My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 10 Recognizing the Situation

Granny Liao applied medicine to Mu Shaoying.

Mu Shaoying suddenly remembered that Zhu Zi hadn't returned with her, and hurriedly asked Granny Liao, "Granny Liao, has Zhu Zi come back?"

Granny Liao gently applied medicine to Mu Shaoying's face and answered his question, "Zhu Zi hasn't arrived yet, but Steward Tao has already sent someone to the academy to deliver a message. Young Master, you don't need to worry. Zhu Zi should be back soon. Does it hurt, Young Master?"

Mu Shaoying shook her head.

Granny Liao looked at him with heartache, and her movements became even gentler.

"This servant will bandage the young master's hand. Please bear with it," said Granny Liao, holding the gauze.

While gently wrapping Mu Shaoying's swollen hand with gauze, she instructed, "Young Master, you can't play in the water these few days. This medicine was prepared by Doctor Wang, and the pain will be gone by tomorrow."

Granny Liao blew on Mu Shaoying's hands, which were bandaged like pig's trotters, and said, "Young Master, rest for a while. I'll accompany you to the Master's courtyard later."

After finishing her sentence, Granny Liao tidied up the medicine by the bedside, helped Mu Shaoying take off her outer garment, covered her with a quilt after Mu Shaoying lay down, and then took the medicine and went out.

After an unknown amount of time, Mu Shaoying vaguely heard footsteps approaching. She opened her eyes and realized that she had fallen asleep without knowing when.

At this moment, Granny Liao was already standing by the bed and said softly to Mu Shaoying, "Young Master, it's time to get up."

Mu Shaoying wanted to rub her eyes, but then realized her hand was injured. Pretending to raise her hand, she asked Granny Liao, "Granny, how long have I been asleep?"

Granny Liao pulled back the bed curtains and said with a smile, "It's been about a cup of tea's time. Butler Tao sent someone to say that the master's courtyard is starting to be set out for dinner. You can go over there now. Young master, come back and sleep after you finish your meal."

Mu Shaoying got out of bed, avoiding Liao Mama's hand that was trying to help her out of bed, and walked to the bronze mirror, where hot water and towels had already been prepared.

Granny Liao picked up a towel, soaked it, wrung it out, and wiped Mu Shaoying's face. Then she combed Mu Shaoying's hair and dressed her.

Granny Liao led Mu Shaoying toward the original owner's uncle's courtyard. After leaving the courtyard and passing through several corridors, they arrived at the original owner's uncle's courtyard.

Upon entering the main hall, food was already laid out on the table, and the original owner's uncle was already seated at the table. The room was filled with the smell of alcohol.

"Greetings, Uncle." Mu Shaoying stepped forward and bowed. The closer he got, the stronger the smell of alcohol became. Mu Shaoying thought to himself, "It hasn't been long, and they've already started drinking? Judging from the smell, they've had quite a bit."

"Ziping's here, come and sit down. Tao Xian and Qingyu, come with us. There are no outsiders here, and the three of us haven't eaten together in a long time, so let's treat this as a family dinner." The original owner's uncle greeted Mu Shaoying when he arrived.

Butler Tao and Granny Liao quickly refused, saying, "Master, it is against the rules for servants to sit at the table."

The original owner's uncle said with a wry smile, "We all came from there, we're all servants of nobles, what's the point of rules and regulations?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Shaoying's earlier speculation was confirmed; he just hadn't expected that Granny Liao also came from the palace.

So why are they in this place, still carrying their original forms?

Did the original owner know about these things?

Should I show surprise, astonishment, or remain expressionless?

I'm amazed again; it's so difficult to have the original owner's memories!

Mu Shaoying secretly glanced at the others, and thankfully, no one was paying attention to her, so she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that Steward Tao and Granny Liao were making excuses, the original owner's uncle offered some advice.

Mu Shaoying thought to himself: Based on his years of experience with dining culture, the three of them are now in a state of extreme tension, and it will probably end with the original owner's uncle's victory.

As expected, in the end, Steward Tao and Granny Liao still sat down at the table to eat and drink with the original owner's uncle.

Mu Shaoying was deeply reluctant to be fed by Granny Liao, but looking at her hands, which were bandaged up like pig's trotters, she had no choice but to accept it since she couldn't use chopsticks.

After Mu Shaoying finished eating, seeing that the original owner's uncle did not ask her to leave, she sat at the table and watched the three of them eat.

The original owner's uncle poured a glass of wine for Steward Tao and Granny Liao, and it seemed that the three of them were about to officially start chatting.

First move: Reminiscing about the past.

The original owner's uncle, holding a wine glass, said to Steward Tao and Granny Liao, "It's been almost five years since we left that place. It's been a long time since we sat down together for a proper drink."

Butler Tao took the wine pot from the original owner's uncle and placed it aside: "It's been five years and two months. Master has already drunk enough tonight. Young Master is still here, so drink less. Tomorrow, this servant will accompany Master for another good drink."

The original owner's uncle looked at Mu Shaoying standing to the side, dipped his chopsticks into the wine in his glass, and said, "Come on, Ziping, have a taste."

Granny Liao quickly stopped him, saying, "Master, the young master is still too young to drink alcohol." She then said to Mu Shaoying, "The young master is still too young to drink this stuff; it's bitter and spicy, and doesn't taste good."

After saying that, he took the chopsticks handed to him by his uncle and put them back on the table.

Mu Shaoying wiped away a tear of bitterness in her heart. She collapsed at her workstation, realizing that every drink she had consumed at social events was not innocent. Ignoring her pig-trotter-like hands, she gently clenched her right fist and tapped it lightly against her left palm. "Lin Ziping, I'll protect your health. A thermos of goji berries will be ready tomorrow."

As Mu Shaoying silently swore an oath to the original owner of the body, the original owner's uncle patted Mu Shaoying's head and said, "Ziping, your uncle is sorry for failing to fulfill your mother's wishes and for not taking good care of you."

Mu Shaoying... Second move: Focus on the present

Butler Tao said, "Master, please don't be too sad. The young lady won't blame you if she finds out."

Granny Liao's eyes reddened as she said, "They are all unfortunate people. The master suffered greatly when he entered the palace, and he also sacrificed a lot to help the young lady leave the palace. He took the young master from the capital to Qingyang, a long journey of thousands of miles, and I don't know how much hardship he endured."

Upon hearing this, the original owner's uncle said, "Taking care of Ziping is my responsibility, but now it's dragging you two into this mess."

Steward Tao hurriedly said, "It was you who saved my and Qingyu's lives in the palace. I will repay your kindness tenfold. Besides, I am happy to be in this situation."

Granny Liao nodded in agreement: "Steward Tao is right. I asked Zhu Zi about the young master falling into the water, and it was indeed He Jinbao and others who did it. The young master didn't tell you because he was afraid you would worry."

"Uncle, thank you for your trouble." It would be best if you didn't touch my head with your paws, Mu Shaoying.

The original owner's uncle patted Mu Shaoying's head: "Uncle knows that Ziping has been wronged at the academy, but if you encounter similar things in the future, come back and tell your uncle, and don't act rashly."

"Yes, Uncle, Ziping understands." Mu Shaoying resisted the urge to roll his eyes and avoided the hand that was patting his head.

The three continued clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries, embarking on the third form of their casual conversation—looking to the future. They talked about how they would take good care of the family, how they would look after the master and the young master, and so on…

Mu Shaoying yawned boredly to the side, remarking that this was similar to the many drinking parties she had attended. It was like a performance; the important thing wasn't what she wanted others to know, but rather that she had conveyed what she wanted to say. Drinking was just a formality. She, who couldn't even deliver a proper toast and could only say "hello" when offering a toast, was only fit to be an audience member. Watching the three people gradually warm up, she realized that she was still just an audience member today.

The three of them drank for about an hour, finally ending when Mu Shaoying was drowsy. Butler Tao helped the original owner's uncle to the next room to wash up, while Granny Liao took Mu Shaoying back to her courtyard.

Mu Shaoying lay on Liao Mama's back, her arms wrapped around her neck. Liao Mama carried Mu Shaoying out of the courtyard and through the corridor.

Around the fifteenth of the lunar calendar, the moon was big and round, hanging high in the sky. The moonlight draped the night in a thin veil. A lantern was lit in front of the pillar, and the chirping of insects filled the air. The scent of soap from Granny Liao wafted to the nose. Granny Liao hummed an unknown tune, her voice clear and melodious.

"Granny Liao," Mu Shaoying called softly.

Granny Liao stopped in her tracks: "Young Master?"

Mu Shaoying did not answer. After a while, Granny Liao continued walking towards the original owner's courtyard, the little tune she was humming lingering in her ears.

Mu Shaoying closed her eyes and silently shed tears, recalling how, when her mother would take her home at night when she was little, she would lie on her mother's back like this, and her mother would softly call, "Yingzi is going home, Yingzi is going home..."

Memories flooded Mu Shaoying's mind like a tide. She stopped being stubborn and truly recognized the reality that she could never go back. Now or in the future, Mu Shaoying is Lin Ziping.

Mu Shaoying may never be able to go home again, and no one will ever call out, "Yingzi is coming home, Yingzi is coming home..."

A wave of sadness washed over me, but I also felt a little lost, wondering what the future held for me.