No Money

"Lan'er, I have failed to be your mother these past years, to protect you...I am willing to wait until the end of time if that will take a burden off of you," she smiles and caresses Lan's face, "at least once, let this be the duty this mother will do. I assure you, I am safe. I am okay."

Nodding, Lan dives in for another hug.

Their reunion couldn't last long. After assuring her mother's health and safety, the longer she stays, the more suspicious others get, which could endanger her mother.

As much as Lan wanted to stay, their time together was limited. The mother-daughter pair bid their goodbyes, and Lan went out the door continuing her disguise as a guard.

'Be safe Lan. I love you.'

Her skills to blend in was well enough to not get caught. Lan made it past the guards, the dungeon she was to be held years ago, and towards the southern forest hill.

The journey back home took half a day. Arriving at the forest on the outskirts of Xia's capital, Lan goes to the bush where she hid her clothes and takes it out.

As she was about to take off her outer robe, her instinct stopped her. "You know, it's quite improper to watch someone change." Lan grabs her dagger and turns around. "Come out." From behind the tree in front of her, a dark figure comes out, small steps at a time..scared. The figure was short, disheveled.

"Sheng?" The kid retreats. Assuming her blade scared him, Lan puts it away, and slowly approach him. "Sheng? Why are you here?" She went in front and crouched down, "Is something the matter? How did you find me?"

Sheng doesn't answer, he shakes his head. "Didn't you go home? Your family?" Immediately, Sheng grabs her hand and begins to pull her towards a direction. Lan willingly follows. A bit taken back, but she follows.

Not before long, they arrive at an isolated hut. "Is this your house?" Sheng nods and brings her to it.

There, a pale older lady and a girl seemingly near Lan's age lay on the dirt floor. "Your mother and jiejie?" Sheng nods and points at them, "They won't wake up."

Understanding more, these ladies are sick. Lan asks, "How long ago have they been like this?" Sheng responds, "One week," and shows her the bag of bread, "they won't eat."

Lan rolls her sleeves up, "Sheng, I'll try my best to help them, can you go catch some water? Boil half of it, and leave the rest cool." As Sheng leaves, Lan began to think: If it's been a week, they won't have much longer. Here is an isolated place, going to get proper medicine will be risky.

Lan acknowledges her lack of knowledge in medicine, she only learned what's needed to be learned for battle...But she has to try to prolong these ladies' life so she can grab a proper doctor in time.

She lays the women to their side in case they choke on vomit. Then, Sheng came in at the right timing with the water, "Pour half of it in another bucket." Lan looks around for a towel--none. She tears her sleeves.

While boiling the other half of water, Sheng's shocked to hear a tearing sound from the miss's clothes. Lan soaks the fabric in the cool water and places it over their heads. With more tearing and soaking fabric, she tries to wipe the ladies' neck, shoulder, and back.

After, she went out to look for herbs nearby. It didn't take long for her to find a Meadowsweet herb. She tries to find more but it was the last of its own.

Lan went in and sat beside the mother. "Sheng, is the water ready?" He nods and brings it over to her. "Do you have two bowls?" He goes to the corner shelf and brings them to her.

Lan takes a piece of bread, tear out a small section, and places them into the bowl. She then crushed the plant between her palms and placed it in the bowl too. "Pour the water in. We'll leave it so the bread and herb can be soaked and melded."

With limited sources, Lan made a makeshift porridge/soup. As the fever slowly gets better, Lan feeds the mother, while Sheng, the sister. "They're a bit better now, but we still need to call in a doctor to be sure. I'll be back by sundown. Make sure you continue to wash the fabric with new wat-" Sheng holds Lan back and shakes his head. "Hm?", Lan's confused.

"No money," he said. Lan paused for a bit, realizing she's experiencing a real moment many people face--no money. She's been blessed to be a part of a high-status family but many more aren't as blessed as her...

Lan holds Sheng's hand and crouches down, "It's okay. Jiejie will take care of it. Your mom's and sister's life is priority okay?" He nods.

Lan leaves and enters the forest again. She realizes how good the kid was with directions. Out of habit, Lan counted her steps when arriving, but without that, it would've taken longer to find her way out.

Lan leads a doctor she found from the village to the hut. "The boy said they've been like this for a week. Their fever only just got better." The doctor examines the ladies. "Hmm...It is their fortune their fate allowed Young Master to come. Your treatment delayed further damage. They will get better with this," he hands Lan a bottle of medicine. "Have them drink this after meals three times a day. Their health should be nourished back soon enough."

Lan thanks the doctor and led him the way out. She walks back in and closes the door. "It's dark now. Go to sleep. I'll watch after them okay? I'll call you if I need your aid." Sheng nods.

"Why did the doctor call jiejie 'Young Master'?" Silence. Lan had forgotten she didn't change yet. How did he know?