Lin Yu’er was startled by the shout.
Turning around and realizing it was Du Du, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Come here.”
“Yes.”
Lin Yu’er waited for Du Du to run over, then pointed at the clay figure on the stone platform.
“Come, kneel down.”
Du Du obediently knelt.
Seeing her so compliant, Lin Yu’er’s lips curved slightly upward. “Originally in the Demon Realm, a weak magic weapon like you wouldn’t even be worthy of carrying my shoes. But since you’ve caught the eye of the Demon God, the duty of making offerings to the Demon God will be entrusted to you from now on!”
Du Du glanced at the little clay figure on the stone platform, then looked at Lin Yu’er.
Demon God? Offerings?
Even the clay figures her three-year-old brother made looked more human than this one.
But now she was the servant, and Lin Yu’er was the master.
She couldn’t ignore her role in this performance.
“Yes, this servant will remember her mission!”
Du Du also broke three makeshift ‘incense sticks’ on the spot and inserted them into the braised pig trotters jelly.
Seeing her so obedient and devout, Lin Yu’er nodded with satisfaction. Just then, Zhang Momo called from the doorway, “Lady, it’s time for dinner!”
“Coming!”
Lin Yu’er raised her hand in a sword-pointing gesture and bounded into the room in leaps and skips.
Du Du stood up and looked at the little clay figure on the stone platform, her expression conflicted. …Should she put this thing away? Or leave it here?
Forget it, better to put it away.
If someone stepped on it and flattened it, she wouldn’t be able to make such an ugly one if the lady ever asked about the Demon God!
Dinner passed without any mishaps.
There had been no movement from the Xiyu Courtyard either, so Zhang Momo’s heart, which had been clenched all afternoon, slowly settled back into place.
She had just helped Lin Yu’er into bed when she saw her sit up and start playing with the quilt.
“Lady, please sleep now. Stop playing—what’s so interesting about a quilt?”
“Zhang Momo, you don’t understand. This quilt has become a spirit. It fights me every night, trying to freeze me to death.” Lin Yu’er wiggled her fair, delicate feet outside the covers.
“Look, every time I sleep, it shrinks and won’t cover my feet.”
Zhang Momo glanced at the quilt’s pattern and silently adjusted it for her.
“Now it’s fine.”
Lin Yu’er kicked her feet under the covers—they were thoroughly covered now. Even if her whole body slid down, not an inch would be exposed.
She looked astonished. “You magic weapon have some skills! No wonder, out of thousands of magic weapons, only you and Du Du survived!”
“Lady, can you sleep now?”
By the time Zhang Momo asked, Lin Yu’er had already closed her eyes, tilted her head, and fallen asleep.
In the corner outside Crabapple Courtyard.
The braised pig trotters placed on the stone platform had been gnawed down to the bone, with the six ‘incense sticks’ scattered beside them.
…
He Jiulin’s eyes snapped open, finding the room dimly lit.
Hearing the movement, Chang An quickly lit a candle.
The room brightened slightly, but the man leaning against the bed still looked pale. Under the faint moonlight and mist, he exuded the frail elegance of a gentle breeze resting on jade trees.
“Marquis, you’re awake?”
Chang An brought over a basin of water that had been prepared earlier. “Marquis, here’s the water.”
He Jiulin dipped his hands into the water, staring intently at the surface. Chang An watched closely too.
“Chang An, do you see it?”
“Yes, My Lord, this servant saw it—the water is at room temperature and hasn’t turned to ice. You likely won’t have an episode this month.” Chang’an’s tone was barely able to conceal his excitement.
“Chang Sui clearly said all the antidotes were consumed by Madam, yet Your Lordship’s illness has still been suppressed. Could it be that Madam truly possesses some kind of demonic power?!”
He Jiulin frowned, remaining silent.
Chang’an carried the water basin away, pushed the door open, and poured it out onto the flowerbed outside.
When he returned, He Jiulin had already risen and was writing something at the desk, so Chang’an quietly stood by, waiting.
“Has Chang Sui gone to Crabapple Courtyard?”
As Chang’an closed the doors and windows, he replied, “Yes, even in Your Lordship’s condition, he still went. He said nighttime is the most opportune moment for attacks, and Madam must not be left unprotected! This servant thought, aren’t there others assigned to guard her? Why the urgency!”
Without looking up, He Jiulin said, “Madam’s status is special. It’s right to be cautious.”
Chang’an pouted, thinking, No matter how special, she shouldn’t take precedence over you, Master.
After a while, as He Jiulin wrote, his brush tip paused.
“Is today the fifteenth?”
“Yes.”
He Jiulin’s tone was obscure and unfathomable as he remarked, “Time passes so quickly. By the end of this month, who knows who will be impatient enough to come fetch her.”
Chang’an placed a water-filled kettle on the stove and tossed a few chestnuts beside it.
“This servant guesses it must be General Xue!”
Once word spread that the Marquis had an episode today but passed through it safely, those few certainly wouldn’t be able to sit still!
He guessed General Xue because, among those few important figures, Madam favored General Xue the most…
“Deliver this letter.” He Jiulin finally finished writing the note, folded it, slipped it into an envelope, and handed it to Chang’an.
Chang’an took it, grabbing two roasted chestnuts.
“This servant will go at once!”
Only after Chang’an left with the letter did He Jiulin push open the window and gaze toward Crabapple Courtyard, his eyes flickering. Madam seemed different from before.
He couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but something was off!
After watching for a moment, He Jiulin called for the attendants outside to prepare a meal—he hadn’t eaten before fainting.
…
The next day, Lin Yu’er woke quite early.
As she sat at the table eating, with Momma standing behind her combing her hair, several concubines arrived again at Crabapple Courtyard.
Each brought gifts as before—decorative items, jewelry, and such—so no one came empty-handed.
“Madam, shall we let them in?” Du Du asked.
Lin Yu’er looked at the table laden with breakfast. “The dumplings are mine, the buns are mine, the meat pies, the scallion pancakes—they’re all mine! I don’t want to share. Put them away, quickly, put them away!”
Zhang Momo spoke up, “Madam, there’s no need to worry. You just magnificently knocked out Yue Yiniang, and the Marquis was so impressed he placed her under house arrest for you. They’re all frightened now; they wouldn’t dare snatch food from your hands!”
They were merely going through the motions.
Lin Yu’er touched the leather pouch at her waist.
It had been delivered by Chang Sui early that morning. She had stuffed several pairs of chopsticks inside, feeling immediately reassured.
“Then, let’s see them.” Lin Yu’er lowered her head and took a big bite of scallion pancake, crumbs scattering down. “This Madam will sit right here, steady as an old dog.”
Zhang Momo’s praise mode activated: “Madam is absolutely right, Madam is wonderful, Madam must be the King of All Dogs! Renowned across the eight wildernesses!”
The diligent and studious Du Du gazed with starry eyes.
Could this be the long-lost art of the supreme language!
Before long, several aunties slipped in with their personal maids in tow, and Lin Yu’er felt her eyes dazzled.
Back at Red Star Mental Hospital, all she ever saw were striped uniforms or white coats—when had she ever encountered such a riot of red, green, cyan, purple, blue… this kaleidoscope of colors.
The next moment, this living color palette didn’t dare approach too closely, standing at a distance to pay their respects.
“Your humble servant, Lady Miao!”
“Your humble servant, Lady Wu!”
“Your humble servant, Lady Liu!”
“Your humble servant, Lady Chen…”
“Your humble servant, Lady Ye…”
They bowed in unison: “We greet the Madam.”