Surviving a disaster, gratitude and entrustment
Qin Yuti regained consciousness amidst a severe headache and excruciating pain throughout her body. She struggled to open her heavy eyelids, and through her blurred vision, she saw a simple thatched roof and mud walls, the air filled with a faint scent of herbs and firewood.
"Girl? You're awake?" An aged but delighted voice rang out from beside her.
Qin Yuti turned her head with difficulty and saw an old woman dressed in coarse cloth with a kind face looking at her with concern. Behind the old woman stood another old man, also dressed simply and with a robust build, his face bearing a kind and worried expression.
"Where...where is this?" Qin Yuti's voice was hoarse and dry, her throat feeling as if it had been burned.
"Don't be afraid, young lady. This is Xinghua Village at the foot of the mountain." The old woman quickly brought over a bowl of warm water and carefully fed it to her. "My husband and I were fetching water from the river a few days ago when we found you collapsed on the bank, so we brought you back. You fell from such a height and survived. It's truly a blessing from the Bodhisattva!"
The warm water soothed her throat, and Qin Yuti's consciousness gradually cleared. The terrifying scenes before she jumped off the cliff instantly flooded her mind—the vicious robbers, the tragically killed guards and servants, the relentless shouts of pursuit, and the resolute despair as she leaped into the air… She shivered violently, and her face turned even paler.
"Thank you... thank you both for saving my life." She struggled to sit up and bow, but the movement aggravated her injuries, causing her to gasp in pain.
"Lie down quickly, don't move!" The old hunter waved his hand hurriedly, his voice loud but full of concern, "Your injuries are quite serious, you need to rest and recover properly."
Under the old woman's meticulous care, Qin Yuti drank some thin porridge and felt a little better. Looking at the kind couple, she was filled with gratitude and revealed her identity, saying that she was from the capital and had been robbed by bandits on her way back to visit relatives.
The elderly couple were deeply moved by her story and felt even more sorry for the girl who had survived the ordeal. During her recovery, Qin Yuti's calmness and refined manners won their hearts, and they gradually came to regard her as one of their own. Qin Yuti also learned that the elderly couple's surname was Shi, and they were native hunters from the mountains, known for their simple and kind nature.
However, every time night fell, Granny Shi would gaze at the dark mountains outside the window and couldn't help but secretly wipe away her tears. Qin Yuti, being perceptive, noticed their sorrow.
One day, while Old Man Shi was out hunting, Qin Yuti whispered to Granny Shi, "Granny, is there something on your mind with Old Man Shi? If you trust me, you might as well tell me, and perhaps I can help."
Looking into Qin Yuti's sincere eyes, Granny Shi sighed, and tears fell again: "Young lady, to tell you the truth... my wife and I have a worry on our hearts."
She began to recount her story, wiping away tears. It turned out they had an only son named Shi Lei, a bright and intelligent child, a rare scholar in their mountain village. Three years ago, Shi Lei, carrying the hopes of the entire village and his parents' life savings, went to the capital to take the imperial examination. According to the route, the examination was long overdue, but their son seemed to have vanished into thin air, and there had been no news of him since.
“Three years… not a single word…” Granny Shi choked up. “We wondered if he had been murdered on the way? Or… or maybe he passed the exam and looked down on us poor parents, and didn’t want to come back?” This guess made her even more distressed. “Or perhaps something delayed him? But no matter how delayed he was, he should have sent a message back! This lack of news, whether he’s alive or dead, keeps us old folks on edge day and night…”
Qin Yuti listened, her heart aching. She could fully understand the pain of being separated from one's loved one and the constant worry that followed. She grasped Granny Shi's rough hand and solemnly promised, "Granny, don't worry. Once I'm healed and return to the capital, I will definitely find a way to help you find out about Brother Shi Lei. The capital may be big, but as long as he's still alive, we can always find clues."
Upon hearing this, Granny Shi was both grateful and worried: "Young lady, we appreciate your kindness. But the capital is so big, and you're a young woman who has just gone through something like this... How can we trouble you any further..."
“What are you saying, Mother-in-law?” Qin Yuti said firmly. “You and Uncle are my saviors, you are my second life. This is just a small thing, it’s what I should do. Don’t worry, I have some acquaintances in the capital, it’s better to ask around for someone than for you two to just sit here worrying.”
Looking into Qin Yuti's sincere and confident eyes, a faint hope ignited in Granny Shi's heart. Perhaps, this seemingly extraordinary girl really could help them find their son?
Qin Yuti lay on the simple bed, gazing at the moonlight outside the window, her mind filled with countless thoughts. Her own safety was uncertain, and the Prince and her family must be frantic with worry. But right now, she was seriously injured and unable to return to the capital immediately. And the entrustment from Granny Shi and her husband made her feel an even heavier responsibility.
Beijing, wait for me.
Father, Mother, Your Highness... Once I've recovered from my injuries, I will definitely go back.
And Brother Shi Lei... No matter where you are, I will do my best to find you and give these two kind old people an explanation.
Amidst physical pain and anxieties about the future, this promise became a powerful driving force propelling Qin Yuti to recover as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, far away in the capital, Zhao Jingyi was frantically searching the cliff that had taken his princess, a search driven to near despair. The threads of fate, separated by a hundred miles, tightly tugged at the heartstrings of everyone.
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