cold clothes

Before long, everyone in Zhuoyu Pavilion knew that Ningbi and Lingcao had been sent back. Upon hearing this, Weifeng was so eager to see Lengyi's antics that she immediately rushed to the front.

Xia Hua stopped her, saying that the monthly exam was in a few days, and her dance wasn't even finished yet. Did she want to fail? In terms of dancing skills, Wei Feng was the worst among the four; if they were a modern girl group, she'd be the visual and vocal powerhouse. She always hovered on the edge of passing in dance assessments. So Xia Hua's words made Wei Feng feel like she was facing a formidable enemy, and she instantly forgot about Ning Bi.

Xia Hua, Nong Yue, and Wu Xue, though their thoughts differed, all shared the desire to see Leng Yi, though they weren't as obvious as Wei Feng, and all refrained from going due to their studies. Nuan Dong, upon hearing that Leng Yi had emerged from the dungeon, rushed to her room.

Upon entering the room and seeing the scene inside, Nuandong was furious and shouted loudly, "Someone come here!"

These idiots who kick someone when they're down! Even if Ningbi is thrown into the dungeon, she's still a young lady of Zhuoyu Pavilion. How can they... just leave her lying on the ground and abandon her?

Two people, covered in blood and barely alive, lay on the floor of the room, starkly out of place in the clean and warm space, like abandoned trash in ruins. The taller person on the left had a horrifying, needle-like hole in their lip; while the thin, frail child on the right had spots of crimson on their arm, their eyes closed, with four hideous, mottled streaks of blood flowing from beneath them.

Looking at all this, Nuandong felt a lump in her throat and couldn't speak.

The maids who heard her scolding came over in fear. Nuandong was furious to see them, but she knew this was not the time to beat or scold them. So she sternly ordered them to serve Lengyi and to fetch Doctor Xie. She glanced at Lingcao, paused, and ordered someone to take Lingcao to the servants' quarters for care.

At Warm Winter's command, the maids dared not disobey and immediately split up. Two maids helped Lengyi up, and two others lifted Lingcao horizontally. Unexpectedly, Lengyi had not truly lost consciousness. As someone was about to carry Lingcao away, Lengyi hurriedly reached out her left hand and grabbed Lingcao's arm, whispering, "No... Lingcao... stay with me..."

"Stay by my side..."

Nuandong understood Lengyi's lip shape, so she waved her hand to signal the maids to carry Lingcao and Lengyi to the bed together.

As the two parted, Leng Yi's left hand unconsciously clenched. Then, when Ling Cao lay beside her again, she reached out and gripped her arm tightly. The gesture looked like dependence, or perhaps a fear of losing something precious and holding it firmly in her hand. Nuan Dong watched, and a surge of emotions welled up within her.

Why must such young children endure all this? Why must everyone, including ourselves, suffer this? Who created this hell? Can't it be changed? Can't anything be changed?

Suddenly, Leng Yi struggled to sit up. The maid beside her rushed to support her back, and at the same time, another maid brought in a towel and warm water.

"First, wipe the blood off Ningbi's face, being careful not to get it in her eyes," Nuandong instructed the maids.

The maids quickly agreed. One maid wiped Leng Yi's face with a hot towel, while another tended to the wounds on Leng Yi's arm.

"Lingcao's injuries also need treatment; she's badly injured," Lengyi said. Despite enduring immense pain herself, her facial muscles visibly tense, she spoke of concern for Lingcao.