"The hot water is here."
"We don't need your fake kindness! Get out!"
Bai Zhier leaned against the bed, her outer robe already removed. The bloodstains on her plain white inner garment were no longer faint; they had spread significantly. Despite her condition, she stopped her younger sister. "Ruo... Ruo'er, you should go out for a moment. Let Shanshan treat my wounds."
In truth, Chu Ruo didn't necessarily need to feel guilty. Bai Zhier’s injuries weren't her fault, nor had Nan Muxue been the one to wound her. Furthermore, today’s encounter with Nan Muxue had been an accident. Aside from the lie about her amnesia, she hadn't deceived Zhier about anything else. Yet, she couldn't suppress the wave of remorse washing over her. She carefully stepped out and closed the door behind her. "I... I'll wait for you both outside."
"You better not try to run," Bai Shan hissed toward the door, though her hands remained meticulous as she tended to her sister. "Don't even think about leaving without the antidote."
"This has nothing to do with Ruo'er..."
"Nothing to do with her?" Bai Shan snorted with disdain. "How do you know that? Was Nan Muxue’s appearance today really a coincidence? Sister, stop letting her bewitch you. She isn't worthy of you."
A bitter smile touched Bai Zhier’s lips. *It isn't that she isn't worthy... it's that from the very beginning, there was never a place for me in her heart.*
*Creak—*
Chu Ruo stood up anxiously. "How is Zhier?"
Bai Shan brushed past her irritably. "What’s it to you? Aren't you just waiting for something to happen to my sister? You've finally gotten your wish, haven't you?"
"I haven't," Chu Ruo replied. The cold, mocking tone was unpleasant, but she didn't lose her temper. "I want to see Zhier."
"My sister doesn't want to see you! Save your crocodile tears! If she hadn't stopped me, I’d have poisoned you to death by now!"
"Shanshan... *cough, cough*..." Bai Zhier’s light coughing drifted from the room. "You... *cough*... you..."
"Fine, fine, I get it!" Bai Shan stamped her foot in frustration, secretly sighing at her sister’s spineless behavior. "I'm going to sleep. I can't be bothered to deal with you two anymore. Is that enough?"
The door creaked again as Chu Ruo pushed it open. Her movements were slow, not out of hesitation about entering, but because she was carefully carrying a tureen of soup. She walked slowly until she reached Bai Zhier’s side.
"Zhier, how are you?"
Bai Zhier was still very weak, but she had sat up upon seeing her. Chu Ruo rushed to support her. "Quick, lie down. Don't move around."
"What did you cook?"
"Ah?" Chu Ruo answered hurriedly. "Oh, it’s just some egg drop porridge. I was in a rush and didn't know what else to make, and since you're injured..." Chu Ruo looked incredibly awkward. She sat on the edge of the bed, her body stiff and upright, her hands resting restlessly on her thighs. She didn't dare look the other woman in the eye, yet she couldn't help but steal occasional glances. She looked exactly like a child who had done something wrong, her head hanging low, appearing quite adorable.
"Isn't it for me to eat?"
Chu Ruo scrambled to her feet to ladle out a bowl. "Yes, yes, let me serve you." She started to hand it over, but catching sight of the wound on Zhier's shoulder, her heart softened. Why was it that the Little Scorpion was always getting hurt on her hands and shoulders too? It seemed normal, though—after all, one used their hands to fight, so those areas were bound to be injured first. "Let me feed you."
A hint of a smile appeared in Bai Zhier’s eyes. She cooperated, opening her mouth to swallow the steaming porridge. A moment later, her expression shifted. "It seems... a bit bland..."
"Bland?" Chu Ruo looked at the porridge and nearly slapped her own forehead. She was still holding the bowl; luckily, she didn't actually go through with the slap, or the scene would have been quite messy. She set the bowl down abruptly and started to stand. "I forgot to add salt. Let me make it again."
"Don't bother," Bai Zhier stopped her. Chu Ruo looked even more embarrassed. "Zhier, I was wrong..."
"Heh..." Bai Zhier leaned forward and pulled the other woman into an embrace. Chu Ruo was deathly nervous. "Zhier..."
"Let me lean on you for a bit," Zhier whispered, her head resting against Chu Ruo. "I'm tired..."
Her voice carried a complex weight of emotions, sounding deeply sorrowful. In the end, Chu Ruo didn't push her away. "Zhier, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you."
"You're so silly... but seeing you makes all my anger vanish." Bai Zhier continued to lean against her, her voice sounding like a lament, or perhaps more like an acceptance of fate.
"You're a good girl, truly. You're beautiful, you know medicine, and you're very kind-hearted."
"Mm, I never realized Ruo'er thought so highly of me. Praise me some more."
"I... what I actually want to say is that you're wonderful, and you've treated me so well. But I lied to you from the start. Zhier, if you're angry, just say it. You don't have to be like this."
"Angry? I don't think I ever was. Because from the beginning, I knew you would leave me sooner or later. That’s why I'm holding you now—I'm afraid I won't have another chance in the future."
"Zhier..."
"Just now was the first time you've ever fed me. It felt quite nice, even if the porridge had no flavor," Bai Zhier smiled, then suddenly changed the subject. "Ruo'er, in your heart, do you hate me?"
"No—"
"Don't be so quick to answer. Let me finish," she interrupted. "Since you never lost your memory, you must know that while I did save you, the branch of the Baihua Palace wouldn't have met with disaster if not for Shanshan and me. Perhaps you didn't know, but we were the ones who gave Liu Shaopeng..."
"I know. I've always known. On the day I woke up, I was actually already conscious; I just couldn't move. I overheard the conversation between you two. I knew you were working with Liu Shaopeng, and I knew you were the Saintesses of the Tianmo Palace. That’s why I had no choice but to..."
Bai Zhier actually let out a soft laugh. "No wonder you pretended to have amnesia. You were trying to get close to us all along."
"But I never intended to hurt you, Zhier. I consider you a friend. I never wanted you to get hurt. Meeting the Little Scorpion—I mean, my Master—today was purely an accident. I didn't know you would be ambushed. I really didn't expect things to turn out like this."
"It’s not that I never suspected your amnesia. Or perhaps, I was just deceiving myself. I simply didn't want to think about it. I told myself that as long as you were by my side, it was enough. Since returning to the Central Plains, I've had a very bad premonition. Now, it has finally come true."
"Is your injury serious?" Chu Ruo realized this woman wasn't foolish at all; she had simply chosen to play the fool for her sake.
"These past few months with you have been so happy. But I know there is a woman in your heart. As long as you are with me, I can keep nothing of yours except for the antidote." Bai Zhier didn't answer the question. "Ruo'er, do you hate me? I want the truth."
The response wasn't words, but a shake of the head, followed by a heavy sigh. "If not for you, the Baihua Gu inside me would have likely flared up long ago. Zhier, I'm really not worth your kindness. I'm just a woman..."
"And you and your Little Scorpion... are you not?"
Embarrassed, Chu Ruo stammered, "I..."
"The moment you saw her, you were ready to leave me without hesitation, weren't you?"
Short-term pain is better than long-term suffering—there was some truth to that saying. Better to cut ties cleanly than to let someone linger on false hope. "My heart only has room for her."
"Then what about Yan'er?"
"Yan'er? You..."
"That night you were drunk, you kept calling out the names 'Yan'er' and 'Little Scorpion.' Ruo'er, since you are like this, why are you so heartless to me?"
"No, no, you've misunderstood. It’s not what you think. They are the same person; I just didn't know it at first."
"But you still fell for her. Even if they are the same person, you didn't know that at the time." Bai Zhier held her tighter. "Ruo'er, do you really have the heart to treat me this way?"
"Zhier," Chu Ruo tried to push her away. "I admit, at that time I really didn't know, and I did fall for both of them. That’s why I decided to leave them both, because it wasn't fair. I'm a terrible person. Later, I even swore to myself that I would never love anyone else again—until I found out they were actually the same person. Zhier, do you understand? My heart only has her. In this life, my eyes will never hold anyone else."
"Heh," the other woman chuckled softly. "You're so honest. Aren't you afraid I won't give you the antidote? Right now, it’s not just the Baihua Gu. Even if Nan Muxue gives you a cure, the poisons in your body are currently suppressing each other. Once that balance is broken, you know what the consequences will be."
Chu Ruo shook her head again. "No matter what, my answer remains the same: my heart only has her. Besides, you wouldn't do that. You've never been the type to threaten people like this. Zhier, I told you, you're a good woman."
"Perhaps you've never truly understood me. How do you know I wouldn't do it? Those medicinal thralls are the best example, aren't they?"
"Zhier, I know you are kind-hearted. You aren't like that."
"Ruo'er, I'm sleepy. Stay and sleep with me."
"No, I can't," Chu Ruo immediately tried to push back. "You should—"
Before she could finish, she fell into a deep slumber. Bai Zhier had struck her sleeping acupoint. However, she didn't take any further liberties, simply continuing to lean against her. "Mm, Ruo'er is so warm. Sleep peacefully. Goodnight."
***
"Tell Cai Feng to immediately dispatch every person she can mobilize under her command. Go, now!"
"Yes, this disciple will see to it at once."
As soon as the subordinate left, Nan Muxue coughed up another mouthful of fresh blood. Xiao Guo'er watched in horror and rushed forward to support her. "Young Palace Mistress, you..."
"Xiao Guo'er," Nan Muxue gripped the girl's arm tightly. She looked agitated, not even bothering to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth, yet a smile broke across her face. "I saw Ruo'er!"
"Chu Ruo? She's not dead!" Xiao Guo'er was equally excited. "She's alright?!"
"This matter must not be leaked. You come with me. Ruo'er’s current situation is unsafe. As for the Baihua Palace, don't let the others know for now. Await my orders for everything."
"Yes, this disciple understands."
*Ruo'er, I will definitely find you.* However, the matter of Chu Ruo holding a "warm fragrant jade" in her arms—that would be another story for after she found her.
***
