The carriage stopped before the gates of the Duke’s estate. Supported by Nian Chun, Ye Qingyu slowly stepped down. At the sight of the grand gates, memories of her past life surged—dark clouds pressing low, crows shrieking, the ground drenched in blood. She shook her head, forcing away the gruesome vision. Now reborn, she swore she would protect the Duke’s household with her life. The tragedy of her past would never happen again.
“Qingqing, let Second Aunt take a look. Are you hurt? Were you frightened?” Madam Zhong, her second aunt, examined her anxiously, her face full of worry and tenderness.
Ye Qingyu’s eyes shimmered with tears, but she held them back. “Second Aunt, I’m fine. I only made you worry.”
Madam Xu, her third aunt, fumed. “It’s lucky I went to fetch Qingqing. You don’t know how that family treated her. Hmph! That old crone of the Ye family isn’t fit to be her grandmother.”
Both aunts held her protectively, their anger spilling out, leaving Ye Qingyu no chance to speak.
In the side hall, Madam Zhong sat down, still indignant. “If I’d known, I would have gone with you. How could they treat Qingqing as if she had no one to protect her?”
Madam Xu added bitterly, “Seeing her kneeling on that cold floor—if not for propriety, I’d have slapped that old hag myself!”
“Yes, we should have gone. Our precious child, how dare they trample her! They think the Duke’s household is easy to bully? When the Duke returns, we’ll make sure he knows.”
Ye Qingyu’s eyes reddened. To see her aunts alive, defending her so fiercely, filled her with warmth. She hated her past self—blind, foolish, groveling before those who never treated her as family, while distancing herself from the Duke’s household. It had never been worth it.
“Truly, I’m fine. Please don’t worry,” she said softly.
Madam Zhong clasped her hand, eyes full of love. “Such a sensible child—it breaks my heart.”
At that moment, her third cousin, Gu Huaizhi, entered, elegant and refined, followed by a physician carrying a medicine box.
“Mother, Second Aunt, the doctor is here. Little cousin, if you feel unwell, speak up.” His worried gaze fell on Ye Qingyu. Seeing her unharmed, he believed Nian Chun’s report that she hadn’t been injured.
“Third Cousin.”
“Qingqing, were you frightened?” he asked. Normally, any girl would be in tears after such an ordeal. Based on her past demeanor, she should have been terrified. Yet she looked calm, almost as if nothing had happened. It surprised him.
“With Prince Chu’s rescue, I wasn’t afraid,” she replied, her dark eyes shining as she looked at her cousin, her heart aching. She remembered his fate—mocked, humiliated, stripped of his chance to sit the imperial exams, left in disgrace, and dying miserably despite his talent.
Gu Huaizhi noticed her pitying gaze, puzzled. “Qingqing, why do you look at me like that?” Was she shaken so badly she’d lost her senses? Shouldn’t she be the one pitied?
Embarrassed, she turned her eyes away. “It’s nothing. I just haven’t seen you in so long—I missed you.”
“Really?” He looked doubtful. Perhaps he had misread her expression.
Madam Xu pushed him aside impatiently. “Don’t get in the way. Let the doctor examine her.”
The physician took her pulse and declared, “This young lady is perfectly healthy. No need to worry.”
Relief spread through the room. Madam Zhong still fretted. “Shouldn’t she take some calming medicine?”
The old doctor frowned. “Her body is fine. Medicine is poison in small doses. Why give it needlessly?”
Madam Zhong nodded quickly. “Alright, as long as she’s fine. Thank you, doctor. Huaizhi, see him out.”
Ye Qingyu reassured her aunts. “I’m truly well. Please don’t worry.”
Madam Xu’s voice softened. “Good. Still, don’t take it lightly. If you feel unwell, speak up.”
Ye Qingyu nodded obediently. “Yes. Has Grandfather not returned from court yet?”
She had been at the estate for some time. If he were home, he would have come to see her already.
Madam Xu sighed. “The Emperor must have detained him. Otherwise, he would have gone himself to fetch you.”
A servant entered. “Second Madam, lunch is ready.”
“Okay.”
“Qingqing, you must be hungry. After all that, you haven’t eaten since returning from Nanhua Temple. I’ve prepared your favorite dishes. Come, let’s eat first.”
“Yes, it’s nearly noon. You must be starving,” Madam Xu agreed.
They seated her and filled her bowl with her favorite foods.
Ye Qingyu hesitated. “Shouldn’t we wait for Grandfather?”
She longed to see him alive again. In her past life, she had watched him die before her eyes. Until she saw him now, she could not feel at ease.
Suddenly, a servant’s voice rang out: “The Duke has returned!”
Ye Qingyu leapt to her feet and rushed outside.