"Madam Wen, Miss Wen has recovered from her cold. However, she's rather weak, presumably due to a congenital deficiency. I'll prescribe two decoctions for her to recuperate. As long as Miss Wen takes them as instructed, she'll be fine."
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Li."
Lan Miao nodded with a smile. The skills of the imperial physicians in the palace were truly superior to those outside. With just a few words, he had accurately diagnosed Xue'er's condition.
After thanking him repeatedly, she accompanied Jiang He to see Imperial Physician Li off.
After the imperial physician left, Jiang He turned to Lan Miao with a smile and informed her, "Madam Lan, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said that it's getting late now. You don't have to rush to take Miss Wen to pay respects to her. It's fine to do so tomorrow. Her Majesty asks you to rest well. Some palace servants will bring you meals later."
"Okay, I got it."
Lan Miao felt relieved.
She turned around and returned to the bedchamber. All the palace servants who had been attending to them had left. Soon, the servants brought in the meals. Finally, she and Xue'er ended their tiring day and happily had a hot meal.
At the table, Xue'er held her chopsticks and looked at Lan Miao.
"Mother, I tell you, when Uncle San saw me off, Second Aunt and Grandmother didn't look happy at all. Their faces were so gloomy. Just like this—"
Saying so, she scrunched up her eyebrows, frowned deeply, and stared with wide eyes.
Lan Miao couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Our Xue'er is so adorable. They must be reluctant to part with you."
Xue'er shook her head. "No, it's not like that. Grandmother and Second Aunt seemed to be afraid that Mother would enjoy a good life once she left the mansion. And Uncle San didn't look too happy either."
Lan Miao sighed. "Xue'er, you must remember that no matter how they treat you, Grandmother and your uncles are your relatives. You're also the young lady of the Marquis Mansion. This will never change."
"Um... Xue'er knows."
Xue'er nodded seriously and then gave a sweet smile. "But no relative can compare to Mother. I only need Mother."
...
Lan Miao didn't say anything more. Although children were young, their eyes couldn't be deceived.
After they finished their meal and washed up for a while, Lan Miao helped Xue'er to bed. Fortunately, Xue'er wasn't picky about the bed and soon fell asleep soundly. However, Lan Miao was sore all over. Looking at the sporadic moonlight shining through the window, spreading on the steps like a pool of cold water, she just couldn't fall asleep.
—
Early the next morning, Lan Miao took Xue'er to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.
After that, Lan Miao stayed to chat with the Empress Dowager about modifying the patterns.
Xue'er was led by the palace servants to play in the yard.
Qingzhi wasn't here. Fortunately, she had brought a small shuttlecock with her when she entered the palace, so she could still amuse herself. She was very good at kicking the shuttlecock and could always kick it higher than herself. One, two, three, four... When she kicked it for the twentieth time, a delicate little face suddenly appeared in front of her, staring at her in surprise.
Xue'er was stunned, and the shuttlecock fell to the ground.
"Oops, it dropped."
The girl across from her calmly reached out and picked up the shuttlecock.
Just as Xue'er was about to say something, Sister Jiang He walked over in a hurry and said to her, "This is Princess Yujia. You should bow to the princess."
Right, Mother had told her.
Xue'er bowed politely and then stared at the shuttlecock in Princess Yujia's hand. She stood upright, and every movement was in good order. Yujia also rolled her eyes and sized her up.
After a while, Xue'er couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Princess, can you give the shuttlecock back to me?"
Yujia lifted the shuttlecock in her hand, shook it, and gently curved the corners of her eyes.
"You mean this? What if I don't want to give it back to you?"
Hearing this rather impolite remark, Xue'er widened her eyes. This princess looked dignified and gentle, full of grace, but her behavior was so childish. However, she wasn't afraid.
Immediately, she gave a sweet smile.
"If you don't give it back, that's fine. I don't want it anymore."
"Your mother made this for you. Are you so willing to give it up?"
Yujia asked in surprise.
"I made this myself. I wouldn't be willing to bring something my mother made here. Since you want it so much, I'll give it to you." Xue'er blinked her eyes, and her long, thick eyelashes looked extremely sly.
"Can I accept it?"
Should she return the courtesy? Yujia felt something was wrong. She clearly wanted to tease this little sister, but it seemed the situation had reversed.
Jiang He listened to the conversation between the princess and Miss Wen and almost burst out laughing.
She never thought that Madam Lan, who had a calm personality, would have such a lively and lovely daughter.
Yujia also felt the uniqueness of this little sister in front of her.
"Interesting."
Suddenly, she got the idea to play. She stepped forward, grabbed Xue'er's hand, and walked out of the yard. "I'll accept your gift. Come on, go with this princess to the imperial garden to kick the shuttlecock."
Yujia pulled Xue'er and ran away quickly.
Jiang He was stunned for a moment.
"Princess, you should tell the Empress Dowager if you're taking Miss Wen with you."
"Just tell her that this princess is taking the new little sister to play."
Jiang He had no choice but to lead the palace servants and follow the two young ladies.
When they arrived at the imperial garden, Xue'er started to teach Yujia how to kick the shuttlecock.
"Look, you should kick it like this. If you do it like that, you won't be able to catch the next one."
Xue'er chattered on and on, constantly instructing Yujia on her movements.
Yujia wiped the sweat off her forehead. Carelessly, she missed the shuttlecock again. Usually, she was raised beside the Empress Dowager. Every word and deed of hers was taught by the Empress Dowager. In front of others, she always maintained the dignified appearance of a princess. But in fact, she really liked to play. The more she wanted to kick well, the worse she became. Looking at Xue'er, whose face was flushed with excitement, she felt like laughing.
"Oops, I can't catch it well. I'd rather watch you kick."
"Okay, I'll show you."
Xue'er proudly took the shuttlecock and started to kick it seriously.
Yujia concentrated on counting for her beside her. " ... twenty, twenty - one, twenty - two... Ah, Father!"
Xue'er, who was demonstrating for her little friend, had no idea that a group of people had come behind her. After hearing Yujia's words, she quickly stopped and turned around. However, it was too late. She bumped into something hard with a thud and fell to the ground.
Just as she was about to fall, a pair of big hands quickly steadied her.
Xue'er looked up and met a pair of calm and majestic eyes.
This man was so tall.
"Your Majesty, are you okay? Oh, where did this little girl come from?" a eunuch beside him shouted in a shrill voice.
The crowd behind him surged forward like a flood.
Xue'er was startled.
Accidentally, she hugged the man's leg again.
The Emperor stared sharply at her face.
She quickly climbed down and knelt down nimbly, with a very sincere attitude. "I... I'm wrong. I didn't see Your Majesty. Please forgive me, Your Majesty..."
Yujia, who was behind her, had chased up, lifting her skirt. She knelt down on the ground in panic.
"Yujia pays respects to Father. Please forgive me, Father. This is the daughter of Madam Lan, who is a guest in Grandmother's palace. It was I who brought her here. She didn't mean to bump into Father. If there's any punishment, please punish me, Father..."
Yujia was extremely nervous in front of the Emperor. What if she had caused Xue'er's death?
It was just a bump. Father wouldn't be that angry, would he?
Unexpectedly, the next moment, the Emperor exuded a heavy aura of authority. Looking at the two little kids kneeling on the ground, he found it a bit funny and couldn't help but have the thought of teasing them. He pointed at An He beside him and said seriously,
"An He, tell me, what's the crime for bumping into me?"