Li Minghua

Duke Li Shenyang walked towards the edge of the forest as a group of servants accompanied him. 

With each passing step, he felt his heart getting more uneasy. He didn't know why, but he suddenly felt antsy and nervous, as if something was wrong. He tried to brush his fears aside, but every few seconds, it would rush back to him. 

Duke Li Shenyang was not surprised to see an enormous fallen tree blocking their path. Instead, he climbed over it with ease and was startled when he nearly stepped onto something abnormally shaped and covered with leaves. 

His eyes widened briefly before returning to normal. He inspected the object and saw it was the length of a human body. Why didn't the servants remove the leaves from the body? 

Duke Li Shenyang sighed. It was probably because they were too scared to touch a lifeless body. 

Unlike most silver-spooned men, Duke Li Shenyang was not afraid to get his hands dirty. His favorite sport, after all, was hunting.

Duke Li Shenyang breathed in and mentally prepared himself for the sight he was about to witness. But nothing in this world could prepare him for what was about to come next. 

Using a handkerchief, he pulled the leaves back. His breath was caught in his throat. His entire body stiffened in shock.

Dried blood stuck to her forehead and a trail of it stained her pale eyelids. Her blue lips were bruised and split. Her paperwhite skin gave her the appearance of a ghost. The mangled hair didn't help her case. That wasn't the most startling thing about her. 

It was her stark resemblance to his daughter, Li Minghua.

The servants behind him gasped in equal surprise. They covered their mouth in shock and glanced at each other, almost to confirm they all saw the same thing. Indeed they had. This unconscious girl resembled their Young Miss. 

"Minghua?" Duke Li Shenyang breathed out the forbidden name of his daughter. He never dared to mention her name in front of his wife, in fear of further breaking the poor woman. 

He thought to himself in disbelief, 'This is impossible. Not a single servant had survived that night. Her ashes weren't even found!' 

He felt as if he had gone insane. Was this a hallucination caused by his pitiful mourning? Were his own eyes playing tricks on him?

Duke Li Shenyang raised his head and saw the flabbergasted expression of his servants. He wasn't the only one who saw the similarity. 

"Master Li, the girl is still breathing!" a servant immediately called out. With shaky fingers, he pointed towards Xueyue's chest. 

Everyone's eyes snapped towards it. Slowly it rose and slowly it fell back down. 

Duke Li Shenyang observed the dried blood and bruises covering her face. What exactly happened to this poor girl? There was also a small pool of blood under her head, the color so faint, that he nearly missed it. It was a damn miracle for her to be alive, that was for sure. 

He pulled back the leaves a bit more to reveal her plain white hanfu. It was so simple that it could be mistaken for a servant's attire. 

His lips thinned. 

If she was beaten to this extent, she must've failed her duty as a servant and did something wrong. He wondered what sin had she committed to be beaten to this near-death state. 

Duke Li Shenyang decided to not waste any more time. In a stern and unforgiving voice, he commanded, "Bring her back to the manor and immediately call forth the best doctor in town." 

At the strict voice of their Master, the servants immediately regained their posture. A few made preparations to pick her up without reluctance or hesitation. 

The Li Family might've treated their servants well, but that didn't mean they effortlessly accepted mistakes. They carefully carried the woman in the direction of the manor while a few servants hurried to the city to call forth Doctor Ye. 

While his servants took the girl home, Duke Li Shenyang pondered over what he should tell his wife. His brows were drawn together as a frown marred his face. 

Whatever the Duchess's reaction was, he hoped it would be a good one. The worst that could happen was sending the unconscious girl out of the Li Manor… 

With how much the girl resembled their daughter, Li Minghua, Duke Li Shenyang had hoped this girl would be able to cheer up his wife. He dearly missed her shy laughter and pleasant smile. Ever since the tragic death of Li Minghua, Duchess Wang Qixing was rarely ever happy. The only time she would smile was in front of their sons.

Duke Li Shenyang sighed. His morals told him he couldn't just leave a near-death girl near the outskirts of his manor. If such a thing was to happen, rumors would spread and his reputation would be stained. 

- - - - -

Within the Eastern Wing of the Li Manor...

"Doctor Ye, how is her condition?" Duke Li Shenyang asked the fragile old man in front of him.

Doctor Ye glanced up after examining the poor girl. With a sorrowful expression, he slowly shook his head in dismay. 

"Her condition is horrible. She has broken bones on her left arm and right leg, but I was able to crack it into place. 

"She has suffered an incredible hit to the back of her head, which I've stitched up. I've done the best I can to heal this girl and only time will tell when she will wake up," Doctor Ye explained to Duke Li Shenyang. 

Doctor Ye motioned for his apprentice who stepped forward with a tray of medicine. "Try to get a servant to trickle this down her throat three times a day. These are the bandages that would need to be changed at least three times a day. After the first day, monitor the drainage, and continue to change it." 

One of Duke Li Shenyang's servants stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the tray of medicine while keeping a dutiful ear open to the instructions.

Doctor Ye continued, "Based on her bruises and the strike towards the head, she was most likely severely beaten by someone. It's a miracle she had survived such a heavy blow towards her head."

"She was lucky to be covered by those leaves. Without it, the heavy rain from the prior night would've given her hypothermia. She could've died," Doctor Ye informed the Duke who contemplated his words. 

Duke Li Shenyang's eyes trailed towards the girl's cleaned face. The blood was washed off of her face and though some ugly bruises were covering her soft features, it was evident she was a very beautiful girl.

In a patient and understanding voice, Duke Li Shenyang asked, "When will she wake up?" 

Doctor Ye hummed for a few seconds and ran a hand through his long, white beard. "Based on her current condition, I can't make a proper prediction. If she doesn't wake up within one week, please fetch for me. I would need to check on her condition then to see if the medicine is working or not," he informed the Duke who pondered the words.

After a few seconds, the Doctor asked, "Will that be all?"

"That will be all." The Duke solidly nodded his head.

Doctor Ye motioned for his apprentice to come forward. Together, they cupped their hands and bowed deeply. "I will take my leave then," he said.

"Thank you, Doctor Ye." Duke Li Shenyang bid the doctor goodbye as a few servants guided the aging man out of the door.

Once they were gone, Duke Li Shenyang let out a heavy sigh. He walked towards the girl and gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed. After a few seconds of observing her features, he felt his heart painfully clench. There were similarities between her and his daughter, but not enough that you can't tell them apart. 

Duke Li Shenyang decided it was time to leave. He walked out of the door and strolled down the open hallways that revealed the manor's expansive garden and enormous pond. It was time to share the news with his wife.