The scene Lin Fang dreamed of on New Year’s Eve was real.
In another world, within the Rebirth Ditch, the Wei Zhongqi household.
Wei Zhongqi wished to meet Tan Yi’s master, but Tan Yi did not grant his request. Instead, he took out a small metal box and said with a smile, “My master is still ill and cannot receive guests. This object is a symbol of my master’s identity. Seeing it is the same as seeing my master. Master Wei, please make do for now. Once my master recovers, I will certainly inform him.”
Tan Yi took out the needle box to test Wei Zhongqi. All factions under Qi Biao’s command adhered to one rule: seeing this needle box was equivalent to seeing the master. By presenting it, Tan Yi wanted to observe Wei Zhongqi’s reaction. If Wei Zhongqi was also one of his master’s men, things would be much easier.
Upon seeing the needle box, Wei Zhongqi immediately knelt and kowtowed to it, saying, “Greetings, Second Master.” His family members followed suit.
Tan Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Although Wei Zhongqi was not directly under his master’s command, he was still beneficial to their group. Only those from Qi Biao’s maternal uncle’s family would recognize this needle box and address Qi Biao as “Second Master.”
Once the Wei family rose to their feet, Tan Yi said, “Master Wei, we have been trapped here for months, surviving on wild game. Does your household truly have no grain at all? While we can endure eating wild game for a long time, our two masters have already fallen ill. Without proper food, their condition may worsen.”
“Yes, yes, we have grain!” Wei Zhongqi hastily replied and instructed his eldest son, “Shoutou, quickly go with your mother to dig up the grain.”
Wei Shoutou and He Shi were about to leave when Liu Ma spoke up, “Tan Yi, send someone else to help the young master retrieve the grain. I’d like to speak with the lady of the house.”
Tan Yi nodded and asked Qi Wu, “Brother, could you and a few others lend a hand?”
Qi Wu clasped his fists. “Brother Tan Yi, from now on, you are our leader. Just give the order.” With that, he and Qi Liu followed Wei Shoutou, who was still carrying his younger brother, out of the courtyard.
After instructing his son, Wei Zhongqi bowed to Tan Yi again. “General, you may simply call me Old Wei. My family has served the Qi family for generations—we are but humble servants. The title ‘Master’ is undeserved.”
Tan Yi did not stand on ceremony and nodded. “Why do you not store your grain inside the house?”
Wei Zhongqi explained, “General, as you can see, we raise many livestock here, all tended by Ya’er—ah, Miss Li. Miss Li does not restrain the animals; they roam freely. When we are too busy to feed them, they forage on their own. Since we were away for some time, we buried all the grain underground to prevent the animals from breaking into the house and ruining it out of hunger.”
Liu Ma supported Li Yinwei while He Shi followed behind. The three entered the three bedrooms on the east side. Although Lin Fang occasionally borrowed items from these rooms, their layout remained largely unchanged.
Inside, Li Yinwei tried to help Liu Ma sit, but her arms lacked strength. In the end, Liu Ma gently pressed her down and then gestured for He Shi to sit as well. Tan San, quick-witted, brought a pot of water and cups, served them, and then withdrew.
Having heard Wei Zhongqi refer to his family as servants, Liu Ma adjusted her tone. “You must be exhausted from the journey. Please have some water, Madam Wei. I would also appreciate it if you could tell me why our Fifth Young Miss is here.”
Those who married into the guardians of the maze were carefully selected by their masters. Despite her inner turmoil, He Shi maintained a calm demeanor as she answered Liu Ma’s question.
According to He Shi, Li Yinwei was found by Wei Zhongqi during a flood year.
At that time, Wei Zhongqi had not yet taken over the Rebirth Ditch but had already been designated as the successor by his master. While on an errand, he passed a mass grave and heard a faint sound from a pile of corpses. Curious, he dug through the bodies and pulled out a little girl—Li Yinwei—who was still breathing.
Li Yinwei’s face was covered in blood, and her limbs were broken. She seemed unlikely to survive, but Wei Zhongqi could not bear to leave a dying child behind, so he carried her home.
Given the severity of her injuries, the Wei family treated her with little hope of recovery. Yet Li Yinwei displayed an extraordinary will to live. Enduring the agony of bone-setting and wound stitching, she miraculously pulled through.
“Alas—though her bones were mostly reset, the damaged tendons could not fully heal. Ya’er—ah, Miss Li—has little strength in her hands. After waking, she refused to speak, answering all questions with shakes of her head. Not knowing her name, my father-in-law—the previous guardian of the Rebirth Ditch—named her Ya’er and had us adopt her as our foster daughter.”
At this point, He Shi cast a deep glance at Li Yinwei. What a pity! If these people had arrived later—or not at all—Li Yinwei would have become her daughter-in-law. Despite her disability, the girl was exceptionally intelligent, and her son would have been fortunate to marry her. But now, knowing she was General Li’s niece, she was utterly beyond their reach.
He Shi continued. Initially, the Wei family intended to care for Li Yinwei without burdening her, but she stubbornly insisted on helping with farm work. Unable to use her hands, she used her mouth. When coaxing and persuasion failed, the family bought chicks for her to raise, preparing all the feed in advance so she only needed to distribute it—a task requiring minimal effort.
One day, the Wei family returned to find Li Yinwei and the chickens missing. Frantically searching the ditch, they found her at the base of a cliff, struggling to stuff hay into a low cave. When asked what she was doing, she gestured that she was building nests for the chickens to lay eggs and requested nests in various locations—even in trees and higher cliffs.
Though her demands were unconventional, the Wei family humored her. Over the years, not only the original flock but also their descendants thrived, behaving like wild fowl—perching in trees and cliffs, requiring no feeding during busy seasons, and laying eggs even in winter.
The Wei family’s chickens and eggs sold quickly in the market at premium prices.
Once a desolate ditch with only subsistence crops and weeds, the land flourished under Li Yinwei’s guidance. She had the family plant trees, medicinal herbs, and diverse crops, and introduced livestock—pigs, cattle, sheep, and horses—all free-ranging. She even taught them winter vegetable cultivation, significantly boosting their income.
“The greenhouses for winter vegetables were dismantled before we had to leave. My husband feared discovery, as Lin Town was the emperor’s designated winter vegetable site. We once lived in a humble hut, barely scraping by. Only after Miss Li arrived could we afford this compound. Before leaving, we sold some livestock, leaving only what you see now.”
Throughout He Shi’s account, Li Yinwei remained silent, showing no reaction, as if the story had nothing to do with her.
When He Shi finished, Liu Ma smiled. “Ah, Madam Wei, my apologies. With no grain, we had to eat some of your chickens. Once we leave, our master will surely compensate you.”
Though both were servants, Liu Ma knew to maintain courtesy in unfamiliar territory.
He Shi shook her head. “No need for such words, Liu Ma. It’s just… Miss Li has always been so reserved. In all her years with us, she rarely showed emotion. Today, weeping before you was truly surprising.”
Now aware of Li Yinwei’s status, He Shi’s casual remarks about her were inappropriate. Liu Ma’s tone cooled. “Our Fifth Young Miss has always been quiet.”
He Shi had hoped to learn more about Li Yinwei’s past but, sensing Liu Ma’s shift, dropped the subject.
Just then, Tan San called from outside, “Liu Ma, the grain is back. Shall I prepare something for the Sixth Young Miss?”
Liu Ma replied, “I’ll handle it. Make enough for the Fifth Young Miss and Young Master Qi as well.”
She patted Li Yinwei’s hand. “Rest for now, Fifth Young Miss. I’ll prepare some food for you.”
Feeling the scars on Li Yinwei’s hand, Liu Ma’s heart ached, but she said nothing more. Claiming she needed He Shi’s help, she led her out. He Shi glanced back at Li Yinwei, who met her gaze with the same impassive expression.
While Liu Ma and He Shi talked, Tan San had prepared a simple meal. Once outside, Liu Ma sent He Shi to eat. Back in the Lin household, she never entrusted others with Lin Fang’s meals—let alone someone like He Shi, whose background was unclear.
With Tan San’s help, Liu Ma made soup with thin dough slices. She served Li Yinwei first, then prepared separate portions for Lin Fang and Qi Biao.
Since both were unconscious and could only consume liquids, Liu Ma rolled the dough extra thin, boiled it until soft, and mashed it further, adding minced meat and vegetables for nutrition.
Tan San carried two bowls of the soup while Liu Ma followed. As they headed to Lin Fang’s room, Li Yinwei emerged from the east wing, gesturing to join them. After a brief hesitation, Liu Ma supported her inside.
Qi Ba and Qi Jiu, taking Tan Yi’s cue, swapped shifts—Qi Ba relieving Tan Er outside, while Tan Er and Qi Jiu entered with Liu Ma.
After the monk sent Qi Biao’s soul away, he instructed the others to stay for seven days before departing himself. Once he left, Liu Ma insisted Tan Yi move Qi Biao to the opposite room, separating him from Lin Fang. She then slept beside Lin Fang, so when Li Yinwei entered, only Lin Fang lay on the kang.
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