Chapter 9 (1/2)

The bucket fell onto the ground with a “PA” and the water that was contained flowed out. Qing Feng could hear buzzing by her ears and her body could not help but to collapse.

“Miss?”

A pair of hands supported her shoulders, but the person strength was not great thus Qing Feng still fell onto the ground. The pain she felt woke her muddled up her brain. After the fainting spell has passed, Qing Feng finally saw that the person who was supporting her was Fu Ling, “Fu Ling? You… Why are you still here?” Didn’t she told her to go back?

Fu Ling smiled softly and did not explain why she was still staying at CeMingGong. Qing Feng’s face turned green and her breathe was in chaos. Fu Ling lightly took her pulse and was surprised that her pulse is week and there was an obstruction of the circulation of vital energy, like she has suffered internal injuries but her medical skills are mediocre, thus unable to diagnose there are the injuries located at. When Fu Ling was taking her pulse, she saw Qing Feng’s other hand laying lifeless beside her with her wrists covered in dark bruises. Fu Ling furrowed her brows, “Your hands…”

Qing Feng immediately withdrew her hands and replied, “I am all right.”

Fu Ling, as a healer, sense that Qing Feng’s bones at her wrist is dislocated when she grab her hand. She anxiously continued, “Don’t move!” Fu Long is unaware of what exactly happen yesterday night but she know that this kind of injury is extremely painful. Not many females will be able to tolerate that kind pain cause by bone dislocation and she… Could actually still carry water?

“It would be a bit painful, bear with it.” Holding Qing Feng’s wrist, Fu Ling’s technique precisely reset the dislocated bones. Even though she has completed it as fast as possible, Qing Feng still felt the pain throughout her body.

Fu Ling secretly sighed in relief, its a good thing that it was dislocated. If it was broken, then it would be a bigger problem. She lifted her head towards Qing Feng and Fu Long could not help but be startled. Qing Feng’s face was ghastly white, almost transparent, but her lips were bitten till it was blood red. Even though her body was emaciated and shaking like leaves in the wind, she still did not make a sound in pain. Fu Ling was impressed but also could not help but sighed, why is this woman this stubborn? She wanted to ask her not to use this hand and rest but looking at the bucket beside her, Fu Ling could only whisper back, “Minimise the usage of this hand, else it would be hard for you to hold a brush in the future.” She is a talented female, if this injury affect her writing and painting abilities, what a pity it would be!

Holding a brush? Qing Feng laughed, her only concern now is if she can still maintain holding a knife!

Even though it hurts when she gentle turned her wrist, she was able use some strength. After sitting on the ground for a while, Qing Feng’s energy revived, as she was struggling to get up, Fu Ling supported her up. As Qing Feng once again lifted the buckets, Fu Ling quickly helped her to raise the pole so she could better stand up.. This half dan (1 dan = 50kg) of water is not light, Fu Ling wanted to help her to lift it for the this section of the road but Xiao Hu Zi, who was standing aside quietly saw Fu Ling’s actions hesitated. Qing Feng pushed Fu Ling away and whispered, “I can do it myself.” Xu Ji wanted to make things difficult for her, so why would she still want to implicate others.

Taking a deep breath and struggling to stride forward, Qing Feng took a step at a time firmly as she headed forward.

Fu Ling looked at Xiao Hu Zi. Even though nothing was said, there was an uncontrollable reproach, they were all servants in the palace, why is there a need to make things that difficult for a down-trodden female. Xiao Hu Zi whispered to her, “Older sister, its not that Xiao Hu Zi is ruthless. If you help her, it will only harm her and yourself!” Finishing, Xiao Hu Zi immediately run to keep up with Qing Feng.

That true, in this palace, no one can help the other, what qualification she has to pity others? Seeing that stumbling lopsided figure slowly heading away, Fu Ling eventually turned and never look back.

As the sun gradually set, the shadows were stretched thinner and longer. For that slender body, the sun cast a shadow as thin as paper that the two big buckets was able to completely cover her up. Xiao Hu Zi followed behind Qing Feng in small steps as she bowed her head down and moved forward. Four sichen (1 sichen = 2 hours), from the afternoon to evening, she only could go back and forth seven or eight times, with chapped lips, a pale face and a palace uniform, which back is utterly wet. Don’t know for what reason, she kept using her left shoulders to carry the buckets of water and the blisters on her shoulders has burst due to the weight of the pole, causing blood to seep onto her clothes. The once sharp eyes were now numb and dull as she continued forward.

Such instances of punishment by mama and gonggong are common and many palace maids will cry for mercy or muddle through it. At worst, it would be a few days without food or a few strokes of the plank. The gongong will not want any deaths thus the punishments will be over soon. Xu Gonggong wanted her to fill up two water jars in order to deflate her acute spirits and let her suffer a bit. Xiao Hu Zi have not seen such a woman who was that stubborn or tenacious that to the extend that he was scared.

During sunset, there were more people coming and going along the palace roads. Everyone could not help but look at the difficult road ahead of the figure before whispering and quickly walked away.