"It's so cold."
Li Ruoli currently felt completely drained. The coldness seeped into her through her wet quilt, causing her to unintentionally mutter in her sleep.
Everyone present was startled when they heard her suddenly speak.
Wutong immediately removed her wet quilt and helped her up before putting a cloak on her. "Miss, have you woken up?"
When Li Ruoli hazily opened her eyes, she met Wutong's clear yet swollen gaze.
Who is this?
She looked around at her surroundings—the old patch patterns on the bed curtains, the haphazardly paired antique table and chairs, and even some termite holes on the table legs. Beneath her was a carved wooden bed that creaked when she moved on it.
This room was very Chinese styled and quite dilapidated.
Was she dreaming?
She was the chief physician of the International Medical Research Institute, specializing in pharmacology and surgery. In a research project on a new virus, her teacher had secretly implanted the virus in her, intending to use her as the test field for observing unstable anti-viral drugs.
Her teacher, in a bid to win the international medical award, planned to conceal the fact that the research was not complete. At the International Medical Conference, he claimed that after clinical research, she had been infected with the virus and effectively treated. The conference resolved to conduct mass research afterward.
By the time she found out, the virus had fully invaded her body, and it was still uncertain whether the medication could treat her effectively. She made a report, and her teacher was arrested. However, due to his age, he was granted probation. While visiting her teacher during his probation, she was shot in the chest.
Couldn't she have been dead? Why is she not in the Institute's ward?
"Look at that, isn't she awake now?" A sharp, grating voice ran across Li Ruoli's eardrums. Only then did she notice a middle-aged woman in her thirties standing by her bedside.
Of a neat appearance, but the malice in her eyes was apparent.
Her confusion yet to be resolved, the woman spoke again, "You should be thanking me, otherwise, you'd still be half-conscious due to the high fever."
Liu Yan, concubine of Li Zonghua.
A spark of realization suddenly flashed through Li Ruoli’s mind, giving her some understanding of the identity of the person in front of her.
She felt a surge of pain in her head like a pair of large hands tightening, cramming countless pieces of fragmented memory into her mind. Li Ruoli suddenly realized that she had become this similarly named girl, Li Ruoli, in another time and space.
With slightly furrowed eyebrows, she worked hard to sort out these fragmented memories.
She was Li Ruoli, the legitimate daughter of the commercial Li family, whose biological mother, Su Qinglian, had died due to illness seven years ago. Since then, affairs of the house were taken over by second concubine, Liu Yan. Liu Yan, domineering and dictatorial, would constantly make life difficult for the original Li Ruoli.
Not only would she reserve the stipends intended for the household but also take away most of the silver charcoal intended for heating during winters, leaving only a handful for the kitchen use.
Let alone the eccentric Liu Yan and Li Qin would blame and beat the original host at the slightest provocation! She was so weak-natured, she dared not voice a word against her father about the ill-treatment by the concubine and half-sister due to her frequent state of bruises and injuries.
So she was portrayed by Liu Yan and Li Qin as an ill-mannered, disprespectful, and lacking in morality and talent.
Fortunately, she still had a loyal servant, Wutong, who would protect her. The servant's wages would sometimes be used in buying necessities for her.
A few days ago, Liu Yan, along with Li Qin and Li Ruoli, went to the Yuqing Guan Temple to offer prayers. In the backyard, Li Qin asked her to pick a lotus flower by the lake, causing Li Qin's clothes to get wet accidentally, leading to her being pushed into the pond by Li Qin. Liu Yan and Li Qin stood ashore, laughing at her. These two must've wished for her demise!
Had it not for Rong Pin passing by with her attendants, she might have died on the spot! And now, while she was still unconscious, a bucket of cold water was splashed on her, finishing the last of the original host's vitality, thus leading her to take on the body.
Looking at Li Ruoli slowly waking, Liu Yan secretly regretted in her heart. She should have told the doctor to strengthen the dose. She had to wait until now to recover!
The venom in Liu Yan's eyes coiled around Li Ruoli like a viper, making her quite uncomfortable. A glance confirmed that Liu Yan was not the least bit embarrassed about her actions, clearly underscoring how the original girl had been living all this time.
She raised her eyes to meet Liu Yan's gaze. There was a clarity in her eyes that took Liu Yan by surprise.
This lass, she has always been submissive, never daring to look directly at me.
Originally, I thought a major setback would put her out of commission for at least half a year, even if Li Ruoli managed to cling onto life. It wouldn't disrupt my plans.
But now, it seems Li Ruoli is brimming with more vitality than before. She doesn't look at all like a person who has just escaped from the jaws of death.
Liu Yan frowned at Li Ruoli, anger gradually surfacing on her delicately made-up face.
The maid Ziyi, who was particularly keen at reading the room, saw Liu Yan's displeasure and spoke first. “Second Young Miss, you should pay your respects now that you're awake. It’s a rule that can't be broken."
Li Ruoli felt uncomfortable hearing Ziyi's words.
Is this the wicked servant who always bullied the original host?
With bright eyes, her heart was like a mirror. If it was the original host, she would probably be complying and greeting everyone by now.
However, this body had long changed souls, and was no longer the timid girl she used to be.
"Why do I have to pay respects?" Li Ruoli asked mildly. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone present to hear clearly. The soft and sweet voice carried a slightly cold tone, which startled everyone.
Could it be that when she was in the Underworld, she lost half her soul, and now she has turned into a fool, daring to talk to Liu Yan like that?
But those bright eyes, they don’t look like the innocent words of a fool. Instead...instead, it looks like she’s intentionally provoking Liu Yan!
Just as expected, the anger on Liu Yan's face intensified. The maid Ziyi, without waiting for Liu Yan to speak, began reprimanding Li Ruoli.
"Why? Your words, Second Young Miss, are utterly disrespectful! The Second Madame is the one managing the house, ranks matter here, paying respects is your duty!"
While talking, Ziyi discreetly observed Liu Yan, noticing much of the gloom on her face had dissipated, which made Ziyi somewhat smug.
"Heh..." Unexpectedly, Li Ruoli sneered, looking intently at the lady in purple, "Isn't there a difference in status? Do you remember that you're just a maid?"
Her gaze was icy, and wherever her eyes laid, a chill seemed to follow. The lady in purple was stunned. Was this the demeanor of a fifteen-year-old girl?!
Without waiting for people's reactions, Li Ruoli continued, "To rely on the strength of others, you must be worthy. Second Aunt, in terms of status, should I really greet you?"
"Second Aunt?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yan's face darkened in anger. Ever since Madam Su passed away, seven years had passed since she had last heard these words, and now she was living in the capital.
Li Ruoli smirked dismissively, "What's the matter? Have you forgotten your own status due to old age?"
"Li Ruoli, have you gone mad?!" Liu Yan's hand tightly clenched by her side, and her previously neat dress was now wrinkled.
"Oh, have I? After falling ill, I seem to have gained substantial clarity. At least, I can now distinguish between right and wrong. Second Aunt, don't you agree?"
"Second miss, you must stop spouting nonsense!" Seeing Liu Yan get angry, the lady in purple took another step forward, stopping right in front of Li Ruoli.
"Everyone knows that Second Madam is the sole mistress of the Li Mansion. You are actually insulting the mistress with such words! And even if it's against the rules, I will correct you for the Second Madam!"
The lady in purple said confidently. Over the years, she has disciplined Li Ruoli countless times.
However, Li Ruoli just glanced at the lady in purple indifferently, totally dismissing her, and scoffed.
The lady in purple, always considered a top maid in the Li Mansion, had never been looked down upon like this. Her eyes glared ferociously, raising a hand to slap Li Ruoli...
"You must not hit the young miss!" Tong rushed forward to block, but was too far away and the sight of the maid's hand about to harshly strike was...
Unexpectedly, Li Ruoli blocked it with a swift, proficient movement with one hand, lightly raising the other.
"A slap!" A clear and loud sound of a slap resounded from the left cheek of the woman in purple, followed by a startled cry of "Ah!"
The sudden slap left both Liu Yan and the woman in purple dumbfounded.
Li Ruoli massaged her wrist, her action was accurate, but her body was too weak. The slap didn't carry much force, but her own wrist was a bit painful.
Wu Tong was so shocked by this sudden turn of events that she was speechless, her eyes wide open in surprise.
"This slap, is for your disrespect! When the master speaks, what right have you to interrupt?" Li Ruoli said sharply. After finishing her sentence, another slap landed on the right cheek of the woman in purple! "Don't rely on the Second Lady's fondness for you to act with arrogance in the young lady's courtyard. Remember your place!"
Li Ruoli's gaze was clear and firm. While they were still stunned, another slap hit her right cheek!
"And this time, did you dare to arbitrarily punish the young lady's maidservant? Who gave you the courage?"
The woman in purple was beaten until she saw stars. Li Ruoli's slaps were truly ruthless! Her cheeks had started to swell dramatically.
Upon hearing these words, Wu Tong's eyes brimmed with tears. The young lady was standing up for her!
Liu Yan had come to find Li Ruoli, declaring that the young lady was still unconscious. But the woman in purple had grabbed Wu Tong and hit her again with a slap. This gave Liu Yan the chance to rush into the room and pour a basin of cold water over Li Ruoli!
With a sharp shriek, the woman in purple yelled, "Li Ruoli, you dare to hit me!"
"You brazenly call the master by her name, you deserve to be hit!" Li Ruoli's gaze was sharp, "Wu Tong, aren’t you going to take action for the young lady?"
"Yes! Young Lady!" Following the command, Wu Tong stepped forward and slapped the woman in purple.
Originally, Wu Tong did heavy work and was terrifyingly strong. The slap made the woman in purple so painful that she couldn't speak clearly. The look in her eyes when she looked at Li Ruoli was full of fear and curiosity. Who would expect the timid and cowardly third lady, Li, to become so fierce?
"Wu Tong, where did the woman in purple hit you just now? Hit her back double!" Li Ruoli's tone was cold. Those who bullied "herself" in the past, none of them could be let off!
