Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

The shop assistant from Jishetang led Cuiyu in.

Dr. Hu is removing the white gauze from Xu Ningxiang's body.

"You're really lucky, girl. You have multiple fractures all over your body, two broken ribs, a deep wound in your abdomen, and two arrows in your back, one in your left shoulder and the other very close to your heart."

In addition, you have multiple superficial wounds and severe blood loss.

Such a serious injury would be life-threatening, let alone for a delicate young girl like you. Even a seasoned general would likely be in danger.

But you actually survived. Girl, now that you've survived, even if life has its flaws, live it to the fullest from now on.

Xu Ningxiang's face was still pale, but one could still tell that she was a girl with a refined beauty and a touch of heroism.

She asked Dr. Hu, "Dr. Hu, what does it mean to have a disability in life? From what I've observed, my hands and feet are all intact, so I shouldn't have any disability."

Dr. Hu looked at her, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Dr. Hu, I have been through life and death, and nothing can defeat me anymore. Please feel free to speak your mind."

Dr. Hu sighed softly and said, "You're quite open-minded, young lady."

"Although the wound on your abdomen was very deep, it did not hit any vital organs. However, the person who made the cut was too cruel. They actually twisted the wound with force, so that although you did not lose your life, you will... be unable to have children again."

Xu Ningxiang paused for a moment, then a very faint smile appeared on her lips. "Dr. Hu, it's already a miracle that we survived, isn't it?"

"That's right." Dr. Hu finished removing the gauze from her body.

Xu Ningxiang moved her arm slightly and raised it.

Dr. Hu exclaimed in amazement, "Your daughter looks delicate and frail, but she is actually incredibly resilient."

"With your severe injuries, most people would need at least a hundred days to recover, but you've recovered almost completely in just a few days."

During this time, Cuiyu tried to interject several times, but was stopped by the waiter.

Finally seeing that the bandages on Xu Ningxiang's body had been completely removed, Cuiyu couldn't wait to say:

"Miss Xu, I am a maidservant of Ying, a concubine in the Second Prince's residence. I have come to deliver two items to you on Ying's orders."

Cuiyu handed the letter and the box containing one hundred taels of silver to Xu Ningxiang.

There was a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.

This Xu Ningxiang is a fake heiress of the Marquis of Anqing's mansion. The old lady of the Marquis of Anqing's mansion has already told everyone that this fake heiress, Xu Ningxiang, is dead.

But now, she lies in the clinic, covered in injuries.

Cuiyu had been by Ying Hengzhi's side since childhood and had witnessed some of the shady dealings within noble families.

Leaving aside distant examples, Shangguan Tang and her sons were completely controlled by her first wife for eighteen years.

Could it be that Xu Ningxiang was unwilling to let her fake heiress identity be discovered, and caused a scene, which led to her being silenced?

Besides that, Cuiyu couldn't think of any other reason.

"A concubine?" Xu Ningxiang raised an eyebrow. She had been seriously injured and unconscious for some time and had no idea what had happened outside.

Fearing that she might not know, Cuiyu quickly said, "I am Ying Hengzhi, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Weiyuan's mansion."

"Should it be Hengzhi?"

Xu Ningxiang was surprised.

Cuiyu frowned, somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Ningxiang's attitude.

Although her young lady is now a concubine, she is indeed the daughter of the Marquis of Weiyuan.

What kind of attitude does Xu Ningxiang, this fake heiress, have?

Although she was dissatisfied, she dared not show it on her face, because Cuiyu could see clearly that her young lady wanted to befriend Xu Ningxiang.

I don't know what value there is in befriending such a fake heiress.

Xu Ningxiang didn't look at the box, but instead looked at the letter.

"I have never had any dealings with your young lady. Why did she suddenly send me these things? Did she instruct you on anything?"

Xu Ningxiang asked.

Cuiyu shook her head in dissatisfaction and said, "My young lady said that you must be given these two items."

Xu Ningxiang ignored Cuiyu's attitude and didn't touch the small box containing the silver. Instead, she picked up the letter.

She opened the envelope; inside were several pages of letter paper.

As soon as she opened the letter, the contents came into view, and Xu Ningxiang's expression changed.

She quickly browsed through the pages, and only at the very end of the last page did she see what Ying Hengzhi had said.

"I have long admired Miss Xu. I know that this zither score, 'Mandarin Duck Brocade,' was a treasured possession of Miss Xu's parents. I heard that the score had been lost, but I obtained it by chance and specially brought it to Miss Xu."

Having learned of Miss Xu's misfortune, I have also gifted her one hundred taels of silver, hoping that Miss Xu will not refuse it.

A true friend is like a fragrant orchid.

Xu Ningxiang stared at the four words "Confidante Hengzhi," and two blushes rose on her pale face.

Cuiyu observed her expression, but could not discern any reaction from her face.

She said, "Miss Xu, could you please hurry?"

"What's faster?"

Xu Ningxiang looked at Cuiyu with a puzzled expression.

Cuiyu pointed to the paper and pen on the table not far away and said, "It's for my young lady's reply!"

Xu Ningzhong remained silent for a moment: "Why should I reply to your young lady's letter?"

Cuiyu's eyes widened suddenly, staring at her incredulously. "Why didn't you reply to my young lady's letter?"

For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent.

After a moment, Xu Ningxiang chuckled, "Did your young lady send you to befriend me, or to make an enemy of me?"

Cuiyu's expression suddenly changed.

"Miss Xu, I didn't mean that. However, my lady genuinely wants to befriend you. Please write her a letter in return."

Xu Ningxiang looked at her arm. "As you can see, I'm seriously injured and probably can't hold a pen."

Cuiyu's expression changed. "We can also ask this fellow to write it down, and you can read it."

"You're being unreasonable, maid! Don't you know the patient needs rest? You're being so aggressive towards a patient; does the patient owe you something?"

The waiter who led Cuiyu in couldn't stand it any longer and couldn't help but speak up in rebuke.

Cuiyu's expression changed, and she glared fiercely at the waiter before reluctantly saying, "Alright, since that's the case, Miss Xu, please rest well. I'll go back and report to my mistress now."

Cuiyu turned and left in a hurry.

"Wait a minute," Xu Ningxiang suddenly called out to her.

Cuiyu turned around angrily.

Xu Ningxiang looked at her and said, "I will reply. I will have someone send it to the Second Prince's residence later."

Cuiyu's face lit up with joy, and she said, "Alright, then I'll go report back to you, Miss."

Cuiyu left satisfied this time.

"Pah, what a spoiled maid."

The pharmacy clerk scoffed.

Xu Ningxiang put the letter back into the envelope and said to the shop assistant, "Could you please check if the people who rescued me have arrived?"

The waiter said "okay" and turned to leave.

Xu Ningxiang lowered her head and stared quietly at the letter. What mandarin duck brocade? Her lips curled slightly, and her eyes revealed a strong sense of mockery and disdain.

The waiter returned shortly afterward, a smile on his face.

Behind the man were several others.

When she saw the two people at the front, her expression changed slightly.

She knew, of course, that the person who saved her was Ying Yufu.

But the crown prince actually came along too.

Xu Ningxiang immediately stood up to bow.

"Don't move," Ying Yufu said quickly.

Xu Ningxiang froze, looking in the direction of the Crown Prince. "This commoner, Xu Ningxiang, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"You are injured, there is no need for such formalities," the prince said.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Xu Ningxiang said.

Then she looked at Ying Yufu.

"Miss Ying, thank you for saving me. You are my benefactor. Please forgive me for not being able to stand up and bow."

"You are injured, so there is no need for formalities. Although I did save you and am indeed your benefactor."

However, you don't need to worry about it too much; I was just doing it on a whim.

Ying Yufu said with a smile.

Xu Ningxiang smiled slightly, looked at Ying Yufu, and said, "Miss Ying, although we have never crossed paths before, I have long admired you."

Ying Yufu's face fell. "My reputation used to be that of a pushover. Do you like pushovers?"

A hint of a smile flashed in Xu Ningxiang's eyes. "Of course not."

Ying Yufu looked at her.

Xu Ningxiang said, "Of course you're not a pushover. If you really were, why would you secretly go to Youfangzhai..."

"etc."

When she uttered the words "Youfangzhai," Ying Yufu's expression suddenly changed.

Suddenly, the prince looked over with great curiosity.

Ying Yufu glanced guiltily at the Crown Prince and said, "When I secretly passed by Youfangzhai before, I had someone beat up a scoundrel who was harassing a young girl. Did you see it?"

Xu Ningxiang: "?"

Crown Prince: "Why did you have to sneak past the Wandering Scholar's Abode? Couldn't you just pass by normally?"

Ying Yufu felt a pang of guilt and said seriously, "Your Highness, please don't be curious."

Crown Prince: "Yes."

Xu Ningxiang covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "Yes, Miss Ying really stood up for justice and had someone teach that scoundrel a lesson he was in, leaving him crying for his parents."

Ying Yufu breathed a sigh of relief; this time, she truly believed that Xu Ningxiang had long admired her.

If that's the case, then can she become friends with her to prevent Ying Hengzhi from harming her?

Thinking this way, she said it too.

"Miss Xu, since you've admired me for so long, can we become good friends now?"

Ying Yufu asked with anticipation in her eyes.

She currently has zero points; whether she can gain points immediately depends on Xu Ningxiang.

Ying Yufu's expression was undisguised, and Xu Ningxiang couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Miss Ying really wants to be friends with me?"

Ying Yufu feigned modesty: "It's because you've admired me for so long, and I'm always happy to help others. What? You don't want to?"

"I do."

Xu Ningxiang said.

Her expression was solemn: "It is Ningxiang's good fortune to have Miss Ying as a friend."

"Then you can call me Fu'er." Ying Yufu's eyes curved into a smile, which was very sincere.

"Okay, Fu'er, you can also call me Ningxiang," Xu Ningxiang said with a smile.

Seeing how weak she was, Ying Yufu went over and sat down beside her.

Suddenly, her gaze fell on the things on the table.

The handwriting on that envelope looks so much like Ying Hengzhi's.

"Ying Hengzhi has contacted you?" Ying Yufu was shocked.

Xu Ningxiang replied truthfully, "She herself didn't come. She just sent these things to me through her maid."

Ying Yufu's expression turned serious: "You're not going to be friends with her too, are you? Let me tell you, I'm sworn enemies with her. If you become friends with me, you can't be friends with her."

If you've already become friends with her, then you should break off all contact with her now; she has ulterior motives towards you.

Seeing her so serious, Xu Ningxiang couldn't help but smile.

"Fu'er, if you talk about her like that, people will say you're gossiping about others behind their backs, which isn't good for you."

Xu Ningxiang didn't answer, but just smiled and reminded her.

Ying Yufu choked for a moment.

"I shouldn't speak ill of others behind their backs, but I have to speak ill of Ying Hengzhi."

Seeing this, Xu Ningxiang truthfully said, "She brought me one hundred taels of silver and a musical score, saying that she had admired me for a long time and knew that I was in trouble, so she gave me these things."

"Sheet music?"

Ying Yufu asked in surprise.

Xu Ningxiang said, "He thought that 'Mandarin Duck Brocade' was, as the outside world said, proof of my parents' love."

Actually it is not.

That brocade with mandarin ducks was nothing but a joke to my parents.

There's some juicy gossip!

Ying Yufu and the Crown Prince exchanged a glance, listened attentively, and tried to control their expressions, not being too excited.

Xu Ningxiang glanced at them and remained silent for a moment.

Then she said, "My grandmother looked down on my mother because she was just the daughter of a centurion, and she did not agree to my father being with her."

But my father was adamant and insisted on marrying my mother.

After the marriage, my grandmother was always critical of my mother. Finally, after less than two years, my grandmother found a woman for my father who looked seven or eight parts like my mother, wanting to replace my mother.

Unexpectedly, my father's feelings for my mother remained pure and unwavering, and he saw through the woman at a glance.

Unexpectedly, after being exposed, the woman took out a musical score and said she wanted to play it for her father and mother.

She was playing the Mandarin Duck Brocade.

What people don't know is that mandarin ducks are not birds of fidelity, and my parents didn't like being compared to mandarin ducks.

That woman, in particular, must have known about this and deliberately played this tune to disgust my mother.

As a result, my father and grandmother had an argument. My father even threatened my grandmother with the issue of having children, which finally made my grandmother give up on pressuring my parents.

After that, my parents’ reputation for being loving spread.

The melody "Mandarin Duck Brocade" also spread.

However, my parents didn't bother with it.

After my parents died, the mandarin duck brocade disappeared.

Ying Hengzhi brought me this sheet music... I could sense that she genuinely wanted to befriend me, but I didn't understand why she would go to such lengths to do so.

"She has ulterior motives towards you, so don't fall for it," Ying Yufu said without hesitation.

Xu Ningxiang nodded: "Yes, that's what I think too. But what is she after? If it's about my parents' belongings, she shouldn't know about them."

After speaking, Xu Ningxiang looked at the people behind them with a cautious expression.

Ying Yufu was somewhat surprised. Could it be that there was something worth scheming about among Xu Ningxiang's parents' belongings?

"Chong'er, Granny Cao, you two can go out now."

"Yes, Miss."

Chong'er and Granny Cao went out and took the young shop assistant with them.

Wushuang did not go out.

"Wushuang doesn't need to go out. There's nothing she can't hear," the Crown Prince said.

Ying Yufu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Wushuang doesn't need to go out."

Wushuang is a hidden female general.

Ying Yufu's eyes always sparkled when she looked at Wushuang.

Xu Ningxiang said, "Not long ago, I finally received my parents' belongings. Among them was a map and a memorial that my father had not had time to present to His Majesty."

The folded document states that he discovered a tomb of a former dynasty general, but instead of the general himself, it contained countless weapons.

The location of the tomb of the former dynasty's general is marked in red on the map.

It's a pity that my father passed away before he could report it.

"If I hadn't finally obtained my mother's belongings, I wouldn't have discovered this secret."

Both the Crown Prince and Ying Yufu were stunned.

"Since these are your mother's belongings, why do you say you just received them? I remember that the Marquis of Anqing's mansion has sorted out and collected all of your parents' things."

Xu Ningxiang smiled bitterly: "My grandmother disliked my mother and never allowed me to touch anything my mother left behind. Most of my mother's things were burned."

"The old lady of the Marquis of Anqing has gone too far," Ying Yufu frowned.

"Even if you're not her biological child, she truly raised you. How can we prevent you from touching your mother's belongings?"

"I am their biological child," Xu Ningxiang said.