The night air in the imperial city, with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, still carried a hint of coolness. Some young ladies, susceptible to the chill, kept their hand warmers close even at this hour.
But Xin Lan, at this moment, lay naked and curled up on a worn-out straw mat. The mat, chilled by the breeze, pricked her skin, leaving her body covered in angry red marks. Yet, compared to the bruises and contusions already marring Xin Lan’s skin, these red marks seemed insignificant.
If not for their shared childhood, even Ji Zi Zhao would not have recognized Xin Lan. This was hardly the girl she remembered, the one who cherished cleanliness above all else!
Ji Zi Zhao hurried in, took off her cloak, and draped it over Xin Lan. She then scooped Xin Lan up and rushed out of the woodshed towards the front courtyard.
The servants in the courtyard, seeing Xin Lan cradled in the arms of the eldest daughter, felt an even greater chill. Hadn't the eldest daughter abandoned Xin Lan? Hadn't she cast Xin Lan aside in the Yun Yuan and paid her no mind? Why now was the eldest daughter, disregarding her status, holding a discarded servant? Faced with the eldest daughter's evident concern, which servant in the Yun Yuan did not tremble in fear?
Ji Zi Zhao carried Xin Lan into the room and placed her on a warmed, soft couch. "Hurry back and fetch my medicine box!"
Shui Ling nodded vigorously and dashed out. Ji Zi Zhao placed one hand on Xin Lan's ice-cold wrist, while her other hand gently traced Xin Lan's bruised skin, meticulously examining each injury. However, both the external wounds and the rapid thumping of Xin Lan's pulse made Ji Zi Zhao's brow furrow. The pulse was rapid, five beats or more to a single breath – a sign of a complex condition. External invasion of cold, with the vital energy battling the foreign pathogen, pushing the yang outward, and the yin rising… All these symptoms, combined, were enough to claim Xin Lan's life!
As if warmed by the room's temperature, Xin Lan’s tightly closed eyes slowly fluttered open. When her blurry vision finally focused on Ji Zi Zhao's face, Xin Lan's cracked lips trembled, and a joyful smile bloomed. "Miss, it truly is Miss…"
Ji Zi Zhao's eyes reddened as she comforted Xin Lan, "Don't be afraid, I will save you."
Xin Lan didn't speak, but struggled to shift her body. However, she lacked the strength. Seeing this, Ji Zi Zhao quickly reached under Xin Lan's neck, attempting to help her sit up. To her surprise, Xin Lan nestled into Ji Zi Zhao's embrace and ceased moving, murmuring contentedly, "Indeed, Miss's embrace is the warmest."
She vividly remembered when she was first sold into the Ji family, everything was unfamiliar. She cried all day then. Later, Granny He couldn't bear it and was about to send her away from the Yun Yuan.
"Later… it was Miss who picked up this weeping servant and gently soothed me." Recalling the past, the smile on Xin Lan's lips widened. But what she didn't say was that from that moment on, she cherished the warmth Miss had shown her. Yet, she was unworthy, failing to serve Miss well and disappointing her.
Ji Zi Zhao held Xin Lan gently in her arms, afraid of hurting her with too much pressure. Looking at the smile on her lips, Ji Zi Zhao's heart ached as if pierced by needles. She had sent Xin Lan away from the Yun Yuan to protect her, but the outcome… Tears welled in her eyes, falling one by one onto Xin Lan's cheeks.
Xin Lan smiled and raised a hand towards her tear-streaked cheek. "It is this servant's fault, for not serving Miss well, nor helping Miss guard the Yun Yuan. Miss, do not be angry with this servant. When we are below, this servant will personally apologize to Madam, and then serve Madam diligently…"
Ji Zi Zhao freed one hand and grasped Xin Lan's. "I saw the furnishings in the room; they are just as they were when Mother was alive. I also saw the flowers on the windowsill; they are beautiful."
Xin Lan's eyes, which had been like dead embers, suddenly blazed with a dazzling light. So, Miss knew everything she had done. So, Miss had always remembered her kindness. In that case… that was enough.
Xin Lan tried to wipe the tears from Miss's face, but she was truly exhausted. Her vision blurred again. With her last breath, she whispered, "In the next life, this servant still wishes to be Miss's person. Miss, will, will you wait for this servant?"
Ji Zi Zhao gritted her teeth and nodded heavily. "Yes."
The smile on Xin Lan's lips deepened, but her closed eyes would never open again.
Shui Ling, who had just arrived with the medicine box, rushed forward anxiously. "Miss, I've brought the medicine box. Please, Miss, save Sister Xin Lan's life!"
Ji Zi Zhao cradled Xin Lan and whispered, "It's too late."
Shui Ling laughed disbelievingly. "Miss is just joking to make us happy. Miss's medical skills are so excellent, she even saved General Xue. How could she not save Sister Xin Lan? Miss…"
"Enough!" Ji Zi Zhao cut off Shui Ling's plea and gently withdrew her arm, placing Xin Lan back on the couch. Her movements were so careful, as if afraid of disturbing Xin Lan. Yet, her words left no hope for the living. "Prolonged illness leading to yin deficiency, generating internal heat, accelerating blood circulation. Even an immortal could not reverse it." She was a physician, not a deity. If she had seen Xin Lan even an hour earlier, she would have had a way. But alas…
Shui Ling stood frozen for a long time before bursting into tears. Ji Zi Zhao's eyes were red-rimmed, but she rose and walked towards the bed. She remembered that Mother had kept her old clothes here, always saying they were a memento. Opening the inner compartment of the bed, she indeed found it neatly filled with her clothes. She picked out the brightest one and returned to the couch. While carefully dressing Xin Lan in it, she once again surveyed Xin Lan's injuries.
Xin Lan's illness had initially been a common cold, but even an untreated common cold would not be so swiftly fatal. Xin Lan's pulse indicated rampant internal heat, suggesting that she had continued to consume cold substances while suffering from the cold. This, of course, was not something Xin Lan would have done herself. It meant someone had deliberately forced cold substances into Xin Lan's mouth daily as her illness worsened. This was a clear attempt to end Xin Lan's life!
Xin Lan had never mentioned her injuries, clearly not wanting Ji Zi Zhao to investigate. Ji Zi Zhao understood Xin Lan's kindness, but that kindness had never extended to Ji Zi Zhao herself. The pain in her chest felt like a knife twisting, and a boundless rage tore through Ji Zi Zhao's chest. If she could not uncover the truth of this matter, she would truly have lived two lives in vain!
After meticulously arranging Xin Lan's hair, Ji Zi Zhao handed Xin Lan over to Shui Ling's care. She herself turned and walked out of the room. Standing on the steps, facing the chilling wind, her voice, cold as winter frost, pierced the heart. "Uncle Ji, make sure the people who were silent just now are all beaten to the ground! Stop only when their flesh and blood are mangled! Then, bring their families and relatives here! Beat them all to death and throw them into the mass grave!"
Every manor had its household servants. After marrying within the manor, generations of servants would remain. The Ji family was no exception. Especially the servants standing here now, many of whom were household servants. Ji Zi Zhao's words were undoubtedly a death sentence for all of them. The servants in the courtyard were truly terrified. The eldest daughter wasn't just being fierce; she truly intended to take all their lives! And all for a dead servant?!