Zheng Qian dressed Xiao Zhan in a surgical outfit.
The uniforms used by space military medics were gray—long-sleeved tops and trousers, with an additional outer coat. Unexpectedly, they looked quite similar to what men wore in ancient times.
Zheng Qian had dozens of these outfits—more than enough for Xiao Zhan to change into.
Finally wearing something proper, Xiao Zhan felt much more at ease.
He followed Zheng Qian around her space, strolling casually like a commander inspecting his domain. With his cool, detached expression, he even resembled her old boss when he was putting on airs.
"…This is anesthetic," Zheng Qian explained. "I have over a hundred thousand doses."
Her pharmacy alone could equip a large modern hospital—there was an overwhelming supply of medicines and equipment.
"Since coming to your era, the things I use most are anesthetics, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs," she said. "For everything else, your physicians' remedies are often more effective. Of course, I just haven't encountered certain illnesses yet."
"Your era?" Xiao Zhan asked.
"Stop pretending. You don't really believe I'm the original Zheng Qian, do you?" she said.
Xiao Zhan fell silent.
After a moment, he continued walking beside her as they wandered through the vast space.
It was enormous.
Finally, he asked, "Are you… like me? Borrowing someone else's body?"
"Yes."
"Then who were you originally? You look exactly like Zheng Qian, but I don't look like this cat," he said.
Zheng Qian gave a wry smile. "I've always looked like this. Besides, this space is locked to my genetic code. Maybe Zheng Qian was my past life—otherwise I wouldn't be able to access it."
Xiao Zhan frowned, unable to understand.
"Living people can't enter someone else's space—their genetic codes are different," Zheng Qian continued. "You and the cat… probably don't count as alive."
Xiao Zhan paused. "You speak of this without fear?"
She showed no reverence toward spirits or the supernatural.
"Fear what? You think you can cause trouble in my territory?" she shot back.
Xiao Zhan: "…"
At that moment, Zheng Qian tilted her head, listening.
"Mei'er!" someone called urgently from outside.
It was Zheng Chi.
Within her space, Zheng Qian could shift positions—but only within a limited range of about a hundred meters.
Recognizing Zheng Chi's voice, she grabbed the cat and hurried to the farthest edge. With a thought, she exited the space.
She appeared behind a tree.
Zheng Chi was searching anxiously.
"Big Brother!" she called.
He rushed over, grabbing her hand and examining her carefully. "Are you hurt?"
After long practice, Zheng Chi could now run with ease thanks to his lightweight prosthetic.
His eyes were filled with worry.
"I'm fine," Zheng Qian said. "Yu Zhong arrived in time."
"You knew there was danger—how could you risk yourself like that?" Zheng Chi scolded.
"There's no way to guard against thieves forever. I needed to see what Zheng Hao and Zheng Yutan were planning," she replied.
She glanced past him at the two unconscious kidnappers.
"Are they dead?"
"Just knocked out."
"And my maid?"
"She's safe. I sent her to the Wen family temporarily," Zheng Chi said.
"The Wen family?"
"If we couldn't find you tonight, I planned to have them claim you were staying there," he explained. "As for the driver—he was Zheng Hao's man. I've already dealt with him."
Zheng Qian laughed softly. "But Zheng Hao and the others know."
"They won't dare speak of it," Zheng Chi said.
Their emotions gradually settled as they talked.
Zheng Chi took several deep breaths to calm his racing heart. When he first arrived, he had been terrified.
Fortunately, she had hidden.
He didn't even ask how she escaped, why she stayed nearby instead of fleeing—those questions slipped his mind entirely.
"Let's tie these two up and question them," Zheng Qian said.
Zheng Chi nodded to Yu Zhong and Shi Yong.
Shi Yong carried the two men onto a carriage. Yu Zhong drove. Zheng Qian and the cat rode with Zheng Chi to a nearby estate.
"…This is part of our mother's dowry estate," Zheng Chi explained. "The land isn't very fertile, so it hasn't been sold. I have a courtyard here—we'll stay for now."
Zheng Qian glanced at him.
Something felt slightly off.
Zheng Chi avoided her gaze.
Inside the courtyard, Shi Yong carried both men into a side room.
There was no sound—but half an hour later, Shi Yong emerged.
"They've confessed, Young Master, Miss."
"A hidden chamber?" Zheng Qian asked.
"Yes."
She nodded, understanding why she hadn't heard anything.
Shi Yong relayed everything the kidnappers had said.
After listening, Zheng Chi said, "You should return home. I'll deal with them."
Zheng Qian shook her head. "No. I'll stay and see if Zheng Hao and Zheng Yutan come in three days as planned."
Zheng Chi studied her. "Should I arrange for Father to witness it?"
"No. I just want to see their expressions when they realize the truth," she said.
Unable to persuade her, Zheng Chi arranged for her to stay in the hidden chamber, then returned to the Marquis residence.
When he returned alone, Zheng Hao was informed immediately.
Zheng Hao relaxed. "Looks like the plan worked. Once Zheng Chi lets his guard down, we'll head to the estate."
Zheng Yutan felt uneasy. "Brother, hasn't it already been exposed? If Zheng Qian dies, Zheng Chi will know it was us."
"So what if he knows?" Zheng Hao sneered. "He's no longer the heir. What is there to fear? Even if he can stand again, he's still crippled."
Zheng Yutan remained cautious.
Just as they were about to report the matter and have Zheng Qian's courtyard searched, Madam Wen arrived in person.
"…My daughter insisted on keeping Mei'er for a visit. The girls went to the estate to pick osmanthus flowers," Madam Wen explained. "I couldn't stop them, so I came to inform you."
Zheng Yutan was furious.
The Wen family was covering for Zheng Qian.
The excuse was flawless—any objection would expose her.
So she swallowed her anger.
"Picking flowers? Fine. Then you won't be coming back," she thought coldly.
Zheng Hao was also annoyed—the plan to ruin Zheng Qian's reputation had failed.
Ever since she saved Wen Zhao, the Wen family had supported her.
She had to be eliminated soon.
On the third night, Zheng Hao secretly left for the estate.
He asked Zheng Yutan to come along.
She wanted Zheng Qian dead—but not at the cost of her own safety.
"Go yourself," she said. "If anything goes wrong, we'll both be implicated. Just don't kill her immediately. Carve three cuts into her face for me… then burn her alive."
Zheng Hao agreed.
He slipped out through a side gate, changed carriages multiple times, and headed toward the estate—believing his plan flawless.
But the moment he left—
Zheng Chi also set out with his men.