When they returned to the Prime Minister's residence, it was already dark, and a crescent moon was swirling in the clouds.
After setting dinner on the table, Zihe secretly glanced at Xie Lingqin. Although her mistress never showed her true feelings, Zihe felt that her mistress's aura had become even more gloomy since she went out.
"This..." After eating only a few bites, Xie Lingqin handed the medicine and the dendrobium she had caught that day to Zihe. "Boil three bowls of water down to one bowl. Consider it medicine for treating a cold. Don't boil it yourself. Give it to the maid named Tridacna who stayed with you that day to boil. You keep a close eye on her from the shadows."
Zihe's eyes narrowed. "Miss, are you suspecting the giant clam?"
Xie Lingqin shook her head. "No, I want to see who's trying to harm me."
Zihe understood instantly, took the medicine, and left.
Xie Lingqin sighed silently. The poison in her body had accumulated over time and could not be cured in just a few days. Moreover, after being provoked by the Crown Prince, a thought flashed through her mind, and she realized that she seemed to be missing a certain ingredient.
Not long after dinner, Zihe brought the medicine up. Xie Lingqin drank it all in one gulp without blinking, and then asked, "Any abnormalities?"
Zihe nodded, her expression somber. "However, I was somewhat surprised. This Tridacna has been quiet and reserved in Qingfeng Pavilion for the past few days. I thought she was just an honest and timid person, but I didn't expect her to be so strong. She was also very diligent when decocting medicine, and she was careful when anyone entered the kitchen."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingqin raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. After a moment, as if thinking of something, Xie Lingqin took out the fine handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Zihe, saying, "Take this and wash it."
"Uh..." Zihe was clearly taken aback, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes. She reached out and took it. "Miss, this is..."
Xie Lingqin looked at her, her tone somewhat cold, "Do you look familiar?"
"This..." Zihe paused, her eyelashes lowering slightly. "Miss, it's not that it looks familiar, it's that this is the Tianxiang Brocade from the Southern Qi Dynasty. There are only three pieces in the palace, and all three are in the Crown Prince's residence." Zihe lowered her head slightly as she finished speaking, but her eyes clearly showed a hint of doubt.
Xie Lingqin remained calm, her clear eyes as still as a pool of water. "Yes, as you suspected, it belonged to your former master."
"That……"
Xie Lingqin slightly raised her clear, water-like eyes.
A sudden chill swept over us.
Zihe immediately lowered her head and bowed as she withdrew, saying, "Yes, this servant understands."
As soon as Zihe stepped down, Xie Lingqin picked up her bamboo chopsticks and plunged them directly into the stir-fried lily bulbs in front of her.
Use force, use force, use a lot of force.
She would never mention something so shameful.
She also wants to establish her authority.
She didn't have the awareness to think about masters and maids getting along well.
The best way to live in this world is to be free from all attachments.
"Broken." A shattering sound suddenly rang out outside the courtyard.
Xie Lingqin frowned, looked out through the half-open window, scratched her hair, and then unhappily picked up a thin blanket from the soft couch and draped it over herself—she still had a cold.
"What's wrong with you, maid? How could you act so rudely? What if you hurt the Second Miss?"
Then, a reprimanding voice came from the courtyard.
"This servant, this servant didn't mean it..." The maid's voice, barely audible and trembling, followed.
"As expected, those maids are so uncouth and lack manners."
"Xiangyi, never mind. Perhaps it's because eldest sister isn't feeling well, and these maids are worried about her," Xie Lingyu said gently.
It's a stark contrast to his aggressive demeanor yesterday.
Seeing this, the young maid looked at the second young lady with lingering fear and then stepped aside.
Inside the house, Xie Lingqin glanced at the pitiful maid before looking away. Then, her gaze fell on the broken teapot at the courtyard gate.
"Miss, the Second Miss has come to see you." Zihe, having perhaps dealt with the handkerchief, went to the door to announce.
Xie Lingqin glanced at her and waved her hand, "Please."
Zihe trembled slightly at that glance.
Yes, as Xie Lingqin's personal maid, she was the one who should have stepped forward, but she hid to the side.
Xie Lingyu walked in at this moment, seemingly offering a concerned greeting, but as soon as she entered, her eyes, behind the veil covering her face, wandered around the room.
"Xiangyi, put down these snacks I brought for my elder sister," Xie Lingyu called to the maid beside her.
"Yes, Miss." Xiangyi's eyes shifted, and she looked directly at Zihe who had followed her in. "Look, these are all pastries from Jufulou. The Second Miss specially had them bought."
His bossy and arrogant manner makes him seem more like a master than a servant.
Zihe accepted it without saying a word.
"Sister, are you feeling better?" Xie Lingyu then stepped forward.
They were so gentle and kind, as if they were truly sisters.
Xie Lingqin glanced at Xie Lingyu with a slight look. Her face was already torn to shreds, but she was still pretending, huh? Fine, she would play along.
Therefore, Xie Lingqin's next words surprised Xie Lingyu.
This book was first published by Xiaoxiang Academy; please do not reproduce it!
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