Chapter 77: Did You Get the Divine Water?

Tang Mi froze. When she looked up, her eyes met his gaze, deep and dark like a bottomless lake. The emotion in his eyes was something she couldn’t quite understand, but it felt as if it would drown her.

Her heart pounded uncontrollably. Tang Mi knew she should look away, but his eyes seemed to have a magical pull, rendering her powerless.

Her reaction clearly pleased Ye Chenxuan. With a light lift of his hand, a sharp “crack”rang out, he had reset her dislocated ankle.

“Mm~” Tang Mi let out a muffled groan, the pain only hitting her after the bone was already back in place.

“How is it? Doesn’t hurt too much, right?” Ye Chenxuan asked confidently. He had faith in his bone-setting skills, he had trained in martial arts since childhood and was experienced with minor injuries like this.

Seeing the concern in his eyes, Tang Mi’s cheeks instantly flushed red, and she wished she could vanish into the ground.

Just moments ago, she’d been wondering why he’d asked her that strange question. Now she realized, he was simply distracting her attention. And she had let her mind wander so far… How shameless of her!

Tang Mi suddenly couldn’t stay a moment longer. Blushing furiously, she stood up to leave, but the stabbing pain in her ankle made her stumble.

“Careful!” Ye Chenxuan quickly caught her. Concerned, he said, “Although the ankle is back in place, walking will still hurt a bit. If you really can’t go on, I can carry you a bit farther.”

Truthfully, he didn’t want to see her force herself to walk.

“No need.” Tang Mi lowered her head and brushed off his hand, hobbling out toward the Heavenly Steps.

Ye Chenxuan blinked in confusion as he watched her slender figure move away.
Was she angry? Why? Just a moment ago everything was fine…

Step by step, Tang Mi climbed down the Heavenly Steps.

Though her foot still hurt, it was far better than before, at least she could make her way down on her own now.

Just thinking of Ye Chenxuan made her feel frustrated.

She had let her thoughts run wild again. Perhaps he had no special feelings for her at all, he might just be concerned because of Chen’s words.

Tang Mi lightly patted her still-blushing cheeks.

“Get a grip, Tang Mi. Don’t overthink things.”

Going up the Heavenly Steps had taken Tang Mi the time of a tea’s brew. Coming down, it took the time of burning an incense stick.

By the time she reached the bottom, dawn was breaking.

“It’s the young miss!” Seeing her, Ban Xia was overjoyed and wanted to rush forward. But remembering that the Heavenly Steps were meant to be walked alone, she stopped herself.

Old Madam Tang sighed in relief upon seeing Tang Mi return safely.

Tang Shuanghu was dozing nearby. It was Qin Shi who first noticed Tang Mi coming down at first, she was thrilled, but then confusion struck when she saw Tang Mi alone.

What happened? Wasn’t Prince Yu supposed to be waiting for her at the Heavenly Pool? Why was she coming down alone?

Tang Mi saw Old Madam Tang and Ban Xia waiting in the distance and also spotted Qin Shi standing beside them. Her eyes instantly flashed with cold light.

Gritting her teeth, Tang Mi kept moving downward.

“Young miss!” Ban Xia couldn’t hold back any longer and rushed up. “Are you just tired, or are you injured?”

Tang Mi’s movement on the steps had looked off.

“It’s just a minor sprain. No big deal,” Tang Mi replied softly.

Hearing this, Ban Xia panicked and shouted, “Old Madam! The young miss is hurt!”

Old Madam Tang rushed over, anxiously asking, “What happened? Where does it hurt?” She checked Tang Mi’s body as she spoke.

Tang Mi shot Ban Xia a helpless look, then held Old Madam Tang’s hand and reassured her, “It’s nothing. I just twisted my ankle coming down the steps. It’s a minor injury. Really.”

“Your foot? Is it serious?” Old Madam Tang bent down to check her ankle.

“It’s fine now. Doesn’t hurt anymore,” Tang Mi quickly added.

Nanny Gui chimed in, “Please don’t worry, madam. Let me carry the young miss back. After climbing all night, she must be exhausted. Once we’re back, I’ll call a physician.”

“Yes, yes, let’s go home first,” Old Madam Tang agreed and instructed Nanny Gui to carry Tang Mi.

Nanny Gui crouched down, and Tang Mi leaned on her back.

As she was carried away, the scent of Nanny Gui’s balm made Tang Mi think of Ye Chenxuan again.

They had only met a few times, yet somehow, she felt more at ease with him than even with Nanny Gui.

Why did her thoughts keep circling back to him?

Frowning, Tang Mi shook her head to dispel the lingering image of that man.

Meanwhile, Qin Shi nudged Tang Shuanghu awake and followed behind them.

Startled from sleep, Tang Shuanghu saw everyone had gone and quickly got up to follow as well.

Nanny Gui carried Tang Mi all the way back to the North Wing.

“Go fetch a physician,” Old Madam Tang ordered. Nanny Gui immediately left to do so.

“Let grandmother see,” the old lady said as she sat by the bed and removed Tang Mi’s shoe and sock. Upon seeing her swollen ankle, her heart ached. “How did it get this bad? Does it hurt?”

“It hurt at first, but it’s fine now,” Tang Mi replied, trying to downplay the injury.

Old Madam Tang glared at her. “It’s so swollen, how could it not hurt?”

She gently held Tang Mi’s foot, extremely careful not to cause more pain.

Just then, Qin Shi burst in and demanded, “Didn’t you go to get the divine water? Did you get it or not?”

Her words reminded Old Madam Tang of something, and she turned to look at Tang Mi.

Tang Mi’s gaze flickered, and she forced a bitter smile. “I got hurt, so…”

Although she was disappointed, Old Madam Tang comforted her, “It’s alright. We’ll think of another way. Let the physician take a look at your foot first.”

Tang Mi’s eyes softened. No matter what happened, her grandmother always cared about her first.

But Qin Shi, upon hearing that she hadn’t gotten the water, exploded, “What do you mean? How can you twist your ankle just climbing some stairs? Now there’s no water, what about the ritual at noon?!”

So that’s why Prince Yu hadn’t come back with her, because this wretched girl never got the water! Everything they did was in vain!

Tang Mi’s face instantly darkened at Qin Shi’s words.

Old Madam Tang was furious. “Stop shouting! So what if she didn’t get the divine water? Is that more important than her foot?”

If Tang Mi had permanently injured her leg for this, she’d never forgive herself.

“But she,” Qin Shi’s voice was tight with anger, but just then, Tang Ying walked in.