Chapter 13: As Expected of the Spiritual Water

Early morning. Golden sunlight spilled across the land.

Inside Cold Maple Pavilion.

By the time Shu Ruohua woke up, it was already close to noon.

Qian Ning had calculated her recent waking time perfectly and happened to walk in carrying lunch.

She placed the food on the round table, then came over to help Shu Ruohua get dressed and washed up.

While helping her dress, she casually glanced at the injury on Shu Ruohua’s arm—only to suddenly discover that the wound had completely healed!

“Mi—Miss!” Qian Ning cried out in alarm.

“Ah?!” Shu Ruohua was startled by her.

Qian Ning stared at her in shock. “Miss, your arm—it’s all healed?!”

She clearly remembered that when she changed the dressing two days ago, the wound on Shu Ruohua’s arm had only just formed a thin scab.

At the time, she had thought it was due to Imperial Physician Wang’s effective medicine that the wound scabbed so quickly.

But no matter how good the medicine was, it shouldn’t have completely healed within just three days.

Shu Ruohua: “…”

She patted her chest, trying to calm her nearly heart-attack-inducing fright.

Only then did she remember—two days ago, after seeing that her wound had scabbed, she had secretly wrapped her arm with a bandage again.

And yesterday, when Qian Ning wanted to change the dressing, she refused.

Then last night, when she removed the bandage to check again, to her amazement, the wound had completely healed.

At the time, she was overjoyed by the miraculous effect of the spiritual water—but had forgotten to wrap the bandage back again!

A long silence followed…

She gave Qian Ning an awkward smile.

“Um…”

She hesitated, wanting to tell Qian Ning about the spiritual water, but worried that Qian Ning might accidentally leak the secret to someone else. If that happened, her spiritual water wouldn’t be safe.

She thought about it for a long time…

In the end, she picked up a boiled potato and decided her best course of action—for now—was escape!

Qian Ning immediately chased after her.

…

Back garden, vegetable patch.

In this vast Cold Palace, if Shu Ruohua wasn’t in her room, she would definitely be in the garden.

Sure enough…

Qian Ning found Shu Ruohua there, in the backyard.

She hurried over, intending to ask about the healed wound.

After all, Shu Ruohua was her mistress. If she’d used some unprescribed medication that harmed her health, how could she explain herself to General Shu or the Crown Prince?

She opened her mouth to speak—only to find Shu Ruohua staring joyfully at the potato field not far away.

Following her gaze, Qian Ning was stunned to see that the potato seedlings in the field had already started to bud.

“This…”

Qian Ning choked, as if something got caught in her throat.

She rubbed her eyes vigorously. She must be seeing things. It had only been a few days—how could the potato seedlings have grown this big?

“I must be dreaming!”

She muttered under her breath and pinched her thigh with her small hand.

“Ah!!” A sharp scream—

Shu Ruohua was once again startled. She looked at Qian Ning with despair: “…”

She silently complained in her heart: Good thing this lady doesn’t have a heart condition, or today would’ve been the day she died!

Qian Ning completely ignored her expression. Still rubbing her leg pitifully, she asked, “Miss, how did these potato seedlings suddenly grow so big?!”

She was now certain this wasn’t a dream.

But she truly regretted it—why had she pinched herself so hard just now?

Shu Ruohua was at a loss for words.

She looked over at the potato field…

To be honest, even she hadn’t expected the spiritual water to promote growth this quickly—it had far exceeded her expectations.

She held her round face in both hands, her mind echoing five words: Is this even real?

A long while passed…

She still didn’t seem to snap out of her daze.

Then came Qian Ning’s voice again. “Miss!!”

She had already called out to Shu Ruohua several times with no response.

“Miss, what are we having for dinner?!”

This time, Qian Ning didn’t ask about the previous matter again—because she realized, even if she asked, her lady wouldn’t necessarily answer.

So, she decided to wait a bit and ask later.

Shu Ruohua didn’t respond to her question.

After thinking for a while longer, the corners of her lips curled into a smile.

She seemed to have finally figured out how to explain things to Qian Ning. She crooked her finger at her.

Qian Ning frowned and moved a little closer.

Shu Ruohua said, “It’s too hot out here. Let’s go back inside and I’ll explain everything.”

Qian Ning: “…”

She glanced at the nearby tree. The evening breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves…

Hot? Really?!

…

(End of Chapter)