"Young Master? Young Master? Are you feeling any better now? Are you asleep again?" Xu Fu walked to the bedside and saw Huo Qiyuan's eyes closed. Thinking he had fallen asleep, he gently nudged him.
Huo Qiyuan was feeling an indescribable comfort within his body. Suddenly, he felt someone pushing him. He slowly opened his eyes. His vision seemed to have cleared up considerably, and he no longer felt as uncomfortable as before.
"Uncle Fu, I'm much better. It's been a long time since I felt this comfortable." Huo Qiyuan's voice was hoarse, and it seemed less jarring than before.
"Good, good, good! It's good that you're better, it's good that you're better!" Xu Fu was so excited to hear Huo Qiyuan say he was better that tears welled up in his eyes. He quickly turned to wipe his tears.
This was the first time in the more than two months since the Young Master was poisoned that he had said his condition had improved. It seemed this girl truly had some skill! From now on, she must be treated like a little ancestor!
Previously, Huo Qiyuan had only said thank you, which wasn't very noticeable. Now, with more words, Su Muqing realized his voice sounded like the friction of someone unable to lift their feet off the ground as they walked.
However, when she thought about the damage to his throat, she felt it was fortunate that he could still speak.
"Thank you, young lady, for saving me twice. Today, I, Yu Zhi, owe you a life. If I can survive this ordeal, and if you ever need anything done in the future, I swear I will go through fire and water without hesitation." After speaking with Xu Fu, Huo Qiyuan turned to Su Muqing and, in a hoarse voice, uttered his promise intermittently.
"It's not that serious. I'm just a village girl, why would you need to go through fire and water for me? Focus on your recovery and get better quickly. Look how worried your family is about you!" Su Muqing waved her hand awkwardly upon hearing his words.
So his name was Yu Zhi? She had always heard Aunt Zhou and the old man call him Shao Zhu. She had thought his name was Shao Zhu!
Su Muqing, in her previous life, was just an ordinary girl who hadn't experienced much of the world. She felt a bit shy at the moment.
Moreover, she found it difficult to handle such a formal and ancient scene of gratitude! And he was willing to go through fire and water for her – wasn't that saying he was willing to die for her? This...!
Su Muqing was afraid he might suddenly say, "I will pledge myself to you to repay this life-saving kindness!"
Hehe! That would be too embarrassing!
Xu Fu bowed to her and choked out, "Thank you, young lady, for saving us. Even if I die ten thousand deaths, I cannot express my gratitude! From now on, you are our master. We are willing to serve you like oxen and horses, begging only that you bestow upon us your divine medicine to cure our Young Master's poison." After speaking, he lifted his robes and knelt down with a thud.
The others in the room, hearing Xu Fu's words, also knelt heavily before Su Muqing, repeatedly kowtowing. Their foreheads struck the ground, making a thudding sound.
Su Muqing saw it and thought, here we go again. They start kneeling without a word. They hadn't even said anything untoward! Why the kneeling again?
And they were kowtowing with such loud thuds and sincere attitudes. Were they planning to kowtow a whole apartment complex out of the ground to escape the heat?
In fact, it wasn't that Xu Fu and the others were weak-boned. In ancient times, people accustomed to being servants would kneel no matter what; it had become a bad habit!
Even with the most affectionate masters, they rarely felt for their kneeling servants. Only those with exceptionally good relationships were an exception, because in their minds, it was only natural for servants to kneel before their masters!
Therefore, if the master was happy, more accommodating servants would kneel and offer congratulations, perhaps earning rewards. If the master was angry, the servants had to kneel to receive punishment!
It was essentially a form of physical discipline, first placing oneself in a subordinate position.
Thus, kneeling gradually became a way for servants to express their emotions and a necessary ceremonial gesture to please nobles.
"Please get up quickly. If you truly want to thank me, then stop kneeling. Especially you all. How old are you? You are all at an age where you could have osteoporosis and be deficient in calcium. Kneeling so suddenly, what if you get injured?" Su Muqing said, putting on a displeased face. She stepped forward to help up Xu Fu and Doctor Yang, and then helped up Madam Zhou.
She was truly exasperated! Were they all waiting for her to help them up one by one by kneeling like this?
"Get up quickly, or I'll be unhappy! Anyone who kneels again, and I won't give any more medicine!" After helping Madam Zhou up, she glared and made a threat, her expression showing she meant business!