The heavy rain continued until noon before it finally stopped. The ship underwent repairs for two hours, clearing away the accumulated water, and only when the weather cleared did they dare to continue their journey.

When Chu Qiao returned to the cabin, she indeed began sneezing. Liang Shaoqing fussed like a mother hen but prepared hot towels and ginger soup for her. With her stuffy nose, ringing ears, and flushed face, Chu Qiao wasn’t in the mood to argue with him. When Zhan Ziyu heard she was ill, he sent a doctor to treat her. Despite drinking several large bowls of bitter medicine, she still felt weak all over.

In the afternoon, the Zhan family’s Sixth Young Lady personally visited, bustling about serving tea and water to Chu Qiao with great attentiveness, and treating Liang Shaoqing with courtesy as well, showing not the slightest hint of superiority. After Zhan Ziyun left, Liang Shaoqing sighed for a long while. Seeing that Chu Qiao had no intention of asking him why, he had no choice but to approach her himself. After much hesitation and fidgeting, he finally asked in a low voice: “Little Qiao, that Zhan family young lady has most likely secretly developed feelings for me. What should I do?”

Chu Qiao frowned and said in a hoarse voice, “You’re overthinking it.”

“How could that be?” Liang Shaoqing explained, “Our current status is merely that of servants, yet she, a young lady from a prestigious family, disregards her status to come to our room serving tea and water. She has ulterior motives. If not for wealth, then for appearance. We have no money, and you’re a woman, so there’s only one reason left—she’s taken a fancy to me and wants to secretly get close to me.”

Chu Qiao looked Liang Shaoqing up and down, then thought of the Zhan family’s adorable Sixth Young Lady, and frowned, “Surely her taste can’t be that bad?”

“Oh, what should I do?” Liang Shaoqing completely missed Chu Qiao’s remark, immersed in his worries as he paced around anxiously: “My father will disown me for this. I must consult with him first. Besides, Little Qiao should be prioritized. Alas, my studies are incomplete, my career unestablished—how can I let romance distract me from my lifelong ambitions?”

Chu Qiao shook her head. She hadn’t slept much last night and might as well use the drowsiness from the medicine to catch up on sleep. Thinking this, she gradually drifted off. When she awakened, the sky had already darkened. Chu Qiao was starving, her stomach growling, but Liang Shaoqing was nowhere to be seen. She slowly got up, feeling unsteady on her feet, barely able to stand. Having managed to dress herself, she supported herself against the wall as she walked out, only to find the deck spotlessly clean, with busy servants everywhere, evidently preparing the evening meal. The fresh breeze helped clear Chu Qiao’s mind. Suddenly, there was a noise behind her. Chu Qiao immediately turned around to see a broken basket spinning in place. She hurried over but found no one behind the basket, not even a mouse.

Chu Qiao’s brow gradually furrowed. Before dinner, Liang Shaoqing finally returned just in time. After they finished their evening meal, Liang Shaoqing continued pondering in the room about how to return home and report the matter of lifetime importance to his father. Chu Qiao, meanwhile, went out alone to stroll on the deck. After walking for a while, she heard rustling sounds behind her again. Chu Qiao pretended not to notice and continued forward. At that moment, passing a corner, she deliberately stamped her feet as if walking away, then quietly ran back and pressed herself against the wall, silently waiting. After a while, a small sound gradually approached, a pale hand gripped the corner, and then a pair of pitch-black eyes peered around cautiously. Quick as lightning, Chu Qiao reached out. Despite being ill, Chu Qiao’s strength was beyond that of ordinary people. With a single grabbing motion, her body pounced like a marten, firmly pinning the person to the ground. The young woman’s face was grim, her gaze sharp as she coldly demanded, “Who are you? Why are you following me? What are your intentions?”

“I’m not, I’m not!” A panicked voice suddenly rang out. Chu Qiao froze, looking down to see that beneath her was a young woman in her twenties, dressed in coarse clothes that were worn out. The arm Chu Qiao had grabbed and the exposed neck was covered in whip marks and bloody scars. Her face was pale and bloodless, with large round eyes set deep in sunken sockets. Though beautiful in features, she was emaciated, looking as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

Chu Qiao frowned and said sternly, “Who are you? Why were you following me? Speak quickly, or I’ll send you to see the young master.”

“I wasn’t, I wasn’t,” the woman trembled in fear, hastily waving her hands, “I’m not a bad person, I’m not a bad person.”

“Not a bad person? Then why follow me?” The woman froze, and a tear suddenly fell. She looked at Chu Qiao with tearful eyes, saying nothing, and simply began to weep sorrowfully.

Chu Qiao was stunned, thinking she might have hurt the woman. Frowning, she released her grip and said, “Why are you crying? You were the one sneaking around following me and refusing to explain. Now you’re crying here, making it seem as if I’m bullying you.”

“I wasn’t,” the woman shook her head, crying, “I wasn’t.”

“Alright, alright.” Chu Qiao stood up and said, “Stop crying. I won’t pursue the matter. But I warn you, don’t follow me again. Next time you won’t be so lucky. I’m leaving tomorrow anyway, so whoever sent you has no reason to pursue me further.” With that, she turned to leave. Just then, a small, trembling, tearful, and doubtful voice suddenly called out, stopping Chu Qiao in her tracks like a bolt of lightning.

“Yue’er?” The woman raised her head, wiping away tears, calling out uncertainly.

Chu Qiao froze instantly as if hot blood had rushed to her head. She stood motionless like a withered tree. Seeing her stillness, the woman grew bolder, calling slightly louder: “You… are you Yue’er?”

Chu Qiao slowly turned around, her brows tightly knit, looking at the woman in disbelief. In a low voice, she asked, “Who are you?” The woman’s tears immediately fell in large drops. She covered her mouth, afraid she might cry out, looking at Chu Qiao as if in a nightmare, softly gasping, “You are Yue’er? Yue’er?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m your second sister!”

The woman suddenly staggered forward, tightly embracing Chu Qiao, crying loudly, “I’ve finally found you! I’ve finally found you!”

Chu Qiao quickly covered the woman’s mouth, saying hurriedly, “Lower your voice. Don’t let others hear.” The woman nodded immediately, tears falling in large drops, smiling while gripping Chu Qiao’s hand with surprising strength.

“Yue’er, I knew I wouldn’t be mistaken. You have a red birthmark on the back of your neck, I’ve always remembered. They all said you were a boy, but I recognized you at a glance.”

Chu Qiao felt as if she were dreaming—how could a sister suddenly appear? Frowning, she asked, “Is what you’re saying true?”

“You don’t remember?” The woman’s face instantly became sorrowful, filled with grief, but she quickly composed herself and slowly said, “Yue’er, how are Lin Xi and the others? Ji Xiang and the rest? Are you still together?”

Hearing this, Chu Qiao’s face turned deathly pale. She remained silent for a while before saying softly, “They’re all dead. Only I remain.” The woman froze, and after a long while, she smiled sadly and said in a mournful tone, “Yes, a slave’s life is cheaper than a dog’s. They were so young—how could they survive?” As she spoke, tears slowly trickled down her face. Her grip on Chu Qiao’s hand revealed bony fingers, cold as ice. “Yue’er, I’m your sister Zi Su. Don’t you remember me? It’s understandable. When our family was arrested, you were only six. My elder sister and I, along with several cousins, were sold to Shi Hua House, then passed from buyer to buyer. Two years ago, my elder sister, cousin Liu Xiu, Cai Ying, my Fourth Uncle Jin Lian, and my Aunt’s daughter Man Sheng were all sold to the Zhan household. Later, my elder sister died of illness, and Liu Xiu and Man Sheng made mistakes and were beaten to death by the Young Lady. Now only the three of us remain. I never imagined I would have the chance to see you again in this life.”

Chu Qiao felt a pang in her heart, not knowing what to say. Towards these relatives of the Jing family, she had no emotional connection. Lin Xi was already dead, and Ji Xiang and Little Eight were no longer in this world. But these people were still the relatives of this body she inhabited, and their current circumstances troubled her deeply.

“Sister Zi Su, don’t cry. Our reunion is a good thing, don’t be sad.” Jing Zi Su reached out to touch Chu Qiao’s small face, pursing her lips to hold back her tears, trembling as she said, “Yue’er, you’ve suffered greatly these years. It’s my fault for not being able to take care of you.”

“I’m fine. You’re the one who has suffered.” Jing Zi Su shook her head, putting an arm around Chu Qiao’s shoulders, softly sobbing, “Good sister, it’s too late today. If discovered, I’ll be beaten. You should go back first. Early tomorrow, I’ll bring Cheng Cou and Jin Lian to see you. I know where you’re staying.”

Chu Qiao nodded, “Be careful.”

“Yes,” Jing Zi Su nodded, “You go first.”

Chu Qiao said, “I’ll watch you go back.”

“No, no,” Jing Zi Su hurriedly refused, “I’ll feel at ease only after seeing you return safely. Man Sheng was beaten to death because she was wandering at night and mistaken for trying to escape. How could I be at ease if you don’t return?”

Chu Qiao frowned, “Doesn’t Yan Xun prohibit the arbitrary killing of citizens?”

“Foolish child, a servant is just a servant. When your life isn’t even your own, what rules are there to speak of?” Jing Zi Su smiled bitterly. “Go back quickly. See you tomorrow.”

Chu Qiao nodded, “I’ll go first, take care.” Walking far away, she could still see Jing Zi Su’s slender figure standing in the night, so young yet already stooped, cautiously bent, smiling and waving when she saw Chu Qiao look back.

Back in the room, Chu Qiao was in a terrible mood. Ignoring Liang Shaoqing, she went straight to bed, her thoughts like a July downpour, chaotic and overwhelming. Under these circumstances, could she still leave tomorrow? Could she abandon this pitiable sister she had just found and depart alone? Yet she could barely take care of herself now—did she have the ability to look after them?

However, early the next morning, as the ship reached Pengcheng’s dock, the sudden visit of a certain person immediately disrupted all her plans. Looking at this person, Chu Qiao knew that fate was drawing her into the political turmoil of Tang Jing in a strange way. The drama in Tang Jing was officially beginning.