Injuried
The rain poured down relentlessly, pounding heavily on the ground. Hearing the servant's summons, Qu Linghan casually opened an umbrella and headed towards the mansion gate.
"Tap, tap, tap."
The heavy rain pounded against Qu Linghan's umbrella, and mixed with the wind, the light at the doorway seemed to become distorted and warped.
Qu Linghan saw Qin Hang standing in front of the carriage, carefully lifted the curtain, and helped the person inside out.
Qu Linghan frowned, looking at the light reflected off the iron fixture, which trembled up and down with her staggering body.
It's only been an afternoon since we last met.
When did Bai Hui become so frail?
Unable to suppress his doubts, Qu Linghan walked to the carriage. Bai Hui was weakly being supported on Qin Hang's shoulder.
Although the light was dim, Qu Linghan could still see the faint scars under his clothes.
Qu Linghan felt a pang of heartache and looked at Bai Hui.
With an undeniable air of authority that even she herself could hardly detect, she asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Bai Hui's eyes, hidden behind iron sash, looked at Qu Linghan. Qu Linghan's eyes were beautiful, usually carrying a sharp edge, but today they seemed to have been bullied and were lifeless.
"It's alright."
He showed none of his former arrogance.
Driven by some unknown reason, Qu Linghan removed Bai Hui's mask.
"ah."
Qu Linghan was clearly startled, as if he had exposed a secret that someone had kept for a long time.
The oil-paper umbrella fell to the ground as Qu Linghan retreated.
"Qin Hang, please take me back to my room."
And so, Qin Hang helped Bai Hui up.
The rain created swirling eddies on the ground.
Qu Linghan picked up the umbrella from the ground and followed.
"Wait for me. Bai Hui, let me hold the umbrella for you."
Qu Linghan tilted the umbrella slightly and looked at Bai Hui.
The wind blew fiercely, lifting the corner of Bai Hui's clothes. He staggered and was finally helped into the main room.
Qu Linghan stepped forward to help Qin Hang, and could vaguely hear Bai Hui's irregular breathing.
Qu Linghan was stunned for a moment. Bai Hui was only nineteen years old, but he had already made countless military achievements.
He could be considered a war god of his generation, no matter how you look at it.
Why have we suffered such devastation?
Qin Hang interrupted his brief thought.
“My lady, I am in a difficult position. I entrust the Marquis with your care tonight.”
Qu Linghan reached out and took the medicine bottle from Qin Hang, then looked at Bai Hui on the bed.
Does that mean it's convenient for me?
Qu Linghan ultimately didn't say it aloud; she told herself that.
Take good care of your benefactor! He will definitely give you a discount!
Qu Linghan glanced at Bai Hui.
His white clothes were a little wrinkled.
After taking a deep breath, Qu Linghan walked towards him.
Qu Linghan carefully removed Bai Hui's mask, revealing the wound on his face.
She gently applied the ointment to the wounds on Bai Hui's face. At that moment, his sharp features became harmless, making one want to touch them carefully.
The rain outside the window is still falling, sometimes heavy, sometimes light.
Qu Linghan folded up his white sleeves, revealing one shocking scar after another.
She turned to look at Bai Hui, but he seemed unaffected by her injuries.
What's wrong with you?
Qu Linghan said with concern.
Is it because of the Crown Prince?
"If that were the case, it would be utterly absurd."
Bai Hui didn't speak, his eyes fixed on Qu Linghan.
Be careful what you say.
Then a series of coughs broke out.
Qu Linghan helped Bai Hui up and gently patted his back.
"You are the Marquis of Zhenbei, how can you endure such humiliation!"
"Next time, you must say no to evil forces, understand?"
knew
The rain stopped, and the night was so dark it seemed impenetrable, giving one a sense of loneliness and desolation.
After Qu Linghan finished applying the medicine to Bai Hui, he turned and walked towards the makeshift bed where Bai Hui had stayed the day before.
"Qu Linghan".
His voice carried a hint of weariness.
"Ah, you called me."
Qu Linghan stared wide-eyed at Bai Hui, and after confirming that it was him who made the sound.
"What's the matter?"
Bai Hui's face flushed slightly, and she looked away.
"Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, so perhaps today..."
Let's go to bed first.
Before Bai Hui could finish speaking, Qu Linghan grabbed his blanket and climbed onto the bed.
"You should have said so earlier. Don't hesitate next time."
"My injury does hurt a bit."
Qu Linghan then rubbed his wound.
"I'm sorry, the assassin was after me."
Qu Linghan stared at Bai Hui with wide eyes once again.
This cunning man actually apologizes. That's rare indeed.
"What's wrong with you today? You're not like yourself at all after going out."
Qu Linghan looked Bai Hui up and down.
Bai Hui remained silent for a long time.
"What kind of person should I be?"
He glanced at Qu Linghan out of the corner of his eye; she was already fast asleep.
It seems she's exhausted today.
Bai Hui tucked Qu Linghan in and looked outside.
Water is dripping from the eaves, just like every other day. If there's anything different, it's that tonight's night lacks the loneliness of the past.
Bai Hui glanced sideways at Qu Linghan, recalling the assassin from a few days ago.
"I've dragged you down."
The next morning was a rare sunny day. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window and into Qu Linghan's eyes, and Qu Linghan turned over.
Realizing something was wrong, Qu Linghan suddenly woke up with a start, "I mustn't let me hurt this war god's injury."
Strange, why isn't this person reacting at all?
Qu Linghan cautiously opened her eyes; the sunlight was truly beautiful.
She had to shield her eyes from the light to look at the empty bedding beside her.
Qu Linghan was full of doubts.
With such severe injuries, where could he possibly go?
Qu Linghan finished washing up with her questions in mind and had just stepped out of her room when she encountered Qin Hang, who was directing the tidying up of the flowers and plants.
"Was it the Marquis who instructed him to do this? I didn't expect him to enjoy tending to flowers and plants."
Qu Linghan looked at Qin Hang with a smile.
"These are all things that the old lady loved when she was alive."
Qu Linghan nodded, looking like she understood.
So that's how it is. Qu Linghan glanced at the branches in the courtyard, which were disheveled by yesterday's heavy rain.
The water in the courtyard had dried up at some point, and if it weren't for these flowers, it would be as if the rain had never happened.
"By the way, Qin Hang, where is your lord?"
Qu Linghan was just about to stretch when he was caught off guard by Qin Hang's reply.
"Now that the Marquis has entered the palace, he must be going to Yuzhou with His Highness the Crown Prince."
"What! Yuzhou? Is that the prefecture that suffered from natural disaster?"
Has he already set off?
"This...I am unaware of the Marquis's matter."
"His injuries haven't healed yet. If he leaves now, what was the point of the medicine I applied for him yesterday?"
Qu Linghan got angry at the thought that he didn't care about his injuries at all.
"What's he going there for?"
Qin Hang suddenly bowed, "Madam, please forgive me for not saying more."
Qu Linghan hurriedly waved his hand, saying it was fine not to say anything.
When will he be back?
The shop rent hasn't been paid yet...
"I am not sure either, as the Marquis's return date is uncertain every time he travels far away."
"But the Marquis told me this morning before he left that the rent for the lady's shop had been paid in full."
"I've paid, so that means I can start the renovation now?"
Seeing Qin Hang nod, Qu Linghan momentarily forgot all about Bai Hui's injury.
Before long, Qu Linghan had tidied himself up and was ready to go see his "company" that he would grow and expand in the next few years.
Qu Linghan felt that his injuries had fully healed and walked on the street with an unexpected lightness in his body.
"Could it be that he accidentally ate a magic pill sometime during his life?"
That would be a real windfall; she'd have to find out what kind of medicine it was. She'd definitely feed Bai Hui a good few pills.
As Qu Linghan was thinking, he arrived at the shop entrance. The original shop sign had been removed, and Qu Linghan was just waiting to replace it with a new one.
"What's your name?"
Qu Linghan thought for a while and decided to go to the shop first.
After all, even if she really wanted to come up with a name, she wouldn't write it in the font of this era.
I can't write characters, so I can't make my own signboard.
That would be futile.
"Let's think about it when Bai Hui arrives; he's definitely good at it."
Qu Linghan walked into the shop and looked around.
"This can be used to store cabinets, this can be used as a fitting room, this can be used to store newly cut clothes, and this can be used as a storefront."
As he looked around, Qu Linghan noticed something was wrong.
She walked forward cautiously.
"Money! Lots of money!"
There was a note underneath. Qu Linghan had never seen Bai Hui's handwriting before, but this sounded like his tone.
"The menial tasks, weaving, and cloth production must all be prepared; this is for ten taels of silver."
The calligraphy is quite nice; you can write the plaque.
Qu Linghan was quite excited as he gathered the ten taels of silver that Bai Hui had left him.
He had to examine the menial laborers, the weavers, and the fabric workers.
Qu Linghan walked back and forth in the market, much like those lines from the Ballad of Mulan.
He bought a fine horse in the east market, a saddle and bridle in the west market, a bridle in the south market, and a long whip in the north market...
Qu Linghan paced back and forth on the street, suddenly realizing that he hadn't seen Jing'er for a long time.
She was somewhat lost in thought when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Concubine".
Following the sound, Qu Linghan smiled and asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"
Before he could finish speaking, Qu Linghan felt a malicious gaze beside him.
Qu Linghan looked at Jing'er.
Who is this?
Before Jing'er could speak, that person interrupted her.
"Qu Linghan! You've finally found a good life, don't you even recognize your own sister anymore?" Her words were filled with disdain and anger.
"What good day? Is it a good day because you almost burned her to death? You're really stupid. You dared to burn the Marquis's concubine. Aren't you afraid of being torn to pieces?"
Qu Linghan was not to be outdone.
"You...you, if it weren't for you, I would be the one living a good life in the Marquis's mansion right now."
It seems that Qu Linglong has been pushed to the limit.
"Weren't you seriously ill? You were the one who personally brought me to the Marquis's mansion."
Without waiting for Qu Linglong's reply, Qu Linghan pulled Jing'er back from beside her with one hand.
"Let her go. She's a maid from the Qu household!"
Qu Linghan suddenly remembered what the two servants in the courtyard had said about her yesterday.
Despite her family's decline, she really thinks she's still a pampered young lady.
Not only does it suit her, but it also perfectly matches Qu Linglong.
Walking down the street, Qu Linghan pulled Jing'er along, asking her one question after another.
"Why did you go to her place?"
“Miss, you were injured and fell unconscious while protecting the Marquis. No one in the courtyard was willing to tell me about your condition, so I could only…” Jing’er answered haltingly, her voice trembling with tears.
As soon as he finished speaking, Qu Linghan sighed.
This girl is indeed loyal, but she's not the real Qu Linghan at all.
"You can ask Qin Hang next time."
"Lord Hou and his men are good people."
Jing'er turned to look at Qu Linghan, her intuition telling her...
The young lady is a little different.
However, she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.
A short while later, Qu Linghan led Jing'er to the clothing shop and told her his plans.
Although Jing'er didn't understand why her young mistress wanted to do this, she still unconditionally agreed with her.
First, we must respect the needs of our guests.
Secondly, we…
Qu Linghan was continuing to explain the precautions to Jing'er when suddenly a sound of footsteps came from behind.
"Qu Linghan..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com