CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: SCHEMES

Tong Quanzhi was indifferent, rolling up his sleeves and enjoying himself: "What’s this little thing? If I go to the battlefield someday, I won’t be afraid to chop off the enemy’s heads!"

Xiqiu was speechless at his bizarre logic!

Xu Tianqing came over and saw Xiqiu’s cheeks flushed from the wind, looking somewhat tired: "Sixth Sister, I’m here to take care of this. You should go back and rest, so you don’t catch a chill!"

Xiqiu smiled at him: "Thank you for your concern, Cousin. I’m fine, just a bit dizzy, but the breeze feels rather good."

Xu Tianqing frowned, worriedly glanced at her thin clothing, and pointed to Siliu, who had just returned: "Go and fetch a cloak for your miss."

Siliu looked at Xiqiu, and Xiqiu nodded to her, adding, "Bring several hand warmers too. I’ve just been sweating, it might get chilly in a while."

"Yes!" Siliu responded and left.

Xu Tianqing finally relaxed his frown: "You... take care and rest more."

Xiqiu nodded, noticing a few young women nearby glancing in her direction, she refrained from speaking to avoid drawing too much attention.

But still, she couldn’t stop someone’s competitive mind: "What were Sixth Sister and Cousin talking about?" Tong Xiyang asked with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, sitting beside Tong Xiyan.

Xiqiu smirked, understanding that she didn’t really want to talk to her, so she pretended not to hear.

Xu Tianqing also seemed as if he hadn’t heard, focusing intently on Tong Quanzhi’s actions.

"This wine is really strong, a gust of wind and I’m dizzy." Tong Xiyang said nonchalantly, then turned his gaze towards Xiqiu, and suddenly exclaimed "Oh dear!" As his body lost balance, he intended to fall onto Xu Tianqing...

Xiqiu furrowed her brow, motioning for Chunyan to catch him, because if he really fell, with Madam Wang’s temperament, it could result in untold complications.

However, not knowing if he miscalculated the distance or truly tripped, before Chunyan could reach, he tilted towards Tong Xiyan instead.

Tong Xiyan, caught off guard, couldn’t withstand the force and immediately leaned sideways. Xiqiu, standing on Tong Xiyan’s left, turned back just in time to see her crashing straight toward her.

Things unfolded too quickly; she couldn’t support Tong Xiyan in time, and didn’t dare to dodge, leaving her no choice but to forcibly catch her...

In the blink of an eye!

An arm stretched out, blocking Xiqiu’s waist, but with the force too strong, Xiqiu, holding Tong Xiyan, still fell to the ground.

The ground was uneven, scattered with sprouting shrubs, and Xiqiu’s back instantly felt a stinging, intense pain. She groaned, brows furrowed, realizing that a hand was trapped under her back, still trying to support her.

In the chaos, everyone saw Tong Xiyan pressing on Xiqiu, while Young Master Xu Tianqing was half-kneeling, cushioning his arm underneath.

Tong Xiyu turned pale with fright, while Tong Minzhi quickly rushed over to support Xiqiu, Tong Quanzhi dropped the knife to pull Xu Tianqing, and maids and servants rushed to assist Tong Xiyan, creating a scene of chaos, it took a while before they managed to help the three stand up.

After struggling to get up, Xiqiu’s face also turned pale, but she first focused on Tong Xiyan: "Fourth Sister, are you hurt anywhere?"

Tong Xiyan looked at the real culprit, still standing there unscathed, squinted her eyes, holding back her dissatisfaction: "I’m fine, but are you injured anywhere?"

Xiqiu shook her head, they exchanged a glance and then both turned to look at Xu Tianqing.

Xu Tianqing hung his right arm down, his sleeve torn in half, blood dripped from his fingers onto the ground, his elbow was red and swollen, clearly the injury wasn’t light.

Yet, he smiled gently: "I’m alright!"

Xiqiu’s gaze swept over where she had just fallen, as a sharp bamboo shoot stood there. She couldn’t imagine, without Xu Tianqing’s protection, her head would have surely hit it.

"Better stop the bleeding quickly." She took out a handkerchief to support his arm, wiped the wound clean, and looking around, finding no large cloth, she reluctantly pointed to a servant boy: "Tear off your clothes, wrap it around your young master’s wound."

The servant tore his clothes but fumbled clumsily, unable to tie it properly. Xiqiu frowned and without much thought, pushed the servant aside, doing it herself. Afraid his arm would hang down and slow the bleeding, she wrapped the cloth around his neck, suspending the arm across his chest.

Xu Tianqing didn’t speak throughout, his ears flushed like fire, but his eyes couldn’t leave her face, surrounded by a faint fragrance, he felt as if the wine he drank was quickly rushing to his head, leaving nothing but the pounding heartbeat in his ears.

Xiqiu, after her busywork, sweat had formed on her forehead, and she instructed the servant: "Remember to wash the wound with burning liquor later."

Her proficient actions just now left the seasoned servants staring in astonishment, now following her instructions without a trace of doubt, nodding consecutively.

Tong Xiyan already knew Xiqiu had some medical knowledge, and since she thought Xu Tianqing got injured protecting her, she only felt grateful towards Xiqiu, not contemplating further.

"You should rest!" Tong Xiyan took a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, knowing she might also be injured, she half-supported her.

Tong Minzhi, with big teary eyes, concernedly held Xiqiu: "Sister, are you alright?" She noticed Xiqiu’s face was quite pale, breathing slowly amidst the pain, and angrily glared at Tong Xiyang: "Third Sister, why don’t you watch your steps!"

Xiqiu soothingly patted him: "Hold your tongue." Then turned to instruct the stunned older maid, "Go inform Lady, send someone to summon the doctor, and call for three soft sedan chairs to the second gate."

The older maid shivered, coming to her senses: "Yes!" and hastened away.

Tong Xiyang had regained composure long ago, when Tong Minzhi mentioned her, she immediately feigned fear, limping over with a face full of guilt: "I didn’t watch out and twisted my ankle, I didn’t expect it would cause Sister to fall!" Then she bowed to Xu Tianqing: "And troubled Cousin too, I’m truly sorry!"

Tong Xiyan, burning with anger inside, without evidence that it was intentional, could only swallow her anger and push her away: "Sister, if it wasn’t deliberate, why go to such lengths?"

Tong Xiyang, undeterred, stowed her handkerchief inside her sleeve, took a new one out from her pocket: "It’s my carelessness." She diligently wiped the dirt off Tong Xiyan’s clothes and tidied her hairpin, still filled with self-blame.

Xiqiu naturally understood her purpose, hence she didn’t believe in her guilt. The more she acted like this, the more suspicious it was, as her gaze brushed over Tong Xiyan’s face, landing on the handkerchief she fervently waved, almost forcibly wiping at Tong Xiyan’s face, Xiqiu’s expression subtly changed.

Xiqiu swiftly moved in front of Tong Xiyan, skillfully pushing Tong Xiyang aside, separating them: "Fourth Sister, if you’re fine, go to my room and change clothes." She then took out a pre-prepared mask from her pocket: "It’s windy, wear this just in case!"