Chapter 43 Childhood Sweethearts
When she was a child, Xie Hanyue often went to the palace. She and the Seventh Prince were childhood sweethearts, and the two of them always had endless things to talk about when they got together.
Once inside the carriage, the so-called avoidance of suspicion completely vanished, and Xie Hanyue lay on the soft cushion beside her, sobbing softly.
"My dear sister, why are you crying again?"
"What exactly is going on?"
Zhou Huai'an sighed helplessly, handed over a handkerchief, wiped Xie Hanyue's tears, and gently comforted her.
Xie Hanyue sat up and looked at Zhou Huai'an expectantly: "Brother Huai'an, haven't you heard that it's all over the place? Everyone's saying that I'm malicious and that I'm bullying my older sister!"
"He's just someone who came back from the countryside. So what if we bully him?"
"Besides, those people outside are just talking nonsense. Don't worry, I'll help you solve this. Don't cry anymore, your eyes are all swollen, it's heartbreaking to see."
Zhou Huai'an gently rubbed Xie Hanyue's head.
Xie Hanyue finally felt a little better. She lowered her head and said in a muffled voice, "I know I'm not the Xie family's biological daughter, and I shouldn't be competing with my sister for her. But I don't want anything, I just want a place to stand. I don't know why, but my sister just can't tolerate me."
"She bullied you like that, I certainly won't let her off easily, you can rest assured." A hint of ruthlessness flashed across Zhou Huai'an's gentle, originally effeminate face, but it was gone in an instant.
Rose Garden.
Standing before Xie Qingran, Zhao Mama said arrogantly, "The Imperial Concubine said that the eldest young lady's manners are still not good enough, so she sent this old servant to continue to train her, so that she won't bring shame to the family after she gets married!"
"Yes, Your Highness, I will obey your orders. Thank you for your help, Granny."
Xie Qingran bowed respectfully, her actions and attitude were impeccable.
But Granny Zhao snorted disdainfully, her eyes sharp: "This old servant has been training the young lady for more than ten years, but I never thought that I still couldn't teach her well. It is truly my fault. Since that's the case, starting tomorrow, this old servant will work twice as hard to make the young lady start from scratch so that she won't tarnish the Xie family's reputation when she goes out in the future."
"yes."
Xie Qingran was already meek and submissive, showing no intention of resisting whatsoever.
Zhao Mama was finally satisfied. She snorted coldly and turned to leave.
After she left, Baozhu rushed over, supported Xie Qingran, her eyes reddening, and choked out, "What's so great about this old nanny in the palace? How could she treat Miss like this? It's really too much! Miss, what should we do next?"
"It's alright, I'm already used to it." Xie Qingran smiled slightly.
After she sat down, she took out a small box and handed it to Baozhu, saying softly, "This is a return gift I prepared for the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. You should personally deliver it to him and thank Prince Xiao in person, telling him that his medicine helped me a lot."
"Miss, this Granny Zhao is clearly up to no good and is deliberately trying to make things difficult for you. Why aren't you worried?"
"Look at your body now. If you keep pushing yourself like this, how can you possibly take it?"
Baozhu was completely preoccupied with her young mistress, Xiao Shizi, and worried that Xie Qingran might be mistreated.
However, Xie Qingran simply shook her head and said, "Go."
Baozhu was speechless, and with no other choice, she could only leave with the box in her arms.
The next morning, before dawn, Granny Zhao came to the door, intending to give her a piece of her mind. However, to her surprise, Xie Qingran was already dressed and sitting on the bed waiting.
She swallowed all the prepared words and only let out a cold snort: "Young Miss, you're up really early."
"Your Highness's kindness is truly beyond my ability to repay. Thank you for your hard work, Granny." Xie Qingran stood up and bowed.
Granny Zhao snorted coldly: "Today, we'll learn the etiquette of kneeling and bowing!"
Xie Qingran had long been familiar with these rules, so Zhao Mama's suggestion to start over was just to torment Xie Qingran, teach her a lesson, and vent Xie Hanyue's anger.
Xie Qingran knew all about these so-called little schemes, so she did not resist. She kowtowed as Zhao Mama instructed, doing so in an orderly manner, like an obedient puppet.
Xie Hanyue came over to watch the excitement after having breakfast.
"The Imperial Concubine truly loves you dearly, even after you returned to the Xie family, she still reminds and instructs you from time to time. You must not let the Imperial Concubine down."
Xie Hanyue sat leisurely on a chair to the side, watching Xie Qingran's disheveled appearance as she kept kowtowing, and felt refreshed.
Granny Zhao brandished her ruler, striking Xie Qingran's hands repeatedly, scolding her: "Raise your hands, do it again!"
"Sister, please don't feel wronged by kowtowing. This is all thanks to the Imperial Concubine!"
Xie Hanyue covered her mouth, her eyes practically gleaming with schadenfreude.
Xie Qingran simply accepted all the sarcasm and ridicule, as if she couldn't feel any malice at all. She tried her best again and again, and soon her hands were covered with scars and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Baozhu, standing to the side, was so anxious seeing Xie Qingran like this that she stamped her feet and tears were about to fall. However, since Xie Qingran was a palace maid, she didn't dare to say a word.
The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Hongshan knelt before Xiao Jue and recounted Xie Qingran's current situation in detail. He sighed, "This eldest daughter of the Xie family is truly pitiful, and the Imperial Concubine has gone too far!"
"By the way, Your Highness, this is a return gift from Miss Xie. Her maidservant personally delivered it, saying that the medicinal herbs you gave her were a great help." Hongshan took out the box and handed it to Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue's eyes were filled with complex emotions. After opening the box, he found two medicine pouches inside.
He smelled them carefully and then confirmed that one was for calming the nerves and the other for relieving pain. Ever since he was injured in that battle, he had been suffering from insomnia almost every night and rarely slept well. He had tried all kinds of calming drugs, but they did not help. As for his legs, they would be in excruciating pain whenever it was rainy.
However, she has never told any of these things to outsiders. It seems that Xie Qingran is indeed bold and meticulous!
"Prepare the car, let's go to the Xie family's house."
Xiao Jue put away the medicine pouch and gave a cold order.
Sequoia was taken aback for a moment, then quickly responded: "Yes!"
He happily went out, and soon a carriage was prepared, and they went to the Xie family together.
Rose Garden.
Xie Qingran knelt on the ground, holding the copper basin in both hands, her back straight, her molars clenched tightly, not daring to move an inch.
"Young Master Xiao has arrived!"
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