Hua Zhi's vision swam with darkness. She knew full well she hadn't been struck in any vital areas—it was the excessive blood loss causing this. With proper rest and recovery, she would regain her strength, but those around her didn't understand this.
Biting the tip of her tongue to stay conscious, Hua Zhi instructed, "Keep this news contained. Tomorrow, send someone—no, Nian Qiu, tomorrow you return and tell Grandmother that the fruits here are nearly ready for harvest. I need to stay here awhile to handle matters. Keep this from Ying Chun as well—let her focus on managing affairs at home with peace of mind. Tell her to send a batch of supplies in seven days."
Gasping for breath, Hua Zhi continued, "Ask the steward for a group of workers—trustworthy ones. Don't take anyone from Second Aunt or Third Aunt's factions. Take as many as the household can spare."
"Miss, at a time like this, won't you think of yourself?" Bao Xia's voice was hoarse, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. The wounds look serious but none hit vital spots. Check if those three are still alive—if there's even a breath left in them, do everything to save them. At dawn, have Wu Da summon a physician. I'll likely fall unconscious soon and might develop a fever—don't panic. Clean my wounds with alcohol. Oh, and the medicine that man gave earlier—use that. He meant no harm."
Hua Zhi collapsed back onto the bed, feeling the world spin around her. "You mustn't let Grandmother know—"
Her voice cut off abruptly. Bao Xia, terrified, immediately checked her breathing. Confirming her mistress had merely lost consciousness, she covered her mouth and wept bitterly.
Nian Qiu slapped her own face to force calmness upon herself. "I'll fetch the alcohol. You take care of Miss."
Outside, everyone stood waiting.
Wu Da held two porcelain bottles. "Miss Nian Qiu—"
Nian Qiu took them. "Are those three still alive?"
Wu Da rubbed his face vigorously. "Chen Liang's gone. Liu Zi and San'er each have two stab wounds. I've had Jiezi and the other one tend to them first."
"At dawn, you go fetch the physician." Nian Qiu wasted no words. After taking two steps, she turned back. "Two of you come with me to get alcohol. Wu Da, later use alcohol to clean their wounds too."
"Yes."
Everyone sprang into action.
Fu Dong and Liu Xiang carried a bucket of hot water into the room, using it to wipe down their mistress's body. They watched helplessly as each application of alcohol to the wounds made Hua Zhi convulse in pain. Even unconscious, she reacted this way—they couldn't imagine how much it must hurt.
&&&
In the study, a man toyed with a silver hairpin while listening to his subordinate's report.
"Master, we've obtained the information. Shall we send someone to retrieve the items?"
"Unnecessary. Just report it upward." The man looked up, revealing a scar running from his temple to the corner of his mouth on his right cheek. "Have you identified her?"
"Yes, that's the Hua family's eldest young lady." Seeing his master's rare interest in someone, the reporting subordinate shared all he knew. "The Hua family's second and third young ladies both enjoy literary reputations, while the eldest has always remained obscure. She rarely attends tea gatherings, and when forced to go out, she covers her face with a Veiled Hat. Rumors say she's homely and disliked by her family. Surprisingly, she's currently managing the Hua household. Not long ago, the Old Madam visited the Shen Family to break off her marriage engagement. According to our intelligence, this was the Hua eldest young lady's own decision."Ugly as salt? The man fiddled with the hairpin fragment, a slight curve forming at the corner of his lips. Even in that disheveled state that night, one could see her rare and exquisite beauty. What was even more remarkable was her character.
Had he not witnessed it himself, who would have believed that a young lady raised in the inner chambers could possess such life-risking combat skills? She refused to let her servants sacrifice themselves for her, instead exhausting Qin Zheng’s strength single-handedly to leave a sliver of hope for others. How could such a person care about superficial reputation? How could she be unfit to manage a household? To her, such so-called reputation was nothing but a burden.
When he arrived, he saw her risking injury to drive the hairpin into Qin Zheng’s existing wound, then taking a slash to disarm her opponent. Had she not been weakened by exhaustion, she might not have been the one to fall in the end.
To maintain such clarity of mind under those circumstances—not just any delicate woman, but even a grown man might not have managed it.
The Hua family had concealed her so thoroughly. Could it be that Hua Yizheng had foreseen this calamity befalling the Hua family?!
Or perhaps... she had hidden herself too well in daily life, to the extent that even Hua Yizheng was unaware he had such an outstanding granddaughter in his family?
Yes, no wonder he saw her galloping on horseback in the streets that day. It was the very day the Hua family was sentenced to exile and property confiscation. She must have begun taking charge of the household from that moment.
How intriguing. The man looked down at the sharp silver hairpin in his palm. This object was quite unusual too—women’s accessories were never made this sharp. She wasn’t afraid of injuring herself with it.
The door was gently knocked.
“Reporting to The Heir, the Prince has sent word. The Third Young Master has fallen ill and requests Shaoyao’s attendance at the residence.”
“At this hour? It seems serious.” The man’s lips curled coldly. “But what does it matter to me? If he dies, so be it. Send Shaoyao to the Hua family’s estate instead. Have her bring several bottles of medicine.”
“...Yes.” The subordinate was long accustomed to his master’s attitude toward the Prince and showed no surprise. But sending Shaoyao to attend to the Hua family’s eldest young lady—now that was thought-provoking.
“Chen Qing, investigate this matter in greater detail. I have a feeling the Second Prince’s hand is at play here!” The man narrowed his eyes dangerously. Even if he were a blade, he was a blade wielded by the Emperor—not one to be used by just anyone. If someone failed to remember this, he wouldn’t mind making a lasting impression.
The rain had unknowingly ceased, with light breaking through at the horizon.
The carriage stopped outside the estate. Nian Qiu and Wu Da went together—one returning to the main residence, the other to fetch a physician.
Inside the room, Fu Dong changed the cloth compress again and felt the young lady’s neck, her expression brightening. “The fever seems to have subsided a little. Bao Xia, come feel.”
Bao Xia hurriedly reached out to check, her face also lighting up with relief. “You’re right, it has gone down.”
Both were immensely grateful. The young lady hadn’t developed a high fever, only a slight elevation from normal—far better than they had feared.
“This is truly effective medicine. I expect those two should recover without issue as well.”
Bao Xia had taken the initiative to give one bottle of the medicine to Sixth and Third. Having served the young lady for so many years, she understood her mistress’s nature—no matter how reluctant, it had to be given, especially since those two were injured for the Hua family’s sake.
The young lady was fiercely protective. Even lowly servants like them, once she considered them her own, would be shielded by her.
It was a pity the medicine was so limited. Even with careful use, it would only suffice for about three more applications. If only they could have kept that other bottle...Bao Xia sighed and stopped overthinking.
"Sister Bao Xia, there's someone outside asking to see you," Liu Xiang ran in and whispered, "It's a woman wearing a veiled hat. She says she was entrusted to treat the young lady's injury."
Bao Xia frowned. The young lady had always been reluctant to socialize, rarely interacting even with her own sisters, let alone outsiders. Moreover, the incident had happened last night, and the young lady had ordered everyone to keep it quiet, so logically no one should know about it.
But she claims to be here to treat the young lady's injury...
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