After dressing Zhuque's wounds here, Cheng Xiran finally asked Nanny Jin to leave. "Nanny Jin, you'd better go back and accompany Granny. She might start to worry something's wrong if she doesn't see you for a while. Only when you're by her side can she truly feel at ease."
However, Nanny Jin frowned and showed no sign of leaving. "But if I leave, and we want to keep this from the old lady, what if something happens to you later? How can I explain it to the old lady then?"
Before Cheng Xiran could reply, as if having an inspiration, Nanny Jin quickly leaned closer to her and said, "How about this, miss? You stall for time here. I'll go to the prince's mansion and ask the prince to come."
Saying that, she was about to leave, but Cheng Xiran grabbed her sleeve and dissuaded her. "Nanny Jin, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry. In Father's eyes, this is a disgrace. If I ask the prince for help, it will only make Father hate me more. Let it be."
As she spoke, she pushed Nanny Jin out. "Hurry back. Don't keep Granny waiting... I'll go and pay my respects to her before dinner. Don't worry."
Then she entered the room and closed the door tightly, waiting for her own judgment later.
Yun'er was efficient. She quickly came back with all kinds of medicinal herbs according to the prescription. Cheng Xiran accompanied her to decoct the medicine. The purplish-red afterglow in the sky was getting deeper. Occasionally, a few flying birds flapped their wings past a crabapple tree in the courtyard, shaking off many tender pink petals. Dusk was approaching.
But her judgment never came.
Out of impatience, she asked Yun'er to go to Liu's room to see if there was any movement.
When Yun'er came back from gathering information, Zhuque just woke up.
Cheng Xiran was overjoyed. She quickly handed the pre - prepared warm tea to Zhuque's lips, helped her sit up to drink some, and then carefully let her lie back down. Only then did she hear Yun'er say softly, "Reporting to the eldest miss, it's said that Mrs. Liu has woken up, and the prime minister has been back for about a quarter of an hour."
Why didn't he come to find her? Judging from Mrs. Liu's character, she must be eager to see her skinned. With such a good opportunity to complain, why was she indifferent?
"Never mind. You go to the newspaper office first and tell the shopkeeper that I'm fine... And by the way, go to the old lady's room and tell Nanny Jin too."
After giving Yun'er the instructions, she heard Zhuque, pale - faced and weak on the couch, say feebly, "Miss... Why do you... Why do you go to such lengths for me against Mrs. Liu and them..."
Cheng Xiran knew she was extremely tired, so she told her to rest well and not to talk anymore. She carefully picked up a palm - leaf fan from the table beside and gently fanned it to relieve her pain.
When Zhuque fell into a deep sleep, Cheng Xiran finally breathed a sigh of relief.
During dinner, Prime Minister Cheng, Mrs. Liu, and Cheng Zhiyue were not seen in the front hall. The old lady was naturally confused as she didn't know what was going on. "What's this? Are these three so excited about the birthday banquet tomorrow that they've gone out to dine and celebrate?"
While putting food on Cheng Xiran's plate, the old lady continued, "Or do they think the food at home doesn't suit their taste?"
Obviously, she was asking the butler beside her.
The butler was helpless. He couldn't tell the truth, so he had to lie. "Reporting to the old lady, the prime minister came back earlier. Just now I sent a servant to invite them, and they only said they had important matters to discuss and would dine later."