Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: Uneasy and Restless
The Marquis of Anle and Madam Shen left only Jiang Yao inside, while everyone else, including Jiang Rui, was asked to leave the main courtyard.
Jiang Rui gazed at the tightly shut main gate and the guards stationed outside, a sense of foreboding rising within her.
She recalled the malicious glance Jiang Yao had cast before, and the words Jiang Yao was about to speak to the Marquis and Madam Shen would likely seal her fate.
Would they find another excuse to demote her to servitude?
Would they subject her to constant beatings, humiliation?
Would they hand her over to the powerful for their amusement?
As long as she remained in the Marquis’s residence, they could manipulate her however they pleased.
A heavy wave of fear surged in Jiang Rui’s heart.
No, she had to leave immediately!
She could not stay even a moment longer!
At that moment, Xing’er approached carrying healing ointments.
“Miss, I’ve brought the hemostatic and wound medicines from the courtyard. Which ones should I give to Nurse Liu?”
Snapping out of her thoughts, Jiang Rui looked at the approaching Xing’er, then at Nurse Liu, supported by Cui Liu, and formulated a plan.
“Nurse Liu’s injuries are severe; it would be unwise for her to apply the medicine herself.”
She took charge, steadying Nurse Liu and instructing firmly:
“Xing’er, take the medicines and prepare a carriage outside. We’re taking Nurse Liu to the clinic.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Xing’er quickly obeyed and left.
Nurse Liu hesitated, “Miss, I am at fault and fear I cannot leave the Marquis’s residence without permission.”
Though the lady of the house had been switched, Nurse Liu, who had cared for both children in the past, bore some responsibility and awaited the Marquis’s and Madam’s judgment.
Meeting Nurse Liu’s shrinking gaze, Jiang Rui leaned close and whispered just loud enough for them to hear:
“Nurse Liu, if you want to live, come with me.”
Ignoring Nurse Liu’s reluctance, Jiang Rui signaled Cui Liu, then helped Nurse Liu up and led her out of the residence, swiftly boarding the carriage.
At this point, the news that Jiang Rui was the fake daughter of the Marquis had not yet spread to the main courtyard.
The servants and guards did not find Jiang Rui’s act of leaving with Nurse Liu unusual and did not stop them.
Outside, Xing’er and Cui Liu drove the carriage, while Jiang Rui and Nurse Liu sat inside.
Only then did Nurse Liu come to her senses, hesitatingly saying:
“Miss, I have erred and must await the Marquis’s and Madam’s punishment. Leaving without permission will only worsen my crime.”
Jiang Rui scoffed, “Nurse Liu, whether guilty or not, staying here means death.”
In her previous life, Nurse Liu had been beaten to death, her body discarded without burial in a pauper’s grave.
“If I hadn’t shielded you from Madam’s kick today, exposing your injuries to the Marquis and speaking on your behalf, you would have been beaten to death long ago. Would you be sitting here speaking now?”
Jiang Rui looked at Nurse Liu with calm resolve, a slight smile playing on her lips.
“Tell me, Nurse Liu, how do you plan to repay me for saving your life?”
Nurse Liu’s round face creased, “But the Marquis and Madam already know the child switched was not the real lady of the house. Surely they won’t—”
“Even if they don’t, Jiang Yao will,” Jiang Rui interrupted sharply.
“Nurse, you witnessed Jiang Yao’s methods yesterday. How many times did she slap you? How many needles did she prick you with? Until you were in such pain you falsely confessed to switching the Marquis’s daughter.”
Just hearing Jiang Yao’s name made Nurse Liu tremble with terror, covering her ears as if to block it out.
“Please, don’t say more. That woman is inhuman!”
Jiang Rui tugged away Nurse Liu’s hands from her ears and spoke each word distinctly:
“Running away won’t help! If you don’t pull yourself together, we’ll both die!”
“What? Why?” Nurse Liu looked at Jiang Rui in disbelief.
Jiang Rui also wanted to know why.
She had already taken a step back, agreeing to let Jiang Yao have her place, so why was Jiang Yao still unwilling to let her go?
“Nurse Liu, think carefully—do Jiang Yao’s actions resemble a normal search for and reunion with family?”
Jiang Rui shattered Nurse Liu’s illusions and forced her to face reality.
“Today, if you admit, as Jiang Yao says, that you switched the Marquis’s daughter and that I am your niece, we will both become criminal slaves, beaten and killed without anyone caring.”
Jiang Rui held Nurse Liu’s swollen face in her hands, meeting her terrified eyes.
“Nurse Liu, Jiang Yao is ruthless. Perhaps she only hates me for taking the identity of the Marquis’s daughter, and hates you for not taking good care of her back then, so she wants to condemn us to death!
The Marquis and Madam dote on her; if she wants us dead, they will let her do as she pleases.
If we want to live, we must save ourselves. Do you understand?”
Nurse Liu, weak and helpless, asked, “Then what should we do?”
Jiang Rui released her face and smiled with firm gentleness.
“I’ll first take you to the clinic to treat your wounds. After that, if you follow my lead, I can guarantee your survival.”
Nurse Liu nodded slowly, “I will follow your orders, Miss.”
The carriage stopped in front of a familiar clinic. Jiang Rui sent Xing’er along with Nurse Liu to see the doctor, while she and Cui Liu crossed the street to the most luxurious inn in the capital—the Binzhilou.
The urgent task was to uncover Jiang Yao’s true identity and then locate Jiang Rui’s biological parents.
If she could find her real parents, Jiang Rui would have an excuse to sever ties with the Marquis’s household and return to her rightful family.
Then, the Marquis’s residence would no longer be her home; they would have no ground to control or interfere with her.
Due to business dealings, Jiang Rui had some acquaintance with the innkeeper Qian.
Upon entering Binzhilou, she greeted Qian briefly before getting to the point.
“Mr. Qian, a friend of mine, Miss Jiang Yao, has been staying here recently. She lost her travel pass. Could you please help me look for it in the inn?”
Qian tilted his head thoughtfully.
“Miss Jiang, no one named Jiang Yao has checked in here.”
Jiang Rui scanned the lavish interiors of Binzhilou.
In her previous life, she recalled the housemaids mentioning they had moved Jiang Yao’s belongings here.
Could Jiang Yao have another name?
“Mr. Qian, has a young, beautiful girl of about sixteen stayed here recently? She wore a sky-blue embroidered skirt and had a white jade hairpin.”
“Are you talking about Miss Meng?” Qian asked, puzzled. “I haven’t heard her mention losing her travel pass.”
“Her surname is Meng? Do you know her full name?” Jiang Rui pressed.
Qian flipped through the guest register and found the name.
“Yes, Miss Meng Yao.”
“Meng Yao…” Jiang Rui craned her neck to read the details but Qian snapped the book shut and eyed her suspiciously.
“Miss Jiang, you’re not here to help your friend find her travel pass, are you?”
Jiang Rui smiled awkwardly.
“Mr. Qian, please be understanding.”
She slipped a silver ingot from her sleeve into Qian’s hand and whispered:
“To be honest, this Miss Meng might be an illegitimate child of my father, seeking recognition. My mother is angry and sent me to investigate her identity. I just want to see her details. Please…”
Before she finished, Qian returned the silver ingot.
“This won’t do.”
He put away the register and said earnestly,
“Our inn operates with integrity. We never disclose guest information unless required by the authorities. You’re a businessperson yourself; you should understand.”
He waved to a waiter.
“Escort the guests out.”
Jiang Rui and Cui Liu were promptly ejected from Binzhilou, standing on the street with frustration.
Though they learned that Jiang Yao’s original surname was Meng, what good did that do?
Jiang Rui’s expression grew grave.
No more information could be found at the inn.
The news about Jiang Yao bought from the Ruyi Tower wouldn’t be available for another nine days.
But time might already be running out.
Whatever Jiang Yao was saying to the Marquis and Madam Shen now could very well mark the beginning of Jiang Rui’s tragedy in her former life.
Jiang Rui feared that when she returned to the Marquis’s residence tonight, she might never have the chance to leave again.
As long as she couldn’t sever ties with the Marquis’s household completely, she would remain a helpless victim.
It seemed there was only one way left.
“Cui Liu, let’s go get Nurse Liu.”
Turning sharply, Jiang Rui strode toward the clinic.
Cui Liu hurried after her, “Miss, what shall we do next?”
“Report to the authorities,” Jiang Rui said firmly.