The original body had been too severely depleted. With the help of items provided by her system to regulate it, she was already much healthier than an ordinary person.
But she was still afraid of the cold. She didn't know if it was related to the fact that for the original soul, every winter during those five bitter years was the hardest to endure, and she later died in winter.
Looking at the beautiful magical garments from the cultivation realm in the system mall that made one impervious to heat and cold, tears of envy once again streamed from the corner of her mouth.
A glance at the price—ten thousand points!
Thanks, but for now, she could only afford to look!
"System, buy me a piece of warm jade." The weather was getting colder day by day, and it was said this wasn't even the coldest time of year yet. Although Yue Fuguang was fully equipped with modern gear underneath, she was still cold.
This world also had warm jade, but it wasn't the same thing as the warm jade from the cultivation realm. The cultivation realm's warm jade truly made the wearer feel warm and cozy.
Its price was also quite "beautiful"—eight hundred points, enough for her to show off how many times!
The interstellar realm also had similar products, but their appearance was too technological. Most importantly, they weren't cheap either. So, she still preferred items from the cultivation realm; they had a classical charm, just like things here.
Changing into a light dress and tucking the warm jade into her bosom, she stepped outside. The fierce cold wind whistled, blowing through the leafless tree branches, making them sway back and forth.
The heavy snow was whipped up, forming a white curtain of snow. The previous Yue Fuguang would have only felt cold seeing this and would have scurried back to the warm room in a flash.
Now, her state of mind was completely different. As she walked, she admired the snowflakes dancing in the air and couldn't help but sigh, "How beautiful!"
"But it's also really cold!"
Her words had barely fallen when a female voice seamlessly picked up the conversation.
Yue Fuguang turned around the covered walkway and saw a beautiful girl of about fourteen or fifteen standing there, wrapped in a fiery red fox-fur cloak, looking at her with a face full of smiles.
The girl had an oval face, fair skin, bright eyes, and against the backdrop of the fiery red cloak, she exuded a vibrant vitality.
"Fuguang, I'm your second sister."
She hurried forward a couple of steps, came close, and took Yue Fuguang's small hands, looking her over left and right. Her bright eyes were filled with amazement and delight. "Fuguang is even more adorable and beautiful than Second Sister imagined.
Grandmother said you have a beautiful lotus mark on your forehead, and it's actually true!"
Yue Fuguang's initial slight awkwardness upon meeting a stranger was miraculously dispelled by this unreserved and somewhat familiar second sister.
She also smiled and greeted, "Second Sister, you're also very beautiful!"
Seeing her in good spirits, completely unlike her own frail state when she first returned to the Yu residence, Yue Fuguang couldn't help but ask, "When did Second Sister return?"
"I arrived at the beginning of the Chen hour (7-9 am). I've already had a nap in my room."
Judging by her radiant appearance, she must have slept well.
Yu Ningxuan continued, "I haven't even thanked Fuguang for the heated kang bed. It's so comfortable to sleep on."
A hint of grievance appeared on her face. "You have no idea, heading north on this journey, it got colder and colder. I didn't sleep well the whole way.
Who would have thought, coming home and lying down on the big kang—bliss!"
Her smile was dazzling. Although the two had exchanged letters many times before, and she had guessed her second sister would be easy to get along with,
after this one encounter today, she felt this second sister was a bit of a cheerful, simple soul, an optimist.
The two chatted and laughed, hand in hand, entering the old madam's courtyard. Before they even reached the main room, they could hear voices inside.
A maid lifted the curtain to let the two young ladies in. Yue Fuguang looked up and met several pairs of inquisitive eyes.
Unfamiliar faces—they must be Second Uncle's family.
On the main seats, Yu Chongshan, who had returned later than her, was now sitting there, smiling with Old Madam Yu as they looked upon the room full of children and grandchildren.
Seeing Yue Fuguang enter, he beckoned to her, "Fuguang, come to Grandfather."
Then, taking her hand, he pointed to the man sitting next to Yu Zhongchun, Yu Shuchun, and said, "Fuguang, this is your Second Uncle."
Yu Shuchun appeared to be in his thirties. When he smiled at her, his face was full of kindness. Unlike the fair-skinned men of the Yu family, his complexion was slightly darker.
He resembled Yu Zhongchun. Perhaps because he had long held an official post away from the capital and was a chief administrator, he seemed both shrewd and steady.
Yue Fuguang called out, "Second Uncle."
Yu Shuchun smiled in acknowledgment and took out a small box from his robe, handing it to her. "Good child, this is Second Uncle's gift for our meeting. Take it to play with, Fuguang."
Yue Fuguang thanked him. Yu Zhongchun then pointed to the beautiful woman sitting beside him, around thirty years old, with a round face and a plump, prosperous appearance. She wore a deep red dress and jacket, with only a few simple gold, jade, and pearl hairpins in her hair. "Fuguang, this is your Second Aunt."
Yue Fuguang smiled and called her Second Aunt.
Second Aunt praised her effusively and finally also handed her a slightly larger box.
Next was Second Elder Cousin, Yu Boming. His looks took after Second Aunt, also with a rounder face. He was only a year younger than his eldest brother, Yu Qingyu, but he seemed less steady than even his third brother.
Yue Fuguang could almost imagine Yu Boming becoming plump and prosperous in the future, turning into another round 'Wu Yong'.
Yu Boming's gifts to her were all things young girls her age would like: exquisite porcelain dolls, silk flowers, jewelry, etc. Yue Fuguang, with her sharp eyes, noticed that some were the same style but different colors from what Second Sister Yu Ningxuan was wearing.
Finally, there was Second Sister Yu Ningxuan. Yu Shuqin said with a smile, "This is your second sister. You must have met already. Second Uncle won't introduce you sisters further; you'll have plenty of time to get along in the future."
Yue Fuguang had called out to everyone in the room and received a pile of meeting gifts. She accepted Second Sister's embroidered pouch and also gave a return gift to Second Sister—a set of the jewelry she had previously given to her other sisters, now also given to Yu Ningxuan.
"So beautiful! This is a palace style, isn't it?" Second Aunt, née Zhao, exclaimed in surprise. The craftsmanship and materials were excellent and exquisite, the kind of good item that could be kept as a treasure for a young lady's dowry.
Old Madam Yu chimed in, "Second daughter-in-law has a good eye. These were all given to Fuguang by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Her Majesty the Empress in the palace.
This child is sincere. When she has something good, she thinks of giving it to her sisters. See, all the young ladies in the house have a set. This is what our Fuguang saved for her Second Sister."
She affectionately patted Yue Fuguang's small hand. Hmm, nice and warm. It seemed the child hadn't frozen on her way.
Having been away from the capital for many years, Zhao had long since become adept and perceptive. She keenly heard that the old madam said "given to Fuguang" by the Empress Dowager and Empress, not "bestowed upon." The difference of a single word carried completely different meanings.
All the young ladies in the residence had them, which meant the palace had given quite a few...
Could what Second Master said be true? That because the Seventh Young Miss (Yue Fuguang) had favor with the imperial family, His Majesty, considering her face, had transferred Second Master back to the capital for a post ahead of time and even promoted him half a rank?
"Keep this for your Second Sister to put in her dowry chest when she marries. Second Aunt thanks our Fuguang on behalf of your Second Sister."
She also imitated the old madam's tone of speech.
[Host, shall I open the 'Inner Voice' function to your Second Uncle's family?]
"Base it on their favorability. Open for those above sixty."
[Then only your Second Uncle and Second Sister can hear. One is at seventy-five, the other at seventy. Your Second Elder Cousin is a bit unlucky; his favorability is fifty-nine, just one point short. Not open?]
