Chapter 71
Qiu Kui brought a sedative, and Qiu Chan helped Li Xia lean against her. Qiu Shui carefully fed Li Xia the sedative. After drinking it, Li Xia closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Li Xia's condition made those around her feel uneasy. Seeing their red eyes from lack of sleep, Qiu Shui said, "Qiu Chan, Qiu Kui, you two go rest. Qiu Ling and I will keep watch."
Qiu Kui and Qiu Chan went to a corner with bedding laid out, and they quickly fell asleep.
Qiu Shui and Qiu Ling watched over Li Xia. When she woke up, they came forward to help her sit up.
"Miss, please rest some more," Qiu Shui said with concern, looking at Li Xia's pale face. Her mistress had always been full of energy, but now she seemed so frail.
"I can't sleep anymore. I'll get up and walk around," Li Xia said. She had been bedridden for days due to dizziness and vomiting. Now feeling better, she didn't want to lie down anymore and prepared to go out for a walk.
"You two go rest. You've worked hard these past few days. I'll just walk around the doorway," Li Xia told Qiu Shui and Qiu Ling.
"I'm not tired, Miss," Qiu Shui said, though she couldn't control her yawn, and her body swayed slightly. She had mild seasickness herself. She had persisted in attending to Li Xia, looking haggard.
"Qiu Shui, Sister, you have a fever," Qiu Ling said, supporting Qiu Shui who felt hot.
Li Xia reached out to feel Qiu Shui's forehead, which was warm. "Qiu Ling, help Qiu Shui lie down on my bed. There are fever-reducing medicines in the bedside cabinet. Let her take some."
"Miss, I'm fine," Qiu Shui insisted, unwilling to rest.
"Qiu Shui, listen to me. Don't worry me," Li Xia said sternly but with concern, prompting Qiu Shui to stop resisting. Qiu Ling helped her to Li Xia's bed, found the medicine, and made her take it.
Li Xia stood by the doorway for a while but felt nauseous again. Not wanting to disturb those resting inside, she hurried with her hand over her mouth to the ship's railing and vomited.
Hearing the noise, Qiu Ling came and patted Li Xia's back. When Li Xia finished vomiting, Qiu Ling handed her a cup of water to rinse her mouth. One of the escorts on night watch, Escort Du, noticed the commotion and approached, recognizing Li Xia from their journey from Liuzhou.
"Escort Du, on night watch tonight," Li Xia greeted him.
Escort Du stopped five steps away. "Miss Li, it's cold outside at this late hour. You should return to your cabin soon."
"Thank you for the reminder. I'll go back shortly."
Escort Du returned to his post and continued his watch.
Li Xia leaned against the railing, feeling better after the cool breeze. Turning to Qiu Ling who was keeping her company, she said, "You've worked hard."
"Miss, you shouldn't say that. In the past, I was..." Qiu Ling didn't finish her sentence.
"Do you know why I chose you?" Li Xia asked, looking at Qiu Ling.
Qiu Ling took the water cup. "Why?"
Qiu Ling remembered how before joining the Li Manor, she was thin and dark-skinned. At the agency, others mocked her as a "skinny monkey" who no one would want, suggesting she could make a living as a performing monkey since no one would recognize her.
Back then, she was scrawny while Qiu Chan was sturdy. They were the most looked down upon. When brought to the Li Manor, they thought they were just being paraded around and wouldn't actually be purchased.
But Li Xia chose them. After that, Qiu Chan could eat her fill at every meal, while Qiu Ling had work to do and gained some weight. Qiu Shui would teach her skincare every day, and her complexion became fairer. Although still thin, Qiu Ling looked completely different from before.
"Your hands," Li Xia said, looking at Qiu Ling's hands.
Following Li Xia's gaze, Qiu Ling understood. "Miss, you know."
"I once knew someone who was kidnapped as a child and forced to learn those skills. Until..." Li Xia didn't finish her sentence.
Until the apocalypse, when that person developed iron fists through practicing with his fingers. He always charged to the front, saying it was to atone for his past. Until the end, when he died before her eyes, smiling and saying he had redeemed himself.
"Miss," Qiu Ling said, puzzled by the sadness Li Xia exuded.
"You are now the maidservant Qiu Ling of the Li Manor," Li Xia said, patting Qiu Ling's shoulder. But her expression turned unwell, and she started vomiting again. Qiu Ling steadied her.
As Li Xia finished vomiting and was about to say she was fine, a sudden gust of wind brought an unusual disturbance from the distant waters. She sensed someone underwater approaching them, which was not a good sign at this hour.
Seeing Li Xia's silence and tense posture, Qiu Ling grew concerned. "Miss?"
Before she could finish, Li Xia silenced her as Escort Du approached, alerted by the noise. "What's wrong?"
Li Xia was about to speak but noticed someone watching them from near the cabin. Not knowing if it was friend or foe, she changed her words. "It's nothing, just seasickness."
Li Xia swayed unsteadily, and Qiu Ling supported her.
Escort Du remained at a distance. "Miss Li, you should return to your cabin and rest."
"I'll go back soon," Li Xia said weakly as Qiu Ling helped her back around the corner, out of sight. Li Xia then whispered in Qiu Ling's ear, "Go gather the elder Miss, the maidservants, and the governess in the governess's cabin. I'll find my brother."
She gave Qiu Ling a push and headed towards Li Hui's room. Although unsure of the situation, Qiu Ling recognized Li Xia's serious expression as a sign of trouble and went to Li Xin's cabin with the water cup.
Li Hui was already asleep, with Ban Zhu and Zhang Hu keeping watch. They were surprised to see Li Xia approach. "Miss Li, you..."
"Go wake my brother, but don't be loud," Li Xia said, leaning against a pillar as another wave of nausea hit her.
Seeing Li Xia's serious demeanor, Zhang Hu went inside to rouse Li Hui, who soon emerged, dressed.
"Brother, do you trust me?" Li Xia asked without preamble.
Li Hui didn't answer her question, but his expression showed that he did trust her. As Li Xia opened her mouth to speak, a surge of nausea forced her to use all her energy to suppress the urge to vomit. After catching her breath, she said, "There are river pirates, and there's an insider on the ship."
Zhang Hu went to investigate but soon returned. "No unusual activity."
"Brother, trust me," Li Xia said, looking only at Li Hui.
Li Hui studied Li Xia, took a deep breath, and said, "Zhang Hu, inform Head Escort Wang to prepare for an attack."
Though puzzled by Li Xia's words, Zhang Hu strictly followed Li Hui's orders and left to make the arrangements.
Seeing that Li Hui believed her, Li Xia smiled. "I've asked Qiu Ling to call my sister to the governess's cabin. I'll go there now. Brother, be careful."
When they arrived at Aunt Mei's room, Li Xin had already brought the maids and servants with her. Qiu Shui and Qiu Kui also came, but Qiu Chan was nowhere to be seen.
"Qiu Chan said she's staying in the room to guard the young lady's belongings," said Qiu Shui. She didn't know what had happened but was worried to have Qiu Chan come over. That maid stubbornly refused to come. Qiu Shui had no choice but to bring Qiu Kui first to confirm what was going on.
"What happened to Xia Xia?" Li Xin asked with a concerned expression.
"There were..." Li Xia didn't finish before she needed to vomit again, and Qiu Ling brought over a basin. After vomiting and rinsing her mouth, Li Xia said, "There were thieves."
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