Chapter 7: Reaction

“So, I was so devastated by the Old Madam’s passing and plagued by illness that I had to move to a separate courtyard to recuperate?” Qi Yue asked, reaching for a teacup nearby and handing it to A-Hao.

A-Hao’s throat was parched from all the talking, but seeing Qi Yue personally hand her water, she was so startled she hurriedly waved her hands.

“It’s a reward for you,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

A-Hao glanced at A-Ru, who was standing to the side.

“Thank you for the reward, Young Mistress.” Only then did she bow to express her gratitude and take it.

“Yes, if you count it up, it has been exactly three years today,” A-Ru said, picking up the conversation.

Three years… time had passed like a dream… Both maids fell silent for a moment.

“What kind of illness do I have?” Qi Yue asked, frowning. She felt quite fine in this body; could there really be some hidden ailment?

If there was, would she just drop dead and return to the modern world, or would she have to go find another host?

“At first, you took some medicine to calm your nerves, but later, even that was stopped,” A-Ru said, looking down.

She didn’t say what the illness was, nor did she say there wasn’t one. Such half-spoken words sounded profound, but in reality, they were quite simple. Qi Yue understood immediately: Oh, it wasn’t an illness at all; it was house arrest in disguise.

It seems this Young Mistress’s situation is a bit delicate, Qi Yue thought to herself, her fingers tapping against the armrest.

“Then… I am the Young Mistress, but what about the Young Master?” Qi Yue asked. “Does he come by regularly to attend to my illness or anything?”

To think she had a husband. In this blind marriage, suddenly having a husband—and an ancient one at that—was truly a bit difficult to handle…

“Ever since the Old Madam passed, the Heir has been away at the northern border military camp under imperial decree after the twenty-first day of mourning, and he hasn’t returned once,” A-Hao chimed in again. “Young Mistress, the Heir will be back soon. Once he returns, you can move out, and you won’t have to suffer like this anymore…”

As for that, she’d prefer he take his time coming back, Qi Yue thought, nodding. Besides, whether this man was reliable remained to be seen.

“Alright, it’s getting late. Whatever else you wish to ask, Young Mistress, let’s discuss it tomorrow,” A-Ru interjected.

Only then did Qi Yue notice that it was already dark outside. Without realizing it, they had chatted for the entire day, not even stopping for dinner.

She had heard enough information for today; it was plenty for her to digest.

“It is late. Everyone has been shocked and frightened today, and you must all be tired. Go wash up and get some sleep,” she said with a smile.

A-Ru and A-Hao acknowledged her, one serving Qi Yue as she washed up while the other made the bed.

“Sister, let me sleep here with you tonight,” A-Hao whispered, pulling on A-Ru.

Having seen and heard such a story of someone returning from the gates of hell, the young girl was terrified.

Qi Yue, who was curiously feeling the fabric of her ancient undergarments nearby, heard this and looked up to see a small bed by the side of the main room. It appeared to be the spot for the maid on night duty.

Although she had experienced this inexplicable soul-swapping possession, as a surgeon, she was quite bold. Besides, she had things to think about and preferred to be alone.

“You should both go back to your own rooms to sleep,” Qi Yue said.

A-Ru glared at A-Hao, who lowered her head in guilt and shame.

“I want to be quiet for a while. Maybe I’ll be able to remember something,” Qi Yue said, not waiting for them to speak, her voice carrying an unquestionable tone.

The Young Mistress had never been so decisive before. A-Ru hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head and agreed.

“If you need anything, Young Mistress, just call me. We’ll be in the side room,” she said.

Qi Yue nodded, watching as A-Hao lowered the curtains and the drapes of the moon gate, and A-Ru extinguished the lamps outside one by one.

“We are leaving now, Young Mistress,” they said in unison. They only retreated and closed the door after Qi Yue gave a soft acknowledgment.

The sound of light footsteps faded away. The night after the heavy rain was peaceful, with the faint sound of frogs croaking from somewhere unknown.

Late at night, A-Ru returned from the window once more, this time taking off her outer garment and lying down.

“Sister, is the Young Mistress asleep?” A-Hao asked, huddled under the quilt with half her head covered.

“The lamp is out,” A-Ru said, blowing out the oil lamp by the bed.

“Don’t blow out the lamp,” A-Hao whispered.

“Go to sleep, you’re acting all jumpy,” A-Ru scolded in a low voice.

A-Hao didn’t dare speak again. Listening to the wind outside, occasionally carrying the strange cries of night birds, she shrank back and covered her head with the quilt. Before long, she heard A-Ru’s steady breathing; she seemed to have fallen asleep.

“Sister, Sister,” she couldn’t help but call out softly.

“What is it now?” A-Ru turned over and asked.

A-Hao poked her head out slightly.

“Sister, at that time… when you checked on the Young Mistress, was she really not breathing?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“Go to sleep. Let this matter end here. You are not allowed to mention it again,” A-Ru sat up abruptly and hissed. “A-Hao, if you continue to be so disobedient and ignorant, I will tell Mother Su to send you away and not let you follow me anymore.”

“I’ll be obedient, I’ll be obedient. Sister, don’t be angry, don’t send me away.” A-Hao, forgetting her fear, sat up and began bowing and raising her hands to swear an oath.

A-Ru sighed again.

“Lie down quickly. You were caught in the rain several times today; be careful not to catch a cold. If you get sick, we won’t even be able to call a doctor, and it will be up to fate,” she said, her voice low and dejected. “Look at you. Of the five maids the Old Madam gave us, they all found a chance to leave. It’s not like you didn’t have the chance—the Second Miss liked the way you styled hair and specifically asked for you, but you refused to go, choosing to stay here instead. I don’t even know if there’s an end to these days. Why do you suffer so…”

“Didn’t you stay too, Sister?” A-Hao said with a giggle.

“I’m different from you. You have parents here and were assigned by the household, but I was bought from the outside. I’ve followed the Old Madam since I was a child. She personally took my hand and gave me to the Young Mistress. Unless the Old Madam speaks again, I’m not going anywhere,” A-Ru said.

The Old Madam was already gone; she would never speak again in this lifetime…

A-Hao was silent for a moment.

“I’m not going anywhere either. I like following the Young Mistress and you, because, because you are both good people.” She held it in for a moment before saying it.

A-Ru chuckled, then grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.

“I just scolded you, and you’re talking nonsense again,” she chided. “You can’t go around saying things like that. Good people, bad people—don’t go wagging your tongue.”

A-Hao giggled and threw the pillow back.

“I know, I only say it here with you, Sister,” she laughed.

“Alright, lie down and sleep. There’s plenty of work to do tomorrow,” A-Ru said, lying down first.

A-Hao agreed and lay down. After talking for a while, her inner fear had dissipated. The day had been truly exhausting and shocking, and before long, she was fast asleep.

Only then did A-Ru let out a soft breath. She gripped the corner of her quilt, her eyes wide open in the darkness.

“At that time…” she moved her lips, saying in a voice no louder than a mosquito’s, “the Young Mistress really wasn’t breathing…”