CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: CALL ME SISTER AGAIN

"Do you think the Crown Prince’s severe illness might really—" Tang Xiaobai asked halfway, but upon seeing the scene before her, she suddenly fell silent.

The scent of books and ink was thick in the air, the shadows of bamboo swayed with the wind, and the young man in the pavilion lowered his gaze and focused intently, his wrist suspended as he wielded his pen with utmost concentration.

The summer was stiflingly hot, so she had deliberately moved the study area from the Bright Moon Building to this small bamboo pavilion, which indeed turned out to be very suitable, allowing the children to complete their homework much faster.

The other three had already finished their homework and left, leaving only Qin Xiao to continue with the senior grade work.

The senior level work involved writing essays and was not as casual as copying calligraphy. And here she was, interrupting him with trivial matters? Utterly inappropriate!

Yet, despite her guilt, the words had already been spoken.

The young man paused his writing, raised his eyes, and asked, "Might really what?"

Since she had started, Tang Xiaobai decided to continue: "The Crown Prince’s severe illness, could it really be related to me?"

The young man’s eyes showed surprise, "Why would the Second Miss think so?"

Tang Xiaobai sighed, "Didn’t I tell you before? The Crown Prince initially didn’t want me to leave. When I was leaving, he hid to secretly watch me. Maybe he was just too lonely and hoped I would stay with him. But I was in a hurry to return home—could I have hurt his feelings? He’s already frail, and if he’s unhappy, it might worsen his health."

Though the rumors bothered her, she couldn’t blame the Young Crown Prince.

He was just a pitiful child from unfortunate circumstances.

Ah Xiao was silent for a moment, then said, "Since the Crown Prince was already in poor health, whether the Second Miss stayed or left, his condition might have worsened. If one must find a reason, it’s the assassination attempt that day, how could it be related to the Second Miss?"

Tang Xiaobai sighed again, "My elder sister says so too. I also know it’s nothing to do with me, but—"

But her compassionate heart just couldn’t help but ache a little for that Young Crown Prince.

"I wanted to see if I could write a letter or something—"

"Writing a letter is possible!" Li Mu instinctively replied.

Miss Tang blinked her eyes: "My elder sister said no." Her voice was soft, and she answered so obediently.

Li Mu cleared his throat twice, lowered his eyes to the newly started essay on the paper, and asked, as if nothing happened, "If you could write, what would Second Miss like to write in the letter?"

Tang Xiaobai thought for a while and finally shook her head, "Forget it, there’s nothing much to say."

After all, he’s the Crown Prince; it’s not her place to worry unnecessarily.

Li Mu felt a bit disappointed but said nothing more, silently picking up his pen to continue his writing.

Tang Xiaobai vaguely felt he was somewhat downcast. She wanted to ask but feared disturbing his homework, so she absentmindedly picked up a book to flip through.

Before finishing the book, Li Mu had already completed his homework.

Tang Xiaobai noticed his expression was still placid, thought for a moment, then pursed her lips and smiled, "Yesterday I made an agreement with everyone, from now on we’ll go to Qujiang Pool to play every evening, it’s so pleasantly cool there in the summer evening—"

Li Mu looked up at her.

She chuckled and asked, "Does Ah Xiao want to go today?"

Li Mu was moved.

Going out might give him a chance to get injured, causing the young lady to invite Divine Doctor Feng for him...

So, he looked hopeful and nodded.

The young lady rested her chin on her hand, winked playfully at him, "Then... call me sister once more?"

...

After returning from Qujiang Pool, while Tang Xiaobai was wrapped in a blanket sitting on the bed, she suddenly regretted not insisting on not calling herself sister, otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken Qin Xiao.

"Sister, Ah Xiao he—"

"Shut your mouth!" Tang Jiaojiao glared at her fiercely, while making way for the doctor, she quickly instructed:

"Have Mr. Zhou stay put for now!"

"Everyone who went out with Second Miss today is to wait outside the second gate!"

"Don’t let the Lady know!"

"Send someone to report to the Gu Mansion, directly looking for Lady Jiangning!"

Hearing this, Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but ask, "Why seek the Eldest Aunt?"

Lady Jiangning was the title of Eldest Aunt Gu, Lu family.

Tang Jiaojiao glared at her again fiercely, "Do you know how pigs die?"

She knew the answer to this, "They die of stupidity—" she paused, "Sister, you weren’t even there, how did you know someone bumped me?"

Today, Tang Xiaobai had the privilege of experiencing the essential element of a household struggle drama—falling into the water.

Although she was well-read in such drama novels, everyone who went out together were children, so she let her guard down. Couldn’t have predicted—

Couldn’t have predicted that Miss Tang, without questioning anyone, saw through the conspiracy with a keen eye.

Amazing!

"With so many people out, why was it that no one else but you fell into the water?" Miss Tang’s reasoning was unexpectedly simple.

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, then said, "I did feel someone bump into me, but the force wasn’t strong. It doesn’t necessarily mean someone wanted to harm me. Even if there was, it might not have been intentional—"

The ones standing close to her were just two girls.

Gu Qinglan had always been quite caring towards her. Although Gu Yulan could be a bit tea-like, there wasn’t any conflict of interest with her. It just didn’t seem plausible.

"Sister, when you investigate, don’t be too... intense, after all, it’s Aunty’s family. If things get too serious, there’ll be no one to play with me in the future." Even if someone had malicious intent, the others were innocent, and it wouldn’t be fun to escalate things.

"Do I need you to teach me how to do things?" Tang Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at her.

Tang Xiaobai obediently shut her mouth.

At this moment, the doctor finished diagnosing, saying, "Fortunately, it’s midsummer, so the water isn’t cold, and she was rescued in time. Though the Second Miss was frightened, she’s not seriously harmed."

Hearing this, it seemed medication was unnecessary. Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but feel relieved, taking the chance to say, "Doctor Feng, there’s another person who fell into the water. Could you take a look too?"

This old doctor named Feng was reputed to be an unparalleled Divine Doctor.

When Lady Yan of Duke Yan Mansion, from the Gu Family, was giving birth and suffered health damage, her father, far away in Liangzhou, searched the world to find this Divine Doctor Feng to treat her.

Hence, everyone in the Duke Yan Mansion held great respect for this Divine Doctor Feng. Aside from treating Lady Yan, at other times, they practically worshipped the old divine doctor.

Although Qin Xiao was her little ancestor, in the Duke Yan Mansion, he was merely a servant. Previously injured, they always invited doctors from outside to examine him, and she hadn’t thought to trouble this old divine doctor.

But since they had met this time, she decided to try asking.

Qin Xiao’s complexion never seemed to improve; if the old divine doctor could take a look, maybe he might discover something.

But before she could finish her words, Miss Tang had already frowned. Tang Xiaobai hastily added, "Ah Xiao only went into the water to save me!"

Speaking of this, Tang Xiaobai felt a surge of emotion.

It was worth all the heartfelt devotion to the little ancestor; today, as soon as she fell into the water, the boy selflessly plunged down to save her.

But Tang Jiaojiao was not impressed, "Did he manage to save you? Wasn’t he just scared of being punished, so he followed and jumped in? Someone else not only had to save you but also had to rescue him!"

Tang Xiaobai’s face fell.

Yes, although Qin Xiao jumped in selflessly to save her, he himself couldn’t swim!