Chapter 4, The Suspicious Young Lady
The words of the master conceal a clever wit. Xiao Lian'er claims she knows how to treat it. Therefore, she must know who has inflicted the poison.
The lady of the manor's eyes were swollen and red from crying, and she implored the lord of the manor to seek medicine from the Yuandao Sect: "Ming Yi is consuming the flesh of low-tier demon beasts. This poison cannot be cured without the elixirs of the immortals"
Xiao Lian'er eagerly plucked a tender petal from the blazing sun flower and stuffed it into her mouth. A warm and scorching sensation rose from her abdomen. The fire element generated within her was greater than that from the wilted petals she had consumed before
At that time, the master would always look at her and sigh: "Foolish child!"
Hmm. As long as you know. Xiao Mingyi gestured for Xiao Lian'er to come out. She walked around the medicinal herb garden, noticing that each spiritual herb had been watered, and nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad."
Xiao Lian'er went to the field, carefully dug into the soil, and harvested a complete rhizome of the water bamboo
Xiao Lian'er timidly raised her head
The couple, the owners of the estate, reassured Xiao Mingyi once again, leaving Xiao Lian'er behind before departing
The flower stem of the blazing sun flower is as tall as a person. The blossoms are perfectly positioned at Xiao Lian'er’s nose. Inhaling the faint warmth emanating from the flower's heart, she feels a warm and comfortable sensation throughout her body
Shui Xin cast a doubtful glance at her, thinking to herself, could this girl be so sharp-eyed as to notice someone poisoning the rabbit meat soup? If that were the case, it would clear her of suspicion
Xiao Mingyi can emit azure and white wind blades, indicating that she possesses a water-wood constitution. These two types of spiritual herbs can assist her in enhancing her cultivation.
Xiao Lian'er set aside her emotions and picked up a hoe to carefully break apart the hardened clods of soil. After drawing some well water, a faint aura of spiritual energy wafted towards her, and she couldn't help but take a sip. A refreshing breath surged from her throat. She let out a satisfied sigh. By the time she finished watering each plant, the sun had finally risen.
Xiao Mingyi also did not want to go to the fields and dirty her shoes, upon hearing this, handed her the basket: "Pick that cluster of water bamboo."
Xiao Lian'er thought to herself, Am I not the one to be pitied? In my previous life, I had over a million spirit stones in my storage ring. When did I resort to such despicable means to buy a bag of low-grade herbs just to obtain a single low-grade spirit stone for an eight-year-old child? How embarrassing
Yes. I am eight years old this year. I have been working as a helper in the kitchen for two years. The master and mistress kindly took me in and provided me with enough food to eat. I cannot bear to see the young lady fall ill under any circumstances
Success! Xiao Lian'er took the ointment and, filled with excitement, bowed her head, saying: "Thank you, Master, for bestowing the medicine. I will certainly do my utmost to serve the young lady."
Unfortunately, that was over a hundred years ago, and Xiao Lian'er truly did not know what poison was contained in the rabbit liver. She only clearly remembered the incident related to hetushu.com and the method to resolve it. By a stroke of luck, she managed to evade the inquiries of the manor owner.
She lowered her head and said, "Thank you, Sister Shuixin, for your guidance"
Her shivering and fearful appearance greatly pleased Xiao Mingyi. She chuckled and instructed Shui Xin, "Take her to wash up and change into a new outfit. Let her stay in the small house next to the herb garden."
The wind blade swept past Xiao Lian'er, severing her hair tie. Her hair fell down.
There is such a diligent little girl to command. Shui Xin did not take the basket and turned to leave, saying: "Carry it."
Beneath Xiaojiazhuang lies an extremely thin and minuscule fragment of a spiritual vein. The courtyard where Xiao Mingyi resides and the courtyard of the estate's owners are situated directly on this fragment of the spiritual vein
The master and his wife exchanged a glance: "Have her come in."
She has just celebrated her ninth birthday. When will she be able to obtain enough spiritual herbs to open all her meridians? Xiao Lian'er gazed at Qingmu Mountain and sighed sadly
Xiao Mingyi glared at her and said, "Don't treat this like farming in the countryside, burying all sorts of messy things in the soil as fertilizer! Be careful not to ruin my medicinal herb field!"
What a coward! Xiao Ming disdainfully curled her lips.
He spoke slowly, saying: "Are you helping out in the kitchen? Did you wash today's dishes?"
Xiao Mingyi felt relieved and allowed her to pick another vine flower.
Xiao Lian'er was taken aback for a moment and hid the flower branch under the quilt. She rubbed her eyes and pretended to be just waking up from an afternoon nap as she opened the door
The medicinal herb garden is located in the backyard, covering an area of only one mu. Next to it, a small wooden cabin has been built. Beside the cabin, a well has been dug. The concentration of spiritual energy here is clearly higher than in other places
What are you in such a hurry for? I haven't finished speaking yet. If I catch you stealing a spirit herb, I will cut off one of your fingers. Do you understand?" Xiao Mingyi flicked his hand, and a blade of wind shot towards Xiao Lian'er.
a look of fear of making mistakes
To her surprise, she could directly enter the medicinal herb garden! It was even better than she had anticipated. Xiao Lian'er suppressed her excitement, knelt down, and bowed to Xiao Mingyi, saying: "Thank you, Miss Xiao."
When Xiao Mingyi finished soaking in the wild mountain celery bath and saw that all the red pimples on her body had disappeared, her skin had regained its smoothness. Overjoyed, she rushed out and exclaimed: "Father! Mother! I am truly better!"
Xiao Lian'er trembled uncontrollably: "I, I did not have time to... Later, I remembered what my mother said, so I hurried to report."
He asked again: "Is it really effective to boil wild mountain celery in water?"
Xiao Lian'er carefully cradled it in her arms and returned to the medicinal garden
As the warm sunlight illuminated the scene, six flower buds of the blazing sunflowers opened their petals. They turned their hearts in unison, blooming towards the direction of the sun
In the blink of an eye, a year has passed, and the medicinal power crystallization above Xiao Lian'er’s dantian has been reduced to a thin layer.
The medicinal power enveloping the dantian has been dissipated, and only by unblocking the meridians throughout the body can one cultivate. There is still a long way to go. Xiao Lian'er let out a soft sigh
The master slammed his palm on the table and shouted, "Since you knew, why didn't you say so at the time?"
Upon entering the room, she knelt down on the floor and softly said: "This servant offers her greetings to the master and mistress."
What a lovely little girl. Xiao Lian'er thought to herself that, having suffered, she would find a way to repay her in the future.
In her previous life, she spent many years in the wilderness. Although she had already practiced fasting, she still indulged in her cravings and often cooked for herself. She spoke in detail about the best cooking methods for several low-tier demon beasts, deliberately steering the conversation towards spiritual herbs.
Is she not foolish? Foolish as in an idiot!
Xiao Lian'er felt a bit regretful; if only Xiao Mingyi had a fiery constitution, she could have benefited more from the spiritual herbs to dissolve the medicinal properties within her body
She ran to the edge of the field, selected five stems of flowers, cut them, and handed the basket to Shui Xin, saying: "How can I let my sister do such rough work? From now on, I will cut five stems for my sister and bring them every day."
The master silently gazed at the young girl before him
Water Heart, I apologize. The only one who can accompany the young lady to the Yuan Dao Sect is me. Xiao Lian'er will not give up no matter what
He pondered for a moment and said: "The young lady fell ill after eating rabbit meat soup; do you know what poison she has been afflicted with?"
Like pouring boiling water over a layer of ice. The medicinal power of the cold crystal orchid collided with the fire element, producing a faint mist that gradually escaped through her pores. When the last trace of the fire element was completely dissolved, Xiao Lian'er observed her dantian. The medicinal power crystallization resembled a stone that had been eroded over time by dripping water, showing a palm-sized indentation.
is not
Did that answer get consumed by itself, or was it buried in the ground? Xiao Lian'er lowered her head and pitifully asked Xiao Mingyi: "Miss, are those exchanged flowers still useful?"
Xiao Lian'er picked up the bamboo basket, somewhat curious: "Today six flowers bloomed, so why only cut five?"
This adorable little girl suddenly wants to chop off people's fingers? Xiao Lian'er was somewhat taken aback. She knew that Xiao Mingyi was just trying to scare her, so she let out a dramatic scream and curled up, hugging her head.
The servant has not been buried in the ground! Mother said that the medicinal fields of the immortal family should not be fertilized with books at will. Xiao Lian'er felt a sense of relief in her heart
After seeing off Xiao Mingyi, Xiao Lian'er let out a sigh of relief and couldn't help but gaze at the row of sunflowers nearby
Mother also taught me to identify spiritual herbs, telling me how to plant them for the best results. Xiao Lian'er did not say much, but appropriately revealed a sorrowful expression and lowered her head
Upon reaching the door, Shui Xin did not allow her to enter, but took the basket and handed her the discarded flowers, saying: "Take these and throw them away"
Xiao Lian'er threw herself to the ground, exerting herself even more to express her loyalty: "This servant would never dare to steal the young lady's spiritual herbs!"
The master remembered that there was a cook in the Zhuangzi who was skilled at preparing the meat of supernatural beasts. A cook who frequently handled the meat of such beasts would naturally be aware of certain dietary taboos, which alleviated any doubts.
Hmm. The master has agreed. He handed a bottle of ointment to Xiao Lian'er, saying, "Seeing your loyalty to your master, I reward you with this. This medicine is remarkably effective for whip wounds. From now on, be careful in serving the young lady, do you understand?"
Lian'er! Shui Xin entered carrying a bamboo basket, stood outside the wooden house, found a chair to sit on, and instructed her: "Go and pick five branches of flowers. The young lady wants to arrange them in a vase."
From this point on, Xiao Lian'er took great care to consume the petals of the blazing sun flower daily, burying the stems outside the medicinal herb garden. This did not raise any suspicions.
The landlord, seeing her young age, only allowed the whip's tip to graze her back when he struck. He did not expect that the little girl, who at that moment preferred to endure the whipping in silence, would actually turn around and run to report him. Could it be that she truly saw the person who poisoned?
Good news and bad news come one after another
The moment the cotton curtain was lifted, warmth enveloped the room. Xiao Lian'er clenched her fists; she absolutely could not fail
Do not be deceived by Xiao Mingyi's young age. The medicinal herb field is managed in a very orderly manner. Each row of herbs is planted very neatly
Go and give the old woman who skinned the rabbit ten lashes! Then boil a pot of wild mountain celery water for the young lady's bath. The owner dismissed his suspicions about Xiao Lian'er and commanded.
The master of the estate scrutinized her carefully. The young girl did not shy away from his gaze, nor did she show any signs of shrinking back, allowing him to appraise her from head to toe. Her open demeanor made the master somewhat inclined to believe her words
The lord of the manor, hearing this, was filled with confusion: "Your mother is ... ... "
After the five petals had finished, the fire element air mass settled in her abdomen. Xiao Lian'er sat cross-legged, using her spiritual consciousness to guide the air mass as it kneaded her dantian.
The bad news is that Xiao Mingyi is taking Shui Xin to Yuandao Sect to serve as a servant disciple for himself
Xiao Mingyi stood at the door, examining her from head to toe, and suddenly asked: "Shuixin asked you to throw away the flowers in the vase, where did you throw them?"
Xiao Mingyi decided to enter the Yuandao Sect one year in advance
After Xiao Lian'er finished picking two medicinal herbs, Xiao Mingyi suddenly grabbed her wrist. Upon probing her vital energy, he discovered that her meridians were completely blocked, preventing her from cultivating. This alleviated his suspicions: "Since you know how to pick them, from now on, whenever I need any spiritual herbs, you can directly pick them and bring them to me."
The flowers, which have only been in the vase for one day and nourished with the spiritually infused well water, have not yet wilted
She sighed, suppressing her little greed
After walking around the medicinal herb garden, Xiao Lian'er felt somewhat disappointed. Apart from a row of blazing sunflowers, the rest were all water and wood attribute spiritual herbs. Moreover, they were the most ordinary low-tier spiritual herbs.
He simply does not believe that an eight-year-old child can cure his daughter: "You lift your head up."
The lady of the house quietly inquired of the stewardess beside her and received a reply: "Sir, two years ago, Mama Xiao from the kitchen fell ill and passed away. She used to prepare all those beast meats that you loved to eat."
At this moment, a voice from outside called out: "Lian'er! The young lady has arrived."
The problem must lie with today's rabbit soup
The master of the house walked back and forth in agitation: "The elixirs are scarce and expensive, and can only be purchased with spirit stones. There are only thirty low-grade spirit stones in the house, which I have been saving for Mingyi's entry into the Yuandao Sect in two years. Let's wait and see. If she shows no improvement by tomorrow, I will seek help from the sect."
Before long, she began to feel an itch all over her body. Red bumps appeared at a visible speed. Frightened, she screamed. Looking in the mirror at her face covered in red bumps, Xiao Ming, who was only eight years old, cried out in fear.
Tears welled up in Xiao Lian'er’s eyes: "I am an abandoned infant, taken in and raised by my mother at the estate. My mother fell ill and passed away. She used to work in the kitchen as well"
After eating, the spiritual energy generated by the rabbit meat soup made Xiao Mingyi feel warm and extremely comfortable all over. She did not want to waste it, so she sat cross-legged, intending to absorb the spiritual energy for cultivation.
The water spirit lazily said: "The young lady mentioned that from each flowerbed, five stems should be cut daily, but the buds should not be trimmed. This way, the flowers can bloom continuously every day."
Shuixin arrived at the courtyard entrance and threatened her, saying: "Poor thing. Don't say I didn't warn you, speaking recklessly in front of the master and mistress will not cure the young lady, and I will kill you on the spot!"
Xiao Lian'er nodded vigorously: "Mother's words are never wrong. Mother also mentioned that the fragrant deer does not require spices for cooking, as the meat will naturally emit a fragrance when roasted. The flying white fish from the Mirror Lake in Qingmu Mountain, when cooked with a first-tier Drunken Immortal Fruit, can double the spiritual energy..."
Thinking about how all those precious herbs and extraordinary fruits, which were fought for at the cost of their lives, were selflessly given to Han Xiuwen, Xiao Lian'er wanted to slap herself
Yes. Xiao Lian'er felt an overwhelming excitement in her heart. Could it be that today she would finally receive the five flowers she had exchanged?
The master of the estate and his wife were completely at ease this time. The mistress of the estate smiled and said, "This child is clever and knows how to be grateful. Since she knows how to cultivate spiritual herbs and understands how to cook the meat of magical beasts, it is only fitting for her to serve Mingyi."
It seems that Xiao Mingyi is well aware of the spiritual herbs in the medicinal garden. One cannot indiscriminately gather them. Xiao Lian'er obediently nodded and said, "I understand"
Although Xiao Mingyi is young, she is inherently suspicious. She began to doubt her own method of gathering medicinal herbs. It was only after examining the meridians that she felt reassured. Who knows if she might suddenly have the whim to cut the extra blazing sun flower and send it over. She did not dare to take the risk
Meridian blockage prevents cultivation. Being an orphan raised in the village since childhood, she should not have the courage to collude with outsiders to harm her own daughter. It seems she indeed ingested it by mistake. The village chief secretly breathed a sigh of relief
"Miss, let the maid handle such rough work. If I do it incorrectly, please teach me," Xiao Lian'er volunteered.
She extended her hand, and Shui Xin passed the basket and the flower shovel over. Xiao Mingyi took them and was about to head to the field to gather the spirit herbs
Xiao Mingyi was in a good mood and waved her small hand: "Since your parents say you know how to cultivate spiritual herbs, you should go to the medicinal garden."
Having just finished her bath, Xiao Ming's skin is rosy, her eyes are sparkling with moisture, and she is charmingly lovely.
I do not know either. When I was young, I heard my mother mention an incident. Some people develop red bumps all over their bodies after eating that kind of rabbit. No medicine works, and only by bathing in water boiled with wild mountain celery can the bumps disappear
This explanation is somewhat acceptable. The master extended his hand to rest on Xiao Lian'er’s wrist, probing with his internal energy, and then quickly withdrew his hand.
Today, the five branches of flowers that were cut have grown about an inch in stem length. Additionally, six buds have formed. Among the row of sunflowers, only one is blooming fiercely, attracting Xiao Lian'er, who is tempted to reach out and pick it.
Upon this reflection, her gaze towards Xiao Lian'er softened considerably. Noticing that Lian'er was wearing a coat that was both dirty and wet, with her back also marked by whip wounds, she beckoned a maid to fetch an old coat for Lian'er to change into, and then led her into the main room
The doctor in the town flowed into the Xiao family village like water. Various medicinal soups flowed into Xiao Mingyi's stomach like water. It was of no use at all
At this moment, Shui Xin whispered, "Master of the Manor, the young girl from the kitchen who washes vegetables has arrived. She says she has a way to cure the young lady"