“Applying medicine?”

The voice was unfamiliar, neither Zhenzhen’s nor the usual tone heard in the Marquis’s residence.

Rongrong turned her head and saw a slender woman entering the room, closing the door behind her.

“Who are you? How did you get to the Marquis’s residence… Who is your master?”

The woman closed the door and turned to Rongrong, giving a respectful bow.

She appeared to be a few years older than Rongrong, with a beautiful face, rounded cheeks, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a cherry-like mouth, looking very kind.

Her clothing was extremely simple, without any embroidery or decorations, and her hairstyle was plain as well.

“Miss Xue, don’t be afraid. My name is Liuli. I’ve been sent by the Crown Prince to apply medicine to you.”

The Eastern Palace sent someone to apply medicine?

Rongrong quickly said, “It’s a great honor to receive medicine from the Crown Prince. I really can’t trouble you.”

“Miss Xue may not know, but the Tian Gang fracture ointment is not an ordinary external medicine. It requires special techniques for application, and incorrect methods could make it worse. That’s why my master specifically sent me to apply it for you.” Liuli said as she approached Rongrong’s bed, pulling away the blanket from her legs.

Rongrong quickly sat up, trying to shield herself from Liuli.

“Don’t worry, Miss Xue. I’m here with the heir’s knowledge, which is why I came in after taking Zhenzhen away to the study.”

So, this was why Xie Yuanchu had stopped Zhenzhen from applying the medicine and had taken her to the study.

Rongrong noticed that, despite Liuli’s plain attire, it was of high quality, better than the clothing of the Marquis’s maids.

Even if she were not from the East Palace, she must be a servant from a noble family.

Seeing that Rongrong finally relaxed, Liuli bent down and carefully examined her knees.

Rongrong’s skin was fair and delicate, but her knees were severely swollen and looked alarming.

“It’s indeed a cold injury. If not treated promptly, it might result in permanent damage to the leg,” Liuli said.

Rongrong’s heart tightened. “What should I do now?”

“Don’t worry. The Tian Gang fracture ointment is a miraculous external remedy. As long as it is applied correctly and combined with internal treatments, you will recover completely.” Liuli explained, then took a small amount of ointment from a jar, warming it in her hands before applying it to Rongrong’s knees with a very special technique.

Initially, Rongrong felt pain with any touch, but as Liuli’s hands applied the ointment, a cooling sensation spread from her palms, relieving the pain and providing much comfort.

“Thank you.” Rongrong realized that Liuli was indeed sent by the East Palace to apply the medicine.

However, she was puzzled as she hadn’t seen Liuli before, even though she had met Fuquan and Wang An from the East Palace.

Liuli’s name, Liuli (meaning “Glass”), sounded like it could be related to the name of another servant she knew, Jade (Qingcui).

Rongrong wondered if Liuli knew Jade, who had cared about her.

She was curious about Jade’s current situation but dared not ask.

Liuli was not as talkative as Jade.

She only answered when asked and remained quiet otherwise, focusing on applying the medicine.

The ointment was applied in a small amount, but Liuli massaged and rubbed it for over half an hour.

When she finished, Rongrong noticed a thin layer of sweat on Liuli’s forehead.

Initially, Rongrong thought she might learn Liuli’s method to apply the medicine herself in the future.

However, she realized that not only could she not apply the medicine herself, but Zhenzhen also wouldn’t be able to.

Liu Li’s palms had thin calluses, in the same spots as the crown prince’s.

Like him, Liu Li practiced martial arts. This bottle of Tian Gang Broken Bone Ointment was indeed a secret medicine from the Great Xiangguo Temple.

Its potency was such that ordinary people couldn’t handle it, not to mention the special application techniques.

Even if someone stole this secret medicine, without the specific method taught by the temple, it would be useless.

Liu Li was very careful and thoughtful. After applying the medicine to Rong Rong, she didn’t hurry to leave.

She helped Rong Rong lie down and covered her with a blanket.

“Miss, the hot water bottle is cold now. I’ll get a new one,” Liu Li said.

Though it was her first time in the ear room, she seemed very familiar with everything there.

She left the room, returned with a bundle, and opened it to reveal a bronze-charred carbon stove, about the size of a basin.

Liu Li lit the stove and, once it was stable, placed it in front of Rong Rong’s couch.

Rong Rong was surprised that Liu Li brought a carbon stove to the Hou Mansion.

Did Liu Li bring it specifically for her? Who could think of such details?

Yuan Bao?

Impossible, he was too young.

The crown prince? Even less likely; he wouldn’t notice such small things.

Perhaps it was Fu Quan, who might have flattered Yuan Bao to win his favor.

Rong Rong saw that the stove burned with almost no smoke and exuded a pleasant fragrance, indicating it used the rare red charcoal reserved for palace nobility.

As a maid in the Hou Mansion, she couldn’t refuse it.

Liu Li raised her hand to the stove, waiting until it felt warm, then moved Rong Rong’s and Zhen Zhen’s old red clay stove from the corner to the corridor to heat water.

The old stove burned low-quality charcoal, producing thick smoke and a lot of ash, but it was enough to keep Rong Rong and Zhen Zhen warm.

Only senior maids like them could afford to use a stove for warmth; lower-ranking maids and servants didn’t even get this low-quality charcoal.

Seeing Liu Li’s efficient work, Rong Rong knew she couldn’t stop her and let Liu Li continue.

After Liu Li prepared the water and replaced the hot water bottle, she took out a porcelain bottle.

“Miss Xue, here’s another bottle of pills to take with the Tian Gang Broken Bone Ointment. Take one in the morning and evening with water.”

“Thank you.” Rong Rong took the pills and a tea cup from Liu Li and swallowed the medicine.

“It’s getting late now. I’ll take my leave and return tomorrow evening to apply the medicine,” Liu Li said.

Liu Li arrived quietly and left just as quickly.

Rong Rong had no doubt that Liu Li hadn’t entered the Hou Mansion through the front gate.

But it was not Rong Rong’s concern to manage the Hou Mansion; with Xie Yuan Chu and the crown prince both in the same bathhouse, it was not surprising for the crown prince’s people to visit the Hou Mansion.

But why did the East Palace send Liuli to apply medicine to her?

Liuli didn’t say who her master was, but since the Little Prince is only a four-year-old child, he couldn’t possibly have someone like Liuli as a servant.

This must be the Crown Prince’s order.

Why is the Crown Prince paying such attention to her?

Does he recognize her as Jing Rong?

No. Rongrong sighed.

Even if she is Jing Rong, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be so kind to her.

It must be because the Crown Prince spoke on her behalf.

She could tell that the Crown Prince loves the little prince, and the Crown Prince in front of the little prince is not the same indifferent one she knew as Jing Rong.

So, because the little prince likes her, the Crown Prince might show some concern for her.

Rongrong wiped away her tears with the edge of her blanket.

Regardless, after Liuli applied the Tian Gang fracture ointment, the sharp, aching pain in her knees finally disappeared, allowing her to rest more comfortably tonight.

---

In the study:

“Has she left?” Xie Yuanchu asked.

“She has,” Xinzhu replied, standing by the desk. “She arrived at the hour of You (around 5 PM), waited until the heir and Zhenzhen had left, then went to the inner room, and later even boiled water in the corridor.”

Xie Yuanchu sneered, showing a bit of satisfaction. “The Tian Gang fracture ointment isn’t just any ordinary medicine. When I saw it, I knew things weren’t that simple.”

Xinzhu, not daring to agree too readily about the matter involving the Crown Prince, stood silently.

“Why would he send Tian Gang fracture ointment and not another good medicine? He clearly wants to visit Rongrong every day. The only person in the Marquis’s residence who knows how to apply medicine properly is me.

I don’t believe he would let me apply it.

This guy, pretending to care about my maid while actually having feelings for her, hides behind the excuse of the little prince.

Today he sent Liuli; tomorrow he might come himself.”

“What should we do?” Xinzhu asked, still unsure.

“We don’t need to do much. Just have the Marquis’s guards keep an eye out.

If it’s still Liuli or someone else, act as if we don’t know.

If he comes in person, let me know immediately.” Xie Yuanchu’s eyes moved as he thought of another idea. “Tell them to say Rongrong is ill and needs to rest.

Have the servants in the nearby rooms move elsewhere, leaving only Rongrong alone in her room.

If there are too many people, he probably won’t come.”

Seeing Xie Yuanchu’s excited expression, Xinzhu lowered his head and made no further comments.

“Understood!”

---

In the East Palace:

The palace servants had finished bathing the little prince and carried him back to his bedroom.

The Crown Prince was already waiting there, taking the little prince in his arms and personally helping him change into his nightclothes.

“Father, has Sister Liuli returned yet?”

“Are you worried? Do you think I might not keep my promise?” The Crown Prince looked at his son’s delicate face and asked gently.

The little prince shook his head, smiling with his eyes squinted. “Father will definitely keep his promise. I’m just worried about Sister Rongrong’s injury. Uncle Fuquan said that Sister Rongrong can’t even stand. Father, do you think we should send a court doctor to check on her?”

The Crown prince glanced sharply at Fu Quan when he heard the noise.

Fu Quan, with a flattering smile, approached and said, “Your Highness, Liu Li has returned. Should I ask her to come up and report?”

“Let her come!” Yuan Bao interjected. His voice was young but firm.

Fu Quan smiled at the crown prince, who, with a resigned nod, agreed to let Liu Li in.

Soon, Liu Li entered the palace hall respectfully and knelt before the crown prince and Yuan Bao.

“How is she?” the crown prince asked simply.

“Replying to Your Highness, Miss Xue has a condition called numbness. She suffered from cold and dampness when she knelt in the snow, which worsened her knee pain.

Her condition is weak, and her vital energy is low.

I thought she wouldn’t survive, but she managed to endure.

However, her old illness has resurfaced, and if we don’t remove the root of the problem, her legs will be useless within a year or two.”

“Father,” Yuan Bao, listening anxiously, looked at the crown prince for help and pleaded, “Please save Aunt Rong Rong.”

The crown prince didn’t respond immediately.

Seeing this, Liu Li said, “Young Master Yuan Bao, don’t worry. Since Miss Rong Rong has survived the worst, her leg injury is severe but not beyond treatment. With careful recovery, it can improve slowly.”

Yuan Bao, hearing this, began to relax and thought for a moment before looking at the crown prince. “Father, can we bring Aunt Rong Rong to the East Palace to recover? Otherwise, with the frequent punishments at the Hou Mansion, her leg will never heal.”

Fu Quan quickly interjected, “Young Master Yuan Bao, this isn’t the crown prince’s fault.

Today, His Highness went to the Hou Mansion personally.

Miss Rong Rong is injured, and the Hou Mansion people said she wants to redeem herself and leave.

She’s no longer a maid but an ordinary person. The crown prince can’t order her to stay in the East Palace.”

Yuan Bao looked conflicted.

He really liked Rong Rong and was saddened that she couldn’t come to the Eastern Palace.

However, knowing that being a maid isn’t ideal, he should be happy she could redeem herself.

But…

Suddenly, Yuan Bao’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed the crown prince’s sleeve. “Father, I have a good idea. If you marry Aunt Rong Rong into the Eastern Palace, she won’t be a maid anymore and can stay with us.”

Upon hearing this, Fu Quan’s eyes flickered, but he dared not speak out.

Some things that Young Master Yuanbao could say freely were serious matters if said by others.

The hall fell eerily silent, so quiet that a needle falling to the ground could be heard.

The palace attendants held their breath, but the crown prince remained calm, gently saying to Yuan Bao, “That’s a good idea, but it’s not what Miss Rong Rong wants.

She wants to redeem herself and clearly doesn’t wish to be beneath others.

If she were to be brought into the East Palace, she would still be under the constraints of being a consort, and I don’t think she would be happy.

Do you understand?”