While TanTan was discussing the black market with QingQing, a visitor arrived at the front gate of Li Mansion.
It was ShuangAi, who had come as promised, carrying several packets of medicine for TanTan.
As soon as she entered the mansion, she encountered Aunt Tong, who was on her way to check on TanTan.
"Good morning, Aunt Tong."
Aunt Tong's face immediately brightened. She had always been fond of ShuangAi and practically treated her as her own daughter.
"Good morning, Ai Er! What brings you here so early?"
ShuangAi showed her the packets of medicine.
"I brought these for MuTan Jie. I also wanted to check on her wound."
Aunt Tong sighed.
"You're always so kind, Ai Er... while she..." She paused, seemingly struggling to find the right words. "Ah, it's all so confusing..."
ShuangAi looked at her curiously as they began walking toward the inner courtyard.
"What is confusing, Aunt Tong?"
"Ai Er... lately, I've noticed that HuaMuTan has really changed. Her attitude, her gestures... everything about her seems different, almost like she's become another person. But I'm still not sure whether she's genuinely changed or just pretending."
ShuangAi smiled gently.
"I don't think she's pretending, Aunt Tong. I feel the same way. Perhaps it's because she lost her memories... but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing."
"Well... I must be honest with you, Ai Er. If that's really the case, then I..." Aunt Tong hesitated before continuing. "I don't hate these changes at all. In fact, I hope she never regains her memories. She's been treating FangFang so well lately..."
She turned to ShuangAi and added,
"Although she's still not as good as you."
Aunt Tong still couldn't help feeling that it was such a shame ShuangAi hadn't become the Madam of Li Mansion.
ShuangAi could only sigh. She knew exactly what Aunt Tong was thinking. She had explained countless times that she would always regard Prince Li as an elder brother. She did love him, but only as family, nothing more.
She wanted to respond, but before she could, they had already arrived at the inner courtyard.
There, they spotted TanTan sitting with QingQing in the seating area.
Aunt Tong approached them first to announce ShuangAi's arrival.
TanTan looked up in surprise.
"ShuangAi? What are you doing here?"
ShuangAi smiled and handed her the packets of medicine.
"I came to check on your wound. I also brought you some medicine to help improve your health. Hopefully, it might even help restore your memories."
"That's very kind of you. Thank you, ShuangAi Mei."
The medicine cheered TanTan up a little. XiaoRue immediately stepped forward to take the packets from ShuangAi.
"Let me help you with those medicines, Young Madam. XiaoRue, come with me."
To TanTan's surprise, Aunt Tong had offered to help as well.
"Thank you, Aunt Tong."
After TanTan nodded, XiaoRue and Aunt Tong excused themselves and headed toward the kitchen with the medicine.
Only then did TanTan notice ShuangAi looking rather confused as she glanced at QingQing. Realizing that they hadn't been introduced, TanTan quickly spoke up.
"ShuangAi Mei, this is QingQing, my friend. She'll be staying here for a while."
ShuangAi studied QingQing with some curiosity. It was rather unusual for HuaMuTan to make friends, especially with an ordinary commoner like QingQing.
Nevertheless, she smiled and greeted her politely.
"It's nice to meet you, Miss QingQing."
QingQing returned her smile, though her eyes continued to study ShuangAi rather sharply.
"It's my pleasure to meet the famous Lady Physician Huang ShuangAi."
"You know about me?" ShuangAi asked in surprise.
"Of course! Who in this town doesn't know the famous Lady Physician Huang ShuangAi? Your medical skills and generosity are well known. And, of course, you're also known as the woman closest to Prince Li... apart from HuaMuTan, his wife, naturally."
QingQing deliberately glanced at TanTan as she delivered the last part of her sentence, clearly hoping to catch a reaction.
However, her remark seemed to make ShuangAi uncomfortable.
"Well... thank you. But I think those rumors are exaggerated. I'm not that close to Prince Li. He's like an elder brother to me, nothing more."
"Oh... I see."
QingQing didn't pursue the matter any further. Instead, she glanced at TanTan, who wore an utterly indifferent expression.
Apparently, TanTan couldn't care less about the subject.
QingQing found her reaction rather disappointing.
ShuangAi quickly changed the subject and turned her attention back to TanTan.
"MuTan Jie, how is your wound?"
She was referring to the injury on TanTan's back.
TanTan leaned forward slightly and moved her body from side to side to test it.
"I think it's completely healed now. Thank you for treating me."
"Even so, I'd still like to examine it again to make sure."
Before ShuangAi could finish, QingQing interrupted, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Wait! When did you get hurt?"
TanTan briefly recounted the incident that had caused her injury. After hearing the story, QingQing couldn't help exclaiming,
"Wow! You're quite brave, HuaMuTan! But who were those assassins?"
Then she suddenly realized something.
"Wait... is that why you want to find the Silver Mask? Are you trying to track down the people who attacked you?"
"Silver Mask? Who?" ShuangAi immediately picked up on the unfamiliar name.
TanTan hadn't intended to tell ShuangAi about the Silver Mask. Considering how close she was to Prince Li, TanTan wasn't sure whether it would be wise to share that information with her.
She quickly changed the subject.
"Um... well... didn't you come to check my wound, ShuangAi Mei? Let's go to my room first. And QingQing, please help me find some useful information... you know, about the time and place!"
Without giving ShuangAi a chance to ask more questions, TanTan gently took her by the arm and led her toward her room.
"Come on, ShuangAi Mei."
QingQing simply watched them leave.
"Well... I suppose I'd better start looking for that information now."
At that moment, XiaoRue returned from the kitchen. She was surprised to find QingQing sitting alone.
"Miss QingQing, where is XiaoJie?"
"She went back to her room with Lady ShuangAi."
QingQing stood up and began walking toward the front gate.
"Are you going somewhere, Miss QingQing?" XiaoRue asked curiously.
"Yeah. I'm going to see my sister. I'll be back soon."
She paused and looked over her shoulder at XiaoRue.
"Tell your XiaoJie to be patient, all right? Perhaps by the end of the day, she'll get the information she's been waiting for."
With that, QingQing walked away.
XiaoRue watched her leave, wondering what information she was talking about. However, she guessed it must have something to do with the Silver Mask that her XiaoJie was so eager to find.
As QingQing passed through the front gate, her steps suddenly slowed.
ManQi had just returned, accompanied by a horse carriage. However, it was clearly not Prince Li's carriage.
QingQing immediately approached him with a bright smile.
"Hello, handsome GeGe! Who is the guest you're bringing home?"
ManQi dismounted and lowered his voice.
"It's a special guest for Young Madam. And please behave yourself... It's Minister Hua."
"Minister Hua?"
The moment she heard that name, QingQing's expression changed.
Her gaze shifted sharply toward the carriage just as Minister Hua stepped out.
Without anyone noticing, QingQing clenched her fist so tightly that her knuckles turned pale.
She stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the man.
Minister Hua glanced in her direction but seemed not to recognize her. He simply walked past without giving her a second look.
QingQing remained where she was, watching as ManQi led Minister Hua into Li Mansion.
For a brief moment, if anyone had been watching closely, they would have seen the hatred burning in her eyes.
Then, as if nothing had happened, QingQing turned around and walked away from Li Mansion.
Whatever connection she had to Minister Hua, it was clearly not a pleasant one.