Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Injured (4)
Xiqiu said, seemingly with a smile: "Just sitting like this?" Nanny Lin’s expression froze. She couldn’t help but suspect that Sixth Miss knew everything, but apart from her and the eldest Miss, no one was aware of it, not even the Lady. How could Sixth Miss know this?
Nanny Lin showed rare signs of nervousness. Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Yanyi and a man dressed in dark lotus color walking briskly towards them on the only path outside Lingbo Hall...
From a distance, Xiao Yanyi saw Xiqiu standing inside the pavilion, wearing thin clothing, being held by Nanny Lin, seemingly in a bad mood.
He hesitated, glancing at the Third Prince beside him. At this moment, the Third Prince was also watching eagerly the scene in the pavilion, then turned back to Xiao Yanyi, his eyes full of teasing...
Xiao Yanyi’s face immediately turned ugly.
Tong Xiyu was initially pleased to see Xiao Yanyi’s face, but seeing the man beside Xiao Yanyi, her expression stiffened, and she hesitantly turned back to look at Xiqiu.
Attempt to avoid? Unless you hide in the woods!
Xiqiu turned her face away, avoiding gazing at her.
"Nanny Lin..." Tong Xiyu, scared, glanced again at Nanny Lin. Nanny Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, just about to speak, when she saw Sixth Miss Qiu already lifting her skirt, leading Xi’er out of the pavilion.
Nanny Lin froze, watching in surprise as Sixth Miss, full of smiles, went to greet the master-in-law, squatting to salute him, and also paid respect to the person beside him. The Third Prince looked at Sixth Miss with a smile and asked Xiao Yanyi: "Who is this?" His gaze wandered over Xiqiu’s face, her bright eyes and white teeth, with a flush emerging on her fair cheeks, truly a beauty of national grace. The Third Prince’s gaze then fell on Xiqiu’s attire, wearing a plain goose-yellow overcoat but a moon-white gauze skirt beneath, dressing somewhat oddly, not like a woman yet wearing a woman’s skirt. The Third Prince’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, his gaze shifting to the unremarkable-looking young girl, about eight or nine years old, behind Xiqiu. Her demeanor suggests a maid’s role, but she’s dressed more lavishly than a miss.
Xiqiu sneaked a glance at Xiao Yanyi, with her cheeks slightly red, looking bashful, as she answered the Third Prince: "I’m from the Tong Family!"
The Third Prince responded with an enlightened "Oh", then remarked to Xiao Yanyi: "So it’s your wife’s sister!" Xiao Yanyi, at this moment, was surprised at Xiqiu’s unusual behavior, nodding mutteringly to ask Xiqiu: "Why is Sixth Sister here?" He glanced nervously at the Third Prince.
The Third Prince’s preferences were no longer a secret, especially when Sixth Sister looked like this... Why would she come here for no reason?
Xiqiu also avoided looking at the Third Prince, lowering her head and said: "Elder Sister asked Nanny Lin to accompany my eighth sister and me to stroll in the garden. We got tired, so Nanny Lin brought us to the pavilion to rest."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanyi’s face changed. Tong Xihua had known about the Third Prince’s visit to the mansion long ago, but why did she invite her sister to visit, and even let Nanny Lin bring them here? What is she planning!
At this moment, Nanny Lin accompanied Tong Xiyu over, Tong Xiyu squatting to salute, while behind her, Nanny Lin led the maids and women to kneel down noisily.
"I’ll escort the guests. You and Eighth Sister sit for a while and then go back!" Xiao Yanyi said to Xiqiu: "The wind is strong here, better not stay long since Sixth Sister has leg issues!"
The Third Prince’s gaze landed on Tong Xiyu, raising his eyebrows slightly, then back to Xiqiu, seemingly comparing. Xiao Yanyi, with an unpleasant expression, crossed his hands in front of him in invitation: "Please!"
"Good!" The Third Prince smiled slightly, then looked at Xiqiu: "If Sixth Miss wants to return, why not travel with us?"
This was an invitation. Nanny Lin laughed, but Xiao Yanyi’s face turned pale instantly.
Xiqiu seemed completely oblivious, looking ambiguously at Xiao Yanyi, seeking his agreement. This glance made Xiao Yanyi pause, that look... clearly containing a bit of admiration. But in a blink, when he tried to confirm, Xiqiu had already lowered her face again, as if that glance had just been his illusion.
The Third Prince noticed it too!
He furrowed his brow tightly, recalling that Xiao Yanyi’s wife lay sick in bed, yet the cousin was freely moving about the mansion...
His smile diminished slightly, hearing Xiqiu replied: "Then I respectfully accept!"
Indeed, that’s the case!
Nanny Lin’s eyes almost popped out, clutching the handkerchief without understanding which play Sixth Miss was enacting, especially that quick look Sixth Miss gave the master-in-law. Though brief, she saw it clearly, how did she not anticipate that Sixth Miss harbored such thoughts!
Nanny Lin, unable to speak due to anger, hoped even more that the Third Prince would fancy Xiqiu.
But things didn’t go as intended. Just as Xiqiu moved aside to give way to the Third Prince and Xiao Yanyi, her body suddenly wobbled without warning. Xiao Yanyi swiftly caught Xiqiu and asked: "What’s wrong?"
Xiqiu, blushing, avoided Xiao Yanyi, lowering her head: "It’s nothing, just had a bit of pain in my leg."
Chunyan rushed forward nervously, supporting Xiqiu. Xiao Yanyi frowned and said: "Go sit in the pavilion and rest for a while."
Xiqiu obediently nodded, Chunyan and Xi’er helped her into the pavilion. Chunyan knelt to rub Xiqiu’s knee and suddenly exclaimed: "Miss, your leg is swollen so much!"
This exclamation was heard by everyone outside, prompting Xiao Yanyi to frown and ask: "What’s happening?" Chunyan, eyes reddening, knelt on the ground: "Miss complained of knee pain in the morning, it’s usual but didn’t pay much attention, little did we expect it to swell like this now..."
Xiao Yanyi nodded, instructing the attendant beside him: "Fetch a sedan chair to take Sixth Miss to Chang Garden to rest, then go to the outer court to ask Chief Zhao to take a token to the palace to summon an Imperial Physician." After speaking, he turned apologetically to the Third Prince: "My apologies, this..."
The Third Prince looked ambiguously at the visibly tense Xiao Yanyi, showing an expression of realization, and waved his hand: "You attend to your matters, I’m fine!"
His expression startled Xiao Yanyi, who then recalled Xiqiu’s earlier expression. He had a sudden insight and said: "Go to the outer court and find Fourth Master, let him escort the distinguished guest!" The servant complied, and Xiao Yanyi apologetically whispered: "Your Highness, please wait a moment!"
Seeming very nervous about Xiqiu’s illness, even more significant than the Third Prince.
The Third Prince raised an eyebrow, glanced at Xiqiu, and teasingly said: "This place is pleasant, thus if time is delayed, it’s worthwhile!" He then sighed secretly: "What a pity..."
Xiao Yanyi listened, furrowing his brow intensely.
In a flash, Fourth Master Xiao strode from the outer court. Xiao Yanyi approached, saying to him: "Escort the Third Prince." Fourth Master’s brows furrowed slightly, noticing Xiqiu sitting in the pavilion. His eyes slightly lowered before quickly shifting to speak to the Third Prince: "Third Prince, please!"