Lang Jiuchuan’s body would not last long.

The estate physician’s words sent a visible shudder through everyone who had entered the room.

Lang Zhengping stepped past Cui Shi and came forward, brow furrowed. “How did her body become so weak? Doctor Chen, whatever treatment is needed, write up a prescription — whatever medicinal ingredients are required, I’ll have Steward Ding procure them.”

She was the Second Branch’s only heir, after all. They could not afford to lose her — how else could they face his late second brother?

Receiving the go-ahead, Doctor Chen rose and gave him a bow. “Young Lord, this old one shall go and deliberate.”

“Go.”

“There is no need to trouble yourselves.” Lang Jiuchuan said with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “This body — it is beyond your power to save.”

Everyone froze.

“Nonsense.” Lang Zhengping’s expression darkened. “You spoke recklessly in the memorial hall earlier — cursing a guest and disturbing your grandfather’s spirit. Given your age and the fact that you’ve only just returned home, I will not punish you. But your health is not something to be trifled with, nor is it something you can simply let go unaddressed through sheer willfulness.”

Lang Jiuchuan smiled and countered, “Letting things go unaddressed — is that not a Lan Family tradition?”

“You—!” Lang Zhengping was furious.

“Ninth Young Miss, do you still remember this old servant? The Old Madame has been thinking of you constantly. The moment she heard you’d returned, she was already insisting on seeing you.” Nanny Wang stepped forward and looked Lang Jiuchuan over carefully. “You’ve grown taller — how is it that you’ve become even thinner? But now that you’re home, with careful tending you’ll recover.”

Lang Jiuchuan looked at the kind elderly servant before her. A few images suddenly flashed through her mind — this same woman, smiling with crinkled eyes, holding out a little sugar figurine toward her.

Were these the remnant memories of the original soul?

With those memories came a new feeling, and facing Nanny Wang, Lang Jiuchuan softened considerably. She retracted the bristling sharpness that surrounded her and stood up. “Then I’ll accompany you to see the Old Madame, Nanny.”

“Yes, yes, very good.” Nanny Wang glanced toward Lang Zhengping.

Lang Zhengping then said, “Since your health is poor, you may stay in your mother’s courtyard and keep her company. You need not go to the memorial hall.”

That would not do. Before she could secure a great accumulation of merit, she still needed to draw upon the ancestral merit and fortune — otherwise this body would dissolve.

“The filial duties that are mine to fulfill, I will still fulfill.” Lang Jiuchuan walked to Nanny Wang’s side. “Let us go.”

As she passed by, Cui Shi spoke up. “Stop. I will assign a Nanny to your side to instruct you in propriety. I hope that going forward you will be careful in both word and deed, and refrain from overstepping, lest you bring trouble upon yourself and implicate the family.”

Both Lang Zhengping and Wu Shi instinctively furrowed their brows.

Lang Jiuchuan looked at her and asked, “Madam wishes to teach me propriety — do you not think it is rather too late for that?”

Cui Shi pressed her lips together. Her gaze fell on the five finger-shaped marks across Lang Jiuchuan’s face, and something restrained flickered in her eyes.

Lang Jiuchuan held her gaze for a long moment, then turned and walked away. What was the point now — the original soul was already dead.

Cui Shi was left with words that could neither rise nor fall, and she leaned heavily against the door frame, overcome with discomfort.

Wu Shi came forward and supported her, offering soothing words. “Second Aunt, Ninth Sister has only just returned home and is still unfamiliar with everything. Things will settle in time.”

“Indeed. Her appearance bears some resemblance to you, yet her temperament takes after Second Brother — the rebellious streak is identical as well…” Lang Zhengping’s words halted when Cui Shi raised her head to look at him, and he finished dryly, “There is no lasting rift between parent and child. Second Brother has been gone so many years now — Second Sister-in-law, you ought to let it go. Wu Shi, take care to arrange your Ninth Sister’s courtyard properly and assign two capable maidservants to wait upon her.”

“Yes, Father.”

Lang Zhengping strode away.

Wu Shi felt a headache coming on. As for which courtyard to assign — she had half a mind to ask Cui Shi, but seeing the woman standing there as though her spirit had left her body, Wu Shi closed her mouth again.

Being a daughter-in-law was so terribly difficult.