Good Ending: She Swears She Will Not Let Him Die!

Chapter 208: Chapter 207: Villains

Du Yunluo leaned on the couch, holding the new flower pattern that Jin Rui had drawn this afternoon.

A pair of lotuses, a commonly used design on embroidery, but Jin Rui’s drawing was unique, appearing particularly enchanting and intertwined.

Given the previous life’s circumstances, she knew she had to marry by the latest next spring, so she couldn’t afford to leave her embroidery unprepared. Du Yunluo liked this pattern and was pondering over the color scheme.

Should it be embroidered on a pillowcase or on an undergarment?

Du Yunluo squinted as she thought, reaching for the cup of tea on the table, and only then did she notice that the tea had turned cold.

Just as she was about to raise her voice to call Jin Rui, she heard footsteps on the veranda outside, and Jin Rui entered quickly, followed by Jin Ling.

"You’re back?" Du Yunluo asked with a smile. As soon as she spoke, she saw under the light that Jin Ling’s eyes were red and swollen, and she couldn’t help but be surprised, "What’s happened?"

Jin Ling heard her, and tears began to fall again.

Du Yunlo had no choice but to look at Jin Rui.

Jin Rui shook her head and said, "She came back in this dazed and desolate state, wearing ill-fitting rain gear, even her inner garment was changed, completely soaked, and when I asked her what happened, she wouldn’t say, just kept crying."

Du Yunluo frowned and motioned for Jin Ling to come forward, reaching out to hold her hand.

Jin Ling’s hand was so cold it surprised Du Yunluo; even if she was caught in the rain, it was already early summer, how could it be so chilly?

Du Yunluo sighed inwardly, she knew Jin Ling’s temperament, she must have encountered something significant. Du Yunluo gestured with her chin to Jin Rui, indicating she should guard the middle room, both to prevent others from overhearing and to help Jin Ling relax.

Jin Rui understood, and at such a moment, she wouldn’t fault Jin Ling for not speaking the truth with her.

Something so unusual must be hard to speak of, it’s understandable she isn’t quick to talk.

"Jin Ling’er?" Seeing Jin Rui leave, Du Yunlo called Jin Ling softly, "If there’s something, just tell me, is it that your brother’s illness has worsened? Or your mother..."

Jin Ling shook her head vigorously while biting her lower lip.

Seeing that she could still nod or shake her head, Du Yunlo somewhat relaxed, just fearing the girl would get stuck in her own head, that would be trouble.

"Is it something you encountered?" Du Yunlo lowered her voice and asked.

Jin Ling shivered slightly, lowering her eyelids, tears on her lashes, she moved her lips, revealing a wound on her lower lip, seemingly bitten open by herself.

Du Yunlo didn’t push her, though they were master and servant, she had always treated Jin Rui and Jin Ling differently, and because of Jin Ling’s experiences in the previous life, Du Yunlo felt even more compassion for her. Seeing her like this now, she felt intense heartache.

Jin Ling’s legs weakened, and she sat on the floor, feeling grounded and a little more secure.

"I, I encountered scoundrels," Jin Ling said hoarsely, completely different from her usual self.

Du Yunlo’s heart sank, what does encountering scoundrels mean?

This could be a big matter or a small one, thinking of how Jin Rui mentioned Jin Ling had even changed clothes, Du Yunlo felt dizzy.

Silently reciting two Buddhist prayers, she only hoped Jin Ling hadn’t truly suffered.

Once she got the words out, the rest came easier.

Crying as she spoke, Jin Ling recounted the day’s events in detail to Du Yunlo.

Her journey home was initially smooth.

In the afternoon, she had called a doctor for a visit, then went to fetch medicine, and on the way home, saw fresh peaches for sale on the street. Remembering her brother loves those, she bought some, also bought meat and fish for Mrs. Di of the Di family, who often helped them.

Perhaps seeing a girl buying meat and fish attracted the attention of two ruffians to her.

Jin Ling was completely unaware, handing the goods to Mrs. Duan and Aunt Di upon returning home, intending to return to the mansion promptly, but halfway there, was blocked by two ruffians demanding money.

Not to mention she’d given the money to Mrs. Duan, even if she had any, Jin Ling wouldn’t give it to the ruffians.

The earlier parts of these events Jin Ling narrated fairly clearly, but the later situations became muddled.

Jin Ling’s body and voice trembled, her hands clutching Du Yunlo’s hands tightly.

Du Yunlo’s lips were pressed into a thin line, but she managed to piece together what Jin Ling said.

Those two ruffians dragged Jin Ling to an abandoned courtyard, intending to search her for money. When they couldn’t find any, their malicious intentions arose, wanting to do something indecent.

When her clothes were torn open, Jin Ling only wished she could die by hitting her head, but fortunately, someone stepped in and saved her.

That person was Yun Qi.

Yun Qi’s skills were more than enough to handle two ruffians.

Previously brushing past Jin Ling, he had important matters at hand. After a moment, recalling that the person seemed to be a maid of Du Yunlo, he grew increasingly suspicious of those two ruffians and rushed back to find her.

Luckily, he made it in time.

By then, Jin Ling couldn’t even cry, her clothes unfit to be seen. She feared worrying Mrs. Duan, didn’t dare go home, and was too disheveled to return to Du Mansion. It was Yun Qi who took her to his home, letting his sister help her wash up and change clothes.

Even knowing she was safe, Jin Ling took a long time to recover, seeing the sky darkening, Yun Qi accompanied her back to Du Mansion.

It suddenly rained halfway there, drenching them both, but luckily they weren’t far from Yun Qi’s home, who fetched raincoats and brought Jin Ling to the entrance of the Du Mansion.

Nanny Hua was knocking when Jin Ling came in with her.

Hearing this, Du Yunlo couldn’t help but inhale sharply, she hadn’t expected that letting Jin Ling escape from Housekeeper Zhao’s gambling den would nearly lead to this.

Thankfully, thankfully Yun Qi rescued her.

Luckily, last time Yun Qi came to deliver a horse, Jin Ling was with her; the two recognized each other.

If Yun Qi hadn’t recognized Jin Ling, today she would be waiting to collect Jin Ling’s body. This girl was strong-willed, if she suffered a great loss, she truly wouldn’t want to live.

Du Yunlo was both fearful and relieved, holding Jin Ling, she said, "It’s all over, all over now, no need to fear. If you don’t tell, I won’t tell, Yun Qi doesn’t tell, no one will know or spread it."

A girl’s reputation is crucial, even if the scoundrels didn’t succeed, if word got out about Jin Ling encountering such an incident, how could she face people afterward?

Even if Du Yunlo protected her, Jin Ling herself would be driven mad by the whispers and pointing.

Jin Ling trembled, her swollen peach-like eyes wide, looking at Du Yunlo, blinking repeatedly.

In familiar surroundings, with familiar furnishings and a familiar girl, Jin Ling gradually calmed, hugging her knees, sobbing once more.

Du Yunlo didn’t stop her, crying it out was better than holding it in. When Jin Ling finished crying, she had Jin Rui bring hot water to help Jin Ling wash her face.

Jin Rui stayed outside, and though she couldn’t hear the inside conversation clearly, a few words reached her ears, and guessing along, her face turned white with understanding.

If such a thing happened to her...