CHAPTER 392: CHAPTER 392: SPLASH

Qingqiu Garden.

Inside the room.

Lady Chi sat in front of the copper mirror, with the veil on her face removed.

Looking at herself in the copper mirror, her eyes welled up, and large tears fell down.

The little maid Xique noticed her crying and leaned in for a closer look.

"Madam, the scars on your face seem to have faded a lot," the little maid said excitedly.

Lady Chi had scars on her face.

Usually, she didn’t allow the maids to attend her grooming.

But Xique had served her for two years; living under the same roof, how could she not have seen the scars on Lady Chi’s face?

There were six scars on her face, horrifying to behold.

The little maid could hardly imagine what kind of tragic experience she had in her youth to be injured like this.

After all, it was her face.

Although her face wasn’t beautiful, imagining her own face being hurt like that, she definitely wouldn’t have the courage to go on living, let alone the fact that Lady Chi’s face was originally beautiful, yet she couldn’t speak.

Over the years, in the entire Duke Mansion, only the Eldest Young Master remembered the scars on Madam’s face, occasionally sending some scar-removing ointment.

But none of those ointments had any effect; the scars on Madam’s face remained.

However, just now she noticed, the scars on Madam’s face had significantly faded, very visibly.

"The ointment sent by the Eldest Young Madam works," the little maid said happily.

Lady Chi looked at her own face.

Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

One was busy crying, the other busy being happy.

No one noticed a woman standing for a long time by the bead curtain, then turning away.

Qihao Hall, across the courtyard.

After returning to her room, Princess Nanzhang removed the handkerchief from her hand.

Though so many days had passed and her hand no longer hurt much, the scars on her hand still wouldn’t disappear.

Looking at her own hand, Princess Nanzhang’s expression was fierce.

Outside, a little maid walked in.

"Commandery Princess, Mrs. Li from Qingqiu Garden is here," the little maid reported.

Qingqiu Garden?

Lady Chi could hardly make a splash in a whole year, why suddenly come looking for her?

"Let her in," Princess Nanzhang said.

Soon, Mrs. Li went in.

Princess Nanzhang wrapped her hand with an embroidered handkerchief, out of sight, out of mind.

Mrs. Li respectfully greeted Princess Nanzhang.

Mrs. Zhao looked at her and said, "Aren’t you serving Lady Chi in Qingqiu Garden? Why come here?"

"There’s something to report to the Commandery Princess," Mrs. Li said.

She was originally arranged by Princess Nanzhang to keep an eye on Lady Chi.

But Lady Chi was too well-behaved, Old Master Xie wouldn’t enter Qingqiu Garden more than twice a year, even if he went in, it was only to see the several acacia trees there, unrelated to Lady Chi.

Such an unremarkable, disfigured, and mute woman couldn’t arouse a sliver of jealousy in Princess Nanzhang.

Mrs. Li placed in Qingqiu Garden naturally had no role to play.

Qingqiu Garden was too deserted.

So cold it could freeze a person to death.

Mrs. Li endured for several years, truly unable to bear it, she thought about transferring elsewhere but struggled with no opportunity.

Now she had finally caught an opportunity.

"The scars on Lady Chi’s face have improved," Mrs. Li reported.

"Improved?" Princess Nanzhang was surprised.

She had seen Lady Chi’s face.

On the day she entered the mansion.

Her face veiled in light gauze, her form graceful, and her eyes beautiful as the bright moon in the sky.

She was a concubine gifted to Old Master Xie by Nanliang, Princess Nanzhang had to be cautious.

At first glance, she thought Lady Chi was an absolute beauty, even surpassing her own appearance.

She had Lady Chi remove her veil.

Lady Chi was unwilling.

But couldn’t withstand Princess Nanzhang’s persistent requests.

Was it even reasonable that she couldn’t see the face of a concubine as the main mistress?

Lady Chi didn’t remove the veil, Mrs. Zhao went over and forcibly tore it off.

At that moment, everyone, including Princess Nanzhang and Mrs. Zhao, was shocked.

Lady Chi’s facial wounds were extremely severe.

Scars crisscrossed, daunting to see.

Such severe wounds, Princess Nanzhang had seen at a glance, unforgettable for life.

For so many years, Xie Jingchen sent her ointment, Princess Nanzhang also knew, such severe wounds, even daily application of Bihun Ointment would hardly help, much less as Xie Jingchen hadn’t even sent her Bihun Ointment.

Now, being told such severe wounds had somehow improved?

Princess Nanzhang didn’t believe it.

"It has truly improved, even if I borrowed a few more guts, I wouldn’t dare deceive the Commandery Princess," Mrs. Li said.

Mrs. Zhao looked at Princess Nanzhang, "Commandery Princess, this is something to believe in."

Lady Chi’s over ten-year-old facial scars could be removed, the burns on the Commandery Princess’s hand could naturally heal.

Thinking of this, Princess Nanzhang also preferred to believe it to be true.

But believing it, also made her angry.

"With such good ointment, they’d rather give it to a mute than give it to me."

"Do they even see me as the mistress of the house?!" Princess Nanzhang said through gritted teeth.

Mrs. Zhao advised Princess Nanzhang to calm down, saying, "The Eldest Young Master gave the ointment to a concubine, if the Commandery Princess asked him for it, he wouldn’t dare refuse."

He wouldn’t dare refuse.

But if they said they didn’t have it, she couldn’t force them.

Expecting them to obediently comply, was easier said than done.

"It isn’t certain whether it’s truly effective," Princess Nanzhang said.

"Let me bring the ointment for the Commandery Princess to try, then we’ll know," Mrs. Li suggested.

Princess Nanzhang didn’t respond.

She glanced at Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao rewarded Mrs. Li with two taels of silver and a box of ointment.

Mrs. Li was delighted to accept.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she received a reward.

Mrs. Li happily returned to Qingqiu Garden and happened to see Xique coming out with a bundle in her hand, she asked, "Where are you going with that?"

"Madam made clothes for the Eldest Young Madam and her maid, I’m taking them to her," Xique said.

"Then off you go," Mrs. Li said.

Xique headed towards the Agarwood Pavilion.

Mrs. Li looked on with disdain.

Making clothes for the Eldest Young Madam was one thing, but even for the Eldest Young Madam’s maid.

After all, Lady Chi was just a concubine in name, having nominal status without real power.

Elsewhere, ice basins overflow so much they freeze, but not a single piece of ice was in Qingqiu Garden.

Following such a person, what future is there to speak of?

Mrs. Li weighed the two taels of silver in her hand.

After entering the garden, seeing Lady Chi standing by the Lotus Pond, Mrs. Li went to fetch a basin of water into the room.

Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.

Su Jin reclined on a small couch, while Xingxing sorted out ice basins.

There was not much ice in Agarwood Pavilion, barely enough for the house, let alone the backyard.

The ice used in the bamboo house was all made by Xingxing, sufficient.

Busy making iced food, the little maid Bi Zhu ran over from outside saying, "Eldest Young Madam, Lady Chi’s maid Xique is here."

"Why has she come?" Xingxing said happily.

"She said she came to deliver something," the little maid said.

Xingxing grabbed a chunk of ice and ran out.

The little maid was surprised; she hadn’t sent ice blocks to the backyard, where did the bamboo house’s ice blocks come from?

Xingxing, fearing the heat, took a piece of ice to cool down.

Xique stood under the tree outside the courtyard, Xingxing saw her and said, "What did you come to deliver?"

"It’s clothes made by Madam for the Eldest Young Madam and you," Xique said.

"I guessed as much," Xingxing said cheerfully.

She swiftly grabbed the bundle, giving the block of ice in her hand to Xique.

The last time Xique played with ice was in winter, taking a piece of ice was a great delight.

Xingxing asked, "Has Lady Chi used the ointment?"

"Yes, the scars on her face have improved a lot," Xique said happily.

"Don’t forget to keep using it," Xingxing reminded.

"Mm-hmm."

"I’ll head back first then," Xique said.

"Wait a moment, I’ll go to the small kitchen and get you some pastries," Xingxing said.

Xique delivered a bundle and left with a lunch box.

With a lunch box full of pastries, Xique’s eyes smiled into slits.

She felt the best maid in the entire Duke Mansion was the Eldest Young Madam’s maid.