Chapter 308 This is how you knead dough.
Xiao Qi didn't want to continue this topic. Whenever his heart stirred with emotion, his little sister would pour cold water on him and put out the fire.
Yes, the two are nominally step-siblings. Because of this relationship, they cannot discuss marriage, and he needs to restore his status as soon as possible.
Now that he's back to his original identity, will the little girl stop being affectionate with him? All of this makes Xiao Qi hesitant. He prides himself on being calm, methodical, and accustomed to deep thinking, yet he keeps making mistakes with Lin Yuesha.
Well then, I must spoil my future daughter-in-law.
He didn't know why he had such thoughts. His subordinates had once exposed him, but Xiao Qi refused to admit that he liked her.
"Big brother, what's wrong?"
Lin Yuesha stood up and poured a glass of water for her stepbrother, only to find that the water in the teapot had long since cooled down. It seemed that Qingxing was a little late in bringing the water.
"I didn't sleep well last night, and my neck hurts."
Lin Yuesha asked a question, and Xiao Qi immediately seized the opportunity, pounding his neck with his hand and looking worried.
"Your neck pain might be due to a stiff neck. Shall I massage it for you?"
Daqi's pillow was very high, leaving the neck unsupported, which Lin Yuesha wasn't used to, especially since almost every scholar suffered from cervical spondylosis.
However, instead of massage tools, they applied dark plasters to promote blood circulation and relieve soreness.
"That's great, thank you so much, little sister."
Xiao Qi narrowed his eyes, sat down in the chair, and waited for his little sister to serve him.
Between siblings, there is no need for thanks.
Lin Yuesha waved her hand, rinsed her hands with water, and pondered the strength of her touch. She only knew how to give simple back massages, but she had never massaged a neck before.
Lin Yuesha recalled seeing similar lectures on television before, and mimicked their style by massaging Xiao Qi's neck.
Her hands were icy cold. When she touched Xiao Qi's neck, the tingling sensation almost made him stand up. His neck was a vulnerable part of his body, and Xiao Qi had never allowed anyone to touch it before. Lin Yuesha was the first.
"Little sister, you're quite skilled at massaging."
Xiao Qi closed his eyes and found himself feeling somewhat comfortable. He never expected his little sister to have such talent.
"That's how I knead dough."
Lin Yuesha was beaming with pride after receiving the praise.
It seems that being a chef and a masseuse can be combined into one.
Xiao Qi: ...
The room was quiet, and neither of the siblings spoke. Xiao Qi gradually relaxed and actually fell asleep.
Lin Yuesha massaged for a quarter of an hour, her hands aching terribly, but her stepbrother didn't tell her to stop. Just as she was about to ask, she realized that Xiao Qi had fallen asleep.
Yesterday's murder case at Changqing Academy involved the brother and sister. Prefect Bai hasn't solved the case yet, so the stepbrother must be under a lot of pressure, right? But he didn't say anything, and instead comforted her to relax.
Lin Yuesha felt a pang of tenderness in her heart as she stepped out the door with cat-like steps. She didn't turn around, unaware of the complex look in Xiao Qi's eyes the moment she opened the door.
"Miss, Miss, there's a maid outside looking for you, but I don't recognize her."
When Qi'er saw Lin Yuesha, she quickly called her over.
It was indeed not good to disturb the master and the young lady when they were together. She and Qingxing discussed it and were hesitating whether to report it, while the woman dressed as a maid seemed to be in a hurry.
The young lady's relationships are simple; she is neither Jiang Baozhu's maid nor a member of the Bai family.
"A maid?"
Lin Yuesha thought carefully for a moment, but couldn't figure out who Qi'er was talking about. If someone wanted to see her and specifically asked for her name, then it must be something urgent.
Lin Yuesha asked Qi'er to invite the person in. She waited at the entrance of the flower hall. A moment later, a woman dressed in a blue dress hurriedly entered.
"Sister Hongliu?"
Lin Yuesha was overjoyed to see the newcomer, Hongliu, who was, in a sense, her mentor. Without Hongliu's guidance, Lin Yuesha's needlework would have been atrocious.
However, due to the many rules of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, the two could only arrange to meet at Yutan Temple.
"Moon Sa, something's happened."
Hongliu wiped her forehead with a handkerchief, her face ashen. She had been on tenterhooks the whole way, and seeing Lin Yuesha now almost made her cry.
"Sister Hongliu, what happened?"
Could it be that the Prince of Zhenbei discovered the killing of Xuan Yao and He Xing? Lin Yuesha thought for a moment, the matter left almost no evidence, so it shouldn't have been discovered. Even if it were discovered, it shouldn't be Hong Liu coming to the door.
"It's Hearts! Hearts is going to be beaten to death by the Prince's men!"
Hongliu's eyes reddened, she lowered her head, and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
The rules at the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion are strict, and this applies to the servants as well. Hongtao was to be beaten to death, no matter what mistake she had made. Even Xiao Mama's pleas for leniency were to no avail.
Lin Yuesha was shocked. At first, she disliked Hongtao at the temporary residence of the Prince of Zhenbei, always feeling that Hongtao was just like the other maids in the mansion, lazy and bullying others. However, it was Hongtao who helped Xuan Yao plot against her.
Although the two have a business relationship, it turns out that Red Peach is a very reliable person. Once she treats you as a sister, she will treat you with sincerity.
Hongtao was nearly beaten to death by the King of Zhenbei's men, which Lin Yuesha could not accept.
"Why exactly?"
Lin Yuesha panicked and asked, choking back tears, "What can I do?"
“Sister Yue Sha, Hong Tao has reached marriageable age. The son of a steward in the manor has taken a liking to her and begged the prince for his favor, but Hong Tao refused to marry him.”
Hongliu burst into tears. Hongtao knew the consequences of resistance, but she still resisted without hesitation, even if it meant death.
Hongliu had never seen Hongtao so resolute. Even when Granny Xiao advised her to agree first and then find a way to resolve the situation, Hongtao refused.
"That girl is a woman of principle; she directly refused the prince."
Hongliu wiped away her tears. Hongtao had been beaten more than a hundred times, her buttocks were bruised and bloody, and she was barely clinging to life. She wanted to see Big Beard one last time.
Granny Xiao wanted to fulfill Hongtao's last wish, so she searched all the coachmen in the mansion, but couldn't find her.
Big Beard may never be seen again. Hongtao doesn't have many close sisters in the mansion, so Hongliu came to deliver a letter to Lin Yuesha with the intention of seeing her one last time.
"Granny Xiao took a risk to send Hongtao out; she's in a small courtyard in an alley under her name. If you have nothing else to do, come with me to see her one last time."
If Hongtao died at the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, she would only be wrapped in a straw mat and thrown into a mass grave. But Granny Xiao couldn't bear it and always wanted Hongtao to leave with some dignity.
Send Hongtao outside, and she'll cease to exist. Let her be buried under someone else's name; at least we can buy a coffin.
"Waaaaah..."
Lin Yuesha burst into tears. She hadn't expected that Hongtao would actually care about the bearded man, who seemed to have vanished into thin air.
However, she couldn't blame the bearded man, because the pockmarked man's friend might also have a special identity.
Red Peach was on her last breath, and Lin Yuesha was too distressed to speak.
Even if she only has one breath left, she cannot give up hope. Lin Yuesha stood up. She would first go to Qingxing to deliver a message to the pockmarked man. If she could find the bearded man, that would be best. Meanwhile, she would go to find Doctor Yan. Perhaps Doctor Yan could have a solution!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
