An hour later, Zi Lingling finally regained some strength and realized it had become dark without her knowing when.
She was covered in dirt and desperately needed to wash, but there wasn't a soul in the courtyard. With no other choice, she forced herself to get up, intending to heat some water in the kitchen.
Just then, a maidservant rushed in frantically, calling out, "Miss! Miss..."
Seeing the approaching maidservant about to collide with her, Zi Lingling frowned slightly and stopped her forward step. A memory of this maidservant surfaced in her mind.
The maid was named Xueying. She was brought back by Zi Lingling's mother, Yue Wumei, from outside on a snowy day. It was said that Xueying was selling herself to bury her mother at the time. Yue Wumei helped her bury her mother and brought her back to the Zi household.
Later, when Yue Wumei disappeared, Xueying, grateful for her kindness, stayed to look after Zi Lingling. Even during Zi Lingling's difficult years, she remained steadfastly by her side.
Over these years, if it weren't for Xueying working tirelessly day and night on handicrafts to exchange for food, Zi Lingling would likely have died from hunger and cold long ago.
Every time Zi Lingling was beaten, this maid would protect her with her own body like a mother hen. In short, this maid was a loyal servant.
Today was a coincidence. When Zi Jinling came, Xueying had just gone out to sell her finished work, so she hadn't been there to protect Zi Lingling.
However, when she returned and heard the stable boy at the gate say that the second young lady had come to Luoyu Pavilion, she was terrified. She ran back to the courtyard in a hurry.
Only when she saw Zi Lingling standing alive before her did she heave a sigh of relief. But when she saw Zi Lingling's torn clothes and whip marks all over her body, her eyes turned red.
"Miss, I heard the second young lady came. She bullied you again, didn't she?"
Before Zi Lingling could answer, Xueying started crying, "I'm sorry, Miss. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone at home, boohoo... I shouldn't have gone out. I should have stayed with you! Boohoohoo..."
Zi Lingling's gaze at Xueying suddenly felt much warmer.
Even though she was no longer the original Zi Lingling, she subconsciously did not want to tell Xueying about this.
"I'm fine. Go and help me heat some water. I want to bathe!"
"Yes, Miss, I'll go right away!" Xueying replied and walked towards the kitchen.
After a few steps, she turned back, took out an oil-paper package from her embrace, and handed it to Zi Lingling.
"Miss, I wasn't here today. You must be starving. The buns are still warm. Eat them quickly while they're hot."
After speaking, without waiting for Zi Lingling's response, she turned and ran towards the kitchen.
Zi Lingling's heart warmed again, and she thought to herself: Xueying, I will remember your kindness. From now on, if I, Zi Lingling, have food to eat, I will never let you go hungry!
"This little maid is not bad! Although her talent is ordinary, she has a pure heart. After cleansing and marrow-purification, with careful sculpting, cultivation should not be a problem."
Old Du watched Xueying walk away and said with an air of seniority.
Cleansing and marrow-purification?
A gleam flashed in Zi Lingling's eyes.
Soon, Xueying filled the bathtub with hot water and carefully sprinkled some dried flower petals.
She originally wanted to serve Zi Lingling during her bath, but Zi Lingling refused. As a modern person, she truly couldn't get used to being served while bathing.
Just as Xueying was about to say something else, Zi Lingling pushed her out of the room.
Zi Lingling bolted the door and was about to take off her clothes when she suddenly remembered what Old Du in the Nine Spirits Ring had said, "I am the spirit of the Nine Spirits Ring, so I can connect with your thoughts..."
Her expression turned grim. She absolutely did not want a man, especially an old man, to see her naked while she bathed.
She coldly called out, "Old Du, come out!"
Old Du naturally knew what Zi Lingling was worried about. He did not appear, but lazily replied, "Little girl, I am not that kind of vulgar person. I, Old Du, would never do something like peeking at a girl bathing!"
"Hmph!"
Zi Lingling snorted coldly, her eyes flashing with a dangerous light, "It better be. Otherwise, I don't mind the Nine Spirits Ring having no spirit!"
"Heh heh..."
Old Du chuckled awkwardly and said, "Little girl, don't be so fierce! From now on, whenever you don't want me to see something, you can just sever the connection between your soul and the Nine Spirits Ring!"
Although he said this, he secretly reminisced about a night thousands of years ago, because from that night onwards, he had been chased and beaten by that woman for three full years.
"Hmph! That's more like it!"
Zi Lingling tried the method Old Du suggested, and indeed, the connection between the Nine Spirits Ring and the outside world was severed.
She rejoiced inwardly. With this method, she finally had privacy. She disliked the feeling of being exposed in front of others.
She slowly shed her clothes. Because the blood from her wounds had dried, her clothes had stuck to the injuries, making the act of undressing another torment. With great effort, she endured the pain and took off her clothes, her body already covered in sweat.
At this moment, if anyone were present, they would see that her fair skin was covered in dense scars, new and old wounds overlapping, looking quite terrifying. However, she no longer had the energy to care.
Sleepiness, exhaustion, soreness, and weakness all surged upon her at once, invading her mind.
She eagerly stepped her slender legs into the bathtub, then slowly sank her body into the water.
When her whip wounds touched the hot water, a stinging sensation shot up to her head. Although it didn't last long, it made her muddled mind a little clearer.
However, this clarity was soon replaced by a comfortable feeling. She closed her eyes, quietly enjoying this moment.
In her previous life, although she was the young master of the Zi family, due to family interests, every step she took was like treading on thin ice, for fear of being caught making a mistake.
Furthermore, her medical skills were renowned throughout the land, and many people came to seek her medical advice, so she rarely had any personal space.
Perhaps it was because she had used too much energy to detoxify earlier, but at this moment, she felt an overwhelming drowsiness.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, a gust of wind blew, the candlelight flickered, and a dark shadow flew in from the window, landing on the ground with a "bang."
Zi Lingling's eyes snapped open. She reached out and wrapped the clothes from the screen around herself, asking cautiously, "Who?"
There was no reply. The room was so quiet that she could hear the water dripping from her hair onto the floor.
She frowned. She couldn't have misheard. Something, no, someone, had just broken into her room.
She could even smell a strange fragrance and a faint scent of blood through the screen.
"Who exactly are you? Why have you intruded into my boudoir?"