CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: BUSTLING LIVELINESS

Madam Xia was truly terrified, haunted by the images from five years ago and not daring to think recklessly. She kept nodding, "I know, I know!" While speaking, she wiped her tears dry, "I’ll go back first. There’s a commotion in the courtyard. If she sees it, who knows what unpleasant words she’ll utter."

Sixing did not dare to keep her and repeatedly instructed Xiuzhi to serve carefully.

As soon as Madam Xia left, Xiqiu woke up, her eyes red, but her expression remained calm.

"Miss... you’re awake. Would you like some water? Hold on, I’ll get it for you!" Sixing poured hot tea from the stove, helped Xiqiu sit up, and after drinking two cups, Xiqiu finally felt her parched throat ease considerably.

"What did the doctor say?" Initially feigning illness, she hadn’t expected to actually fall ill.

Sixing placed a large honey-colored white lotus pillow behind her and tucked the quilt’s edges, "The doctor said Miss has been worrying and not sleeping well for an extended period. You were fatigued a few days ago and, after drinking wine and taking a blow in the woods, you fell ill!"

Xiqiu waved her hand, "That’s not what I want to hear. Did you see the wound on my back? How bad is it? How did the doctor bandage it?" In her daze, she heard the doctor mention the condition of the wound and sensed someone removing her clothes.

Sixing gave Xiqiu an annoyed glance, "What are you talking about, Miss? How could anyone let the doctor see the young lady’s wound on the back? The doctor simply prescribed some medicine. Following what you usually taught, I cleaned the wound with salt water, applied the medication, and wrapped it with clean cotton cloth after soaking and drying it." As she spoke, she took a bowl of porridge from the stove, blowing on it while continuing, "The wound isn’t large, just a bit deep. I specifically went to the forest to check; there’s a sharp dry bamboo shoot at the spot where you fell, still stained with your blood!"

Xiqiu nodded and took a mouthful of thin porridge, "If the doctor comes, have him prescribe some anti-inflammatory medicine." Sixing nodded, "I will remember!"

Sixing recounted the day’s events in detail to her, adding, "Madam Wang is causing a scene, saying that copying the Lotus Sutra of nearly seventy thousand words eighty-one times within a month is tantamount to demanding Third Miss’ life. She insisted on writing a letter to the First Master."

Xiqiu smiled, showing neither agreement nor disagreement, "Lady must have prepared pen, ink, paper, and inkstone for her, and even said that the Second Master would use his connections with the Ministry of War to send it via courier, arriving in just three days!"

Sixing nodded repeatedly, "Madam Wang immediately burst into tears, closed the door, and started smashing things."

Xiqiu chuckled wryly, knowing that with Madam Xia living next door, the nights would probably be restless again.

Chunyan lifted the curtain and entered, "Miss is awake." She turned to Sixing, "Where’s the pink porcelain dish set? One is missing, have you seen it?"

Sixing thought for a moment and stood up, "I’ll go with you to find it!"

Chunyan pressed Sixing down, "No need to rush. I’ll call Siliu inside to help you." With that, she stepped out to summon Siliu.

Who knew Siliu would ignore her completely, leaving Chunyan no choice but to call Chunliu into the room.

Siliu saw Chunyan and Sixing leave and didn’t trust Chunliu to serve properly. She replaced Chunliu, but stood there with a disgruntled face, not attending to her duties.

Xiqiu read for a while and noticed Siliu’s unusual behavior, asking, "What’s the matter? Who upset you?"

It was best not to ask, as Siliu placed her hands on her hips, frowning, "Miss, the next time you go with Third Miss, don’t send the servant away. If I were there, I’d risk my life to push her into the river to feed the turtles, letting her freeze for a few hours!" As she spoke, she indignantly glared at her.

Xiqiu was both amused and touched, "Alright, alright, from now on, wherever I go, I’ll take you along and have Maid Siliu protect me!" Siliu, having grown up in the countryside, tending cows, cutting grass, and getting into fights with men, had a very valiant personality!

Siliu felt she was being teased and said, "Miss needn’t mock me. I mean what I said today. If Third Miss bullies you again, I’ll die taking her down with me!" Her eyes reddened as she looked at Xiqiu’s still somewhat pale face, "You just managed to gain a bit of flesh, but it’s gone in these few days again!"

Xiqiu lowered her eyes, swallowing back her tears, and laughed, "You silly girl, do you take me for a pig!"

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter!

When Chunyan and Sixing came in, they saw the mistress and servant with their heads together, painting patterns. Sixing felt indignant and used her hand to cover the ink and paper, rebuking Siliu, "Miss has just gotten better, how could you not stop her? What if her health suffers again!" She ignored Xiqiu’s reaction and hastily gathered up the writing materials!

Chunyan covered her mouth, laughed, and pointed at Siliu’s forehead, "Well said!" She then looked at Xiqiu with grievance, "Miss, you have no idea. Siliu has been sulking these past few days, just short of swallowing me whole, I’ve been having nightmares one after another!"

Siliu glared at her, "Look at you, nothing but skin and bones. Swallowing you wouldn’t even compare to swallowing Third Miss!"

The room erupted in laughter, with the previous days of gloom dissipating considerably.

Chunliu lifted the curtain and entered, seeing the room full of laughter, and smiled, "What’s going on here?" She then noticed Siliu laughing while hugging Xiqiu, and scolded, "You’re so plump, don’t squash the Miss!"

Siliu’s laughter abruptly stopped.

Chunyan and Sixing, however, couldn’t stop their laughter!

Xiqiu, feeling lifted, looked at Chunliu and asked, "Is there something?"

Chunliu stepped forward and handed over a box, "This is a returning gift from the First Young Master, said the Osmanthus Sugar is quite good."

Xiqiu opened the box to find a complete set of needles arranged neatly, with various sizes and thicknesses, very professional.

Xiqiu closed the lid and handed it to Chunyan for safekeeping, asking with a smile, "No other words?" With Tong Shen Zhi’s personality, there should have been something.

Chunliu covered her mouth, laughing, "He said it’s too sweet, next time put less sugar!"

The maids tried to stifle their laughter, turning their heads away.

If sugar candies don’t have sugar, then what are they?

They chatted for a while longer until Meilan, the head maid from the Second Lady’s side, came to deliver a returning gift from Third Young Master Tong Quanzhi, a thirty-year-old ginseng, for Xiqiu to nourish her body. She also said, "The Third Young Master troubled you much that day, and if there’s any offense, I hope Sixth Miss will understand."

Xiqiu naturally offered some courtesies, and shortly thereafter, Daisy from Xu Tianqing’s side came, "Our young master asked me to tell you that his injury is fine, but you should take care and be mindful of your health."

Daisy, not yet twelve, was rewarded by Xiqiu with a silver ingot worth four pennies, and she expressed her gratitude repeatedly, "The young master also asked me to ask the Sixth Miss, he has plans with Scholar Wu to go to Fahua Temple in a few days. There are stalls selling rice noodles there, and he remembers you like them. Would you like him to bring some back for you this time?"

Xiqiu smiled, "Please thank your young master for me. His injury isn’t healed yet, instruct the servant accompanying him to be careful, and avoid any bumps or scrapes!"

Daisy’s eyes lit up, nodding repeatedly, "I’ll certainly convey the message!"