Chapter 170 She was frail and delicate
Shen Wantang didn't pay much attention to Huayi's concealment. After tasting a piece of walnut and jujube cake, she found it delicious and immediately divided up most of the pastry, asking Granny Chai to send it to Princess Ning.
Then, she asked about Huayi's injury: "Come here, let me see, how badly are you injured?"
Huayi stepped forward and offered her hand.
Shen Wantang only glanced at it and knew that Hua Yi had controlled the injury perfectly, neither damaging the root of her finger nor making the wound look frightening.
This is not something an ordinary person can do; it requires experience and courage.
Qin Xin said that Hua Yi's injuries were indeed all caused by Chu Yanluo. Hua Yi had the ability to resist, and even the ability to avoid these injuries, but she did not.
Looking at Huayi, Shen Wantang understood that among all her maids, Huayi was the smartest and most cunning.
She had noticed Huayi's scheming nature before, but she never imagined she would be this scheming.
Having lived two lives, Shen Wantang misjudged someone for the first time in his life.
She gestured for Huayi to withdraw her hand, and then asked her, "Besides your hand, is there any other injury?"
Hua Yi pointed to her face, then bent down and rolled up her underpants: "Your Highness, there are also knees."
Qin Xin and Du Juan, who were standing nearby, both gasped when they saw her knees!
"My God, how did you get injured like this? It's all bruised and purple, it's terrifying!"
"Huayi, doesn't it hurt? Don't you want your knees anymore?"
Huayi remained silent. As always, she stood there quietly with her head down, saying little and making no unnecessary expressions or movements. Those who didn't know her might find her somewhat dull, even a little silly.
Shen Wantang looked at her purplish-blue knees and sighed softly: "Is the painting worth it?"
Qin Xin and Du Juan were confused, but Hua Yi understood. She finally raised her head and said, "It's worth it, Princess Consort."
Shen Wantang nodded: "Okay, as long as you think it's worth it. Dujuan, get her some more medicine, both external and internal."
Du Juan took the medicine, handed it to Hua Yi, told her how to use it, and then retreated behind Shen Wantang.
Hua Yi took the medicine, thanked him again, and then turned to leave.
As she was about to leave, Shen Wantang said calmly, "If one day you feel it's not worth it anymore, you can still come back to me. Wutong Garden will always have a place for you."
Hua Yi turned around, knelt down and kowtowed to Shen Wantang, then got up and walked out.
Two maids, one on each side, opened the gate to the Wutong Garden for her. In the dim light, she stepped across the threshold.
The door slowly closed, and all the light disappeared.
She was plunged into darkness.
The weather was cold, and she was surrounded by endless darkness, but she was full of enthusiasm and felt that she was getting closer and closer to her goal.
She started walking, preparing to return to Xinghe Courtyard.
But she had only taken a few steps when she saw Xiao Qingyuan.
She hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness."
Xiao Qingyuan frowned: "I went to your room to look for you but couldn't find you. I heard from Mo Ji that you were here, so I came to check on you. What, your injuries have healed? Is that why you're running around so late at night?"
Hua Yi smiled and said, "The injury doesn't hurt anymore. I came here specifically to thank the Crown Princess. Look, the Crown Princess gave me some more medicine! The Crown Princess is truly kind to me."
Xiao Qingyuan glanced at her medicine and took it from her.
When he was getting the medicine, he touched Huayi's fingers.
His brow furrowed even deeper: "Why are your hands so cold? Are you cold?"
Huayi quickly shook her head: "This servant is not cold."
"No wonder you're cold, you're dressed so thinly. Didn't Shen Wantang send you some warm clothes?"
"Yes, yes, I have warm clothes. I just forgot to put on some when I left in a hurry today."
Xiao Qingyuan stared at her for a while, then took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
Hua Yi was taken aback: "Your Highness, this... I'm really not cold, you should wear it!"
"Stop talking nonsense and hurry back, or I'm afraid you stupid girl will freeze to death outside like those refugees outside the city!"
Hua Yi wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, suppressed the slight upturn of her lips, and softly replied "Yes," then followed behind him as they walked towards Xinghe Courtyard.
Along the way, countless eyes were fixed on Huayi. Huayi knew that tomorrow morning, everyone in the entire Prince's mansion would know that the young master had given her his cloak to wear.
She was different in the Crown Prince's heart; she received a level of pampering and care that no one else had ever received.
Mo Ji walked ahead carrying a lantern, occasionally glancing back at the prince and Hua Yi, where he could see the subtle, ambiguous relationship between them.
He couldn't understand it. Wasn't the young master madly in love with Chu Yanluo? How come he had just taken Chu Yanluo as a concubine, and now he was starting to dote on Huayi?
As Mo Ji walked, he couldn't help but scratch his head. Was this the infatuation and passion inherent in the bloodline of the Xiao royal family? The emperor was the same way. He went to great lengths to snatch a commoner girl into the palace to be his concubine. After favoring her for a few days, he turned around and went to favor another newly promoted concubine.
Forget it, it's the emperor's business, why should a eunuch think so much about it?
The Crown Prince's favoritism towards Huayi is surely better than his favoritism towards Chu Yanluo, right? Huayi, after all, came from the Crown Princess's side, so she'll surely be obedient.
That night, Xiao Qingyuan did not return to his bedroom to sleep, but slept in the study.
And serving in the study, besides the inkstone, was also the painter.
Early the next morning, Xiao Qingyuan went to Wutong Garden.
“Shen Wantang, the weather is cold, and Huayi’s clothes are too thin. Tell someone to make her a few more warm clothes. She is frail and more susceptible to the cold than others.”
Shen Wantang nodded: "Okay, I understand. Is there anything else, Your Highness?"
"It's gone."
Xiao Qingyuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you for the medicine. Huayi's injury is healing very quickly. Do you have any more?"
"I've already given all the medicine I have here to Huayi. If Your Highness wants more, you'll have to wait a few more days, as medicine preparation takes time. What, has Huayi been injured again?"
"No, I just thought it was better to be safe than sorry."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wantang simply smiled faintly, without much reaction.
Qin Xin and Du Juan, standing behind her, were so angry they were practically steaming.
As soon as Xiao Qingyuan left, the two of them started talking angrily.
Qin Xin: "Why is Huayi's clothing so thin? All of us head maids wear the same clothes, so why is she the only one who's cold? Why aren't we cold? Is the young master's eyesight failing him? Can't he see that Huayi's clothes are newly made, thick clothes?"
Du Juan: "They said she was frail and weak, but she's incredibly strong, as big as an ox! She could take on ten princes by herself! She's served the prince for so long, hasn't he noticed anything unusual about her? Does the prince even know how to use his brain?!"
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