Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 54

Chapter 54

Since the day spies were caught at the Brocade Gate, Xiao Wangshu had stayed quietly in the Chancellor’s Mansion, reading for three days straight.

In just three days, she had already made her way through nearly half of the books accumulated over several years in Xiao Fuguang’s study.

After returning that day, Yichun and Shuxia went to the punishment hall to accept their punishment on their own.

Ten strokes of the rod later, although it hadn’t resulted in any bloody wounds or crippling injuries, it was punishment enough for two young maids to suffer.

During those three days, they hobbled with every step, barely able to get out of bed, let alone attend to Xiao Wangshu.

On Xiao Wangshu’s side, she managed with a few ordinary maids. Although they did not understand her habits as well as Yichun and Shuxia did, they were adequate enough for the time being.

—

That noon, Hui Qiu came by with healing ointment and pastries to visit the two of them.

Shuxia lay quietly on the bed, while Yichun couldn’t stop moaning and groaning, crying out in pain at the slightest movement.

“Sister Hui Qiu, please be gentle, my bottom is already in shreds!”

Hui Qiu sat on the bedside, applying ointment as she spoke, half helpless, half amused. “Who told you to be so soft-hearted? Now you can pity yourself, can’t you?”

Yichun replied, “Exactly! My guts are turning green with regret!”

Shuxia, lying on her pillow, couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Yichun.

Hui Qiu shot her a glare and scolded, “You’re laughing too? Your wounds aren’t any better!”

Shuxia immediately pressed her lips together and shook her head, saying, “Good sister, I won’t laugh anymore.”

Seeing them both behave, Hui Qiu continued treating Yichun’s wounds, sighing as she applied the medicine, “You two are lucky to serve Miss. She actually cherished you and took matters into her own hands, instead of handing you over to the steward.”

Yichun hugged her pillow and lamented theatrically, “Yes, with any other master, we’d have been dead already.”

Hui Qiu was amused again and pressed harder with the ointment, making Yichun cry out in pain, “Sister Hui Qiu, be gentle! I’m in pieces here!”

After her outburst, Yichun quieted down, and Hui Qiu continued, “You really can’t blame Madam for being harsh that day.

“You have no idea. When General Lu reported to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister wanted all the servants who had accompanied Miss and the Young Master to be executed by the rod.

“It was Madam who, considering Miss’s attachment to you both, pleaded with the Prime Minister, saying that since Miss had risked herself to save you, if the Prime Minister killed you directly, wouldn’t her efforts have been for nothing?

“In the end, the Prime Minister reluctantly relented and agreed to let Miss and the Young Master handle the punishment of their own servants.

“If it had been left to the Prime Minister, you’d have been gone long ago.”

After speaking for so long, Hui Qiu had Yichun shrinking her neck in fright.

Shuxia, lying to the side, said, “Don’t worry, sister. We understand the kindness of Miss and Madam and have no complaints at all.

“This really was our own lack of vigilance, dragging Miss into it. We deserved this punishment, and even if Miss had been harsher, it would have been fair.”

Hearing this, Hui Qiu was finally reassured, and smiled. “As long as you know where you stand. With you two by Miss’s side, Madam keeps her very well protected, so you haven’t seen many schemes and intrigues.”

Unlike herself and Cang Dong, who had served Madam for years and had to tread carefully wherever they went, fearing a single misstep could cost them their lives.

Shuxia seemed to pick up on her implied meaning and added, “Sister, you’re already capable of handling things on your own by Madam’s side. We truly admire you.”

Hui Qiu just smiled and shook her head, continuing to apply medicine to Yichun.

“You two should rest and recover properly. Try to get better soon. I see those maids serving Miss don’t even know what she likes to eat or drink, and they often mess up her clothes, which annoys her.”

“Got it, Sister Hui Qiu,” Yichun replied.
Afterwards, the two lay quietly on the bed, much calmer than before.

—

On the other side, Xiao Wangshu found herself bored staying in her own courtyard, so she came again to Xiao Fuguang’s study.

Seeing that Xiao Wangshu had been coming to the study often these days and didn’t like sitting on chairs, Xiao Fuguang had a soft couch placed in his study for her to rest and read.

At this moment, Xiao Wangshu was lazily reclining on the couch, flipping through a book absentmindedly.

Xiao Fuguang was copying famous calligraphy and paintings. He took a moment to glance at Xiao Wangshu and asked, “Sister, why have you been reading the ‘Geographical Records’ lately? Are you thinking of going out for a trip?”

“It’s not that I want to go out. I’m just looking at how vast the land is in this world, boundless as far as the eye can see. I want to see just how vast it really is,” Xiao Wangshu replied, turning another page of the book.

She wanted to see how real this other world described in the book truly was.

What the original novel depicted might only be the tip of the iceberg of this world.

Xiao Fuguang smiled at her words and said, “Father said that from the Capital to our Xiao Clan Ancestral Land in Anchang County, Li Zhou, even with the fastest horses, it takes five days. And that’s just between two provinces, let alone the whole vast world.”

How could the enormity of the world be contained in a single ‘Geographical Records’?

Hearing this, Xiao Wangshu smiled as well and sighed, “Indeed, the vastness of the earth is immeasurable. You’re right, little brother.”

The book only sketched the turmoil of the world in a few strokes; most of its pages were devoted to the details of Wei Qixuan and Mu Chuxue’s love and understanding.

Now that the heroine Mu Chuxue was dead, most of the plot had been cut away, so there was no need to be too fixated on it.

As for the unexplored parts of this world, she would have to discover them herself, bit by bit.

“All right, Sister, enough sighing. Come over and look at my calligraphy-see if it pleases your eye?” Xiao Fuguang put down his brush and called Xiao Wangshu over to see his writing.

Just as Xiao Wangshu was about to get up, Cang Dong, Fang Qin’er’s attendant, walked in.

“Greetings, Miss and Young Master.”

Cang Dong entered and saluted. Seeing Xiao Wangshu reclining on the soft couch, she smiled and said, “Miss, you really are here with the Young Master. I had a hard time finding you. Madam asks you to come over.”

“Oh?” Xiao Wangshu thought for a moment, then looked up and asked, “Mother is suddenly looking for me-does she need something?”

Xiao Fuguang, shaking his head, reminded her teasingly, “Sister, you should ask yourself what trouble you’ve gotten into again.”

Cang Dong’s smile grew wider. “Young Master is joking. There’s no trouble today, only good news.”

She then turned to Xiao Wangshu and explained, “Here’s the thing: the Prime Minister has specially arranged six Guards for you. Madam asks you to go and take a look. If you find them pleasing, you can take them back.”

“Father arranged this?” Xiao Wangshu was a bit surprised and closed the book in her hand.

Their Prime Minister father was always busy with state affairs; it was rare for him to take the time to arrange Guards for her.

Cang Dong continued, “It was indeed arranged by the Prime Minister. I heard they’re soldiers from the military camp. They seem very reliable-Miss, you should go and see for yourself.”

Hearing that they were soldiers from the military camp, Xiao Wangshu’s interest was immediately piqued.

Xiao Fuguang let out a heavy sigh and said, “When I asked for a sweat-blood horse, Father didn’t even mention it. But Sister’s Guards have only been missing for a few days, and Father sends soldiers from the camp. In the end, daughters are always more favored.”

“Don’t say that. With your small frame, you shouldn’t be thinking about sweat-blood horses anyway. Father is only concerned for your safety.”

After speaking, Xiao Wangshu placed her book on the small table by the couch, stood up with a bright smile, and said, “Keep writing-I’ll look at your calligraphy later.”

Xiao Fuguang smiled and shook his head, then picked up his brush again and, imitating Matron Du’s tone, teased, “Sister, hurry up and go, or your new Guards might fly away!”