"Young Miss, Doctor Ye has been expelled from the manor by the Old Madam." Qiu Tong hurried in from outside. "Your maid overheard the servants in the courtyard saying that the Old Madam summoned Doctor Ye to the main hall, reprimanded him, and then expelled him from the manor."
Xiao Man waved the fan in her hand. "Did she say why?"
"She said Doctor Ye offended the Old Madam, and in her anger, she expelled Doctor Ye from the manor."
Xiao Man sighed. "A person who has lived for most of her life is becoming more and more unreasonable. Doctor Ye's medical skills are superb. It is a blessing for the General's Manor that he deigns to come here. Yet, Grandmother drove him out just to spite me."
"Young Miss, Doctor Ye has left. What about your eyes?" Yin Zhu asked with concern. After all, Doctor Ye had said that Xiao Man's eyes held hope for recovery. If Doctor Ye was driven away, would her eyes have no hope of recovery?
"It's alright, Yin Zhu. Go and fetch five hundred taels of silver notes and send them to Doctor Ye. He worked for the General's Manor, so he shouldn't be wronged."
"Yes, Miss."
Xiao Man continued to wave her fan, lying lazily on the rattan chair, eating grapes fed to her by a maid, quite leisurely. Since her rebirth, only this period of time with her injured eyes had been the most leisurely.
"At this time, it would be wonderful to have a pot of cold wine," Xiao Man sighed. "It's a pity that Qiu Tong is too strict and doesn't allow me to touch alcohol."
"Miss is unwell and still wants to indulge in cold wine. Qiu Tong Sister naturally would not agree." Nong Yue's voice sounded. Xiao Man then remembered that she had almost forgotten about Nong Yue.
"Nong Yue, come here." Xiao Man beckoned. "Lately, has your master been very busy?"
"Miss, when the Pavilion Master sent this servant to you, he already said that once I entered your courtyard, I would be your person and have no relation to the Pavilion Master. Unless Miss requires it, I am not to contact him."
Xiao Man smiled upon hearing this and handed a bunch of grapes to Nong Yue. "Eat grapes."
"Thank you, Miss, for the treat." Nong Yue took them. "Miss, please rest assured, your eyes will surely be healed."
"It doesn't matter. It's good not to be able to see, so as not to always have my eyes soiled by all sorts of filth," Xiao Man said indifferently. "Sometimes, seeing is being blind, and not seeing is also being blind."
"This servant does not understand."
"Blind of heart is blind, blind of eyes is also blind. Both are blind. I would rather be blind of eyes but not blind of heart," Xiao Man said with a light smile. "Nong Yue, how many years have you been by Pavilion Master Qin's side?"
"Six years. This servant was by the Pavilion Master's side when I was twelve."
"Six years, ah, it can be considered deep master-servant affection." Xiao Man nodded slowly. "Do you know what your master likes?"
Nong Yue looked at Xiao Man blankly. "Miss, although this servant has been by the Pavilion Master's side since I was twelve, I was in training until I was sixteen. After coming out, I was always on missions outside, so I don't understand the Pavilion Master."
"Is that so?" Xiao Man nodded thoughtfully. "Then is your master handsome?"
Nong Yue's mouth twitched. She suddenly recalled the outside world's evaluation of Xiao Man: she was beautiful and fond of handsome men. "This servant has never seen the Pavilion Master's appearance."
"Then does your master have someone he fancies?"
Upon hearing Xiao Man ask this, Nong Yue instantly understood. "Miss, do you like the Pavilion Master?"
"Not at all. I'm just asking out of curiosity." Xiao Man plucked a grape and popped it into her mouth. No wonder he, as the Pavilion Master of the Tianji Pavilion, had no one who could ascertain his true identity; he never showed his face in public.
"Miss, do you wish to see the Pavilion Master? However, this servant received news that the Pavilion Master has gone out on business recently, and his return time is uncertain," Nong Yue reminded Xiao Man. "However, I can send a message to the Tianji Pavilion, so the Pavilion Master will receive it as soon as he returns."
"No, no, I was just asking."
Nong Yue said no more. Xiao Man, hearing no sound beside her, thought Nong Yue had left. A moment later, she felt someone fanning beside her and said with a smile, "No need to fan me. The wind from this fan is also hot, it's quite uncomfortable."
The hand fanning her paused. After a moment, Xiao Man smelled a sweet scent and immediately sat up, sniffing deeply. "It's ice skin!"
A cool bowl was handed to Xiao Man, along with a wooden spoon. Xiao Man happily scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth. "In this hot weather, one should eat ice skin. Unfortunately, Qiu Tong is too strict and never allows me to eat cold things. Nong Yue, you must not let Qiu Tong know that I snuck ice skin."
Not hearing a reply, Xiao Man didn't mind. She looked extremely content, as if eating a bowl of ice skin had made her life complete. Qiu Tong returned after delivering the grapes and was about to enter the room to report when Ying Xue stopped her.
Qiu Tong looked at Ying Xue in confusion. Ying Xue whispered something in Qiu Tong's ear. Qiu Tong's expression changed, and she quickly guarded the outer door, lest anyone barge in at this moment.
Xiao Man finished the bowl of ice skin and fumbled for the fan. The person beside her fanned her again. Xiao Man said contentedly, "Such a thoughtful person, how could he bear to send you to me? It would be so good to keep you by his side."
The hand fanning her paused slightly and continued to fan. Xiao Man thought she had touched Nong Yue's heart and continued, "Don't worry, when you are of age, I will certainly find you a good home. If you wish to return to Pavilion Master Qin's side, that is also possible."
Xiao Man spoke for a long time but heard no reply. She reached out and pushed the person beside her. "Nong Yue, why aren't you speaking..."
The fabric in her hand was smooth and delicate, with clear patterns. It was not the material used for servants' clothes. Xiao Man felt it carefully, and a hint of awkwardness flashed across her face. "Your Highness Prince Qin, when did you arrive?"
"When you said you wanted to have cold wine," Prince Qin said with a smile, tinged with amusement.
Xiao Man felt her face flush. This person had been here for so long, and that little wretch Nong Yue didn't even remind her. It was truly excessive. "Nong Yue, this girl, didn't even remind me."
"She didn't know I had arrived," Nangong Yu said slowly. "Was the ice skin tasty?"
"It was delicious, thank you, Prince Qin."
Nangong Yu smiled and placed a box in Xiao Man's hand. "Keep this well. It will be beneficial for your eye recovery."
"Is it medicine?"
"Mmm, medicine." Nangong Yu coughed slightly, and a wisp of fresh blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, which he quickly wiped away. "During this period, you are blind. Are you accustomed to it?"
"It's alright. Although I can't see, it's a rare period of leisure." Xiao Man reached out to touch Nangong Yu's wrist, wanting to take his pulse, but Nangong Yu evaded her. "Your Highness, it's almost the fifteenth again. How is your health? Let me take your pulse."
"No need, I'm fine."
"The fifteenth of this month is the Mid-Autumn Festival. As a prince, you must enter the palace. At that time..." Perhaps Xiao Man did not realize it, but her tone contained a hint of worry.
"Don't worry, nothing will happen," Nangong Yu said with a light laugh, comforting the woman before him.