Chapter 207: The Truth

“Rusu, Rusu, wake up, Rusu, what’s wrong with you? Wake up quickly.”

“Wah wah wah wah wah—”

“Rusu, what exactly did you dream about? Tell your father, and I’ll make it right for you.”

“Wah wah wah wah wah—”

“How long has the young lady been like this?”

“Reporting to the master, it’s been half an hour.”

Inside the Sima residence, Sima Xin was taking an afternoon nap when Sima Rusu’s maid hurriedly came to report that the young lady had suddenly started crying uncontrollably during her nap and couldn’t be awakened. She came to ask the master what to do.

“You may leave first.”

“But, master…”

“It’s fine. Your master may be lazy in daily life, but I’m not useless. Taking care of my own daughter is something I can still manage.”

“Yes, master.”

After the maid left, Sima Xin gently stroked Sima Rusu’s hair, which was scattered on the pillow, and softly said, “Rusu, don’t cry anymore. Lately, you’ve been crying in your sleep so often. If there’s something troubling you, tell your father. No matter how incapable I may be, I’ve lived decades longer than you and can surely offer some advice.”

The crying turned into soft sobs. Opening her tear-filled eyes, Sima Rusu looked at Sima Xin and cautiously asked, “Father, if I weren’t your daughter, would you still want me?”

Thinking Sima Rusu hadn’t fully awakened from her dream, Sima Xin shook his head with a smile. “Silly Rusu, how could you not be my daughter?”

“Father, I’m not talking in my sleep. I’m telling the truth. What if I told you that I’m not the real Rusu, but just a wandering soul who took over your daughter’s body to survive until now? Would you still want me?”

“Rusu must have been too immersed in Buddhist stories lately and started imagining herself as a character from them.” The suddenness of his daughter’s words made Sima Xin dismiss them, attributing them to her imagination.

“Father, Rusu isn’t delirious. What I’m saying is true. Not just me, but Sister Fang is also from the same world as me. We’ve been close since childhood. For some reason, she has already returned to her parents from her previous life.”

His daughter often made up absurd jokes to cheer him up, which he’d laugh off. But now, her words were earnest and filled with sorrow. Though Sima Xin still didn’t believe her, he couldn’t take it lightly. He stared at her intently. Having endured the pain of losing his wife and son, Sima Xin was no longer the reckless man he once was. He treasured this only daughter deeply.

Under her father’s intense gaze, Sima Rusu grew nervous, her voice trembling. “Father?”

Realizing he’d frightened her, Sima Xin softened his tone. “Don’t be afraid. Tell me where you’re from. Whether you’re Rusu or a wandering soul from another world, you’re still my daughter.”

“Are you telling the truth?” After days of nightmares, Sima Rusu was on the verge of collapse.

During her nap that afternoon, Sima Rusu had felt her body growing colder and colder, her soul beginning to drift away from her body. Floating in the air, she could see her own body on the bed, her skin turning blue from the cold. Lin Fang appeared, covering her with a blanket, giving her water and food. There was also that dog, blending into the darkness, warming her. Lin Fang even scolded her—this behavior didn’t match the weak and delicate Lin Fang from her past life who needed constant care from her family, but rather resembled the Sixth Miss Lin of this world.

Sima Xin nodded. “Have I ever lied to you, Rusu? In this life, I ask for nothing more than your peace and happiness.”

“Wah wah wah wah—”

Sima Xin’s heart ached. His daughter had always been strong; he’d never seen her cry so much before. But ever since the Sixth Miss Lin went missing, she’d been crying daily. He’d thought it was because she missed her, but now it seemed there was another reason. Gently stroking her hair, Sima Xin coaxed, “Don’t cry anymore. Tell me everything.”

“Mm.”

Sima Rusu nodded lightly and began recounting her life from her previous world, as well as her connection with Lin Fang’s family. She cried freely when recounting painful memories and still shed tears when mentioning happy ones. By the time she finished speaking late at night, she was still crying.

That day, Sima Rusu cried enough tears to make up for two lifetimes.

Exhausted from crying, Sima Rusu fell into a deep sleep. Sima Xin, however, sat with a grave expression, tucking her in and remaining motionless for nearly an hour before finally leaving.

Sima Rusu didn’t wake up after falling asleep. By morning, she had developed a high fever. Sima Xin summoned the physician Tong, who treated her with acupuncture and medicine. The fever fluctuated but finally subsided after two days and nights. Though her condition stabilized, she still didn’t wake up.

Having gone nearly three days without food or water, Sima Rusu’s cheeks were visibly sunken, her complexion sallow. Tong tried feeding her through a bamboo tube, but as soon as it was removed, she vomited everything back up. Repeated attempts yielded the same result—her stomach rejected all nourishment.

Tong grew anxious and tried acupressure to stop the vomiting, a technique that had always worked before, but now it had no effect.

Checking her pulse again, Tong frowned and asked Sima Xin, “Why is Rusu’s energy depleting so quickly? This is rare. Did something happen before this? Why has she suddenly deteriorated like this?”

Sima Xin opened his mouth to speak but hesitated and ultimately shook his head in silence.

Two more days passed, and Sima Rusu’s breath grew faint, her life hanging by a thread. Knowing he could do no more, Tong sorrowfully advised Sima Xin to prepare for her funeral.

Eldest Brother and Li Cuimei seemed to have aged over a decade since Lin Fang’s disappearance. After Qi Biao sent word that they should wait patiently and leave everything to him, they’d held onto hope. The messenger’s words had hinted that there were traces of their daughter, but as they waited, even Qi Biao vanished without a trace. The couple was utterly exhausted. Now, hearing that their future daughter-in-law was on the brink of death, they were struck dumb with grief.

Lin Wu had changed the most. His sister’s disappearance had already tormented him, and now his fiancée had suddenly fallen gravely ill for unknown reasons. Even his grandmother was powerless to help. Once tall and stout, he now looked as thin as a bamboo pole swaying in the wind.

“Uncle, the maids said Rusu was crying nonstop before she fell ill. Did she have something troubling her?”

Seeing that there was no hope left, Lin Wu, not one to act rashly, suppressed his emotions in the presence of his elders. He wanted to fulfill his final duty to Sima Rusu, ensuring she could pass in peace.

Over the past few days, Sima Xin had become gaunt, barely eating more than his daughter as he kept vigil by her sickbed. When Lin Wu spoke to him, Sima Xin didn’t react at first, his gaze fixed on his daughter and the motionless figure of Sima Shiyuan squatting by the bed.

“Uncle, did you hear what I said?”

With no other choice, Lin Wu stepped in front of Sima Xin, blocking his view. His oversized clothes fluttered with the movement, stirring a cold breeze. The chill snapped Sima Xin back to awareness.

“Wu’er, go fetch your parents. Before Rusu fell ill, she wasn’t just crying—she told me many things about her past, most of it related to Fang’er.”

“Yes, Uncle. I’ll be right back.” Hearing that Rusu’s words involved his sister, Lin Wu didn’t dare delay. His sister and Rusu had been inseparable, sharing everything. If Rusu had cried while speaking of her before falling ill, it couldn’t have been trivial.

Soon, Eldest Brother and Li Cuimei followed Lin Wu to the Sima residence. Sima Xin led them directly to Sima Rusu’s bedroom, dismissing all the servants from her courtyard before sitting down with the Lin family for a detailed discussion.

From noon until the moon hung high in the sky, the servants anxiously paced outside the courtyard. Though their master had little appetite, he still needed to eat something. With the young lady seemingly beyond help, if something happened to the master too—with one son cold and distant and the other simple-minded—their futures would be bleak. But without orders, they didn’t dare enter.

As Sima Xin spoke, Li Cuimei initially held back her tears but eventually broke down in her husband’s arms. Eldest Brother patted her back, his own tears flowing freely. Lin Wu and Sima Shiyuan wore expressions of anger and sorrow.

After a moment of silence, Eldest Brother sighed. “When Fang’er was little, we noticed she was different from others, but we thought it was just her intelligence. Now, with your explanation, it all makes sense. It’s alright. Fang’er stayed with us for nearly sixteen years. She’s simply returned to her parents from her past life, not met with some accident. Knowing she’s loved and cared for by them and her brother there brings us comfort. But Rusu… she suffered so much in her past life. If she leaves us like this, it’s truly unjust.”

Sima Xin said mournfully, “Ah—ever since Fang’er disappeared, Rusu has had nightmares almost every night, often waking up crying. When she told me about her past life that day, I thought she was still dreaming, speaking nonsense. Hearing you say this, it seems what she said was true. It’s just… I never properly cherished her to make up for the suffering she endured in her past life. But no matter how much I regret it now, it’s probably too late.”

Wiping away her tears, Li Cuimei comforted him, “Rusu still has breath in her. Don’t give up so easily. Do you remember how you once lay unconscious for half a year? Rusu was less than ten years old then, a thin little girl who tended to you day and night for six months, just to have a father. Now Rusu is only unconscious. You mustn’t give up on her.”

Suddenly, Lin Wu stood up, lifting Sima Rusu—blanket and all—and made to leave the room. Sima Shiyuan immediately tried to snatch her back. Even though Lin Wu was his most trusted future brother-in-law, he wouldn’t allow anyone to take away the sister he relied on for survival.

The other three also stood abruptly. Eldest Brother demanded sharply, “Wu’er, what are you doing? Rusu is extremely weak and shouldn’t be moved carelessly. Don’t act impulsively!”

“Father, I’m not being reckless. Uncle just mentioned that when my sister stayed at Zixing Temple years ago, it was because the old monk was trying to preserve her dwindling energy, buying time to find a cure. Grandmother said yesterday that Rusu’s condition is also due to her energy nearly being exhausted. I’m taking her to the temple, hoping to find a way to keep her with us. There’s no time to waste.”

Lin Wu’s words left Eldest Brother and Li Cuimei silent. Their daughter had been near death years ago, yet she’d hidden it from them. Such a thoughtful child, now lost to them forever—the pain was unbearable.

“Alright, take her to the temple.”

Sima Xin moved toward Lin Wu, intending to take his daughter into his own arms to carry her to the temple. But before he could reach Lin Wu, he swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing.

Eldest Brother stepped forward to steady Sima Xin, guiding him to a chair. “Wu’er and Rusu are already engaged—he’ll be her husband soon enough. They’ve grown up together; there’s no need for formalities. If you want to care for your daughter yourself, you must first regain your strength. Wu’er is young; let him handle the physical tasks. You should eat something first.”

Sima Xin nodded. “You’re right, Brother Lin. Very well. Sister-in-law, please arrange for some food. Wu’er, take Rusu to the temple first.”

No sooner had he spoken than Lin Wu strode out with Sima Rusu in his arms, Sima Shiyuan close behind.