Chapter 8 Different Paths
The sound was extremely slight.
It was like dead leaves scraping against window paper on a winter night.
Ling Zixia's body tensed instantly.
The white porcelain bowl in her hand was quietly placed back on the table.
She didn't look back.
She just listened quietly.
The paddling sound paused.
Then.
It rang again.
This time it had a steady, slow rhythm.
It's like tracing an invisible symbol.
Ling Zixia's breathing was very light.
Her ears caught every detail of the sound.
This is not an unconscious scratch.
This is some kind of code.
She turned slowly.
Her eyes turned to the wooden window covered with old window paper.
There was no one outside the window.
Only the dead branches blown by the wind swayed in the moonlight.
Sudden.
The window latch made a very subtle click.
Someone had unbolted the door from the outside with a thin wire.
A pair of eyes appeared in the hole in the window paper.
Those were a pair of eyes with clear black and white, full of curiosity.
Immediately following.
The shabby wooden window was carefully pushed open a crack.
A childish face poked its head in.
She was a little maid who looked only fourteen or fifteen years old.
Her hair was tied into two buns.
There are a few light freckles on her face.
She saw Ling Zixia in the room.
Those eyes were immediately filled with panic.
Like a frightened deer.
"ah!"
She uttered a short cry of surprise.
Then the whole person slipped in through the window like a loach.
Her movements were clumsy.
I almost fell when I landed.
After the little maid stood firm.
He immediately saluted Ling Zixia in a state of bewilderment.
"Your servant... Your servant Xiao Cui greets Miss Ling."
Her voice was a little stammering due to nervousness.
"Yes...it was the steward who sent this servant to serve you."
Ling Zixia looked at her.
His face showed just the right amount of timidity and confusion.
A maid who came here on orders.
Why not go through the main entrance?
Instead, you have to climb through the window like a thief?
Xiao Cui seemed to be aware of this problem as well.
Her face flushed red.
"This servant...this servant just saw Miss Liu leave angrily."
"I'm afraid... I'm afraid I'll get scolded if I run into her at the door..."
"So... I wanted to come around from behind..."
"I didn't expect...the windows here are so fragile..."
This explanation sounds full of loopholes.
But it fits her timid appearance.
Ling Zixia didn't ask any further questions.
She just nodded slightly.
Xiao Cui saw that she was not angry.
It was like a sigh of relief.
Only then did she begin to look at this new master.
Her gaze lingered on Ling Zixia for a moment.
Then it fell on the copper hand warmer on the table.
There was an extremely obscure glint in her eyes.
So fast that it is impossible to catch.
"It's really cold here, girl."
Xiao Cui said while rubbing her hands.
"The housekeeper was worried that you would be cold, so he specially asked me to come here."
She said.
From a small bag that I brought with me.
He took out a palm-sized green-glazed porcelain box.
She held the porcelain box in her palm.
Carefully opened the lid.
A strange smell mixed with herbs and oil emanated.
The box was full of dark green ointment.
"This is a warming ointment passed down from my family."
Xiao Cui said this with a look of presenting a treasure.
"Just apply a little on your hands and feet, and you'll be warm all night long."
She said.
While doing so, he used his fingers to dig out a small amount of ointment from the box.
She approached Ling Zixia enthusiastically.
"Miss, let me apply it on you."
Ling Zixia lowered her eyes.
Her eyes fell on the dark green ointment.
Her nose twitched slightly.
This ointment does contain fever-inducing ingredients such as ginger and cinnamon.
But beneath these ingredients.
It also hides a very irritating plant juice.
That is the powder made from the rhizome of the "Ghost-Seeing Plant" plant.
This stuff alone will only cause a slight redness on the skin.
Once it comes into contact with human body temperature and oil.
It will quickly cause severe, burning pain and a rash.
The symptoms are exactly the same as those on the thrush hand.
Just a lighter dose.
Onset is slower.
This is another temptation.
A temptation that is more covert and direct than Liu Yunyao's ginger soup.
If her body is really "different from ordinary people".
Then this ointment is the best proof.
Ling Zi...Xia raised her head.
There was a hint of hesitation and fear on her face.
"Is there something wrong with this?"
She asked softly.
"How could that be!"
Xiao Cui immediately patted her chest and made a promise.
"This is a good thing. I myself am reluctant to use it in winter."
She pulled Ling Zixia's hand without saying anything.
Ling Zixia's hands were cold and slender.
There seems to be no warmth at all.
Xiao Cui showed a distressed expression on her face.
She placed the ointment on the back of Ling Zixia's hand.
Just as she was about to spread the ointment with her fingers.
Ling Zixia's other hand reached out "accidentally".
Her fingertips gently touched the dark green ointment.
As if wanting to feel its texture.
“It looks very greasy.”
She said in a curious tone.
It's just this touch like a dragonfly skimming the water.
An invisible force instantly surged into the ointment.
The severe toxicity of the rhizome powder of "Ghost-Seeing Plant" was completely reversed.
It starts as a strong irritant.
It becomes a gentle ingredient that promotes blood circulation and nourishes the skin.
The original dry and hot-heating herbs in the ointment.
It is also neutralized into pure energy that can continuously radiate heat from the inside out.
The properties of the whole ointment.
At this moment, a radical change occurred.
Xiao Cui knew nothing about this.
She still had a warm smile on her face.
She used her fingers.
Carefully spread the ointment evenly on the back of Ling Zixia's hand.
She applied it while she was doing it.
While secretly observing Ling Zixia's reaction.
She waited.
Waiting for the burning pain to appear.
Waiting for her new master to show a pained expression on his face.
However.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Ten breaths passed.
There was no change on the back of Ling Zixia's hand.
No redness or swelling.
No rash.
Not even a hint of redness.
The dark green ointment looked like the finest mutton-fat jade.
It was quickly absorbed by her smooth skin.
A faint sheen appeared on the back of her hand.
Makes her skin look more delicate and smooth.
A gentle and lasting warmth came from the back of my hand.
Flowing slowly to her fingertips.
Finally it flowed into her limbs and bones.
“So comfortable…”
Ling Zixia let out a contented sigh.
A look of surprise appeared on her face.
"Xiao Cui, your ointment is really magical."
"My hands felt warm instantly."
"And it doesn't sting at all, it feels cool and refreshing."
Her words were like a bucket of ice water.
It poured down on Xiao Cui's heart.
Xiao Cui froze.
The warm smile on her face froze.
Cool?
Refreshing?
How is this possible!
The recipe for the ointment was given to her by that man himself.
She herself had experimented on animals.
The effect was clearly like a burning fire.
Why use it on this woman?
Will it have the opposite effect?
A trace of extreme confusion and shock flashed in Xiao Cui's eyes.
She quickly covered it up with a simple smile.
"As long as it's useful, it's good."
She said with a dry laugh.
"Maybe it's because you have good skin, so it absorbs quickly."
Ling Zixia looked at her.
There was pure gratitude on his face.
"Xiao Cui, you are really my lucky star."
"I don't feel so cold anymore since you came."
Her words were full of dependence.
This made Xiao Cui feel even more uncertain.
Her original mission was to test and monitor.
But now.
She felt like she was facing an unfathomable fog.
I have no idea of the depth of this woman in front of me.
"Girl, please take a rest first."
Xiao Cui quickly stood up.
She needed to report this strange situation immediately.
"I'll get you some hot water to wash up."
She made an excuse.
So he wanted to turn around and leave.
"Wait a moment."
Ling Zixia called her.
Xiao Cui's body stiffened.
She turned slowly.
"What else do you want, young lady?"
Ling Zixia pointed to the gold-painted white porcelain bowl that Liu Yunyao had abandoned.
"Take this bowl to the kitchen and wash it."
Her tone was gentle.
"Don't waste such a good bowl."
Xiao Cui looked at the bowl.
He looked at Ling Zixia's clear eyes again.
She always felt the depth of those eyes.
Hiding something she couldn't understand.
"yes."
She lowered her head and replied.
She walked over.
He carefully picked up the white porcelain bowl.
Just as she was about to walk out of the room.
Ling Zixia's voice came again from behind her.
The sound was very soft.
But it was like a thunderclap.
It exploded in Xiao Cui's ears.
"The formula of your warming ointment is quite similar to the 'Nihan San' recipe recorded in my father's medical records."
"But my father said that the most important auxiliary ingredient in the prescription is not ginger."
"It's the tiny golden stamen hidden within the rhizome of the water lily."
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