The sword case in Chaolu’s hands fell to the ground with a clattering sound, breaking the eerie silence.
She was rarely surprised, but now her pupils dilated, and she frowned tightly, showing a look of extreme confusion because the newcomer had a face almost identical to Ji Yuluo’s.
It was Ji Yuyao, whom Chaolu had personally buried by the lakeside.
The bewildered imperial physician widened his eyes in shock, exclaiming, “This, this… how can there be two Madam Hos?”
Only Ji Yuluo remained calm first. It was not entirely unexpected. She had suspected that the woman in white she saw at Chengyuan Temple was indeed her. Back then, she was too focused on Zhao Yong to send someone back to investigate.
Ji Yuyao had, in fact, always been at Chengyuan Temple.
Ji Yuluo said, “Chaolu, escort the imperial physician out.”
She moved aside, making room at the bedside, and calmly looked at Ji Yuyao, saying, “Please go ahead.”
Ji Yuyao nodded slightly at her, walked to the bed, and carefully arranged the tools from the medicine box, focusing on checking Huo Xian’s pulse.
Her light and airy white gauze dress made her look like a benevolent healer, inexplicably convincing, even though she hadn’t mentioned where she came from or how she could save Huo Xian.
Shen Qingli was puzzled, but since no one else asked, he didn’t dare to rashly interfere and remained silent.
He saw her frown, then suddenly relax, and say, “Fortunately, the toxin has not yet invaded the lungs. I will first use acupuncture to slow the spread of the toxin. This prescription was written by my late master. After taking it for half a month, he will regain consciousness, and then the dosage can be adjusted according to his condition. It will take at least two months to completely expel the toxin from his body. As for the medicinal ingredient, it requires freshly grown mountain saffron, not too old or too small. I trouble you, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Qingli looked at the prescription handed to him, took it blankly, and said, “Alright, I’ll go right away.”
As he walked outside, he realized something was amiss.
Yes, how did Ji Yuyao know his surname was Shen?
But this doubt was quickly put aside because the medicinal ingredient was indeed hard to find. Mountain saffron was abundant in Shu, and there were plenty in Dongxiang County, but to find the newly grown ones, not too old or too small, was especially difficult with the spring thawing. Most of the sprouting mountain saffron wouldn’t survive, making it a challenging task.
Fortunately, the army had not yet set off to return to the capital. Shen Qingli sought help from General Shen Wei, mobilizing a large number of troops, and managed to gather the required amount within two days.
He carried the mountain saffron into the kitchen in the backyard of the county magistrate’s office. Ji Yuluo—no, judging by her downcast eyes and demeanor, it should be Ji Yuyao—was fanning the fire.
Even after two days, he still found it hard to get used to.
Especially when she thanked him with a face identical to Ji Yuluo’s, Shen Qingli was so startled that he got goosebumps. He retreated quickly, stammering, “Ha, haha, no, no need to thank me, it was nothing!”
Then he hurriedly ran away.
But he bumped into Ji Yuluo, who looked indifferent.
Shen Qingli was truly amazed. The difference between people could indeed be as vast as night and day. Even with identical appearances, their personalities could be completely different.
Indeed, completely different.
Seeing Shen Qingli leave in such a flustered state, Ji Yuluo stood there, frowning, and muttered, “What’s gotten into him?”
She then continued walking towards the kitchen.
From the window, smoke and steam were drifting out. Ji Yuluo suddenly stopped outside the fence, staring at the woman by the window, lost in thought.
Not to mention Shen Qingli, even she often felt disoriented.
It wasn’t until Ji Yuyao looked over that she snapped out of it.
She stepped forward and asked, “Is the medicine ready?”
Her tone was calm and indifferent, as usual. She treated Ji Yuyao the same as anyone else, without any extra affection because of their identical faces or the slight familial connection.
In fact, there was a subtle awkwardness that others might find hard to understand.
But this awkwardness was something Ji Yuyao could comprehend.
She replied, “Yes, it’s ready. I’ve asked Pingxi to bring it over. The spring is still chilly, so I made some black chicken soup to nourish the body. You’ve been overworked these days, and I see signs of a slight cold in you. This bowl is for you.”
Ji Yuluo looked at the chicken soup handed to her but didn’t reach out to take it. She frowned slightly, meeting Ji Yuyao’s gentle and kind gaze, seemingly puzzled.
This wasn’t an attempt to make peace, but Ji Yuluo couldn’t quite understand what it was.
She stared intently at Ji Yuyao, as if trying to bore a hole through her with her gaze.
Ji Yuyao wasn’t angry. She smiled, put down the bowl, and said, “I have to thank you. If it weren’t for you saving me that night, I would have died long ago. At first, I didn’t know your identity and didn’t dare to show myself recklessly. Thanks to Master Jingchen’s help, I hid in the temple for a while. Later, I found my way to Fanan County, where my father was born. There, I met a teacher named Liu, who called me Luo’er. He was an old friend of You Daiyue… my biological mother. He told me everything, and I finally understood what was going on.”
Ji Yuluo raised her eyebrows at this, having a good idea of who the old friend was.
Indeed, he was an old friend, a love-stricken fool. He had taken care of the insane You Daiyue for years, while You Daiyue still yearned for Ji Chongwang, whom she hated to the bone. Ji Yuluo had benefitted from this, learning to read and write from him for two years.
However, there was nothing in Fanan County worth her lingering for—just past events.
Ji Yuyao lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes revealing a trace of sorrow and relief. She smiled bitterly, “I originally thought Lin Chan was my birth mother, which caused me to be resentful for over a decade. Knowing that my birth mother was someone else actually made me feel much better.”
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuluo realized that the man surnamed Liu had not told Ji Yuyao everything, at least concealing how You Daiyue, her birth mother, had treated her own daughter.
He probably still harbored the illusion that someone in this world truly cared for You Daiyue.
But You Daiyue…
If Lin Chan’s treatment of Ji Yuyao was venting and torment, then You Daiyue’s treatment of Ji Yuluo was pure hatred. When she went mad, she wanted nothing more than to strangle her.
Ji Yuluo was merely a tool for You Daiyue to take revenge on Ji Chongwang. You Daiyue did not love her and naturally would not love Ji Yuyao either.
Before her death, You Daiyue did not even mention Ji Yuyao.
Ji Yuluo leaned against the stove, arms crossed, looking at Ji Yuyao’s innocent expression. The words to shatter her beautiful illusion stuck in her throat. She couldn’t help but recall the first time she saw Ji Yuyao.
It was during a heavy snowfall in December when she first entered the Ji residence.
That spacious mansion and the fleeting figure outside the small door stayed in Ji Yuluo’s memory for a long time.
Even now, she remembered eight-year-old Ji Yuyao wearing a lotus-pink jacket and skirt, with a small blue flower on her embroidered shoes.
Ji Yuluo said, “I used to be very jealous of you. We share the same mother and even look identical, but you were the legitimate daughter of a wealthy family, with clean clothes and shoes in winter. I had none of that. Later, I found out you lived such a miserable life, and I felt it was too foolish. I let go of my jealousy. I saved you because I couldn’t stand seeing my own face being bullied.”
Her expression was serious as she spoke, her tone calm and steady.
It was as if she was simply stating a fact, without any intention of offending anyone.
Ji Yuyao was stunned for a moment. The compassion she felt seemed to dissipate. After a long pause, she said, “You really are different from me, as Biwu said.”
She sighed softly and smiled, “You’re right. If I had been half as brave and smart as you, I wouldn’t have been fooled for over a decade.”
But she spoke with a light tone, as if she had completely let go.
Ji Yuluo raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, looking at her for a long time, finally realizing what was different.
She remembered the night she was taken to the Ji residence by carriage. Lin Chan and Ji Chongwang summoned her, Ji Chongwang scolded her, and Lin Chan hit her. Ji Yuyao did not dare to fight back, and even her explanations were barely audible.
She was like a lifeless puppet, always ready to die.
But now it was different. She walked with her back straight, her fair and slender neck no longer bent. Though her words were soft, they were full of confidence, unlike before when she was timid and submissive.
Ji Yuluo looked at her and said, “You’ve changed a lot.”
Ji Yuyao also looked at her and said seriously, “You’ve changed a lot too.”
It was the same night when Huo Mansion was attacked, the whole city was on lockdown, and their carriage was stopped at the city gate. The soldiers were questioning them outside when Ji Yuluo held a hairpin to her neck and said, “Speak.”
At that time, she had clearly seen Ji Yuluo’s eyes.
They were filled with a fierce and reckless spirit, her whole being exuding a desire to kill.
But now…
The sharpness was still there, but it was controlled, much more peaceful.
They looked at each other, like looking in a mirror, trying to find the differences in each other compared to the past.
But after a while, Ji Yuluo awkwardly turned her head away first.
She frowned slightly, looking at the bowl Ji Yuyao was offering again.
…
The spring breeze was gentle, and the sun was bright.
Five days later, the spring snow had melted everywhere, and the army was ready to return.
Seeing that Huo Xian’s condition had improved, Ji Yuluo no longer threatened the imperial physicians daily, making Shen Qingli feel somewhat relieved, and he prepared to return with the army.
On the day he was leaving, he ran into Ji Yuluo hurrying back to the mansion.
Her purple clothes looked vibrant, but Shen Qingli’s sharp eyes spotted large bloodstains among the mottled colors. Upon closer inspection, he could even smell the faint mix of rust and blood.
The sleeves of Nanyue behind her were also stained with blood.
He didn’t ask at the time because Shen Qingli knew what had happened.
Zhao Yong was dead, likely in a very undignified manner.
The enmity of the past decade had finally returned to dust, and the huge stone in his heart vanished, leaving him feeling both relieved and empty.
General Shen Wei, riding alongside him, asked, “Why does Mr. Shen sigh? We are returning victorious, a cause for great joy.”
Shen Qingli smiled, then returned to his usual bright demeanor, and said, “Of course it’s a cause for great joy. When we return to the capital, General, you must treat me to a drink!”
General Shen Wei laughed heartily, “Of course, that is a given!”
At that moment, someone behind them was riding quickly to catch up.
It was Zhou Baihu, shouting, “Mr. Shen, wait for me, I’m returning to the capital with you!”
