After kicking out the man Jiang Ying Yue lay on her bed looking listless. Her sparkling eyes wandered around looking deeply in thought until she heard some noise outside.
" Qiu?" Jiang Ying Yue raised her head and shouted.
" Miss, I brought you something to eat." Qiu, who was standing outside immediately responded but didn't enter and stood outside waiting for her master's response.
After hearing her Jiang Ying Yue paused and touched her flat and empty stomach before she hurriedly called the person in, " Come in."
Now that food was mentioned, Jiang Ying Yue realized that she was really hungry.
No wonder she felt so empty inside.
No wonder she felt so sullen and irritable.
There was a rustling noise and the tent flap was lifted with which a chill wind blew.
Soon, carrying a tray Qiu walked in with small and careful steps, " Miss, do you want to come down to eat on the table or should I move the table near your bed?"
"No need, place it on the table." Jiang Ying Yue waved her hand before lifting herself off the bed.
As soon as her feet landed on the ground Jiang Ying Yue felt cold and shivered uncontrollably.
Qiu ran over after placing the tray on the table and covered her with a thick cloak.
The days were growing colder as winter neared, especially nights, one could feel the clear change in weather. It won't be long before the Capital will usher in the first snow of this year.
Through her previous owner's memories, Jang Ying Yue remembered that winter here in the Capital was pretty cold.
Time passed in a flash. In a wink, she had already been here for three months.
Jiang Ying Yue sighed with emotion. When she glanced down she saw Qiu tying the knot when she suddenly thought of something and her expression turned solemn.
Shifting her gaze from Qiu's petite hand her eyes traveled across her own body and landed on her wrinkly but clean-set of snow-white robe. The charming light with her eyes flickered slightly as she suddenly asked Qiu, " Were you the one who changed my clothes?"
Qiu, who was finally done trying the string on the cloak looked up and met her Eldest Miss' serious gaze but she hurriedly looked down to evade her gaze for some reason before nodding, "Yes, Niu and I helped Miss change."
However, Jiang Ying Yue's mind was already preoccupied with other worries she didn't notice Qiu's strangeness.
Upon hearing that Jiang Ying Yue was just about to let out a long sigh of relief when she heard her maid continue.
"Miss, you were covered in soot, and your robe was also tattered. You looked even worse than a beggar, we couldn't leave you just like that. So, we wiped you and changed your clothes."
Jiang Ying Yue was speechless.
Then remembering the scene of her rushing out in tattered clothes in full fighting spirit like a provoked rooster Jiang Ying Yue felt extremely embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole.
Her face....it was all gone. Just like that it was all gone....
Her face instantly turned gloomy.
She cursed herself in her head and wondered how long it would take for her soul to fuse completely. Otherwise, if she kept losing control God knew how much face she would create.
Her face was already pitifully small, to begin with, but now it was all gone.
She had ruined her and her parents' last bit of reputation.
Qiu didn't understand why Miss was sighing so suddenly as she walked forward and moved the chair for her to sit.
Jiang Ying Yue sat on the chair glanced at Qiu and asked, " How did you know I was awake? Don't tell me this whole time you were guarding outside in this cold."
However, Qiu didn't answer. For some reason, she didn't dare meet Jiang Ying Yue's eyes as she shook her head.
When Jiang Ying Yue saw her maid like this she didn't think much and only thought she had guessed right. And her maid was lying.
Hence, after a moment of silence, she shook her head and chided her, " Don't lie, when you are not good at lying. Didn't I tell you not to serve me during the night? I am an able-bodied person. I don't need you guys to care for me twenty-four hours a day. Instead of slumping before my door, it's better to have a good rest at night." She was like a talkative grandma who would shake her head and child others whenever she had the chance.
" But Miss, you fainted so suddenly...."
Qiu silently listened before mumbling as she lowered her head even more.
Miss fainted so suddenly. They were caught off guard and were extremely worried.
Although later Miss Tian Lan examined their Miss and said that she was just exhausted and would get better after a good sleep, they were still worried.
Plus, there was a also dangerous wolf eyeing covetously their Eldest Miss. This made the two maids unable to sit still.
Previously, when they were Lan Quan this man had also taken advantage of their miss. However, at that time situation was dire and they couldn't expose Miss who was dressed as a young master. So, they let the matter pass and turned a blind eye to it.
However, this time the situation was completely different. They were extremely displeased with Wei for disregarding their Miss' reputation and dignity.
So, what if he was powerful, that man was just a shameless bastard. They were blind to respect him in the past.
Therefore, although they were too terrified to enter the tent or chase him away they still dared not leave him alone with their Miss.
They sat at the guarded Jiang Ying Yue all night. If they heard the man trying anything they would rush in immediately to stop.
However, that despicable man had that despicable guard by his side, even if they wanted to they couldn't force their way in. And that was why, even when they heard so much commotion earlier they couldn't go in.
But, Qiu didn't dare to say all this. She wanted to save their Miss last bit of dignity.
Jiang Ying Yue was stunned and her expression softened. She moved her mouth and subconsciously wanted to say she could have waited inside when she suddenly remembered that her tent, her bed, and even her chest were hogged by that dead man.
She immediately closed her mouth and shut up.
That man was so cold and dangerous, even she was scared of him let alone her little maids who were timid to begin with.
There was no way they would have the courage to have the courage to be in the same space as that devil.
She didn't continue and lowered her head to ask, "What did you make?"
" It's peanut porridge." Qiu lifted the lid.
Jiang Ying Yue subconsciously sniffed the sweet fragrance and felt even more hungry.
" Miss, it's hot, eat slowly." Qiu reminded before turning around to pour her master a cup of water.
Jiang Ying Yue nodded and held the spoon before digging into her bowl.
The fragrant porridge was piping hot. Jiang Ying Yue blew gently to cool the porridge before bringing it into her mouth slowly.
The porridge didn't have many ingredients but it was sweet and delicious. Every bite was filled with a nutty taste which was Jiang Ying Yue's favorite and the fragrance of milk.
Although it wasn't extremely delicious it still passed her test.
After taking her sip Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head and complimented Qiu, " You have improved a lot." She was complimenting Qiu's culinary skills.
A person who couldn't even light a fire could now cook such a fragrant porridge without burning it.....it was indeed a great improvement.
Hearing her master's compliment Qiu only smiled lightly which was different from her cheery and energetic demeanor.
"Miss taught me well." Miss was so nice to them but they didn't protect her well.
Qiu felt even more guilty.
" No, it was because you are talented and hardworking."
" Miss, you are praising me too much." I don't deserve it.
There was so much unsaid word and apology.
Jiang Ying Yue was hungry to notice anything and quickly finished the porridge in the bowl after which she burped in satisfaction when she suddenly heard a muffled noise.
Thud!....
Without any warning, Qiu knelt on the cold ground with a plop. Soon after, Niu, who was standing outside for God knew how long also rushed in with a 'whoosh' and knelt beside Qiu.
Both the maids knelt side by side on the ground with their heads and upper bodies completely lowered looking very much like two turtles with only half of their heads peeking out of their shells.
Jiang Ying Yue was stunned and momentarily speechless.
"....What are two kneeling for?" asked Jiang Ying Yue finally finding her voice after a moment of shock.
" Miss, please, punish us!" Qiu pleaded.
" Yes, Miss, we have let you down, please punish us!" Niu also added.
Jiang Ying Yue was once again left speechless for a moment, then she squinted her eyes.
' What sort of crime did these two commit for them to be so eager to receive punishment?'
Jiang Ying Yue couldn't of it.
Hence, she could only ask, " Punish you?.... Alright, but first tell me what mistakes you made."
Hearing that the duo didn't answer but only lowered their heads, trying hard to shrink the remaining halves of their heads into their humanoid turtle shells.
Jiang Ying Yue watched this speechlessly before she finally grew impatient. Her voice grew stern, " Are you going to say it or not?"
The oppressive pressure Jiang Ying Yue emitted was so much that two maids began to tremble. Their foreheads were covered in sweat and they no longer dared to play mutes.
Qiu raised her slightly, revealing her red-teary eyes as she bit her lips hard and spoke, " Miss, we didn't protect you well, please punish us."
' Heh? Didn't protect her well?'
.....But, did she need their protection?
Wasn't it other way around?
It was not that she was looking down on them....she was just stating the fact.
They were just too weak to fend for themselves. Her two maids had the lowest cultivation and if there was any danger they could even hardly protect themselves, let alone protecting her.
So, she couldn't understand the crux of the situation.