eurekapd Chapter 166 Change of Ownership
Chapter 166 Change of Ownership
"Snapped!"
Another loud slap landed on her other cheek.
Qiao Qingle was completely stunned by the beating, covering her face and wailing with her mouth wide open.
"Ah, you dare hit me! I'll tell Father and Grandmother! I'll tell my Aunt..."
As Qiao Qingle spoke, her voice grew softer and softer, and she became less and less confident. She knew that Qiao Qingshu was now the eldest daughter in the Qiao family, and her father and grandmother would definitely protect her. Her aunt couldn't say anything, and might even join in the beating.
She suddenly became so guilty that she fell silent.
Qiao Qingshu rotated her sore wrist and said coldly,
"I've been too polite to you before, which has emboldened you to become increasingly unruly. You think I'm just kind and easy to talk to? Today I'll teach you a lesson. If I ever hear you say such things again, I'll beat you every time I see you!"
Qiao Qingle pouted, not daring to argue back, and simply lowered her head without saying a word.
After a moment, Qiao Qingshu pointed to the wedding quilt and said,
"Your embroidery skills are not bad either. You have half a month to make a new one and return it to me."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qingle was so startled that she looked up and cried out.
"Ah! Half a month! That's simply not enough time!"
Qiao Qingshu shot her a fierce glare and said coldly,
"If that's not enough, I'll give you dozens more slaps!"
Upon hearing that she was about to be humiliated again, Qiao Qingle shrank back, quickly covered her face, and ran outside.
"That's enough! I'll definitely finish it in half a month!"
After Qiao Qingle ran away, Wanqiu snorted and watched her retreating figure.
"Hmph! It should have been done a long time ago!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Pfft!"
Suddenly, a figure fell down behind me.
Everyone looked back, and Lin Dong shouted.
"Oh no! Cui Mei has fainted!"
When Cui Mei woke up again, it was already two hours later.
The doctor and Qiao Qingshu were talking outside, while Lin Dong and Wan Qiu were watching over Cui Mei inside, and Xia Zhi went out to get medicine and prepare it.
The doctor stroked his goatee, shook his head, and said...
“This young lady has been suffering from losses for many years. I just took her pulse and found that her arms were covered with bruises and scars. It seems that she has been suffering from internal and external troubles, fear and mental distress, as well as physical pain. Her overall condition is not good. If she does not take care of herself, I am afraid that her days are numbered.”
Qiao Qingshu pursed her lips slightly, looked into the room and sighed softly before entering the room after the doctor prescribed the medicine.
Cui Mei had already woken up. She looked tired and listless, but she was still somewhat excited when she saw Qiao Qing Shu.
She reached out her hand, and Qiao Qingshu immediately sat down beside her bed, took her hand, and said softly.
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious. The doctor just said that you fainted because you were too tired. Just rest and take some medicine and you'll be fine."
Cui Mei gave a bitter laugh twice and said,
“Eldest Miss, I’m just unlucky to have ended up in the Third Miss’s room. If I had been able to stay with you back then, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”
"I'm just a worthless life anyway, and I've lived long enough."
Cui Mei considered Qiao Qingshu her savior. Last time, she helped Qiao Qingle deliver a message to the Crown Prince, but she was beaten half to death by the Crown Prince's men. After returning, she was beaten by Qiao Qingle again, and her wounds became infected and worsened. Qiao Qingle even made her work in the backyard, which caused her to faint from the pain.
If Qiao Qingshu hadn't discovered her in time and found a doctor to treat her, she might have died in the backyard that day, forgotten by everyone.
From then on, Cui Mei lost all faith in her master, Qiao Qing Le, and instead felt grateful to Qiao Qing Shu.
Today, she betrayed her master, Qiao Qingle, in front of her, and instead protected Qiao Qingshu. She herself will never be able to go back.
She felt a sense of resignation, knowing that her health was already poor and that she was essentially giving up.
Qiao Qingshu keenly noticed the gloom in her eyes, and after thinking for a moment, she said,
"If I asked you to come with me, would you be willing?"
A glimmer of starlight suddenly appeared in Cui Mei's lifeless eyes; she could hardly believe it.
Is it really possible?
Qiao Qingshu understood immediately and said with a smile,
"Now you're willing to take your medicine and rest properly, right? Once you're better, you can come with me."
Cui Mei was so excited that she almost jumped off the bed to kowtow to Qiao Qing Shu, but fortunately Wan Qiu and Lin Dong held her down.
At that moment, Xia Zhi came in carrying a bowl of medicine. She kept saying that it was too hot and wanted to put it by the bedside to cool it down before giving it to Cui Mei.
Unexpectedly, Cui Mei excitedly picked up the medicine bowl and gulped it all down, as if it were some kind of nectar.
After wiping her mouth, Cuimei quickly darted back into bed, leaving only her head sticking out.
"Don't worry, young lady, I will definitely take my medicine and rest well, and try my best to recover as soon as possible, so that I can take care of you!"
Qiao Qingshu smiled and nodded, then chatted with Cui Mei for a while before leaving.
Late Autumn and Winter followed behind Qiao Qingshu, whispering to each other.
Late Autumn Road
“Cui Mei is really pitiful. Her arms are covered in bruises. I almost cried when I saw it. She has really suffered these years.”
Lin Dong nodded and said,
"Who says otherwise? I remember that Cui Mei and I were sold into the Qiao family together, but I was luckier and got assigned to the eldest daughter's room. She has cried to me about it several times. Every year during festivals, when the maids get together to play cards, she always has the least money and is always covered in bruises."
Summer Solstice caught up from behind and embraced Winter and Late Autumn, saying casually,
"We don't need to worry about her anymore. She's one of us now. We're in for a good time!"
The three of them immediately burst into laughter.
After Cui Mei took the medicine for a few days, her condition improved considerably.
One quiet afternoon, Qiao Qingshu sat in the house and had a private chat with Cui Mei.
"I heard that you sent a message to the Crown Prince for my third sister?"
Cui Mei was taking her medicine when she heard this. She immediately put down the bowl and said warily,
"Young lady, are you aware of this?"
Qiao Qingshu nodded, signaling her to continue.
Cui Mei looked around to make sure no one was there before lowering her voice and saying...
"Yes, I did help the Third Miss send a message to the Crown Prince, but I faked it."
Qiao Qingshu raised her eyebrows slightly and gestured for her to continue.
Cui Mei swallowed hard before frowning and carefully recalling the events.
"The first time I delivered a letter to the Third Miss, the Crown Prince opened it and was so angry that he had me beaten. When I returned and confessed to the Third Miss, I was beaten again. To save my life, I lied and said that the Crown Prince was actually very happy to receive the letter. Only then did the Third Miss spare my life. After that, the Third Miss would send me to deliver letters every few days. I would always take the letters to the fortune teller at the crossroads and have him reply. I delivered five or six letters back and forth like this. In the letters, the Third Miss kept saying that she wanted to marry the Crown Prince..."