Chapter 68: Who Was That Youth?

Chapter 68: Who Was That Youth?

Su Youyue had a peculiar dream.

In her dream, someone carried her through a long journey, as if they were traversing a forest filled with thorns and rugged terrain. The person stumbled, seemingly in a great hurry.

Initially, she assumed it was Xie Yuan carrying her. However, upon a hazy glance, it wasn't him at all, but a youth around his teenage years.

She tried to discern his identity, yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't see his face clearly.

She could only lift her gaze around the area, and with each passing moment, she found it increasingly familiar, as if she had traversed these grounds herself before.

Suddenly, the youth beneath her stumbled over a tree root, causing Su Youyue to look down once more, only to discover that her leg was bleeding. The blood had seeped through her silk dress, creating a startling and gruesome sight.

It suddenly dawned on her that this was how she must have looked when she fell from her horse all those years ago, fracturing both her legs.

The agony of never walking again was so profound that she wished to erase that fateful day from her memory forever. Hence, almost instinctively, she buried the recollection deep within herself, daring not to revisit it lightly.

Unexpectedly, she dreamed of this day.

Yet, who was this young man carrying her?

Why did she never recall who had carried her back from the forest after she fell off her horse?

Su Youyue opened her mouth, wanting to ask his identity.

"Miss, how are you feeling?" Chunya's voice suddenly sounded, as if it were echoing through deep water.

"Much better, her forehead isn't hot anymore," Jin'er's voice followed, now much clearer.

Su Youyue's dreamlike vision vanished in an instant, rousing her from her sleep.

"Miss, you're awake!" Jin'er exclaimed with delight.

Chunya hastily set down the basin of water in her hand and rushed to the bedside. "Miss, how do you feel?"

Su Youyue knitted her delicate brows, and after a while, her memories began to resurface.

"What about that human trafficker? Did they bring him back?"

Jin'er nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice. "Yes, they've been brought back. Master has locked them up and sent them to the Ministry of Punishments. Also, those who were knocked out by Miss yesterday have all been arrested! Now everyone's talking about this case!"

Chunya fetched a damp towel and added, "Miss, don't worry. Master has already whispered some hints to others. They'll just say that one of our maids encountered traffickers, and you and Miss Xiao sent people to look for them, which led to the accidental capture of these criminals. It won't affect your or Miss Xiao's reputation."

Reputation?

Su Youyue didn't care about reputation at all. Her head was still a bit fuzzy, but after wiping her face with the warm towel, she fully regained her clarity.

It seemed Xiao Feiyan was indeed safe. She had altered the course of her previous life, so she could rest assured now.

However, she quickly continued, "That's good in a way. It'd prevent the royal family from targeting Xie Yuan and accusing him of killing so many people, causing him more trouble."

"Xie Yuan?" Chunya paused, looking puzzled. "Did Mister Xie appear yesterday, Miss?"

There was a moment of silence. Su Youyue looked at Jin'er. "Didn't Xie Yuan carry me back last night?"

How could Chunya not know about Xie Yuan's appearance? He was the one who killed those men and carried her back.

"Miss, when we reached the corner yesterday, we heard Master's voice. Mister Xie asked this servant to carry you back while he left..." Jin'er hurriedly explained, "He said he was afraid it would affect your reputation, so I didn't even dare to tell Chunya."

A fleeting sensation brushed through Su Youyue's heart, but it was so swift that she couldn't grasp it. Thus, she said first, "No wonder Father was so confused when I mentioned Xie Yuan yesterday. He came here on his own... Wait, how did he know I was missing, and how did he find us?"

Jin'er was taken aback, apparently not having considered this possibility.

Indeed, if Young Master Xie wasn't sent by Lord Su, then how did he learn of Miss Su's disappearance and locate them?

Jin'er couldn't answer, and Su Youyue was equally perplexed. So, she asked Chunya to summon Xie Yuan, planning to ask him these questions personally.

While waiting, she couldn't help but recall that strange dream.

She tried her best to remember the events of that fateful day. After her horse had run wild, it had indeed galloped through the forest for quite some time before throwing her off.

However, no matter how hard she tried, all she could recall was being picked up by a servant from the Su family at the edge of the woods and carried onto a carriage. She had no recollection of how she had actually returned from the forest.

Could it be that someone really carried her back from the mountains on that day?

If so, why had no one ever mentioned who that person was?

At the very least... she should have thanked that individual.

"Miss, the medicine is ready. You should take it now..." Jin'er entered the room, holding a bowl of pungently bitter decoction.

The mere scent of the medicine made Su Youyue feel nauseous, instantly disrupting her thoughts.

She covered her nose slightly. "Set it aside to cool down a bit before I drink it."

Few people enjoy taking medicine, and Su Youyue was no exception. As a child, each time she had to take medicine, it was like a battle of wits with her maids and nurses. She was lucky if she managed to swallow half of it.

Hearing her words, Jin'er's alarm bells went off. "I've already made it as palatable as possible, Miss. There's no escaping this bowl of medicine. Your body isn't fully recovered yet."

Just as she finished speaking, Chunya arrived with Xie Yuan in tow.

Behind the intricately carved and embroidered nanmu screen, Su Youyue could still discern the outline of the man's imposing figure.

Seeing that Su Youyue was silent and looking outward, Jin'er assumed she was trying to avoid the medicine again, just as she used to. She blocked her view. "Miss, if you're still as stubborn as before and refuse to take your medicine, I'll have to ask Grandmother to come and feed you."

"..."

Su Youyue snapped back to reality, letting out a deep sigh. "I understand. I'll take it. Go fetch me two pieces of honeyed fruit, please."

In her previous life, despite having lost much of her capriciousness while living in the Lu family, her aversion to taking medicine remained unchanged, for the Lus simply didn't bother with her medication habits...

She had intended to procrastinate a little longer, but Jin'er promptly pulled out two pieces of sweetened preserved fruit, her eyes shining brightly. "I've got everything ready!"

Su Youyue fell silent. Well, this young maid had her figured out completely.

Reluctantly, she hurriedly asked Xie Yuan a question and, lifting the bowl, downed the bitter, pungent medicinal broth in one go. She nearly gagged after.

Jin'er was quick to react, stuffing the sweetmeats into her mouth, easing her discomfort.

"Lucky Miss decided against marrying, or if there were a husband-to-be, he'd surely tease you for taking your medicine like that," Jin'er teased, seeing her lady's scrunched-up face.

Yet, she secretly enjoyed seeing Su Youyue act a little more delicate. Ever since the day she called off the engagement, her lady had changed significantly, becoming so mature that it often tugged at her heartstrings. Only in moments like these did Jin'er feel that her lady was truly being herself.

With a playful twist, Su Youyue scolded the audacious girl. "Off with you, daring to tease me now. Just wait until I find you a suitable husband..."