The redness on Lin Yi's face hadn't completely faded even as she left the study. She remembered the matters she had asked Xiao Zhu to investigate secretly, and it was time to check on the progress.
【【【HIGHLIGHT: They merely competed over who could kiss with more variety—nothing else happened. Gu Fang was still weak, and Lin Yi wasn't that beastly. Please don't misunderstand, dear readers.】】】
Looking around, she spotted Xiao Zhu under the corridor not far away. "Xiao Zhu," Lin Yi approached quickly and lowered her voice, "Have you found anything about what I asked you to look into?"
Xiao Zhu immediately understood. She turned sideways and whispered back, "Miss, I've already inquired about the wealthy families in the Imperial City and Jiangnan. There are few wealthy households elsewhere, so that will take some more time."
"You've covered both cities this quickly?" Lin Yi's eyes lit up, genuinely praising her, "That's even more impressive than I imagined! So, any discoveries?"
"Yes!" Xiao Zhu nodded emphatically, ticking off on her fingers. "Three in the Imperial City alone, and two in Jiangnan." She counted: "The three in the Imperial City: First, the grandson of the Crown Prince's Tutor, Mo Hengzhi, age seven. Half a year ago, he fell into a well while playing, narrowly survived a high fever, and has since become timid and fearful, refusing to leave his room. Second, the youngest daughter of the Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud, He Jing, age fifteen. After a serious illness at the beginning of the year, her personality changed from lively and outgoing to unusually calm and steady. Third, the second son of the Left Vanguard Camp Commander, Zhu Qing, age twenty-three. Last year, he fell from a horse and injured his leg. Since then, his temperament has changed drastically; he often beats and scolds servants, becoming extremely violent. The two in Jiangnan: First, the maternal grandson of the Jiangnan Prefect, Huang Xining, age eighteen. Around the middle of the year before last, he inexplicably disappeared from home. Second, the daughter of the Jiangnan Salt Transport Deputy Commissioner, Liu Tingting, age twelve. It is said that after visiting Baoguang Temple, she developed hysteria and often mutters strange things that no one can understand."
Lin Yi walked and listened, rapidly analyzing the information in her mind.
Mo Hengzhi's situation sounded more like severe trauma from falling into a well, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder—not very consistent with transmigration traits. He Jing's change from lively to calm was possible; a modern soul replacing an ancient young lady would indeed become more cautious and steady. As for Zhu Qing, his drastic change after leg injury, often beating and scolding servants, sounded more like psychological imbalance due to disability and displaced anger. Even if he were a fellow transmigrator, his poor character must be excluded. Huang Xining's sudden disappearance—an eighteen-year-old at rebellious age running away from home for a few days was plausible, not necessarily related to transmigration. But Liu Tingting in Jiangnan—"hysteria after visiting a temple, often saying incomprehensible things"—that description piqued Lin Yi's interest. Could those "ravings" be attempts to explain this world with modern concepts? This person needed attention, but Jiangnan was far, difficult to investigate in person now.
"Xiao Zhu," Lin Yi instructed quietly, "We must keep a close watch on Liu Tingting in Jiangnan! Try to find out more details, especially what exactly she says during her fits—even fragments—try to remember them."
As they spoke, the mistress and maid had returned to the side room. Lin Yi spread out the plan sheet, still wet with ink. Under the entry "Find Fellow Transmigrators," she picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and neatly added two lines: Short-term contact: He Jing, daughter of the Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Continued attention: Liu Tingting, daughter of the Jiangnan Salt Transport Deputy Commissioner—need to collect details of her ravings.
After finishing the plan, Lin Yi casually asked, "How do you think I can meet this Miss He?"
"Miss, have you forgotten?" Xiao Zhu blinked, reminding her, "Miss He Jing is your cousin."
Cousin?
Lin Yi's gaze sharpened. She immediately searched her original memories. After a moment, she barely recalled a few vague fragments and asked hesitantly, "You mean the girl I met at a banquet when I was five? Or the one who came to play when I was eight?"
"The little miss at the banquet when you were five," Xiao Zhu said, unable to suppress a smile. "Back then, Miss He Jing took a liking to you at first sight. She held your hand and wouldn't let go, saying she wanted to marry you when she grew up."
With that, Lin Yi's hazy memories suddenly became clear. That adorable little girl with sparkling eyes had indeed made the most innocent childhood promise.
A relative made things easy! Even if they hadn't seen each other for years, blood ties were more legitimate than a random visit.
Lin Yi's eyes flickered, and she had an idea. She turned to Xiao Zhu: "Xiao Zhu, what excuse should I use to visit my cousin?"
Xiao Zhu thought for a moment and suggested, "Miss could say that the General's Mansion recently acquired some nourishing medicinal herbs. Having heard that your cousin just recovered from a serious illness, you're concerned and wish to bring herbs to visit her, and also catch up. But you should inform the General first."
"Great idea, let's do that!" Lin Yi's eyes lit up as she nodded in approval. "I'll go tell my husband right now!" As soon as she finished speaking, she lifted her skirt with both hands, turned around, and dashed out the door, vanishing in an instant.
Xiao Zhu stared at the empty doorway, shaking her head helplessly. She silently complained: Miss clearly just wanted an excuse to be by the General's side again, didn't she?
"Husband! Husband!" Lin Yi burst into the study in a fluster. "I just remembered that a cousin of mine was seriously ill recently. I heard she's recovered now, and I want to visit her. Does your mansion have any suitable gifts I can bring?"
Gu Fang put down the scroll he was reading and thought for a moment. "We happen to have a century-old ginseng root. It's in good condition. Xiaoyi can take it."
"Ah? This..." Lin Yi immediately frowned. "Such a precious thing—you should keep it to nourish yourself."
But Gu Fang's expression was unusually calm. He gently shook his head, his tone flat. "No need. Since Director Huang has already determined that I'm beyond cure, such precious items would be wasted on me."
Lin Yi opened her mouth, but all words stuck in her throat. A sharp pang of sadness struck her unexpectedly. She realized she had no sure way to save Gu Fang. All her hope rested on the slim chance of finding a fellow transmigrator who studied medicine—more a fantasy to keep from despair. But thinking calmly, even if she found one, what could they do in this ancient era without modern instruments or medicine? She was just deceiving herself.
Her former ambition upon transmigrating now felt like a deflated balloon. She had thought her advanced knowledge could easily change many things, but reality had dealt her a harsh blow. She even began to doubt whether her promise to Earth Consciousness to "improve survival rates" would ever amount to anything.
Acid welled up in her nose, her vision blurred, and her eyes uncontrollably reddened.
Seeing Lin Yi about to cry, Gu Fang was somewhat at a loss. He sighed, his voice tinged with apology. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have said such discouraging words and upset Xiaoyi."
The more Gu Fang calmly took the blame and comforted her, the more choked Lin Yi felt. He was the one with a death sentence, yet he could still be this gentle? Her emotions finally broke, and tears streamed down in big drops.
Seeing his words seemed to have the opposite effect and made Lin Yi cry even harder, Gu Fang stiffened almost imperceptibly. He was clearly not good at handling such situations. After a moment of silence, he made an awkward motion: he leaned over, reached out, and gently pulled the sobbing Lin Yi into his arms, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
Gu Fang's chin tucked in slightly, his face expressionless, but he thought: Let it be. Since words are pale and easily mistaken, it's better not to speak.
Lin Yi, held in Gu Fang's arms, gradually stopped crying and calmed down. She felt embarrassed in hindsight. Actually, her emotional breakdown was more due to recent setbacks than worry about Gu Fang. She had thought she could easily change the world with her knowledge, but at first she couldn't even recognize beans—that had crushed her enough! But since she had already cried, she might as well make use of this sadness.
Lin Yi stirred slightly in Gu Fang's arms, her voice a little hoarse: "Husband, can you tell me exactly what's wrong with your body?"
Gu Fang's hand, patting her back, paused almost imperceptibly, then continued with gentler strokes. He said softly, "There's nothing I can't say."
He paused, organizing his words, his tone as calm as if he were telling someone else's story: "The root is old injuries from the battlefield that never fully healed, having damaged my foundation long ago. On the way back to the capital, I was caught in a rockfall that crushed both legs, breaking bones and tendons. Then, while seeking medical help, I was caught in cold rain and arrived at the clinic already unconscious with a high fever. The local physician diagnosed that the old and new injuries had combined critically, and declared I wouldn't survive. Perhaps fate spared me, but I managed to pull through. After returning to the capital, Director Huang of the Imperial Hospital re-evaluated and concluded that the leg fractures would likely leave me unable to stand again. Additionally, the high fever from the old injuries, left untreated in time, had damaged my internal organs, leaving a chronic condition that... may affect my lifespan."
At this, Gu Fang sighed softly and said helplessly, "The Director only said my lifespan would be affected, not that I was near death. But to outsiders, there's probably not much difference."
Lin Yi blinked blankly after hearing this. "But Husband, didn't you tell me you were near death? And really, is there any difference?"
Gu Fang chuckled, his chest vibrating slightly. "Yes, I also feel there's no difference, which is why I said that. But if we want to be precise, 'affected lifespan' might mean I could have lived to eighty, but now I might only reach fifty." He looked down at her. "Thinking about it that way, isn't it not so bad?"
Hmm... That actually makes some sense, doesn't it?
Author's note: