Recovering from Injuries
“Second Miss, you…”
Zhi Qiu gasped in shock.
“I’m fine. What about Grandmother? Has she woken up?”
Yu Shuwan’s eyes were filled with worry.
Zhi Qiu lowered her gaze and saw that the palms of her hands were also torn and bloody. She exclaimed, “Second Miss, your hands!”
“It’s nothing serious, Auntie. Please just tell me.”
Yu Shuwan pleaded.
She had only stepped out earlier because Grandmother Yu was about to sleep, but she knew that after such an incident, Grandmother Yu would not rest peacefully.
She was at fault in these matters, so she was willing to come forward and admit her mistakes.
Zhi Qiu felt both heartache and anger. “The Old Madam has taken her medicine and is already asleep. Why must you confront Eldest Miss like this? The Old Madam said she would protect you, so you don’t need to worry about them.”
“But I can’t rely on Grandmother to protect me forever.”
Yu Shuwan lowered her head. “Auntie Zhi Qiu, these injuries on my body must not be seen by Grandmother for the next couple of days, so I won’t be able to attend to her closely. I’ll have to trouble you to take extra care of her. If Grandmother asks, just tell her I’ve realized my mistake and am praying for her blessings by copying scriptures.”
Zhi Qiu sighed heavily. “Even if you hadn’t asked, I would have taken good care of the Old Madam.”
Without another word, she took Yu Shuwan’s wrist and led her back to her courtyard, instructing someone to fetch the physician who had not yet left.
“If you truly care for the Old Madam, don’t stir up any more trouble.”
After the wounds were treated, Zhi Qiu couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration.
Despite such deep injuries, Yu Shuwan hadn’t made a single sound—proof that she was a tough person.
But Yu Shuwan had still done wrong.
Today’s kinship recognition banquet had truly become a farce. From now on, rumors of discord between the two young misses would spread throughout Zhongyi Houfu, and who knew how much ridicule they would face from outsiders.
“I know Auntie Zhi Qiu cares for me, so I’m not afraid to speak plainly with you.”
Yu Shuwan’s face was pale, but her eyes still shone with stubbornness. “The first time, she tried to push me into the water, but the dress I was wearing today would have become transparent if it got wet. At such a grand banquet, the maids and elderly servants were all sent away, leaving only the young male attendants. If I had fallen into the water and been rescued by them, who would have spoken up for me? Even if Grandmother wanted to help me, the facts would have been laid bare, and I would have had to swallow my grievances. But I am not someone who lets others bully me. If she starts it, I’ll finish it—fair and square.”
The only difference was that she had been prepared, while Yu Guiwan had not.
It was a matter of skill, and her only mistake was letting Yu Guiwan stir up another scene by threatening suicide, which had upset Grandmother.
“Auntie Zhi Qiu, I know very well that in this entire Marquis Estate, only Grandmother truly welcomes me back.”
Listening to Yu Shuwan’s words, Zhi Qiu’s eyes grew warm.
How could she not know what kind of person Su Jintang was?
In the short time since Yu Shuwan’s return, there had been no shortage of favoritism.
“Wait until the Old Madam wakes up, then apologize to her properly.”
Zhi Qiu said softly, “After all, Madam is your mother. No matter what, you shouldn’t have done such a thing.”
Yu Shuwan did not respond.
Zhi Qiu pulled the blanket up and noticed that Yu Shuwan had already fallen asleep, her brows furrowed.
Her small face remained pale, and the shape of her bones was almost visible beneath her skin.
Zhi Qiu let out a long sigh, left the ointment behind, and quietly slipped out of the room.
After a while, Yu Shuwan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. Once she confirmed there were no sounds around, she slowly opened her eyes.
She simply didn’t want to keep listening anymore.
She had heard these principles for two lifetimes—how could she not know them?
But in her previous life, she had already written the answer with her entire existence, so why should she dwell on these thoughts now?
Yu Shuwan tried to sit up, but the wounds on her body burned with a fiery pain even after being medicated.
It hadn’t felt so intense earlier, but now that she had rested a bit and let her guard down, the pain became more pronounced.
After a few more attempts, she felt as though her wounds were about to reopen, so she dared not move recklessly.
In a daze, Yu Shuwan drifted off to sleep.
Half-asleep, she heard the door gently push open.
Yu Shuwan trembled, watching as a man with jade-like features walked toward her, the very picture of a refined gentleman.
He smiled at her and extended his hand. “Madam, it’s time for us to return.”
“No!”
Terrified, Yu Shuwan screamed and jolted awake from the dream. Standing before her was a young maid with a pointed chin and large eyes.
The maid stared at her in fright. “Second… Second Miss…”
So it had just been a dream.
Yu Shuwan panted heavily, gradually calming herself. “What are you doing here?”
The maid obediently placed the meal on the table. “It’s already evening, time for dinner.”
Only then did Yu Shuwan notice that the sky outside had darkened.
“Auntie said that since you’re injured, you should eat something light. Will this do?”
The maid spoke timidly, not daring to look directly at Yu Shuwan.
News of Yu Shuwan’s “heroic” actions earlier had already spread throughout the entire Zhongyi Houfu. The maid was genuinely afraid that the Second Miss might strike her.
Yu Shuwan hummed in acknowledgment, listlessly sipping the porridge before her. The longer she looked at the maid, the more familiar she seemed.
Having just woken up, her mind was still foggy, but by the candlelight, the maid bore a resemblance to someone from her past…
“You…”
“Second Miss, if I’ve done anything wrong, please tell me! I’ll definitely correct it!”
Before Yu Shuwan could finish her sentence, the maid had already knelt down, pleading tearfully.
Yu Shuwan: “…”
Was she really that terrifying?
Feeling somewhat helpless, Yu Shuwan pushed the bowl aside. “What’s your name?”
“This servant… this servant is Kexin…”
Kexin.
Yu Shuwan remembered now.
In her previous life, this young maid had been assigned as her personal attendant—gentle in nature, but unfortunately, she had followed the wrong mistress.
During the mountain praying for blessings, Yu Guiwan had released a venomous snake into her room. Kexin, trying to protect her, was bitten by the snake.
At that time, Yu Shuwan herself had little chance of finding a physician. By the time she managed to plead with Grandmother Yu to send one, Kexin had already passed away.
Looking back, she and Kexin had only shared two months as mistress and servant.
“What are you afraid of? I don’t bite.”
Recalling these memories, Yu Shuwan’s voice softened. “Did I scare you just because I had a nightmare?”
Kexin didn’t dare respond.
She had heard others describe how eccentric this Second Miss was, but from these few words, she even detected a hint of playfulness in Yu Shuwan’s tone.
Could the rumors be wrong?
“If I frightened you, I apologize.”
Yu Shuwan fumbled on the bed, found a jade thumb ring, and directly pushed it toward her. “Here, this is an apology gift.”
Although she, Yu Shuwan, was no pushover, she could still distinguish right from wrong.