Chapter 24: Saved Again
◎Her wealth and honor must be given by him.◎
The firelight illuminated the girl’s face. A thin, handsome man sat beside her, holding a wooden bowl and gently applying the ointment to her neck.
Shan Cha had offered to do it, but Zhan Qiyu said the ointment required a special application technique, so he did it himself.
Except for her neck and cheeks, Mu Jiaojiao’s skin remained as delicate as a peeled egg.
This wasn’t leprosy.
It was all a scheme orchestrated by Zhan Qiyu, based on a book of strange occurrences. A specific mixture of powder could create symptoms similar to smallpox. A particular antidote would make the symptoms disappear.
However, after applying the ointment to her neck, Zhan Qiyu hesitated to continue. With such a beautiful face, if it fully recovered, he might face more competition.
He pretended to take some ointment on his finger and reached for her face. The swollen bumps felt uncomfortable, yet strangely comforting.
He decided to leave it as it was; this way, fewer people would covet her.
He lowered his head and looked at Mu Jiaojiao. She was in clean clothes, but her alluring curves were undeniably seductive, even while lying down.
Beautiful, so beautiful.
Zhan Qiyu set down the bowl and stood, going to the entrance of the cave. “Done.”
The slightly flushed face had completely returned to its usual coolness, as if nothing had happened.
Shan Cha trusted Zhan Gongzi implicitly. Like her young lady, she believed him to be upright and honest, destined to become a righteous official.
She thanked him profusely, “Thank you, Young Master Zhan. If you and A Liu hadn’t saved Miss, she would have been in danger.”
Shan Cha had intended to die with her young lady. If Miss fell ill, she would too.
But while guarding the flatbed cart, A Liu had called her away, explaining the rescue plan.
Everything had gone smoothly, to her immense relief.
Zhan Qiyu remained expressionless, not answering. Instead, A Liu chuckled foolishly, “We’re friends; it’s only natural. Even if it were you, we would have saved you.”
After his boastful statement, Zhan Qiyu glanced at him, said nothing, and used a branch to stoke the fire.
They needed to hide for a few days. If anyone discovered something was amiss, they could escape quickly.
However, they couldn’t return to the Mu family. Mu Jiaojiao was essentially a missing person and couldn’t go back.
Shan Cha was silent for a moment after learning this and produced her deed of sale. “I’m no longer a servant of the Mu family. Wherever Miss goes, I’ll go.”
They tacitly agreed that Mu Jiaojiao would stay with the Zhan family. Shan Cha was even relieved that Miss Mu’s personal funds had already been transferred to the Zhan family, so they wouldn’t worry about food and clothing.
The four of them settled in the inconspicuous cave.
Madam Zhan was completely unaware. Telling her would cause undue worry, but luckily, she had gone to the village to collect grain, allowing them to stay here for a while.
After a night of rain, the next day was gloriously sunny. The flowers, plants, and trees were vibrant after the rain, but dozens of families in Yanhua Town were heartbroken.
The Mu family experienced a drastic change. After waking, the head of the Mu family had many new white hairs and looked much older.
His first act was to confine his wife to the back courtyard, and all of Madam Mu’s loyal servants were sold.
Mu Yun and Mu Huan tried to persuade their father but didn’t know how. Their mother did need to reflect.
Mu Ming instructed the manager to wind down the Mu family’s business. He wouldn’t travel and work anymore.
Even if he earned money, he couldn’t spend it on his beloved daughter, so it was pointless.
The Mu brothers felt that the Mu family had completely fallen apart without their younger sister.
In the exquisite hall, Mu Ming, his hair now silvered, said to his sons, “Leprosy can be cured. Your sister is unfortunate.”
Mu Yun had heard this as well, “I’ve also heard that healers have cured leprosy.”
He suggested that his father open a free clinic in town to provide timely treatment to more people.
Mu Ming looked at his second son with relief, “Good, do as you see fit.”
Mu Huan also expressed his willingness to participate. After this incident, he had a sudden epiphany, realizing that indulging in pleasure was meaningless.
If he had been obedient and studied hard, perhaps his sister wouldn’t have suffered. Reflecting on his past actions, he decided to sell his beloved war figurines to fund the clinic.
This upheaval seemed to make the Mu brothers grow up overnight, but they had forever lost their younger sister.
Mu Jiaojiao woke up two days later. She opened her eyes and saw Shan Cha and A Liu, but not Zhan Qiyu.
“Miss, you’re finally awake.”
Shan Cha cried uncontrollably, wanting to hug her young lady but hesitating, only sobbing softly.
“You two chat. I’ll go boil water.” A Liu quickly went out to tell the young master; Zhan Qiyu was outside reading.
The exam was a month away. He had lost some time and needed to catch up.
Master Guan had already left Yanhua Town; if he had been there, he could have resolved the matter.
Therefore, Zhan Qiyu took such a risk.
“Young Master, Miss Mu is awake.” A Liu was happy for his young master.
But Zhan Qiyu seemed to have expected this, only nodding slightly and continuing to read.
Mu Jiaojiao was stunned to learn the truth. Her first question was, “My illness… is it cured?”
The maid, who had visibly lost weight from worry, nodded frantically and wept. Her young lady had escaped death and would surely overcome any future hardship.
But Mu Jiaojiao thought of something else: what about those who had fallen ill with her? Had they died?
Her heart was heavy, but she felt relieved to be saved and shouldn’t dwell on those matters. She comforted Shan Cha, “I’m fine; don’t cry.”
But Shan Cha said hesitantly, “Miss, we probably can’t return to the Mu family.”
Mu Jiaojiao had considered this. Since she was considered dead, returning would only bring trouble to her family. It was better to travel and see the world.
She was very accepting of the situation.
Furthermore, if she returned to the Mu family, she might be sent to the palace as a consort again. The current situation was the best.
“It’s alright. We’ll travel and see the world and I’ll buy you delicious food everywhere.”
At the mention of delicious food, Shan Cha smiled through her tears, wiping them away to serve her young lady porridge.
The cave was warm and dry thanks to the fire. Mu Jiaojiao lay on a soft cotton quilt.
Despite this, her body ached. After eating, she wanted to walk around.
She wanted to thank Zhan Qiyu. He had saved her three times: from drowning, a snakebite, and now this.
She had been reborn to repay her kindness, but she was always being saved, constantly causing trouble for others.
It was completely backwards.
Feeling embarrassed, she walked slowly. As she emerged from the inner part of the cave, she saw the refined scholar, an exceptionally talented and imposing figure, sitting at the entrance.
Mu Jiaojiao bit her lip and approached hesitantly.
“Zhan Da Ge…”
Zhan Qiyu had known she was coming and wasn’t reading. He watched her approach.
She was blushing, and he saw the rashes on her cheeks.
They were strangely flower-like, making him unconsciously swallow, feeling strongly tempted.
He lowered his gaze, concealing his unconcealed desire, and said in a low voice, “No need for thanks.”
But Mu Jiaojiao was anxious, eager to express her gratitude, “Zhan Da Ge, you saved me three times. I will repay you. I am truly grateful.”
Her eyes shone brightly, like a young soldier eager to serve his country, full of patriotic zeal.
Zhan Qiyu suppressed the urge to say she could repay him by marrying him and continued reading.
He didn’t want this kind of repayment based on gratitude; he wanted her heartfelt devotion.
He had saved her from drowning to get to know her, saved her from the snakebite to win her affection, and this incident was entirely orchestrated by him.
Her wealth and honor could only be given by him; no one else.
His thoughts generated an immeasurable love for her, a desire to keep her by his side.
Seeing that Zhan Da Ge didn’t respond, Mu Jiaojiao turned to leave, but heard the cold voice, “This is a windy spot. Remember to put on your clothes when you come out again.”
The pretty figure paused, then smiled, “Okay, I’ll listen to Zhan Da Ge.”
The repeated “Zhan Da Ge” made Zhan Qiyu lose himself in the moment. He would see her often from now on. It was wonderful.
The four of them stayed in the cave for several days. There was enough stored grain, but it was a little boring.
Mu Jiaojiao taught Shan Cha and A Liu leaf games, something she had learned in the palace—a pastime for concubines; most people had never heard of it.
Shan Cha, though somewhat simple, was surprisingly good at the game, infuriating A Liu.
Mu Jiaojiao herself wasn’t fully skilled, but they had fun.
Zhan Qiyu remained undisturbed, reading book after book. With the exam approaching, he needed to grasp the content thoroughly.
However, their hiding was necessary. After that rainy night, an important figure came to Yanhua Town, looking for a woman surnamed Mu. The magistrate immediately reported the leprosy incident.
But Nangong Xuan was skeptical. He had the pit dug up, finding more than one body missing.
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