Jiao Hua was instructing the maids when she received the news of He family's daughter visiting again. She really liked that kid. Although frail and sick, she was always enthusiastic in her greetings and even treated Qingxiao well.
What a pity…such a good child yet…
She sighed before waving to dismiss the maids and gracefully hurried toward her courtyard.
"Greetings, Aunt, He Qilin has brought some fresh tangerines for you, wishing you prosperity and health."
She was about to bend her knees to a polite courtesy when Jiao Hua hurriedly held her hand stopping her.
"Aiya, you don't need to bring gifts every time you visit. How has your health been? Pay more attention to your health. Eat more, why are your hands still so thin?"
Jiao Hua was truly anxious in heart. A young lady of this age should have plump hands, a face filled with youthful charm. She had such striking features coupled with fair skin and gentle mannerisms, yet lacked the youthful glow due to her health.
"I am ok aunty. Mother recently brought a miracle doctor and his treatment is going well."
"Good good. Come around soon and then we all will help your mother find the perfect man for our Qilin who will spoil and pamper her rotten." Jiao Hua lovingly patted her head before accepting the tangerines.
He Qilin's pale face had a subtle flush hearing the words.
"Aunt, I am actually here to visit sister Qingxiao. Where's she?"
"Oh..Jiao Qingxiao, she should be in her studies. Come come, I will bring you to her."
"No, no, aunt. It's ok. You must be busy now, I will find my way easily."
Jiao Hua hesitated a bit. She did have her hands full. Yet to greet the old madam, yet to instruct the cooks for the meal, and then she also had to check up on the accounts. But she also didn't feel at ease leaving the sick child on her own. If anything happened….
He Qilin could easily read her mind from her hesitant expression and spoke softly, "Aunt, don't worry about me. I will really be fine."
She also flashed a reassuring smile.
Jiao Hua finally nodded, although a little worry was still evident on her face.
As He Qilin strolled in the garden walking towards her cousin sister's courtyard, excitement filled her heart. She couldn't wait to share the story with her.
And it was also because of her. He seemed to have been amused by the painting on the corner of her eyes. Had it not been for her cousin-sister, would he have even noticed her?
Suddenly a soft thing collided against her legs, almost making her stumble.
Startled, she looked down only to spot the ginger creature rubbing against her leg and purring.
"Xiao Cui, Xiao Cui, Aye don't run!" Jiao Qingxiao came running while huffing as she picked up the kitten, relief washing over her. With her other hand wiping away the thin sheen of sweat from her forehead.
After the third prince left, she forgot to close the door, and how could the feisty Xiao Cui of such a golden opportunity to run outside?
Since then she had been chasing the kitten . If not for He Qilin's sudden arrival she would be running behind it even now.
"Sister Qilin? How have you been?" Jiao Qingxiao asked with a smile, masking the concern in her heart. Due to the entire fiasco with the third prince, sister Qilin's health had slipped her mind previously. Now seeing her again made her recall things.
"Jiao Qingxiao, recently I met a man." She spoke with the shyness and charm of a young maiden.
Jiao Qingxiao's heart thudded so hard that she was about to drop the poor Xiao Cui from her hand. Thankfully she had a good reflex and stabilised the kitten in her hand. Pretending to be happy hearing the news, she spoke with a fake teasing tone in her voice, "Ah huh? So who is this man that stole sister Qilin's heart?"
He Qilin's cheeks tinged with a deeper shade of red now.
"Let's go inside first." She whispered, pulling on Jiao Qingxiao's hand.
As they rushed inside the room, Jiao Qingxiao slammed the panels shut, quickly putting the bolt in place, before turning to place He Qilin with raised brows.
He Qilin continues, "A few days ago, I accompanied father to the banquet held by the Chang Family for the head of the family's 50th birthday. Aunt Jiao and Uncle were also there."
He Qilin took a slight pause, biting her lips. Right…she forgot that Qingxiao wasn't at the banquet. Would she think that she was saying these words to insult her?
Jiao Qingxiao remembered. Not a few days…To be precise it was exactly 2 days ago. She wanted to avoid Chang Jing as much as possible and thus when mother had asked her to attend the banquet, she had refused saying she would like to instead practice her scriptures or else she would get an earful from her tutor.
She looked at He Qilin and merely nodded, too engrossed in her anxiety to read her hesitation.
He Qilin continued, "There, I felt physically tired after talking with the noble ladies for a while and excused myself to take a stroll in the yard. Suddenly my condition worsened out of nowhere.
Then there was this young man, who helped me with his medical expertise."
He Qilin tried to keep her face as natural as possible, unwilling to go into the details of how his medical expertise included, taking her pulse with his bare hands, and massaging her feet softly, taking her boots off with his own hands.
However, her long pause had already snapped Jiao Qingxiao out of her trail of thought.
"What do you mean by medical expertise?" She asked with a frown on her face.
The miracle doctor situation wasn't solved yet and now there was yet another character?