Volume One, Chapter 18: She Still Owes Him Her Life

Wang Zhi also noticed that the cloth on Xie Qiqi’s hand was stained red. He stepped forward and took her hand from Li Nan.

Quickly, Wang Zhi unwrapped the cloth, revealing a large, gruesome wound on the back of her hand to everyone’s eyes.

“Uh, who did this? Weren’t you fine just yesterday?”

Li Nan recalled how awkwardly Xie Qiqi had walked earlier and exclaimed angrily.

“Little Bell, who bullied you? Tell Brother Li, and I’ll teach them a lesson so bad they’ll be picking their teeth off the ground!”

“Damn it, if anyone dares to bully my brother, do they think I’m dead or what!”

The other Imperial Guards shouted as well, “Yes, Little Bell, don’t be afraid. If you tell us, we’ll get even for you!”

The Imperial Guards were notorious for their ruthlessness and crimes; Xie Qiqi had heard many terrible stories about them. How could she dare to let them take her side?

Moreover, it was Xie Wenyuan who had harmed her. She still owed him her life!

How could she bring trouble to him?

“No one hit me... I accidentally burned myself!” Xie Qiqi looked pleadingly at Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi sensed she had some hidden pain and said, “Come on, let’s go back to my pharmacy. I’ll treat your wound first.”

He supported her as they walked out.

Li Nan caught up and handed Xie Qiqi five taels of silver, ruffling her hair and smiling.

“Little Bell, take this silver and buy yourself some good food. You’re too thin. Us men need to be strong and sturdy.”

“Take good care of your injury. If you have trouble, come to Brother Li!”

Dressed as a waiter, Xie Qiqi felt Li Nan treated her like a poor street kid.

She was stunned holding the silver. These ruthless Imperial Guards, how could they be so kind to her?

Tears welled up instantly. Her own elder brother had ignored her after her injury and even docked her monthly allowance.

Yet this notorious villain, whom she had only met once, pitied her and gave her five taels...

Wang Zhi helped her into his pharmacy, found some ointment and wine to clean and dress her wound.

As he worked, he said bluntly, “Why don’t you tell Master the truth? Who exactly bullied you?”

“Master may have no official rank, but avenging you would be easy for him!”

Tears began to fall despite herself. Wang Zhi’s tone was harsh, but his concern could not be hidden.

But could she explain this matter so easily?

Besides, she was still part of the Xie family and had to preserve some dignity for them.

“Master, please don’t ask. It really was an accident—I burned myself!” Xie Qiqi begged, looking at Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi was angry and annoyed but couldn’t bring himself to scold her when she looked so pitiful.

After bandaging her wound, he handed her several bottles of burn ointment.

Then, remembering something, Wang Zhi took out a small bottle and handed it to her with a stern face.

“This tonic is for you. Your body is too weak. Take it home and strengthen yourself.”

Xie Qiqi stared in disbelief.

She recognized the bottle as the most expensive tonic sold in the capital—Ginseng Essence Pills, made from hundreds of precious herbs, each bottle worth three thousand taels.

This medicine was said to be exclusively for the imperial court; even offering ten thousand taels on the market wouldn’t buy it.

She had seen this tonic before when the emperor gifted a bottle to her father, who gave it to her grandmother.

Her master had given it to her without a second thought?

“Stop daydreaming and take it!” Wang Zhi shoved the bottle into her arms, sounding annoyed.

“You’re always sickly. If you don’t get well, how can you follow me in learning medicine? Eat two pills now and start learning about herbs with me!”

“Don’t think you can slack off just because your hand is hurt. You haven’t officially become my apprentice yet, and if you don’t work hard, I can change my mind anytime!”

Wang Zhi then walked out.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down Xie Qiqi’s face. After crying for a moment, she wiped them away with her sleeve and carefully took two pills.

She needed to live longer to repay her master’s kindness.

Miraculously, not long after taking the pills, Xie Qiqi felt much more energetic, and the pain eased considerably.

She followed Wang Zhi to learn about herbs, diligently memorizing their properties.

By the time she left the Herb Hall, her mind was filled with all the medical cases Wang Zhi had described.

Which intestines could be removed, which skull bones could be lifted...

Wang Zhi’s vivid explanations opened a vast new world for her.

On the way, she bought the roast chicken Yan’er had longed for and some pastries her grandmother loved, excitedly heading home.

She planned to share the tonic with her grandmother, hoping to prolong her life.

Back at the Xie mansion, Xie Qiqi first visited her grandmother at the Qingfeng Courtyard.

Madam Meng, who cared for her grandmother, opened the door.

Madam Meng was mute but not deaf. She had been taken in by her grandmother as an orphan when young and had never married, devotedly serving her ever since.

Her grandmother’s temples were now completely white, but when she saw Xie Qiqi, her wrinkled face brightened with a smile.

“Little Bell is here. What treats have you brought for grandma this time?”

Xie Qiqi proudly opened the box of pastries and fed her grandmother a piece of mung bean cake.

“Grandma, I bought your favorite mung bean cake. But you can only have two small pieces at a time!”

However, her grandmother’s sharp eyes caught the bandaged cloth on her hand. She grabbed Xie Qiqi’s hand, her smile fading.

“What happened to your hand? Why do you limp a little? Did your foolish mother give you a hard time again?”

Xie Qiqi tried her best to hide the truth, but her sensitive grandmother noticed something was amiss.

Grandmother disliked her mother, and Xie Qiqi didn’t want her to worry. She always reported only good news.

Knowing she couldn’t keep it from her grandmother, she had prepared an excuse on the way.

She put on a disappointed look. “Grandma, it’s not my mother’s fault. I was clumsy and accidentally fell yesterday, hurting myself...”

“Grandma, look what my mother bought me. I can’t finish it all myself, so I want to share half with you!”

Quickly, Xie Qiqi produced the ginseng pills her master had given her and earnestly offered them.

Madam Xie’s face softened slightly when she saw the bottle but pushed it back.

“If your mother bought it for you, then keep it yourself! Grandma doesn’t need tonics. Little Bell, your body is weak; you really should take care of yourself...”

No matter how much Xie Qiqi insisted, Madam Xie refused. With no choice, Xie Qiqi put the medicine away.

Feeling sorry, Madam Xie gently touched Xie Qiqi’s bandaged hand and asked,

“Little Bell, you’re already of age. Has your mother said when your marriage to Wei Ling will be settled?”

Xie Qiqi’s nose tingled; she turned away, pretending to be shy.

“Grandma, I’m still young. Mother said she wants me to stay for two more years... Grandma, do you dislike me and want to send me away?”

Xie Wenyuan had already warned Xie Qiqi not to tell her grandmother about the Wei family’s attempt to cancel the engagement.

But Xie Qiqi didn’t dare mention it either.

If her grandmother knew Wei Ling only wanted to marry Yue Yue, she would surely be furious to death.

Madam Xie noticed nothing unusual and chided, “Grandma isn’t trying to send you away. Grandma is old and doesn’t know how long she’ll live!”

“Grandma hopes to see you married with honor and a good match before she goes, so she can rest easy even after she’s gone...”

The Wei family had a good reputation, and Madam Xie had supported the match from the start.

She had known Lady Wei since she was young; she was kind and would surely treat Xie Qiqi well after marriage.

Xie Qiqi’s eyes stung again. Afraid she would cry, she made an excuse and took her leave.

Her grandmother was far too perceptive, and if she started crying, her grandmother would want to ask all sorts of questions.

Her grandmother’s health was finally improving; how could she bear to let her fall ill again?