Su Mei had woken up, but her condition was worse than when she had been unconscious.
She could not recognize anyone.
At this moment she huddled at the far side of the bed, curling into a ball, her eyes wide and alert, watching everyone in the room without blinking.
Zikui was the first to notice something was wrong. At the words “I do not recognize you,” tears flowed from Su Mei as if a dam had broken, and she could not believe that her mistress suddenly did not recognize her.
“Miss, I am Zikui. I have been by your side since you were three. Do you not recognize me?” Zikui tried to hold back her tears and carefully approached, forcing a smile. But as her face moved, the smile failed to appear and a stream of tears followed instead.
Su Mei leaned against the wall, her mind filled with scattered images. The people and voices in those images seemed like demons burrowing into her skull, relentlessly entangling her.
She did not recognize them. She recognized no one.
“Do not come closer!”
Seeing Zikui step forward, Su Mei shouted, her voice high and sharp like a wary cat ready to scratch anyone who approached.
Zikui, still holding onto a glimmer of hope, completely broke down at these words, turning to glare at the main cause of the trouble.
Lin Henglǐ remained silent. This situation was not intentional on his part. Even encountering Su Qin in the garden had been unexpected.
The maid who brought the letter had clearly said it was for Su Mei to deliver, but it was Su Qin who arrived, and then Su Mei appeared immediately afterward, leaving him no chance to explain before she demanded to break off the engagement.
Everything had happened too coincidentally.
Watching Su Mei in her confused state, Lin Henglǐ quietly regretted impulsively pushing her. He also vaguely realized that the incident in the garden might have been orchestrated by her.
After thinking it over, he concluded that Su Mei knew about his previous interactions with Su Qin.
Su Mei and her stepsister had completely different types of beauty.
Su Qin was beautiful on the outside, catching the eye at first glance, but that impression faded quickly. Lin Henglǐ had never really regarded her seriously. Su Mei’s beauty, carved into the bones, refined like spring pear blossoms, with a delicate elegance that was not flirtatious, truly fit the image he had of a wife.
Such a gentle beauty, her voice soft and lingering, could melt the heart. He never expected that beneath her softness there was hidden cunning, causing him to fall into a trap unawares.
Lin Henglǐ gazed at Su Mei, his expression increasingly complex.
Li, still recovering from being hit, sat for a long time before regaining composure. Seeing Su Mei in her current frenzy, she panted anxiously. “Doctor, what is wrong with her? Check her pulse again. What is happening?!”
The Zhongyi Marquis’ most cherished daughter was the child left by his deceased wife. Her son had pushed her to the ground, which was already a grave matter. Now seeing her in this state, how could she explain it to the Zhongyi Marquis?
The doctor had already observed for some time and formed a conclusion, but as the mistress requested him to check the pulse, he had no choice but to comply.
“Miss, do not be afraid. Please extend your hand. I am a doctor and will only treat you, not harm you.”
“No!” Su Mei shouted.
For reasons unclear, the doctor’s words triggered another emotional outburst. She jumped off the bed before he could approach.
Anyone in her path was pushed aside with force as she bolted for the door.
Li shouted in alarm. “Stop Third Miss. Do not let her fall again. She is precious.”
The servants finally reacted and rushed forward. A strong older maid reached out and grabbed Su Mei’s arm.
Used to heavy labor, she had strength to spare. Su Mei cried out in pain, tears immediately springing to her eyes.
“Miss!” Zikui lunged into the servants, trying to pull the maid’s earrings and hair. “Do not touch my mistress!”
The maid shrieked in pain and released her hold. Su Mei, seeing Zikui fighting, mimicked her, tearing and pulling at anyone blocking her path.
The two fought together, turning the room into chaos. Servants fell, furniture and porcelain clattered.
With Zikui’s help, Su Mei finally escaped. Lin Henglǐ, scowling at his mother berating the servants, quickly followed.
No matter if it was a trap, she could not be allowed to get hurt again.
He ran through the corridors and saw the slender figure of Su Mei already outside the courtyard. “Call all the guards,” he commanded.
The banquet room was in chaos. Princess Jiaxi, concerned about her grandson’s trouble, ordered someone to investigate the situation.
A maid brought hot tea to calm her. “Third Miss is blessed. With you here, she will surely be protected from harm.”
Princess Jiaxi, unconvinced, sipped the tea but remained worried. “Henglǐ is normally cautious. How could he act so foolishly at home? The Zhongyi Marquis cannot be easily deceived.”
The maid considered for a moment. “It is probably Su Mei, the eldest daughter of the Su family. The young master is remarkable. Any girl would be drawn to him.”
“What is that girl? How dare she?” Princess Jiaxi slammed her cup on the table in disdain.
“Old Madam, the gatekeeper reports that the Third Master has returned, is awake, and wishes to pay respects.”
The news interrupted their conversation. Princess Jiaxi, already irritated, looked even sterner.
“For years he has not forgotten those hypocritical gestures. What is his purpose in coming now? Is it to claim credit for helping Second Master, or to curry favor with me? He should not have come in this state. Let him rest and avoid giving others reason to say I am overbearing. A concubine-born son with injuries does not need to be taught discipline here.”
The maid nodded and hurried to stop him, fearing any delay would create trouble.
Princess Jiaxi could not be persuaded, so the maid planned to send some medicinal herbs later to maintain her mistressly authority.
Lin Third Master, despised by Princess Jiaxi, entered the rear courtyard’s gate in his sedan chair. A young boy in a servant’s disguise followed, frowning. “Third Master, the princess is entertaining guests. She may not have time to see us. We should return.”
Lin Yian did not respond immediately. He covered his mouth with a plain handkerchief, coughed, then spoke calmly. “Courtesy must not be neglected. I have returned safely from a long journey and must pay respects to my legitimate mother.”
His voice was pleasant and light, soothing like spring wind.
The young boy, seeing the thin blanket covering his legs, almost cried. How could he be unharmed?
The boy recalled that on the way to deliver gifts for the Second Master, a sudden storm struck. Stones fell on the carriage in the mountain path, burying it. By the time they found the Third Master, he was barely alive.
His life had been spared, but both legs had been crushed and trapped, beyond the skill of several doctors. They said he might never walk again.
Lin Yian looked up at the blue sky. Seeing the boy’s distress, he smiled. “Why cry? I am lucky despite the misfortune. Guests are here. If someone sees us, it will be improper.”
“Others are unlikely to see,” the boy muttered, wiping his tears.
By coincidence, a commotion arose ahead. A woman’s voice called for her mistress, crying.
The boy froze. Lin Yian, with a clearer view, saw a figure emerging from the bamboo grove in their direction.
“Stop for now,” he commanded, and the sedan chair halted. Su Mei, panicked, ran from the bamboo.
The sunlight was harsh. She instinctively closed her eyes. Lin Yian got a clear look.
A young girl, hair disheveled, forehead wrapped in cloth, pale face, hair and body covered in leaves and grass. Her bare feet were in muddy blackened socks.
Where did this girl come from? Lin Yian saw at once that she was not from the household and frowned.
Su Mei opened her eyes. Her attention fixed on him, fragments of images flickered in her mind.
Unlike before, the flashes were continuous, like shadow puppets. The gentle-faced man in her memory merged with the young man in front of her.
The final image froze on her smiling brightly on his shoulder.
She remembered this man. He was…
Lost in her fragmented memory, Su Mei looked astonished, even frightened. Her gaze became blank when meeting Lin Yian’s eyes.
He studied her silently. Her face became increasingly familiar, a scene forming in his memory.
Yes, he had seen this girl before.
The Zhongyi Marquis’ legitimate daughter, his future niece-in-law.
Lin Yian recalled her identity and found it strange. How had she ended up looking like a refugee in the Marquisate?
“Are you alright? Are you lost?” he asked with a warm smile, eyes gentle like sunlight.
Su Mei blinked at his smile. Her eyes reddened and tears began to fall.
He was startled. She was crying again.
At that moment, Lin Henglǐ arrived, gesturing to his men to surround them.
Lin Yian saw the approaching group and looked toward his nephew. Su Mei suddenly ran into him, crashing against his chest.
Her hands clung tightly around his neck. Her warmth, the scent of her, and hot tears pressed against his face.
“I am afraid!”
She sobbed, clinging to him. Lin Yian’s breath caught, stunned by the title she had used.
Niece-in-law… called him what?
He tried to pull her away, but she held tighter, burying her face in his chest. “I am afraid!”
The sound of her voice was tender and overwhelming.
The guards chasing her stopped, shocked. Lin Henglǐ’s face turned red with anger and embarrassment.
“Su Mei! You are mad!” he roared. Birds scattered at the sound.
Lin Yian’s chest throbbed. His injuries flared, and he felt faint. He heard Su Mei crying “husband” repeatedly, tender and intimate. He could not believe it.