford it.
'So I figure he's either someone from the palace or a court official. Who would remember a one-night stand with some rich young master?
'Besides, seven years have passed. That man might be in a high position now. The sudden appearance of an illegitimate daughter would be a huge scandal, no small matter.
'Great families place immense importance on bloodlines. If we run into a ruthless one, there's no guarantee Fourth Granny and I won't be silenced for good.'
Seeing her quiet, Fourth Granny gently pinched her fleshy little cheek. "Don't let your mind wander. Just focus on getting better so we can go see your father in good health."
"Mm-hmm..." Ye Qianning murmured.
Fourth Granny tucked the blanket in snugly and smiled. "That's a good girl. You get some more sleep. I'll go brew your medicine."
Ye Qianning watched her go, wanting nothing more than to tell Fourth Granny to run. But she knew the old woman would never leave until she saw the man's true colors for herself.
'That's why I need to get better quickly,' she resolved. 'If my so-called father has any ill intentions, I'll be sure to teach him a lesson before I take Fourth Granny away from the Imperial City.'
Her illness was strange, now that she thought about it. Her head felt like it was splitting open, yet her pulse showed nothing but weakness.
She considered her medical skills to be quite good, but after two days of investigation, she still hadn't found the cause. It wasn't until last night that she discovered something bizarre.
The birthmark!
There was a butterfly-shaped birthmark on her left arm. It had burned and hurt terribly on the day she transmigrated, but she hadn't thought much of it at the time.
She held out her left arm, staring at the birthmark. Suddenly, the mark began to emit a faint glow. Her finger touched the halo of light, and her entire being was instantly transported into a boundless space.