Song Qingshu turned around and saw that it was Pei'er, Madam Ruan's personal maid. He hurriedly asked, "How is your mistress?"
Pei'er smiled faintly. "There is no need for concern, young master. Just come with me."
Seeing her smile, Song Qingshu's worry eased somewhat, though his confusion deepened. He followed her into a small room in the neighboring courtyard.
The door slowly opened, revealing a plump and captivating figure seated behind a curtain. Who else could it be but Madam Ruan?
"You're all right?" Song Qingshu cried, both surprised and delighted. He rushed over and looked her over from head to toe, finding no sign of injury.
"Did you want something to happen to me?" Ruan Xingzhu chided softly. Seeing how concerned he was, she, long past the age of a young maiden, nevertheless felt the sweet delight of a girl in love.
"Of course not," Song Qingshu hurriedly explained. "It's just that everyone said you'd been assassinated, and I saw all those doctors going in and out of your room carrying bloodstained strips of cloth..."
"That was only my double," Ruan Xingzhu replied. "I had prepared her merely as a precaution, but I never expected she would truly save my life. The assassin slipped in without anyone noticing, only to strike the wrong target."
"How is your double?" Song Qingshu had never considered himself a gentleman, yet he could never bring himself to disregard the lives of ordinary people.
"She was seriously wounded. I don't know whether she can pull through." Ruan Xingzhu's tone was calm. For great families like theirs, keeping doubles was perfectly normal. They had been prepared to sacrifice one from the very beginning, so there was nothing remarkable about it.
"I have some Heavenly Fragrance Marrow-mending Paste here. It works wonders on external injuries. Take