Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Injured (1)
The three of them walked out one after the other, and Chunyan, Xi’er, and Nanny Song, who were waiting at the door, came up to meet them. Tong Xiyu was surrounded by her maids as they headed towards the courtyard...
Standing at the courtyard gate, Qingshuang, who had been waiting for a while, quickly stepped back a few paces and turned to run the other way when she saw them coming out!
Seven or eight maids stood on both sides of the courtyard, and upon seeing the two young ladies coming, they all crouched down to salute and called, "Good day, Miss from our family." Xiqiu smiled at them and surprisingly went up to a little maid holding half a bucket of water, her hair in a spiral bun, with thick eyebrows and eyes, without leaving her head. Xiqiu said with a smile, "I’m often here, you don’t need to keep such formalities. Go on with your work!" The little maid was startled, her face turning red, as she lowered her head. Xiqiu looked at her with a smile, while Xi’er giggled as she drew closer, holding the little maid’s hand and said, "You look so pretty, how old are you?"
The little maid was still afraid of Xiqiu but instantly showed a childlike smile when she saw Xi’er, "I’m seven, how old are you?"
Xiqiu naturally let go of the little maid’s hand but stood close by, seemingly pleased to hear Xi’er chatting with the maid.
"Then we are the same age. When is your birthday?" The little maid replied August, to which Xi’er laughed, "Then I am older than you, I was born in June!" Saying this, Xi’er looked at the bucket the little maid was holding, raising her hand to take it, "Where are you taking this, sister? Let me help you!"
The little maid frowned and quickly glanced at Nanny Lin, "I’m taking it to the back courtyard. I dare not trouble you, Miss." Xi’er, looking eager to help, insisted on taking the wooden bucket, while Xiqiu coldly stared at Xi’er and reprimanded, "What nonsense are you doing!"
Startled, Xi’er let go of the bucket, which immediately fell to the ground, and the spilled water splashed everywhere, even leaving a few muddy spots on Xiqiu’s long skirt. Xi’er and the little maid were frightened, kneeling at once, "It’s our fault!"
Xiqiu frowned slightly, and Chunyan twisted Xi’er’s hair bun, scolding, "Look at yourself! The young lady should never have brought you out."
Xi’er had a tearful face.
Nanny Lin also frowned fiercely, pointing at the little maid with the bucket, "No manners, hurry and get out of here!" The little maid, frightened, quickly picked up the empty wooden bucket and ran shakily to the back courtyard. Nanny Lin smiled and spoke to Xiqiu, "Sixth Miss, are you alright?"
Xiqiu put on a troubled look, pointing at her skirt, "I might need to trouble you to help me borrow a skirt from my elder sister to change into."
"This is easily done!" Nanny Lin showed a troubled expression, just then the curtain of the main room lifted and Maid Qiuping came out, standing on the steps, asking, "Second Madam inquires, what happened to make such noise?"
Nanny Lin took a few steps forward and replied, "Qingsui spilled the bucket, also wetting Sixth Miss’s skirt... Please let Second Madam know if there is an appropriate skirt for Sixth Miss to change into." Maid Qiuping’s gaze fell on Xiqiu’s skirt, and from a distance, she bowed slightly towards Xiqiu, "Sixth Miss, please wait a moment." Then she returned to the main room.
The courtyard was quiet, Chunyan released Xi’er, who started to wipe Xiqiu’s skirt with a handkerchief, repeatedly apologizing, while Xiqiu lifted her up, smoothing the bun on her head, and smiled, "It’s a small matter, no need to be so tense!"
Nanny Lin’s eyes flickered. It was said that Sixth Miss was considerate towards the servants, and it was indeed true. Despite the little maid being so unruly and careless, Sixth Miss still kept her around.
Upon reflection, she thought of Xiqiu’s status. Even if she was displeased, she likely dared not scold the maids in front of the young mistress for fear of being called domineering!
Just then, Maid Qiuping came out again, holding a moon-white gauze skirt, and handed it to Chunyan, smiling at Xiqiu, "Let me accompany you to change, Miss." Then she turned back to Tong Xiyu, "Please wait a moment, Eighth Miss."
Xiqiu also smiled apologetically at Tong Xiyu, as she followed Maid Qiuping back up the steps and turned into the corridor, asking as she walked, "Why haven’t I seen Xing?!"
Maid Qiuping replied with a smile, "He just fell asleep before you arrived, and this morning he was taken to the front courtyard by the Second Young Master to..." She suddenly paused, not finishing the sentence. Xiqiu’s eyes flickered, acting as if she had not noticed, she asked, "I haven’t seen him for some time, has he grown bigger and stronger?"
Maid Qiuping breathed a sigh of relief as she saw that Xiqiu did not pursue further, "Yes, quite healthy, cries and makes a fuss about eating all day." Xiqiu covered her mouth with her sleeve, laughing, as they arrived at the entrance of the west wing. Maid Qiuping opened the door for Xiqiu, who said at the door, "Let Chunyan attend to me, no need to trouble you, Maid Qiuping."
Perhaps it’s unaccustomed! Without much thought, Maid Qiuping nodded with a smile, "Then I’ll wait outside here for Miss from our family." Saying this, she shut the door for Xiqiu.
With the door closed, Xiqiu’s face turned grim, and Chunyan noticed something peculiar. With a trembled voice, she asked Xiqiu, "Miss, why do I feel the young mistress is acting strange?" Suddenly calling the young lady to talk but not saying much, then having her stroll in the garden. Every time we’ve come, she always prepares a room for the lady to rest, yet this time she had the lady go for a walk.
Also, Second Miss Xiao, she always comes to greet and chat with the lady whenever she visits, yet this time she hasn’t appeared, could it be Second Miss Xiao is unaware of the lady’s visit?
Thinking about it made her forehead break out in cold sweat. She didn’t know what scared her, but her heart couldn’t help but jump in fright!
Xiqiu’s expression was heavy without a word, thinking of what Maid Qiuping just mentioned, "Xing was taken to the front courtyard in the morning by the Second Young Master..." The Marquis had already been mourned, and now with the Marquis Mansion’s title undecided, it was quite desolate, the visitors are the close family, Xing’s one-month-old banquet was held and seen by those who frequently visit. Hence, if Xiao Yanyi specially took Xing to the outer courtyard, it’s surely someone who doesn’t often visit the Marquis Mansion, and if Tong Xihua allows his fragile-bodied Xing to be taken out, it must not be an ordinary guest.
Who could it be?
Why did Tong Xihua suddenly invite them for a visit, and does this guest have anything to do with her?
Suddenly, a possibility occurred to Xiqiu...
Seeing Xiqiu’s face gradually becoming unpleasant, Chunyan nervously held Xiqiu’s hand and asked, "Sixth Miss... what should we do?"
Xiqiu waved her hand, pointing inside the clean room, "Let’s change the skirt first." Chunyan went to support Xiqiu, but Xiqiu shook her head, "I’ll handle it myself, you wait for me outside."
Without saying a word, Chunyan undid Xiqiu’s peach-pink cloak and held it in her hand, as Xiqiu took the skirt and entered the clean room. In the middle of the clean room stood a portable toilet, with a basin stand on one side, a basin filled with clean water. Xiqiu sat on the chair, her gaze falling into the basin of clean water...
"Miss." Seeing Xiqiu hadn’t come out for a long time, Chunyan worriedly asked, "Shall I come in and assist you?" Just as she spoke, Xiqiu finished changing and walked out.