Chapter 63

The capital city of Yangzi Kingdom, Qimeng City, and the imperial palace were in chaos for one night, and only by noon the next day did everything become calm and stable.

Soldiers in uniform entered the palace in an orderly manner, taking over remaining supplies and personnel. The officials, palace maids, and eunuchs originally in the palace were all placed under guard in batches, each confined to a separate room.

I and over a dozen palace maids were locked in a south-facing empty room; sunlight streamed in through a window broken at some unknown time, making the whole room warm. If it weren't for the girls in the room with mournful faces, silently weeping, it would actually be quite comfortable. In fact, escaping would not be difficult for me. However, in this world I am hopeless with directions, and I don't carry much silver on me; rather than meeting up with the Bu Sha elsewhere, it's better to stay in this imperial palace. Anyway, even if the regime changes, seeing how strict the rebel army's discipline is, those innocent palace maids and eunuchs shouldn't be mistreated; fleeing hastily might instead get us struck by arrows, stones, and burning fire.

I sat with my knees drawn up before the window, little silver occasionally rubbing gently against me in my embrace, and I unexpectedly recalled the scene of meeting Qian Qian that day.

One day earlier.

Xian Yun's face changed dramatically; a voice both surprised and shaken blurted out, "Ying Ruo?!"

I gave a faint smile and softly called out: "Qian Qian."

"Ying Ruo, you... how did you end up here?" Qian Qian's expression was a little uneasy, but she couldn't hide the joy of unexpectedly meeting again.

"I escaped." I held the railing, lightly leapt up and sat on it, "Qian Qian, did you take Xin Luo away?"

Qian Qian stared for a moment, then gave a candid smile, gracefully sitting on the railing opposite me in the corridor, "Ying Ruo, you're really smart. Actually, when I first agreed to help the emperor with this favor, I already regretted it, possibly losing you as a friend."

I forced a bitter smile, shook my head, and said: "Forget it, anyway things are already over. But Qian Qian, who exactly... are you?"

Qian Qian revealed a bitter smile almost identical to mine, and softly said: "The same question—I also really want to ask Ying Ruo, what about you?"

This time I laughed, shrugged my shoulders, and helplessly said: "Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. Even as friends, we each have our own privacy and secrets; sorry, I was too selfish."

"Are we still friends?" Qian Qian blurted out in surprise.

"Of course." I exclaimed in astonishment, "You won't stop considering me a friend just because I hid something from you, will you?"

"But regarding Xin Luo..." Qian Qian looked at me, her brows slightly furrowed, her eyes seeming to flicker with something; after a long while, she suddenly seemed to have made a great decision, and said in a low voice, "Ying Ruo, do you know the Ice Spirit Kingdom?"

My heart gave a start; I nodded somewhat doubtfully and said: "I've heard a bit about it; what's up?"

Qian Qian lowered her head and remained silent for a long time; when she lifted her head again, her face showed undisguised sorrow and desolation: "I actually... am one of the Seven Holy Maidens pre-selected by the Ice Spirit Kingdom, and my name is Qing Yi."

"Holy Maiden?" I repeated, somewhat startled, wondering if it's like Xiao Zhao in Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, who is forbidden to marry for life?

"The so-called Holy Maiden..." Qian Qian paused, wearing a bitter expression of being unable to grasp her fate, "is actually a candidate for future consort of the Ice Spirit Kingdom."

"What?!" I staggered and fell from the corridor, almost falling flat on my face, luckily Qian Qian, quick-eyed and quick-handed, caught me. I rubbed my sore elbow from the impact, my heart tumultuous: the future consort of the Ice Spirit Kingdom? That would mean it used to be Wei Ling Feng, and now... is Qi Ran's fiancée?

"Ying Ruo, you don't know this. In the Ice Spirit Kingdom, the empress and consorts, aside from those united for political reasons, are all trained and cultivated from childhood; upon reaching a suitable age, they are dispatched in various identities to personally serve beside the princes who may become the Ice Spirit King. On one hand, to cultivate feelings and protect the master; on the other, to facilitate the emperor's inspection of their achievements." Saying this, Qian Qian frowned, hesitated for a moment, then sighed: "But I refuse to accept such a fate, so I fled; unexpectedly, I ended up entering the palace by mistake and fell in love with the emperor. That day, Xin Luo and I were indeed captured by Consort Rong's father, but they weren't guarding against me, so I easily rescued Xin Luo. As for Xin Luo's secret, I don't know whether you, Ying Ruo, have heard the outside version, but it is actually the Ice Spirit Kingdom's greatest secret. When the emperor first asked me for help, he also promised that after rescuing Xin Luo, no matter what I wanted to do—or whether I returned to the palace or left—he would not interfere. Thus I brought him back to the Ice Spirit Kingdom, and with this achievement, I requested the young master to release me from the Ice Spirit Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, I finally understood. Qian Qian must have fallen for Wei Ling Feng back when he was Xiao Qi Xuan, which is why she endured hardship, traveled far and wide, evading the Ice Spirit Kingdom's eyes and ears, to mix into the imperial palace. However, with the Empress Dowager that old witch present, she dared not draw too much attention, fearing exposure, so she kept a low profile and lay low in that palace for three years. Only after finally finding Xin Luo could she offset her debt with merit and break free from the Ice Spirit Kingdom.

Alas! I couldn't help but sigh inwardly, truly "Life itself is passionate folly; this hatred has nothing to do with wind or month."

"Since... you like Wei Ling Feng so much, why did you become an entertainer? Why not go back?"

Qian Qian's delicate body trembled violently; seeing the watery light filling my phoenix eyes, one could immediately sense the hundred knots of tenderness in her heart. After a long while, she lost herself and said: "Because I know he likes you, whether before or now, I have never seen him smile so happily. I only wish to do something for him, as long as... he feels happy, that's enough."

My chest gave a sudden sharp pain, I could barely stand; the bitterness and guilt in my heart, like a disturbed calm water surface, rippled outward in layers, "Not—"

"Don't say sorry!" Qian Qian abruptly cut me off, her tone decisive yet without a hint of blame, "Ying Ruo, never say sorry. In this world, the only thing that cannot be forced is emotion, and I know this better than anyone. But..." Qian Qian paused, her eyes gradually glowing with a soft light full of affection, and she whispered, "I suddenly want to return to his side. No matter what kind of person he becomes, he always pretends to be strong, but when he turns away he is alone licking his wounds. Whether he accepts it or not, this time I want to stay by his side, at least to help him seize the land he loves most." Qian Qian lifted her eyes to glance at me, yet bore endless sorrow and desolation, murmuring, "If... that is still what he loves most..."

"Ying Ruo... Ying Ruo..." I snapped back to awareness from Qian Qian's calls, realizing I had unknowingly spaced out badly; I hurriedly took a deep breath and looked at her.

Qian Qian gazed at my eyes, which still held warmth and blessings, her expression solemn and serious as she said: "Ying Ruo, remember this: unless absolutely forced, never approach people from the Ice Spirit Kingdom, and even more so, never invest your feelings in them. Otherwise, one day you too will become a pawn manipulated by others, the outcome—either you die, or... he dies!"

"Save me..." a painful groan suddenly entered my ears, jerking me out of my dazed thoughts.

Suddenly, voices reached my ears; a hoarse female voice, while weeping, cried out desperately: "I'm injured... I'm dying, please... please find someone to come save me!"

Other palace maids either looked at her with pity, or were indifferent, or came over to help her up and check her injuries, but nobody dared to open the door and call for help.

I lightly jumped down from the table, and whispered to the little silver in my arms: "No matter what happens later, you must not come out and show off, understand? Your healing ability is not suited to be revealed in such a chaotic environment."

Little silver obediently nodded in my embrace.

I tucked little silver into my bosom, pushed through the crowd, and went to that girl's side. I saw her complexion pallid, cold sweat dripping, each breath seeming to worsen the pain a bit.

My heart startled; these symptoms very much resemble a broken rib, and if not treated promptly, I fear...

"Miss, did your chest just hit something?"

Before the woman could answer, her companion hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, she was knocked over by a frightened horse, her chest striking the corner of the wall. Miss, can you treat her?"

"I know a little." I frowned and lightly pressed on her chest; when I reached the third rib on the left, she suddenly screamed, her face turning even more ashen. My heart tightened; this must be the spot.

This rib is too close to the heart; a slight mistake would surely pierce it, so we must quickly set it and find something to immobilize it.

I casually grabbed a piece of white cloth for her to bite on, and had the people nearby help hold her body steady. There's no anesthetic, so this pain is absolutely unbearable for a person, but better short pain than long.

I gritted my teeth hard, only hearing a soft "crack," followed immediately by a shrill, tragic scream that echoed through the entire imperial palace...

I let out a long breath, wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, and told the several people behind me, equally frightened: "Go find some splints to immobilize it, and also get some medicine to prevent infection."

After I finished speaking, no one behind moved; I looked at their hesitant, embarrassed faces and suddenly realized: of course! We're currently imprisoned; at a time like this, they naturally dare not act rashly.

I sighed, handed the girl in my arms to someone nearby, turned and walked through the crowd, opening the door.

But I hadn't taken two steps when a soldier outside blocked me, shouting: "By the general's order, no one may privately leave the detention room; otherwise, they will be killed on sight."

"There's an injured lady inside." I said sincerely, "You just heard her tragic scream. I need splints to set her rib and some medicine to prevent infection; I'm certainly not trying to escape."

The soldier's face showed hesitation; after a moment, he nodded and said: "Alright then, come with me."

I followed that soldier for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick; he led me to the entrance of a room that looked like a makeshift infirmary, and respectfully said: "Mr. Ye, a palace maid is injured."

From inside came an aged yet vigorous voice: "Understood. Which room?"

As the words fell, an old man in a blue-green robe with white beard stepped before us, his gaze clear and cold yet bright as he looked at the soldier, then at me, and said in a low voice: "Are you the one who's injured?"

I hurriedly shook my head: "Not me; it's a palace girl whose rib is broken. I'd like to ask for a few splints, some gauze, and herbs to prevent infection—"

The old man in green flashed a gleam in his eye, studied me carefully for a moment, then said: "You also know medicine?"

"I've only studied a little superficially." I added in my mind—though it's just Qi Ran's superficial knowledge.

The green-clad old man said no more, gestured with his hand for us to lead the way, and a boy carrying a medicine box followed behind.

"Is this your treatment?" the green-clad old man pointed at the palace maid's rib that had been set, and asked in surprise.

I nodded.

The green-clad old man then examined me up and down for a while, his brows slightly furrowed, pointed at the medicine box beside him, and said: "You go ahead and treat her."

I took the medicine box somewhat astonished, pulled out splints and gauze to fix her chest rib, then fetched the herbs to prevent wound infection, handed them to the palace maid beside me, and said: "This medicine, you should decoct three doses daily for her to take, stopping only when she feels no pain upon breathing."

The palace maid hurriedly responded and nodded, I then carefully examined the girl's injury, and did not see the face of the old man in green clothes behind her.

After the girl's bandaging was finished, her pain obviously eased considerably, her complexion was no longer as pale as before, but she often held her breath, her face flushed red, and cold sweat still trickled.

I suddenly recalled from modern health class that after a person's ribs fracture, due to pain, patients often dare not cough, causing secretions in the trachea to not be expelled in time, accumulating in the lungs, making lung infection likely.

My heart stirred, I hurriedly and gently pressed on her fractured chest area, and softly said: "Try to cough up the phlegm in your throat; just do it lightly, don't worry, nothing will happen."

After everything was handled, despite it being deep winter, a fine layer of sweat appeared on my forehead; I rubbed my somewhat sore and numb legs and stood up, but then I heard, from extremely close behind, the voice of the old man in green clothes, sounding pleased and relieved: "What is your name?"

"What?" I exclaimed, stepping back a step, and blurted out, somewhat at a loss.

The old man in green clothes seemed displeased by my reaction, furrowed his brows, and then said: "I'm asking what your name is."

"I... I..." I couldn't help but retreat another step, my brows slightly furrowed, and after a moment I said, "My name is Xiao Ruo."

"Xiao Ruo?" The old man in green clothes lightly nodded and said, "From now on you will follow me."

"Ah?" I exclaimed, opening my mouth wide—what kind of situation is this?

The little boy beside me eagerly pushed me, his childish voice saying: "Hurry up and thank the teacher. The teacher is the First Imperial Physician of Yi State, who rarely takes on disciples; you are actually his first female disciple!"

Thus I inexplicably became the disciple of that green-clothed old man; to be precise, I am merely a menial worker.

Gradually I came to know that the green-clothed old man's name is Ye Chenhai, one of the Imperial Physicians of Yi State, the state that attacked us in this campaign; and the little boy is named Yuan Yi, who has followed him since childhood.

In fact, Ye Chenhai's medical skill is quite good, but wanting to teach Qi Ran's disciple, frankly speaking, he still falls short. Of course I wouldn't be foolish enough to expose my sharp edges; being able to wait steadily until they return and kill them is my greatest wish.

While I was picking herbs, I asked: "Xiao Yi, why has the security in the palace become much stricter these past few days?"

Yuan Yi's face broke into an extremely excited smile, and he even stopped the work in his hands: "Because the Young Master is coming here!"

"Young Master?" My heart stirred slightly; I suddenly recalled that during the marriage journey I had seen that 'harmonious and happy' state, which seemed also called Yi State? Moreover, that old man also called their emperor Young Master—could it be... the same person?

"The Young Master is the highest leader of our Yi State; each time he recovers a region he personally stays for a period, establishing suitable policies for that state." Yuan Yi's face showed an expression of boundless reverence and boundless faith, his tone practically like modern fans discussing their idolized heavenly king superstar, making me feel amused, "He truly is a god‑like person. Even if my master sees him, it is a respect that comes from the heart."

"Ye Mister! Ye Mister!" Suddenly a hurried female call came from outside the house.

Yuan Yi hurriedly went up and asked: "Qiao Yin older sister, what a coincidence, Master just went out. What's the matter?"

I followed him out and saw a delicate‑looking girl in a light pink jacket anxiously turning around, repeatedly saying: "How… how can this be? Miss Shui's illness has just flared up again; if the Young Master comes and finds we haven't taken good care of her…"

Yuan Yi's expression also changed; without meaning to he glanced at me, his brows suddenly relaxed, and he excitedly said: "Xiao Ruo, Master said your medical skill is already quite high; why don't you go with Qiao Yin older sister to take a look?"

Having no choice, I followed Qiao Yin as we walked several circles in the palace, finally stopping before an exquisite room; before entering I heard a violent coughing sound.

I heard a clear female voice, tinged with sobbing, call out: "Miss Shui! Miss Shui!"

Qiao Yin's face changed beside me; she hurriedly pushed the door open and, as she walked, asked: "Xiao Yun, how is Miss Shui?"

I followed her into the room; a strong medicinal smell permeated the air, assaulting my nose, making me frown involuntarily, and I couldn't help feeling pity for this girl—so young, yet having to spend every day with medicine bottles.

"Xiao Ruo, come quickly and look." Qiao Yin cried out anxiously, "Miss Shui has fainted!"

I snapped back to attention, hurriedly stepped to the bedside, and saw on the splendid yet somewhat disordered bed a thin, frail girl lying sideways. My gaze slowly moved upward, and then a small face and several shocking scars were vividly imprinted in my view.

"Ah—" I cried out, my knees went weak and I almost fell to the floor, my wide‑open eyes fixed unblinkingly on that—utterly familiar—face on the bed.

…Is this seeing a ghost in broad daylight? My body, barely standing, trembled.

Qiao Yin hurriedly supported me, gave me a displeased glance, and then said kindly: "Miss Shui's face was injured before. Xiao Ruo, you must never show such rude behavior in front of Miss Shui and the Young Master, otherwise you will surely die."

Why was I so startled? Certainly not because the girl's face on the bed was disfigured, but because that face was eerily exactly the same as my former self.

What's more terrifying is that this 'exactly the same' does not merely mean the facial features are intact; even the positions and depths of those scars are identical, without the slightest difference.

This girl… could it really be the true Lan Yingruo? But what's with the scar on her face? And why does she have no surname? Yet she bears… the surname Shui?

A sharp pain tightened my chest; my left hand involuntarily reached up and lightly touched it—could it be…

(End of chapter)