Chapter 2: The Concubine Visits the Sick

Huan'er saw how pitiful Xiao Zi looked while crying and chimed in to help: "That's right! When the Eldest Miss saw that you hadn't woken up, Xiao Zi-jieje and I were both worried sick. We were just about to go fetch the physician when you woke up..."

Mu Xiaoxue stared intently at Huan'er, making the girl too afraid to continue. After all, the Eldest Miss was not someone she could afford to offend; besides, in the past, whenever she had tried to plead for mercy, the Eldest Miss would have beaten her. But she hadn't expected Mu Xiaoxue to be different this time.

"Oh, so I really misunderstood. Very well! Then hurry and fetch the physician. This young lady will wait here."

Seeing that the Eldest Miss was so easy to talk to this time, Xiao Zi sat on the ground as if she had just received a grand amnesty. Having just snatched her life back from the gates of hell, she suddenly thought of something and immediately stood up to respond: "Yes, Eldest Miss! This servant will go right away!" Then, she ran out like the wind, as if something were chasing her from behind.

Watching Xiao Zi, Mu Xiaoxue actually understood in her heart that she wasn't going to fetch a physician, but to spread the news!

Mu Xiaoxue remained lost in her own thoughts. Beside her, Huan'er didn't dare to disturb her, but seeing Mu Xiaoxue's pale face, she worried she might be exhausted. She lowered her head, trembling.

"Eldest Miss... this... this servant will help you go over there to rest for a bit! Xiao Zi-jieje should be back very soon after fetching the physician."

Looking at the terrified Huan'er, Mu Xiaoxue thought to herself: *Just how terrifying was the original owner of this body? She's scared this little girl so much that she has to speak so cautiously even when expressing concern.*

Looking at the hand Huan'er extended, Mu Xiaoxue shook her head with a light sigh and reached out her own fair, slender hand. Huan'er kept her head lowered, not even daring to breathe heavily, thinking that what awaited her would once again be a sentence like: "Mind your own business! I hate looking at your mourning face. Get out!"

When Mu Xiaoxue placed her hand into Huan'er's extended hand, she clearly felt Huan'er shudder. When the girl looked up at Mu Xiaoxue, her expression was as if she had received a massive favor, her small face smiling like a blooming flower. Mu Xiaoxue shook her head wordlessly in her heart once more. *Original owner! Just how did you torment these young flowers???*

Huan'er helped Mu Xiaoxue back onto the couch, carefully padding her back with thick quilts and covering her with the high-quality silk quilt. She turned around, poured a cup of warm water—neither too hot nor too cold—and handed it to Mu Xiaoxue, saying, "Eldest Miss, please drink some water."

Just as Mu Xiaoxue was about to take the water, a sudden, severe headache struck her. She accidentally knocked the water over, and many memories belonging to her predecessor flooded into her mind. Huan'er was terrified, thinking the Eldest Miss was about to beat or scold her again, and immediately knelt on the ground, crying and begging for mercy.

"Eldest Miss, please spare my life! I didn't do it on purpose! I'll pour you another cup immediately. I will definitely be careful from now on. Please forgive this servant this once, Eldest Miss!"

Huan'er's pleas pulled Mu Xiaoxue's thoughts back. Looking at the kneeling Huan'er, she frowned. These ancient people were truly troublesome, kneeling at the slightest thing and constantly calling themselves "this servant" and others "servant." However, in order to prevent people from discovering she was no longer the old Mu Xiaoxue, she maintained her act.

"Get up! It wasn't your fault. Just pour another cup. Don't keep kneeling at every little thing; it's irritating to look at."

"Thank you, Eldest Miss." Yet, in her heart, Huan'er felt something was wrong, but she couldn't quite place it for a moment. She just felt that ever since the Young Miss had fallen down the stairs, her whole person had changed. She glanced back at Mu Xiaoxue, but the Eldest Miss was still the same Eldest Miss!

Looking at Huan'er's gaze, Mu Xiaoxue knew the girl already had suspicions about her. It seemed she would have to be extra careful in the future to avoid leaving any flaws. While Mu Xiaoxue was thinking about how to handle things moving forward, Huan'er had already brought over a fresh cup of water.

Xiao Zi indeed did not disappoint her; in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, an anxious voice rang out: "Xiaoxue, are you alright?! What is wrong with you dogs?! If anything happens to the Eldest Miss, none of you will be allowed to live—you'll all be buried with her!"

The voice arrived before the person did. Without even confirming the situation, she was already talking about death and being buried as a sacrifice! Just how much does she want me dead?! Judging by the voice, this should be that Concubine Liu Yaorao—the one who claimed to love the original body the most, yet was also the one who created this useless Eldest Miss!

The newcomer was in her thirties but was very well-maintained, with skin as white as snow and so tender it could be squeezed for water. Looking at her waist, it was so slender it could be grasped with one hand! No wonder a concubine could manage the entire Prime Minister's manor; she did have some beauty, though her attire was still a bit unrefined.

Once the person entered, Mu Xiaoxue pretended to be very aggrieved, throwing herself onto Concubine Liu and crying, "Auntie, you must save me! My whole body hurts so much. Am I going to die?" Mu Xiaoxue intentionally threw herself with great force, nearly knocking Concubine Liu to the ground.

While throwing herself into Concubine Liu's arms, Mu Xiaoxue continuously smeared saliva on her own face in a corner where no one could see. She even made herself nauseous. *Is it easy for me? It's not...*

Caught up in Mu Xiaoxue's crying and fussing, Concubine Liu didn't even notice that Mu Xiaoxue hadn't called her "Mother" as usual, but had called her "Auntie" instead. Thinking back, when Mu Xiaoxue used to call Concubine Liu "Mother" in front of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister would even scold her for not knowing the rules.

At that time, Mu Xiaoxue would loudly protest, saying that Concubine Liu was the best to her, so she would call her Mother, and she *would* call her Mother. Back then, the Prime Minister could only shake his head helplessly and never said anything more.

Enduring the pain, Concubine Liu helped Mu Xiaoxue up from her arms. Seeing how Mu Xiaoxue's tears and snot had soiled her newly made clothes, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes, but she feigned concern: "Come, come, let Mother see who bullied my precious child. Let me know so I can deal with her."

Concubine Liu thought she was acting very well, but she didn't know that Mu Xiaoxue was no longer the old Mu Xiaoxue. That flash of disgust and the hollow concern that didn't reach her heart had not escaped Mu Xiaoxue's eyes.

*Oh, Mu Xiaoxue, just how did you live your life before! That you could call such a two-faced person "Mother."*

Mu Xiaoxue still spoke in the tone of the old Mu Xiaoxue: "It was Second Sister and the Crown Prince Brother! They saw me fall down the stairs and didn't even try to save me. Look, my whole body hurts. Auntie, you must help me vent my anger!"

Upon hearing that it involved her own daughter and the Crown Prince, Concubine Liu quickly avoided the topic and feigned heartache: "Quick, quick... let Mother see where my precious one is hurt. Physician... Physician, come quickly! Come and check the Eldest Miss's injuries! Look closely! If anything happens to the Eldest Miss, how will you explain yourself to the Prime Minister when he returns?"

Mu Xiaoxue thought to herself: *Fine, you, Concubine Liu. If something happens to me, it looks like it will be entirely the physician's responsibility, as you've washed your hands clean of your daughter and the Crown Prince. Do you really think I'm still that old Mu Xiaoxue who is useless and can be fooled by anything you say?*

The physician was sweating profusely from fear. Everyone in the manor knew the reputation of this Eldest Miss! She was not someone one could afford to offend! Yet, Concubine Liu managed all the affairs of the manor; even as a concubine, no one dared to offend her.

The physician approached Mu Xiaoxue tremblingly and said, "Eldest Miss, please extend your hand so that this humble one may check your pulse." After a long while, Mu Xiaoxue did not extend her hand. Thinking he had offended this "great deity," the physician was just about to kneel when Mu Xiaoxue suddenly said something no one expected.

"Thank you for your trouble, Physician."