Inside her room, ShuangAi carefully examined the wound on TanTan's back. Although it had healed quite well, it had left a noticeable scar.
What a pity... such a mark on a woman's body.
ShuangAi couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
Once the examination was finished, TanTan began putting her clothes back on. ShuangAi, however, still seemed troubled by something.
"Earlier, you mentioned your killers. Are you really trying to find them, MuTan Jie?"
TanTan fell silent for a moment, considering how to answer. She looked at ShuangAi, weighing the risks of telling her the truth. However, she felt she could trust her, so she decided to be honest, at least to some extent.
"I... just want to find some information about my enemy. Or perhaps enemies. I want to know why they wanted to kill me. Maybe the original HuaMuTan... I mean, maybe I really did something terrible in the past? I need to find out the truth so I can..."
She stopped herself.
...make things right somehow and find a way back to the future.
TanTan sighed.
ShuangAi looked confused.
"What will you do after finding them, MuTan Jie? Wouldn't it be better to leave this matter to Li Ge? He can investigate and punish them for you."
TanTan gave a bitter smile.
"Maybe not, if he's involved..."
ShuangAi's eyes widened.
"Oh, no! MuTan Jie, you don't think Li Ge was the one who wanted to kill you, do you? He almost lost his own life trying to save you, remember? Besides, what reason would he have to kill you?"
TanTan raised her eyebrows as she looked at ShuangAi.
The reason might be you, silly girl!
But ShuangAi did have a point. Prince Li had helped save her, so TanTan also doubted that he was involved. Still, she had no intention of asking him for help.
"You really have changed, MuTan Jie," ShuangAi remarked. "In the past, you wouldn't hesitate to force Li Ge to help you."
TanTan grinned slightly.
Good grief... That was HuaMuTan, not me!
Then she remembered something she had wanted to ask ShuangAi. Since ShuangAi was knowledgeable about medicine, perhaps she might know of a similar case.
"ShuangAi, I know you have a lot of medical knowledge, and perhaps you've encountered all kinds of unusual cases. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"Have you ever encountered a case like mine? I mean, someone who changes so much after losing their memories?"
TanTan hoped she wasn't the only person who had somehow ended up in this ancient world.
ShuangAi took a moment to think before slowly shaking her head.
"No... Cases of memory loss are quite rare. In fact, you're my first patient with this condition."
She noticed TanTan's expression and quickly reassured her.
"But don't worry. My father and I are still trying to learn more about your condition."
I'm not worried about that at all...
TanTan could only keep that thought to herself.
After finishing her examination and tidying up, she smiled at ShuangAi.
"Thank you, ShuangAi Mei, for coming to check on me."
"It's my duty. Please remember to take your medicine, too. And let me know if you notice any changes afterward. The medicine is meant to improve your health, and hopefully, it will also help restore your memories."
ShuangAi paused before asking,
"By the way, have you remembered anything yet?"
Remembering some of the things she had seen in HuaMuTan's memories, TanTan couldn't help asking a question of her own.
"ShuangAi Mei, do you really want me to remember everything I've done to you and the others?"
ShuangAi was taken aback.
As everyone had said, the current HuaMuTan was much better than the woman she used to be. ShuangAi couldn't deny that she preferred this version of her. Yet, somehow, she still hoped TanTan would regain her memories.
"No... Honestly, I'd rather you didn't have to remember all those painful memories. But I still hope you can regain them, MuTan Jie, because..."
Before ShuangAi could finish, a knock came from the door, followed by XiaoRue's voice.
"XiaoJie, Minister Hua is waiting for you."
Minister Hua... Uncle Hua? That's right!
TanTan suddenly remembered her promise.
"XiaoRue, tell him I'll be there shortly."
She turned back to ShuangAi. For a brief moment, she noticed a worried expression on the other woman's face.
"ShuangAi Mei, what were you about to say just now?"
"Ah... nothing."
ShuangAi's expression quickly returned to normal.
"MuTan Jie, why is Minister Hua here to see you?"
"Oh, it seems he's keeping his promise to teach me how to play the guzheng. If you'd like, you can join us too."
TanTan began walking out of the room, inviting ShuangAi to come along.
ShuangAi hesitated for a moment before nodding and following her.
"Do you know Minister Hua as well?" TanTan asked along the way. She was curious about ShuangAi's reaction when she heard his name earlier.
ShuangAi shook her head.
"Not really. I only know that you used to be quite close to him."
Suddenly, she stopped walking.
TanTan turned around, puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
ShuangAi looked somewhat troubled.
"It's just... MuTan Jie, you once told me something about him before you lost your memory. I think you should know about it, even if you don't remember saying it."
"What did I say?"
TanTan found it strange that ShuangAi suddenly seemed so serious.
ShuangAi took a breath before explaining.
"You had just returned from the palace that day. When I came to visit you, you seemed frightened and initially wanted to send me away. But later, Minister Hua came to see you. Strangely, you refused to meet him and even told me that he couldn't be trusted."
HuaMuTan was afraid of her own uncle? Why?
TanTan tried to make sense of this new information.
Just then, a small pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her from behind.
"YangMu... Pretty JieJie!"
It was FangFang, who had apparently come looking for her on her own.
"YangMu, I've finished studying! Can we play now?" FangFang asked excitedly.
TanTan turned around and looked at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry, FangFang. I have a guest today, so I can't play with you right now."
The excitement immediately disappeared from FangFang's face.
"But YangMu, you promised!"
Her voice rose slightly as she protested.
TanTan felt guilty.
"I'll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?"
"But I want you to play with me now!"
FangFang suddenly shouted.
"FangFang XiaoJie, how about letting XiaoRue accompany you instead? You can play together while Young Madam is busy," XiaoRue suggested gently, trying to calm her down.
But FangFang refused. She grabbed TanTan's hand and pulled it insistently.
"No! I want YangMu!"
TanTan was startled by her behavior. FangFang was acting unusually spoiled, and it made TanTan feel a little displeased.
"FangFang, don't behave like that!"
Why is she suddenly acting so spoiled?
Seeing TanTan's expression change, both ShuangAi and XiaoRue realized that she was getting upset.
ShuangAi quickly stepped forward and spoke gently to FangFang.
"FangFang, how about I play with you instead? Let's make your favorite kite! Remember? I promised to make one for you last year."
FangFang looked at ShuangAi, then glanced back at TanTan.
"...Okay."
Her answer was short, and she still looked rather unhappy.
"Now, be a good girl and wait for a little while, all right?"
ShuangAi gently patted FangFang's head before pulling TanTan aside. She lowered her voice, making sure FangFang couldn't hear.
"Please don't be angry with FangFang. I know you don't remember, but tomorrow is her birthday... and it's also the anniversary of the day her parents died."
TanTan froze.
So that's why she's behaving like this...
Her heart immediately filled with guilt. She hadn't known that tomorrow was such an important and painful day for FangFang.
She wanted to take FangFang along with her, but after hearing what ShuangAi had just told her about Minister Hua, she decided it would be better to meet him alone.
"Don't worry. I'll stay with her until you finish your practice," ShuangAi assured her.
TanTan could only nod.
She then returned to FangFang and crouched down in front of her, gently cupping the little girl's cheeks.
"Hey, listen, FangFang. I'm really sorry I can't play with you right now. But I promise that as soon as I finish my practice, I'll come and play with you. Is that okay?"
FangFang looked into TanTan's eyes for a moment before slowly nodding.
ShuangAi then took FangFang's hand and led her away.
"XiaoJie, should I go with them too?" XiaoRue asked. She seemed reluctant to leave FangFang alone as well.
"Yes, XiaoRue. Go with them and help ShuangAi look after FangFang. Make sure she doesn't feel lonely."
XiaoRue obediently followed ShuangAi and FangFang.
Once they were gone, TanTan finally continued toward the inner pavilion, where Minister Hua was waiting for her.