Tianpi recovered from his laughing fit and could not hold back a smile when he saw Hua Qiyue staring at him. "Why, am I so strikingly handsome that I"ve taken your breath away?"
"Taken my breath away?"
Hua Qiyue laughed softly and said, "Master, I think you should be a trumpeter."
"Why?"
"Because this is how the phrase, "Blowing one"s trumpet" came about!" Hua Qiyue shot back and Tianpi was enraged.
"You wicked girl…"
"You may choose to beat me or kill me, I don"t mind either way." Hua Qiyue sat down once more fearlessly and started to cultivate after gathering her Spiritual Qi.
Tianpi was left speechless.
It was around midnight by the time Hua Qiyue left the jade gourd and she was surprised to see Tianci sitting quietly on the pallet, looking at her.
Hua Qiyue got a shock and quickly sat up. "Tianci, what are you doing here?"
Lv Xin said awkwardly, "Miss, young master didn"t want to leave with us. I wanted to bring him to the side-room but he held on to your sleeve tightly and refused to leave."
Hua Qiyue"s heart clenched. This child had been through so much which was why he was afraid of leaving those who showed him kindness. He was probably afraid that if he left her he might find himself in danger once again.
Tianci blinked at her. Two oil lamps that were as large as beans burned merrily and the light shone on his face covered with injuries. He looked exceptionally pitiful under the lamplight.
He looked at her with pleading eyes, thinking that Hua Qiyue wanted to send him away.
Hua Qiyue suddenly felt tears p.r.i.c.k at her eyes and gently embraced Tianci, "Lv Xin, you and the others may retire for the night. I"ll sleep with Tianci here tonight. Oh yes, do remember to tell the carpenter to make one more long pallet tomorrow."
Youshui quickly waved her hands and said, "Miss, this is very improper… you"re not even married yet…"
Hua Qiyue"s face darkened. Youshui was probably afraid that her reputation would be damaged if word got out. Now that she had been reborn, she did not give a hoot about her reputation. What was one"s reputation for? Could it be eaten? Or used to save lives?
Tianci was only six years old. What could a boy know about being improper?
Furthermore, he was so traumatized that he could not possibly sleep alone. She would rea.s.sess the situation when he got better.
"There"s no need for you to try and persuade me any further. Tianci is my adopted son and he would be my son for life… Why would I let my son live in fear?"
When Longjiu and Lvxin saw that she had made up her mind, they helplessly left the room.
"Tianci, don"t worry. I"ll take good care of you. Let"s go. I"ll bring you back to the room." Hua Qiyue kissed his forehead tenderly. Tianci was dazed. This action was so familiar to him, which was just like his mother used to do…
However, his father had told him that his mother was killed by bandits. He did not understand why his father had never buried his mother and each time he asked about his mother, his father would give him a good beating…
Tianci shivered at the thought of Zhou Zhicheng and his clear wide eyes were filled with terror.
"Tianci, don"t be afraid. I"ll always be by your side and won"t ever let you be in danger again."
Hua Qiyue held his hand and her hands were warm and tender. She brought him into the room, carried him up to bed and let down the bed curtains. Outside, the moon slowly rose to take its place in the sky.
Tianci buried his small face in her hand and slept soundly.
He was too tired.
Hua Qiyue had not expected Tianci to wait up for her until midnight so she felt a twinge of guilt for making him wait for four hours.
She closed her eyes and re-entered the jade gourd. She plated a few exotic herbs, and then, as Tian Pi watched, she started to cultivate in earnest.
The next morning, Hua Qiyue searched her memory and recalled that there was a famous doctor in the capital known as Prince Nan. He was originally named Yun Shimo and was from the Changjing Kingdom. He grew up in poverty and his only family was his mother. He was self-taught and was not just an alchemist but also an outstanding doctor.
No matter how bad the ailments were, he would be able to cure them all and bring his patients back to full health.
The problem was, most famous doctors tended to have their own quirks and his quirk was that everyone who approached him to treatment would need to create a poem. He would only accept the patient if he was satisfied with the poem.
Since Tianpi could not cure Tianci, Prince Nan was her only hope, which was why she wanted to bring Tianci to Prince Nan"s residence the next morning.
"Miss, are you truly going to call on Prince Nan?" Lv Xin was shocked to hear that Hua Qiyue was going to bring Tianci to see Prince Nan. "Why was her mistress suddenly so bold? She was so cowardly in the past that she did not even dare to face her own family."
Hua Qiye smiled and said, "Lv Xin, I must make sure that Tianci recovers."
Lv Xin could not say anything in response and remained silent.
Youshui prepared the carried and Hua Qiyue brought Tianci up the carriage. Along the way, she heard many people discussing the same topic.
"I heard that Princess Huizhen has been seen in public together with Zhou Zhicheng. Tsk. I can"t believe that haughty princess has fallen for someone as poor as him."
"Exactly. The Zhou family are mere commoners. Tsk, it"s a miracle that the princess could fall for someone like him."