Volume One, Chapter Twenty: If There Is a Next Life, If There Is a Next Life

It was the hottest time of the day. The leaves were curled from the heat, and a yellow dog lay in the shade to cool off.

Xu Zhiyi and her maid, Xiaoyu, both dressed in men's clothing, sat at a tea stall. They had ordered a pot of tea and a few plates of plain pastries. Xu Zhiyi leaned against the table, sipping her tea listlessly.

Xiaoyu leaned in, puzzled. "My... Young Master, it is so hot, why are we sitting here? If you wanted tea, I know of several fine restaurants that are elegant and cool."

Xu Zhiyi did not answer, her eyes fixed on the direction of the West City Gate. "Drink your tea and be quiet." She picked up a piece of pastry and pressed it into Xiaoyu’s chattering mouth.

The surrounding tables were occupied by passing merchants and common laborers. The smell of sweat made Xiaoyu frown repeatedly as the men laughed loudly, gossiping about the city’s affairs. Xu Zhiyi rested her chin on her hand, listening quietly to the noisy clamor of carts and people.

Only those who have personally experienced the despair, helplessness, and agonizing struggle of death can truly cherish the days of being alive. Her previous life, lived in such a cowardly and stifled manner, flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern. If there were an afterlife, once her deep grievances were avenged, she wanted to live wildly and boldly, riding with a whip in hand, living a life of fire and passion.

Though the tea was of the coarsest quality, Xu Zhiyi held the cup to her lips and drank it with great enjoyment. Her bright, clear eyes and flawless face made her stand out remarkably among the crowd.

"Have you heard? The Third Prince has returned to the capital. They say he is severely injured. My brother went to deliver vegetables to his estate the day before yesterday and said he could smell the stench of blood from far away."

Another man leaned in. "That is the God of War of our Great Qi! He has won every battle, guarding the North, and the enemy was utterly defeated by him."

"Alas, what a pity. They say the Third Prince has been crippled!"

Commoners loved to gossip over tea, especially regarding royal secrets.

"Lower your voice, do you not want your life?"

"What is there to fear? Everyone is talking about it in private. Originally, the Third Prince and the Crown Prince were evenly matched, and it was uncertain who would claim the throne. But now... alas, it is a true pity."

Xu Zhiyi frowned slightly. The word "crippled" felt inexplicably grating. As the conversation continued, she lost the patience to listen.

In the direction of the West City Gate, a lean, limping man was dragging a gaunt little girl along. He scolded the child, occasionally raising his hand to strike her. The girl endured the abuse timidly, her eyes hollow, as if she had already experienced the hardships of the world at such a young age.

When Xu Zhiyi saw the girl, her eyes reddened. She bit her lip hard to hold back her tears. In her past life, a small figure had suddenly dashed into the roaring flames. Knowing it was like a moth flying into a fire, the girl had used her frail body to shield Xu Zhiyi’s abdomen until they both turned to ashes.

She had been nothing but a menial servant in the Ding'an Marquis’s estate. Because Xu Zhiyi had once given her a warm steamed bun, she had been determined to repay the kindness. When she heard that the First Lady was trapped in the fire, she had rushed in without a second thought, leaving not a single word behind.

Tears blurred Xu Zhiyi’s vision. Watching them draw closer, she instructed Xiaoyu, "No matter the cost, buy her."

Xiaoyu did not ask why and stood up to follow them. About two cups of tea later, she returned with the emaciated girl. The child was so thin that her cheeks were sunken, making her eyes appear unnaturally large. There was a tiny cinnabar mole at the corner of her lip.

Xu Zhiyi calmly withdrew her gaze, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it toward her. "Drink." Her voice was soft but carried an unquestionable authority.

The girl hesitated. Her hands were filthy, yet they could not hide the numerous scars upon them. "May I really drink this? But... I have no money." She spoke in a low voice, staring down at her straw sandals, through which her toes were exposed.

"Yes, you may. It costs nothing." Xu Zhiyi’s expression softened into a smile as warm as a spring breeze, as kind as a neighbor’s sister.

"I... thank you, Miss."

Xiaoyu was startled and blurted out, "How did you know she was a girl and not a boy?"

The little girl lowered her eyes and tugged at her ragged hem. "The Miss has dimples on her cheeks, she is beautiful..."

Seeing that she had finally drunk the tea, Xu Zhiyi placed a piece of pastry by her mouth. "Would you like to come with me?"

The girl remained silent for a long time before saying, "I am... dirty. I fear I will stain you, Miss."

Xu Zhiyi dampened a handkerchief with tea and gently wiped the grime from the girl’s face. The white silk soon turned black. She then used her fingers to brush away the crumbs from the girl’s lips. "From now on, I will call you Fusheng. Will you be my personal maid?"

The girl finally nodded, and large tears began to fall. "I am willing. Even if I die, I will protect you, Miss."

Xu Zhiyi smiled faintly, hiding the profound sorrow in her heart. *Life is but a dream, how much joy can one find?* She hoped that in this life, both she and the girl would have a different destiny.

Xiaoyu took Fusheng’s hand. "Stop talking about dying all the time; it is so unlucky. Our young mistress is about to get married." She added, "Fusheng, you are truly blessed to have met our mistress. I must find a way to fatten you up. Let me tell you, one looks much more festive with a bit of meat on their bones."

Fusheng looked back at Xu Zhiyi every two steps. *The First Lady is alive—how wonderful!* She remembered dying in the fire with the First Lady, and when she opened her eyes, she was back in the dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city.

The lean man was her biological father, a man who haunted gambling dens and owed massive debts. Her mother had been tortured to death by debt collectors, and her two-year-old brother had been taken away as collateral. Today, her father had intended to sell her into a brothel.

Fusheng’s nose tingled, and tears slid down her cheeks. In her previous life, after being abused by the Marquis’s matrons and thrown into the snow, she had thought she was doomed. The First Lady had happened to pass by, felt pity, and taken her back to her courtyard. Fusheng had never tasted a bun so delicious or felt fire so warm. She had become a menial servant in that courtyard, and even though life was difficult, the First Lady had never mistreated her, ensuring she had thick cotton-padded clothes to wear. She had sworn to repay that life-saving grace.

When the fire had grown, Fusheng’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart. She had glared fiercely at the laughing Qin Huaisheng and Xu Yunwan before charging into the flames without looking back. In the fire, the First Lady had sat quietly, cradling her abdomen. "First Lady, I have come to accompany you!"

The thick smoke filled the air. The First Lady had tried desperately to push her out, but a falling beam had struck her down. She had failed to save the First Lady! In her final moments, Fusheng had dreamed: *If there is an afterlife, if there is an afterlife... I would still be willing to give my life for the First Lady!*

Perhaps the heavens had truly heard her final prayer. At this moment, Fusheng was overcome with joy.