Poison testing
The backyard was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. Every now and then a gust of wind would blow, causing the lanterns under the eaves to flutter. Jiang Yi couldn't help but shiver and quickly closed the window.
Xia Zhi carried in a wooden basin, steaming hot water inside. "Miss, I've prepared hot water. Come and soak your feet."
"Where did you get the hot water from in this pitch-black place?"
She replied with a smile, "I saw a well behind here, so I drew some water up and heated it in a stove."
Jiang Yi was incredibly impressed. If it were her, she would probably have locked the door, wrapped herself in the blankets, and gone to sleep long ago. Who would have the time to draw water from the well to wash their feet?
"You're really brave, but next time you go out, call me. You can't do these jobs alone. At least the two of us can look after each other."
Xia Zhi clutched the cotton cloth used to wipe her feet in her hand, "But I'm supposed to take good care of Miss!"
Jiang Yi scoffed, "Nonsense, who is born to serve others? Everyone is equal, there is no distinction between high and low, noble and lowly."
Xia Zhi slightly widened her eyes, revealing a hint of doubt and astonishment. These words were all unorthodox and unconventional. She wondered where her young lady had heard them.
Jiang Yi was taking off her stockings when she saw her freeze. Suddenly remembering something, she threw the stockings aside, put on her shoes, and moved a chair over from the side.
"Miss, why are you moving the chair? Let me do it."
"No need, no need, please sit down, we'll wash together."
"Huh?" Xia Zhi was stunned. After realizing what was happening, she hurriedly waved her hand. "No, Miss, this is against the rules."
"Tsk."
Jiang Yi wiped her hands on her dress twice, then walked over, grabbed her shoulders, and pushed her into a chair.
"What's wrong with the rules? There are only the two of us in this courtyard. Also, don't call me 'Miss' when no one is around. Just call me by my name."
"No, Miss, how can this be?"
"Alright, stop telling me it's against the rules or that it's not allowed! It's settled then!" Jiang Yi wiggled her feet and gently patted the water a few times. "Take off your shoes and come in, or the water will get cold."
Xia Zhi slowly took off her embroidered shoes and stockings, and Jiang Yi left half of the space for her in the wooden basin.
"Miss, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
"Hmm? Go ahead and say it!"
"I... I feel like you've changed a lot."
Jiang Yi's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but swallow, lowering her eyelashes and staring intently at her feet, not daring to look directly at Xia Zhi.
"Of course! A wandering ghost from the future possesses your young lady's body, how could she not change?" Jiang Yi muttered to herself.
Finally, racking his brains, he came up with an excuse, fully utilizing his acting talent, and said with deep emotion against his conscience, "I can't remember so many things after I woke up, and only you are by my side, Xia Zhi. Thanks to you, otherwise I really don't know what to do."
Xia Zhi smiled gently: "It's alright, Miss has just forgotten for the time being. She will definitely remember in the future. I will always be by Miss's side and accompany her."
"Yes, thank you."
Xia Zhi shook her head slightly.
After the two finished washing their feet, while Jiang Yi went out to pour water, Xia Zhi had already laid out the bedding and other items.
This girl really can't stay still.
"Miss, the bed is made up. You should get some rest."
"Wait a minute!" Jiang Yi grabbed her arm and said with a smile, "Xia Zhi, sleep with me."
"ah?"
Jiang Yi pulled her to the bedside, kicked off her shoes, and moved to the innermost part of the bed.
"I'm a little scared to sleep alone, so this is just to keep me company?"
Xia Zhi smiled and her eyebrows curved into a smile: "Alright, then I'll sleep on the floor and stay by your side, Miss."
"No, it's so chilly at night. What if you catch a cold? Besides, this bed is big enough for both of us."
"But……"
"Oh, no buts, hurry up and get on."
Jiang Yi took off her outer clothes, leaving only her inner garments underneath.
Xia Zhi didn't rush to bed. She knelt on one knee by the bedside, grabbed Jiang Yi's arm, gently pulled the cuff up to her forearm, raised it a little, and looked at her elbow.
She frowned slightly and said softly, "Miss, you've suffered. I wonder when the bruises will heal."
Jiang Yi understood that she was worried about her fall tonight, so she pulled her arm back and said nonchalantly, "It's okay, I'm tough, it'll be fine in a few days."
Xia Zhi glanced at her several times after hearing this, her tightly furrowed brows not relaxing at all. Unfortunately, Jiang Yi was too busy smoothing out the bedding to notice.
She still harbored some doubts... the person in front of her had changed so much.
After blowing out the candle, Xia Zhi groped her way to bed in the moonlight that streamed in.
Inside the green gauze curtain, two steady breaths gradually came from within.
Jiang Yi turned her head: "Xia Zhi, are you asleep?"
"Not yet, Miss, what's wrong?"
"Why are you still calling me 'Miss'?"
"A young lady is indeed a young lady!"
"Alright, if you like calling me that, then so be it." In the darkness, Jiang Yi sighed softly, folded her hands under her head, blinked, and looked at the top of the gauze curtain, saying, "Logically speaking, shouldn't a bride go back to her parents' home three days after marrying into her husband's family? Why hasn't anyone notified me? There hasn't been a single word!"
“I’ve heard that the First Madam makes all the decisions in the General’s Mansion. If she refuses to let you go back, she should send someone back to the Jiang Mansion to inform the Master and Madam. You don’t need to worry about that.”
Jiang Yi nodded.
"But Miss..."
"Um?"
"Aren't you scared? The First Madam is so ruthless. What if we're never able to leave this courtyard for the rest of our lives?"
Jiang Yi smiled and said, "No, don't worry. I'll protect you from now on and I'll never let your precious youth be wasted here."
She wasn't just making empty promises; this marriage was personally bestowed by His Majesty. Want to divorce her? Hmph, not so easy! Even if she were His Majesty's own sister, it wouldn't work. Qi Shuangyun's words tonight were just a bluff.
The words spoken by the emperor are not easily taken back. This little trick might fool a young girl like Xia Zhi, but it won't fool Jiang Yi!
Once the person next to her began to snore softly, Jiang Yi raised her hand to touch her cheek. It was strange; this face looked exactly like hers, and even the name was the same. Could there really be such a thing as past and present lives? If so, why did she still remember things from her present life? Could it be that the Meng Po soup (the soup of oblivion) was diluted too much?
Her fingertips glided across her eyebrows, the bridge of her nose, and down to her lips. Suddenly, a flash of white light appeared, and Jiang Yi suddenly remembered something.
When she bumped into He Lin at the corner of the corridor in the afternoon, it seemed like something soft touched her forehead. Could it have been He Lin's lips?
Thinking of this, Jiang Yi's heart started pounding wildly, and she quickly pulled the blanket up, burying her face in it.
...
The next morning, after Xia Zhi finished washing up, she found a broken broom in some corner and started sweeping up the fallen leaves.
Seeing this, Jiang Yi quickly stopped her, telling her to save her energy.
"Miss, I have nothing to do anyway, so I'll just do a quick cleaning."
"No need to clean, I think it's fine as it is. Look, it even makes a 'rustling' sound when you step on it, isn't that interesting!"
Xia Zhi: "..."
When the two maids who were responsible for delivering meals saw her taking a broom and stomping around on the swept fallen leaves, they couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
Jiang Yi thought to herself: Sigh, I'm afraid it won't be long before rumors spread throughout this huge general's mansion that she has lost her mind and gone mad.
She didn't care what others thought of her; safety was the most important thing, and she cherished her life very much!
Don't be fooled by the fallen leaves scattered all over the yard; they're quite useful. The sound of them underfoot is easy to spot. If someone can't tolerate her and sends a thief to kill her in the middle of the night, at least she'll know in advance and be mentally prepared. Maybe she can put up a fight and escape with her life...
These past few days, the two of them have basically been eating and sleeping together. When Xia Zhi saw the steaming hot food, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Miss, come and eat!"
Seeing the two maids leave the courtyard, Jiang Yi quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xia Zhi's arm, a look of seriousness flashing in her eyes.
"Wait! Don't eat yet!"
Xia Zhi's gaze followed Jiang Yi's and fell on the food. It was the simplest food: two bowls of white rice and three plates of vegetables, without a drop of oil. Even the lowest-ranking servant in the mansion probably ate better than this!
"Miss, is there something wrong with this dish?"
She swallowed hard, her mouth dry, and seeing her young mistress's serious expression, she was a little confused.
Jiang Yi didn't speak, but took out a hairpin from her dressing case. She didn't recognize its value and asked directly, "Xia Zhi, is this hairpin made of silver? Can it be used to test for poison?"
Hearing this, Xia Zhi became even more frightened, and her fingers trembled slightly: "Miss, are you saying that this food... is poisoned?"
Jiang Yi grinned: "I don't know, but just to be on the safe side, let's give it a try, just in case."
After saying that, she inserted the hairpins into the rice one by one, and the silver on them did not turn black.
That's strange, that's how it's always portrayed in TV dramas! Could it be that she inserted it at the wrong angle?
Xia Zhi glanced at the food on the table; it wasn't as hot as before, and it would get cold if she didn't eat it soon. "Miss, may I eat this?"
Jiang Yi didn't answer, but smiled with narrowed eyes, "Could you accept going hungry for a day?"
"???"
Although no poison was detected, there's no way to prevent other things from being added! If a laxative is mixed in, the onset will be very uncomfortable.
"I remember you said before that He Lin found a doctor to examine me?"
Xia Zhi was a little confused, but still nodded: "Yes, Miss was in a deep sleep that night and I was really worried, so I went to find Young Master Lin."
So you know where he lives?
"Miss, why are you asking this?"
Jiang Yi patted her shoulder and smiled brightly: "I won't do anything, don't worry, I won't let you go hungry."
As night fell, the cool autumn wind sent shivers down Jiang Yi's spine. Hiding in the shadows, Jiang Yi shivered and cautiously peeked out to look around. Only when the two patrolling servants in front of her gradually disappeared into the distance did she tiptoe towards the corridor.
"Knock knock knock..."
There was a knock on the door a few times. He Lin put down the book he was holding, put on an outer robe, and went to open the door.
When he caught a glimpse of a dark figure crouching on the ground out of the corner of his eye, he was startled and his eyes widened involuntarily.
"you……"
Shh, let me in first.
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