CHAPTER 534: CHAPTER 534: THE GENTLEMAN

Upon stepping out, Xingxing knocked on her own head.

She only remembered the young master and the Marquis bargaining, nearly forgetting about the consequences.

Luckily, she ran fast.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t expect to have breakfast tomorrow either.

Skipping two meals could really starve a person.

Ever since being taken to Qingyun Mountain by Mrs. Tang, Xingxing hadn’t gone hungry.

This was the first time she was punished by being denied dinner.

Xingxing felt that time was particularly hard to endure.

Especially during dinnertime.

It seemed like the aroma of the food was flooding her nose from all directions, making her stomach rumble with hunger.

The maids at Agarwood Pavilion didn’t know she was punished by Su Jin, and one of them earnestly said, "Sister Xingxing, aren’t you going to have dinner?"

Xingxing felt this was like rubbing salt in her wounds.

She still had to save face and say something insincere, "I’m not hungry."

"Then we’ll go eat first," the maid said.

Xingxing hugged a pillar.

Her face seemed to say in big words: Can you drag me along too?

She was merely curious, followed the Prince for a while, got hit by a stone, didn’t know if the Prince went to Qingqiu Garden, and was punished when she came back.

If she’d known earlier, she wouldn’t have followed the Prince even if beaten to death.

Xingxing felt she regretted it so much her intestines turned green.

Only after Su Jin and Xie Jingchen finished dinner, did Xingxing go in.

The dishes on the table were still half remaining, full of color, aroma, and flavor. She swallowed her saliva and looked away.

The maids came in to tidy up and wiped the table clean.

Xingxing opened the window to let the aroma of the dishes disperse.

Throughout the night, Xingxing was extremely attentive.

Su Jin saw through her little thoughts at a glance—

hoping Su Jin would have a change of heart and let her eat.

The pitiful look indeed evoked sympathy.

But Su Jin did not give in.

If she didn’t learn the lesson, there might be a next time.

After Su Jin went to bed, Xingxing finally returned to her room.

Previously, Xingxing slept alone in a room. After Su Jin and Xie Jingchen went missing, Xingxing felt insecure and called Bi Zhu to stay with her.

When Xingxing returned to the room, Bi Zhu was making a knot.

Seeing her come back, she asked, "You didn’t eat dinner tonight, aren’t you hungry?"

Knowing that she hadn’t eaten all night, still asking if she was hungry.

She was obviously hungry!

Bi Zhu said, "I have osmanthus candy, do you want some?"

Xingxing swallowed again.

She shook her head and said, "I’m not hungry."

If she could sneak a bite, the young master wouldn’t have bargained with the Marquis and ended up with heavier punishment.

Ignoring punishment and treating the Madam’s words like the wind in her ears would lead to even heavier punishments.

She had lasted this long, and after waking up, she could eat.

At most, she could eat more in the morning to make up for what she missed at night.

Xingxing firmly added, "I’m not hungry."

Bi Zhu looked at her with suspicion.

She hadn’t even taken the osmanthus candy out yet.

Her eyes had already flicked past the cupboard hiding the osmanthus candy. Is this really not hungry?

Xingxing fetched water to wash up and then went to sleep.

Bi Zhu thought she might truly not be hungry, blew out the candle, yawned, and fell asleep.

The night was stuffy, making it difficult to sleep peacefully, and in the middle of the night, they were startled awake by crying.

Xingxing was crying.

Crying so sorrowfully.

Bi Zhu was frightened, lit a candle, and came over to shake Xingxing, "Had a nightmare?"

Xingxing, half-awake, was wailing, "My teeth fell out."

Bi Zhu, "..."

"Where did the teeth fall out?" Bi Zhu was bewildered.

"Wake up quickly."

After shaking her several times, Xingxing finally woke up.

Realizing it was just a nightmare, Xingxing quickly wiped her tears.

Bi Zhu asked her, "What nightmare did you have?"

Xingxing shook her head.

Too embarrassing.

She wouldn’t say it.

She often had dreams about delicious food, even more exquisite than the Emperor’s Imperial Banquets.

But this time, she dreamed of being punished by the Madam, starved to the point of weakness, and the Hidden Guard gave her several buns.

Steaming hot.

She salivated hungrily.

She didn’t eat.

He said if the Madam blamed him, he’d bear it.

Touched, Xingxing took a bite of a bun.

Clatter.

Two big front teeth fell out.

The buns had stone fillings.

Xingxing thought of how she’d speak with a lisp in the future and cried out of worry.

Dreaming of such an embarrassing thing as biting a bun, Xingxing felt saying it out loud would be a joke, so she wouldn’t tell anything even if beaten.

Bi Zhu thought she must have had a terrible nightmare.

She comforted her for half the night.

Xingxing looked out the window several times, "Is this considered morning yet?"

"You can still sleep for another hour," Bi Zhu said.

Xingxing hugged the quilt tighter, afraid the growling of her stomach would be heard by Bi Zhu.

Just a little longer until dawn.

When the rooster crowed once, Xingxing got up.

The cook in the small kitchen had just opened the door when Xingxing arrived.

The cook was a bit dazed, "Miss Xingxing, why are you up so early?"

"I couldn’t sleep," Xingxing said.

"Let me help you start the fire."

The cook was eager for help.

The cook kneaded dough to make buns, and Xingxing was below adding firewood.

When the buns were ready, the cook said, "Quickly, try if these buns taste good."

Xingxing took a meat bun.

In the past, she would have gobbled it up.

The nightmare last night scared her too much. Xingxing carefully broke the bun open, confirmed it had a meat filling, and then dared to eat.

The cooks looked at each other.

The Princely Heir’s maid became refined.

After eating ten meat buns in a row, Xingxing was finally satisfied.

The cooks were utterly astonished and asked, "Want more?"

Xingxing shook her head, "I can’t eat anymore, I’ll come back for another two later."

The cooks, "..."

Watching Xingxing leave, the cooks looked at each other.

Is this maid just too, too, too good at eating?

It wasn’t just the buns that left a psychological shadow on Xingxing. The Hidden Guard frightened her even more.

The way Xingxing looked at the Hidden Guard had changed.

The Hidden Guard was about to go to town and asked Xingxing if she wanted him to bring back anything to eat.

Xingxing ignored him.

Xie Jingchen saw this and asked the Hidden Guard, "Did you offend the Princely Heir’s maid?"

The Hidden Guard shook his head.

He shook his head very firmly.

Even if he was lent a few more guts, he wouldn’t dare upset the Princely Heir’s little maid.

Not only the Princely Heir, but the maids also brought bad luck to whoever dared to provoke them.

Watching Xingxing’s back, the Hidden Guard felt a little panicked inside.

The maid’s sidelong glance just now seemed to harbor a deep-seated vendetta against him.

...

Qingqiu Garden.

Caiju went out to fetch food from the main kitchen.

After just a few steps out, she saw a maid leading a doctor over.

Caiju was momentarily stunned and then turned around to run back.

Inside the house, Lady Chi sat at her dressing table, looking at the scar on her face.

She carefully applied the ointment.

Lu Qiao was carrying a copper basin out.

Caiju ran in and directly bumped into Lu Qiao, who was about to leave.

The copper basin in her hand fell to the ground with a clang.

"Is it an emergency? Why are you running?" Lu Qiao exclaimed in pain.

"The issue is more urgent than a fire," said Caiju.

"The maid from Peony Garden, Hong Ying, is coming with a doctor."

Caiju was momentarily stunned and quickly turned around after just a few steps out of the door.

The Hidden Guard whom Princess Nanzhang punished did not cause as much damage to Lady Chi as this one did.

Later the doctor would learn about the incident, and there would be no hiding it.

As they hurriedly walked, they heard Xique’s urgent voice coming from outside.

"Where is everyone?" There was a trace of impatience in her voice.

Caiju was so anxious that she was spinning in circles.

Outside, they heard some noise and Xique calling out.

"Where is everyone?" She sounded a bit impatient.

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