Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 2708 - 2709: Struggling to Survive

"Alright, for now that’s all we can do. When Madam wakes up, let her reach out to me for a check." Bai Ruozhu packed up the silver needle and bowed to the great elder before taking her leave.

"Young Bai friend, I heard from Wenyu that you’re looking for Dragon-seeking Grass?" the great elder suddenly asked.

Bai Ruozhu nodded, "I bear the responsibility of being an envoy; if I can help, I’ll lend a hand to Fusang’s Emperor."

"Dragon-seeking Grass is extremely rare, and indeed there’s a plant in the clan. But I need to consult the other elders for their opinion. I’ll do my best to help you acquire it," the great elder said.

This was hinting at her.

Bai Ruozhu hurriedly showed gratitude, "Thank you, great elder. I will do my utmost to heal Madam."

"Good, good," the great elder said with a beaming smile.

Upon returning to the room, Bai Ruozhu found an opportunity to pull Jiang Yichun into the space, and the two began analyzing the great elder’s attitude.

"On one hand, he wants to test me; on the other hand, he might genuinely wish to heal Feng Ran," Bai Ruozhu said.

"He is too calculating and deceitful, making it hard to believe he has genuine feelings for Feng Ran. There’s likely some other conspiracy involved," Jiang Yichun remarked.

"Scheming back and forth for what? The future of the Merfolk Clan?" Bai Ruozhu sneered, "Holed up in this godforsaken place, what future is there to speak of?"

Soon it was late at night, and Bai Ruozhu sneaked out alone, flipping into Ayi’s yard.

"It’s me," she said softly.

Ayi was awake; she couldn’t sleep.

"Master, Ali..."

Bai Ruozhu patted her shoulder, "Don’t worry. They’ve detoxified him but also drugged him with something affecting his mind. I’ll give you some antidote; feed him once a month, gradually he will recover. But you must remain cautious; act stupidly in front of outsiders, or they’ll find new ways to deal with you."

Ayi accepted the medicine bottle from Bai Ruozhu and expressed gratitude, "Thank you, I’ve noted it down."

"And, don’t be too worried; it’s not a problem that Yunyun was chosen as a saintess yet. We’re still here, they won’t dare go too far," Bai Ruozhu sighed, sharing with Ayi the incident of Yunyun seeking out the great elder.

Ayi listened with tears streaming down her face and choked up, "Such a little child knows to care for us; how can we stand by and watch her suffer?"

"Don’t worry; we’ll figure out a way to rescue Yunyun," Bai Ruozhu assured.

Ayi nodded, "I trust you. By the way, I’ve found out when that child died, she was very thin, her complexion slightly green, though most dead people look bluish-white. She was so distressed that she didn’t notice much then. During the burial, she saw numerous red dots on the child’s nails, like bleeding inside."

Bai Ruozhu furrowed her brow. What’s happening here? Poisoning? But without seeing the person, it’s hard to ascertain what poison it is.

"Also, that night when my husband mentioned Aluo, your expression changed subtly, albeit minutely. But my eyes are different from others," Ayi suddenly said, "You must know Aluo. Whether you believe it or not, Ali wasn’t lying."

Bai Ruozhu nodded, "Understood."

Leaving Ayi’s room, she returned to her room to sleep. The next morning, Ling Chen knocked on the door, saying, "Madam Feng Ran has awakened; please come over for diagnosis."

Bai Ruozhu exited the room, glanced at Ling Chen, then quickly looked away, "Alright, I’ll follow you."

Fo Lanying helped carry the medicine box, and the three were about to leave when the door beside them opened, and the Astrologer stepped out.

Perhaps the Astrologer had only just woken up, bringing a certain laziness that added a touch of earthly flavor, or perhaps his sudden appearance startled Ling Chen, who involuntarily turned and looked at him.

Their eyes met, and the Astrologer’s eyes suddenly lost focus, walking forward step by step as if soulless.

"Brother, where are you? Where did you go? Did father kill you?" The Astrologer seemed to have lost his soul, murmuring aloud.

Bai Ruozhu’s heart tightened; he was enchanted, speaking his deepest fear.

"Xingye, what’s wrong with you?" Bai Ruozhu called him by his current name.

Fo Lanying discreetly used Divine Sense Attack on the Astrologer, very subtly and not harming him, under which he regained clarity.

"What just happened?" He sensed something was amiss.

Ling Chen quietly glanced at Fo Lanying, eyes gleaming slightly.

Fo Lanying fearlessly met her gaze, "We Jiuli Clan also have our skills; fortunately, I’m not afraid of you."

Ling Chen was not angry; instead, she laughed, a sight Bai Ruozhu and others hadn’t seen before.

"Great, you’re pretty good," she said, turning to walk forward.

The Astrologer realized what was happening, his handsome face alternating between green and white, wanting to rage but forcibly holding it back.

Bai Ruozhu nodded slightly at him, "Rest a bit; we’ll be back later."

The Astrologer nodded and returned to the room, feeling quite uncomfortable inside.

"Left Guardian didn’t come today?" Bai Ruozhu asked with a smile.

Ling Chen glanced at her and quickly averted the gaze, "He closes for cultivation today every month."

"Oh, you don’t need daily cultivation, just one day a month? Quite relaxed, isn’t it?" Bai Ruozhu intentionally joked.

"Not everyone, only him. His ability is special, unable to cultivate ordinarily; only today each month can he cultivate, and the result is dozens of times more effective than usual," Ling Chen explained.

Bai Ruozhu looked at her somewhat curiously, not expecting Ling Chen to elaborate.

Soon they reached Feng Ran’s residence, Ling Chen knocked, and inside came Feng Ran’s somewhat weary voice.

This weariness wasn’t physical, rather soulful or perhaps it’s called a sense of loss.

"Come in."

Bai Ruozhu entered and bowed, seeing her leaning against the bed, her temples seemingly whiter.

For a moment, Bai Ruozhu thought of her grandmother, feeling the two overlapped, her gaze towards Feng Ran softened.

"I heard you’re treating me, thank you," Feng Ran spoke with a gentle tone.

Bai Ruozhu bowed, "As the younger generation, it’s my duty, though regrettably, I couldn’t help much."

Feng Ran smiled, yet her smile was bitter.

"Don’t blame yourself, I actually don’t want to recover," she said.

Bai Ruozhu was a bit shocked, "Why do that?"

"Living is but prolonging suffering; confusion feels better. Once I’m lucid, my heart aches unbearably, already battered and broken," Feng Ran clutched her chest, tears falling.

Ling Chen frowned, "Madam Feng Ran, you shouldn’t speak like this. I can’t stay silent if asked by the great elder."

Feng Ran wiped away her tears and sneered, "Treat my illness yet keep me under surveillance, slap my face and hand me a sweet jujube? I’m no child anymore!"