Before the stone prison, Yu Banxia reached out, shielding her eyes from the sunlight.
She had been confined for only a little over ten days, yet it felt as long as ten years.
Seeing Father Yu, who visibly looked older, standing before the carriage, she rushed over and knelt with a 'thud' before him.
"Father! I'm sorry!"
Father Yu smiled, "It's good that you're out, it's good! Come quickly, get in the carriage. Your mother has prepared so many of your favorite dishes at home. Let's go back now!"
Father Yu helped his daughter up, observing her once fair and delicate face, now somewhat gaunt.
The defiant spark of confidence in her eyes was also gone.
Father Yu sighed inwardly. This immense setback for his daughter wasn't entirely a bad thing.
Yu Banxia helped Father Yu into the carriage, which then sped towards Yu Manor.
Upon reaching Yu Manor, Mother Yu and Qing Ling rushed forward from the gates.
"Daughter!"
"Young Miss!"
Yu Banxia stepped down from the carriage, tears welling in her eyes, and knelt again before Mother Yu.
"Mother, your daughter was unfilial, bringing trouble upon you both. Your daughter knows her wrongs!"
Tears welled in Mother Yu's eyes as she said, "It's good that you're back. From now on, you must be obedient, do you understand? These past days, your mother hasn't had a single good night's sleep. Thinking of you suffering in prison, my heart ached as if cut by a knife."
"Mother, your daughter will be obedient from now on. Your daughter will never dare again."
She was truly afraid. Human hearts were far too complex; she couldn't possibly contend with them!
Mother Yu helped her daughter up and said, "Come, quickly step over the brazier, then let me sweep you with pomelo leaves to ward off ill fortune. From this day forth, may my child be safe and sound, her life smooth and prosperous."
Yu Banxia nodded. Aided by Qing Ling, she stepped over the brazier, then stood obediently, allowing her mother to sweep her with the pomelo leaves.
Father Yu nodded discreetly. His daughter truly had changed.
In the past, if asked to do such things, she would surely have refused, perhaps even calling it 'superstitious' or 'ignorant.'
After the ritual to dispel ill luck, the family entered the manor.
"You go back to your room first to wash up, then come out for dinner. Your mother personally cooked many delicious dishes for you," Mother Yu said lovingly, gently tidying her daughter's hair.
Yu Banxia nodded, "Then your daughter will take her leave."
Mother Yu's eyes lit up. Her daughter seemed to have reverted to that well-behaved, graceful young lady she once was. This was truly wonderful.
But looking at her daughter's retreating back, Mother Yu began to worry again.
Father Yu came forward and asked, "Our daughter is back, why are you still frowning?"
"Alas, our daughter has been imprisoned; her reputation is ruined. How will she ever marry now?" Mother Yu's face was filled with worry.
Father Yu patted her hand, "It's alright. If she truly doesn't meet a suitable match, it's not as if I can't support her."
"What about after we pass away?"
Father Yu paused, then said, "You women folk just love to worry unnecessarily. After we pass away, we'll leave her enough money; she'll manage to live out her life. Besides, our daughter isn't as bad as you imagine. Perhaps her destiny awaits her later?"
Mother Yu wanted to say more, but Father Yu interrupted her, "Enough. Our daughter just returned; we should be happy, or she'll feel sad if she sees us like this."
Mother Yu nodded, putting her smile back on.
Yu Banxia returned to her room, where servants had already prepared hot water.
"Young Miss, let Qing Ling attend to your bath."
Yu Banxia nodded.
Shedding her clothes, she stepped into the tub.
Yu Banxia let out a comfortable sigh.
"Young Miss, please don't open any more shops in the future. This time, it was truly a close call," Qing Ling said as she attended to her.
Yu Banxia rested her chin on the edge of the tub, contemplating her past actions.
She had been misled by those stories, hadn't she? All that talk of being a chosen daughter, of princes and nobles revolving around her – it was all false.
Relying on memories from a past life to achieve great things was truly unreliable.
It was better to simply be a dutiful young lady from an official's household.
Fortunately, her parents cherished her like a precious jewel, and the Yu family enjoyed abundant wealth and comfort.
Wasn't this the life she had wanted in her past life? How had she become so deluded later on?
Jun Hui had treated her, and the Yu family, so cruelly. Even if she was unwilling and yearned for revenge, he was an Imperial Prince. What could she possibly do?
She would just have to take one step at a time.
"I won't," Yu Banxia replied dully.
Qing Ling said, "Young Miss, you don't know what your master went through these past days. Every day, he left early and returned late, begging the families whose faces were ruined to spare you. I heard the attendant by your master's side say that he knelt and kowtowed, enduring endless cold stares, but those people wouldn't relent. They said that unless their faces recovered, they would let you die in prison."
Yu Banxia imagined Father Yu, at his advanced age, kneeling, kowtowing, and desperately pleading for her. Her heart ached, and tears welled in her eyes.
She murmured, "Father."
After a long while, Yu Banxia asked, "Then why did those people finally relent? Were their faces cured?"
Qing Ling said, "No one knows why, but those people's faces were severely damaged, and even the Imperial Physicians were helpless. In the end, it was all thanks to County Princess Changning. It was County Princess Changning who personally prescribed the medicine that allowed those people's faces to recover as before."
Yu Banxia suddenly turned around, "You said who? County Princess Changning?"
Qing Ling nodded, "Yes. At first, your master went to beg the County Princess for help, but the County Princess might have been angry about your past actions, so she didn't agree. However, she still pointed your master to a clear path, telling him to find Doctor Changchun at Apricot Forest Hall. Everyone knows that County Princess Changning is the owner of Apricot Forest Hall."
"Doctor Changchun's medical skills were indeed excellent, and he managed to heal most of those people's faces, but there would still be scars. Those people still wouldn't relent. In the end, it was County Princess Changning's prescription that truly worked."
Yu Banxia turned back, her heart heavy.
She had always regarded her as an imaginary enemy, yet the other person had been magnanimous and hadn't held grudges against her. Perhaps she wasn't even qualified to be her opponent.
When she was in trouble, it was her former allies who harmed her, and in the end, it was the person she considered an enemy who saved her.
Honestly, if the other person had fallen on hard times, she would have secretly rejoiced.
This was probably the difference between her and County Princess Changning.
"Young Miss, the water is getting a bit cool. You can get out now, or you'll catch a chill," Qing Ling reminded her.
Yu Banxia nodded, rose, dressed, and tidied herself, then left the room with Qing Ling.
At the dinner table, Mother Yu continuously put food on her daughter's plate.
"Eat more, look, your face has no flesh left."
"This is your favorite, eat it while it's hot."
Yu Banxia also put food on Father Yu's and Mother Yu's plates.
"Father, Mother, you both eat quickly too. You've both lost so much weight these past days."
Seeing their daughter's thoughtfulness, the couple exchanged glances, smiling and nodding.
After the family finished their meal, Father Yu was about to go to his study.
"Father, I have something to tell you," Yu Banxia called out to Father Yu.
Father Yu said, "Then follow your father to the study."
Once in the study, Father Yu asked, "What do you want to say?"
"Father, I wish to personally go to the Minister's Residence to thank County Princess Changning," Yu Banxia said.
Father Yu looked at her, and seeing that she was serious, he felt a measure of relief.
"That is only right. Then tomorrow, bring a gift of thanks, and you may accompany your father."
Yu Banxia refused, "Father, it's better if your daughter goes alone."
She didn't want her father to humble himself for her again; she wanted to go herself.
She truly owed County Princess Changning an "I'm sorry" and a "thank you."
Regardless of whether the other party accepted, she had to go.
Father Yu thought about it. His daughter had grown up; she couldn't remain stagnant forever, hiding beneath his wings.
"Alright. When you see County Princess Changning, make sure your attitude is humble. County Princess Changning is a very good person."
Yu Banxia nodded, "I understand."
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