The heavy, oppressive quiet of the room, broken only by her own ragged breathing, allowed the full weight of her reality to crash down. She pushed a hand against her forehead, the persistent ache a stark reminder. Fourteen years old. The memories that had flooded her mind, disjointed at first, now painted a clear, agonizing picture of the body's former occupant. A sickly, neglected child of the main wife, overshadowed by the healthy, favored concubine's daughter. This body, thin and weak, bore the scars of years of deliberate malnourishment and probably, covert poisoning. It was a stark contrast to her own twenty-five-year-old self, a body she had diligently trained and perfected in the modern world. Now, her twenty-five-year-old mind was trapped within the fragile shell of a fourteen-year-old girl, a stark, terrifying downgrade.
She shifted, attempting to sit up properly. Each movement was a struggle, her muscles protesting with a profound weakness she hadn't known since infancy. It was infuriating. Her mind, sharp and analytical, screamed for action, but her body could barely obey. This won't do. She needed strength, clarity, and control. Her extensive knowledge of pharmacology, ironically, now pivoted from cutting-edge xenobiotics to the most basic, foundational elements of healing.
A soft sniffle broke the silence from outside the door, followed by a tentative knock. "Young Miss? Are you… are you truly awake?" The voice was timid, laced with desperate hope.
"Who's there?" An Ru managed, her voice still thin and reedy, a stranger's voice in her throat.
The door creaked open, and a young girl, no older than twelve, hesitantly stepped in. Her simple, well-worn servant's tunic was clean, but her eyes were red and swollen, her cheeks tear-streaked. She clutched a crumpled cloth in her small hands. Her gaze, filled with raw relief and disbelief, landed on An Ru.
"Young Miss! You… you really woke up!" The girl choked out a sob, rushing to the side of the bed. She knelt, her head bowed low, her slight shoulders shaking. "You were comatose for three days! This servant was so worried! They said… they said you wouldn't wake up again!"
An Ru observed her, a flash of recognition from the fragmented memories. This was Xiao Mai, An Ru's personal maid. Loyal, timid, and utterly devoted. A rare find in this viper's nest of a household.
"Xiao Mai," An Ru said, trying to infuse her voice with a hint of the old An Ru's gentleness, but with a new underlying firmness. "What happened to me?"
Xiao Mai's eyes widened in fear, and she glanced nervously toward the door. "Young Miss, you must not speak of this," she whispered, her voice trembling. "They—"
"Don't be afraid," An Ru interrupted gently, placing a hand on the girl's small, trembling one. "Just tell me what happened. I need to know."
Taking a shaky breath, Xiao Mai began to recount the terrible event, her voice a hushed, trembling whisper. "It was the day before you fell ill, Miss. You had heard that Prince Hao was visiting the estate, looking for Lady An Lin. You were so happy, thinking he had come for you, and you went to find him, hoping to have a word..." Xiao Mai's voice caught in her throat. "But when you approached him, he… he just pushed you away, Miss. You stumbled and fell straight into the lotus pond. By the time we pulled you out, you were so cold… and then the fever came, and you never woke up again... until today."
As the raw truth was told, An Ru's mind reeled. The fragmented memories of a cold, heartless face and the terrifying plunge into the water now solidified, a quick wave of nausea and vicarious pain washing through her. She felt the original An Ru's profound humiliation and the shock of the icy water as if it were her own.
Xiao Mai saw the sudden change and panicked. "Young Miss! Are you... are you in pain? Are you hungry? This servant managed to steal a piece of bread from the kitchen. Here, have this." Xiao Mai carefully offered a small, hard piece of flatbread, barely bigger than her palm, wrapped in the crumpled cloth.
An Ru's stomach lurched in protest at the mere thought of food, a painful side effect of the body's extreme weakness and potential lingering toxins. This won't do. Bread alone is useless for true recovery, and might even upset this frail system more. I need to cleanse and rebuild from the inside out.
"Thank you, Xiao Mai," An Ru said, gently pushing the bread back. "You are very kind. But my stomach is still delicate. Bread might not settle well. Instead, I need to take some herbs to regain my strength properly." She paused, then continued, drawing on the memories of the original An Ru's simple understanding of health. "I... I had a very vivid dream while I was ill. A dream of a kind old healer who showed me how certain common herbs could help my body truly recover, not just mask the illness."
Xiao Mai blinked, her eyes wide with surprise, then a flicker of doubt. "Herbs, Young Miss? But you… you never knew anything about herbs. Lady Mei always said your constitution was too weak for study."
An Ru felt a jolt of genuine surprise. The original An Ru, the eldest and legitimate daughter of the mighty General An household, was illiterate? A quick sweep through the relevant fragments of memory confirmed the humiliating truth: Lady Mei had effectively barred her from any serious education, claiming she needed rest, while Young Master An Yi, Lady Mei's youngest son, and Second Young Lady An Lin received tutors in everything from classics to calligraphy. It was another layer of systematic oppression, ensuring the legitimate heir remained docile and powerless.
An Ru managed a weak smile, allowing a touch of mystery to color her tone. "Indeed, Xiao Mai. But perhaps a near-death experience can awaken hidden knowledge, or grant unusual insight. This dream felt... very real. And the old healer insisted these herbs were simple, yet vital for building true internal warmth and strength." She kept her voice soft, reassuring. "Nothing rare or expensive. Just common ones."
Xiao Mai's doubt slowly transformed into awe, then resolve. If her Young Miss had been granted such a dream, it must be divine intervention! "Yes, Young Miss! What kind? This servant can try, but the kitchens often say there is little left for your tonics…" Her voice trailed off, a familiar shame touching her face.
"Listen closely," An Ru instructed, her voice dropping, a glint of the scientist's determination entering her eyes. "I need ginger root, red dates, and a few dried longans. Can you find those? Tell them it's for a simple broth to settle my stomach. And a handful of wolfberries if possible." These were basic, everyday ingredients, often used in Chinese cuisine and known for their mild invigorating properties – perfect for a baseline recovery without raising suspicion.
Xiao Mai's eyes widened. These were indeed common items, used even in basic cooking, not typically restricted. "Yes, Young Miss! I can find those! I'll go right away!" Hope, fragile but clear, blossomed in her tear-stained face. She scrambled to her feet, wiping her eyes, a new sense of purpose in her movements. "I will be back swiftly!"
As Xiao Mai scurried out, a faint, resolute smile touched An Ru's lips. Good. To get back to my old body, I will need to regain my strength and make sure I survive.