Mr. Qi was the physician of the Xiao Mansion, but he was no ordinary one. Well-versed in the Eight Trigrams and numerology, as well as various difficult and complicated illnesses, he had once saved Prime Minister Xiao's life when he was young. As a result, Prime Minister Xiao invited him to the Xiao Mansion.
He not only had an independent courtyard in the Xiao Mansion, with all his treatment following the standards of the master's family, but he was also allowed to enter Prime Minister Xiao's study from time to time.
Since Xiao Bao'er had contracted a strange illness, Mr. Qi had been helping to nurse her back to health. However, no matter how hard he tried, the black bumps on Xiao Bao'er's body only increased. This time, Mr. Qi was not in the Xiao Mansion because he said he was going out to search for a precious medicinal herb for Xiao Bao'er.
Such a crucial figure must know a great deal of secrets.
Now, suddenly discovering something engraved with the character "Qi" on the old lady Xiao's bracelet, Xiao Bao'er's mind instantly jumped to the most unlikely possibility.
Could it be that these two had an affair?
Apart from blood relatives, only those in an intimate relationship would wear a pendant engraved with the other's name.
The old lady Xiao ignored the pain in her hand and quickly told Nanny Qin to collect the fragments of the bracelet. Pretending not to see the gilded decoration with the engraved character, Xiao Bao'er feigned guilt and tried to help pick up the fragments.
Seeing Xiao Bao'er's action, the old lady Xiao held her breath and quickly shouted sternly, "Don't move!!"
Noticing everyone looking at her strangely, she forced an embarrassed smile and said, "I... I'm worried about the eldest young lady. The fragments of this jade bracelet are very sharp. If it accidentally hurts the eldest young lady, it won't be good. It's better for Nanny Qin to do it herself."
Xiao Bao'er pretended to be remorseful and said, "Let granddaughter do it. Granddaughter was momentarily unsteady and accidentally spilled the tea that was supposed to be served to the old lady on her. Now, when grandmother wanted to discipline granddaughter, granddaughter even dodged, causing grandmother to break her beloved item."
As she spoke, she tried to squat down to pick up the gilded decoration with the engraved character.
Both the old lady Xiao and Nanny Qin were on tenterhooks, looking flustered and helpless. But Nanny Qin reacted more quickly and lunged straight over, pressing the gilded decoration under her body.
Seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, Nanny Qin forced an embarrassed smile and said, "This old servant... is afraid that the fragments might hurt the young lady. So... so it's better for this old servant to do it."
Nanny Qin's face was already flushed red at this moment. As the most respected servant beside the old lady, she usually regarded herself as half a master. When had she ever done such a ridiculous thing in front of everyone?
Seeing this, Xiao Bao'er smiled and didn't insist. She turned around and walked back to her seat, sitting down calmly.
Looking at the jade bracelet broken into several pieces, the old lady Xiao's heart ached, but she didn't dare to show her reluctance for fear of being noticed. She could only force a couple of dry laughs and then told everyone to leave. She didn't even have the heart to care about the fact that Xiao Bao'er had spilled tea all over her.
Hearing the old lady Xiao's words, Xiao Bao'er left the Peace and Tranquility Courtyard without any hesitation.
Although the old lady Xiao had tried her best to hide her emotions, Xiao Bao'er could still clearly sense that the jade bracelet was special to her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have let herself leave without even bothering to care about the tea-spilling incident.
Since there was a clue, Xiao Bao'er was definitely going to investigate Mr. Qi's room. Just thinking about the old lady hiding such a secret made Xiao Bao'er's heart tingle with excitement.
In the Peace and Tranquility Courtyard, the old lady Xiao looked at the bracelet fragments picked up by Nanny Qin in her hand, her eyes filled with regret and heartache.
This bracelet was made and put on her by that person with his own hands. Just because she had tried to make things difficult for Xiao Bao'er today, the jade bracelet was broken. Thinking that the second branch of the family had started to have bad luck recently, perhaps it was because the two maids of the second branch had offended Xiao Bao'er.
Since that person came to the Xiao Mansion fourteen years ago, she had felt like she was alive again, experiencing the feeling of first love in her youth.
The father of Prime Minister Xiao, that is, the old lady Xiao's husband, had passed away suddenly when he was young, leaving the old lady Xiao to support the Xiao Mansion alone.
Fourteen years ago, she was only forty-one or forty-two. Although she should have been as calm as still water, she still couldn't help but be attracted to that person when she saw him.
So, at the old lady Xiao's initiative, the two began to have a secret relationship, which had lasted for more than a decade. Nanny Qin knew all about these things.
In the old lady Xiao's heart, that person was like a husband to her, the pillar that kept her going. That's why she cherished everything that person gave her. Unfortunately, one of them was now broken.
Seeing the old lady Xiao on the verge of crying, although Nanny Qin didn't quite approve of her relationship, she still comforted her and said, "Don't be sad, old lady. This servant will take the bracelet to the craftsman in the Treasure-Hiding Pavilion tomorrow to see if there's any way to restore it."
The old lady Xiao carefully wrapped the fragments in a handkerchief and handed it to Nanny Qin. Then she sighed and said, "That's the only thing we can do. You take it and make sure to keep it well."
After that, a hint of malice flashed in the old lady Xiao's cloudy eyes. "This girl is really strange. As long as she's a bit dissatisfied, those close to her will have bad luck. I can't do anything to her until she comes of age. It's really frustrating."
Nanny Qin showed a hint of cruelty and replied, "Don't worry, old lady. Just wait. Xiao Bao'er will surely end up badly in the future."
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After nightfall, Xiao Bao'er told Ling Chu to stand guard outside and be especially careful of Ling Zhi. Receiving Xiao Bao'er's order, Ling Chu didn't even dare to blink as she guarded the door for Xiao Bao'er.
Xiao Bao'er changed into a set of dark men's clothes and tied up her long black hair.
She carefully observed herself in the mirror. Making sure there were no flaws, she then climbed out of the back window of her room.
Xiao Bao'er had no martial arts skills, so she had to feel her way bit by bit towards Mr. Qi's courtyard. Her courtyard was in the back, far away from the men's courtyard. By the time Xiao Bao'er finally managed to reach Mr. Qi's Wind-Rising Courtyard, she was covered in sweat and felt a bit weak.
Mr. Qi's courtyard was very quiet. The bright moon shone on the courtyard, giving it a somewhat desolate and eerie atmosphere.
But Xiao Bao'er didn't care about these things. After taking a short rest at the courtyard gate, she carefully walked in.
There were mostly tall trees and bamboo groves planted in Mr. Qi's courtyard, standing in rows on both sides of the small path. And there was a wind chime tied to each bamboo along the path.
After walking along this only path for about two incense sticks' time, Xiao Bao'er finally noticed something was wrong.
She had already passed this same place three or four times, but now she was back here again. She hadn't even seen Mr. Qi's house yet.
Could it be that... she had encountered a ghost wall?