Xiangzhou Arc: Transmigrating into Another World, Chapter 5: A First Taste of Power

Han Xiang opened her eyes wide, once again unable to hide her astonishment.

Over the past days, she had clearly sensed a change in Miss Ye, especially in how much sharper her tongue had become, and her mental resilience had grown considerably stronger than before.

Yet now, she was being asked to try something herself?

Try what?

Curiosity, fear, and delight mingled within her, stirring a complex web of emotions. Han Xiang instinctively took a step back and said, “Miss, as long as you don’t use me as a test subject, you may do as you wish!”

“No worries, it’s just a small trial,” Ye Qiao Qiao said with a slight curl of her red lips.

She then approached her dressing table, rummaging through its contents until she found the eyebrow razor she used for grooming, her face lighting up with delight.

This razor was designed to remove excess eyebrow hair.

Fearing she might hurt herself, Ye Qiao Qiao carefully took it out and called Han Xiang over.

Seeing the razor in Ye Qiao Qiao’s hand, Han Xiang shivered slightly and whispered, “Miss, what are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to shape your eyebrows,” Ye Qiao Qiao said gently.

She then pulled Han Xiang to sit before the dressing table, holding the delicate razor in one hand while steadying Han Xiang with the other. The razor traced the arc of Han Xiang’s brow bone, softly removing the stray hairs along the edges.

Han Xiang, afraid, tightly closed her eyes.

When she finally opened them, the mirror reflected a pair of gracefully curved willow-leaf eyebrows framing her large, bright eyes, which sparkled vividly.

Han Xiang couldn’t help but marvel at Ye Qiao Qiao’s skill. “Miss, the eyebrows you’ve shaped for me are wonderful.”

“Isn’t it?” Ye Qiao Qiao said proudly.

“Miss, why have you suddenly taken it upon yourself to shape my eyebrows? We’re so poor these days that we can barely make ends meet, yet you only think of grooming my brows,” Han Xiang said nervously, swallowing hard. “Besides, the matter of the gold… still hasn’t been resolved. I truly don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

Ye Qiao Qiao smiled warmly, pointing to Han Xiang’s eyebrows. “If you don’t trim those brows, your luck with romance will vanish altogether!”

“Ah?” Han Xiang was genuinely startled. Then, with a hurt expression, she looked at Ye Qiao Qiao and softly asked, “Miss, you don’t mean you want me to marry, do you?”

“Marry or not? What are you thinking?” Ye Qiao Qiao pinched Han Xiang’s round cheek and chided gently, “This is just a way to change your fortune. Think about it—haven’t the past few years been quite unlucky for you?”

Han Xiang lowered her head to ponder. Though she had been well-fed and clothed while serving Miss, her heart was often troubled by anxiety and restlessness. And all the suitors around were undesirable prospects—nothing but rotten matches! Her luck had indeed been diminishing day by day.

Nodding, she said, “Yes, that is true.”

Then she asked, “But Miss, why must you go to such lengths to change my fortune? Could it be that you really went through the gates of the underworld, met the King of Hell, and he said my fate was ill-omened, so…”

The little maid’s imagination ran wild.

“Exactly as you think. But beyond that, I learned many more skills from the King of Hell,” Ye Qiao Qiao smiled mysteriously.

Han Xiang found herself captivated by that dazzling smile.

“Miss, I want to hear more!” she said eagerly.

“The King of Hell said heavenly secrets must not be revealed. If I told too much, my lady would be struck down by thunder from the heavens!” Ye Qiao Qiao teased.

Han Xiang was instantly frightened into silence. After a long moment, she timidly found her voice again. “Miss, then I won’t ask further. After all, you are my only lady.”

“Yes, be a good girl and listen. Now, please move those books to the desk. The house needs a good cleaning to welcome guests,” Ye Qiao Qiao instructed.

She then picked up the perpetual calendar hanging on the wall and began to study it.

Recalling the day she had just awakened—it was supposed to be under the star Ziwei’s watch, yet the moon star Taiyin shone brightly instead—what could this mean? Ye Qiao Qiao suddenly felt a chill. Born into an imperial family, the crown prince’s aura should have been noble and auspicious, yet he was instead surrounded by dark energy.

As a master of esoteric studies and divination, she ought not to be troubled by such karmic matters. Yet since fate had cast her soul into another world, it must be that she was meant to accomplish something great.

While Han Xiang busied herself dusting the room, her thoughts drifted to how to earn three taels of gold in a short time, causing her to become distracted.

After a while, a young servant wearing a short blue tunic entered the Chen family estate and approached the main hall.

Ye Qiao Qiao glanced up upon hearing the movement, noticing the servant wore a dark brown cloth belt around his waist, from which hung a small copper badge—the mark of a steward from the government office.

Her lips curved slightly. Indeed, the chattering magpies earlier had heralded good news.

Unfortunately, this joyous event likely had something to do with Chen Tan Hua, but bore little significance for herself.

The servant first noticed Han Xiang tidying the desk and politely handed her a notice. “My master wishes to invite Chen Tan Hua to the residence tomorrow to meet with an esteemed guest. He asked me to deliver this message to your Chen Tan Hua.”

Han Xiang frowned deeply, shooting the servant a fierce look. “Haven’t you heard the recent stories? Tan Hua has already left!”

She then turned and immediately softened her expression as she looked at Ye Qiao Qiao. “Miss, what do you think should be done about this?”

The servant had heard much gossip but, following Han Xiang’s gaze to Ye Qiao Qiao’s radiant smile, was utterly astonished.

This was the first time he had seen someone deliver a death notice to the government office and yet still appear alive before their eyes!

He had thought the storytellers had exaggerated, but it seemed truth and fiction were intertwined.

“You… you…” stammered the servant, unable to find words.

Ye Qiao Qiao put down the calendar and calmly said, “The Chen Tan Hua you asked about has already left the capital.”

The servant nodded quickly but then shook his head, voicing his doubt. “Madam Chen hanged herself, and Tan Hua submitted a death notice at the office, didn’t he?”

He had personally handed in that death notice, assuming it was a tragic end for a beauty, yet here he was, seeing Tan Hua alive and well.

If this isn’t a ghost of broad daylight, then what is it?

Ye Qiao Qiao smiled gently. “I traveled through the gates of the underworld and learned many things. The King of Hell wouldn’t let me die—what else could I do?”

The servant, experienced and knowledgeable, soon regained his composure and sighed respectfully, “Then Madam Chen must be very fortunate and blessed.”

Yet recalling the storyteller’s version, he couldn’t help but question again, “But I wonder, was Chen Tan Hua truly driven away by Madam Chen?”