Lin Xihe stared blankly at Gu Qinghuai's retreating figure until it disappeared through the doorway. She buried herself completely under the covers, as if that would allow her to escape the chaotic relationship before her.
She knew perfectly well how she felt about Ji Zhuo.
However, the original owner's deep affection for Gu Qinghuai also surged within this body like a tide.
Two completely different feelings intertwined, and she couldn't help but ask herself, was she really in love with two people at the same time?
What should we do...?
You can't hide your feelings for one person, but you must hide your feelings for two people.
We need to get it sorted out as soon as possible.
After a long while, Lin Xihe's maid, Ling Shuang, gently pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a bowl of steaming medicine in her hands, with a plate of candied fruit placed next to her.
"Miss, General Gu instructed me to bring you medicine." Ling Shuang walked lightly to the bedside.
Upon hearing the sound, Lin Xihe slowly pulled the blanket off her head and said with a hint of reluctance, "I'm fine, I don't want to drink."
"General Gu is sitting in the main hall. He said that if the young lady is afraid of the bitterness and refuses to drink it, he will personally feed her."
Seeing Ling Shuang's explanation, Lin Xihe couldn't help but feel curious and asked, "Ling Shuang, aren't you Ji Zhuo's person?"
“Although we were trained by our master, he said when he assigned us to follow you, Miss, that you would be our only master from now on. General Gu, this is for your own good.” Ling Shuang replied earnestly, then gently placed the tray of medicine on the small table beside the bed and presented the medicine to Lin Xihe.
"Young lady, you just fainted. You should drink some of this medicine; it will be good for your health."
Lin Xihe looked at the bowl of medicine that had been placed in front of her, hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted her teeth and drank the medicine in one gulp.
The bitter taste of the medicine instantly spread in her mouth. She quickly picked up a piece of candied fruit and put it in her mouth, but the bitterness seemed to be deeply rooted on the tip of her tongue and she couldn't get rid of it.
"Let General Gu go back," Lin Xihe sighed helplessly and instructed Ling Shuang.
"Yes, young lady."
Ling Shuang curtsied slightly, then turned and quickly walked out of the room to convey Lin Xihe's message.
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Lin Xihe left home early.
In her memory of yesterday, she remembered that Uncle Fu seemed to have no family members around, except for a nephew from Chengxi Village.
Filled with doubt, she decided to go and investigate to see if Uncle Fu was still there.
The carriage sped along the bumpy road for more than two hours, asking many passersby for directions before finally finding Saigon Village.
Uncle Fu's surname is Li, and his given name is Duofu.
Lin Xihe went from house to house in the village, asking around until they finally found the home of Uncle Fu's nephew.
Ling Shuang stepped forward and knocked on the door for a long time before a slight sound came from inside.
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a fair-skinned and slender scholar. He wore a blue robe, his face was slightly pale, yet he exuded an air of refined elegance.
"Who are you looking for?" the scholar asked softly, a hint of wariness in his eyes.
"Is this Li Duofu's nephew's house?" Ling Shuang replied politely.
"Who are you to my uncle? What do you want with me?" The scholar frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Lin Xihe and her servant.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xihe walked up to the scholar and asked, "Young master, may I ask where your uncle has gone?"
"My uncle died more than half a year ago."
The scholar's voice was deep and calm, but those few simple words struck Lin Xihe's heart like a heavy hammer.
"Dead? How did he die?" Lin Xihe's emotions surged instantly, her eyes filled with shock.
"Who are you people? Why are you asking about my uncle?"
"I am the daughter of Uncle Fu's former employer. I have returned to the capital and wish to ask Uncle Fu to return as my steward." Lin Xihe quickly recited the words she had prepared on the way, trying to dispel the scholar's doubts.
"Is it Miss Lin?" Lin Xihe had just finished speaking when the scholar seemed to suddenly remember something and couldn't help but ask.
"Yes." Lin Xihe nodded gently.
Upon hearing this, the scholar's wariness instantly dissipated, and he immediately stepped aside to make way for her: "Miss Lin, please come inside and talk."
Although Lin Xihe had some doubts, seeing the scholar's attitude and knowing that Ling Shuang was there to protect her, she figured that even if something happened, Ling Shuang would be able to protect her.
So, after a slight hesitation, she stepped into the house.
Upon entering the room, the scholar politely invited Lin Xihe to sit down, and then said, "Miss Lin, please sit for a moment, I will be right back."
While waiting, Lin Xihe carefully examined the scholar's house.
The furnishings inside were extremely simple. The plaster on the walls was mottled and peeling. A few old pieces of furniture were placed haphazardly, just like the Xinghua Village residence where he had lived before. Both places looked extremely poor.
The only difference was the neatly arranged pile of books in the corner.
A moment later, the man came out carrying a box in his arms.
He gently placed the box on the table in front of Lin Xihe, and then slowly opened the lid.
Inside the box, a row of silver ingots was neatly stacked, gleaming with a cold luster in the dim light of the room.
Lin Xihe's gaze was instantly drawn to the box of money, and she couldn't help but ask, "What's this for?"
“My uncle said that if Miss Lin comes to him, he will give her these two hundred taels of silver,” the scholar replied calmly.
"Two hundred taels?" Lin Xihe was shocked. How could she not be familiar with this amount? It was the money that the Emperor had bestowed upon her after Uncle Fu betrayed her father.
But why hasn't he used a single penny?
"What else did Uncle Fu say?" Lin Xihe asked, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
"Besides giving the girl this money, my uncle didn't say anything else," the scholar replied honestly, his eyes clear.
Lin Xihe was instantly plunged into deep confusion again.
Why would someone who has turned away from God not be after money?
Is it because of resentment?
If there was hatred, then why did you take such good care of the original owner in the past, like a biological daughter?
"How did Uncle Fu die?"
"I hanged myself, and died in front of your father's grave." The scholar answered without hesitation, as if he had expected Lin Xihe to ask this question.
Lin Xihe was filled with shock upon hearing this.
Yesterday, while recalling the details of Uncle Fu's life, she was shocked to realize that Uncle Fu's kindness towards the original owner was not an act.
Moreover, if it were truly a disguise, how could it have lasted for over a decade without any flaws?
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