The Noble Consort is the most favored in the harem

Chapter 36 - Scarred

"Hurry, Xia An, check where Xiao Luzi is!"

As Lin Wanyi gave instructions, she glanced at Chunqi's injuries, her worry evident in her eyes.

Chunqi, however, was more concerned about Lin Wanyi worrying too much. She forced herself to stand and murmured, "Mistress, this servant is fine."

Lin Wanyi was deeply moved. Chunqi wasn't just a maid who had served her for many years but also a companion, even like family. Now, for standing up for her, Chunqi had suffered at the hands of Chu Guiren's cruelty. Lin Wanyi would remember this grudge.

"Let's go, I'll help you inside."

The two supported each other into the inner chamber, while Xia An found the unconscious Xiao Luzi, who had been kicked. Seeing the shallow footprints on his chest, Xia An quickly took his pulse. While Chunqi's and her own injuries seemed severe, they were mostly external. Xiao Luzi's, on the other hand, were internal and quite serious; otherwise, he wouldn't have passed out.

After checking his pulse, Xia An's suspicions were confirmed. She twisted the jewel on her hairpin, revealing a small red pill. After helping Xiao Luzi sit up, she quickly administered the medicine. Soon, he woke up, though still in considerable pain.

"Sister Xia An, ouch..."

"Don't exert yourself. With that kick, it'll take several days of rest to recover."

She helped him stand and slowly guided him toward the inner room. Xiao Luzi, looking at Xia An's swollen cheek and the blood at the corner of her mouth, was furious. But his anger only made his chest hurt more. He had intended to comfort Xia An, but before he could speak, he found himself struggling to breathe.

Upon entering the inner room, Xiao Luzi noticed the bloody whip mark on Chunqi's back, and his eyes filled with rage.

"Chu Guiren is truly..."

Before he could finish, exhaustion overtook him, and he collapsed to the ground.

Xia An helped him onto a round stool and handed him a cup of warm water, warning him, "Your injuries are the most serious, so don't get too worked up!"

She then hurried to Chunqi's side. The whip had torn through Chunqi's clothes, and Xia An didn't need to look closely to know that the soft silk whip was likely laced with fine iron shards, causing such severe damage.

Chu Guiren had struck ruthlessly, showing no mercy. If Chunqi had taken more than one strike, her survival would have been uncertain.

Compared to her back, the bruises on Chunqi's wrist seemed minor. Xia An applied medicine to her wrist first before fetching hot water.

Lin Wanyi, who had already been injured, twisted her knee again. Though it wasn't as severe as Chunqi's whip marks or Xia An's bruises, it worsened her yet-to-heal wound.

Yet she had no time to care for herself. Carefully, she helped Chunqi lie down on her bed, gently undressing her.

With the screen and silk curtains providing some privacy, Xiao Luzi, lying outside groaning in pain, wouldn't be able to see anything.

After removing Chunqi's clothes, Xia An brought over medicinal powder. Lin Wanyi took a handkerchief and began cleaning Chunqi's wounds.

The skin was mottled with red and blue welts, and while it wasn't as horrific as a knife wound, it was still dreadful.

"Bear with it. This powder will sting, but it works wonders. Most importantly, it won't leave scars."

"Go ahead. I can handle it."

Xia An passed her a clean cloth to bite on, then proceeded to treat her wound efficiently.

Feeling Chunqi's effort to endure the pain, Lin Wanyi's anger flared in her chest.

She stood up and limped toward the outer room. Xia An thought she couldn't bear to watch and didn't realize anything was amiss until Xiao Luzi suddenly called out, "My Lady!"

Xia An rushed over, only to see Lin Wanyi twist her foot violently on the step, immediately dislocating her ankle. The pain sent her tumbling down, her arm slamming into the edge of the stone steps, adding another injury.

"My Lady, what are you doing?"

Xia An hurriedly helped Lin Wanyi up, lifting her sleeve to inspect the scrape on her arm. It wasn't too bad—just a slight bruise with a trace of blood.

But her ankle was a different matter. With one glance, Xia An could tell it was dislocated. She removed Lin Wanyi's shoe and sock, and sure enough, her suspicions were confirmed. Xia An's face grew serious as she gently pressed the area, preparing to reset the dislocated ankle, but Lin Wanyi stopped her.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Lin Wanyi hadn't uttered a sound, though Xia An knew her pain tolerance was different from others, meaning the pain was far more intense for her.

Worried, Xia An asked, "My Lady, why are you doing this?"

Lin Wanyi raised her head to look at Xia An, her gaze calm but somehow unsettling.

Xia An helped her back into the inner chamber. As she looked around at the room full of wounded people, Lin Wanyi gave her orders in a composed tone.

"Xia An, go to the Inner Court Office and ask Eunuch Qin to send a medical officer to see us."

"My Lady?"

"Just do as I say."

"Yes."

Lin Wanyi then turned to Xiao Luzi, giving further instructions. "When your master arrives, you know what to say, right?"

"Rest assured, My Lady! I know exactly what to do!"

Xiao Luzi, still fuming with anger, would naturally embellish their story. After all, everyone in this room had been injured. Anyone who came to check on them would certainly take their side!

"As for Chunqi, she's too injured to get out of bed, so resting is perfectly reasonable."

Chunqi, who had served Lin Wanyi the longest, understood immediately what Lin Wanyi intended and nodded. If necessary, she could even feign unconsciousness.

After making all the arrangements, Lin Wanyi, dragging her injured leg, returned to the bed, sat down, and closed her eyes to rest.

By the time Eunuch Qin arrived with Xia An, they were met with a room full of wounded people.

Seeing Lin Wanyi sitting on the bed with a vacant, tearless expression, Qin An's heart ached.

"My Lady, My Lady."

He rushed to her side and spoke softly.

Lin Wanyi seemed so frightened that she had gone stiff, and when Qin An approached, she instinctively shrank back.

The slight movement reignited the pain in her ankle, and Lin Wanyi fainted from the agony.

Qin An panicked, turning to the medical officer. "Quick, check on her! What happened?"

The medical officer, a calm and patient man, looked young but had healthy skin, indicating he took good care of himself. After taking Lin Wanyi's pulse, he examined her injuries.

When he reached the dislocated ankle, he covered it with a cloth and, with a crisp crack, reset it.

Lin Wanyi, unconscious, was unaware, but the sweat on her forehead and the furrow in her brow reflected her pain.

"The Lady's sprain is severe. It seems she was pushed hard and then something heavy pressed down on her, which caused the injury. The fainting is likely due to the intense pain and mental stress."