Chapter 190: Aftermath - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

Chapter 190: Aftermath

Bai Siruo had never been to Doctor Zhang's home before, so she was unfamiliar with the place. As Haitang continued to receive acupuncture, fragmented memories rushed back to her mind.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Mu Qian felt more compassion than blame. He initially intended to scold her for being so unguarded around strangers and causing such a commotion, but upon seeing her innocent face upon waking, he could no longer bring himself to reprimand her.

Feng Jinyao sighed, “This is Doctor Zhang’s home. You were drugged by Lu Yuanfeng and nearly violated.”

Such matters couldn’t be hidden, and with the scandal of her 'elopement' about to worsen, it was likely to cause Bai Siruo even more distress.

The faces of the three were very serious, and even Bai Siruo, no matter how naive, understood the gravity of the situation.

“So his mother’s illness was just a lie to deceive me?”

“Yes.”

Feng Jinyao’s answer left Bai Siruo silent. Her long eyelashes, like wings, shielded her eyes, hiding her emotions. If she could, she would have preferred this to be a dream.

The fact that someone who once saved her had schemed against her made her feel as if her eyes had been blinded, leading her into this disaster.

With everyone’s attention on Bai Siruo, Haitang also woke up under Doctor Zhang’s acupuncture, equally bewildered by the scene.

“Alright, now that she’s awake, we’re fine. Feng Jinyao, come with me.”

Doctor Zhang’s tone was firm. Perhaps there were other hidden issues with her cousin that needed to be discussed privately?

Feng Jinyao followed Aunt Zhang and Doctor Zhang to a side room.

Aunt Zhang wrapped Feng Jinyao in a thick cloak, saying with concern, “Young lady, you should take better care of yourself. When you reach my age, you’ll know the pain of illness. Miss Feng probably caught a cold from staying out in the wind all night; your face is so pale.”

Feng Jinyao had not yet realized the extent of her exhaustion. Now that her cousin was awake, she felt a wave of fatigue, a throbbing headache, and especially painful thighs from the prolonged jolting on horseback. It was clear they were likely bruised and swollen.

Doctor Zhang handed her two bottles of medicine, speaking gently, “The white one is for internal use to treat colds, and the black one is for external use to treat bruises. Your health isn’t very strong. Next time something happens, let the young men handle it; don’t keep throwing yourself into danger. It’s not worth it.”

Seeing the genuine concern on their faces, Feng Jinyao almost broke down in tears.

In her previous life, her family had all perished because of her, and her loved ones had also suffered. So, in this life, she didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. Even when things were not her fault, she would take on the responsibility, gradually becoming accustomed to shielding others from trouble.

But hearing these words from the elderly couple made her realize that she was just a young girl still in her teens who also needed care and love. The affection from her parents, family, and friends was abundant, but this love from people with no blood relation was even more touching.

“Thank you, Uncle Shou and Auntie. Jinyao appreciates it.”

There were many things she couldn’t express in words, but from now on, these two elderly people would be held close to her heart, like family.

Aunt Zhang exchanged a glance with her husband, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. If it weren’t for the prince’s instructions, they might have overlooked these details. Indeed, this young lady was cherished by the prince; a bit of favoritism was understandable.

Feng Jinyao was unaware that Xiao Tingyi had arranged everything in advance and was instead focused on finding a way to turn the situation around.

The scandal of Bai Siruo's supposed elopement had spread throughout the streets. Even if they captured Lu Yuanfeng and held him accountable, they couldn’t prevent rumors from spreading. If someone maliciously accused them of framing Bai Siruo’s suitor, it could still be a problem.

Just as they were about to leave, they found a group waiting at the door—guards, maids, and a luxurious carriage that looked very expensive.

“Auntie Fulin?”

Xiao Mu Qian recognized the carriage, which belonged to the princess. He was surprised to see it was indeed her.

The princess’s capable maid approached them and greeted them, then turned to Feng Jinyao and said, “Today, our princess returned from the hot springs outside the city. She happened to see a suspicious man driving a carriage towards the western suburbs and heard a woman’s cries for help from inside. Fearing that there might be trouble, she ordered an inspection, and it turned out to be the granddaughter of the Bai family. Upon questioning, it was discovered she had been kidnapped. Such audacious acts of abducting high-ranking officials’ families are punishable by death. However, considering the court’s laws, we’ve only detained him and will turn him over to the Magistrate’s Office. Miss Bai should return to the Bai residence with the princess. We’ll make sure you get there safely.”

Feng Jinyao was immensely relieved, her worries finally alleviated. She looked gratefully at the maid and asked, “How did the princess know about this?”

“The maid doesn’t know. If Miss Feng has further questions, you may inquire later.”

Feng Jinyao nodded gratefully. With the intervention of Princess Fulin, the situation was perfectly handled. Given her influence in both the royal court and among the people, most would naturally accept her word, and even if there were doubts, no one would dare to spread false rumors.

Bai Siruo’s reputation could shift from being seen as a scandalous runaway to a pitiful young lady who had been unknowingly kidnapped. If the political intrigue was emphasized, people would likely focus on who was behind the abduction rather than who was abducted.

Bowing deeply to the princess’s carriage, Feng Jinyao saved her thanks for another time.

Taking Bai Siruo’s cold hand, she whispered, “Cousin, let’s go home. After all this commotion, I’m sure our family is very worried. Instead of focusing on unimportant matters, it’s better to spend time with your loved ones.”

At these words, Bai Siruo began to recover from her silence. She wasn’t foolish; she understood that everything was done to salvage her reputation. The shock had been overwhelming, but now she realized it was time to go back to the Bai family and make amends.

Seeing the three who had come to her rescue looking worn out, her gratitude was immeasurable.

Xiao Mu Qian wanted to accompany her back to the Bai residence but was stopped by the princess’s maid.

“Second Young Master, you should return early. After a day of overseeing military preparations and inspections, you must be exhausted. The prince and princess would certainly be concerned.”

Even the reason for Xiao Mu Qian’s departure was neatly arranged. Feng Jinyao was truly curious about who was behind the scenes handling their affairs.