In Liu Rumei’s gentle eyes, red from exhaustion, a flicker of heartache passed as she shook her head.
“Su’er, Mother knows you’ve been enduring such grievances all for my sake…”
At this point, Liu Rumei couldn’t help but turn her head away, raising her hand to wipe the corner of her eye.
“Mother, what matters most now is to detoxify the poison in you and Younger brother, and restore your weakened health. Everything else is unimportant.”
Pretending not to notice her mother secretly wiping tears, Ji Yunsu led her to sit on the kang bed. From the cloth bag she carried, she took out a pile of medicinal herbs and placed them on the low table by the kang.
Hearing his elder sister mention “poison,” Ji Wenbo, who had been sulking in the corner, couldn’t hide his surprise.
Almost simultaneously, Ji Wenbo turned to Ji Yunsu and asked curiously, “Elder sister, are you serious? Are Younger brother and Mother really poisoned?”
Lately, Ji Wenbo had suddenly been feeling weak all over. He thought he was gravely ill and about to die.
But according to his elder sister, it was actually poisoning! Who would want to harm them?
Ji Yunsu didn’t directly answer her brother’s question. Instead, she spoke gently to her somewhat proud younger brother, “Wenbo, bring me the medicine decoction pot.”
After saying this, Ji YunSu skillfully began processing the gathered herbs in front of her mother and brother.
Due to limited herbal resources in the mountains, she had only gathered enough to detoxify the poison in herself.
The poisoner was cunning—the slow-acting poison given to her was different from the types administered to Mother and Younger brother.
The slow-acting poison affecting Mother and Younger brother would gradually consume their health, leading them to weaken and eventually die.
Meanwhile, the slow-acting poison in Ji Yunsu not only threatened her life but would also completely ruin her appearance.
Ji Yunsu couldn’t help but wonder: Why would the perpetrator go through such trouble, meticulously administering two different types of slow-acting poison to their family of three?
What could possibly be the purpose behind going to such lengths to destroy her looks?
Thud!
A sound pulled Ji Yunsu’s thoughts back to reality.
Coming to her senses, she saw Ji Wenbo had brought over a blackened earthen medicine pot as his elder sister instructed.
Looking at the young boy who was clearly upset with her but still promptly cooperated whenever his elder sister needed anything, a fond smile unconsciously appeared in her eyes.
This dragon-phoenix twin brother born on the same day as her was truly adorable.
Ji Yunsu started decocting the antidote for herself—actions speak louder than words.
To make Mother and Younger brother believe her “poisoning” diagnosis, the most direct method was to prove it.
While waiting for the medicine to decoct, Ji Yunsu kept herself busy. Using the pseudoginseng, callicarpa, and oriental arborvitae leaves she had picked from the mountain, she pounded them into paste and applied it to her brother’s bruised forehead.
These herbs had hemostatic and anti-inflammatory properties, making them highly effective for treating external injuries.
“Sis, it hurts. Be gentler.”
The young boy covered his wound, grimacing in pain as he muttered softly.
Ji Yunsu’s hands instinctively softened their movements, though her tone remained stern.
“Next time you fight someone, don’t use your head as a weapon. At least grab something—any stick or brick will do. Just don’t throw yourself at them, understand?”
Scolded by his own elder sister, Ji Wenbo scratched his head sheepishly, his earlier minor grievances toward her instantly vanishing into thin air.
As if suddenly struck by a thought, Ji Wenbo turned to Ji Yunsu with curiosity and asked:
“Elder sister, how did you suddenly learn medicine and martial arts?”
Hearing this, a frank light flashed through Ji Yunsu’s clear, almond-shaped eyes.
Without any evasion, she replied, “If I told you that after walking through the gates of the underworld and waking up, I suddenly knew medicine and martial arts, would you believe me?”
As her words fell, Ji Yunsu stared directly at the young boy.
The siblings’ gazes met in the air.
The light in Ji Wenbo’s distinct black-and-white eyes flickered twice, and without a moment’s hesitation, he declared loudly, “Of course I believe you! I believe anything you say!”
Hearing her younger brother’s unwavering affirmation, Ji Yunsu felt a warmth spread through her heart.
So this was what it felt like to be unconditionally trusted by family—it was truly wonderful.
“Su’er, no matter how you change, you will always be Mother’s daughter.”
At this moment, Liu Rumei gently interjected.
Ji Yunsu looked at her mother, who was leaning weakly against the headrest, clearly exhausted but forcing herself to stay alert to avoid worrying her and her brother. Her eyes reddened slightly as she murmured, “Mother…”
The next day.
The moment the first rays of morning sunlight fell upon the roof of the dilapidated thatched hut,
a startled exclamation came from inside: “Elder sister, your face…”
Ji Wenbo stared at his sister’s swollen, pig-like face, which had noticeably begun to recede after she drank the decoction prepared the previous night. He was so astonished his jaw nearly dropped.
The sallow-faced young boy circled excitedly around Ji Yunsu.
Her eyebrows were like willow leaves, her eyes like stars, her nose like fine jade, and her lips like cherries.
Previously, her facial swelling had been so severe that her features were nearly squeezed together, completely distorting their proportions.
But now, as the swelling subsided, her features returned to their proper places.
It was clear she would grow into a beauty.
Ji Yunsu looked at her gradually revealing beauty in the bronze mirror.
At this moment, she finally understood why someone would go to such lengths to ruin her appearance.
It seemed they were convinced her stunning beauty posed some kind of threat.
“Su’er, the swelling in your face has started to go down, but why hasn’t the swelling in your body subsided yet?”
Liu Rumei noticed her daughter’s body remained unchanged and asked with concern.
“Mother, the toxins have accumulated quite heavily in my body. It will take some time for the antidote to take full effect.”
“In about ten days to half a month, the toxins in my body should be completely cleared.”
Hearing this, Liu Rumei let out a long sigh of relief. “That’s good, that’s good.”
“Second Young Lady, it’s time to depart!”
Just then, an unpleasant, old hag’s voice called from outside the hut.
Early that morning, Zhao Momo had followed the Second Young Lady’s instructions and hired a spacious carriage lined with soft cushions.
Now, she stood at the door with Zhang Momo and a group of servants, waiting for Concubine Liu and her two children to set off.
Amidst the grating sound of the door opening, Liu Rumei emerged with her son and daughter.
Everyone was momentarily taken aback at the sight of Ji Yunsu, who now wore a weimao that completely concealed her delicate features.
“Ugly people sure make the most fuss.”
Zhang Momo, who had been beaten half to death last night, stood by the carriage with a bruised and swollen face, her limbs still bandaged, unable to resist muttering these scornful words.
Just then, Ji Yunsu happened to pass by Zhang Momo and overheard her venomous remark.
Beneath the weimao, Yunsu’s swollen face—still bearing delicate features—showed no trace of anger.
Instead, before stepping into the carriage, she cheerfully responded, “Thank you for the compliment, Zhang Momo.”
At these words, Zhang Momo—her face bruised and body still aching from unhealed injuries—flashed a panicked look in her narrow eyes.
I spoke so softly just now—how could this lowly illegitimate daughter still hear me?
Zhang Momo had been thoroughly intimidated by Yunsu’s beating. Though she secretly gritted her teeth with hatred, having experienced the second young miss’s ferocity, she dared not act recklessly now.
She had already stealthily plotted: once she got them into the Grand Tutor Manor, she would have plenty of means to torment Liu Shi and her three children. Hmph!
A mere village woman wasn’t even fit to carry the madam’s shoes—how could a concubine protect her illegitimate children?
With the tight deadline set by the Grand Tutor Manor, Zhao Momo hurried to Zhang Momo’s side and whispered a reminder, “Set aside personal grudges for now. Completing the madam’s task is what matters.”
After speaking, Zhao Momo ordered all the servants to follow the carriages. She and Zhang Momo took a small carriage leading the way, the spacious carriage carrying Liu Shi and her three children followed in the middle, and the servants brought up the rear in the last carriage.
The group traveled urgently, pressing on day and night toward the capital.
No sooner had Yunsu left the thatched cottage than a luxurious carriage pulled up in the clearing before it.
Driving it was a young guard dressed in martial attire.
He leaped down immediately and kicked the door open with a “bang.”
“Master, there’s no one inside!”
Inside the carriage, a man sat imposingly with a stern expression, his phoenix eyes half-lidded like an unapproachable deity.
Just then, his eyes snapped open, a sharp, cold gleam flashing within them.
With an indifferent expression, Pei Wuheng parted his moist, thin lips and issued an uncompromising command: “Move on to the next one!”