After turning the problem over and over in her head, Li Ruoshui finally thought of a way to catch the poisoner quickly.
This method required Zheng Yanqing’s cooperation, so she told him part of the truth.
“Is the poisoner really one of the Zheng family servants?”
Zheng Yanqing looked at her. While his expression only seemed mildly puzzled, his unconscious tightening grip on his sleeves betrayed his unease and disappointment.
It made sense. Not only did no one in his family care about what he truly thought, but even the Zheng family servants, praised by all for their “loyalty,” were willing to disregard his life for money.
This feeling of being excluded, of being an outsider, was the most torturous.
“So you should think carefully about how you’re going to make a living if you can’t rely on your family in the future.”
Li Ruoshui sat at the table, massaging her sore muscles and silently cursing Lu Zhiyao. Maybe she’d worn the iron cuffs for too long, but even now that they were off, she still felt that heavy, locked-up sensation.
The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.
Hbldt Zydikdt plv esod bkp cawpb, oyzjle shla vs Nk Swspbwk, yde bydele bla vbl cssjzlv kd bkp byde okvb psxl lmrlnvyvksd.
“R’hl alye xydu vayhlz fswadyzp, cwv xspv ywvbsap vlde vs fwpv oakvl esod dsdpldpl yde qzwqq, fsvvkdt vbkdtp esod yp vblu ts. Tsolhla, vayhlzzkdt pbswze tkhl xl psxl ekalnvksd. Fs, R oydv vs oakvl y fswadyz xuplzq yp olzz.”
Nk Swspbwk vssj bkp cssj. Xd vbl nshla olal vball dlyvzu oakvvld nbyaynvlap: Wswa Flypsdp Kswadyz. Fbl qzkrrle vbaswtb kv. Rv oyp ycswv y vbkae qkdkpble, yde xydu sq vbl scplahyvksdp olal iwkvl elvykzle.
Hbldt Zydikdt plzesx prsjl okvb svblap. Yspv sq vbl vkxl, bl alye. Tl nyaakle y nlavykd pnbszyazu yka ycswv bkx yde oyp yzoyup rszkvl yde alprlnvqwz, dlhla shlapvlrrkdt.
Rq pbl oyp clkdt bsdlpv, Nk Swspbwk iwkvl yexkale bkx. Fbl nswze alprlnv y rlapsdyzkvu zkjl vbyv.
“Rv’p y talyv kely,” pbl pyke yqvla y nyalqwz zssj, bydekdt vbl cssj cynj okvb y pxkzl. “R vbkdj kv’p olzz-oakvvld. Zsw pbswze vau pwcxkvvkdt kv vs y rwczkpbla.”
Gp kq alnlkhkdt kxxldpl ldnswaytlxldv, Hbldt Zydikdt vssj vbl cssj cynj yde zssjle wr yv bla. “Rq y rwczkpbkdt bswpl kp okzzkdt vs ynnlrv kv, vbl qkapv rwczkpble nsru okzz cl qsa usw.”
Nk Swspbwk pvsse wr yde dseele. “Mbld usw’e clvvla bwaau. El’zz rascyczu byhl vs ekhsanl pssd.”
Zheng Yanqing was stunned for a moment, his hand tightening slightly on the book scroll. “Is your business here finished?”
“Should be.”
In the original story, this case had two key turning points: catching the poisoner and obtaining a certain letter.
Lu Feiyue and the others had already gone to investigate the letter. She just needed to catch the poisoner, and that would be pretty much it.
“I see.” Zheng Yanqing smiled and picked up the brush beside him. “Then I wish you success.”
Li Ruoshui nodded and headed for the Zheng family’s medicine preparation room.
To let Zheng Yanqing study in peace, the Zheng family had arranged his courtyard in the most remote eastern wing. They never cooked there. Meals and medicine were all sent over from the main kitchen and the medicine room.
Li Rufoshui shook her head. She really didn’t understand the point of such an arrangement.
“Young Madam.”
Li Ruoshui gave a slight nod, glancing at the people sorting herbs in the medicine room—about half men, half women.
“I’m here to fetch Second Young Master’s medicine.”
“Young Madam, the medicine still needs a while. Please, have a seat.”
A round-faced young maid hurriedly cleared a chair for her, gesturing for her to sit.
Li Ruoshui waved her hand, walked over to the medicine stove, and accidentally got a whiff of the bitter, fishy steam. She maintained her smile, imitating Lu Zhiyao’s fake smile about sixty percent accurately, and turned to look at them.
“Brewing medicine is indeed hard work. But it’s alright. Everyone won’t have to work so hard from now on.”
The young maid fanning the stove looked at her in confusion. Everyone else in the medicine room also stopped their work, waiting for her to continue.
“As you all know, Second Young Master’s health has improved a lot recently. So, his medicine dosage can be halved. One dose a day. Here’s the doctor’s note.”
The round-faced maid took the letter paper stamped with a red seal. It indeed said one dose a day, dosage halved.
She nodded, locked the note in a small drawer, and had someone measure out the new dosage to brew again.
“That’s wonderful! Finally reducing the medicine! Second Young Master’s illness is finally getting better!”
Li Ruoshui chimed in, her expression sincere.
“It’s really all thanks to my medicine. Who knows how long he would have suffered otherwise.”
The round-faced maid followed beside her, about to ask more, when she saw Li Ruoshui walk over to the medicine cabinets and examine them with a practiced air.
To execute her plan, she first had to let these people know she understood medicine.
“You actually have Flame Grass here?”
From a pile of bundled herbs, Li Ruoshui pulled out a small sprout with green leaves and a red stem, her face a picture of pleasant surprise.
This surprise wasn’t fake. It was real.
She’d actually stumbled upon an herb she could actually say something about, and it was one ordinary people rarely saw.
The round-faced maid stood beside her, also somewhat surprised. “Madam knows this one?”
“I do.” Li Ruoshui adopted a nostalgic expression. “It’s very precious. When I used it before, I didn’t control the heat well and wasted quite a bit. Shameful.”
These were Lu Zhiyao’s words from when he helped her brew medicine before. Now they were hers.
“Most ordinary people don’t even know this herb, let alone its properties.” The round-faced maid’s look at her changed. “Madam also knows medicine?”
Li Ruoshui smiled without answering, shaking her head with an air of profound mystery, and didn’t respond further.
To make someone misunderstand, the most important thing was to leave them some room for imagination. People’s capacity for filling in the blanks transcended time and space.
“I just remembered something. You carry on. I’ll be back later.”
Having completed her performance, Li Ruoshui didn’t give them a chance to ask more questions. She offered an apologetic smile and left immediately.
“They all say that Young Madam is skilled in martial arts. Who knew she was also well-versed in medicine?”
The maids in the medicine room couldn’t help but discuss.
“No wonder Second Young Master’s health improved so much after she arrived. She must have prescribed new medicine for him. I really thought it was because the marriage brought fortune in my favor.”
“She even comes personally to fetch the medicine. They must be deeply in love.”
“Perhaps the Second Young Master really can take the provincial exams this year. Our household will finally have an official!”
A servant in the corner was diligently pounding herbs, seeming unconcerned. But not long after, he got up and left the medicine room, leaving a pestle rolling haphazardly on the floor.
Li Ruoshui returned to the eastern wing and flopped onto the daybed, massaging her shoulders and arms, which were still sore and stiff.
She just felt tired. She wished she could find someone to give her a massage.
“How did it go?”
Zheng Yanqing stopped writing and looked up at her. His expression seemed faintly excited. He hadn’t even noticed the ink dripping from his brush tip onto the paper.
This was the first time he’d ever done something like this.
“Just wait. Someone will show up soon.”
Li Ruoshui sat up, rubbing her calves and elbows, feeling an ache that was both painful and satisfying.
Even though she’d sworn this many times before, she had to swear it again now.
She swore, however slim the chance, she will definitely beat up Lu Zhiyao one day.
Hearing Li Ruoshui’s words, Zheng Yanqing lost all interest in writing. He was extremely excited now, pacing the room, waiting for the person Li Ruoshui mentioned.
Is this what it feels like to fight back?
Zheng Yanqing gripped his sleeves, his clear, handsome features filled with delight, the corners of his mouth permanently upturned. He couldn’t help but wonder who would come.
After a long while, many footsteps suddenly sounded at the usually quiet entrance to the eastern wing. Zheng Yanqing quickly sat back down at the desk, pretending to read, but his constantly darting glances outside betrayed him.
Li Ruoshui was also curious who would come this time.
The footsteps grew closer. Li Ruoshui looked out the window until Madam Zheng, in her dark red robes, came into view.
Li Ruoshui really hadn’t expected her to come today. Even Zheng Yanqing was stunned.
Of everyone in the Zheng household, his parents were the least likely to poison him.
Madam Zheng had no intention of idle chatter. She walked straight in towards Li Ruoshui, leaving her maids and servants waiting outside.
“My good daughter-in-law! Mother heard it was you who cured Yanqing. Is it true?”
Madam Zheng warmly grasped Li Ruoshui’s hands, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes appearing instantly. Her gaze was fervent.
Logically, Madam Zheng hadn’t originally believed in metaphysics. The marriage-for-luck had been a last resort. Who could have imagined the person they married-in has actually had the skill to cure Zheng Yanqing!
This was probably fate. She’d have to find a chance to thank that Taoist priest again later.
Never having been treated with such enthusiasm before, Li Ruoshui pulled her hands back, controlled her expression, and awkwardly uttered the address.
“…Mother, I don’t know medicine.”
Madam Zheng was taken aback. She thought Li Ruoshui was joking, but looking at her and Zheng Yanqing’s expressions, it didn’t seem like a joke.
“But your sister told me. Someone informed her that Ruoshui could cure illnesses… Your sister wouldn’t lie to me.”
Zheng Yanqing lowered his lashes, picked up his book, and replied flatly, “I also have no reason to lie to you.”
Madam Zheng was utterly confused.
She thought she’d received fantastically good news, that she could start preparing for Zheng Yanqing’s exam participation now. She hadn’t expected it to be an empty joy.
“Mother misunderstood.” Madam Zheng gave an embarrassed laugh and released Li Ruoshui. “Don’t worry, Mother will definitely find a way to cure you. Then you’ll surely be able to take the provincial exams.”
As if doused with a bucket of cold water, Zheng Yanqing’s earlier enthusiasm for catching the culprit plummeted. He suddenly found it all meaningless.
What difference did catching or not catching make? His parents would only be happy if he could take the exams.
“I’ll go ask your sister right now, see what’s really going on. You focus on your studies. Don’t overthink it.”
After what she considered thoughtful advice, Madam Zheng hurriedly left with the others.
Zheng Yanqing lowered his head to compile his guidebook, not glancing outside again.
Li Ruoshui looked at him and sighed quietly to herself. Catching the culprit was one thing, but his family matters were beyond her help.
After all, she still had a more headache-inducing mission to complete.
It was already late in April. The flowers in the courtyard bloomed and withered one after another, fallen petals of fading red swirling into the room on the wind.
Li Ruoshui stared somewhat distractedly at the petals on the floor.
“…Do you think it’s my sister?”
After a long silence, Zheng Yanqing finally asked.
“No.” Li Ruoshui shook her head, still rubbing her shoulders. “Your sister has a proud nature. Even if she wanted to harm you, she wouldn’t use poison.”
Zheng Yanqing let out a short laugh, finding it somewhat ironic.
But it was normal. After all, he’d hardly seen Zheng Mei since childhood. They were practically strangers. She really had no reason to persecute him.
“Then what’s the point of your method? Which of the Thirty-Six Stratagems is it?”
“No.” Li Ruoshui shook her head, giving a more fitting answer. “This is called The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” 1[1] “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” – This refers to the famous fable where a boy repeatedly tricks villagers by falsely shouting “wolf!” And then when a real wolf comes, no one believes him. Li Ruoshui uses it to describe her plan: making a false claim about curing Zheng Yanqing to lure the real poisoner into revealing themselves.
While Zheng Yanqing was immersed in the disappointment of familial bonds, Li Ruoshui was also frowning.
She suddenly remembered Zheng Mei and Lu Zhiyao going out on the lake together not long ago. She still didn’t know what happened afterward, and there hadn’t been any news from Zheng Mei either.
Could her estimation be wrong? Did they actually get along well?
And why was Lu Zhiyao willing to go boating with Zheng Mei anyway? Did he actually like the tsundere type?
Li Ruoshui leaned back against the wooden window frame and let out a long sigh.
“Why the sigh?”
A warm breath brushed her ear, startling Li Ruoshui into jumping up, pulling her sore muscles again.
She looked at Lu Zhiyao standing by the window, sighed helplessly, and sat down at the table, dragging out her words.
“Thinking about how to deal with someone who’s too much of a psycho.”
Lu Zhiyao’s eyes curved. Tapping his white cane, he came in through the main door, followed by Lu Feiyue and Jiang Nian.
“If you can’t figure it out, why not just kill them?”
Lu Zhiyao lifted the corners of his mouth, walked familiarly to the table, and sat down beside Li Ruoshui.
Jiang Nian, who arrived right after, chuckled a few times and patted Lu Zhiyao’s shoulder easily. “Brother Lu, you sure know how to joke.”
Li Ruoshui: “…”
You might not believe it, but he’s telling the truth.
Lu Feiyue, holding her gilded sabre and dressed in black and red robes, hurried over to Li Ruoshui to look her over. Seeing she was fine, she relaxed.
“With Lu Zhiyao here, I’m quite at ease.”
Li Ruoshui choked up again.
The last time I almost kicked the bucket was precisely because of Lu Zhiyao.
“Sister Feiyue, why have you all come?”
Li Ruoshui rubbed her muscles, looking at them somewhat puzzled.
Lu Feiyue glanced at Zheng Yanqing. He immediately cleared the table, took his books, brushes, and ink to the courtyard, and focused on writing.
“We came to take you away this time,” Lu Feiyue said directly, stating their purpose.
Li Ruoshui was a bit surprised. “You found the letter?”
Lu Zhiyao, feeling Li Ruoshui’s movements, paid no attention to their conversation. He reached out on his own and pressed his fingers against Li Ruoshui’s upper arm.
“Hiss—” Li Ruoshui turned to look at him, opening her mouth and shoving her arm into his grip. “Feels good. Rub it a bit more, please. Thanks.”
Lu Zhiyao raised an eyebrow, somewhat intrigued, and went along with her request, kneading the muscle.
The feeling of someone else serving you and doing it yourself were completely different. Massage was painful yet pleasurable.
In this aspect, the two with different values found themselves oddly in sync.
“No.” Lu Feiyue sat opposite her, looking quite worried. “We infiltrated the secret chamber last night. But there were only classical texts and medicinal herbs inside, no letter. However, whether the letter is in the Zheng household or not, you can leave now.”
Lu Feiyue seemed full of guilt.
Something that should have been finished quickly had dragged on until now because of her incompetence, making Li Ruoshui serve as a substitute bride for so long. If this ruined her marriage prospects, it would be a great sin.
“I’ll leave in a few days,” Li Ruoshui refused with a shake of her head.
The hands on her shoulders paused. Cool fingertips touched the back of her neck. She instinctively flinched away but was pressed back in place.
Before anyone else could speak, Lu Zhiyao asked first.
“Why?”
“I want to help him.”
She thought Zheng Yanqing was a good person. Plus, she’d been freeloading food and lodging at his place for so long. She couldn’t just watch him get poisoned to death.
“…Help him?”
Li Ruoshui heard Lu Zhiyao repeat the words. But he was behind her, so she couldn’t see his expression.
However, she could see Jiang Nian’s expression. He was frantically shaking his head, making faces at her.
Li Ruoshui: …
The person behind her slowly leaned closer, near her ear. She could hear a thread of laughter in his voice, as gentle as ever.
“Can you tell me the reason?”
Li Ruoshui was silent for a moment. Her mind raced, but after thinking it over, she still gave that answer.
“Because he helped me.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw Jiang Nian sigh and Lu Feiyue uncomfortably avert her gaze.
…So what expression is he making?
“But I not only helped you, I saved your life. Why haven’t you helped me?”
Li Ruoshui, held by the back of her neck, couldn’t move at all. She couldn’t analyze his expression and could only think for herself.
Lu Zhiyao didn’t even care about marriage. Could he possibly care about this?
So she should probably go along with what he said, right?
“What do you want me to do?”
Li Ruoshui thought she’d given a pretty good answer. Even if it wasn’t excellent, it should at least be good.
Lu Zhiyao fell silent. His breath brushed the tip of her ear, his fingertips pressed against her nape. He said nothing more.
A few strands of his black hair, blown by the wind, brushed against her cheek like a soft caress, making her itch.
But Li Ruoshui didn’t dare move, afraid of startling him and making his already twisted train of thought even more convoluted.
Time passed second by second. Just as Li Ruoshui couldn’t resist scratching her cheek, he finally spoke.
His voice was different from its usual softness. It was like a murmur, like a question, carrying a trace of imperceptible confusion.
“Yes. What do I want you to do?”
He released Li Ruoshui, finally giving her freedom of movement. Li Ruoshui immediately turned to look at him.
Lu Zhiyao’s face still wore that same gentle smile as always. And he hadn’t attacked her. But something about it felt very wrong to her.
“I’m leaving.”
It happened too suddenly. It was only after Lu Zhiyao left the room that she processed it.
…
Oh no. Did I say something wrong?!
[1] “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” – This refers to the famous fable where a boy repeatedly tricks villagers by falsely shouting “wolf!” And then when a real wolf comes, no one believes him. Li Ruoshui uses it to describe her plan: making a false claim about curing Zheng Yanqing to lure the real poisoner into revealing themselves.
TLN: Oh boy, Lu Zhiyao is having a fit? But he also smiled when Li Ruoshui called him a psycho…
EDN: He’s definitely jealous. 🤩
Second Life Translations' Comment Policy
1. Be kind and respectful. Comments with curses will be put under moderation.
2. No links to other websites or asking for links.
3. No spoilers!