The newly-prepared ointment was pale green and exuded a delicate fragrance of grass and trees.
Tian Yao carefully scooped up a bit with her fingertip and evenly applied it on the wound on Mo Chen's arm. That was a cut she had specifically asked Mo Chen to make on himself the other day to test the medicine.
Mo Chen remained expressionless, his arm as steady as a rock, allowing her to do as she pleased.
"How does it feel?" Tian Yao asked nervously.
"Cool. It's good. It doesn't hurt," Mo Chen replied tersely.
After about an incense stick's time, the swelling subsided a little, but the effect was far from as miraculous as Tian Yao had expected. She felt a bit dejected. The most crucial ingredient in this prescription, the "dragon's blood vine", was still too young.
There was nothing she could do. She was just a little maid. If the young master didn't give the order, she couldn't obtain such powerful medicinal herbs.
Since this prescription was not effective enough, she had to find a more potent medicinal herb.
Maybe there were more useful things in the deep mountains and old forests. As long as she could find them, it would be a good thing.
She packed up the medicine pot, put on the small bamboo basket again, and said to Mo Chen, "Brother Mo Chen, I have to go up the mountain again."
Mo Chen frowned imperceptibly. "The mountain path is dangerous. If you go alone, things won't go as smoothly as before."
"I have no choice," Tian Yao said with a sad face. "The young master's leg can't be delayed any longer. Maybe there's a chance to cure it?"
"I don't want to just give up like this!"
She had already been up the mountain once, so there was no need for excessive thoughts or fear.
"If you're not busy, don't tell the young master that I'm going up the mountain. I'll be back soon. If I don't come back, you must come and find me. I'm really scared."
The earlier she went, the earlier she could come back.
After saying that, she headed towards the back mountain without looking back.
However, Mo Chen had also received an order and couldn't let her go alone.
Mo Chen's figure was like a ghost as he silently followed her. Even further away, a sneaky little maid poked her head out, confirmed Tian Yao's direction, and then quickly took a shortcut to follow.
The mountain path became increasingly rugged. Tian Yao climbed up with the help of vines, struggling.
The little maid who was quietly following Tian Yao was newly promoted by Bi Xi. Her name was Qing Qing. She was hiding behind a bush not far away, her heart pounding.
It had to be said that Tian Yao really had good physical strength. She was completely different from before, which was really shocking. How did she acquire such skills?
However, as long as Tian Yao climbed a little higher, she could rush out and give her a gentle push.
A maid who accidentally slipped would not be investigated.
Seeing that Tian Yao's foot had already stepped on the hanging rock, Qing Qing held her breath and was about to act.
Suddenly, a cold aura came from behind her.
Qing Qing stiffened all over and quickly turned around, facing Mo Chen's cold eyes.
He just stood there quietly, like a god of death walking out of hell.
"Ah!" Qing Qing was so frightened that her soul almost flew away. Her legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground.
Mo Chen didn't even look at her again. He didn't kill her. With a flash of his figure, he disappeared into the forest.
How could Qing Qing dare to follow anymore? She could only crawl back to He Huaibi's courtyard in a hurry.
She knelt down in front of Bi Xi with a thud, stuttering, "Madam... This servant... This servant failed..."
She told Bi Xi what she had seen on the mountain. Bi Xi was so angry that she trembled all over.
"Smack!"
A fine white porcelain teacup was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.
"You useless fool! Couldn't you have acted faster? That He Ciyuan is really something. He even sent his personal guard to protect that bitch!"
Could it be that his leg could really be cured?
Bi Xi's face was distorted with jealousy.
Qing Qing was so scared that she curled up into a ball. She tremblingly offered an idea, "Madam, please calm down. An open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. You are already half the mistress now. You need to pay respects to the old madam every day. All the maids have to be respectful to you when they see you."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, during every family banquet, Tian Yao will come. In a place where no one can see, I can do whatever I want with her."
Bi Xi's anger gradually subsided, replaced by a cold calculation.
This was a good idea.
...
Early the next morning, after paying respects to the old madam, the maids dispersed in groups of twos and threes.
"Tian Yao, stop."
Bi Xi's voice came from behind, with an undeniable command.
Tian Yao stopped in her tracks. Her heart skipped a beat. It was finally coming. She slowly turned around, lowered her head, and respectfully bowed. "Madam Bi Xi."
Bi Xi walked up to her slowly, circled around her once, and her eyes were full of scrutiny and disdain.
"I heard that you've become very capable recently. Not only have you attached yourself to the eldest young master, but you've also made two young masters jealous for you?" she said sarcastically. "Do you really want to climb up so badly?"
These words were extremely unpleasant. They made Tian Yao sound like a fickle and promiscuous woman.
Tian Yao clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her flesh, but she didn't show any emotion on her face. "Madam has misunderstood. This servant is just following orders to serve the eldest young master. It's this servant's duty to be loyal to the master."
When would this woman ever stop?
What did she mean by saying that she was seducing this one and that one? Had she seen it with her own eyes?
She was just spreading rumors out of thin air.
"Following orders?" Bi Xi sneered. "I think you're just eager to seduce others! You were born with a seductive appearance. You're not content with your position and are always thinking about how to climb up!"
The angrier she got, especially when she thought about the fact that the young master had scolded her because of this maid, the more she couldn't hold back her anger.
"I'll teach you some rules on behalf of the old madam today!"
Before she finished speaking, Bi Xi raised her hand and slapped at Tian Yao's face.
The sound of the wind came. Tian Yao's pupils shrank.
She couldn't dodge it. If she did, it would be disrespectful. She also couldn't take the slap. If she did, Bi Xi would only become more aggressive in the future.
In the blink of an eye, Tian Yao's knees went weak and she knelt down straight with a "thud"!
The slap swept over her head with the wind and missed.
Bi Xi was stunned. She didn't expect her to do this.
"Madam, please calm down! This servant really has no other intentions!" Tian Yao knelt on the ground, her forehead pressed against the cold stone slab. Her voice was full of sobs, sounding both aggrieved and helpless.
There were still a few servants not far away who all cast curious glances.
In front of everyone, if Bi Xi were to hit a maid who was kneeling and begging for mercy, word would spread that she was bullying the weak and had no tolerance.
She was so angry that her chest heaved and her face turned red.
"Bitch! How dare you play tricks on me!"
Bi Xi kicked Tian Yao on the shoulder.
"Ouch!"
Tian Yao was kicked to the side. Her thin body hit the rockery with a dull sound.
It felt as if all her internal organs had shifted. The pain made her eyes go black.
[Hey, aren't you supposed to be the protagonist? Why are you more petty than I, a supporting character?]
[Could this be the so-called butterfly effect? As long as one makes a choice that doesn't belong to this world, the fates of these relationships will change accordingly?]
Tian Yao definitely couldn't fight with her. Otherwise, it would cause a big problem. So she could only endure these injustices.
Bowing one's head to survive was something that everyone thought was normal.
Bi Xi was about to strike again, but when she heard the voice of the steward not far away, she had to stop.
"I'll give you a lesson today," Bi Xi said condescendingly. "If I find out that you're not obedient, it won't be so easy!"
After saying that, she left with Qing Qing in a hurry.
Tian Yao knelt there for a long time. It was not until the piercing pain subsided a little that she supported herself on the rockery and slowly stood up.
She patted the dust off her dress, raised her head, and in those almond eyes that always carried a bit of timidity and flattery, there was now only a cold determination.
"Once I find a backer, I'll definitely get even with you!"