After his surge of excitement, Zhao Changyu’s face took on a sickly flush. He pressed a hand to his chest and slowly sat down at the table, saying to her, “You may go back first. Your grandfather needs to think carefully about the path you should take in the future.”
He added, “Do not speak of today’s events to anyone, including your mother.”
Zhao Hanzhang agreed.
After a pause, Zhao Changyu said, “Since you claim to have lost your memory, then let it be so.”
Zhao Changyu did not believe his granddaughter had truly lost her memory, assuming instead that she was using this as a means to suppress the Second Branch. Previously, he had not entirely approved of this approach, but now…
Well, if the child wished to proceed this way, so be it.
Zhao Hanzhang returned to her courtyard and climbed back into bed, leaning against the headboard.
The soul of this body seemed to have truly dissipated. She did not know whether she and Professor Fu could return to the modern era, but it was clear that the original owner would not be coming back.
Thus, while she resided in this body, she wanted to do something for her, and for those she cared about.
Consider it rent for borrowing her body.
Moreover, she herself wished to live more freely and comfortably.
The Second Branch of the Zhao Family was clearly unreliable. Rather than placing hope in them, it was better to follow the young girl’s inner thoughts and let their own main branch stand on its own, at the very least possessing the ability to protect themselves.
Zhao Hanzhang reviewed her earlier responses in her mind once more, confirming there were no issues, then slid down with a sigh, saying, “I’m hungry…”
Thinking hard always made her stomach growl faster.
Zhao Hanzhang called out to the outside, “Ting He.”
Ting He hurried in. “What does Third Lady need?”
“Food. Go to the kitchen and fetch some tea snacks. I’m hungry.”
Ting He smiled and agreed, turning to leave.
Since Third Lady’s injury, although she remained troubled, her appetite had improved considerably.
The pastries from the Zhao Family’s kitchen were, of course, exceptionally delicious. The snacks Ting He brought suited her taste perfectly, clearly indicating that her preferences were similar to the young girl’s.
As she was eating, a maid entered with small steps. “Third Lady, Imperial Physician Chen has arrived.”
Zhao Hanzhang paused with a pastry in her mouth, set it down for Ting He to clear away, and asked, “Who summoned the imperial physician?”
While pondering how to respond, she heard the maid say, “Cheng Bo brought him, saying the Lord sent someone to invite him.”
Zhao Hanzhang stopped Ting He, retrieved the pastry, and continued eating. “Please show him in.”
Imperial Physician Chen entered carrying his medicine chest and saw a young lady sitting on the couch, eating pastries. Upon seeing him, she waved him over. “Imperial Physician Chen, would you care for some tea and snacks first?”
Imperial Physician Chen: …
He glanced skeptically at Cheng Bo. “Is this the Third Lady of the household?”
“Yes,” Cheng Bo replied, though also surprised, quickly concealing his astonishment and bowing. “Please examine our Third Lady.”
Imperial Physician Chen had no choice but to step forward. Zhao Hanzhang was obedient, setting down her pastry and extending her hand, answering whatever he asked.
“Third Lady still cannot remember anything?”
“Not entirely. I can vaguely recall some things,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “Images of someone rushing to report that Erlang had left the city keep flashing through my mind, but what follows is chaos. If I try to recall further, my head aches unbearably, and my heart races.”
Imperial Physician Chen felt her pulse while studying her intently. “What about the person? Do you recognize anyone?”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed. “Aside from Erlang, I only vaguely remember the maid who came to deliver the news, but I recall her face, not her name.”
"Even your parents and siblings are forgotten?"
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and affirmed, then asked with concern, "I wonder when I might remember. Mother cries every day when she visits me. It took great effort to finally persuade her to rest today."
Imperial Physician Chen looked at her silently for a long moment before withdrawing his hand and saying, "Third Lady, rest well. Since you cannot remember, do not force it, lest your condition worsen."
He continued, "First, recover your health. When the time comes, you will naturally remember."
Zhao Hanzhang deeply agreed, nodding obediently and responding, "Yes."
After Imperial Physician Chen left a prescription and departed, Cheng Bo bowed slightly to Zhao Hanzhang and followed to see the physician out.
No sooner had Imperial Physician Chen left than the girl's mother, Madam Wang, hurried in. Her eyes were still red and swollen—clearly, she had cried again after being persuaded by Zhao Hanzhang to return earlier.
As soon as she entered, she fixed her gaze on Zhao Hanzhang and rushed forward. "Third Lady, what did Imperial Physician Chen say?"
Zhao Hanzhang leaned against the bed, feigning weakness. "The physician said it's nothing serious, only that I still cannot remember."
Madam Wang's eyes reddened again. She took Zhao Hanzhang's hand and wept softly. "My poor child…"
Zhao Hanzhang let her hold her hand. In her presence, the words "Mother" simply would not come out—this sister was about the same age as her, and indeed, that was the case.
Despite having a fourteen-year-old daughter, Madam Wang herself was still in the bloom of youth, only two years older than Zhao Hanzhang had been in her previous life.
Though Zhao Hanzhang could not bring herself to call her "Mother," she could not bear to see a girl cry. So, she quickly clasped Madam Wang's hand and changed the subject. "How is Erlang?"
Madam Wang's tears subsided slightly as she dried her eyes with a handkerchief. "He is still kneeling in the Ancestral Hall. Your grandfather was furious this time and personally punished him."
She paused, lowering her voice. "Not only Erlang, but First Madam Zhao of the Second Branch is also kneeling in the Ancestral Hall. Although your grandfather does not stop us from sending them food and drink, he forbids them from leaving the hall. Every day, they must not only kneel but also recite the family precepts and genealogy. You know how it is—Erlang is slow-witted. He can manage some of the genealogy, but the family precepts…"
Zhao Hanzhang pondered silently. Erlang, also known as Zhao Yong, the original body's younger brother, was only twelve years old this year.
After a moment of thought, she turned to Ting He. "Go find Cheng Bo and tell him that after taking the medicine, I fell asleep but had a nightmare. Now I'm sweating all over and calling for Erlang. Beg him to let Erlang come see me."
Ting He looked at the Young Lady, whose complexion was still quite rosy, and hesitated. After a long pause, she finally curtsied and agreed.
Aunt Qing, who had come with Madam Wang, immediately said, "I will go with you."
Madam Wang grew anxious and asked Zhao Hanzhang, "Wouldn't this be deceiving your grandfather? What if he finds out…"
Zhao Hanzhang reassured her, "It's fine. What in this courtyard could escape Grandfather's notice? If he disapproves, he will have Cheng Bo refuse."
Cheng Bo did not refuse. Thus, Zhao Erlang, pale-faced and unable to stand straight from kneeling, was supported and brought to Zhao Hanzhang's Qingyi Pavilion, leaving only Zhao Hewan, First Madam Zhao, in the Ancestral Hall.
Zhao Erlang was helped inside. Apart from her memories, this was Zhao Hanzhang's first time meeting this nominal younger brother in reality.
The twelve-year-old boy was tall and sturdy, with chubby, baby-faced cheeks. As soon as he entered and his gaze fell upon his sister sitting up in bed, without warning, he opened his mouth and burst into loud sobs. "Elder Sister, Elder Sister, waaah—"
Zhao Hanzhang was startled, and Madam Wang also began to cry, hurrying forward to embrace her son. "Erlang…"
Zhao Erlang wept loudly, tears streaming down his face like a breached river. With his eyes tightly shut, he was supported by a servant to the bedside. Only when he touched Zhao Hanzhang did his sobbing begin to subside, though he remained deeply distressed.
Crying all the while, he struggled to open his eyes and look at Zhao Hanzhang. Each glance made him cry even louder.
Zhao Hanzhang: …