They returned home.

"This is truly life-saving," Ahao marveled aloud, cradling the medical kit with wide eyes.

A noncommittal hum escaped Qi Yue's lips.

"Well...you also had to endure it when we were beggars. No money meant no treatment after beatings or dog bites. Eventually you learned through repeated experience," she said rubbing her hands together, "My grandmother always carried this box - treating me and other beggars alike until I picked up the skills myself."

Ahao nodded solemnly, admiration glowing in his eyes as he stared at Qi Yue.

Watching that unguarded smile, Qi Yue felt a flush rise to her cheeks even as she silently thanked her good fortune. The family had always known Lady Qi's medical knowledge saved Grandma's life before, which gave her breathing room to weave these tales without sounding ridiculous...

Her gaze flicked to Aru who was watching her back.

Aru lowered her eyes at the servant girl's words.

"You must be exhausted," Qi Yue said gently.

"It is my duty to serve you always, how could I neglect it for outsiders?" Aru murmured, head bowed. "Let me prepare your bath."

The stickiness on her skin confirmed Qi Yue's nod of agreement.

"I'll go boil water and cook," Ahao offered, meticulously wiping the medical case with cloth before carefully tucking it under the quilt.

During meals both girls remained quiet while Ahao chattered excitedly about healing Aru's younger brother.

"...So much blood! Did you really not fear anything?"

"...Stitching clothes didn't hurt but how could stitching people not? When I prick my finger with a needle, it hurts so much..."

Qi Yue only smiled vaguely in response.

"Miss..." Ahao began again when suddenly interrupted by Aru.

"You're forgetting your place," the woman snapped. "While our mistress eats you keep quiet!"

Ahao stuck her tongue out and resumed serving until after clearing dishes. In the kitchen they finally sat down to their own portion of leftovers.

"...Mistress is so amazing..." Ahao raised her bowl with trembling hands, "...all that blood but she didn't flinch once..."

She forgot entirely about eating as she continued.

"Maybe because she's crossed through hell already? That explains why she's fearless now," she whispered conspiratorially.

The quiet Aru suddenly slammed down her chopsticks so hard Ahao startled into submission.

"I won't mention it again!" the girl hurriedly promised.

"Not today, never again," Aru said coldly.

"Why? Mistress is clearly capable..."

"Miss Qi is noble and kind-hearted. If others discover she treats servants like herself without hesitation, what do you think will happen?" Aru warned. "There are already those who whisper about her low birth - calling her a cursed soul. We mustn't provoke them further by letting such talk spread."

Ahao nodded solemnly.

"I understand now - I won't utter another word," she vowed.

A soft smile returned to Aru's face as the tension eased.

"Eat quickly. You both look wiped out. Thank you, Ahao, when you first brought her here...my heart..." Her voice cracked before dissolving into tears.

Ahao sniffled along with her.

"Oh dear - don't cry! I nearly died of fear myself when she came to get the matching tokens and silenced those old hags!" Ahao sobbed harder. "Remembering that time you knelt outside Ma Su's door in snow for two days...the cold almost killed you..."

"Hush now or our mistress will worry," Aru soothed, wiping tears with damp cloths before adding firmly, "We must always be mindful of her kindness and never cause trouble. With no one else to protect her here..."

Ahao gave a reluctant nod.

"Let's clean up and sleep early. We have work tomorrow," the woman said with a tearful smile.

When night deepened, Aru still stood by the window peering into darkness.

"Has our mistress not gone to bed yet?" Ahao mumbled from her pillow in the next room.

A single hum answered back.

"She probably needs light for fear of sleeping alone," Ahao speculated sleepily before immediately contradicting herself. "But she stitched up people without flinching..."

Her murmurings faded as Aru turned away.

"Back then she needed both of us to fall asleep..." Ahao yawned, "...now not even one person stays with her anymore..."

Letting out a sigh, Aru climbed into bed.

What changed wasn't just that - far more had shifted...

"Ahao," she whispered later in the night. "Didn't our mistress say something strange? She drank the soup of forgetting yet remembers nothing we do but forgot what I remember...she can cook and treat illnesses things she never mentioned before..."

Ahao's breathing was already heavy with sleep.

"She just didn't mention those things before..." the girl mumbled through slurred words.

"And hasn't she become bolder? More talkative, actually able to express herself..." Aru continued softly.

"Maybe in her past life she was always like this...she forgot this one and remembers that...I'm so tired I need sleep..."

With a final snort the girl turned onto her side.

Aru watched her fall into peaceful snores, bare shoulders peeking from her night shift before shaking her head with quiet laughter.

"Better not to think about it," she sighed, tucking in Ahao's blanket and blowing out the oil lamp.

Meanwhile Qi Yue still sat at the table staring at the flickering candlelight. The medical case rested before her like a silent witness to her thoughts.

She groaned, resting her chin on another hand.

"Why have I ended up here?" she muttered through furrowed brows. "This feels so unnatural! Am I doomed to spend my life trapped in this courtyard? What's the point of living..."

Her fingers raked through jet-black hair until it resembled a horror movie villain in the mirror.

She had parents and family, a job with skills honed over two decades, deeply ingrained habits. Though she'd often complained about work stress and relationship squabbles, when suddenly all those mundane yet familiar days vanished - her soul flung into this strange world inhabiting a stranger's body...

Qi Yue smacked her forehead against the table in despair.

This was her first sleepless night here. When Aru discovered Qi Yue slumped before the mirror the next morning, she nearly fainted with alarm.

"Mistress are you unwell?" she cried in panic.

"I'm fine," Qi Yue replied hoarsely lifting her head.

The haggard expression betrayed nothing but exhaustion to Aru who felt only guilt and sorrow.

"It's my fault I'm dragging down our mistress," the servant choked out.

"Oh come now, that's ridiculous!" Qi Yue stretched lazily with a grin. "Just one sleepless night probably because of memory loss - it takes time to adjust."

Yet when Aru finally found her voice she asked what had been gnawing at her.

"Mistress why do you forget the memories we remember but recall things we don't?"

Yes indeed, Qi Yue rubbed her face. Every lie demanded a thousand more lies. She was so sick of it!

"Perhaps," she shrugged airily, "the bad memories here forced me to forget while only good ones remain."

Aru paled visibly.

"Mistress please say that privately!" the servant begged anxiously.

Qi2 gave a hearty laugh instead.

"Don't worry about things. Once Lord Renshi returns and your illness heals..." Aru soothed gently.

"And what then?" Qi Yue asked turning to her.

The question caught Aru off guard as she thought of every New Year's Eve spent waiting at the gate, stitching clothes year after year only to pack them away unopened...

"Mistress Lord Renshi hasn't seen your worth yet. You're so precious - he must..." Her voice broke into sobs.

"Nonsense nonsense," Qi Yue hurriedly comforted her with a hand on her shoulder.

What was one man anyway? The girl and servant were clearly heartbroken over nothing, but of course she'd never say that aloud. Instead promising to ensure the young master would fall completely in love as Aru finally smiled through tears.

"Mistress thinking this way shows you're worthy of Grandma's care," the woman said warmly.

Qi Yue forced a smile and nodded. One step at a time, but life had to be lived well regardless. Perhaps waking up soon she'd find herself back in modern times while today was just some dream...

"Come let's eat. Did Ahao cook something nice today?"

"Deep-fried persimmons with silver ear fungus porridge," the girl announced cheerfully as she entered.

"Wonderful...though this can't be eaten every day."

"Oh no! Mistress has new cravings already? Teach me please..."