In Zhiping's courtyard, Qian Zhiqing collapsed onto the couch by the window as soon as she entered the room, too weak to get up.
With tears in her eyes, Lanqiu took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood that had spilled from the corner of her mouth. She choked out, "Miss, if we can't stay here, there are other places that will. Please take care of yourself and don't think too much."
Bao Xia came out from the inner room, her face changed drastically: "What, what happened?"
Lan Qiu wiped away her tears, turned around and fetched a basin of warm water. While cleaning the wound on Qian Zhiqing's palm, she said, "Hurry up and bring me the cream."
"Oh," Bao Xia responded blankly, then hurriedly ran to the inner room, rummaged through the drawers and cabinets, took out an exquisitely packaged brocade box, and rushed to the front, "I brought it."
Lan Qiu dried Qian Zhiqing's hands, took out a silver pick the size of an ear pick from the brocade box, picked up a little pale yellow ointment, and carefully applied it to the wound. Only after the ointment had seeped into the wound did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Bao Xia placed a large soft pillow behind her back, then helped Qian Zhiqing, who seemed to be out of her body, lean against it before turning to look at Lan Qiu, her eyes full of questions.
Lan Qiu shook her head almost imperceptibly and took the basin of water out.
Bao Xia glanced at Qian Zhiqing carefully, then followed her out with small, quick steps.
As soon as they got outside, Lanqiu, who had poured water and turned around, was stopped, and asked in a low voice what was going on.
Lan Qiu sighed and recounted what had happened at Beining Garden.
Bao Xia's eyes widened as she asked, "Did the young master really not say a single word to try and keep you here?"
Lan Qiu shook her head, her expression gloomy.
Bao Xia blinked and said, "Anyone with eyes can see the young lady's feelings for the young master. How could the young master bear to hurt the young lady like this!"
Lan Qiu sighed. Matters between men and women are not something that can be resolved simply by you giving and me receiving.
Lanqiu, thinking of Baoxia's impulsive nature, then instructed, "Be careful when serving her later, and don't upset Miss Biao again."
Bao Xia quickly covered her mouth and nodded.
Qian Zhiqing stared blankly into the void. People came and went around her, but she seemed completely oblivious.
As darkness fell, Lan Qiu looked worriedly at Qian Zhiqing, who hadn't responded since entering the room.
Bao Xia carefully stepped forward and said softly, "Miss, I've prepared some bird's nest porridge for you. Would you like some?"
Qian Zhiqing remained seated, motionless.
Bao Xia sighed and said, "You didn't eat much at noon. If you don't eat tonight, your body won't be able to take it. What if you get sick?"
Qian Zhiqing's eyes flickered slightly, her head stiffly turned, and she stared blankly at Bao Xia.
Bao Xia was overjoyed and quickly said with a smile, "Miss, you're all better now. I'll bring you some porridge right away." With that, she stepped outside.
Qian Zhiqing moved her lips and said in a hoarse voice, "Stop."
Bao Xia stopped and turned to look at her.
Qian Zhiqing gave a slight, dry laugh, but immediately stopped herself.
Thinking back to noon when she was all smiles and had a voice like a nightingale, it's only been an afternoon, and she's already as despondent as an old woman, her voice hoarse.
Qian Zhiqing chuckled a few times, a hint of melancholy showing on her face.
Seeing her like this, Bao Xia was so frightened that she immediately knelt down on one knee, grabbed her arm and shook her gently, "Miss, what's wrong with you? Don't scare me."
Qian Zhiqing raised her eyes and said coldly, "What's the panic?" She leaned down, stared at Bao Xia, and said in a gloomy voice, "I'm fine."
Bao Xia trembled, loosened her grip, her lips trembling, but she dared not speak.
Lanqiu quickly brewed a cup of tea and placed it in front of her, taking the opportunity to block Baoxia, and whispered, "Miss, your legs must be numb after working all afternoon. Let me massage them for you to improve blood circulation."
Qian Zhiqing leaned back on the soft pillows without saying a word.
Lanqiu kicked Baoxia with her foot, knelt on the footstool, and vigorously 'kneaded' her.
After a long while, Qian Zhiqing finally spoke up: "Prepare two buckets of cold water for me, drawn from the well, the colder the better."
Bao Xia opened her mouth, wanting to ask what the water was for since it was so cold, but she was too timid to speak and could only follow orders.
The sound of water came from the cubicle. Lan Qiu lowered her eyes and silently massaged the area. Even through the soft brocade, she could feel the elasticity of the skin.
Qian Zhiqing glanced at Lan Qiu for a while, picked up her tea, took a sip, and the slightly astringent taste mixed with the sweet and pungent taste of blood made her feel a little better.
After swallowing slowly, her mood improved, and she finally felt like talking.
"You heard what your cousin said just now. Tell me, if you were me, what should you do?"
Lan Qiu pursed her lips, immediately understanding the intention behind her ordering Bao Xia to fetch water. However, young women are most afraid of getting chilled, and although it is now spring, the well water is still very cold. If it only causes a slight cold, that would be fine, but the real concern is that if the temperature is not controlled properly, it could really harm the body and affect future offspring, which would be troublesome.
Not wanting to get into trouble, Lanqiu pretended to be ignorant and said, "This servant does not know."
"You don't know," Qian Zhiqing smiled coldly, fully aware of her act of feigning ignorance, but since she didn't have any more capable people around her at the moment, she had no choice but to make do with this one.
Qian Zhiqing waved Lan Qiu away, got off the bed, and slowly walked to the next room.
Lanqiu turned her head and only saw half of his figure before the brocade curtain was lowered.
Inside the cubicle, Bao Xia put down the bucket and looked carefully at Qian Zhiqing, "Miss, is this enough?"
Qian Zhiqing stepped forward, stretched out her finger to probe the water's surface, and quickly withdrew it after a slight touch.
Bao Xia pursed her lips and whispered, "This water is too cold. Should I have someone heat it up before bringing it over?"
Before Bao Xia could finish saying the last word, Qian Zhiqing unbuttoned her clothes and pulled off her outer cover-up.
Bao Xia's tongue was tied in knots, and she quickly reached out to stop him.
Qian Zhiqing turned her head coldly, her expression icy and indifferent, devoid of any emotion, like a deity looking down upon all living beings, or a venomous snake hissing and flicking its tongue.
Bao Xia's body stiffened, her legs trembled, and she could barely stand.
Qian Zhiqing had already looked away and continued to pick up the ties on her inner garment.
A moment later, the sound of flowing water could be heard. Qian Zhiqing calmly extended her fingers, which were strangely red from the cold, and said, "Go and fetch some more water. It's not cold enough."
Bao Xia, who had been leaning against the wall, hugged the bucket and responded in a trembling voice. She then turned around and fled from the cubicle as if her life depended on it.
Lan Qiu stood by the door. When she saw her come out, she breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed her out the door.
Once they were quite a distance from the main gate, Lanqiu pulled Baoxia aside and said, "The young master's words just now hurt Miss Baoxia deeply. It's understandable that she was emotionally affected. Don't be afraid, she'll calm down in a while and be fine."
Bao Xia nodded, then hesitated and whispered, "You don't know, the way Miss Biao looked just now was terrifying."
Lanqiu patted her shoulder and whispered, "If anyone asks you what you're going to do with this water, just say that Miss is thinking of a new way to brew tea, and this well water is for brewing tea."
Bao Xia nodded, glanced at the door, and then hurriedly left.
Lan Qiu sighed silently and turned to go back into the house.
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