Chapter 1520 - 1518: Lin Siyin 1

Chapter 1518

Zi Yue just turned to walk towards Xia Ruqing.

Suddenly, a ragged woman emerged from the side.

She appeared unexpectedly, like a clumsy beggar, catching everyone’s attention.

"Madam! Madam, please have mercy, give me more porridge, my husband is starving!"

Xia Ruqing was startled, but Zi Yue quickly stepped in front of her.

"How dare you! Who are you to disturb our madam?"

The woman knelt before Xia Ruqing, continuously bowing.

"Madam, I’m truly desperate, that’s why I came to beg you!"

"I heard you’re the one responsible for distributing porridge here!"

"My husband is really starving, please be kind and give us some more!"

Saying this, she crawled forward two steps and suddenly clung tightly to Xia Ruqing’s skirt.

Zi Yue tried to stop her, but it was too late.

Her face changed drastically, thinking there was danger, she instinctively wanted to step ahead but didn’t expect Xia Ruqing to pull her back.

"Let it be! She’s quite pitiful too!"

"Master!"

Xia Ruqing secretly signaled to her, and Zi Yue suddenly understood, remaining silent.

Zi Ning didn’t understand, she thought the master truly intended to distribute porridge, turning to fetch a bowl.

Zi Yue pulled her back.

"Don’t go yet, the master hasn’t spoken!"

Zi Ning reconsidered and stood quietly to the side.

Xia Ruqing quietly examined the woman for a while.

For some unknown reason, she felt there was something familiar about the woman.

Where was it familiar? She thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.

While she was pondering, the woman suddenly tugged at her sleeve again.

Zi Yue hadn’t had a chance to respond when the woman lowered her head again.

Xia Ruqing was startled, Zi Yue was also startled.

She was a bit angry, about to step forward and remove the obviously ill-intentioned woman.

But Xia Ruqing suddenly stopped her, stepping forward herself and shouting!

"How dare you! This woman is disrespectful, daring to clash with me! Zi Yue and Zi Ning, detain her and take her away!"

Both were stunned.

But upon meeting the master’s sharp gaze, they quickly reacted.

"Yes!"

...

When the woman was dragged away, she quietly closed her eyes, clearly relieved.

From the mountain cave dozens of miles away, to the city, to the porridge stall, the journey had been fraught with difficulties and dangers, day and night, she had no idea how she made it.

Now she was almost at the point of collapse.

If... if the madam hadn’t appeared, she didn’t know if she could hold on.

Fortunately.

The madam appeared, finally making her suffering worthwhile.

Thinking about this, she relaxed her spirit and fainted.

...

When she awoke again.

She found herself in a simple, rustic room.

Although the furnishings were simple, they were clean, the windows large and bright.

The sunlight beamed through the lattice, making it so bright that she could hardly open her eyes.

The surroundings were completely different from the dull, dark cave.

She instinctively got up to look at her surroundings.

A little maid noticed her movement and immediately approached.

"Miss, you’re awake?"

She immediately became alert and aware.

"Miss?"

The little maid pointed to a pile of things on the ground, smiling.

"Indeed, our madam has called for the Imperial Physician for you!"

"The Imperial Physician said you’ve suffered many injuries and can’t be delayed anymore, so they’ve taken all the things from your body!"

She listened and felt panicked!

Her clothes, her human mask, her... all had been removed?

She hurriedly touched her face, feeling a fine and smooth texture.

Her heart sank, fearing exposure.

If discovered to still be a young woman, she might face danger, at that moment, wouldn’t she...?

"Miss, don’t be afraid, it’s very safe here with our madam!"

"You don’t need to worry, no one would dare to harm you!"

She listened but still felt uneasy inside.

This unfamiliar place, how could she feel at ease here?

Unwilling to talk with the maid, she started searching through her belongings.

Unfortunately, apart from two pieces of ragged clothing, there was nothing.

Her human mask, her token, her portrait, they all seemed lost.

As she felt incredibly lost.

Suddenly, footsteps approached from outside.

Before she could lie back down, the door was pushed open.

It was the madam who had rescued her yesterday, the very one she was meant to find.

Although she looked a bit aged, she was still more attractive than the portrait drawn.

It should be... she found the right person.

...

"Leave us, I need to talk to her alone!" Xia Ruqing instructed.

Zi Yue and Zi Ning hesitated.

"Master!" We still don’t know this woman’s background!

"It’s alright, leave! Guard the door well, don’t let anyone in easily," Xia Ruqing insisted.

"Yes!"

Zi Yue reluctantly exited with everyone, remembering to close the door behind them.

Soon, the room was left with only Xia Ruqing and the woman.

Xia Ruqing sat on a chair not far from the bed, facing the headboard.

The woman appeared uneasy, her eyes clear as water, full of caution.

Xia Ruqing spoke to reassure her.

"Don’t be agitated, or afraid, everyone in this courtyard is loyal to me, we won’t harm you!"

Upon hearing this, the woman finally relaxed a bit.

Xia Ruqing breathed a sigh of relief and asked.

"What’s your name?"

The woman answered without much hesitation, straightforwardly.

"Lin Siyin!"

Xia Ruqing smiled and asked again.

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen this year... no, why are you asking these?"

Xia Ruqing snapped back, indeed, why was she asking, there was more important business to discuss!

She cleared her throat, took a sip of tea, and smiled.

"Just asking casually, don’t take it to heart!"

"I came mainly to ask you, what does this note mean?"

She took out a note from her sleeve, precisely the one that the woman handed her in desperation yesterday.

On it were two words: save me!

She recognized these words, they were in Chenchen’s handwriting.

She was very puzzled, wasn’t Chenchen well? How could he ask someone to save him!

Moreover, even if there was danger for Chenchen, why would he come to her!

Shouldn’t the first report go to Zhao Junyao?

Whether reliable or not, she felt uncertain inside, so she had to come and ask.

Parents’ hearts are always full of concern!

The woman, namely Lin Siyin.

She was very suspicious: "Don’t you understand? He said... you would understand!"

"He? Who is he!"

Xia Ruqing was even more confused.

Lin Siyin immediately blurted out: "Qi Chen!"

"???" Who is Qi Chen? Who is Qi Chen?

Xia Ruqing was stunned by the familiar yet unfamiliar name.

"I... I really don’t know, can you explain a bit more clearly!"