Chapter 1

“Don’t create trouble. This isn’t the time for nonsense.”

The young woman smiled softly. From a distance, it was as if a mirror stood before her. In that mirror, her own gaze burned bright, and her expression was serious.

In all of Luoyang, there was only one pair of twin sisters born into such a noble family and blessed with such beauty.

Even their voices were impossible to tell apart.

“Elder Sister, I am not being ridiculous.” Lan Yunjin was a little anxious. The words she wanted to explain caught in her throat, and she truly did not know how to begin.

In just two more months, she would be fifty years old, already considered an old lady.

Yet only a moment ago, Lan Yunjin had breathed her last breath in the Duke’s Mansion and been placed into a coffin of yellow cypress wood, while her filial sons and grandsons knelt before her spirit tablet, weeping bitterly.

Now, when she opened her eyes, what she saw was her sister’s boudoir. The room was filled with the glow of wedding candles, and on the table lay a phoenix crown and scarlet bridal robes.

Those robes had been sewn by the best embroidery team in Luoyang, personally invited by their mother to stay in the Lan residence for three months just to make this gown.

Lan Yunying, puzzled, took her sister’s hand. “If it’s not nonsense, then something must have happened? Yesterday you were still joking with me, saying that the Duke’s young heir was steady as a mountain and must be dreadfully boring.”

She spoke, then noticed Yunjin’s fine brows knitting together.

Yunying would have preferred her sister to be teasing her. After tonight, the two of them would be married on the same day and no longer be the inseparable sisters they had always been.

At such a critical moment, what could have happened that was so serious that she would dare suggest something as outrageous as… exchanging grooms?

Lan Yunjin said, “I am only worried about you going to Chang’an. General Wei and the young men in his household practice martial arts every day. They are loud and rowdy, and you like peace and quiet. You would not be comfortable there.”

Yunying laughed. “So you are thinking of me, is that it?”

Lan Yunjin nodded.

Their marriages were not just something the people of Luoyang were eager to gossip about.

One groom was the Duke’s young heir, in his prime. In Luoyang, there were often women who copied the old story of throwing fruit to the handsome man. Whenever Pei Ye went out, women would toss fresh fruit to him.

The other was the young and fierce General Wei Xiao, decisive in battle, who at the age of seventeen had already earned the title of Death King of Hell.

It was hard to say which of the two men was the better match.

The Lan family was a clan of high officials, and marrying into it made many people envious.

In other branches of the family, uncles and aunts gossiped before their grandmother, saying these two marriages should not be held on the same day. They also whispered that next year would be the palace’s talent selection and that the Emperor had already asked his attendants if the Lan twins of Luoyang were old enough to enter the palace.

These relatives’ remarks were nothing more than each trying to push their own plans.

In any case, if Grandmother did not agree, their words were wasted.

Lan Yunjin’s mind was a whirlwind of memories. Her previous life felt like a ridiculous dream. She and her sister had been married on the same day, but the next morning, news came to Luoyang that her sister had been murdered. The wedding celebration turned into a funeral.

Their mother was shattered. Yunjin suffered silently, for losing a sister born of the same mother was no different from losing an arm.

To spare their mother further grief, she followed the family rules and devoted herself to being a virtuous wife and good mother.

When she was thirty, her mother-in-law died of illness. Soon after the funeral, Pei Ye’s health began to decline.

It was said that men faced a hurdle at forty-five, and Pei Ye could not make it past that point. On his deathbed, the last words he spoke were burned into Yunjin’s memory.

Pei Ye loved her sister.

And tomorrow was her sister’s death anniversary.

Yunjin had not yet come to terms with the fact that she had returned to life from inside a coffin. She did not know why she had been given this second chance, waking up again on the eve of her wedding.

If she had not been reborn into another life and didn’t cross the Naihe Bridge, then why not use this chance to save her sister?

So she made up her mind without hesitation to persuade her sister to ride in her sedan chair and swap grooms.

Back then, she had thought the same thing. If her sister had not gone to Chang’an, she would not have been murdered by criminals.

But Yunying could not agree to something so absurd. She tried to persuade her instead. “Jinniang, marrying one man is the same as marrying another. Listen to Mother. The general’s mansion is a fine home for me. Their noise will not disturb my peace.”

Yunjin lowered her eyes and looked at her sister’s nails, which were painted a bright red, like freshly plucked flower buds.

Those flower buds should have continued to bloom with her sister.

“Elder Sister, you know my temperament. You have always said I am restless. If I marry into the Duke’s Mansion with a strict mother-in-law to control me, I will be stifled to death.”

Yunying’s tone turned scolding. “If it were anything else, I would let you have your way. But this, I will pretend you never came to my room tonight. Go back and rest.”

The spring night was filled with the chirping of insects, making Yunying uneasy.

But Yunjin could not give up so easily. “If you do not agree, I will not leave.”

She sat calmly and unmoving.

When it came to life and death, nothing else mattered. Even though she now looked young and graceful, inside, she carried the heart of someone as old as their grandmother. A sister who just passed her coming-of-age ceremony could not possibly match her in willpower.

Yunying shot to her feet and stared at Yunjin as if she had seen a ghost. “This is absolutely impossible. Do not think you can threaten me into agreeing. If someone found out, how would Mother be able to face people in Luoyang?”

Yunjin asked, “If you do not tell, who could tell that I swapped sedan chairs with you?”

“You…” Yunying was at a loss for words. The authority of an elder sister seemed to fade away. “Say whatever you like, but I will not deceive my husband’s family.”

Yunying could not quite recover her composure.

She had never been much of an elder sister in truth, letting her younger sister lead her by the nose since they were children. After all, they were twins with no real separation between them.

Her younger sister liked to make decisions on her own and often made decisions for her as well. Yunying had not always approved of her sister’s ways, but at least Yunjin had never brought trouble to their mother.

Father once said that no two leaves that fall from a tree are exactly the same, much less two people.

Other twins, if you look closely, might have a mole between the brows or a distinctive birthmark somewhere on the body.

But she and her sister had no such marks to tell them apart. They were like two indistinguishable leaves, intertwined and growing together.

Lan Yunying could not bring herself to be angry, even when her younger sister spoke of something outrageous.

The fortune-teller compared the birth charts of the two couples and decided that the most auspicious time for the bridal procession was during the hour of Si. That way, the marriage would be stable, and both families would have many descendants.

—

Madam Yang had barely slept a wink all night. When the ceremonial drum sounded twice, her eyelids twitched. She quickly threw on a robe and, with a maid in tow, hurried to Tinglan Pavilion.

Everything for sending her daughters off had already been arranged. The maids and older servants in the mansion had seen grand occasions before and moved about in an orderly fashion.

Even so, Madam Yang could not settle her heart. She had tossed and turned all night, her head aching. In the end, she decided to go check on her daughters’ rooms.

As soon as she stepped into Tinglan Pavilion, she asked one of the courtyard maids, “Where is Yuchan? Is she helping Yingniang dress?”

Lanterns hung thick under the eaves, weaving golden light that swayed gently. Madam Yang could not help but think of this year’s Lantern Festival.

With such splendor, her spirits lifted a little. In the future, when people spoke of the grandest and most dignified weddings, they would surely mention the Lan family.

The maid replied, “Yuchan came at the third watch to help my lady wash up.” She hesitated for a moment before adding, “At that time, Fifth Young Lady was still in the room talking with my lady. When the Fifth Young Lady left, her face looked pale. Madam, perhaps you should check on Fifth Young Lady first?”

The Lan family was large. The eldest master had no daughters, while the second master had two daughters, so Yunying and Yunjin were neither the highest nor the lowest in the household’s hierarchy.

The fourth master’s wife, Madam Li, was never without a child, and her household received far more resources than the others.

Madam Yang stopped in her tracks and looked toward Lan Yunjin’s room. The light inside was on, and the white paper of the window glowed dark with the shadow of someone moving inside.

She had specifically instructed the maids not to let the sisters stay together before the wedding to avoid any mistakes.

“Jinniang has had little appetite these past two days. Perhaps she is hungry. Go tell the small kitchen to prepare a bowl of red date soup.” Madam Yang continued walking toward Yunying’s room and lowered her voice. “Yingniang’s side is more important, so I must see her first.”

The maid quickly agreed and hurried off toward the kitchen.

Madam Yang could not forget the fortune-teller’s warning to her and her husband. Yunying and Yunjin’s birth charts were very close, so the times of their weddings had to be staggered. One bridal procession would come from the south road, and the other from the east, with everything arranged just so.

The little maid outside the room pushed the door open and invited Madam Yang in.

Yunying’s hairdresser, Yuchan, was washing her hands. Seeing Madam Yang, she nodded in greeting. “Madam.”

Yuchan had entered the Lan family at the age of seven and had served Yunying ever since. Madam Yang had found her clever and sent her to learn from the head hairdresser of the main branch for half a year.

Not only could she arrange complex hairstyles, but she also invented new ones. Madam Yang had always been pleased with her.

Dawn’s light was creeping over the windowsill, and the lamp flames had dimmed. It reminded Madam Yang that the Wei family’s wedding procession had already entered Luoyang. In less than two hours, they would arrive.

She thought she could already hear the suona horns, bamboo flutes, and drums playing the wedding tunes.

The mansion was lively with joy. Young girls and boys crowded toward Tinglan Pavilion.

Although they were eager and curious, they still remembered what their elders taught them and politely greeted the maids before asking, “Is Fourth Sister resting in her room? She mustn’t sleep late today; she’s the bride.”

“Young Master, the lady is getting dressed.”

The boy patted the step and sat quietly. “Seventh Sister, let’s wait here so we don’t disturb Fourth Sister.”

The girl giggled. “Are you silly? We can go find Fifth Sister. Her door is open, and she has all kinds of candied fruits and sweet tangerine peels.”

The boy’s mouth watered. “Let’s go find Fifth Sister for wedding candy.”

Chattering innocently, they left, wishing the mansion could be this lively every day with endless sweets to eat.

Madam Yang pressed her lips together as a sour ache welled in her heart. She quickly stepped into the inner room.

“Mother.”

It seemed Yuchan had used all her skill and effort.

The young lady looked gentle and graceful, her hair piled high in a tall bun, crowned with a phoenix headdress. Her cheeks were evenly touched with rouge, bright as the morning glow. The collar of her wedding robe was low, revealing a neck like white jade.

Madam Yang forgot to blink. She ought to have been happy to see her daughter in her bridal finery, yet she found she could not smile.

“All ready?” Madam Yang asked.

The young lady smiled warmly. “Does Mother think I lack anything?”

Madam Yang wanted to touch her daughter’s face but feared smudging the rouge. Instead, she stroked her shoulder lovingly. “There is nothing lacking.”

She sighed. “I am late and did not get to comb your hair for you.”

“Mother, the time is almost here.” The young lady’s smile faded. “When I go to Chang’an, you must remember to have the doctor check your pulse regularly. Eating vegetarian is good, but if you never touch meat all year, you will weaken your blood and won’t have the strength to be healthy.”

“Nini, you don’t need to worry about me.” Madam Yang could only laugh. She had wanted to say so many things since last night, but now she could hardly bear to let her daughter marry and leave.

Yunying had always been the thoughtful one and had been managing household matters with her grandmother since she was young. Her father often said she took after Madam Yang, always worrying about what might go wrong.

If she heard that, Yunying would surely glare at her father in silence.

Worrying was not a bad thing.

But the young girl’s unease seemed to quietly stir.

“Nini” shattered all that worry.

Her mother had called her elder sister’s childhood nickname.

Her disguise was flawless. Lan Yunjin felt satisfied. If she could fool her mother, the hardest person to deceive, then she had nothing to fear from anyone else.

Knock, knock.

The door suddenly sounded, and a maid announced with a smile, “Madam, Fifth Young Lady wishes to speak with you and the young lady.”

Madam Yang frowned slightly. She had told Jinniang again and again that on the wedding day she must avoid taboos and follow the fortune-teller’s instructions, and under no circumstances should the sisters meet or speak.

Footnotes:-

1. Hour of Si – An ancient time division from roughly 9 – 11 a.m. in China.