The child seemed uneasy, his eyes wary, looking as if he was ready to fight at any moment.
Hua Zhi didn’t dwell on what he had been through—it couldn’t have been anything good—but letting things continue like this was not an option. Her carriage was already stained with blood, and the bedding was soaked through.
"Do you have someone you need to meet up with?"
The child nodded, then shook his head.
Hua Zhi nodded, not pressing further. "Will there be trouble if you come with me now?"
The child shook his head. "No one saw."
"Alright. Cao Cao, check if he’s injured in any vital areas. If not, go clean up the aftermath. All traces must end at this inn." The patrons of Yunlai Inn were either wealthy or influential. Only by cutting off the trail here would the other party hesitate, and she would avoid drawing attention.
Shaoyao nodded, stepped forward to check the child’s pulse, then put on her Veiled Hat and got out of the carriage, signaling Ying Chun to go inside.
Ying Chun covered her mouth tightly at the sight inside and instinctively moved to shield her mistress. Hua Zhi pulled her back. "It’s fine. Sit down."
The carriage slowly departed. Zhu Ziwen had no particular connection with Shaoyao, so when he saw her get off, he didn’t ask questions, merely nodded and followed on horseback.
Wu Bi led his horse over, suddenly sniffed the air, and frowned. "The smell of blood—where’s it coming from?"
Shaoyao glanced around and lowered her voice. "There’s a child hidden in the carriage, no older than ten. Judging by his clothes and demeanor, he’s not from an ordinary family. Go check which prominent family in the capital has lost a child recently. If no one reports it..."
Her eyes turned icy. "Then there’s something sinister going on. Investigate it thoroughly, no matter what."
"Alright, I’ll go now. When you get back, inform Wang Rong and tell him not to leave the Hua family these next few days."
"Understood." They parted ways. Shaoyao headed to the alley beside the backyard of Yunlai Inn, looked around, and climbed over the wall into the courtyard. This was where carriages were parked, and the child had likely been hiding here.
Near the inner part of the stables, Shaoyao found traces of blood. She cleared the bloodstains as she followed them to a narrow crevice. Both the ground and the walls were stained with dark patches—the color of dried blood, indicating the child had been there for at least a day.
Shaoyao clutched her head, which throbbed as if it might split open. Flashes of blood and fire filled her mind—scenes that were unfamiliar yet felt strangely known to her.
These were likely fragments of her forgotten past, memories she had no desire to recall, none at all!
Sweat beaded on her temples, her lips pale as snow. She thought, I need to prepare a medicine for myself—one that will help me forget even more completely.
Once the headache eased slightly, she struck several spots on the outer wall of the crevice with hidden force. The wall slowly crumbled from the bottom, shattering completely below and filling the gap entirely. Large stones piled on top, making it look as though it had always been that way. Ensuring no traces remained, Shaoyao slipped away as quietly as she had come.
Soon after, another group arrived in the courtyard. They searched every corner meticulously but eventually shook their heads and left.
By then, Shaoyao had already returned to the Hua family and informed Wang Rong.
Wang Rong whispered, "You shouldn’t have left the residence today. The people from the Wang family probably already know you’re with the Hua family.""Come at me if you don't mind dying by my hand." Shaoyao was in a foul mood, radiating violence. This version of Shaoyao was unfamiliar to Hua Zhi but well-known to Wang Rong and others - the Shaoyao who, once enraged, could be pacified by no one.
"You're back, Miss Shaoyao! The young lady was worried you might have encountered trouble and sent me to check if you'd returned." Bao Xia approached with quick, small steps, pulling Shaoyao inside. "Hurry, the young lady is waiting for you!"
Wang Rong's tense posture relaxed. He had genuinely feared Shaoyao might harm the rash maid, but when the maid mentioned the Hua family's eldest young lady, he clearly saw the usually merciless Shaoyao retract all her sharp edges. The glance she threw back at him had regained clarity.
Letting out a soft sigh, Wang Rong began to understand why The Heir had assigned Shaoyao to accompany the eldest young lady - besides protecting her, it was also to help calm Shaoyao.
Thinking of The Heir, Wang Rong frowned deeply. The Heir had been away much longer than expected with no news, and there were subtle disturbances brewing in the capital...
Wang Rong's recently eased heart tightened again.
Upon entering the room, Shaoyao was hit by the strong scent of alcohol. A maid carried clean water in while another carried bloody water out, and she moved aside to let them pass.
"Back?" Hua Zhi glanced over her shoulder, then paused. Signaling Ying Chun to take over cleaning the child's wounds, she approached Shaoyao and asked quietly, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Shaoyao remained silent, holding Hua Hua while quietly calming herself. She didn't believe in the saying that physicians can't heal themselves. After her master declared her condition incurable, she had prescribed herself numerous remedies. She thought she was cured, though her master disagreed, but today she realized she truly wasn't better yet.
Hua Zhi wordlessly returned the embrace, gently stroking the back of her neck. Only when she felt Shaoyao completely relax did she say, "It's alright now. Go rest on my bed for a while. I'll join you shortly."
Shaoyao straightened up and looked toward the bed where the child lay.
Understanding her meaning, Hua Zhi smiled faintly. "I've invited Doctor Chu to the residence. Though he has many wounds, none are vital. He'll hold on."
"Let me handle this." Shaoyao walked to the bedside and looked at the child drenched in sweat from pain yet still conscious. Respecting him, she didn't knock him out, turning instead to order, "Fetch my medical kit."
Bao Xia hurried out of the room.
Shaoyao tore off the child's tattered clothes in a few swift motions. The eight or nine-year-old child lacked even the strength for shyness, though his evasive eyes revealed his embarrassment.
The maids averted their gazes. Men and women shouldn't share seats after seven - and this child was well past seven!
Hua Zhi dismissed the maids from the room, then approached to examine the numerous wounds covering the child's body. Speaking to the slightly trembling child, she said, "If you need to contact anyone, we'll help you reach them if we can."
The child stared fixedly at her, dark eyes stubborn and resolute, so pure they evoked no dislike. Hua Zhi found herself somewhat fond of this child - she had always admired such resilient people.
"I have no one to contact."Just as the child thought she might find him troublesome and send him away, he heard her ask, "What should we call you? How about A Jian?"
Hua Zhi was quite pleased. A Jian, A Jian—so easy to remember.
Shaoyao also thought it couldn't be better. "Humble names help children survive. I think it's good."
Under the gaze of the two, the child accepted his new name.
"How is the situation?"
Shaoyao washed her hands. "All fresh injuries, no more than three days old. Judging by the depth of the wounds, they probably weren't inflicted by the same person."
A Jian clenched his fists, his chest heaving noticeably.
Shaoyao shrugged. "Looks like I was right."
PS: The manuscript stock is depleted. How remarkable that Kongkong, who’s in meetings all day, still dares to update twice daily!
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