Chapter 7: Spilled the Medicinal Soup

After finishing her tea, Qiange placed the lid back on the teacup. Xique immediately stepped forward to catch the cup. Taking advantage of the moment, Qiange whispered a name into her ear. Xique's body stiffened, her eyelids lifted halfway before dropping again, and she returned to her original position, standing still as if she had heard nothing at all.

Qiange smiled inwardly; Xique was someone who could keep her composure. She hadn't expected to win her over in a single stroke.

Xue Qianwu and Xue Qiandai had also finished their tea. At that moment, the door curtain was lifted, and Huamei entered carrying a tray, the medicinal soup in the bowl emitting steaming heat.

"Miss, this servant has brought the medicine," Huamei said.

Xue Qiange glanced sideways at Xue Qiandai with a smile. "So, in the eyes of my younger sister's maid, there is only one 'Miss,' and neither the Eldest Miss nor the Second Miss."

The anger Xue Qiandai had been suppressing for a long time finally erupted. She vented her fury on Huamei, cursing, "You lowly wench! You've only just been taught a lesson, yet you still don't understand the rules! You stupid, pig-like thing, what use are you to me!"

Huamei was both shocked and stunned, not understanding why her mistress had suddenly lost her temper so violently. Terrified, she repeatedly begged for mercy and admitted her faults.

After Xue Qiandai barked a few more angry curses, Xue Qianwu gave a light cough and said, "Third Sister, you can teach her the rules slowly when we return. Let us let Qiange drink her medicine first."

Since she was her own capable maid after all, Xue Qiandai let it go once she had vented her anger. "I'll spare you for the sake of Eldest Sister. Now, hurry and attend to Second Sister to drink her medicine!"

Huamei responded with a deeply aggrieved "Yes." Having learned her lesson this time, she remembered to thank the Eldest Miss before carrying the medicine to the bedside.

"Second Miss, this servant will feed you the medicine." Huamei scooped a spoonful of the medicinal soup, blew on it to cool it, and prepared to bring it to Qiange's lips.

"No need. You blow on it to cool it for me, and I will drink it myself," Qiange said.

"Yes." Huamei was delighted that she didn't have to feed her. She stood to the side, stirring the soup with the spoon and blowing on it to cool it.

Qiange smiled and said, "Xique, pour another cup of tea for Sister and Third Sister. I don't have any snacks to serve, so I can only trouble you to let them drink more tea."

Xique hurriedly refilled the tea for Xue Qianwu and Xue Qiandai.

"I seem to remember that Xique isn't a house-born servant, is she?" Qiange brought up the topic seemingly at random. "Although I was small back then, I vaguely remember how Xique entered the manor. It seemed to be..." Qiange made a gesture as if recalling, "Was it to sell herself to fund her father's funeral?"

"The one who sold herself to fund her father's funeral was Duquan, who is by Fourth Sister's side," Xue Qiandai said. "Xique entered the manor with a ten-year indenture."

"Oh, so I remembered it wrong," Qiange said with regret. "I thought Xique had signed a life indenture. It's a pity it's only ten years; calculating it, she'll be leaving the manor in just a few years. It's a shame that Third Sister will be losing a close, confidant maid."

Hearing this, Xue Qiandai looked toward Xique. She truly hadn't thought of this before. She had already grown accustomed to using Xique and was actually reluctant to let her leave the manor. Moreover, Xique possessed decent looks and could be utilized in the future. Calculations began to form in her mind.

Xique stood with her eyes lowered submissively, her face expressionless, but her hands inside her sleeves were clenched tightly in nervousness.

"Second Miss, the medicine has cooled. You can drink it now," Huamei said.

"Mm," Qiange nodded. "Hand it to me."

Huamei held out the medicine bowl toward Qiange's hands.

Qiange reached out to take it, but just as Huamei released her grip, her hand slipped. About half the bowl of medicine spilled out, splashing all over the apricot-red embroidered silk-cotton quilt.

"Ah!" Qiange cried out in surprise.

"It wasn't this servant's fault!" Huamei shouted instinctively. "This servant already handed the medicine to Second Miss!"

"Qiange!" Xue Qianwu was so startled she nearly jumped up. She rushed over, pushed the quilt aside, and checked anxiously, "Did you get burned? Did it touch any wounds?!"

"No," Qiange shook her head, looking at the large stained patch on the quilt. "What a pity. This was a quilt bestowed upon me by Grandmother."

Upon hearing it was a gift from Grandmother, Xue Qiandai also stood up in a hurry and spoke up first, "Second Sister, how could you be so careless? What will we do if you've soiled a quilt bestowed by Grandmother?"