His face turned ashen, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Young Madam, Young Madam," A'ru scrambled over, practically rolling towards them.

"No breath, no breath," Chang Yunqi whispered hoarsely, kneeling on the earth.

A'ru stared at Qi Yue before her, hearing nothing but Chang Yunqi's constant refrain of "no breath."

"...Young Madam, you saved others, how could you—how could you not save yourself?" she murmured.

"That thing, that’s called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When someone suffers sudden trauma, their autonomous breathing can cease instantly. They aren't truly dead yet; you just need to assist them in breathing again," echoed Qi Yue’s words in her mind.

"Mouth-to-mouth!" A'ru gasped for air, shouting, then tentatively reached for Qi Yue’s chin with trembling hands, desperately trying to recall the procedures Qi Yue had demonstrated. "You..." Chang Yunqi was just about to scoop up Qi Yue and run for a physician when A'ru lunged forward and stopped him.

Before he could lash out with a reprimand, the maid bent low, her face moving toward Qi Yue's mouth and nose.

Chang Yunqi was stunned. He watched the girl repeatedly lower herself to blow air in, pressing down on Qi Yue's chest with both hands. Though tears streamed down her face and her expression was frantic, she refused to give up.

Just as A'ru was nearing collapse, the Qi Yue beneath her finally coughed. Chang Yunqi, nearby, closed his eyes, feeling utterly drained; despite the early winter chill, his back was drenched in sweat.

"Why did you give up on life!" he roared through gritted teeth.

Qi Yue, supporting her neck with one hand, pointed weakly toward the side with the other.

"...No, someone tried to harm me..." she rasped.

Chang Yunqi froze, then immediately scanned the surroundings, fixing on a direction before scrambling away.

"Thank goodness, thank heavens, you arrived in time," Qi Yue said, leaning against the pillows while A'ru wrapped her neck. She managed a weak smile. "It wasn't the strangulation, really. It was the heavy blow to the head that nearly killed me."

A'ru was still weeping uncontrollably.

"Young Madam, this servant deserves death," she sobbed.

Chang Yunqi returned from the doorway, his expression grim.

" 'Found him,' " he stated.

"What did he say? Why would he want to hurt me?" Qi Yue asked quickly.

"He climbed the wall and jumped into the river to commit suicide. By the time we found him, there was no saving him," Chang Yunqi reported.

Proof gone? Qi Yue sank back onto the pillows.

"You two pack up. I’ve already called the carriage. We leave immediately," Chang Yunqi ordered. "We cannot stay here."

No one wanted to leave faster than she did, but right now, she couldn't.

Qi Yue raised a hand to touch the back of her neck. It wasn't bleeding, but touching it sent sharp pain radiating, accompanied by mild nausea and dizziness.

"I fear I have a slight concussion; I shouldn't travel," she said with a wry smile. "Let's keep observing for one more night."

"Lou, go fetch a doctor." Only then did Chang Yunqi snap back to reality. From finding Qi Yue hanging, to rescuing her, learning it was attempted murder, chasing the culprit, and securing all the estate servants—he had been running on adrenaline and had completely forgotten the doctor. He hurried out.

A'ru tearfully helped Qi Yue lie down.

"Young Madam, it is all my fault," she cried.

"It has nothing to do with you; you weren't the one trying to harm me," Qi Yue said, managing a smile and shaking her hand. "Besides, you saved my life. If you hadn't given me timely rescue breaths, I truly wouldn't have managed to draw this breath."

"This servant should never have left the Young Madam alone," A'ru knelt and wept.

"Silly child, if they intended to harm me, they would certainly find an opportunity. It wasn't something you could control," Qi Yue said gently. "There, there, stop crying. Your distress makes me feel awful, and my head spins worse." A'ru quickly wiped her tears and forced herself to stifle her sobs.

"Go boil me some salt-sugar water to drink orally," Qi Yue instructed with her eyes closed.

A'ru nodded immediately but hesitated to leave. The household women had been locked up by Chang Yunqi, yet she still felt unable to step away, restless and anxious. She saw Chang Yunqi rush back in.

"Third Young Master," she called out quickly.

"What is it?" Chang Yunqi was startled by her expression and hurried over in three large steps.

"I need to go boil some salt-sugar water. You stay here with the Young Madam," A'ru requested.

Chang Yunqi nodded and stepped inside, seeing Qi Yue lying on the couch, waving her hand in front of her eyes.

"This is one, this is two, this is three," she mumbled.

What was she doing? Worried, Chang Yunqi approached her softly.

"I’ve already sent someone to fetch the nearest doctor, and I’ve notified the manor," he said quietly, adding, "I only notified my own people; it won't alarm anyone else."

"Thank you," Qi Yue said, lowering her hand.

Chang Yunqi sat down beside her, silent for a moment.

"Don't be too upset. Perhaps that wretched servant was simply stealing and murdered her in the process," he suggested.

Qi Yue heard this, offered a small laugh, and said nothing.

"Forgive me, I think I need to rest a little," she stated.

Chang Yunqi nodded quickly.

"I am here. Rest assured," he promised.

Qi Yue smiled at him and closed her eyes, drifting into a heavy sleep.

She was jolted awake by a commotion. She blinked her eyes open suddenly; the room was lit by lamps, and the noise seemed to come from outside—both distant and yet close.

Qi Yue stared at the canopy above for a long moment.

"A'ru," she tried calling out.

"Young Madam," A'ru rushed from the doorway, crying with joy upon seeing her awake. Right, still in ancient times, Qi Yue thought, closing her eyes briefly again.

A'ru called her name softly, full of concern.

"How long was I asleep?" Qi Yue opened her eyes and asked, gently shaking her head; the nausea had lessened considerably.

"About an shichen," A'ru replied, busy bringing two bowls—one of medicine and one of the salt-sugar water. "The doctor came by earlier and prescribed this. You see which one you wish to take first?"

"Both," Qi Yue decided, directing A'ru to help her sit up slowly while casually instructing her, "If someone falls, you shouldn't rush to help them up. If an injured person is involved, don't move them arbitrarily; you might worsen their condition instead of helping."

A'ru nodded in response.

"This servant has noted it," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

"The saying goes that saving others is saving oneself. It’s true," Qi Yue sat up, looking at A'ru with a smile. "I'm truly fortunate you witnessed my daily life-saving practice." A'ru lowered her head to wipe tears, about to say something, when the noise from outside grew louder, the raised voices of two men arguing carrying in.

"What's happening?" Qi Yue asked, pausing her medicine.

"Someone outside reported that the Heir Apparent has arrived," A'ru explained.

"Ah?" Qi Yue frowned. "Why is he here again?"

"And why shouldn't I be here?" Chang Yuncheng looked at Chang Yunqi, a dry, indifferent smile on his face as he slapped his riding crop rhythmically in his hand. "If you can come, surely I can too?" Chang Yunqi’s face was livid. He glanced around at the men present; none showed any intention of retreating. Instead, they observed him with expressions ranging from disdain to curiosity.

"This is a family matter. You all withdraw," Hua spoke up.

The men in the main hall hesitated, then all looked toward Chang Yuncheng.

"What kind of family matter needs to be hidden? Third Brother, say what you have to say plainly; stop beating around the bush with me," Chang Yuncheng said, sitting down.

Chang Yunqi stared at him.

"Very well, I will ask you then." He stepped forward and inquired, "Did you do this?"

Chang Yuncheng looked back.

"Do what?" He chuckled, then addressed the others. "See? This is why I dislike spending time with my dear brothers. You talk in circles ten times over; they’re not afraid of being exhausted to death, but I’m suffocating."

The onlookers burst into laughter, showing no offense at the subject of the mockery being the Marquisate's Third Young Master.

"Chang Yuncheng!" Chang Yunqi finally exploded in anger. He stepped forward and grabbed the lapel of Chang Yuncheng's robe. "If you're so capable and upright, why resort to such despicable means to harm her!"

Chang Yuncheng lifted his foot, and Chang Yunqi grunted in pain as he stumbled backward.

The faces of the men in the room finally changed. One of them gestured, and everyone immediately backed out.

Chang Yuncheng’s kick was delivered without restraint. Chang Yunqi had never suffered such an attack; pain brought a sheen of sweat to his brow, and he clutched the edge of a table to keep from falling entirely.

"Don't get physical with me. Say what you mean," Chang Yuncheng stated. "What unsavory mess are you trying to pin on me now?"

"If I said you did it, would you admit it?" Chang Yunqi scoffed.

"Everything I do is something I want to do, and something I take pride in. Why would I shirk admitting my glory?" Chang Yuncheng laughed.

Chang Yunqi let out a cold laugh, steadying himself by gripping the table.

"Very well. I know you dislike Qi Yueliang. If you dislike her, divorce her! But you won't divorce her because of your reputation; instead, you try to kill her. Treating a defenseless woman this way—this is what you are proud of?" he demanded fiercely.

Chang Yuncheng looked at him, spat on the ground.

"Damn it, you fool," he muttered, then turned and strode out.

Chang Yunqi was left abruptly standing alone.

"Where are you going?" he pursued.

Chang Yuncheng kicked open the door and entered just as Qi Yue was biting her lip, forcing down the bitter herbal medicine; her face was scrunched up from the taste.

"Chang Yuncheng, do you have any humanity left! What more do you want to do to her!" Chang Yunqi chased in, shouting furiously.

Chang Yuncheng ignored him and looked toward Qi Yue.

Qi Yue, holding the bowl, turned her wrinkled face toward him.

"Well now, Heir Apparent, you’ve arrived," she greeted him weakly.

"Speak," Chang Yuncheng commanded, raising a hand. "Get to the point."

"I was struck from behind, knocked unconscious, and hung from a tree to stage a suicide," Qi Yue stated cleanly. She had overheard Chang Yunqi's conversation in the courtyard and knew what Chang Yuncheng wanted to ask. As she tilted her head back to swallow the last mouthful, "The culprit was an old servant on the estate; he has already drowned—we don't know if it was suicide or murder. A'ru..."

Her previously calm tone elongated sharply on the last word.

A'ru snapped out of her shock at the Heir Apparent's sudden appearance and shoved a piece of candied haw into Qi Yue’s mouth.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. He finally walked two steps closer and examined Qi Yue.

"See, this is the injury. The angle and force of this blow—it's not something A'ru or I could have inflicted," Qi Yue added, gesturing toward her neck. "Don't think so poorly of me; my life is precious, and I wouldn't waste it trying to gain something." Chang Yuncheng looked at her, then suddenly laughed loudly.

"Good. Since you do not harbor ill intentions, I naturally will not either," he said, turning and walking out.

Then, his shouts echoed from outside the door.

"Guards! Drag out all those traitorous slaves and have them executed! Let’s see if they remember anything they have to say!"

Recommend Joyful As Before Author: Gui Gui Meng You (Ghostly Sleepwalking) Synopsis: The lives inside the great manor are all the same, yet people live them differently. Watch how Hua Ruchu carves out her own brilliance. (To be continued)