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The afternoon sun slanted into the room, and Mu Junqi lazily leaned back in her chair, covered with a light green blanket. Although several heaters had been lit in the room, it still could not fend off the bone-chilling cold.
Her mind was in a chaotic state, not knowing what to think. At that moment, the Chief Eunuch of Jingxian Palace, Zhang Deli, stood outside the door and respectfully announced, "Empress, Consort Qian has arrived."
Mu Junqi felt a surge of annoyance but still replied, "Let her in." After saying this, she sat up straight, waiting for Consort Qian to enter.
Before long, Consort Qian entered with Pear and several palace maids. She slightly bowed to Mu Junqi and then smiled mockingly as she said, "Sister Qi, it’s really cold here. Even if you just married into the palace, these servants shouldn’t be so negligent towards you. Are they trying to freeze you to death?"
Mu Junqi did not want to respond but still handed the heater in her arms to Mur to add more charcoal while instructing Ziyue to go make tea. Only after that did she address the obviously provocative Consort Qian, saying, "Since this palace is so cold, why don’t you go back? This palace cannot accommodate such a great Buddha as you. If you freeze here, I would truly worry that the Emperor would come to my Jingxian Palace in a rage."
Consort Qian could hardly miss the sarcasm in those words. Her fair face flushed red instantly, but she still suppressed her anger and bit her lip as she retorted, "Sister Qi, why do you speak so harshly? I came here out of kindness to see you, yet you’re throwing a tantrum first. No wonder the Emperor doesn’t like you. Look at how you are now; there’s no grace of a motherly figure at all. I really don’t know how much longer you can be proud."
Just then, Mur entered holding the heater. Hearing this made her feel even more sorrowful for Mu Junqi. However, Consort Qian was not only favored by the Emperor but also cherished by the Empress Dowager. Most importantly, her father was the Chancellor, so almost everyone in the harem feared her.
Upon hearing these words, Mu Junqi not only did not get angry but instead smiled and personally poured a cup of tea, placing it aside. She smiled gently and said, "Sister is only worried that I might freeze here in this palace. How did it end up making you unhappy? Since that’s the case, let this cup of tea serve as an apology."
Consort Qian was already annoyed and found it hard to suppress her anger upon hearing this. Moreover, she had come this time to make it clear who was truly in charge of this harem. She had wanted to say this in the Imperial Garden before but refrained due to too many people around; she couldn’t risk being overheard by the Emperor. That’s why she had come to this cold palace-like place now.
Disdainfully, Consort Qian swept the teacup off the table with a flick of her hand. The scalding tea splashed all over Mu Junqi's hands. Seeing this, Mur immediately rushed to Mu Junqi's side and held her hands with both of hers. The water had just been boiled hot, and in an instant, Mu Junqi's hands were already red and swollen.
However, Mu Junqi didn’t even let out a sound as she looked down at Mur anxiously blowing on her hands. Consort Qian did not expect things to turn out like this and stood there dumbfounded.
Ziyue had already run out to find the imperial physician. Only then did Mu Junqi raise her eyes and look at Consort Qian with an expressionless face and say, "So it turns out you hate this palace so much. If there’s nothing else, please leave."
Consort Qian wanted to say something, but looking at her already swollen hands, she hesitated and was pulled away by Pear behind her. Before leaving, she sweetly said, "What a terrible place, it's freezing here."
Seeing everyone leave, Mu Junqi finally looked at her hands. Mur had already been gazing at her with tearful eyes. Mu Junqi chuckled lightly and teased, "It's just a burn; if someone didn't know better, they might think your master is dead."
Mur then broke into a smile and said, "You still have the mood to joke with this servant. With your hands looking like this, if the lady sees it, she will surely be heartbroken."
Mu Junqi put away her smile and stared blankly into the distance, softly saying, "Concubine...". Then she shook her head to comfort herself and said, "Never mind. Mur, go check when the physician will arrive; my hand is hurting more and more."
Upon hearing this, Mur hurriedly ran out. Left alone in the palace, Mu Junqi sighed softly. Perhaps no one would truly feel sorry for her now; after what she had done, even Concubine was angry with her.
While lost in thought, Mur rushed back in, pale-faced and stammering, "The... the physician has arrived."
Mu Junqi was about to make fun of Mur's clumsiness when she saw the person stepping through the curtain. All words and actions froze in that moment; she never expected to meet him again under such circumstances.
Her heart ached intensely, and she forgot what to say until Ziyue gently reminded her, "Your Highness, Lord Xia has arrived."
Only then did she awaken and stare blankly at the person kneeling before her. He wore a long blue robe tied with a white belt around his waist, from which hung a white jade pendant. His long black hair was held up with a single white jade hairpin. With sharp brows and bright eyes, his fair skin exuded an air of elegance. A faint scent of herbs surrounded him—his unique fragrance—and he was looking at her now, causing her heart to beat irregularly.
"Your Highness, please forgive me for my rudeness; this burn needs to be treated quickly," Xia Ziqian said as he spoke in a clear and pleasant voice that matched his refined demeanor.
"Mm," Mu Junqi replied softly.
Xia Ziqian stood up and walked in front of Mu Junqi. He opened his medicine box and took out some powder and gauze before bending down gently to begin treating her injury.
The clear pain surged through her, causing her to involuntarily shrink back. Xia Ziqian quickly reached out to hold her delicate hand that was about to pull away and respectfully said, "Your Highness, please hold on for just a moment." After saying that, he lowered his head to continue tending to her.
This was the first time she had seen his face while he was awake. The sensation of their fingertips touching sent a rush of warmth to her cheeks; he always had a way of making her blush.
He then respectfully spoke again, "I will apply the medicine now. It will hurt a little, but Your Highness must endure." Without waiting for her response, he gently blew on her hand, seemingly trying to ease her pain.
The man before her was the one she had longed for. She had thought it would be difficult to see him in this lifetime and had forgotten that his primary purpose was to treat the Empress and the concubines in the harem.
After tending to the wound, Xia Ziqian stood up and took a few steps back before softly saying, "It has been taken care of. Please avoid getting it wet. I will come to clean it daily. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Mu Junqi reluctantly replied, "Alright, you may go."
Watching Xia Ziqian leave, her initial dissatisfaction faded away. This man possessed a certain ability; just seeing him made her forget all her troubles. His humble and courteous demeanor had captured the hearts of countless people.
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