"Is she still breathing?" Gu Youyou asked the maid from the Jie Residence.
The maid must have been terrified, shivering continuously.
"There’s... there’s a little breath. But her entire body has been burned beyond recognition; I’m afraid... she’s not going to make it."
"Hm, if she’s not going to make it, why did you call for me?"
This dangerous person should have been controlled a long time ago, letting her harm others is simply insane, and one wonders what was going through Lord Jie’s head. It wasn’t long ago that the second son of the Jie Family was nearly stabbed to death by her, and now, she has caused a fire.
"It was the Second Young Master who asked this servant to invite Doctor Gu," the maid said with a mournful face.
Gu Youyou sneered, "Still lingering feelings or what?"
By the time she spoke, they had already arrived at the Jie Residence.
Gu Youyou followed the leading maid into the inner courtyard at a brisk pace. It was still dark outside, and the servants were holding torches. When they reached the woodshed where Concubine Du was being held, Gu Youyou saw that the fire had already been put out.
The woodshed was gone, and several nearby servants’ quarters had also been burned. Now the area was in ruins.
Lord Jie, the Second Young Master, and Xie Qinyun were all at the scene.
Xie Qinyun was cursing nonstop, while the Second Young Master stood by, looking stupefied.
Lord Jie seemed to have aged several years overnight, continuously sighing.
Only when he saw Gu Youyou did he muster some energy to approach her.
"Doctor Gu, it’s always a bother to have you come over to the residence, I am truly ashamed."
Although Gu Youyou wasn’t happy about being called upon, she still showed respect to Lord Jie and replied, "Lord Jie speaks too seriously, saving lives and healing the sick is the healer’s duty. Let’s have a look at the injured first."
In a room for servants, five people were lying on a large bed, all with varying degrees of burn injuries. Gu Youyou inspected each one and found that the two most severely burned had already died.
The other two were also close to death; the only one who might be saved was likely to live a life worse than death.
The time Concubine Du had her deathwish, everyone was asleep, and it was during the deepest part of sleep. Coupled with the remoteness of the woodshed, by the time everyone discovered the fire and came to rescue, it was already too late.
She ordered the people to carry out the two who had stopped breathing and then turned her attention to the remaining three.
All three were disfigured beyond recognition. She asked, "Which one of these is Concubine Du?"
Xie Qinyun, still cursing, pointed at the woman with the least severe injuries and said, "Her, this bitch, she burned others to death while she can still breathe."
Gu Youyou: "..." thought to herself how fortunate her life was.
Is it the saying ’Good people do not live long, but scoundrels live a thousand years’?
She looked at Lord Jie and said, "These two are beyond help, it is just a matter of time before they stop breathing. I think Concubine Du is rather lucky, perhaps she could survive. However, she has been burned beyond recognition, and even if she survives, life might be worse than death for her. Lord Jie, do you still want me to save her?"
Before Lord Jie could respond, the dazed Second Young Master took over.
"Save her, of course, save her." He said through clenched teeth, his eyes shot with malice, his whole body trembling with excitement.
"Please, Doctor Gu, make sure you save her!"
She wants to die here, but they cannot let her have her way. She thinks to live as a person of the Jie Family, die as a ghost of the Jie Family, right? He insists on her living only to be discarded.
Seeing the gloom on the Second Young Master’s face, Gu Youyou realized that his feelings for Concubine Du were not of lingering affection, but of utter hatred. Even if she wanted to die, he would not let her die at the Jie Residence.
One must admit, the man was ruthless.