The Daily Life of Influencing the Empress [Transmigration into a Book GL] - Chapter 6

“Don’t move,” Xiao Yunlan naturally didn’t allow her to dodge. She took the handkerchief and gently wiped the wound. The blood on Wen Ping’s forehead showed signs of drying. Xiao Yunlan was careful not to touch it accidentally again, performing her actions meticulously.

“Does it hurt?” Xiao Yunlan stubbornly asked again.

Biting her lip, Wen Ping shook her head, but quietly added, “I’m used to it.”

Is this something one can get used to? Xiao Yunlan thought, yet she knew it was the truth. For a child who grew up in the Cold Palace, wasn’t this kind of small injury commonplace?

“Let’s go back first,” Xiao Yunlan said as she stood up. She had nothing with her right now.

“Can you stand up?” Xiao Yunlan asked again.

“Mhm,” Wen Ping nodded and tried to rise. But she had been sitting on the ground for too long, her legs were a bit numb, and coupled with her oversized clothes, she swayed to the left as she got up.

Xiao Yunlan quickly reached out and supported her.

Wen Ping didn’t fall to the ground. “I…” She slightly raised her head, her mouth opening and closing, and finally only managed to say, “Thank you.”

Following her gaze, Xiao Yunlan easily saw the dust on her own clothes. It was clear where the dust came from.

“It’s nothing,” Xiao Yunlan didn’t mind at all. Instead, she asked, “Can you walk?”

“Yes,” Wen Ping nodded again.

“Let’s go back,” Xiao Yunlan said. There were quite a few people coming and going in this area. If they lingered here any longer, they might run into someone.

Hearing this, Wen Ping started walking to the side without a word. “Wait,” Xiao Yunlan called out, stopping her. “Where are you going?”

“I,” Wen Ping realized with a start, like a startled fawn, her voice thin. “I should go back.”

“Come with me first,” Xiao Yunlan pointed to her forehead. “The wound hasn’t been treated yet!”

“But—”

“But do you want to look nice?” Xiao Yunlan deliberately scared her. “If it’s not treated properly, it will leave a long scar on your forehead.”

Perhaps due to Xiao Yunlan’s scare, she actually stopped to think about it.

Xiao Yunlan didn’t have much time to wait for her consideration. Regardless of what she was thinking, Xiao Yunlan directly pulled her back. Wen Ping naturally couldn’t resist her. Although she was nine years old, her height and weight were similar to a four or five-year-old child, and Xiao Yunlan was almost fifteen.

After walking a dozen steps, Xiao Yunlan felt a tickle in her palm. She turned her head and saw Wen Ping quietly say, “I, I can walk by myself.”

“Yes,” Zhiyan had been wanting to say that from the side. Although she didn’t dislike Wen Ping, her own Miss dragging a child through the palace like this could look to outsiders like the Miss was bullying someone.

“You want to walk by yourself?” Xiao Yunlan asked with a faint smile.

“Mhm,” Wen Ping nodded heavily. She thought for a moment and added, “I’ll walk with you.”

“Let’s go,” Xiao Yunlan was quite satisfied inwardly, though she didn’t show it on her face. There were so many people in the palace. She could do this much for an accidentally injured girl, but taking further steps would inevitably make others suspicious of her intentions.

Xiao Yunlan walked ahead, and Wen Ping followed behind. Xiao Yunlan’s steps were slow, but Wen Ping’s were even slower. As they walked, Wen Ping fell behind slightly. The palace was close, so Xiao Yunlan gave up the idea of supporting her, but slowed her pace considerably.

“Miss.” As soon as they entered the room, Zhiyan, being highly perceptive, said, “I’ll get the medicine chest.”

Wen Ping didn’t look around. She just stood there awkwardly, like a wooden stake, a wobbly one at that.

“Sit first,” Xiao Yunlan said.

Wen Ping didn’t move. Hearing Xiao Yunlan’s words, she finally looked forward. There was a large, carved chair right in front of her. The chair was made of Huanghuali wood (a type of rosewood) and had a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Seeing her reluctance to sit, Xiao Yunlan didn’t say anything more and simply picked her up and placed her onto the chair. Logically, Xiao Yunlan was only fourteen years old. Even with exercise, holding a nine-year-old child might be a little strenuous, but Wen Ping was only nine in age, making it an easy task to lift her onto the chair.

“Go fetch a basin of water,” Xiao Yunlan then said to the palace maid next to her.

“Yes.” The servant suppressed her doubts and respectfully withdrew, returning with a basin of water shortly after.

There weren’t many people in Xiao Yunlan’s residence: besides her and Zhiyan, there was a maid responsible for sweeping the courtyard and a wet nurse responsible for meals. Both were chosen by Xiao Yuntan, so Xiao Yunlan naturally had no concerns.

“I, I’ll do it myself,” Wen Ping dodged Xiao Yunlan’s attempt to wipe her forehead. She hadn’t fully recovered from the earlier events.

“Can you see it?” Xiao Yunlan asked.

Wen Ping pursed her lips, unable to answer. She didn’t have eyes on her head, so naturally, she couldn’t see it.

“In that case,” Xiao Yunlan smiled, “It’s better to sit still here.”

Mentioning the act of sitting made Wen Ping’s pale little face flush slightly. Xiao Yunlan noticed and understood the reason. She was still a child, and being held by a stranger naturally made her shy.

Xiao Yunlan washed her face and hands. Wen Ping remained docile throughout the process, not saying a word. It wasn’t until Zhiyan handed over the medicated wine for abrasions that Xiao Yunlan poured some onto her hand. Before applying it, she instructed, “This will hurt a little, but don’t move, okay!”

“I won’t move,” Wen Ping replied.

Xiao Yunlan hadn’t expected an answer, but upon hearing it, she was pleasantly surprised. “You’re quite obedient then!”

Hearing this, Wen Ping’s face flushed even deeper. Xiao Yunlan smiled and said no more.

“I—”

“What is it?” Xiao Yunlan said, gently rubbing the wound with her hand. “Does it hurt? I’ll be more careful then.”

“N-no, it doesn’t hurt,” Wen Ping said with a red face.

“Then what is it?” Xiao Yunlan asked, then realized. “My hand is a bit cold, but it will warm up soon.”

After applying the medicine, Zhiyan quickly handed over a new towel. After wiping her hands, Xiao Yunlan asked, “What happened to your head?”

“I ran into, ran into the wall,” she confessed awkwardly. After speaking, she secretly looked at Xiao Yunlan, seemingly afraid of being mocked.

“How did you run into the wall? Were you walking carelessly, or…”

“It was my own carelessness,” Wen Ping immediately said. She then reached into her chest and pulled out a handkerchief, carefully handing it over. “Yesterday, yesterday, you dropped this at my place.”

“You came here to return this?” Xiao Yunlan took it, feeling extremely surprised.

“Mhm mhm,” Wen Ping nodded.

Xiao Yunlan’s heart was filled with complex emotions. Just for this one handkerchief, she had run out of the Cold Palace.

“Do you know the way?” Xiao Yunlan asked.

Wen Ping shrank back into the chair. Seeing this, Xiao Yunlan understood everything. Looking at the frail girl in front of her, Xiao Yunlan finally said, “Actually, it wasn’t that important. It’s just a handkerchief.”

If I hadn’t passed by there at that moment, or if I had already returned, Xiao Yunlan couldn’t imagine what Wen Ping might have encountered later.

“It’s very important,” Wen Ping suddenly insisted. “It has your name on it.”

At Wen Ping’s words, Xiao Yunlan looked down at the handkerchief and remembered that all her handkerchiefs had the character “Lán” (岚) embroidered on them. Even without the character, this one handkerchief alone could identify quite a few people, as very few used such soft fabric for handkerchiefs, and everyone’s embroidery was unique.

“You’re right,” Xiao Yunlan turned and smiled. “But it would have been fine if you had kept it there.”

“Ah?” Wen Ping looked confused.

“Are you planning on using my handkerchief to do something bad?” Xiao Yunlan teased.

“Of course not,” Wen Ping blurted out.