After returning to the Shen Mansion, Old Lady Xiao looked coldly at Shen Dong who was standing in the flower hall. She said with a gloomy expression, “They are your own wife and daughter. It’s up to you.”
Shen Dong nodded. He was suppressing his anger, like a volcano about to erupt.
Madam Zhao got out of the carriage and thought that Nurse Qin and the other people would come to welcome her. She waited for a long time, but no one came out as she expected. So she had to ask the guards at the door, “Go and find two old maidservants. Linghan is injured and needs to be carried in.”
The guards exchanged glances and lowered their heads without saying a word.
Madam Zhao became angry. “Didn’t you hear what I said? You…”
Butler Wang Fu brought two lad servants over and said to Madam Zhao, “Madam, master has an order. He asked you to see him in the flower hall as soon as you get home. I will arrange people to take care of the second young lady.”
Madam Zhao’s pupils suddenly shrank. She turned around and looked at Shen Linghan who was lying in the carriage. She gritted her teeth and walked towards the mansion. Just as she reached the door, she heard Wang Fu and Shen Ninghua talking behind her.
“Eldest young lady, you’re back. Master has given me an order. Today you were shocked. Hurry up and go back to rest. Someone has been sent to fetch an imperial doctor for you. If you feel uncomfortable, tell us in time. Master is very worried about you.”
Shen Ninghua saw Madam Zhao’s stiff back and smiled. “Thank you, butler Wang, and please convey my gratefulness to my father. I will go to pay respects to him tomorrow.”
“Eldest young lady, you are the most filial. Master knows that you value the rules the most. He said that in the next month, you don’t have to go and pay respects to him every morning, so that you won’t get too tired.”
“My father is very thoughtful.”
Madam Zhao stiffly walked forward. Her chest was painfully stuffy, and she felt like spitting out a mouthful of blood. However, she had to tolerate it now. Only when she was fine would Linghan be able to stabilize her position in the Shen family. As for the suffering she and Linghan had today, she would definitely take revenge thousands of times in the future.
When Bai Ruo and the other maids saw Shen Ninghua coming back, they all ran over.
“Miss, are you alright?” Bai Ruo asked anxiously.
Hearing that Shen Ninghua suffered an accident in the Palace, Qing Que and Hong Ling almost stormed into the Palace. Fortunately, Bai Ruo was rational and stopped the two of them with the order that Shen Ninghua gave before she left. Otherwise, the situation might be beyond imagination now.
Feeling the sincere concern of these people, Shen Ninghua’s tense mood relaxed a lot. “I’m fine. Go prepare some hot water. I want to take a bath.”
Seeing the tiredness in her eyes, Bai Ruo hurriedly said, “Miss, hot water is ready. I have prepared the medicine for internal and external injuries, and the medicine for shock relief. Let me help you take a bath.”
Shen Ninghua finally couldn’t help but laugh, “I really made you all worry.”
When she finished bathing and changing her clothes, it was already two hours later. Bi Zhu brought over some easy-to-digest tremella porridge. Shen Ninghua almost ate nothing during the day, so she ate a whole bowl of it.
Just as Bai Ruo was serving her dishes, Hong Ling said, “Miss, young master Xuanlin is here.”
Shen Ninghua looked up and saw the small head of Shen Xuanlin revealed at the door. She waved her hand and signaled him to come over. “Why are you here?”
“Eldest sister, are you alright?” Shen Xuanlin’s eyes were filled with anxiety. Although he saw that Shen Ninghua was sitting there safely, he was still worried and asked for confirmation.
“I’m fine.”
Shen Xuanlin heaved a sigh of relief. He stepped forward and sat next to Shen Ninghua. He whispered, “I just saw two nurses carrying the second elder sister into Qinxue Courtyard. She was covered in blood and her face was shockingly pale. It looked like she had fainted.”
Shen Ninghua nodded. “Yes, your second elder sister was injured, but it’s not serious.”
“Eldest sister, did second elder sister frame you up in the Palace?”
Shen Ninghua put down the chopsticks in her hand. “Why do you think of this? Did someone talk nonsense in front of you?”
“Eldest sister, I know that second elder sister has been framing you up ever since you came back. Fortunately, you are smart enough to escape all the set-ups. The second elder sister is really too vicious. She even dared to frame you up in the Palace!” Shen Xuanlin was very angry. “Eldest sister, when I grow up, I will definitely protect you.”
Shen Ninghua was stunned for a moment before suddenly laughing. “You are already lucky to be able to take good care of yourself.”
Shen Xuanlin anxiously said, “Eldest sister, I’m serious. I’ve already thought it through. I’m stupid, and I can’t make achievements in literature like eldest brother Xuanye. Then I can only practice martial arts diligently and kill enemies on the battlefield like brother Xuanhua. As long as I accumulate military merits, I can be promoted and become your support. At that time, no one would dare to bully you!”
His attitude was too serious, and his dark eyes were filled with a determined light. For a moment, Shen Ninghua didn’t know how to answer.
Seeing that she didn’t say anything, Shen Xuanlin thought that she had tacitly agreed and immediately became happy. He solemnly said, “Eldest sister, I know that you can suppress mother now. Then can you get a teacher for me? I want to practice martial arts.”
“Xuanlin, practicing martial arts is very painstaking. You…”
“Eldest sister, don’t worry, I will definitely endure the hardship.” Shen Xuanlin immediately patted his chest and promised.
“Fine. I’ll get a teacher for you. But I don’t want you to learn martial arts with the purpose of going to the battlefield, but to let you know how to protect yourself. No matter what happens in the future, you can at least have a skill to make a living.” She could feel that what Shen Xuanlin had just said was serious. Regardless of what happened in the future, she was willing to help him simply for his current sincerity.
“Thank you, eldest sister.” Shen Xuanlin did not argue, but he had made up his mind that he would definitely earn glory for his eldest sister.
When Shen Xuanlin left happily, Hong Ling came in and reported, “Miss, news came from the front yard. Madam volunteered to go to the ancestral hall. Master has fetched a doctor to treat the second young lady. However, it seemed that because the treatment was delayed for too long, her legs might not be cured.”
Shen Ninghua was not surprised, “She fell too hard, coupled with the chaos in the Palace, it’s strange that she could be cured.”
Hong Ling chuckled. “Miss, if you treat her, she will definitely be cured. Those quack doctors don’t have the ability to do so.”
“You really know how to talk!” Shen Ninghua glared at her and waited for Bai Ruo and the others to take away the dishes. She then said, “I promised Xuanlin to get a martial arts teacher for him. Notify Liu Yun and let him find a way to be hired by the Shen family.”
“Yes, Miss. With Liu Yun here in the future, it will be more convenient for us to do things. Isn’t that right, elder sister Bai Ruo?” Hong Ling laughed and teased Bai Ruo.
Liu Yun was also saved by Shen Ninghua. His injuries were extremely severe and recovered in the valley for a long time. Bai Ruo took care of him all along. After spending a long time together, the two of them had developed some feelings. When Shen Ninghua returned to the Shen family, it was naturally impossible for her to bring Liu Yun with her. Now that Shen Xuanlin needed a martial arts teacher, it’s just the time to bring him in.
Bai Ruo blushed and slapped Hong Ling on the head. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Hong Ling pouted and rubbed her head. “Miss, look at sister Bai Ruo. She always likes to bully me.”
Shen Ninghua chuckled. “You should be glad that Liu Yun hasn’t come yet. When he is here, Bai Ruo doesn’t have to bully you. He himself will deal with you.”
Hong Ling stamped her feet angrily and protested about being treated “unfairly”.
The next day, Shen Ninghua got up early in the morning. Bai Ruo was puzzled. “Miss, why did you get up so early today? Aren’t you going to have a good rest?”
“I have to visit the patient, so I should get up early.”
Bai Ruo was stunned. “Are you going to see the second young lady?”
“Yes.” Shen Ninghua finished cleaning her face and carefully applied the skin care cream. “I remember you said that there is a maid called Xiang Qiao in our courtyard, right?”
Bai Ruo nodded. “Her name was Xiang Qiao. Hong Ling found out that she has a cousin who works as a housekeeper in the Zhao family and that she is a spy from the Zhao family. Hong Ling wanted to drive her out, but you ordered to let her stay.”
“Yes, now is the time to use her. Go out and announce that Shen Linghan is injured and needs to be taken care of more carefully. Choose a few maids and send them to Qinxue Courtyard to help and put Xiang Qiao on the list.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Shen Ninghua brought four maids with her to Qinxue Courtyard. Nurse Qin was holding a handkerchief and applying it onto Shen Linghan’s forehead. Seeing Shen Ninghua enter the door, Nurse Qin hurriedly saluted. “Greetings, eldest young lady.”
“Don’t stand on ceremony, Nurse Qin. How is my second sister?”
“Miss, the second young lady is seriously injured. Her condition hasn’t improved since she took the medicine. She has been running a fever all night.” Nurse Qin’s eyes were full of tears, and her voice was hoarse. It was obvious that she had stayed here all night.
Shen Ninghua sighed. “She is really pitiful. Nurse Qin, go out. I want to have a private chat with my second younger sister.”
Nurse Qin’s heart trembled. “This place is full of the smell of medicine. Eldest young lady, you were also shocked yesterday. If the air fumigates you, I will be extremely guilty.”
Shen Ninghua’s expression was indifferent. “When I was recuperating, I drank countless medicine. The smell here is nothing. I see you are tired. Hong Ling, accompany Nurse Qin to eat something.”
“Yes, Miss.” Hong Ling stepped forward to hold Nurse Qin and pulled her away, ignoring her struggles.
Shen Ninghua sat beside Shen Linghan’s bed. She took out a porcelain bottle and poured the content into Shen Linghan’s mouth.
Nurse Qin’s eyes widened and she wanted to shout, but Hong Ling covered her mouth and said, “Nurse Qin, go to the side and rest.”
“Ah…” Nurse Qin’s eyes were about to split open. What did Shen Ninghua feed the second young lady? Did she want to kill the second young lady?
Inside the room, Shen Linghan slowly opened her eyes and groaned in pain, “Where is this…”
Shen Ninghua leaned over slightly and said, “Younger sister, are you confused? This is your Qinxue Courtyard.”
“Qinxue Courtyard…” Shen Linghan’s gaze was confused for a moment, and then she suddenly woke up. Her eyes swept around, but she didn’t see any familiar maid. “Shen Ninghua, what do you want to do?”
Shen Ninghua’s eyes were cold. “‘Younger sister, your words are funny. What can I do?”
“Humph, you want me to die. It’s a pity that I’m not dead. This must disappoint you.” Shen Linghan mocked.
“You’re wrong. I’m only happy that you’re not dead.”
Shen Linghan’s eyes were filled with disbelief. “Haha, you are happy to see me alive?”
“Why should I be unhappy?” Shen Ninghua raised her eyebrows and revealed a perfect smile. “You live one more day, and I can torture you one more day. This makes me happy enough to laugh in my dreams.”
“You bitch!” Shen Linghan trembled and gasped for breath, wishing she could tear Shen Ninghua apart.
Shen Ninghua smiled and her voice was cold as ice. “You didn’t expect that you would be so badly injured when you pushed me and cousin down the artificial hill? You wanted to kill us, but unfortunately, you crippled yourself. You still don’t know that your legs aren’t going to recover, right? Get prepared to be a lame person for the rest of your life.”
Shen Linghan fiercely tore the blanket. She was so angry that she felt dizzy. When she heard that she would be lame, she said angrily before remembering to dismiss Shen Ninghua’s previous accusation, “Nonsense! Mother clearly said that as long as my legs get proper treatment, they would be fine!”
“Sister, have you forgotten that you’ve been kneeling in the Palace for a long time? Do you think they would be fine after all that?”
Shen Linghan’s heart seemed to be bleeding. “You bitch! Shen Ninghua, you did it on purpose! Bitch!”