When Qin Lüxi emerged from the medicine room, the dawn was breaking, after a night of vigil, her complexion was somewhat pallid, evoking pity from Qi Huang.
"Master, you've stayed up all night, why don't you take a nap? Otherwise, you'll have to hit the road, and how can you manage without rest?" Qin Lüxi replied, "It's fine, you go prepare, I'll take a herbal bath, then pay my respects to Madam before leaving."
Mentioning this, she was filled with resentment. In the past, she never needed to report her whereabouts to anyone, she could come and go as she pleased, but now things were different. She had lost her freedom!
Qin Lüxi became increasingly despondent.
Seeing her unpleasant expression, Qi Huang dared not say more, quickly went downstairs to prepare, and in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, had already prepared her clothes and herbal concoction.
Qin Lüxi entered the cleansing room, immersed herself in the tub, instructing Qi Huang to massage her acupuncture points.
"After I leave, matters in this household will be entrusted to Madam, but this courtyard, you must take care of it for me, especially the medicine room and garden, don't let them be tampered with." Qi Huang asked, "Are you guarding against those young ladies?" "Rather than guarding against them, it's more about guarding against Second Madam," Qin Lüxi, eyes closed in the herbal bath, said, "She is greedy and sharp-tongued. If she comes here acting high and mighty, you just stop her. If there's a problem, wait for my return to deal with it, or if necessary, ask Madam to arbitrate." "You can rest assured, I will take good care of it for you." Qi Huang and the siblings Chen Pi, had special constitutions, rescued by Qin Lüxi during the toughest times, they began following her. Qin Lüxi didn't even require them to sign a contract, but they had already sworn an eternal oath with the ancestral master of the Taoist temple, never to betray. So if the people in this mansion wanted to use servants' contracts or the like to manipulate them, it was impossible.
"Then take the Jade Snow Skin yourself to the Changsheng Hall, and as for the other medicines you've prepared, keep them for now. If anything unexpected happens to Third Madam or Madam, give them to them." "Are you predicting the future?" "No, but as the saying goes, man proposes, God disposes. One is getting old, the other just gave birth and is still weak, especially in such turbulent times. I'm afraid if there are accidents I won't make it in time." Qin Lüxi continued, "If things get out of control, do you know where to seek help?" "Rest assured, I know." Qin Lüxi ceased speaking, relaxed her entire body, and after two or three breaths, fell asleep.
Seeing this, Qi Huang stopped moving, checked the water temperature again, and saw her master leaning against the edge of the tub, her face facing her. Qi Huang couldn't help but smile, placed a large towel nearby on the tub, and quietly left the cleansing room. She had to instruct Chen Pi to take care of the master on the way. Qin Lüxi only dozed for a while before waking up, quickly dressed herself neatly, and as she walked out, happened to encounter Qi Huang. "I'll go pay my respects myself, you take care of the preparations." Qi Huang complied. Qin Lüxi walked out the door, the sky was already bright, standing under the eaves, feeling a cool breeze. Madam Qin, with her shallow sleep due to old age, and her heart holding worries, had already gotten up early. Hearing that Qin Lüxi was coming to pay her respects, and having learned from her eldest daughter-in-law that she was going to the Taoist temple for a retreat, she knew she was coming to bid farewell. But with the family in such a tumultuous situation, and having just returned to the old mansion, they were all still feeling unsettled. Qin Lüxi's decision to go to the Taoist temple for a few days of meditation was somewhat upsetting to her. Qin Lüxi didn't indulge her, after paying her respects, giving her directions, and taking her pulse again, she prescribed a new medicine, which Ding Mammy took to Mr. Li to prepare the medicine. She then bid farewell and left. Madam Qin's face was extremely unsightly, and she said discontentedly, "This child, she's not around to take care of us, she's really being indifferent!"