Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

A deep sense of helplessness and bitterness welled up in Mrs. Hua's heart, but she finally nodded heavily, agreeing to Li Ruoyue's request. At this moment, she felt as if she were on the edge of a cliff, caught between a rock and a hard place. She knew she was trapped in an inescapable predicament, like a bird with its wings tied, powerless to struggle.

Yet, how could she accept such an easy compromise? The rage within her raged like a burning flame, yet she had nowhere to vent it. Faced with this difficult decision, she felt immensely tormented and conflicted. On the one hand, she truly hated the stigma of being called a "wicked stepmother." On the other, she felt like she had been backed into a corner, powerless to fight back.

Deep down, Mrs. Hua secretly sighed at the unfairness of fate. Why had she had to face such a difficult situation? Why couldn't she be given a smooth path forward? But reality was so cruel, it left her no room for fantasy or escape.

So, she gritted her teeth, fought back her tears, and silently accepted this outcome, which she was unwilling to accept. In that moment, she seemed to have aged considerably, and her once straight spine slightly bent. And all of this was just to maintain that so-called reputation, to prevent the world from pointing fingers at her...

Madam Hua sighed helplessly and said, "Yu'er, since you've said so, then let's do as you say. Mother will send you the indentures of these maids in a while. As for the other maids you need..." She paused, looked at Li Ruoyue with concern, and continued, "Do you have any special requests? Mother will definitely satisfy you."

Li Ruoyue looked pained, slowly shaking her head. Her voice was low and firm: "Madam Hua, don't worry anymore. I don't need any more maids. These remaining ones are enough. I really don't want any more people disturbing my courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Madam Hua's eyes softened, and she whispered soothingly, "Since that's the case, then I'll do as you say. I'll arrange for the servants to handle this matter right away. Yue'er, you must not overwork yourself or grieve. It's best to return to your room and rest. As for your jade pendant, mother will send people to search for it with all their might, and will definitely return it to you."

A trace of gratitude flashed in Li Ruoyue's eyes, and she nodded slightly and replied, "Thank you, Madam Hua. I will go back to my room first." After that, she walked towards the house with a staggering gait, supported by Luzhu.

Madam Hua stared silently at Li Ruoyue's receding figure until she disappeared from her sight. Then, she turned and walked away, secretly pondering how to quickly retrieve the jade pendant that meant so much to Li Ruoyue.

Li Ruoyue walked lightly into the room and gently closed the door, as if isolating herself from the outside noise and chaos. She lay down on the bed, feeling relieved, feeling the comfort brought by the soft bed, and her whole body seemed refreshed and relaxed.

Seeing her mistress so happy, Luzhu couldn't help but shout out joyfully, as if she was also rejoicing in the joy. She came to the bedside and said happily, "That's great! I finally don't have to be so nervous and on guard against those guys anymore! It's really boring to be so cautious all day long!"

However, Li Ruoyue only smiled slightly, her eyes gently falling on Luzhu. Facing Luzhu's slightly resentful expression, she sighed softly, "Alas, Luzhu, you must know that we should be wary of others, but we must never have the intention to harm them. Although we have cleaned up the backyard, who can guarantee that these people will completely trust us? So, it's better to be more cautious."

After saying this, Li Ruoyue gently stroked Luzhu's head, a look of determination flashing in her eyes. Although she was relaxed physically and mentally at the moment, she remained alert deep down. After all, in this world of power struggles, a single misstep could lead to irretrievable destruction. Only by remaining vigilant could she ensure her safety.

Luzhu responded with a firm look: "Yes, Miss! I understand. Luzhu will definitely be extra cautious. But... Miss, now we have cleaned up the backyard, but the jade pendant is still in our hands. What should we do with it next?" There was a trace of confusion and worry on her face.

Li Ruoyue seemed nonchalant and said lightly: "What's the harm? When the time is right, just sell it. After a few days, find an excuse to tell Madam Hua that the jade pendant has been found, and I don't know who secretly hid it in some remote corner. In this way, it can be regarded as giving her an explanation. Why worry about it?" As if this matter was easy for her and there was no pressure at all.

Luzhu nodded in understanding, indicating she understood the situation. After today's carefully choreographed performance, Li Ruoyue was breathless, as if all her strength had been drained. So, she dragged her exhausted body to bed and rested for a while to recover her energy. After lunch, it was already afternoon.

The sun was shining brightly, and the gentle breeze was particularly pleasant. Li Ruoyue decided to take this opportunity to go for a stroll with Luzhu, and to check on her own pharmacy to see if there was anything urgent that needed attention. After all, as a responsible owner, she knew that constant attention and meticulous care were crucial to running a successful Qihuang Pavilion. Therefore, even though she felt a little tired, her inner dedication and passion for her work drove her forward, not daring to slack off.

Just as Li Ruoyue was absorbed in reading a book in the back hall, a sudden, urgent knock on the door shattered the tranquility. Standing outside was Lu Yixuan, looking hurried and anxious. "There's an old woman from the east courtyard. She looks like a housekeeper from a wealthy family! She wants to see you for a medical consultation. Are you available?"

Li Ruoyue nodded without hesitation and replied, "It's convenient, please invite her in." As soon as the voice fell, Lu Yixuan gently pushed open the door after a while and led the visitor in.

Everyone's eyes turned to the uninvited guest, a woman in her fifties. Her face was round, layered with fat, like a ripe peach. Her skin was whiter than snow, delicate as silk, and radiant with a faint glow. Her figure was slightly plump, but not bloated or clumsy, instead exuding an air of wealth. Clearly, she was a housekeeper from a wealthy family, a woman of considerable status. Otherwise, how could she have maintained such a plump figure?

The nanny looked Li Ruoyue up and down, her eyes revealing a hint of surprise and suspicion. She had clearly not expected this seemingly young woman to be a doctor. After a moment's hesitation, the nanny said, "Young doctor, at your young age, are you truly confident you can cure me?" There was a hint of distrust in her words.

However, Li Ruoyue remained unmoved by these slightly questioning words. She knew full well that people often judged a person's abilities based on appearance, but she firmly believed that her medical skills weren't determined by age. So, she curled her lips into a gentle smile and softly replied, "It's all right, Ma'am. Let me take your pulse first, and then I'll explain your symptoms in detail. If I'm not accurate, you can leave. But if I'm accurate, perhaps you can stay and let me help you recover." Her tone was calm and confident, as if she was already accustomed to such situations.

The nanny tremblingly stretched out her hand without calluses, with fair and round skin, and carefully placed it on the table. Her eyes revealed a hint of expectation and trust, and she motioned Li Ruoyue to come forward to take her pulse and diagnose her.

Seeing this, Li Ruoyue walked to Mammy's side with light and steady steps, then slowly squatted down, her movements so gentle that she seemed afraid to disturb the elderly woman. Then, she stretched out her slender hands, as white as mutton-fat jade, and gently placed them on Mammy's wrist, where her pulse was.

Time ticked by, and the room fell into an unusual silence, with only the faint sound of each other's breathing audible. After about a cup of tea, Li Ruoyue finally released her fingers, but she didn't get up and leave immediately. Instead, she frowned slightly, as if she was thinking about something important.

After a moment, Li Ruoyue raised her head, looked at Mammy with a determined gaze, and said softly, "Mammy, based on the pulse I just felt, do you often experience headaches? And this isn't just an ordinary headache, but a migraine that affects one side, right? It gets worse when there's a breeze or when you're emotionally agitated or anxious."

After hearing what Li Ruoyue said, the nanny's face showed astonishment. She trembled and said, "Yes, that's right! However, despite years of treatment, there has been no significant improvement in the condition. I can only slowly recuperate the body and try not to let it get too serious. Whenever the pain comes, I take some painkillers and drink a few bowls of calming soup to relieve the pain."

At this point, Mammy couldn't help but feel sad. Her eyes gradually became moist, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She continued with a sob, "Back then, I was young and energetic, and didn't understand the importance of confinement. It was the time when our eldest son was born. Due to negligence, I didn't take good care of myself, and I accidentally went out and caught a cold. Since then, this headache has plagued me like a shadow, and it has been over twenty years now. Over the years, no matter what panacea I tried, I couldn't completely eradicate the problem. At most, it only slightly alleviated the symptoms. Alas... This stubborn illness is really driving me crazy!" After speaking, Mammy was already sobbing, her heart full of pain beyond words.