Chapter 35

The setting sun sank westward, and a crescent moon hung high. The sky quickly darkened.

Qin Chu, Guanzi, and Luyao waited together in the eastern side courtyard, waiting for Imperial Physician Han to come out.

It had already been several hours. Imperial Physician Han had said Qiu Jinning’s leg could still be saved. He could do his best to set the bone for her, but there was only a fifty percent chance.

Qin Chu knew Qiu Jinning’s heart was filled with ambition to serve the country and the people. A fifty percent chance was better than no hope at all, so she made the decision to ask him to treat her.

Only late into the night was the door finally pushed open from inside.

“There should be no major issue now. Take careful care of her for a month or two, and she should recover as before.”

Qin Chu hurriedly cupped her hands in thanks. “Many thanks, Imperial Physician Han. Guanzi, quickly prepare a gift for Imperial Physician Han.”

“Coming.” Guanzi brought out a tray they had prepared in advance. [unauthorized copy]On it sat a row of gold ingots, shining under the moonlight.

Imperial Physician Han froze for a moment. This young friend of Commandery Princess Anguo was far too rich.

He recovered and turned his gaze away from the row of gold ingots, waving his hand. “I came here at Commandery Princess Anguo’s request. I only diagnose and treat; I do not accept consultation fees. Hurry and put the gold away.”

If they waited any longer to take it away, he feared he might not be able to withstand the temptation and would accept it. Bright golden little gold ingots—so beautiful.

Qin Chu pressed her lips together and gave a subtle look. The little maid then carried the tray away.

Imperial Physician Han bid farewell with both relief and regret. When he returned to his carriage, he saw that a black wooden box had appeared inside.

“Who put something in the carriage?”

The coachman answered, “Master, it was a plump maid from the Qin residence. She said it was your consultation fee.”

Consultation fee?

Imperial Physician Han’s hand trembled. He opened the wooden box, and his eyes filled with golden brilliance. Wasn’t it that row of gold ingots? It even looked like an extra row had been added.

He hurriedly closed the wooden box and tucked it into his arms. After spending half his life busy in the Imperial Medical Bureau, he had never seen so much gold.

Imperial Physician Han touched the wooden box in his arms, his tiger-like eyes darkening. He had decided. From now on, that little girl surnamed Qin was the Han family’s benefactor, just like Commandery Princess Anguo—a benefactor who sent money.

Qin Chu still felt she had given too little. It was only a dozen or so gold ingots. In exchange for one sound leg for Qiu Jinning, never mind a box—even handing over the entire Qin family would be worth it, if her cheap father agreed.

Inside the room, Qin Chu held a warm towel, wrung out the water, and gently wiped the cold sweat from Qiu Jinning’s forehead. It must have hurt terribly. Her clothes were soaked through with sweat.

Luyao watched with a face full of relief. Miss had not misjudged her. Qin the Great Good-for-Nothing truly was a good future son-in-law. These days, she personally took care of Miss in every little matter and nearly treasured her like the apple of her eye.

“Miss Qin, let this servant do it.”

“Shh. It’s fine. I’ll do it.”

Luyao pressed her lips together and shook her head, deeply moved. “These are the clothes Miss needs to change into. This servant will not disturb you two.”

Miss was so lucky. In order to treat Miss’s leg, Luyao had watched the plump maid pay an entire box of gold ingots as the consultation fee. Qin the Great Good-for-Nothing was such a good person.

No—future son-in-law was such a good person. Boohoo.

Qin Chu looked at the clothes beside the bed: a set of moon-white inner garments, light and soft. Her breath paused. What she had meant just now was that she could handle wiping sweat and feeding medicine.

Changing clothes was not very appropriate…

But the little maid retreated too quickly, giving her no chance to react.

Moreover, Qin Chu looked toward Qiu Jinning, who lay unconscious with her eyes closed. Imperial Physician Han had said she would likely wake tomorrow morning. Qin Chu was also unwilling to leave her in someone else’s hands.

Half an hour later, Qin Chu walked out of the room bailiantales.com covered in sweat. She took a deep breath and calmed herself for a while before returning to guard by the bed.

“Qin Chu…”

At the first hint of dawn, a soft call woke the person lying by the bedside.

Seeing that Qiu Jinning had regained consciousness, Qin Chu hurriedly asked with concern, “How is your leg? Can you feel it?”

“Mm. It hurts a little.”

“It’s good that it hurts. Good that it hurts. Imperial Physician Han said it would hurt for a while. Qiu Jinning, your leg has been saved.” In her excitement, Qin Chu’s emotions, which she had held back for days, finally collapsed.

Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she nearly shed a few hot tears. She rubbed her dry eyes, but still brought out a trace of moisture.

Qin Chu did not dare imagine how sad Qiu Jinning would have been if she could only rely on a wheelchair for the rest of her life—if she had studied hard for more than ten years, only to have no place to display her ambitions because of a bodily impairment.

Fortunately, heaven never blocked every path.

Right now, Qin Chu wanted to go find Imperial Physician Han, kneel down, and offer him several more boxes of gold ingots. She also had to properly thank Commandery Princess Anguo.

Seeing that Qin Chu seemed to be crying from joy, Qiu Jinning’s face softened. “Don’t cry. I’m fine. Thank you.”

At this moment, lying on the bed, there was not much she could do. Only this word of thanks came from the heart.

“No need to thank me. Half the responsibility for you ending up like this is mine. If not for the love gu, none of these things would have happened. Speaking of it, this is all what I should do.” Qin Chu wiped the corners of her eyes. She was happy. She was definitely not crying like those two useless little maids.

“If there were no love gu? If there were no love gu, would you leave it alone?” Qiu Jinning looked straight at Qin Chu, her gaze dark.

Qin Chu froze for a moment. Her heart felt bitter, but her face remained casual. “Of course I would still care. How could I ignore injustice when I see it?”

Qiu Jinning’s gaze grew complicated. She murmured in response, “Mm. I know you are kind-hearted, not as everyone says.”

Qin Chu looked away. “That’s right. I am a kind good person.”

In truth, she did not think she was kind at all. Goodwill also depended on who it was directed toward.

Summer days were long. Ever since Qiu Jinning’s leg had begun visibly improving, Qin Chu had been returning later and later, practically wishing she could spend every day burrowing into the winery to develop new wine.

Earn money. Earn money to protect Qiu Jinning. This had become her endless motivation.

The sunlight was bright, and a light breeze rose outside. Qiu Jinning had been bedridden for more than half a month. Sitting on the bed, she glanced out the window.

Luyao immediately guessed her thoughts. “Miss, would you like to go outside and have a look? It isn’t good to keep lying down like this. Imperial Physician Han said getting more fresh air is good.”

Imperial Physician Han had come several times after that day. The day before yesterday, he had said Miss’s leg was greatly improved, and she would be able to get out of bed and walk soon.

Every time, he left smiling, and the way he looked at Qin the Great Good-for-Nothing was like looking at a God of Wealth.

Go outside and have a look?

Qiu Jinning thought of what Qin Chu had said when she woke that day: From now on, I will be your right leg. Wherever you want to go, I will carry you there.

She gently shook her head. “It is fine. Just open the window.”

Now, Qin Chu was busy all day. During the day, she only returned at mealtimes to eat, then hurriedly left again.

She could not very well let the little maid carry her outside for a stroll.

Luyao smiled mysteriously and turned out the door. Before long, she led Guanzi back.

She pushed over the wheelchair Qin Chu had made earlier and instructed, “Plump maid, carry Miss onto the chair. I’ll push Miss around the courtyard.”

Qiu Jinning did not understand what was happening. Guanzi lifted her up in one motion and placed her onto the wheelchair in another.

“Be gentle. Plump maid, do you think you’re carrying stones? If you hurt my Miss, be careful you’ll be cleaning latrines for unauthorized copy the rest of your life.” Seeing Guanzi’s rough movements made the corner of Luyao’s eye twitch.

Guanzi rolled her eyes. “Miss Qiu is too light. I picked her up all at once. Is that my fault? If you keep talking, you carry her. You don’t do the work, yet you still complain about this and that.”

Did Luyao think she was afraid of cleaning latrines? The latrines were practically becoming her home.

After saying this, Guanzi squeezed into Luyao’s spot and pushed the wheelchair out the door. Following what Qin Chu had taught her beforehand, she explained, “Miss Qiu, this is called a wheelchair. It can be pushed to move around. If you want to move by yourself, that works too. Just grab the wheels with both hands and push gently, like this.”

Qiu Jinning tried holding the wheels and pushed lightly. The wheelchair moved forward a little.

Seeing that her expression was gentle, seemingly satisfied, Guanzi cheerfully said, “Isn’t it very convenient? I said you would definitely like it.”

Qiu Jinning slowly let go. “It is acceptable. The wheels easily dirty the hands, so it cannot be considered convenient. Was this idea yours?”

“How could the plump maid have that kind of brain? This chair was thought up by Miss Qin. She specially prepared it for you, Miss.” Luyao hurriedly took over the conversation. She was Miss’s personal maid. How had the plump maid become addicted to stealing work?

It made her seem redundant.

Guanzi glared at her. Why was she抢ing the words? As if Guanzi did not know to claim credit for her own Miss.

Hearing this, Qiu Jinning curved her lips slightly and pushed the wheels again. “It is very convenient. Thank Miss Qin for me.”

Guanzi: “…”

She changed her words too quickly. Just now, hadn’t she said it was not convenient? Miss Qiu was truly fickle.

Thus, when Qin Chu returned to the residence at sunset, she was greeted by Qiu Jinning sitting in the wheelchair, smiling brightly as she moved around the courtyard.

Qin Chu immediately smiled. “Is the chair convenient to use? Does your leg still hurt?”

Qiu Jinning’s arms paused, and she silently withdrew her hands. This person asked every day when she returned, “Does your leg still hurt?”

She said warmly, “It no longer hurts. This chair is very convenient. Thank you, Miss Qin.”

Seeing her gentle expression, Qin Chu could not help asking, “How does Miss Qiu want to thank me?”

“What do you want me to do to thank you?”

The moment Qiu Jinning finished speaking, Qin Chu could not help feeling nervous. She wanted…

What she wanted was very simple, but precisely because it was so simple, she could not say it aloud. She wanted Qiu Jinning to accompany her forever.

Of course, such words could not be said casually.

“There are many things I want. Will Miss Qiu agree to anything?”

Qiu Jinning curved her lips toward her and said faintly, “Miss Qin may as well say them and let me hear.”

Qin Chu nervously clenched her fingers and said, “I want someone waiting for me when I come home. I want tasty meals every day. I want someone to talk to me every night. I want you not to move out ​Read on BaiLianTales​before the metropolitan examination. I also want to return to Jiuqu County with you. I want to become rich enough to dominate a region, and I want power and influence.”

She wanted to see Qiu Jinning every day when she returned home. She wanted to eat every meal with Qiu Jinning. She wanted the ability to protect Qiu Jinning.

Luyao, standing to the side, gasped and muttered quietly, “Do you think our Miss is a wishing turtle in a wishing pond? You really dare wish for anything. Even if you dare wish for it, our Miss can’t do all that.”

She wanted things too, all right?

Miss was not Guanyin Bodhisattva. She could not grant Qin Chu a lifetime of wealth and honor. Qin the Great Good-for-Nothing sure had beautiful dreams.

The atmosphere went quiet. Qiu Jinning sat in the wheelchair and stared steadily at Qin Chu. Slowly, she said, “What Miss Qin wants may perhaps also be what I wish for.”

“Exactly. Miss, everything you want—who doesn’t want those things? This servant also wants power and influence and to become rich enough to dominate a region. Who doesn’t know how to daydream?” Seeing this, Guanzi voiced her own opinion.

If such a day really came, then she would specifically be responsible for clearing the way for Miss. She guaranteed no one would dare approach.

Qin Chu took a deep breath and smiled lightly. “You don’t need stolen contentto think about so much. Right now, go clean the latrines.”

This talkative little maid actually dared say she was daydreaming.

Guanzi pouted. “The skinny maid was thinking a lot too. This servant heard her muttering just now. She even said Miss Qiu was a wishing turtle in a wishing pond.”

Why was Guanzi the only one punished every time? And why was the skinny maid allowed to direct her work? She refused to accept it.

Qiu Jinning looked faintly toward Luyao, who was trying hard to lower her presence. “There is no need to serve here. Go accompany Guanzi to clean the latrines.”