Xiuzhu glanced at the medicine bowl that was still half full and said, “This servant will help Miss finish the medicine before going out.”

“No need.” Faced with Zhangsun Shi’s unquestionable tone, Xiuzhu had no choice but to retreat. Behind her were Zhangsun Shi’s worried eyes. This girl was good in all other ways, but she was prone to getting stuck in dead ends and sometimes being too calculating. Sigh, she hoped she could understand sooner.

As for Xiuzhu, she walked out of Muhua Pavilion all the way to the edge of Carp Pond. The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. She was clearly doing this for Miss’s good, yet Miss turned around and scolded her instead.

She had followed Miss for so many years. Though they were nominally master and servant, they were actually no different from sisters. Before Princess Jinyang appeared, Miss had never scolded her harshly, and even when she accidentally made mistakes, Miss would only remind her a few times and leave it at that.

But over the past half year, Miss had blindly trusted Princess Jinyang, refusing to listen to even half a sentence no matter how earnestly she advised, completely forgetting their friendship of over ten years. It seemed that only after suffering a great loss would Miss awaken and realize who truly treated her well and who was hiding daggers behind smiles!

Xiuzhu frustratedly picked up stones from the ground, throwing them forcefully into the water one after another, splashing up strings of water droplets!

Not far away, Ding Yang saw this scene and said softly, “Madam, isn’t that Xiuzhu from Second Young Madam’s side?”

The “madam” he referred to was Jirong, who had come to pay respects to Wan Shi. Unexpectedly, when passing by this place, she saw Xiuzhu throwing stones into Carp Pond in a dejected manner.

Jirong shifted her eyes slightly and said, “I can go see Second Madam by myself. You go ask Xiuzhu what’s troubling her, and remember to ask clearly.”

“Yes.” After watching Jirong leave, Ding Yang walked to Xiuzhu’s side. He didn’t rush to speak, but picked up a flat stone and threw it forcefully while holding it horizontally. The stone skipped on the water and bounced up again, repeating this process until after five or six times, it finally sank completely into the water’s surface, leaving ripples that gradually spread outward.

Only then did Xiuzhu notice there was another person beside her, and she said in surprise, “How are you here?”

Ding Yang naturally wouldn’t say that Jirong had sent him over, but only said, “I accompanied my wife to pay respects to Second Madam, and then I saw you standing here alone looking listless. What’s wrong, are you unhappy?”

“No.” Though she said this, Xiuzhu’s expression didn’t look like nothing was wrong at all. Seeing her still continuously throwing stones into the water, Ding Yang laughed and said, “If you keep throwing like this, the carp in this pond will be frightened by you.”

Only after he said this did Xiuzhu realize that each time she threw stones into the water, she would startle the carp in the pond, causing them to scatter in all directions.

“Then I won’t throw anymore.” Xiuzhu said sullenly, throwing the remaining stones in her palm to the ground and walking over to a willow tree whose green branches were swaying in the warm early summer breeze.

Ding Yang followed and said, “What’s really wrong with you?”

Xiuzhu was feeling irritated in her heart, so naturally she had no good face to show him, “I already said nothing’s wrong, stop bothering me!”

After this shout, it really did become quiet around her, and she didn’t see anyone either. Just when Xiuzhu thought he had left, Ding Yang suddenly emerged from behind the tree. Before Xiuzhu could speak, he handed her a ball woven from willow branches, “Sister Xiuzhu, if you have anything unhappy or uncomfortable, just throw this forcefully on the ground, and you’ll feel better.”

Xiuzhu took the ball that was slightly larger than her palm and said, “Did you weave this?”

“Yes, when I was angry as a child, my mother would weave a willow ball for me to throw. When it scattered, my anger would disappear too.”

Xiuzhu showed a strange expression, “You’re treating me like a child?”

Ding Yang smiled and said, “Isn’t being a child good? Carefree and innocent, not like after growing up when we’re often troubled by worries.”

Xiuzhu sighed with deep feeling, “Exactly. I really wish time could flow backwards and stay forever in childhood, but unfortunately…”

Ding Yang laughed and said, “Although time can’t flow backwards, we can be more open-minded ourselves and not always make things difficult for ourselves.” As he spoke, he said, “Come on, throw the willow ball hard!”

Xiuzhu stared at the willow ball in her hand for a moment, then threw it forcefully to the ground. Each time she threw it down, Ding Yang would pick it up and toss it back to her, again and again, until the willow ball came apart and became individual willow branches again.

Ding Yang looked at Xiuzhu, whose forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and said, “How is it, do you feel better?”

Xiuzhu wiped her sweat and smiled, “Much better. I didn’t expect your method to be quite effective.”

“Being able to smile means you’re truly fine now.” Speaking thus, Ding Yang added, “Next time if you have anything unhappy, just tell me, and I’ll make ten or eight willow balls for you—all anger will disappear.”

Xiuzhu was amused by him and laughed, “What, are you hoping I’ll be angry every day?”

Hearing this, Ding Yang said anxiously, “That’s not what I meant, I just thought…”

Xiuzhu interrupted him, “I know, I was just joking with you.” Then she said gratefully, “Thank you!”

Ding Yang waved his hand and said, “Though we don’t serve the same master, we can still be considered acquainted. There’s no need to be so polite.” After a pause, he said, “Speaking of which, can you tell me what made you so troubled and dejected?”

The recent incident had given Xiuzhu quite a good impression of Ding Yang, and remembering that Ji Shi had a good relationship with Zhangsun Shi, she told him about the matter. Finally, she said, “Ding Yang, tell me, did I really do wrong?”

Ding Yang quickly said, “The ancients said, ‘One must not harbor intentions to harm others, but one must not be without guard against others.’ You telling Second Young Madam to be careful of Princess Jinyang—what’s wrong with that?”

Xiuzhu said bitterly, “Unfortunately, Miss doesn’t think so. She believes I harbor prejudice against Princess Jinyang, and in short, whatever I say is wrong. Sometimes I even suspect whether Miss has been given some kind of love potion by Princess Jinyang, otherwise how could she protect her like this?”

Ding Yang comforted her, “Though I haven’t had much contact with Second Young Madam, I know that Second Young Madam is kind-hearted and helpful. In her eyes, there’s probably not a single evil person in this world.”

Xiuzhu said resentfully, “Yes, in Miss’s eyes, everyone else is good, and only I am evil!”

“How could that be? You’re still the person closest to Second Young Madam.” Faced with Ding Yang’s words, Xiuzhu shook her head, “Perhaps in the past, but now… in Miss’s heart, I’ve become insignificant. The closest… ha, I can’t bear those three words.”

“Distance tests a horse’s strength, and time reveals a person’s heart. Believe me, everything will get better.” Faced with Ding Yang’s consolation, Xiuzhu smiled bitterly, “I hope so.”

After a moment of silence, she said, “I’ve been out for a long time, I should go back. You should also quickly go serve Lady Ji. Oh, and about what I told you just now, don’t tell anyone else, lest it reach Miss’s ears and she scolds me again. Not even…”