"Quick, Xia An, see where Xiao Luzi is!"
Lin Wanyi ordered as she looked at Chunqi’s injury, the worry in her eyes was evident.
Yet Chunqi, fearing she would worry, forced herself to get up, murmuring.
"Little master, this servant is fine."
Lin Wanyi was deeply moved; Chunqi was more than just a maid accompanying her for many years, she was a companion, even family.
Now, having been cruelly harmed by Lady Chu for defending her, she would remember this vendetta.
"Come, let me help you inside."
The master and servant supported each other into the inner room, while Xia An found the kicked unconscious Xiao Luzi on the other side.
Seeing the light footprint on his chest, Xia An immediately stepped forward to feel his pulse.
The injuries of both her and Chunqi seemed severe at first glance but were ultimately external, while Xiao Luzi’s was an internal injury, appearing quite serious, warranting unconsciousness.
Indeed, her diagnosis was accurate.
She removed the hairpin from her head, gently twisted the jewel setting, and a small red pill fell out from inside.
After helping Xiao Luzi up, she quickly administered the pill to him.
Soon enough, he regained consciousness, although the pain in his chest was intense.
"Sister Xia An, oh..."
"Don’t exert yourself, this kick won’t heal without a few days of rest."
Saying this, she supported him to stand, moving slowly towards the inner room on the left side of the palace.
Seeing Xia An’s swollen cheeks and the blood at the corner of her mouth, Xiao Luzi was furious.
But each time he got angry, his chest ached, and though he intended to console Xia An, he began to gasp before he could speak.
Upon entering the inner room, he saw the bloody whip mark on Chunqi’s back, and rage filled Xiao Luzi’s eyes!
"Lady Chu truly is..."
Before he could finish his words, he couldn’t keep himself from collapsing to the ground.
Xia An helped him up to sit on a round stool, handed him a cup of warm water, and advised.
"Your injuries are the worst, don’t get too angry!"
Then, she quickly walked to Chunqi’s side; the whip mark nearly shredded her clothing, and Xia An knew without looking that within that soft silk lay many tiny iron pieces, causing such injuries.
Lady Chu’s assault was ruthless, without mercy.
Luckily, it was only one whip strike; otherwise, Chunqi might not have survived.
The bruises on her wrist were merely trifles compared to those on her back; Xia An first applied medicine to her wrist before fetching hot water.
Lin Wanyi’s knee had already been injured, and twisting it, although not as severe as the whipping and slapping injuries of Chunqi and others, worsened her not-yet-healed condition.
But now she had no time to care for herself, supporting Chunqi to lie on her bed, carefully removing the clothes.
With the screen and silk shielding them, at least Xiao Luzi wouldn’t see them from outside with his constant groans.
Once the clothes were off, Xia An brought the medicinal powder over.
Lin Wanyi took the cloth to clean her wound.
The alternating bruises, red and blue, appeared like a skin tear, though not as severe as a knife wound, yet looking quite grim.
"Bear with it, the powder will sting when applied, but it works wonders, and most crucially, won’t scar."
"Apply it, I can endure it."
Xia An handed over a clean cloth for her to bite, then promptly dealt with her wound.
Feeling Chunqi’s pain-concealing concentration, Lin Wanyi’s fury blazed in her chest.
She stood up, limping towards the outer room, until Xia An, thinking she couldn’t bear the sight, heard Xiao Luzi’s urgent cry, "Master!"
Rushing over afterwards.
Only to see Lin Wanyi standing on the steps, harshly twisting her foot, her entire ankle immediately looking dislocated.
The pain made Lin Wanyi fall down directly, her arm hitting the junction of the stone steps and corridor, adding another injury.
"Little master, why would you do this?"
Xia An helped Lin Wanyi up, quickly rolled up her sleeve to inspect; the arm’s scratch wasn’t too serious, merely showing slight bruising and faint blood flow.
However, the ankle was different, seeing it she immediately noticed the change.
Removing the shoe and sock, indeed, it was dislocated.
Instantly her demeanor turned serious, fingers dexterously pinched, ready to reset the ankle but was stopped by Lin Wanyi.
Throughout the entire process, Lin Wanyi didn’t make a sound.
But Xia An knew her constitution differed from others, making the pain more severe.
Thus, she anxiously asked.
"Why does the little master want to do this?"
Lin Wanyi looked up at Xia An, her eyes calm, yet subtly intimidating.
Xia An supported her into the inner room, seeing everyone with injuries, Lin Wanyi plainly instructed.
"Xia An, later, take a trip to the Inner Court Department, go trouble Mr. Qin to find us a Medical Officer for a check-up."
Then Lin Wanyi continued instructing Xiao Luzi.
"If your master arrives later, no need for me to teach you what to say, right?"
"Rest assured, little master, this servant knows!"
Xiao Luzi was brimming with rage, ready to embellish their account.
After all, everyone injured was from this room, whoever came would be swayed!
"As for Chunqi, later move her back to rest; your injuries are severe, it’s normal not to get out of bed."
Chunqi, having served Lin Wanyi for the longest time, understood her intentions upon hearing her instructions, she nodded.
If needed, she could feign unconsciousness.
After arranging everything, Lin Wanyi dragged her doubly injured leg onto the bed to rest.
When Mr. Qin and Xia An hurriedly arrived, they were greeted by a room full of the injured.
Especially Lin Wanyi sitting on the bed, her eyes blank, her expression truly heart-wrenching.
"Little master, little master."
Quickly walking to Lin Wanyi, gently speaking.
Lin Wanyi seemed frightened, slightly withdrawn when Qin An approached.
This involuntary reaction reignited the numb pain in her ankle.
Lin Wanyi immediately fainted from the pain.
Qin An was shocked, looking at the Medical Officer, he said.
"Quickly, check the little master! What happened?"
The Medical Officer seemed steady-tempered, appearing young, not outstanding in features, but his skin was healthy, suggesting good personal maintenance.
First feeling the pulse, then examining.
Seeing the dislocated ankle, covering it with a cloth, it clicked back into place.
Lin Wanyi knew nothing of this, but the sweat on her forehead and furrowed brow displayed her current pain.
"Little master’s sprain is severe, looking like a heavy push or weight compression caused this. The fainting might be due to extreme stimulation and mental strain."