Full House Spring

Chapter 15 Finding Wealth in Danger

Warm blood flowed down Xia Li's forehead, the scarlet color was too terrifying.

Seeing that Lu Qinghe was feeling physically uncomfortable, she almost vomited and her body was shaking like a sieve. Song quickly pushed away the servants who were trying to stop her and stepped forward to hug her in her arms.

Nanny Xie's face was full of disbelief. Xia Li was clearly guarding outside the door, how could he fall in a pool of blood in the blink of an eye?

The old lady's back was covered in cold sweat. If Xia Li hadn't flown up to block the incense burner, she would have been the one hit right between the eyebrows and lying on the ground, her life or death unknown.

Luo knew that the eldest girl had an impatient temper and would jump up and down at the slightest provocation, but she didn't know that she was so crazy that she even dared to attack her own grandmother. This time, she had already dug her own grave without her having to fan the flames.

Aunt Xie reacted quickly. She rushed to Xia Li, picked up her frail body, took out a handkerchief from her bosom and covered her bleeding forehead with it, and said in a trembling voice:
"Old lady, please find a doctor for this girl. She is so loyal to her master. If she dies...it will be a pity."

Luo patted his chest in fear and echoed behind him:

"Mother, this is the girl who just sent me the message. She looks like a well-behaved child. We must not let her die in vain."

The old lady's face was as gloomy as water. She looked at Aunt Xie and said, "Don't worry. This girl will still be taken care of by you until the end of her life. She won't die young. Send her back to the room to lie down first. Bai Shao, go and call Doctor Zhong over."

Bai Shao took the order and ran out. Doctor Zhong was the palace physician employed by the Duke's Mansion. He usually took the master's pulse and his medical skills were even better than those of the doctors in the clinic.

A woman named Wu had just died in Le Shou Tang. The old lady didn't want to see anyone else die for both public and private reasons, so she was determined to do her best to treat Xia Li.

Madam Xie stood up and said, "Master, there are too many people in the maid's room. Let her stay in my room first. When she wakes up, she can move to my house in the back alley to recuperate."

The old lady nodded slightly and said, "I'll arrange a maid to take care of you when the time comes. You're old now, so don't overwork yourself."

Aunt Xie held Xia Li and leaned forward. Shi Mi hurried forward to help her. Aunt Xie whispered, "This girl is skinny, I can hold her, you should serve the old lady well."

The old lady was very angry today and couldn't leave anyone by her side. Shi Mi was very careful and said softly, "Don't worry, Madam. I'm only here to help and won't leave the old lady."

Nanny Xie didn't bother to see how the old lady handled the matter. She picked up Xia Li and turned around and left. Song just heard that the injured little girl had something to do with Nanny Xie. She silently prayed to the gods and Buddhas in her heart to bless the girl to recover from the danger.

After everyone left, Song took the eldest daughter to the old lady. The mother and daughter knelt on the ground together. Song said with a sullen face:

"Mother, Qing He has a bad temper and is impulsive. It is because of my daughter-in-law's excessive indulgence. I am willing to be punished."

Lu Qinghe's face was as pale as paper. She looked at her mother with trembling lips, but she didn't know what to say.

The old lady was greatly shocked, and her face seemed to be covered with cold frost. Shi Mi was afraid that she could not hold on, so she helped her sit on the armchair.

After she sat down, she looked sharply at the mother and daughter from the eldest house and snorted coldly.

"I've told you before that Qing He's mood swings are very volatile and she needs to be suppressed. I want to teach her in person, but you always find excuses to refuse. Did you see it this time?"

Song regretted her decision. She bowed her head to the ground and said bitterly:

"Mother, I know I was wrong. I always wanted to make her feel more relaxed. I couldn't bear to let her go through the hardships I went through. Girls only have a few years to live a comfortable life. I didn't expect that she would become more and more unruly."

The old lady sneered, "To put it nicely, you have a kind heart. To put it bluntly, you are just stupid. Since you can't protect her for her whole life, you should be cruel and teach her. If jade is not polished, it will not become a useful thing. Don't you understand such a simple truth?"

Song had been in charge of the family for many years, so how could she not know that she was afraid that the old lady would really dislike her daughter, so she said unwillingly: "Mother, Qing He is still young, it is not too late to discipline her now. She is the eldest daughter of the mansion, and if her reputation is affected in the future marriage..."

The old lady knew what was left unsaid, and Mrs. Luo was also aware of it. After all, they both understood the principle that when one prospers, all prosper, and when one suffers, all suffer.

Lu Qinghe lowered her head and said nothing. After she vented her anger, she realized how much trouble she had caused. No matter how she tried to justify herself now, it would be wrong.

The old lady frowned, exhaled a breath of foul air, and said with all her might:
"If you really want to understand, send her to the family temple tomorrow to practice meditation. Let her stay there for two or three years, and then bring her back home when she has settled down."

Song's face lost all color. She glanced at her daughter and said sadly, "Just do as mother says. I'll pack her luggage when I get back."

Lu Qinghe's eyes were full of fear. Although she had never been to the ancestral temple, she knew it was a poor place. She clutched Song's clothes tightly, unwilling but not daring to refute.

Although Xia Li was there to ward off disaster, it was an indisputable fact that she hit her grandmother with the incense burner. Not to mention the old lady punishing her, I'm afraid she wouldn't let her off easily when the Duke returned home, and her mother would be scolded as well. It was better to be punished by the old lady than to face her father's anger.

The old lady didn't want to say any more to her, so she waved her hand to signal Song to take Lu Qinghe away, and she hoped that a blind eye would be shown to her.

Mrs. Luo stood aside. When she saw the Song mother and daughter leave, she said hesitantly, "Mother, there are too many things to do today. It's too chaotic. Your daughter-in-law will take her leave as well."

The old lady turned her head and said with a sullen face:

"Don't think I'm old and confused. You're the one who caused all this. If Qing He wasn't good, would Wan Qiao be in trouble? With the character of the second brother, can he protect Wan Qiao in the future? Don't you think about who your family relies on?"

Luo's face turned pale and green, she said unconvincedly: "Second Master's official position is low, that's because the Duke doesn't promote his own brothers. Although our Wan Qiao is two years younger than Qing He, she is outstanding in every way. Why should she be inferior to her? Qing He always gets all the good things first."

No one in this mansion is worry-free. The old lady said unhappily, "Wan Qiao can't reincarnate. She was born into your belly instead of Song's. People have to accept their fate."

Luo was about to say something else, but the old lady said mercilessly:

"Just because the Song family can't find evidence of Wu's murder doesn't mean I can't find it. If you don't stop, I'll have Imperial Censor Luo take you back to your parents' home to teach you a lesson."

The old lady hit Luo's weak spot. She didn't dare to shout. She drooped her face and swallowed her anger and said, "My daughter-in-law knows her mistake and won't do it again next time. But Wan Qiao is so clever and cunning that she doesn't know anything about the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet..." The old lady said impatiently, "I have never regretted anything I agreed to. Don't nag me."

Mrs. Luo's goal was achieved. She said happily, "Thank you, mother, for loving Wan Qiao. I will go back and tell her the good news."

Looking at Luo's leaving back, the old lady shook her head and sighed. She didn't know what sins she had committed in her previous life. She was such a strong-willed person, but her children and grandchildren were so-so. Perhaps God would not allow her to be too perfect.

Xia Li seemed to be floating in the air, her feet had no solid ground. Sometimes she dreamed that she was recording a video with her mobile phone, and sometimes she felt that she was embroidering. She was like a spinning top, busy all the time.

She didn't know how much time had passed. She was so tired that she suddenly remembered that she had traveled through ancient times. She tried hard to recall everything that had happened. She wanted to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt so heavy that she couldn't open them. She could vaguely hear sounds in her ears.

"Madame Xie, is he still awake? How was he last night?"

"He has a high fever and is unconscious. He has been given medicine. If he doesn't wake up, I'm afraid he will be in grave danger."

"It's hard for this girl. I hope she can survive this disaster..."

Xia Li concentrated on listening to them. She tried to identify their voices, but her head became heavier and heavier. She was really exhausted and fell into darkness again...

Nanny Xie was worried about her maids taking care of her, so she stayed with Xia Li for a whole day and night, and her eyeballs were swollen from exhaustion. She wet a cloth in a copper basin, and gently wiped the sweat off Xia Li's body.

Perhaps fate really matters between people. Among so many maids coming in and out of Le Shou Tang, only Xia Li is the most to her liking. She is happy from the bottom of her heart when she sees her, as if they were real grandparents and grandchildren in their previous life.

Looking at her bloodless lips, Nanny Xie secretly took note of the young lady in her heart. At this time, the lights in the room were on. Nanny Xie sat beside the bed and sighed softly.

Xia Li seemed to be awakened by the voice. She opened her eyes suddenly, her vision blurred, and said in a low and hoarse voice: "Grandma, I'm thirsty..."

Aunt Xie's body was stiff, thinking she had heard wrongly. She turned around and saw that Xia Li had actually opened his eyes. She said excitedly, "Wait, I'll pour you some water."

After a while, Xia Li heard the sound of teacups colliding. The corners of her lips slightly raised. It felt so good to be alive again...

Aunt Xie was used to serving people. She took a spoon and fed Xia Li a little bit of water until her lips were wet. Then she stopped and said gently, "Is that enough?"

Xia Li hummed softly and said weakly: "Grandma, I made you worry... I'm sorry."

Aunt Xie felt extremely bitter in her heart. She said with a nasal voice:
"Since you knew I would be worried, how dare you rush forward without caring about anything? The incense burner is made of copper. If you are not careful, you will lose your life."

Xia Li smiled bitterly and said in a very light voice:
"My body reacted faster than my brain at that time. I was thinking about wealth and fame... seeking it in danger. If I didn't risk my life to protect her... how could the old lady remember me well?"

Nanny Xie had a sad look in her eyes and said with a face full of vicissitudes, "It's not worth it... If it happens again, don't be so reckless. You only have one life."

Xia Li chuckled and said, "This time is enough. I don't ask for a sudden success, but I just want to save some face. If I can wake up, I think everything will be fine."

Madam Xie touched her palm and whispered, "Doctor Zhong came to see you and said that you had a head injury and lost too much blood. Even if you wake up, you will have to recuperate for a while. Does your head still hurt?" Xia Li nodded honestly. She frowned and said, "The wound is still painful. I'm afraid it will leave a scar."

Aunt Xie comforted her, "I have cleaned your wound. It is at the parting of your hair. Even if there is a scar, it will be covered by your hair and will not be visible."

Xia Li breathed a sigh of relief. Although she didn't expect to make a living by her looks, she didn't want to lose face. She looked up at Aunt Xie and said distressedly, "Grandma, how can you take care of me in person? Your face looks almost dry from working up a sweat."

Madam Xie subconsciously touched her face and said indifferently: "I am old now, so I will just let you die. Your life was at stake at that time, and I would not feel at ease if you were left to someone else to take care of you. I just hope you wake up safely."

Xia Li felt warm in her heart. She propped herself up with her arms and tried to get up. Aunt Xie was startled by her and scolded her, "You just woke up and you're moving around. Do you want to die?"

Xia Li's eyes went dark and she felt dizzy. She said pitifully, "I've taken up Grandma's bed and she can't rest. I want to get up and go back to my room."

Madam Xie said with a stern face, "With so many people living in your room, how can you rest peacefully? I can sleep on a Luohan bed at night. It's hot this way, so it doesn't matter where you sleep. I've made an agreement with the old lady. When you feel better, I'll send you to my house in the back alley to rest. You can pick a maid you're familiar with to keep you company. When you're well, come back to work."

Xia Li's eyes sparkled, and she said briskly, "The house in the back alley? Does that mean I can leave the house?"

Madam Xie knew what she was thinking, so she said calmly, "There are too many people in the mansion and it's not suitable for recuperation. My house is a courtyard. Although it's not very big, it has everything you need. You can live there comfortably."

Xia Li suddenly felt that it was worthwhile to exchange this injury for a moment of freedom. She pondered for a moment and said with a smile: "Then please, Grandma, let Qiaohe go with me. She knows how to cook, so we won't go hungry when we go out." Qiaohe was just a fire-cooking girl in the small kitchen. It didn't matter whether she was there or not. Aunt Xie nodded and agreed without much hesitation. She whispered:

"You should take care of your health before leaving the house, and don't play around outside. The old lady has already said that you will be promoted to the position of a second-class maid."

Xia Li's eyes flickered slightly, and she said with emotion: "I risked my life, but it saved me a few years, which is a good thing."

Madam Xie said unhappily, "The second-class maids are all a few years older than you, and many of them are very competitive. They guard very closely, so you may not have the opportunity to serve them closely."

Xia Li is very open-minded. "Wherever there are people, there is bound to be competition. I didn't get promoted by flattery. I would rather stay in the house and do needlework. Everyone knows that we are like grandparents and grandchildren. I have the merit of protecting my master. As long as I don't do anything stupid, no one can do anything to me."

Madam Xie rolled her eyes at her, pointed at the things piled on the table by the window, and explained, "The Duke knew that you were injured while saving the old lady, so he gave you a reward. The other masters also gave you rewards. They are all placed here. I haven't opened them. You can pick them up when you get better."

Xia Li didn't expect to get a reward. She felt like she had a great harvest and smiled with a pale face.

"Grandma, you don't have to be so formal with me. Take a look at the rewards first. We'll use what we can use and save the valuables so we can spend them outside later."

Aunt Xie has plenty of good stuff, and Xia Li is not on guard against her. She is very pleased about this, and said in a gentle tone:
"I understand. Just take a rest if you are tired. Your energy and blood have been severely depleted. You need to replenish them slowly..."

(End of this chapter)