Knowing the problem was with the face powder, Ren Shimao immediately had several physicians examine what kind of poison was contained in the powder to provide an antidote for Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu.

Upon learning that the patients were indeed poisoned, the physicians finally weren’t at a loss anymore. Several doctors gathered together, each bringing their expertise to bear. Fortunately, among the physicians that Ren Shimin had previously found for them was one skilled in identifying toxic substances, who recognized that the substance mixed into the face powder had been soaked in the venom of a poisonous toad. Creating an antidote wasn’t too difficult.

However, Ren Yaoyu’s body was too weak. It was uncertain whether she could survive after being given the medicine, since all medicine has some toxicity, and antidotes aren’t completely harmless either. Ren Yaoyu’s current physical condition was truly worrying.

Fifth Master Ren looked at Ren Yaoyu lying on the bed, so weak she showed no signs of life, and was at a complete loss. He could only grit his teeth and have the physician administer the medicine. After all, hope was better than lying there waiting to die.

The physician worked through the night to prepare the antidote, forcing a bowl down both Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu’s throats, and had the maids soak cotton cloths in medicinal solution to apply to their faces.

By the second day, after three bowls of antidote had been administered, Lin Shi’s condition finally began to slowly improve. Although the pustules on her face and neck still couldn’t subside, they were beginning to scab over. Moreover, when medicine had been forced down Lin Shi’s throat before, she would vomit up most of what went in, but now she could swallow the medicine on her own and even manage some thin porridge.

Lin Shi’s improvement filled Ren Shimao with overwhelming joy. From that moment on, he sat by the bedside and refused to leave even for a step, hoping to watch both his wife and daughter recover. At this time, the condition of Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu’s faces and necks was extremely horrifying, and they emitted a foul odor. Even the maids who came to apply medicine to their faces would deliberately avoid looking and hold their breath, but Ren Shimao didn’t mind at all.

Lin Shi kept watching her daughter and her husband. She was still very weak and couldn’t speak, but tears never stopped flowing from her eyes.

Ren Yaoyu’s condition wasn’t good. The medicine had to be poured directly down her throat, but she showed no signs of regaining consciousness. The physician said it was because Ren Yaoyu had been too severely depleted this time. Even if the poison could be neutralized, the damage the toxin had done to her body was already there. Whether she could wake up was left to fate.

Ever since learning that Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu had been poisoned, Ren Shimao had stopped traveling toward Yanzhou to save time for treating the mother and daughter. They stopped in Zhending and temporarily rented a courtyard from a local family.

By the fourth day, most of the toxins in Lin Shi’s body had been cleared out, and she could speak again. However, the couple could only look at each other through tears, as the joy of Lin Shi’s recovery was overshadowed by the looming possibility that Ren Yaoyu might die at any moment.

Ren Yaoyu’s condition was somewhat better than before. Because the toxins had been cleared from her body, she could swallow on her own, but she still hadn’t regained consciousness even after ten days.

By this time, Lin Shi could get out of bed, and the bumps on her face had all scabbed over. The physician said that after the scabs fell off, some white marks would remain on her face. Complete removal was impossible, but if she consistently applied medicine, the marks would fade considerably over two or three years. Since Lin Shi was a woman who could use cosmetics, it wouldn’t be too frightening.

Lin Shi had originally cared greatly about her appearance. Under normal circumstances, hearing that many pitted marks would remain on her face would have made her feel that life wasn’t worth living. But this time, Lin Shi had already walked through death’s door, and with Ren Yaoyu still unconscious, she truly had no mood or energy to worry about her face.

A maid brought in food, asking Lin Shi, who was sitting by the bedside, and Ren Shimao to eat. They now ate all their meals at a table set up right beside the bed.

After Lin Shi could get up, she refused to leave Ren Yaoyu’s side even for a step, and wouldn’t return to Yanzhou. She was terrified that if she looked away for a moment, her daughter might not come back. Over this month, both Lin Shi and Ren Shimao had lost a great deal of weight – Lin Shi was so thin her eyes had sunken in.

Lin Shi’s gaze remained fixed on her daughter. She shook her head: “I can’t eat. Wu Lang, you eat.”

Ren Shimao sighed and took the bowl the maid handed him. He mixed the rice with chicken broth, then scooped some up with a spoon and brought it to Lin Shi’s mouth: “Eat a few bites. Don’t collapse again, or I really won’t know what to do.”

Hearing this, Lin Shi shed more tears. She sniffled and took the bowl and spoon from Ren Shimao’s hands: “I’ll eat it myself. You eat something too.”

Ren Shimao nodded, gave the bowl to Lin Shi, and quickly finished his bowl of rice mixed with broth. These days, while caring for both Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu, Ren Shimao had been eating hastily like this.

Watching him finish a bowl, Lin Shi felt indescribable emotions. Afraid that Ren Shimao would worry about her, she also lowered her head and ate a few bites.

Seeing Lin Shi eat, Ren Shimao felt relieved, and the pressure in his heart lessened somewhat.

Lin Shi could only manage half a bowl before she couldn’t eat anymore. Ren Shimao didn’t force her, having the maid clear away the bowls and chopsticks, then went out to the lavatory to change clothes.

When Ren Shimao returned, he saw Lin Shi kneeling by the bedside, facing the door. Her hands were clasped together, and she was speaking softly with a very devout expression, seemingly making a vow.

Ren Shimao waited until she finished speaking and opened her eyes before walking over. He reached out to help her up and patted the dust off her skirt.

“I remember you don’t believe in Buddha.”

Lin Shi took Ren Shimao’s hand and they both sat back down by the bed: “I didn’t originally, but from now on I’ll believe for the rest of my life.”

Lin Shi turned to look at Ren Shimao: “I don’t know if it was a dream before, but when I felt like I was going to die, I seemed to see Buddha’s light. But I could also feel you holding my hand and crying, telling me not to leave you, saying you didn’t know what you’d do if I died.”

Ren Shimao nodded and gripped Lin Shi’s hand: “I did say that.” At that time, Lin Shi couldn’t even swallow medicine, and he cried anxiously. Lin Shi had been crying too, and he didn’t know if she was conscious then.

Lin Shi lowered her head and smiled: “I was in great pain then. Although I knew death would bring relief, I still couldn’t bear to leave. So I begged that ray of light, saying that if I could survive this time and fulfill our marriage bond, from then on I would devote myself to Buddha, become a faithful disciple under Buddha’s seat, and always do good deeds with no malice in my heart. Then I did wake up.”

Lin Shi paused, turned to look at Ren Yaoyu, reached out to touch her hair, and said softly: “Just now, I made another vow to Buddha. If he can let Yu’er wake up too, I’m willing to live with this face for the rest of my life, considering it the retribution I deserve for my wrongdoings. This life, the next life – me, you, Yu’er, Jian’er – we’ll always be a family. Even if we’re born into an ordinary household, even if we’re poor, as long as we can always, always be together.” Lin Shi looked up at Ren Shimao with tears in her eyes: “Husband, don’t you think that’s good?”

Ren Shimao also shed tears. He pulled Lin Shi into his embrace and said hoarsely, “Good. No matter what, we’ll always be a family.”

Lin Shi couldn’t help but cry aloud in Ren Shimao’s arms. When she lay on the bed and saw Ren Shimao looking at her with despair, tears flowing endlessly, she truly understood.

Having such a husband, yet still demanding more, competing with others – no wonder Heaven couldn’t stand it and repeatedly sent disasters as punishment.

Thinking carefully, in this lifetime, she had a husband like Ren Shimao who never abandoned her, a pair of healthy and lively children, and no worries about food or clothing. What more did she lack?

Now she worried that Heaven found her displeasing and would take back the happiness she already had.

Lin Shi thought that as long as Heaven was willing to return her daughter to her, she would be willing to do anything.

She only hoped Heaven wouldn’t despise her for awakening too late.

At this moment, a maid entered: “Fifth Master, Third Master has sent another letter.”

Ren Shimao quickly took the letter from the maid, opened it to read, then said to Lin Shi: “Third Brother says he’ll continue helping us find more physicians or pharmacists skilled in dealing with poisons. He asks if we want to bring Yu’er back to Yunyang City first.”

Lin Shi hesitated: “Can Yu’er withstand the jolting of the journey?”

Ren Shimao thought for a moment: “Yu’er hasn’t awakened, and the physicians are at their wits’ end. This place is in the wilderness with poor conditions. We might as well bring Yu’er back to Yunyang City first. Although Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are helping us watch Jian’er, Third Brother says the child has been worried about us and can’t eat every day.”

Ren Yijian had been sent to Yunyang City by Ren Shimao earlier, as he had feared Lin Shi and Ren Yaoyu’s illness might be contagious and didn’t want his son to catch it.

Lin Shi was also worried about her son. She looked at the unconscious Ren Yaoyu and finally nodded: “Then let’s go back first.”

Ren Shimao thought for a moment and said to Lin Shi: “I know you never liked Third Sister-in-law before, but this time both Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law have helped us greatly despite past grievances. Your recovery and Yu’er’s improvement are still because Third Brother’s timely reminder told me to check if you’d been poisoned. In the future, you should be more courteous to Third Sister-in-law.”

Lin Shi nodded: “I understand. From now on, I’ll treat them as benefactors. Being discourteous to benefactors would invite retribution.”