Chapter Two: If There Is No Error, Why Change It?

Outside the carriage, unfamiliar voices could be heard.

Silver Heart immediately responded loudly, “Y-yes, yes! Our young lady has a high fever and is unconscious. We must rush her to the doctor, or she could die.”

“Alright, wait here.”

The visitor acknowledged and left. Shortly after, a doctor arrived, examined Luo Yunqiao, and quickly gave his verdict.

“The young lady has a high fever and is weak. She shouldn’t be traveling. She needs to be sent to the city for medical treatment and rest as soon as possible. The carriage must be arranged more comfortably for the patient to endure the journey, but you…”

Silver Heart and Luo Yunqiao were riding in a servant’s carriage, cramped and cold, hardly suitable for a sick person.

There was indeed a more comfortable carriage available, but…

Linzhou quietly turned his head, glanced outside in a certain direction, and then quickly withdrew his gaze.

“Bring her over.”

His low, cold voice was solid and powerful, like the steady beat of a drum in a martial training ground, instilling a sense of reassurance.

Silver Heart was momentarily stunned by his words, but Linzhou quickly reacted and helped her transfer Luo Yunqiao to the other carriage.

“Thank you, noble sir, for saving her life. We serve the Marquis of Jing’an’s household. The one unconscious is the young lady of our noble family. Once we return, I will report this to the master, and he will surely come to express his gratitude.”

By rights, once Luo Yunqiao returned to the Marquis’s estate, she should be recognized as the only legitimate eldest daughter. However, the family also included Luo Yunzhen, who seemed unlikely to be sent back to the Luo family’s village. Thus, their statuses required some distinction.

Yet, whether out of forgetfulness or circumstance, the Luo family had not settled the matter even after nearly three years.

Hence, Silver Heart was genuinely unsure whether to address Luo Yunqiao as the eldest or second young lady.

No one in the carriage replied. Linzhou lifted the curtain and went inside, quickly administering acupuncture and medicine to Luo Yunqiao before coming back down.

The carriage set off again, heading toward the capital.

After an unknown amount of time, Luo Yunqiao opened her eyes, feeling the softness beneath her. She was momentarily stunned but then struggled to sit up.

“Don’t move.”

The simple command carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Luo Yunqiao turned her head toward the source of the voice and saw a man wearing a dark cloak sitting beside her. His thick black hair was tied high, forehead broad, features sharp and dignified, exuding an imposing presence. His eyes were closed, and his tall, straight posture inspired confidence.

“Who… are you?”

“Drink this first.”

The man showed no expression but handed her a cup of water.

Luo Yunqiao took it and drank deeply, gulp after gulp.

The water was warm, and most importantly, it carried a faint medicinal taste. After drinking, she felt her throat ease considerably.

“Thank you. You are…”

“Xiao Muyuan.”

She had never heard the name.

“You fainted and needed help. Your maid sought assistance by the roadside, and I happened to pass by, so I helped. Your carriage wasn’t suitable for a sick person to travel quickly, so I moved you to mine.”

“Your throat isn’t well; don’t speak for now. If we meet again in the future, we can talk then.”

Xiao Muyuan was intelligent. Although Luo Yunqiao said nothing, he seemed to understand her thoughts perfectly.

Since he had said so, Luo Yunqiao didn’t press further. She nodded in gratitude and closed her eyes to rest.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the Jing’an Marquis’s mansion and stopped at the gate.

After Luo Yunqiao stepped down, Xiao Muyuan’s carriage departed.

“Miss, how are you? Still feeling unwell?” Silver Heart got out of the Marquis’s carriage and immediately went to support Luo Yunqiao.

Luo Yunqiao said nothing, only shook her head, then entered the mansion with Silver Heart.

As they approached the front hall, before entering, they overheard Luo Zeting and Luo Zhoushi scolding Luo Zefeng inside.

“Luo Zefeng, did you forget what I told you? Yunqiao is our sister. She has already suffered six months of punishment at Zhaojue Temple and is still feverish. How could you leave her halfway and come back by yourself? What if something happened?” Luo Zeting was furious.

“Ah… Yunqiao has a fever? Is it serious?” Luo Zhoushi was worried, seemingly very concerned about Luo Yunqiao.

“Not serious,” Luo Zefeng dismissed it. Especially recalling Luo Yunqiao’s cold demeanor earlier, his anger flared. “Besides, you don’t know—after being punished at Zhaojue Temple for six months, her temper hasn’t improved; it’s only gotten worse.”

“I originally wanted her to rest a bit before returning, but she said she’s not dead and doesn’t need to rest.”

“Listen to what she says…”

“Hey! Big brother, why are you kicking me?”

No sooner had Luo Zefeng finished speaking than Luo Zeting didn’t hesitate to kick him.

“Even so, you shouldn’t have left her midway. You should have brought her back first. Whatever happens can be dealt with later,” Luo Zeting insisted, preparing to kick him again.

Luo Yunzhen quickly stepped in front of Luo Zefeng to stop him. “Big brother, little brother already knows his mistake. Don’t hit him anymore.”

“Yes, Yunting, don’t hit your brother. Hurry and go fetch your sister,” Luo Zhoushi urged.

“All right, I’m going now.”

Luo Zeting turned and headed out. Before leaving the front hall, he saw Luo Yunqiao and Silver Heart standing at the doorway. He paused, then strode over and reached out to touch Luo Yunqiao’s head.

“Yunqiao, you’re back.”

“Mm.”

Luo Yunqiao nodded but took a step back, avoiding Luo Zeting’s hand.

His hand missed.

He was stunned. “Qiaoqiao, are you avoiding me?”

Since returning to the Luo family, Luo Yunqiao’s favorite was always Luo Zeting. She was timid and timid, deeply dependent on him. Whenever he appeared, she would shuffle close, speaking with a face full of trust and reliance.

This was the first time she had avoided him.

Luo Zeting felt heavy in his chest, as if he couldn’t breathe.

“Brother, did you see that?” Luo Zefeng was excited, triumphant as if he had caught Luo Yunqiao making a mistake. “She treated me like that before. I showed concern, but she was ungrateful and gave me attitude. Who does she think she is?”

“I bet she’s holding a grudge because Father punished her to kneel at Zhaojue Temple, so she’s been giving us the cold shoulder.”

Luo Zefeng spoke with conviction, as if he had heard Luo Yunqiao say such things, although she never had.

Still, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Yunqiao, do you really feel that way?” Luo Zhoushi’s beautiful eyes welled with tears as she looked at Luo Yunqiao with sorrow.

She seemed to want to reach out and hold Luo Yunqiao’s hand but hesitated when she saw Luo Yunqiao even avoided Luo Zeting’s touch.

“Sister, everyone makes mistakes; as long as you correct them, it’s fine. Don’t distance yourself from the family like this—they’ll be hurt,” Luo Yunzhen comforted at the right moment, embodying the image of a good sister to Luo Zefeng, Luo Zhoushi, and even Luo Zeting.

Indeed, although she was the Luo family’s legitimate daughter, the one who truly grew up with the Luo family and lived with them for over a decade was Luo Yunzhen.

They were family, naturally understanding and trusting each other, comforting one another.

She was merely an outsider.

An outsider who, out of arrogance, wished to be cared for and loved, only to be met with rejection.

Luo Yunqiao lowered her gaze, hiding the loneliness and pain in her eyes.

But there was one thing she needed to clarify.

“Half a year ago, I did not drug the Third Prince, nor did I climb into his bed. As for why he was drugged, or why I was knocked out and placed beside his bed, I do not know. Since I did nothing wrong, why should I change?”