When Aman woke up, she found herself lying on an unfamiliar bed. She quickly got out of bed, intending to leave the room, and happened to meet Fang'er entering.
"Miss Aman, I was collecting things in the courtyard just now and found you had fainted in the pavilion, so I brought you into my room to rest," Fang'er said with a smile.
"Thank you!" Aman said faintly, making a move to leave the room.
"Miss Aman, are you looking for your mistress? I have already reported your fainting to her. Please rest here with peace of mind. Your mistress and Concubine Leng are being watched by Xi'er."
Fang'er's bright, lively eyes narrowed slightly as she kindly reminded her.
"There's no need to trouble you, Miss. I must leave now." After saying this, Aman turned and left Fang'er's room.
"Alas, this girl's character is not bad, it's a pity she followed the wrong master." Fang'er said regretfully.
After leaving Fang'er's room, Aman hurried towards Leng Ruoshuang's room.
As soon as she reached the corridor outside Leng Ruoshuang's room, she heard the conversation between Liu Ruyi and her daughter.
"Mother, where did you save this maid, Aman, from? She is truly loyal to you. Ruoshuang envies you." Leng Ruoshuang asked curiously.
"It wasn't your mother who saved her. Don't ask so many questions about this matter. Did you get rid of the Liu Momo and Xiao Cui that your mother trained for you? Why haven't I seen them in Prince Qing's mansion after visiting a few times?" Liu Ruyi asked with a frown.
"I had those two fools take the blame and die for me," Leng Ruoshuang said disdainfully.
"How can you be so foolish? You've let all the people loyal to you die. Who will risk their lives for you in Prince Qing's mansion in the future? The two maids taking care of you now (Xi'er and Fang'er) will not be loyal to you. Your mother taught you before to learn to use people's weaknesses to win hearts, but you just... Alas, your mother doesn't want to talk about you anymore." Liu Ruyi said, frustrated by her lack of progress.
At that moment, the mother and daughter in the room did not realize that their conversation had been overheard word for word by Aman.
So she wasn't saved by Liu Ruyi after all. Her previous suspicions were true. She had been with Liu Ruyi for over ten years and understood her character very well. Liu Ruyi had rarely done anything good. How could such an extremely selfish and malicious person run into a fire to save her?
However, she only remembered fragmented scenes from that time and couldn't recall clearly what had happened back then.
She couldn't even remember who she was or who her family members were. She didn't know where she had learned her medical skills and martial arts.
She only remembered that Liu Ruyi had told her that she had been rescued from a fire at the risk of her life, and that she wanted Aman to be her maid and to be loyal to her for life.
And Aman, to repay Liu Ruyi's life-saving kindness, had worked for her for over ten years.
As Aman thought of these things, a look of deep sadness appeared on her face. She didn't even notice Xi'er walking towards her.
"Miss Aman, why are you standing here? Why aren't you going in?" Xi'er asked her loudly with a smile.
Her words immediately reached the ears of Liu Ruyi and her daughter in the room. Their hearts sank, and they didn't know how much of what they had said to each other Aman had heard.
"I just arrived. As I walked here, my head started to hurt again." Aman raised her hand and clutched her head, feigning a headache.
"Then you should go back and rest for a while. I'll be here with Concubine Leng," Xi'er said with concern.
"No, I'll be fine after resting for a bit." Aman declined.
Then, she quickly walked into Leng Ruoshuang's room and greeted Liu Ruyi.
"Aman, why aren't you resting more if you're not feeling well?" Liu Ruyi asked, feigning concern.
"Thank you for your concern, mistress. Aman is fine now." Aman bowed slightly and cupped her fists with a poker face.
"Aman, how long have you been standing outside? Why didn't you come in?" Leng Ruoshuang asked her bluntly.
"Second Miss, your servant just came from Miss Fang'er's room. When I passed by the corridor, my headache acted up again. I happened to meet Miss Xi'er, who was passing by, and chatted with her for a bit." Aman replied flawlessly.
"Concubine Leng, your servant was walking behind Miss Aman the whole way. Seeing her stop and her expression change, your servant kindly struck up a conversation with her. I didn't expect to disturb your rest, and I am truly sorry."
Xi'er heard the tone of Leng Ruoshuang's voice and realized something was wrong, so she quickly helped Aman out of her predicament.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. Ruoshuang was just asking casually. Just try to keep your voices down next time. Aman, since you're alright, accompany me to welcome the Valley Master of Ghost Valley later." Liu Ruyi quickly smoothed things over.
"Yes! Your servant obeys!" Aman said respectfully.
After about fifteen minutes, Liu Ruyi, taking Aman with her, left Prince Qing's mansion, got into a carriage, and drove onto the street.
The two quickly booked a common inn closest to the gate of the capital city. They chose a window seat on the second floor that overlooked the street outside, ordered a pot of tea and two portions of dim sum, and while eating, they kept watch for any movement below.
Liu Ruyi and Aman waited in the inn for an hour, but they did not see the Valley Master of Ghost Valley's carriage pass by. She was starting to feel anxious.
In the reply letter from the Valley Master of Ghost Valley, it clearly stated that he would arrive in the capital this afternoon. Now the sun had set, and there was still no sign of the Valley Master of Ghost Valley. What if he stood her up, Liu Ruyi?
Just as Liu Ruyi was wondering, Aman, who was standing beside her, suddenly pointed at a passing carriage below and exclaimed, "Mistress, could that carriage be the carriage of the Valley Master of Ghost Valley?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyi lowered her head to look down and saw an old man with a full head of white hair, full of vigor, and a divine aura leaning out of the carriage window, looking around.
Liu Ruyi's heart leaped with joy. She took the flying dart with the letter she had prepared and flicked it towards the window of the Valley Master of Ghost Valley's carriage. The Valley Master of Ghost Valley looked up at the second floor and immediately saw Liu Ruyi's figure. Then, he quickly pulled out the flying dart from the carriage window, untied the paper strip tied to the dart, and read it. It said: Please the Valley Master to come up to the second floor opposite for a chat!
"Stop!"
The Valley Master of Ghost Valley shouted to the servant driving the carriage.
The carriage quickly stopped by the roadside, and the Valley Master of Ghost Valley immediately got out of the carriage and entered the inn where Liu Ruyi was.
A moment later, Liu Ruyi finally met the Valley Master of Ghost Valley.
"Valley Master, it's been many years, and I didn't expect you to be even more spirited," Liu Ruyi said with a flattering smile.
"Heh, how can I compare to you? I heard your seductive skills have improved again. I wonder which young and talented man is fortunate enough... to have a night of passion with you," the Valley Master of Ghost Valley said with a hint of mockery.
"If the Valley Master likes it, I can also..." Liu Ruyi said playfully, covering her mouth.