FID – Chapter 913

Chapter 913: Even the Servants Eat a Lot

Qin Xiao immediately walked over and frowned when he saw how tightly the old woman was gripping the Empress Dowager’s wrist.

“Madam Liu, please let Her Majesty go first. Her skin is extremely delicate. It’ll get red and swollen with just a bit of pressure.”

Grandma Liu was startled and quickly let go to check. “Aiya! It is red. Honestly, at your age, how come your skin is like a little child’s. It can’t handle even the slightest force.”

“And now you’re blaming me? This is all your fault! You’re the one with such brute strength!” The Empress Dowager flung her hand in annoyance and, catching the frown on the man beside her, immediately complained without thinking, “It hurts like hell!”

“I’ll go get some medicine from the Princess. She can apply it for you.” Qin Xiao turned to head toward the side room, but was stopped by Feng Qingbai.

“I’ve got some here.” He pulled out a small bottle of ointment and handed it over. 

Shengsheng hadn’t woken up yet, and even if she had, he wouldn’t allow anyone, especially an old man, to barge in and disturb her.

“Thank you.” Qin Xiao uncorked the bottle and prepared to apply the ointment to the Empress Dowager’s wrist. He suddenly noticed how silent everyone around them had become.

His hand paused midair. After a moment’s hesitation, he handed the bottle to the old maid instead. “Granny, you do it.”

“Yes, General.” The old maid lowered her head, not daring to even glance at the Empress Dowager’s face.

She had learned yet another explosive secret. What was she supposed to do now?

As a servant, the more you know, the faster you die!

“No need to apply it. I’m not that delicate.” Before they could get any closer, the Empress Dowager had already turned around and grabbed Grandma Liu, dragging her outside. “Weren’t we going to pick vegetables? You disturbed my peace so early in the morning. If those vegetables aren’t tasty, I’ll hold you accountable!”

“Yes, yes, you can hold me accountable then. Are you sure your hand is alright?”

“I’m fine! Take off all these fancy clothes, and I can do everything just as well as you can! Hmph!”

“Well, you really aren’t delicate at all,” Grandma Liu praised her, then turned back to call out to Qin Xiao, who was still standing there frozen like a statue. “General Qin, hurry up! My old man is already in the field. It’s more fun when everyone’s together.”

Once the two older women had walked off into the distance, Qin Xiao finally looked up at the others beside him.

“What are you all staring at?”

Liu Zhiqiu shut his half-open mouth and grinned. “General Qin, your heart’s really something. A true man. Even though I’m Feng Qingbai’s brother-in-law, I’m someone who knows where loyalty lies. I support you.” 

Xue Qinglian gave a dismissive snort and headed back to his room. “What’s wrong with being single and free? Why does everyone insist on jumping into that pit? Besides, once you’re in, you’ll never crawl out again.”

Qin Xiao ignored both the support and the sarcasm. Judging the distance to avoid making the Empress Dowager feel embarrassed, he set off in pursuit.

Behind him, Liu Zhiqiu nudged Feng Qingbai’s arm with a gossipy gleam in his eye. “So General Qin is trying to steal the late emperor’s woman, huh? As the late emperor’s most outstanding son, how do you feel about this?”

“Busybody.” Feng Qingbai shot him a glare and walked off.

“Hey, don’t go! Talk to me about this!” Liu Zhiqiu immediately chased after him, lowering his voice as he leaned close to the man’s ear, afraid the servants on the estate might overhear.

“This isn’t some trivial matter. If word gets out, both General Qin and the Empress Dowager will be condemned by everyone. It’ll become a huge scandal for the royal family! I’m not just fearmongering, but public opinion is terrifying. Do you know what rumors can drive people to? We have to think of a plan in advance, don’t you think?”

“People must bear the consequences of their own actions. These are problems for General Qin to worry about, not me. Why are you asking me?”

“But you’re the one who said you treat the Empress Dowager like your own mother. Don’t you care about your own mother’s affairs?”

Feng Qingbai suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at him. Just as the latter waited eagerly for a response, Feng Qingbai stepped directly on his foot.

By the time Liu Zhiqiu finished crying out in pain, the man was already gone.

Rubbing his chin, Liu Zhiqiu pondered deeply, then sighed toward the sky, “If the Empress Dowager really ends up being cursed by the whole world, Grandma will definitely be upset. What should I do? I might not care about the Empress Dowager, but I can’t let Grandma be heartbroken…”

He had to come up with something.

Ay-ya, he really was born to worry about everyone.

Not far from the manor was a large vegetable garden, planted by the estate’s servants.

There were many types of seasonal vegetables.

In the early morning, the green leaves were still covered in dew, looking fresh and tender.

Even from the edge of the field, you could smell the mix of fresh greens and soil—clean and invigorating.

It was full of life.

When Qin Xiao arrived, Grandpa and Grandma Liu were already busy at the edge of the field.

Next to Grandma Liu crouched a silver-haired older woman, imitating her posture to pick vegetables. With her fingers elegantly posed like an orchid, she gently pinched at the heart of a vegetable and successfully picked a fresh, tender shoot.

“That’s it? It’s easy! You dragged me all the way out here for such a simple task. You just can’t stand to see me relaxing.” After successfully picking the vegetable, the silver-haired woman grew smug. 

She stopped watching Grandma Liu’s movements and started plucking the shoots on her own, swiftly moving through the rows.

Qin Xiao didn’t move. He stood opposite, watching the slight arch of her brows and the liveliness in her expression. A faint smile slowly rose in his eyes.

To him, this spirited version of her was more dazzling than anything else in the world.

Even though she had aged and no longer had the looks of her youth, she still shone just the same.

“Your Majesty, don’t pick too many at once. We can’t finish them all in one meal!” A moment later, Grandma Liu turned around and, seeing the older woman had nearly cleared an entire row, smacked her forehead in frustration.

Piles of vegetable shoots lay scattered along the ground at the older woman’s feet.

When she couldn’t carry any more, she simply dropped them on the ground and kept picking, never caring whether they’d be eaten!

Wasteful! So wasteful! Grandma Liu’s heart ached from the waste.

The woman, still oblivious, retorted, “How could we not finish them? There are so many servants in the estate. If we can’t eat them, they can. This little bit isn’t even enough for one of their meals.”

To show that she wasn’t clueless, the Empress Dowager added, “Servants eat a lot. I’ve seen it.”

“……”

The smile in Qin Xiao’s eyes deepened as he walked a few steps closer. “Your Majesty, there’s no need to pick any more. There are only about a dozen vegetable rows here. If you harvest too much at once, the servants in the manor might run out of vegetables in a few days.”

“We can just buy more.”

“…” Qin Xiao was momentarily speechless. A moment later, he burst out laughing.

Even when he saw the older woman’s face flush red with embarrassment from his laughter, he couldn’t stop.

And he wasn’t the only one. Grandpa and Grandma Liu laughed even harder. Even the old maid tightly covered her mouth, turned around, and giggled quietly, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

“What are you all laughing at? What’s so funny? The servants really do eat a lot! What I picked is nowhere near enough for them! Just wait and see—I’ll prove I’m right!” the Empress Dowager declared loudly, both angry and embarrassed.

“……”

The group carried several bundles of vegetable shoots back, their laughter echoing all the way.

The Empress Dowager trailed behind them, her face alternating between red and black with frustration, glaring at her fingernails now stained green from the vegetable juice. Regret filled her heart.

She never should have joined in playing around with that old woman Liu.

Now her fingernails were streaked with green.

How unsightly!