It’s confirmed that it’s absolutely impossible for it to be the original owner. Since Shen Qian’s soul is in Xiao Die’s body, then most likely the soul in Fu Chang Bo’s eldest gongzi’s body is Xiao Die’s soul, right? 

Why not give it a try to find out? 

Shen Qian suggested to the system, “How about you send my soul back to the bureau first, then send Xiao Die’s soul back to her original body, and we can retire again?” 

The system replied, “That’s not possible. The system only has a contract with you, and it can’t move other people’s souls.” 

Shen Qian was frustrated, “So as long as the soul in the eldest gongzi’s body doesn’t leave, I can’t go over there, right?” But if that soul is Xiao Die, and he’s occupying Xiao Die’s body, how can Xiao Die’s soul return to her own body? 

It seemed like an unsolvable deadlock, and Shen Qian was too tired to keep entangling with it. “I’m very dissatisfied with the after-sales service and retirement benefits this time. I apply to change to another world and another identity.” 

However, the system’s voice became elusive, sometimes coming from the left, sometimes from the right, clearly feeling guilty to the extreme, “This… is not possible. And this time, the soul displacement might not necessarily be the system’s fault; it could be due to some event happening in this world itself.” 

Seeing Shen Qian’s increasingly dark expression, the system’s voice grew smaller and smaller, quickly saying, “This is the first time the system has encountered such a situation. The system will quickly investigate and find a solution. Please bear with it for a couple of days, and the system will give you a response within three working days!” 

After saying that, no matter how Shen Qian summoned it, there was no response, and it went offline. 

Shen Qian: “…” 

So annoying! Always hiding when there’s trouble! He’s been bound to such an unreliable thing for over three hundred years! 

But after all, they’ve worked together for three hundred years. Although they often dislike each other, there’s still some trust between them. Shen Qian wasn’t really afraid that the system would ignore him; he was just planning in his heart to ask for some benefits when the time came. He didn’t necessarily have to change identities; he just set the bar high first to make it easier to negotiate later. 

He’s quite a cunning tasker. 

In the past, in the task world, the system would occasionally issue small tasks, and after earning points, he could exchange them for items or other rewards. But in the retirement world, there were no such golden fingers, and he was quite unaccustomed to not having some items he was used to. 

He had already planned in his mind how to extort the system, so he didn’t continue to shrink under the covers. At this moment, his hair was still half-wet and uncomfortable, so he wrapped himself in a blanket, sat up, and dried his hair by the charcoal brazier while observing the commotion in the inner room. 

There had been a commotion in the inner room earlier, but Shen Qian was busy talking to the system and didn’t pay attention to what happened. Now the room had quieted down. After a while, Zhan’er came out with a pale face, with faint tear marks on her face. Seeing Shen Qian sitting up, she forced a smile and said, “You’re awake. Are you feeling okay? Gongzi has been having a fever, and I couldn’t attend to you for a while.” 

In this courtyard, naturally, the master’s life is the most important. It’s not that Zhan’er and the others were negligent; even the real Xiao Die would think it’s only right. 

Shen Qian was concerned about the body that originally belonged to him and asked, “How is gongzi?” 

As soon as he said this, tears rolled down Zhan’er’s eyes, “The high fever won’t go down, and he doesn’t recognize people anymore. Just now, he pointed at me and asked who I was. He woke up for a while, babbled a lot of nonsense, and even smashed some things. Now he’s fainted again.” She wiped her tears with a handkerchief, “If this delay continues, he’ll be burned out. If something happens to gongzi, how will we face Furen in the afterlife?” 

… Doesn’t recognize people anymore? Shen Qian frowned and walked into the inner room with a serious face. 

Fu Chang Bo’s eldest gongzi lay on the bed, covered with two thick quilts, yet it was still evident that this body was thin and frail, like a thin, gradually lifeless withered leaf. 

His appearance was delicate and handsome, and now his face was flushed red from the fever, adding to his beauty, like the last bloom before a flower withers. 

Shen Qian touched his forehead and quietly checked his pulse—if there was a thermometer, it would probably be over forty degrees. 

This can’t go on. This is the ancient times with backward medical care, where a cold could be fatal. Shen Qian’s face was heavy. If the eldest gongzi died from this high fever, he might have to retire in this little servant’s body—that’s the optimistic view; he might end up dying with this body. 

“Has no one reported to Boye?” Shen Qian asked the maids and servants guarding the bedside. 

Everyone looked at Zhan’er, clearly indicating that Zhan’er was in charge in this courtyard. She shook her head with tears, “We begged and asked Xiao Wan’s uncle outside to find Boye, but he was stopped by the people around Liu Yiniang at Yuxiang Pavilion, saying that Boye and Liu Yiniang were going to spend the night at another courtyard after listening to the opera at Yuxiang Pavilion today, and no matter how big the matter, it shouldn’t disturb Boye’s enjoyment.” 

Xiao Wan is a house-born servant in the residence, and her uncle works outside the residence as a small steward. He was reluctant to go, but after being begged by his nephew, he went unwillingly, only to be met with a bellyful of anger and a good scolding, and he came back saying not to ask him for such thankless tasks again. 

Shen Qian sneered in his heart: No matter how big the matter? If the emperor summoned, would they dare to stop it like this? It’s just that they don’t care about the eldest gongzi and are deliberately causing trouble! 

Although he didn’t successfully receive the original owner’s memories, he had read the introduction about Fu Chang Bo’s eldest gongzi when choosing an identity. 

This body is only seventeen years old this year. Five years ago, less than seven days after his mother, Fu Chang Bo Furen Guan Yunying, passed away, Fu Chang Bo brought back a mistress and two illegitimate sons he had kept outside into the residence. 

This mistress was originally from a brothel, known for her good singing of southern tunes, and became somewhat famous in the capital at the age of eleven or twelve. Later, when she started receiving guests, Fu Chang Bo bought her freedom on the first day and kept her in another courtyard, showering her with love. After the original wife passed away, Fu Chang Bo didn’t remarry but handed over the management of the inner residence to this mistress, who is now Liu Yiniang. 

Since the death of the Furen, the eldest gongzi’s various difficult situations have had the shadow of this Liu Yiniang and the two illegitimate brothers, naturally also closely related to Fu Chang Bo’s neglect. Shen Qian recalled the heavy push on his lower back when he first came through; how could it be such a coincidence? It must have been planned long ago! 

With the person in charge of the residence absent, delaying the time without calling a doctor, the eldest gongzi might die from illness if it drags on. Even if he doesn’t die, his vitality will be greatly damaged. If such methods are used several times, sooner or later, they’ll wear him out. 

Shen Qian took a deep breath and started searching the room. 

“What are you looking for? I’ll help you.” Zhan’er came over. For some reason, she felt that Xiao Die had changed a lot since falling into the water. The small round face that often hung with a cheerful smile had become much more stern, but it seemed more decisive. 

“Looking for money. Where is gongzi’s monthly allowance kept?” Shen Qian picked up a hair tie and randomly tied up his freshly dried hair, “This can’t go on. Gongzi’s body can’t take it. I need to go out of the residence to find a doctor.” 

Zhan’er and the other maids and servants were shocked. In a high-ranking noble family like Fu Chang Bo’s residence, there are many rules. As servants serving the inner household, they usually can’t even go out of the second gate, let alone leave the residence to go to the street. Zhan’er stammered, “How are you going to get out? Even if you go out and find a doctor, you can’t bring them in, can you?” 

In the past, if a master in the residence fell ill, they would take a post to the imperial hospital to invite an imperial physician. Even if some slightly respectable servants fell ill, they could invite a low-ranking young imperial physician. 

All the noble families in the capital do this, and since imperial physicians are considered outsiders, they need to notify each courtyard to close their doors before they arrive. 

Maids and servants are not allowed to run around, and female family members must avoid them to prevent any offense, only allowing older women to lead the way. 

Even for imperial physicians with rank, it’s like this. Now, with no one in charge of the residence, who would dare let a little servant casually bring a civilian doctor into the residence? 

“There must be a dog hole in this residence, right? If not, you guys cover for me, and I’ll climb a tree and jump over the wall.” 

Shen Qian tied the straps on his clothes, “We won’t bring the doctor in, just have them prescribe medicine, and we’ll brew it ourselves. It’s for treating a cold and fever anyway. I also fell into the water today, so let the doctor use my pulse as a reference to prescribe some mild medicine. It’s better than letting gongzi suffer. As for inviting a doctor, we’ll talk about it when Boye returns tomorrow.” 

Actually, he had secretly checked the eldest gongzi’s pulse earlier and had a good idea of the pulse condition. 

Zhan’er pondered for a while, and Shen Qian was already dressed and ready, just waiting for her to bring the money. She gritted her teeth and finally agreed, “There’s no other way now.” 

Zhan’er opened a cabinet, and inside were only a few scattered pieces of silver and two strings of copper coins. The monthly allowance for the gongzi of the residence is ten taels, but since the Furen passed away, and the management of the household was handed over to Liu Yiniang, the monthly allowance for Ganlin Courtyard has often been short, and this time it hasn’t been issued for three to five months. 

In addition, some opportunistic people won’t do anything without a bribe, and money flows out like water, even the savings from previous years have been emptied, leaving only this little bit. 

Zhan’er put all the money from the cabinet into a pouch, fearing it wouldn’t be enough, she also took off a silver bracelet from her wrist and put it in. She handed the pouch to Shen Qian, “Go quickly and come back soon, don’t play around outside, and make sure to prioritize gongzi’s health.” 

Shen Qian gave her a long look, “Don’t worry.” That’s his own body, who could be more concerned than him? 

Zhan’er felt a bit dazed, thinking that in just half a day, this little brother seemed different, as if he had suddenly grown up and become more reliable. 

Before leaving, Shen Qian glanced back at the person lying on the bed. His cheeks were flushed red, and his eyelids twitched uneasily, as if he might wake up at any moment. Shen Qian remembered that one word, “Presumptuous”… 

That wasn’t the attitude Xiao Die should have towards Zhan’er. If it were the real Xiao Die, how could he not recognize her? 

Whose soul is really in this body?