After Huangfu Yue finished dressing Xu Yuqing's wounds and applying the medicine, Concubine Zheng asked them to return to the riverbank.
"We've been here for so long, lunch should be ready soon, let's go eat."
Seeing Concubine Zheng rise, Huangfu Yue and Zhu Jiayi, who were closest to her, immediately reached out to support her.
"Only Yue'er needs to support me." Concubine Zheng extended her hand to her granddaughter.
"Yes." Zhu Jiayi withdrew her hand, maintaining a filial smile on her face, not showing any displeasure or discontent.
"Yuqing, how are you feeling? Are you feeling better after the medicine? Does it hurt less?"
Seeing Xu Yuqing also stand up, Zhu Jiayi hesitated for a moment before showing a concerned expression and asking softly.
Everyone's gaze turned to Zhu Jiayi simultaneously, and a glint of a smile flickered in Concubine Zheng's eyes.
It seemed her eldest granddaughter-in-law had taken to heart what she had said earlier about the sisters-in-law being loving and like sisters, and was now proactively showing concern and extending an olive branch to Xu Yuqing.
It all depended on how Xu Yuqing responded!
Concubine Zheng looked at Xu Yuqing, and Huangfu Yue, Zhong Liangshu, and Yang Wanqian also turned their attention to Xu Yuqing, anticipating her response to Zhu Jiayi and whether she would accept Zhu Jiayi's gesture.
Facing the gazes of everyone, Xu Yuqing reluctantly forced a smile at Zhu Jiayi, "Thank you, Sister-in-law, for your concern. Yue'er's medical skills are excellent, and the medicine she used is good. I'm already feeling much better and it doesn't hurt much."
Zhu Jiayi is truly cunning and a good actress, feigning concern for her and playing the good person in front of the old matriarch and everyone else. She really wanted to expose her true colors and tell her to stop putting on a show, as she wouldn't fall for it.
However, her reason was still intact, telling herself to endure and not act impulsively.
Zhu Jiayi's feigned concern and act of playing the good person was to make the old matriarch see that she had let go of past grievances, didn't mind their previous argument, and was proactively extending an olive branch to her, hoping to win the old matriarch's favor.
If she didn't accept her overture, the old matriarch would think she was ungrateful and might get angry with her again, potentially punishing her further.
Although her forehead and lips still ached slightly after Huangfu Yue's treatment, and she was worried about scars, Huangfu Yue had assured her there would be none, so she could rest assured.
However, the previous punishment still left her with lingering fear.
Even now, the memory of the previous punishment made her tremble with fear. She absolutely did not want to suffer such punishment again.
Therefore, she had to endure it now, accept the temporary humiliation, pretend to reconcile with Zhu Jiayi, and act as if she had completely forgotten about the past and their relationship was back to normal...
No, it had to be better than before.
She would get closer to Zhu Jiayi in the future, act as if they were very close and friendly, and then... find an opportunity to get revenge and kill this damned Zhu Jiayi.
She was convinced that the root cause of her suffering was this damned Zhu Jiayi. It was all her fault!
Having made up her mind, Xu Yuqing suddenly reached for her forehead, pretending to feel dizzy and unsteady. "My head feels a little dizzy... it must be from losing so much blood earlier."
"Sister-in-law, could you help me walk? I feel a bit dizzy and I'm afraid I might stumble." Xu Yuqing cast a pleading look at Zhu Jiayi and extended her hand.
Zhu Jiayi didn't hesitate at all and immediately went to support Xu Yuqing. "Okay...
Would you like to lean on me?" She gently and considerately offered her shoulder to Xu Yuqing.
"Yes, thank you, Sister-in-law, you're so kind..." Xu Yuqing leaned on Zhu Jiayi's shoulder without reservation, her face filled with gratitude.
Xu Yuqing suddenly reached out and held Zhu Jiayi's hand, showing a very guilty expression, "I was really wrong before... I'm sorry for what happened before... I was confused at the time... I won't be confused again in the future."
"Let's not mention the past, let it be gone... I also had my faults before, it wasn't all your fault," Zhu Jiayi immediately replied.
Concubine Zheng's eyes flashed with a look of admiration. Good! Zhu Jiayi had the demeanor befitting the eldest grandson's wife!
However, Zhu Jiayi had always been broad-minded and generous.
Zhong Liangshu glanced at her elder and second sisters-in-law, and the corners of her mouth curved up almost imperceptibly, revealing a hidden disdain.
She then turned to look at Yang Wanqian. Seeing Yang Wanqian holding her stomach and about to get up, she quickly stepped forward to help her.
"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law," Yang Wanqian said with a smile after standing up.
"Why thank me, we're sisters. No need to thank me. I'll escort you back!" Zhong Liangshu smiled at Yang Wanqian with extreme warmth.
Yang Wanqian nodded, feeling a warmth in her heart. Third Sister-in-law was so good, just like her own sister.
Concubine Zheng looked at the four daughters-in-law displaying their affection, and the corners of her lips curved upward into a happy arc.
Huangfu Yue watched her four sisters-in-law, but unlike her grandmother, she did not show a happy smile.
Zhu Jiayi was probably sincere, but Xu Yuqing... felt a bit like she was acting, not genuinely apologizing to Zhu Jiayi, but merely trying to impress her grandmother.
However, Xu Yuqing should not dare to cause trouble anymore during this period. She would be much more obedient and well-behaved. There was no need to mind her little thoughts and tricks; she wouldn't dare to stir up trouble anyway.
As for Zhong Liangshu, it felt like she was trying to compete with Xu Yuqing and Zhu Jiayi, trying to show off in front of their grandmother.
And Yang Wanqian... she was just a little white rabbit, with no thoughts or intentions. Her eyes revealed her extreme simplicity.
Huangfu Yue helped Concubine Zheng and led the way back to the riverbank. Zhu Jiayi and the others followed closely behind. The people who had stayed by the riverbank saw them return and immediately bowed to greet them.
When they noticed Xu Yuqing, who was walking at the very back, leaning on Zhu Jiayi's shoulder, with bandages wrapped around her forehead and medicine applied to her lips, indicating she was injured, they were greatly surprised and hurried to ask her what was wrong and how she got hurt.
Seeing her mother injured, Huangfu Ying started crying.
"Mother, how did you get injured? You look so serious? Does it hurt a lot... *sob sob*..." Huangfu Ying's little face was full of worry.
Concubine Zheng walked towards Huangfu Ying, took out a handkerchief, and wiped away the tears on the little girl's face. She said with a gentle and loving tone, "Ying'er, don't cry. Your mother's injuries only look serious, but they aren't really.
She just accidentally fell while walking earlier and hit her forehead and lips...
Your little aunt has already treated her and applied medicine, and she will be fine in a few days."
She had waited until they were far from the riverbank, ensuring that no one by the river could see them or hear their voices, before stopping and letting Yue'er fetch a chair to sit on, preparing to deal with Xu Yuqing.
Therefore, Ying'er and the others should not have seen anything here and were completely unaware that her mother had been forced by her to hit herself earlier.