SGEIRS -Chapter 235 Picking Up a Stranger

In the maple forest, the red leaves blazed like fire.

A gust of chilly autumn wind swept through, sending the leaves swirling and tumbling through the air before slowly drifting to the ground.

Qingqiu suddenly stopped in her tracks, pointing ahead. “Madam, there’s someone lying over there.”

Meng Jinyao followed her gaze and indeed saw a figure lying not far ahead.

No—it was more accurate to say someone was sprawled face-down. Judging by the shape, it seemed to be a man, lying completely still. Whether he was alive or dead was uncertain, but since he wasn’t lying on his back, something must have happened to make him collapse face-down like that.

Song Xinning and Princess Jingning also noticed him.

Princess Jingning said, “Let’s go check and see if he’s still alive.”

Meng Jinyao immediately stopped her. “Don’t go!”

Princess Jingning paused in surprise, unconvinced. “A-Yao, saving a life is worth more than building a seven-tiered pagoda.”

Meng Jinyao replied, “We are all women. Who knows if he’s pretending? Even if he isn’t, we don’t know whether he’s a bad person. Rushing over there could be very dangerous.”

Song Xinning nodded in agreement. “A-Yao is right. We have male servants with us; let’s send two of them first to take a look.”

“You’re right, I wasn’t thinking it through,” Princess Jingning said, then instructed two of the servants to check on the man.

The two servants approached, and soon one returned to report, “Princess, he’s a young man. He’s injured, but he’s still breathing.”

Princess Jingning looked at Meng Jinyao. “A-Yao, he’s alive. What do you think we should do? If we don’t save him, he might die.”

Meng Jinyao thought for a moment and replied, “Take him back first. Then tie his hands and feet, just in case he does something crazy when he wakes up.”

Princess Jingning gently nodded and immediately ordered the servants to bring him back.

In a situation like this, they had no mood to enjoy the maple forest’s beauty and followed the servants back to the estate.

The man was fortunate. Half-dead, he had encountered them. To prevent anyone from fainting or becoming unwell, Princess Jingning had also brought along the estate doctor, who could examine and treat him immediately.

The doctor examined him and concluded that he was severely injured, causing a high fever and unconsciousness. The injuries were not recent; the blood came from open wounds. Whether he would survive depended on whether the fever could subside. If the fever could be brought down and the injuries treated properly, he could still live.

In his near-death state, there was no need to tie him up—he couldn’t possibly cause any trouble even if he woke up.

Having rescued someone of unknown origin, possibly beyond saving, the women felt little inclination to play around. The man’s serious injuries suggested he had probably been pursued by someone. This act of kindness might even bring them trouble.

Princess Jingning, now a bit anxious, tugged on Meng Jinyao’s sleeve and whispered, “A-Yao, what if he dies here?”

Meng Jinyao smiled. “Afraid now, are you? Didn’t you say saving a life is worth more than building a seven-tiered pagoda?”

Princess Jingning pouted. “The main problem is that a person might die. How would I explain it? If a lawsuit arises, my mother would scold me and probably confine me.”

Meng Jinyao replied, “Don’t worry. Even if he dies, it’s not because of us. We have our maids and servants as witnesses. He was severely injured, on the brink of death, so we brought him back for the doctor. If he dies despite treatment, it’s not our responsibility.”

Hearing this, Princess Jingning’s anxious heart gradually calmed. She asked, “Should we go see him? I didn’t get a good look when we brought him back.”

Song Xinning said, “Just take a look. I didn’t see him clearly either. He was covered in blood—it was frightening—so I avoided looking directly at him.”

The women entered the guest room. The young man lay on the bed, his face pale from fever, lips chapped, but his features were still handsome and refined. He looked barely seventeen or eighteen, not yet fully grown into a man.

Princess Jingning stared at him for a long while. “Don’t you feel he looks a little familiar?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head gently. “I’ve lived a sheltered life and rarely met men outside, so I don’t know many outside men.”

Song Xinning shook her head too. “I’ve attended banquets with my mother and seen many officials’ sons, but I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

“But why does he seem familiar?” Princess Jingning muttered, examining him more closely. “I really feel I’ve seen him somewhere, but I can’t recall where.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao noticed his clothing was quite fine—perhaps he was a son of some wealthy official family. She said, “Maybe he’s the son of a noble family. Once he wakes, we can ask him and notify his family to come for him.”

Princess Jingning nodded. “That’s the only option.”

The next day at noon.

After lunch and a brief rest, they were preparing to leave when the servant in charge of the young man reported that he had woken up.

The women were relieved. As long as he wasn’t dead, that was enough. They hurried to see him.

The young man lay weakly on the bed, still pale.

Hearing footsteps, he instinctively tensed. When he saw several well-dressed girls of about fifteen or sixteen enter, he relaxed. These must be the ones the servant had mentioned—the ones who saved his life.

Princess Jingning approached the bed, looking down at him. Fixing her eyes on his familiar-looking face, she asked directly, “Young master, you seem very familiar. Are you from the capital?”

The young man was about to thank them for saving his life, but hearing her question, he froze. Examining her carefully, his face revealed surprise. After staring a while longer, he said hesitantly, “Zhao Yan?”

Zhao Yan—that was Princess Jingning’s given name.

Anyone who could call her that must know her personally, and their status had to be wealthy or noble; otherwise, they wouldn’t have had the chance to know her.

At this, Meng Jinyao and Song Xinning exchanged a glance and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He was an acquaintance, so there was no fear of trouble. Previously, they had worried about rescuing a dangerous stranger.

Princess Jingning was stunned. “You know me?”

The young man countered, “You don’t remember me?”

“Who are you? Should I remember you?” Princess Jingning frowned, staring at him. She recognized him but couldn’t recall exactly who he was.

The young man’s expression darkened. Gritting his teeth, he asked, “Four years ago, you misidentified me and had me thrown into a pond. I nearly drowned. Thanks to you, I specifically learned swimming. Do you think I’d forget you?”