Shu He turned her head to look. The people outside the door were already like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, scattering and fleeing as if chased by demons. Only a middle-aged woman holding a basket remained where she stood, trembling with fear, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find words.
After a long moment, she finally summoned the courage to stammer, "You, you must run for your life! You’ve killed someone! The authorities will behead you for this!"
A flicker of softness touched Shu He’s cold expression upon hearing this, but she ignored the woman, shutting the wooden gate of the back courtyard to seal her off from this world. Then, clutching Xiao Yi'er to her chest, she headed toward the front courtyard.
She needed to find silver needles. Xiao Yi'er’s body was far too frail; if she were not treated immediately, she feared the child would not last another hour.
Having lived on this farm for four years, she knew the place like the back of her hand. With little effort, she located the farm's medicine chest.
She opened Xiao Yi'er’s clothes, her eyes turning to ice before melting into a pool of profound heartache. The small body was covered in bruises, skin stretched tight over bones that looked as if they might snap at a touch—every rib clearly visible.
"Xiao Yi'er!"
Shu He’s heart shattered. For thirty years, she had been away in another realm, and the only force that had kept her going was this child she had yet to meet. She never imagined that their reunion would be like this.
Her little Xiao Yi'er... treated in such a way!
She quickly began the acupuncture, doing everything within her power to preserve the child's life force.
"Father! Uncles! It’s in there! That servant of ours has gone mad! She broke Mother’s leg! Hurry, save my mother!"
Chen Xiaohe’s panic-stricken voice drew closer, and the chaotic sound of footsteps made it clear there were many people outside. Even so, Shu He’s hand remained as steady as a mountain, her needlework completely undisturbed.
"You... what are you doing here?!" Chen Xiaohe had intended to lead Chen Sanhei and several uncles to the back courtyard to save Mother Chen, but passing the main hall, she was shocked to see Shu He placing Xiao Yi'er on a table, doing heaven-knows-what.
Chen Sanhei hurried in behind Chen Xiaohe, only to see her driving needles into his own child!
Had she truly gone insane? Could she even bring herself to harm her own child?
Shu He ignored her, focusing intently on the needles. One more. Just one more, and she could stabilize Xiao Yi'er’s condition.
"Where is my mother?!" Terrified for Mother Chen, Chen Xiaohe bolted to the back courtyard to check on her. The sight that greeted her made her shriek uncontrollably. "Ah! Mother!"
Hearing the tone of the cry, Chen Sanhei rushed to investigate. To his horror, he found his wife lying in a pool of blood, the familiar pair of scissors still protruding from her neck.
He was struck by a mixture of shock, rage, and a creeping, primal fear. Remembering his own past behavior, a cold sweat broke out across his back.
She had actually dared to kill!
He lunged toward the main hall to finish Shu He off, only to find that the strongmen he had brought with him were already lying in pools of blood, lifeless.
These were the strongest men on the farm! How had they died so silently?
Xiao Yi'er was now dressed, wrapped in a quilt. Although it was early winter, the weather in Yuancheng was biting, and had Shu He not returned, the child would likely not have survived the season.
Clutching a dagger and covered in blood, Shu He walked toward Chen Sanhei.
"M-Miss..."
Shu He was stained with mud and blood; her messy, brittle hair was matted in dark red, indistinguishable from the grime. Her normally lovely face was smeared with gore, and a strange, eerie smile played on her lips. Not even a demon crawling from hell could be half as terrifying as she was at this moment.
Chen Sanhei, who had spent his life toiling on the farm, had never seen such a sight. He turned to run immediately.
...
Half an hour later, the Yuancheng Garrison Army received a report and arrived to investigate. Upon opening the door, they were hit by the foul, metallic stench of blood. Resisting the urge to retch, they searched the premises, shocked to find seven or eight corpses strewn about. The culprit, however, was nowhere to be found.
Based on interviews with neighbors, the authorities drew up a portrait of the killer and posted it throughout Yuancheng and the surrounding areas.
When Shu He arrived at the city gate holding Xiao Yi'er, she happened to see her own likeness on a notice. A cold sneer escaped her; the local artists clearly lacked skill.
Just as she walked into the city as if no one were watching, a black carriage brushed past her. She glanced over as the carriage curtain lifted, revealing a face that made her freeze.
It was a face of devastating beauty. Exquisite features, a calm expression, and a pair of lazy yet sharp eyes that seemed capable of piercing the soul. His ink-colored robes set off skin as white and flawless as jade—he looked as if he did not belong to this mortal world.
His gaze flicked across her face, but he lowered the curtain without a flicker of emotion.
In his position, it was best not to be seen in public.
Yet, the moment the curtain fell, a spark of doubt ignited in his deep, dark pupils. He lifted the curtain once more to look out, but the woman was already gone.
"Cousin, what is it?"
A clear, melodic voice sounded from inside the carriage, tinged with surprise. Why had this man, who always kept his emotions tightly reined in, suddenly wavered?
The man’s expression darkened. He did not answer her, but instead asked Nan Qi, who sat beside her, "Who is the current commander of the Yuancheng Garrison Army?"
"Replying to my Master, it is Zhang Zhiyi. He is a member of the Zhang clan from the capital and quite capable. However, because he is not of the main lineage, he was posted here and lacks the opportunity to return to the capital."
The man nodded. He would be a suitable choice. "Pack up. Tomorrow, we return to Beisha City."
Nan Qi replied in a low voice, "Yes."
Shu He suppressed the inexplicable turmoil in her heart, her face hardening with annoyance as she cursed under her breath, "Why must it be such a small world?!"
Thirty years had passed, and the man was as devastatingly beautiful as ever. Unfortunately, the passage of time had dulled the fiery, impulsive emotions she once held for him. Besides, he likely viewed her as a monster now, an object of utter loathing. After all, she had used such underhanded methods to possess him...
Reflecting on the past, events always seemed to hold a layer of suspicion and strangeness. But she had no heart for it now; her only priority was to keep Xiao Yi'er alive!
In the distance, a large pharmacy bustled with activity, its plaque reading "Shourentang." It was the largest pharmacy in Yuancheng. Hopefully, she could find the medicine to save Xiao Yi'er there.
"Doctor Xu! Doctor Xu, help us!"
Before Shu He could step into the pharmacy, an anxious voice rang out. Turning slightly, she saw a youth dressed as a servant sprinting into the front hall, carrying a young master in fine robes.
The shop assistant, hearing the commotion, hurried forward to receive them, his face pale with panic. "Is... is this the Young Master Zhang having another episode?"
"Little Sanzi, quick! Go get Doctor Xu! Our young master has fainted again!"
The servant was drenched in sweat, whether from exertion or terror. If something happened to the young master, he would likely have to pay with his own life.
The townspeople buying medicine in the shop recognized the situation and self-consciously moved aside, standing in silence. One look at the clothing told them the visitors were of significant status.
Someone recognized the young master and gasped, "Isn't that the young master of the General's Estate? He’s having another attack!"
"You know him?"
"I don't have the status to know such people," the man replied with a bitter, envious smile. "But that is the younger brother of General Zhang of the Garrison Army. He’s been sickly since birth and is doted on by the entire estate. They say the old matriarch has scoured the world for famous doctors, but no one can cure him. She’s worried herself sick over it."
"General Zhang of the Yuancheng Garrison Army? The one who became a fourth-rank commander through nothing but glorious military exploits at such a young age?"
"The very same! He’s a hero who has slaughtered countless enemies at the border! Since General Zhang arrived in Yuancheng, the bandits outside the city have all but disappeared!"
The whispers of the crowd laid the young master's identity bare. A brother to the General of the Garrison Army—this was a person of immense importance. One must not offend them! If they hindered the treatment, they would all be implicated.
"Oh, what are we to do? The master was just taken by Steward Liu to the Liu residence for a pulse reading. There’s no one here to needle the young master!" The assistant, aware of the General's reputation as a ruthless killer, was frantic. If something happened to the boy here, the whole pharmacy might suffer. "Should we take him to Yongan Hall on the next street and find Doctor Liu?"
"There’s no time!" The servant wept, tears and snot streaming down his face. "My young master has been unconscious for half a quarter of an hour. If we go to Yongan Hall, I fear he... he will never wake up!"
"Then what are we to do?" The assistant stomped his feet in despair.
"What about Cheng Qi? Isn't he Doctor Xu’s apprentice? Make him needle the young master!" The servant suddenly remembered, grabbing the assistant’s sleeve as if it were a lifeline.
Cheng Qi, drawn by the commotion, stepped out from the inner courtyard and heard the servant's demand. He quickly shook his head. "No, no! Brother Xiao Duo, I haven't learned acupuncture yet. I can't just practice on him!"
"Cheng Qi, what do you mean? Do you want to watch our young master die?"
Cheng Qi waved his hands, his refined, youthful face etched with misery. How could he possibly mean that?
Shu He noticed the young master’s face turning an increasingly sickly shade of blue. She feared that if they continued to argue, the boy would truly be dead!