Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Cooling Off (1)
Her mind turned, and she looked up to speak with Xiao Yanyi, but Xiao Yanyi had already turned to watch Chunyan, who had just lifted the curtain and come out, asking, "Is it better?"
Chunyan came out and replied to Xiao Yanyi, "Replying to you, sir, it’s better!"
Xiao Yanyi then went inside, leaving Tong Xiyu full of disappointment!
Chunyan held the curtain for Xiao Yanyi but did not follow him in. Instead, she turned and left...
Inside the room, Xiqiu had already tidied up and was sitting on the kang again. The Imperial Physician was writing a prescription on the side, and Xiao Yanyi asked, "How is it?"
Xiqiu smiled and said to Xiao Yanyi, "Doctor Liu gave me acupuncture, and now I feel much better." Xiao Yanyi nodded, as if realizing something, and said, "Acupuncture must be continued for some days to be effective!"
"Yes!" Xiqiu said with a smile, "I just consulted Doctor Liu. I also know a little about medicine. I can buy the needles and do it myself when I go back!"
Xiao Yanyi, with a disapproving wave, told Doctor Liu, "I still trouble you to go to the Tong Mansion to give acupuncture to Sixth Miss according to the treatment course. As for matters in the palace, I will make the arrangements."
Doctor Liu nodded and replied, "That is good. This young lady’s leg should not be delayed. I will discuss her condition with you shortly."
Xiao Yanyi nodded solemnly, while Xiqiu lowered her face and said nothing!
Tong Xiyu, who entered afterward, was stunned to see this. She never thought that Xiao Yanyi would arrange for Xiqiu to meet the Imperial Physician. Tong Xiyu’s hand next to her tightly gripped her handkerchief, standing at the door, not speaking for a long time.
At this moment, Nanny Lin and Qiuping Qiuluo rushed back. After paying respects to Xiao Yanyi, she said to Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu, "Second Madam heard that Sixth Miss’s leg ailment flared up and sent us to fetch her back. It would be more convenient for her to stay in her room!"
Tong Xiyu nodded and walked to Nanny Lin’s side, who glanced at Xiqiu with a half-smile.
Xiqiu looked at Chunyan, who came through the door afterward. Seeing her nod slightly to her, Xiqiu got up with a smile: "Alright!" She looked at Xiao Yanyi, fearing his objection, and took the lead, speaking first. After finishing, Chunyan supported her out the door.
Xiao Yanyi frowned slightly, standing with his hands behind his back at the door. After Xiqiu and her group departed, Teng Qiuniang’s figure appeared on the path behind!
Xiqiu silently followed Nanny Lin, while Chunyan fell back to speak with her, "Miss, how did your knee suddenly swell like this?" She had checked in the morning, and it was clearly fine, and it had been recovering well lately. How did it suddenly become like this? "But it’s fortunate that with the Imperial Physician giving you daily acupuncture, it’s a blessing in disguise!" She paused, showing a worried look.
She understood what happened today, and now that they’re going to the elder aunt’s place, who knows what she’ll say...
Xiqiu didn’t speak but turned to look at Xiao Yanyi’s figure. He was standing at the door talking with Doctor Liu, and not far away, Teng Qiuniang’s figure flickered among the flowers...
No one spoke on the way. Nanny Lin walked ahead, occasionally turning to look at Xiqiu, her cloudy eyes as if wishing they could become a sharp sword to pierce Xiqiu and vent her anger of the day.
Xiqiu’s expression was calm, walking with great composure compared to Chunyan and Xi’er’s unease. She clearly knew that even if Tong Xihua knew her intention, it would not be possible to make a scene in the Marquis Mansion. If this matter were aired openly, Tong Xihua would be in the wrong. She had pushed her own half-sister to bribe the Third Prince, an act that was despicable to all.
However, Tong Xihua’s silence didn’t mean she swallowed this grievance!
From a distance, outside Tong Xihua’s courtyard, there was the sound of slapping coming out, with the faint intermittent sound of a girl’s pleading... Xiqiu’s arm tightened as Xi’er, in fright, grabbed her sleeve tightly. Xiqiu’s eyes flickered, and her brows furrowed.
"Miss, it’s the voice of Qingsui." Xi’er’s face turned pale, and unlike her earlier mischievous, naive demeanor, she walked properly beside Xiqiu, whispering to her.
Xiqiu patted her hand, and the group walked into the courtyard. The courtyard was eerily quiet, with more than a dozen maids and servants kneeling in the center, all watching expressionlessly as Qingsui, tied on a long bench, was beaten by two servants wielding arm-thick wooden sticks on her back.
Qingsui’s back was already a mess of blood and flesh. Where she could have been heard calling for help just now, now she lay silent, eyes tightly closed with seemingly no breath left...
A mere seven-year-old child. Was her life really just a matter of a dozen strokes?
Under her sleeve, Xiqiu held Xi’er’s trembling hand, walking forward without a glance as Nanny Lin led them inside. Sure enough, she heard one of the servants dispassionately call out, "Nanny Lin, Qingsui is gone!" One of the kneeling maids nearby, frightened, fainted to the ground with a thud.
Xi’er, too, went weak in the knees, and if not for Xiqiu holding her up, she might have ended up on her knees. Nanny Lin turned back to observe Xi’er with a sardonic gaze, pointing to the servants, "Give thirty taels of silver to her parents to take her away."
Xi’er finally couldn’t bear it and burst into tears.
A life, just thirty taels of silver, Xi’er knew no one would speak a word for Qingsui. Her parents might even be happy for this sudden windfall. She covered her mouth, stifling her sobs... It was her fault for implicating Qingsui, if not for finding her to talk and asking about inquiries in the mansion, the elder aunt would never have been so heavy-handed.
Xiqiu’s heart sank, watching Xi’er’s tear-stricken, guilt-ridden face, she squeezed Xi’er’s hand, then turned to Chunyan, "You escort Xi’er to the outer courtyard for a while; the elder sister’s place is crowded, and you’re not needed there!"
Chunyan looked at Xiqiu worriedly, and Xiqiu nodded to her. Chunyan then tactfully pulled Xi’er away.
Nanny Lin saw Xiqiu stop, expecting her to be frightened by Qingsui’s death, yet did not expect her to remain calmly speaking lightly to Chunyan. Her gaze turned sharp as she said, "Is Sixth Miss’s leg paining? Would you like me to support you?" Xiqiu looked at her with a smile, instead extending her hand towards Nanny Song, laughing, "No need to trouble you; let Nanny Song support me then!"
Nanny Lin’s brow lifted, giving Xiqiu a deep look...
Nanny Song was startled. This was the first time Sixth Miss had instructed her to do anything. She glanced at Sixth Miss’s expression, but she found herself looking back into an unfathomable smiling gaze, clear and calm, betraying no emotion. She felt a little uncertain inside.