Zhao Zhi slowly opened her eyes. All around her was an unfamiliar tranquility. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window, dappling her face and bringing a subtle warmth.
She tried to sit up, but found her body as heavy as lead, her limbs limp and powerless, and a dull pain in her head, as if countless needles were gently pricking her.
Zhao Zhi held her head, trying hard to recall her previous experiences: the collapse of the cave, Cui Shenghe's dazed state, and that shout that seemed to come from the sky... everything was as distant and blurry as a dream.
She looked around and found herself in a simple but tidy house. The wooden furniture emitted a faint scent of pine, and several yellowed calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls. Though not valuable, they exuded a certain elegance. Her clothes had been changed, and she was now wearing a soft cotton garment, indicating that someone had taken good care of her while she was unconscious.
All signs indicated that she was saved. But what about her brother? Was he saved too?
Zhao Zhi braced herself against the edge of the bed, trying to move her legs to the ground. But as soon as she got out of bed, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her, and everything went black, as if the whole world was spinning.
She staggered involuntarily, and although she tried her best to steady herself with her hands, she was ultimately no match for the overwhelming feeling of weakness.
"Sigh..." Zhao Zhi let out a weak sigh, her heart filled with resentment and helplessness.
She could only slowly loosen her clenched hands and let herself fall back onto the bed.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and a figure walked in silently, carrying a bowl of steaming hot medicine.
Hearing footsteps, Zhao Zhi's face lit up with joy, only to see that the person approaching was a woman. Upon closer inspection, she recognized the woman's slightly haggard face, yet her refined and elegant demeanor was undeniable; it was none other than the deceased empress from her memories—Qin Sheng.
"Royal Sister-in-law!" she exclaimed instinctively, her eyes filled with shock and confusion. Had Qin Sheng faked her death? Did her brother know about it? Although the men of Qin Sheng's family had been sentenced to exile and the women to be sold into slavery by the government, if her brother discovered that Qin Sheng had faked her death, it would be a crime punishable by the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their entire clan!
Zhu San Niang was slightly taken aback when she heard Zhao Zhi's address, then gave a calm smile, gently placed the medicine bowl on the low table beside the bed, and said softly, "Young lady, you have mistaken me for someone else. My humble name is Zhu San Niang. You can call me 'San Niang'."
Zhao Zhi stared intently into her eyes, trying to find a flaw, but Zhu San Niang's gaze was clear and firm, without the slightest hint of evasion.
She realized she might have made a mistake; after all, there are people in the world who look alike, but this coincidence was simply too astonishing.
"I'm sorry, I was being presumptuous." Zhao Zhi lowered her head apologetically, then asked urgently, "Then... has Third Sister seen the other young master who was with me? Is he here too?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Sanniang's eyes flashed with a complex emotion. She sighed softly and said, "Young Master Cui... his injuries are quite serious. He is currently recuperating in the next room. Don't worry, I have already invited a doctor to treat him. His life is not in danger."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhi felt slightly relieved, but immediately became worried about her situation: "Where are we? Why are we here?"
Zhu Sanniang sat down by the bed and explained in a calm tone, "That day, the cave collapsed. I happened to be passing by and heard a loud noise, so I came to investigate. I found that you two had fallen into the crevice and managed to rescue you. This is my home. It is secluded and quiet, and it is difficult for outsiders to find it. It is a good place to recuperate."
Zhao Zhi nodded gratefully to Zhu Sanniang. She struggled to get up to thank her, but Zhu Sanniang gently pressed her down: "You should focus on recovering from your injuries. There's no need to rush. We can talk about other things once you've fully recovered."
Under Zhu Sanniang's care, Zhao Zhi drank her medicine and ate some porridge, gradually regaining some strength. She walked with difficulty to the next room.
Cui Shenghe was indeed lying there, his face pale, and he had many more abrasions than she did.
"The clothes this young master is wearing were borrowed from the doctor's son. They cost two taels of silver. You can return them to me later, young lady." Zhu Sanniang's frank words made Zhao Zhi feel much more at ease.
"Thank you, Third Sister." She nodded slightly to the other woman. Then she sat down by the bed and began to take Cui Shenghe's pulse.
Fortunately, his condition was not as serious as she had imagined.
"Young lady, when I changed your clothes, I carefully kept some of your belongings safe. I'll show them to you now to see if anything is missing," Zhu Sanniang said softly after taking her pulse.
"Thank you, Third Sister." After saying that, Zhao Zhi slowly turned around and looked thoughtfully at Zhu San Niang's departing figure.
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