Chapter 15

Xia Qingqing instinctively clutched her chest.

“Xiao Suo, why are you looking at me like that? I’m not much to look at. My only shot is to use my medical skills and pharmaceutical knowledge to hook some rich fool. Once I get the money, I’ll have the life I want!”

Xiao Suo nodded as if she understood, lowering her voice to say, “Miss, you’re far from ugly. You’re actually more beautiful than Second Miss! I remember the first time I saw you. Your bangs covered your misty, dewy eyes. You kept your head low, radiating nothing but despair.

Because the Master ignored you, the servants bullied you, draining your vitality. But now… Now you shine with a brilliance that’s impossible to ignore, as if a flame inside you has reignited!”

Xiao Suo’s words caught Xia Qingqing off guard. Her eyes widened with surprise, and faint traces of pride flickered within. Though the light in her eyes wasn’t overwhelming yet, it held the promise of growing ever brighter.

“Xiao Suo, I’m not as great as you’re making me out to be, am I?” Xia Qingqing rubbed the back of her head bashfully.

Xiao Suo clasped her hands together, looking at Xia Qingqing with awe.

“Miss, I mean it! Ever since you smashed the village woman’s head with that small table, I knew you were alive again! And this morning—facing all those intimidating men—you didn’t falter. Instead, you charged head-on.

Do you know how fearless you looked wielding that hatchet against them? Miss, if you were a man, Xiao Suo would be hopelessly in love with you! Even as you are now, I’m ready to follow you to the ends of the earth!”

“Heh, heh, heh! Oh, Xiao Suo, stop flattering me. I’m not immune to compliments, you know! But trust me, following me won’t lead to darkness—it’ll only get brighter from here!”

Xia Qingqing patted Xiao Suo on the head, chuckling shyly yet clearly pleased.

The two laughed and chatted while overseeing the renovation of their yard and house. By the time everything was restored to its former glory, it was almost noon.

Fearing that Sixth Miss might go hungry, the servants had set up a table on the lawn, filling it with an assortment of delicious dishes.

Bird’s nest chicken soup, sea cucumber with pork tendon, abalone with pearl greens, roasted suckling pig, steamed duck tongue in wine sauce, butterfly prawns…

Xia Qingqing was stunned at the sight of the feast.

Xiao Suo was equally flabbergasted.

“This is the first time I’ve seen such a spread of delicacies!”

“Sixth Miss,” said the stewardess, Madam Xióng, with a smile as she served Xia Qingqing a dish. “The Master specifically instructed us to ensure you eat well. He said you had a fright this morning, so good food will lift your spirits!”

Xia Qingqing took a bite of the roasted suckling pig. The crispy skin, tender meat, and sweet honey glaze exploded with flavor in her mouth, filling her nose and head with pure bliss.

Food in this unpolluted ancient era truly tasted extraordinary!

Munching on her food, she invited Xiao Suo and Madam Xióng to join her.

With so much delicious food, she couldn’t finish it all alone. Sharing was far better than eating alone.

While gnawing on a pig’s trotter, Xiao Suo accidentally dropped a bone into the grass.

Bending down to pick it up, she noticed traces of blood still in the grass.

The sight reminded her of the mangled bodies sprawled across this area earlier that morning.

She shivered but looked up to see Xia Qingqing enjoying her meal with a carefree demeanor.

Clearly, Sixth Miss was bold. If she wasn’t afraid, then Xiao Suo shouldn’t be either. She resolved to emulate her Miss’s fearless spirit.

Without retrieving the bone, she went back to savoring her pig’s trotter.

As Xia Qingqing and the others dined joyfully, Second Miss Xia Jinlan awoke from her beauty sleep and sat at her dressing table, brushing her hair.

“Second Miss, Madam came by earlier. She mentioned tonight’s Chrysanthemum Banquet in the palace and suggested you pick out your favorite dress to wear,” reported her maid, Qiu Yan, while helping with her hair.

“The new dresses Mother made for me and my sister a few days ago must have been meant for tonight’s banquet! Help me pick one later, Qiu Yan. I must outshine everyone at the banquet and win the favor of both Her Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince!”

Jinlan’s heart raced with excitement at the thought of the banquet. With her stunning looks, only a handful of women in the capital could rival her. Becoming the Crown Princess was practically her destiny!

Qiu Yan glanced around cautiously before leaning in to whisper, “Second Miss, I overheard the maids in Fifth Miss’s quarters gossiping. They said Madam thinks you’re better suited for Prince Yan due to your striking beauty, while Fifth Miss, being gentle and refined, would be a better match for His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Utter nonsense!”

Jinlan slammed her dressing table in anger, erupting with fury.

“Second Miss, keep your voice down! You don’t want anyone with ill intentions to overhear,” Qiu Yan cautioned.

“I don’t care! I’m going to Mother right now to get to the bottom of this! I’m almost eighteen—it’s my turn to marry first! And it’s me who’s destined to be the Crown Princess, not Xia Tinglan!”

Like a firecracker, Jinlan stormed out of her room, ignoring Qiu Yan’s advice.

Qiu Yan smacked her forehead in regret, muttering, “Why couldn’t I keep my mouth shut? This is a disaster!”

She hurried after Jinlan, clutching her aching stomach.

“Mother! Mother!”

Jinlan burst into her mother’s chambers, her hair disheveled, shouting at the top of her lungs.

“Oh my heavens! What’s gotten into you, my darling? Where are your maids? Have they all disappeared? I swear, the servants in this house have grown bolder by the day!”

Madam Yan Meili rushed out of her prayer room, grabbing Jinlan’s hands in concern.

The nearby servants quickly fetched a shawl to cover Jinlan’s disheveled appearance.

“Mother, Qiu Yan said you intend to marry me to Prince Yan while planning for Fifth Sister to marry His Highness the Crown Prince. Is that true? I need answers now!”

Jinlan raised her chin defiantly at Yan Meili.

Yan Meili’s chest heaved with anger as she struggled to maintain her composure.

“How could that be? Qiu Yan, that little wretch, has been spreading lies! Where is she? I’ll have her tongue cut out for sowing discord between my daughters!”

Yan Meili signaled to her trusted maid, Lin Yi. The latter, understanding the silent command, stormed out of the room.

Outside, Lin Yi found Qiu Yan rushing toward them and immediately slapped her hard across the face.

The blow left Qiu Yan dizzy and disoriented, seeing stars.

“Get inside! You dared to spread lies to Second Miss?” Lin Yi growled, dragging Qiu Yan by the hair into the room.

Qiu Yan whimpered in pain, tears welling in her eyes. She knew her fate was sealed—soon, she would be sold off.