Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 538 - 541: Injured (Part 3)

"Ran too fast and tripped accidentally." Xiqiu took the tea from Bihuai and offered it to the Grand Dowager. The Grand Dowager did not accept it and frowned, saying, "If you’re going for a walk, just walk. Don’t run next time. Falling like this can hurt the body deeply." She tightly hugged Min, lovingly stroking his head, "Poor child, so young."

It seemed to be because of Xiqiu!

Min glanced around and noticed the Grand Dowager’s not-so-kind tone, which seemed to blame Xiqiu somehow. So he whispered, "Grandmother, it’s Min’s fault. I didn’t listen to my mother and ran in the courtyard, sneaking to the garden, which caused this."

"Alright, alright, Grandmother understands!" the Grand Dowager comforted, "You must lie down and rest well. Don’t go to the study for the next few days. I will have someone inform Mr. Song."

Min moved his lips but did not speak.

Xiqiu felt that the Grand Dowager’s attitude was strange today but didn’t dwell on it. After all, she was also distressed about Min’s fall, especially since the Grand Dowager had always doted on him.

After releasing Min, the Grand Dowager turned her gaze to others, her eyes gleaming coldly, "Who were the ones following this morning?"

The wet nurse, Dongling, and another little maid knelt tremblingly, and the Grand Dowager scolded coldly, "What’s the use of keeping you? Three people couldn’t take care of one child!" With a pause, she instructed Nanny Wu, "Call in Nanny Liu, each person gets ten strokes to teach them a lesson."

The wet nurse and others were shocked. The young maid, only about seven or eight years old, was so frightened by the thought of ten strokes that her legs gave way, and she cried, "It’s not my fault..."

Nanny Wu already ordered a maid to fetch Nanny Liu.

"Mother," Xiqiu said softly, "Please calm down... It was an accident today. The road is usually quite smooth; strangely, there were some small stones today." She paused and added, "Dongling and the others are still young; ten strokes are too much for them to bear..."

The Grand Dowager squinted her eyes, gave Xiqiu a deep look, then turned to Dongling and the others, barking, "Drag them out!"

Xiqiu stood there in shock!

She had previously sensed that the Grand Dowager didn’t like her, but even when she first entered the family, the Grand Dowager never showed such an attitude. Today, it was particularly blatant. If it was because she was distressed about Min’s injury and thus angry with his mother, she would have nothing to say since Min was hurt while with her. But this was clearly a hint of animosity!

What happened, causing the Grand Dowager to change so suddenly?

The Grand Dowager stood up and said to Xiqiu, "These days, you are busy, and suddenly everything in the household falls on you, but house matters are house matters. You must not be careless with Min; make sure more people are by his side."

Xiqiu had nothing to say, lowered her head, and agreed.

The Grand Dowager sat back by the bed, comforting Min.

To avoid frightening Min, Dongling and the wet nurse were dragged out of the yard and beaten outside; the sound of the thrashing wasn’t clear, but the cries for mercy were.

Xiqiu frowned tightly, asking Chunliu to bring medicine to the three.

Min seemed not to hear, closing his eyes with gentle breathing sounds.

The Grand Dowager, full of heartache, accompanied him for a while before leaving, supported by Nanny Wu.

Once the Grand Dowager left, Min opened his eyes and said, "Mother!" Xiqiu, startled, walked over and sat by the bed, asking, "What is it?"

Min lowered his head and asked, "Nanny... are they alright?" with a face full of guilt.

"They’re fine, Mother sent for medicine for them, and we’ll call the doctor in a bit to have a look." She said, rubbing Min’s head to comfort him, "For the next few days, listen to Grandmother and stay inside. If you don’t rest your knee wounds, they won’t heal..."

Min lowered his head, mumbling and nodding.

Xiqiu had Nanny Cen make Min’s favorite snacks and brought them in, sitting with him as he ate. First Madam and Second Madam, along with Xiao Yanzheng, arrived.

After sitting for a while, First Madam and Second Madam left; Xiao Yanzheng stayed in the room to talk with Xiqiu, "...Mother is just anxious, that’s why her words were a bit harsh, don’t take it to heart. I see she treats you, Second Sister-in-law, and Eldest Sister-in-law all the same now." He paused and added, "Mother has such a temper; even when she scolds me sometimes, she doesn’t hold back."

Xiqiu naturally took it to heart, because the Grand Dowager’s attitude was too odd.

She smiled and nodded, "It’s nothing. As an elder, it’s right for Mother to scold me a few times." Not wanting to continue this topic, she said, "Did you say Mother sent Lianqiao to stay by Xing’s side?"

Xiao Yanzheng nodded, "Second Brother had Housekeeper Hu go to the farmhouse to pick up two young servants, saying they’ll invite a master from the outer yard to teach them martial arts, so they can accompany Xing in the future."

Xiqiu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease with more people around Xing!

After sending off Xiao Yanzheng, Xiqiu instructed Chunliu, "Go check by the Plum Garden to see where Min fell." Chunliu hesitated, understood Xiqiu’s intention, and turned to leave.

Outside, Nanny Zhang arrived to report, saying the redwood round table titled ’Magpies on Plum’ was found and asked where to place it. Xiqiu instructed it to be placed in the Grand Dowager’s hall, and Nanny Li acknowledged and withdrew.

Chunliu returned and reported, "The stones are gone. The servant asked the old woman in charge of pruning at the Plum Garden, who said there were indeed a dozen small stones piled up there; they were originally used for the construction of the First Madam’s greenhouse. Later, Fifth Young Master had some moved to pave the path in the Plum Garden, and some were piled up far away to avoid tripping people. She didn’t know how they ended up on the pathway."

Xiqiu frowned tightly, Chunliu asked, "Madam, is there something wrong?"

"Nothing!" Xiqiu waved her hand. A moment later, Xing and Sheng also arrived. Later that evening, with Fourth Master Xiao back, they ate dinner with Min, and as a family, the three of them sat in the room, with Xiqiu telling stories to lull Min to sleep. Early the next morning, the people from the Pang Family came to deliver the betrothal gifts.

"Hehuan, Jiahe, Ah Jiao, Jiupu... altogether nine pieces piled up in Grand Dowager’s main yard..."

Xiqiu left Biwu and Nanny Cen to take care of Min, and Grand Dowager also granted Mr. Song a day’s holiday. Xing and Sheng clamored to find Min, and Grand Dowager had Lianqiao take a few maids and the two newly arrived young servants to Xiqiu’s courtyard to keep Min company.

Second Madam and First Madam, due to their health and status, could not attend, so Xiqiu had to stay in the front yard to entertain guests.