Chapter 281: Beauty Like a Flower (18)
After sitting with Miss Liu for a while and drinking two cups of tea, Xiaoya left with her maid.
"Si Niang, did you go to Miss Liu again to study?"
As soon as Xiaoya returned to the Lu family, she immediately went to Lu family Old Madam's room to massage her legs and shoulders. Lu family Old Madam praised Xiaoya's unique technique while casually asking.
"Yes, Grandmother, Big Sister Liu has great skills, and your granddaughter is clumsy, so there's still much I don't understand."
"If you don't understand, then learn more. I don't object to you getting close to Miss Liu. Her name as a divine doctor is well-known far and wide. I heard that even noble people in the capital are inquiring about her, wanting to invite her to the capital for treatment, but she is unwilling. I don't know why she stays in our small place," Lu family Old Madam sighed, shaking her head.
Xiaoya smiled calmly and replied, "Big Sister Liu is a person who is indifferent to fame and fortune. She was born and raised here, so she wants to repay the local people, especially the poor families in Qingshui. She doesn't charge a single cent for treatment..."
"Alright, don't talk about those things," Lu family Old Madam was displeased at the mention of the dirty place like Qingshui and cut Xiaoya off.
She pressed her temples, looking exceptionally tired.
"Yes, Grandmother," Xiaoya quieted down and only massaged silently.
Granny Zhang, the old servant attending Lu family Old Madam, saw the awkward atmosphere and spoke, "Fourth Young Miss is also filial. Back then, because of Young Miss's illness, she went to various medical halls in the city to seek famous doctors, but those timid ones all said they didn't dare to treat her. Only Miss Liu bravely came."
"Who would have thought, oh, it actually worked out."
Granny Zhang spoke vividly, making Lu family Old Madam laugh.
In Granny Zhang's mouth, Lu family Old Madam was still the Young Miss who hadn't married, and she hadn't changed her address for most of her life.
Their relationship was unusual, so Lu family Old Madam naturally valued Granny Zhang's words greatly.
"Yes, Miss Liu was only a teenager then, still a Xiaoya. She actually had such courage. Originally, Fusheng and Shousheng said they were going to send her away as a fraud," Lu family Old Madam recalled the situation at the time, shaking her head with a smile.
"Of course, it was also thanks to Young Miss's Wisdom Eye, who could see that Miss Liu was extraordinary and was willing to use her," Granny Zhang chimed in.
Xiaoya also nodded, "It's still Grandmother's brilliant wisdom and courage, her Wisdom Eye for discerning people, willing to give Big Sister Liu a chance."
"You, you little rascal, weren't you the one who said you'd stake your life on it and forced me?" Lu family Old Madam poked Xiaoya's forehead, smiling as she spoke.
"Si Niang wouldn't dare. It was Grandmother's decision, and it was also fate, wishing Grandmother a long life."
Xiaoya's pleasant words made Lu family Old Madam and Granny Zhang exchange a smile.
Then Xiaoya took off her shoes and socks, knelt on the soft couch, and gently massaged Lu family Old Madam's temples.
Lu family Old Madam closed her eyes, enjoying it, and let out a comfortable sigh.
She couldn't do without Xiaoya now.
Although Xiaoya wasn't her biological granddaughter, she was obedient and willing to coax and serve her. Who wouldn't like her?
Moreover, her own biological grandsons and granddaughters, spoiled young masters and young misses, how could she let them do these serving tasks?
"If only your brothers and sisters were half as worry-free as you."
Lu family Old Madam was resting with her eyes closed. She didn't know what she thought of, but her brows furrowed.
Xiaoya's soft little hand gently brushed Lu family Old Madam's brow, "Grandmother, don't frown, you'll get wrinkles."
"You child, you only speak nonsense. Grandmother's face is already full of wrinkles."
"Grandmother doesn't look old at all. Your granddaughter didn't lie."
Lu family Old Madam knew that what Xiaoya said was only words of comfort, but she couldn't help but feel a little happy.
Granny Zhang also smiled, "Young Miss indeed looks young, perhaps it's because her children and grandchildren are filial, and she doesn't worry much."
"Alas, you're trying to fool me too. How can I not worry?" Lu family Old Madam sighed, "Just the main branch still has no news..."
Mid-sentence, Granny Zhang lightly coughed.
Lu family Old Madam saw Granny Zhang's gaze drift towards Xiaoya behind her, understood Granny Zhang's meaning, and didn't continue.
Xiaoya, however, acted as if she hadn't heard, only focusing on massaging the various Acupoints on Lu family Old Madam's head.
Lu family Old Madam liked this about her: she was intelligent but didn't show off her intelligence.
This granddaughter, outstanding in appearance, intelligent, and obedient, but she was also getting on in years. Lu family Old Madam recalled those dirty gazes and thought that keeping her here any longer wouldn't be good.
Lu family Old Madam's thoughts shifted, and she said, "However, Si Niang, you should also settle down now and stop running around all the time."
Xiaoya didn't speak, quietly waiting for Lu family Old Madam's next words.
"You're also getting older, and it's time to start arranging your marriage."
"Yes, Grandmother."
Lu family Old Madam heard Xiaoya's obedient reply, and her heart softened. She pulled her close, looking at Xiaoya's docile appearance and said, "You must remember, Grandmother is doing this for your own good."
"Once you're married, with a husband to protect you, you can avoid a lot of trouble."
"You don't know how many evil things there are in this world," Lu family Old Madam saw Xiaoya's bewildered face and emphasized her tone, "Do you still remember the Miss Wang you used to play with when you were little?"
Xiaoya nodded, "I remember, Sister Jia."
"She, ah, didn't listen to her parents and secretly met with a poor man. As a result, she became pregnant..."
"Grandmother, what... what should we do?" Xiaoya's eyes widened.
"What can be done? That man wasn't willing to marry her, nor was he willing to become a live-in son-in-law. The Wang family could only lock her up in their country house until she gave birth, then send the child to a nunnery."
Lu family Old Madam watched Xiaoya's eyes widen even further, filled with shock and bewilderment, and looking deeper, a trace of icy chill flashed, yet it seemed like her own illusion.
"So, a woman must cherish her body and remain pure and innocent," Lu family Old Madam finally said.
...
At night, Xiaoya accompanied Lu family Old Madam for a little porridge, and only left after Lu family Old Madam had rested.
Returning to her own room, Xiaoya glanced at the two maids sweeping the courtyard and asked, "Has no one touched my room?"
"No, Young Miss. You instructed us not to let anyone in," a lively and quick-witted maid said.
Xiaoya smiled gently, "Alright, I was making the Longevity Map for Grandmother yesterday. If you went in and messed up my beads and embroidery threads, that wouldn't be good."
"Young Miss, we would never dare," the quick-witted maid was the first to say.
The other maids also expressed their Dare not .
Young Miss looked gentle and kind-tempered, but for some reason, she inexplicably inspired awe, making people not dare to act presumptuously.
Xiaoya looked around, then opened the door and entered.
Upon entering the room, there was indeed a very large embroidery table spread on the floor. On the table was a large piece of red silk with a half-embroidered "Longevity" character. Many beads and embroidery threads were scattered beside it, tangled on the floor.
Walking further in, lifting the curtain, was her embroidery bed.
The corpse that had been lying on it was gone.
It was as if it had only been her hallucination.
Xiaoya slowly approached.
Beneath layers of red gauze, the water-red brocade quilt was neatly spread, as if brand new.
Xiaoya sat on the bed, gently stroking the surface of the brocade quilt.
She recalled that in the morning, the corpse had already been slightly stiff, lying on her quilt, pressing it down a little.
The strong crimson color had bled into the water-red quilt. After a night, it had darkened and coagulated into a deep color, forming a dark black pattern.
It was a beautiful pattern.
But now, all of it was gone.
Even the strong smell of blood in the air had disappeared.
Xiaoya smiled faintly, stroking the quilt.
Suddenly, the smile on her face froze, her hand stiffened, as if she had touched something.
Her tender, scallion-like fingers gently picked at it.
A small, hard piece. A little bit of debris flaked off.
She lifted her index finger. In the tip of her pink, petal-like fingernail, there was some dark debris.
She brought it to her nose. The familiar smell of blood.
Faint, tempting.
She lowered her head and looked intently. On the water-red brocade quilt, there was a dark, circular mark the size of a fingernail.
Inconspicuous, completely ignorable.
But Xiaoya knew it was a bloodstain.