Chapter 15: Pitiful

Qi Yue had no idea how lively the Marquis of Dingxi's banquet was, nor did she care. She once again slept until she woke up naturally. Upon waking, she was attended to with food and clothing provided for her; she didn't have to lift a finger for breakfast. Ah Hao was a quick learner; even the fried dough sticks were officially served on the table this morning.

"Not bad, not bad at all. You did a wonderful job," Qi Yue praised.

Ah Hao’s eyes crinkled with laughter, unable to hide her slight sense of pride.

"I tasted it myself; it's even better than what's sold on the streets," she said.

"That's right, Ah Hao could open her own snack stall now," Qi Yue said with a smile.

"Not at all, it's all thanks to the Young Mistress's skill," Ah Hao replied, her mouth splitting into a wide grin.

After eating, Qi Yue stretched. She was somewhat surprised that she didn't hear any coughing this time.

"Where is Ah Ru?" she asked.

Ah Hao was busy watering the flowers in the room.

"Sister went out. She left early this morning carrying a large bundle. She must be heading to the laundry," she guessed.

Qi Yue gave an "oh" and stopped asking. She wandered around the room but had no interest in reading the books on the shelves; they were all written in traditional classical Chinese, which she couldn't get into. Not knowing what else to do, she couldn't help but think of her time in the modern era, where this would be the busiest time for hospital rounds...

"Madam, what is this?"

Ah Hao's curious inquiry interrupted Qi Yue's reverie.

In an instant, the urgent discussions of colleagues about patients that usually filled Qi Yue's mind and ears vanished. She looked down at the medical kit in her hands—the one that had followed her from the modern world. The kit was kept under her quilt by her pillow; every night, she would open it to touch the instruments and supplies inside.

"This? It should be something my grandmother left me. I have no other memories, but seeing this feels incredibly familiar. I think I took it out right before I attempted to hang myself. It's highly likely that it was its protection that allowed me to see the Old Madam on the road to the underworld..." Qi Yue answered casually without a stutter, nodding as she spoke. "Perhaps the Old Madam I saw then was actually my grandmother..."

*No wonder we haven't seen her for so many years; it turns out she was so precious that the Young Mistress kept her hidden.* Ah Hao nodded vigorously, though she was more inclined to believe the Old Madam was the late Marchioness.

Qi Yue looked at the medical kit once more, placed it back in the bed, and pressed it down with the brocade quilt.

***

Chang Yunqi hadn't originally intended to come out, but his father had gotten drunk last night. As a son, it would be improper not to come and offer greetings in the morning. Sure enough, when he arrived, he was surrounded by several people.

"Third Brother, what happened to your mouth?" several younger sisters stared at him and asked.

Chang Yunqi's mouth was red and swollen, and his voice was hoarse.

"I drank too much," he said with a bitter smile.

"Truly useless. Just a little too much wine and you end up like this." The Marquis of Dingxi was very displeased, feeling that the son was failing to follow the father's example—that even drinking could lead to such a state.

"Get a physician to take a look," Lady Xie interrupted the laughing siblings and instructed a nearby maidservant. "Qi-er has been physically weak since childhood; those who follow him must be more attentive."

Hearing this, the Marquis of Dingxi was somewhat unhappy and glanced at Chang Yunqi.

"It's a matter of upbringing. Once he's out in the wind, sun, and rain, he'll toughen up. Look at your brother..." he said.

The young masters and ladies all stood up, bowing their heads to listen.

Lady Xie cleared her throat.

"Why bring this up so early in the morning? Besides, everyone's constitution is different. Don't go making the children sick with your talk," she said dissatisfied.

"A sickly thing, through and through. I don't know who he takes after," the Marquis muttered under his breath.

Chang Yunqi kept his head down, his expression hidden.

"Go on with your business. Your father is heading out, and I must begin my Buddhist chanting," Lady Xie said with a smile, deflecting the tension for the children.

The young masters and ladies responded with bows and retreated one by one.

"Third Brother, is this because you ate *that*?" Chang Yunhong grabbed Chang Yunqi, and the two stepped back a few paces to whisper.

Chang Yunqi didn't speak; he merely cleared his throat to soothe his irritation.

"You actually ate it?" Chang Yunhong exclaimed in surprise.

Chang Yunqi glared at him. The sound caused the sisters ahead to turn back and ask what had been eaten, prompting Chang Yunhong to wave them off.

"I went back and reheated it. The taste was quite good, just too numbing and spicy. I don't know how it's made, but it's strange—the spicier it is, the more you want to eat it..." Chang Yunqi whispered.

"So it really is delicious?" Chang Yunhong smiled with lowered eyes, winking at Chang Yunqi. "It wasn't because the dish was 'pleasing to the eye,' was it?"

Chang Yunqi snorted.

"No matter how good the food in someone else's bowl is, how can one swallow leftovers and scraps?" he said, a trace of a cold sneer on his lips.

"But you haven't eaten it yet," Chang Yunhong whispered with a laugh.

The brothers' conversation sounded like they were discussing food, but if anyone in the family had overheard, they would have understood exactly what they meant and would surely have turned pale with fright. However, the two brothers remained casual, showing no hesitation.

As they spoke and walked slowly, they gradually drifted apart from their siblings. In the distance, they saw a maid standing by the roadside, clutching a bundle and looking around anxiously. The brothers paid it no mind and continued on.

Seeing them approach, the maid hurriedly lowered her head and stepped aside.

"Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master," she said with a respectful bow.

The two brothers ignored her and walked past, but suddenly, Chang Yunqi stopped in his tracks.

"Is that your Ah Ru?" he turned his head and asked.

Ah Ru looked up at him and bowed again, confirming it was her.

"You..." Chang Yunqi hesitated for a moment before turning back to look her up and down. Seeing Ah Ru keeping her eyes slightly lowered, he asked, "What is Sister Ah Ru doing here?"

Ah Ru had once been a head maid before the late Marchioness, making her qualified to be addressed as "Sister" by the younger masters and ladies of the house. However, she had not heard that title from the young masters or ladies for a very long time.

"Third Young Master, I... I am waiting for someone," she said with her head bowed.

"Waiting for someone?" Chang Yunhong also approached, frowning. "Waiting for whom? What are you carrying?" He looked at the bundle she was clutching tightly to her chest.

Before Ah Ru could answer, five men emerged from the side path, each carrying a bundle, looking as though they were about to depart.

Ah Ru saw them at once. Without waiting to answer the two young masters, she rushed toward them.

"Masters! Masters!" she called out.

The five men stopped, looking at the woman who had suddenly appeared with confused expressions.

"Masters, you are heading back to the Heir, aren't you?" Ah Ru asked, her face filled with excitement.

The five men sized her up. They were servants traveling with the Heir, and they did not know many people in the household.

"I am Ah Ru, from the Young Mistress's side," she quickly introduced herself.

Upon hearing this, a look of realization crossed the faces of the five men.

"Miss Ah Ru, we are in a hurry to make our journey," one of the large men spoke, but his words were an outright, blunt refusal.

"Masters, does the Heir have any message for the Young Mistress?" Ah Ru asked anxiously.

The five men laughed and shook their heads. They cupped their hands to her and, without another word, turned to walk away.

Ah Ru turned and chased after them for a few steps.

"Masters, these are the seasonal clothes and footwear the Young Mistress made for the Heir. Please, take them with you..." Ah Ru said with a trembling voice, holding up the bundle as she followed them.

The five men did not stop.

"The Heir doesn't wear such things; he has plenty of clothes," one of them said with a hint of impatience.

"I beg of you, Masters, for the sake of the Young Mistress's kindness..." Ah Ru jogged ahead of them, holding the bundle out in plea.

"We are in a hurry to get back! If we are delayed and violate military orders, do you want us to face the military canes?" Finally, the man lost his patience. He glared and shouted, pushing Ah Ru aside with one arm. "To tell you the truth, the Heir instructed us when we left: aside from the items for the Eldest Madam, we are not to accept anything else. Aren't you an annoying girl?"

Ah Ru was no match for the strength of such rough men. She was swept to the ground, and her bundle was thrown aside, spilling the clothes and footwear everywhere.

Sitting on the ground, Ah Ru's tears finally broke like a dam.

"Hey, you lot, aren't you being a bit too heartless? It's just a few pieces of clothing. Besides, the Eldest Sister-in-law is not an outsider. Why bother..." Chang Yunqi spoke up.

The five men stopped and looked toward the two young masters, bowing respectfully.

"To answer the Young Master, we truly wouldn't dare," one of them replied honestly.

"That's enough, Third Brother. You know how Eldest Brother is," Chang Yunhong said quickly, waving at the men with a smile. "Go on, hurry back. If you're late, even if you've come to celebrate Father's birthday, Eldest Brother will still beat you."

The five men bowed in thanks and strode away.

Ah Ru kept her head down, frantically picking up her bundle. She gave them a hurried bow and hurried off.

Watching the girl raise her hand as she walked—certainly wiping away tears—Chang Yunhong shook his head and sighed.

"Pitiful, truly pitiful," he said. After saying "pitiful," he smiled and shook his head with a click of his tongue. "What a shame, what a shame."

"What shame?" Chang Yunqi asked with a smile as the two continued walking.

"What a shame that this flower withered before it could even bloom," Chang Yunhong laughed.

"Stop talking nonsense," Chang Yunqi replied, smiling.

"Speaking of which, I remember that little beggar girl dressed quite well back then. I wonder if she still looks like a human being after being worn down in confinement all these years. If she were someone's concubine, she'd surely be held in the highest esteem. Instead, she ended up as our Eldest Brother's primary wife..." Chang Yunhong said, stroking his chin in mock contemplation.

Chang Yunqi laughed and gave him a playful punch.

It had been three years. A flower forgotten in a corner to fend for itself would likely wither before it ever had the chance to bloom.

Chang Yunqi glanced toward the direction where Ah Ru was walking away in tears, then withdrew his gaze.

"Let's go," he said with a smile.

(End of Chapter)