Chapter 135: Welcoming the Second Miss Home

Xiang Xinyao weakly shook her head. “Big Brother, don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault. With so many assassins, it’s a miracle we survived.”

Xiang Taifu’s eyes turned red as he spoke. “Yao’er, I’m sorry you had to suffer.”

Xiang Xinyao smiled faintly and shook her head. “Father, really, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

Bai Jing cried, her face filled with self-reproach. “Yao’er, I’m so sorry. You’ve suffered such a serious injury before even getting home.”

Xiang Xinyao grasped her mother’s hand. “Mother, don’t worry, it’s just a minor injury. It will heal with some rest.”

After Xiang Yanzhuo finished applying the medicine, Xiang Xinyao took out some bandages and asked him to help wrap her wound.

Once her wound was dressed, Xiang Xinyao mustered her strength and went to check on Xiang Yanchen’s injuries.

Seeing that Xiang Yanchen’s injuries weren’t serious, she then turned to treat and bandage the injured guards.

After tending to the guards, Xiang Xinyao looked even paler, exhausted to the point of collapse.

Xiang Yanzhuo gently lifted her onto the carriage, but instead of laying her down, he held her close, letting her rest against his chest.

Having lost a lot of blood, Xiang Xinyao was too tired to speak. She leaned against her eldest brother’s chest and fell into a deep sleep.

When the carriage reached the gate of the Taifu residence, Mo Jinnan jumped off the carriage and lifted the curtain of the carriage where Xiang Xinyao was seated.

“I’ll return to the palace for a while. Take care of Xinyao,” he said.

Xiang Yanzhuo nodded. “Rest assured, Your Highness. Yao’er is my sister. I will take good care of her.”

Mo Jinnan nodded and climbed back into his carriage, heading towards the palace.

Xiang Yanzhuo carefully carried Xiang Xinyao, walking steadily behind their parents toward the main entrance of the Taifu residence.

At that moment, the gates of the Taifu residence were wide open, and the servants stood respectfully on either side, awaiting the return of their masters.

As Xiang Taifu and Bai Jing stepped into the courtyard, the servants all called out in unison, “Welcome, Master and Mistress home, and the three young masters, and Miss Xiang home!”

The booming voices caused Xiang Xinyao to stir, her eyes opening slightly.

Xiang Taifu and Bai Jing paused at the entrance, gesturing for Xiang Yanzhuo to bring Xiang Xinyao forward.

Xiang Taifu, with a serious expression, spoke, “The eldest young master is carrying my true daughter, the true eldest young miss of the Xiang family.

“Although Yuer is not my biological daughter, she has lived in our family for eleven years, and she is also my daughter.

“From now on, Yuer will be the eldest miss, and Yao’er will be the second miss.

“If anyone dares mistreat the second miss, they will be expelled from the Xiang family and never allowed to return.”

The servants all bowed in unison. “Welcome home, Second Miss.”

Xiang Xinyao weakly smiled. “Everyone, there’s no need for formalities. Just relax.”

The servants were already waiting at the gate because, before the group even reached the city gates, Mo Jinnan had sent word to the Xiang family.

As soon as Xiang Xinyao finished speaking, the servants looked up to examine her.

Seeing her face, which resembled Xiang Taifu’s to a great degree, the servants whispered among themselves.

“This time, there’s no mistake. It’s definitely the second miss. She looks so much like the master—her eyes and mouth are just like the madam’s. She’s really beautiful!”

“I never expected the second miss to be so stunning. She looks approachable, too. This second miss must be very easy to get along with.”

“I’ve seen Bianjing’s most beautiful woman, Qi Ruyuan. I think the second miss is even more beautiful than her.”

“Really? I’ve heard that the eldest miss of the Qi family is very talented, but I’ve never seen what she looks like.”

“Well, she’s definitely not as pretty as our second miss.”

“Ah! The second miss is injured! Quick, let’s go tidy up her room so she can rest and recover.”

“Right, right! I’ll go boil some water.”

“…”

It must be said, the Xiang family had excellent traditions.

Even though Xiang Xinyao had just returned, the servants showed not a hint of disrespect.

Xiang Taifu spoke up: “Housekeeper Tong, the Second Miss and Third Young Master are injured. Quickly call for a doctor.”

Xiang Xinyao stopped him. “Father, there’s no need to call for a doctor. I am a doctor myself. I can handle the injuries, and I can treat Third Brother’s injuries as well.”

“Yao’er, doctors should not treat themselves. Let a doctor come and take a proper look at you,” Xiang Taifu insisted.

“No need, Father. My medical skills are good. Please trust me,” Xiang Xinyao replied firmly.

“Alright then.” Xiang Taifu looked to Xiang Yanzhuo. “Yanzhuo, take Yao’er to her room.”

“Understood,” Xiang Yanzhuo nodded and agreed.

Bai Jing instructed her personal maid, “Yang Liu, go make some ginseng soup for the Second Miss to replenish her blood.”

“Yes, Madam,” the maid replied.

Xiang Yanzhuo gently carried Xiang Xinyao into her room and placed her on the bed. He spoke softly, “This room is yours.

“Ever since you went missing, Mother has insisted on cleaning it every day.

“Later, when we adopted Xinyu, she wanted to stay in your room, but Father and Mother never agreed to it.

“This room has been empty for eleven years, and now you’re finally back.”

Xiang Xinyao smiled sweetly. “Big Brother, you must be tired after a long day. Go rest! I need to tend to my wound.”

“Alright, I’ll call Xinyu to help you,” Xiang Yanzhuo offered.

“No, no! Don’t call her. It will scare her. She’s timid, and if she sees my wounds, she’ll start crying again,” Xiang Xinyao said quickly.

Xiang Yanzhuo thought about how Xinyu had cried hysterically when she saw Xiang Xinyao hurt and decided against it.

At that moment, a servant entered carrying a basin of hot water.

“Second Miss, I’ll assist you with washing up.”

Xiang Xinyao looked at Xiang Yanzhuo. “Big Brother, you can go out for now. I’ll tend to my injuries.”

Xiang Yanzhuo nodded. “Alright. If you need anything, just tell the servants. In a couple of days, I’ll have them bring you two more personal maids.”

“Thank you, Big Brother.”

Xiang Yanzhuo turned and left.

The servant turned to close the door behind him, and Xiang Xinyao reached into her sleeve, taking out iodine, saline solution, tweezers, local anesthetic, medical gauze, bandages, alcohol, and needles.

She removed her outer clothes and undergarments, wearing only a peach-colored undershirt.

She unwrapped the bandages, instructing the servant to clean the wound with water first, then disinfect it with iodine.

Next, she laid out a cloth for local anesthesia to ensure the wound was fully exposed.

After thoroughly cleaning the old medication from the wound with saline, she took up the needle and thread to begin stitching it.

The servant watched in horror. This was the first time she had ever seen someone stitch a wound.

“Second Miss, does it hurt?” the servant asked in a trembling voice.

Xiang Xinyao smiled and replied, “No, I’ve applied anesthetic. I don’t feel anything right now.”

“It looks so painful to stitch the wound. Even watching it, I feel the pain,” the servant commented, still shaken.

“It doesn’t hurt now, but when the anesthetic wears off, it might hurt a little,” Xiang Xinyao explained.

“Second Miss, would you like me to help stitch it for you?” The servant’s voice quivered, clearly having gathered great courage to speak up.

Xiang Xinyao smiled reassuringly. “You really don’t need to. Stitching a wound isn’t like sewing clothes. If you haven’t learned, you won’t be able to do it.”

The servant nodded, secretly relieved.

If Xiang Xinyao had insisted she help, she wasn’t sure she could go through with it. But seeing the second miss struggle with the stitches made her feel a pang of sympathy, and she wanted to assist.