Chapter 3 Scarlet Moon

"Who are you?"

Seeing Xia Xiaoli on guard, like a hedgehog, the man sat down on the chair next to her, removed his medicine box, and pulled out a pulse pillow.

Xia Xiaoli knew he was going to examine her. Although she had studied forensic medicine in the modern era, Chinese medicine was a skill passed down from her ancestors, a skill she had been exposed to since childhood. She could even call a Chinese medicine scholar like him "Master."

"I'm not sick. I don't need you to take my pulse." As soon as she finished speaking, Xia Xiaoli's stomach rumbled. She looked at Mo Chen with a hint of embarrassment, "Can you find me something to eat?"

Mo Chen smiled. "Miss, there's no need for that. I'll take your pulse first. His Highness had someone prepare food for you before we came, and it will be delivered shortly."

Since he was so polite, Xia Xiaoli didn't have much to say. She obediently held out her hand. She wanted to see the doctor's skills and find out what was happening to the original owner's body, which had been enlarged by the poison. "Okay, take her pulse!"

Mo Chen looked at her outstretched, radiant white arm, gently placing two fingers on it. After holding his breath for a moment, he said, "Miss, you're fine. Just get some rest."

With that, without waiting for Xia Xiaoli to reply, he stood up and left. Shortly after, a young girl with twin buns and a palace dress arrived. "Miss, I'm here to serve you, Feiyue."

The bowl of porridge, accompanied by pickles, was fragrant. Xia Xiaoli didn't care who she was; she was just focused on eating. The real aroma was there.

Feiyue saw her put down her bowl and chopsticks and came up to clear them. Xia Xiaoli took her hand and said, "Your name is Feiyue, isn't it?"

"Yes, my name is Feiyue."

"You look a bit like a friend of mine. I feel very close to you. My name is Xia Xiaoli. How about we be friends?" When you're in an unfamiliar place, having a few familiar friends is always helpful. Feiyue waved her hands in panic, "I'm just a servant. How can I be your friend?"

"Feiyue, I was only brought back by your master against his will. Maybe I'm treated worse than you, or maybe you look down on me."

"Miss, what are you saying? I'm willing to be your friend, but I'm afraid my status isn't worthy of yours."

"We're all the same. There's no such thing as compatibility. This isn't a romantic relationship. As long as you don't dislike me, we can be friends."

Xia Xiaoli extended her hand. Feiyue didn't quite understand what she meant, so she instinctively extended her hand as well. Xia Xiaoli grasped it tightly. "We'll be good friends from now on."

"Yes!"

After all her years in the palace, Feiyue felt for the first time that there was no difference between people, that getting along with each other could be so simple. "Feiyue, we're friends now. Could you please tell me who brought me back? What should I be careful about here? I'll avoid offending someone important and ending up dead without knowing how."

Feiyue knew she was brought back by His Highness, and she believed Xia Xiaoli's words about halfway. After a moment's thought, she said, "Miss, this is Ningxuan Palace in Beiyong Imperial Palace. It was our Crown Prince who brought you back. The one who just took your pulse was Lord Mo, the medical officer in charge of His Highness's health."

"But don't believe the rumors out there. Our Crown Prince is actually a very kind person! He's not that cruel and bloodthirsty. As long as you don't sell out or betray the Crown Prince, he will protect us."

Who had time to care about the rumors about that guy? She didn't care what happened to him. But hearing Feiyue's words, Xia Xiaoli felt a lot more at ease. At least that Crown Prince wouldn't take her life for no reason. But if she always stayed in a place like this, there was no guarantee she wouldn't get into trouble one day. With so many people wanting her life, it was best for her to leave. But how could she leave the palace?

"Feiyue, what should a palace maid do if she wants to leave?"

"Oh, well, every year after New Year's Eve, the palace lets a group of people out. Anyone over 25 can apply to the chief eunuch. Sister Xia, I'm afraid your palace status is still with Concubine Nan. You need it to be a palace maid before you can leave!"

Palace status? Damn it, how could she even know if she had it? However, she remembered that when she woke up, she was still wearing palace clothes. Whether she was a real palace maid or not, she must have a palace status. Concubine Nan would have forged one.

That palace status must still be in the Liuli Palace. It seemed she had to go back there. "Do you know who usually manages the Liuli Palace's palace belongings?"

"It must be Nanny Jiang in Concubine Nan's palace. Nanny Jiang was Concubine Nan's wet nurse. I heard she's always been with her and never married."

"Can you take me to the Liuli Palace?"

"Miss Xia, didn't you just escape from the Liuli Palace?"

"I want to steal my palace belongings."

"Miss Xia, why don't you ask His Highness for help? Maybe he can help you. The Liuli Palace isn't easy to get into, and even if we did, we don't know where Nanny Jiang lives, let alone where she keeps her palace belongings."

Feiyue's words plunged Xia Xiaoli into deep thought. She was right. She wasn't familiar with the area at all, let alone how to get to the Liuli Palace, let alone steal anything.

After Feiyue packed her things and left, Xia Xiaoli was wandering around the courtyard, thinking about how to steal the palace belongings, when a eunuch in a young eunuch's uniform pulled her into a secluded corner. "Noble Concubine Nan said if you want your jade pendant, go to the Glazed Palace at midnight tonight."

After saying that, she left. Xia Xiaoli then remembered that the jade pendant left to her by the original owner's mother had always been in Noble Concubine Nan's possession. It seemed that Noble Concubine Nan had used the jade pendant as a threat to keep the original owner by her side.

She had also worn a jade pendant the size of a copper coin since she was a child, saying it was passed down from her ancestors. Could her time travel during the car accident have something to do with that jade pendant?

It seemed she had to get the jade pendant back. Regardless of whether it had anything to do with her return, as a relic of the original owner's mother, she had to take it back.

Xia Xiaoli tossed and turned in bed, the minutes ticking by, and she still hadn't figured out what to do.

Midnight was approaching. Regardless, she'd go there first. After all, she was in the palace. However, before leaving, she went to find Qiao Yue. "What? Miss Xia, you're going to the Glazed Palace?"

Qiao Yue was half asleep, but when she heard Xia Xiaoli was going, she suddenly woke up.

"My mother's belongings are in the Imperial Concubine's hands. I have to go. If I don't return in half an hour, you must ask the Crown Prince to rescue me." Xia Xiaoli was gambling, betting that she was still useful to the Crown Prince, otherwise he wouldn't have brought her back.

After saying this, she disappeared into the night, a hairpin tightly clutched in her hand.