newbobooks Chapter 268 Taking in Azhu
Chapter 268 Taking in Azhu
"When I delivered the clothes today, I happened to... happened to run into Concubine Shu admiring the flowers in the yard... I... I carefully put the clothes aside... Who knew... Who knew that I accidentally knocked over... knocked over Concubine Shu's most beloved... blue and white porcelain..." She spoke intermittently, her voice still trembling.
At this point, Azhuo choked up again, tears streaming down her face. She seemed to be able to foresee her own fate, and fear and despair surrounded her tightly.
"That...that blue and white porcelain...is extremely valuable...I...I cannot afford to pay for it...Madam Shufei...Madam Shufei is furious...she wants...she wants to have me beaten to death..."
Ah Zhuo's voice became weaker and weaker until it was almost inaudible. She closed her eyes tightly, as if she had seen the execution scene, and her body trembled even more violently.
"This Concubine Shu is such a crazy woman! She wants to take someone's life for a broken vase!" Yu Lan, who was standing by, was filled with indignation and couldn't help but curse in a low voice.
Cen Jiexiao glared at her, signaling her to be quiet. She knew that in the harem, trouble comes from the mouth, and talking too much would only bring disaster.
She turned to look at Azhu again, and saw that she was wearing thin clothes and had many new and old scars on her body, and she felt even more pity for her.
"What's wrong with you with these injuries?" Cen Jiexiao asked with concern, her eyes full of worry.
Ah Zhuo shuddered upon hearing this, quickly lowered her head, and hesitated, refusing to say more. Her eyes flickered, as if she was hiding something unspeakable.
Seeing her like this, Cen Jiexiao became even more certain that there was something else going on. She didn't press her, but said softly, "If you don't want to talk, then don't. I'll take you back to my place and help you treat your wound first."
Azhu looked at her gratefully and nodded slightly.
After returning to the residence, Cen Jiexiao immediately ordered: "Yu Lan, go get a basin of hot water. Bring the medicine box by the way!" Yu Lan responded and left in a hurry.
Cen Jiexiao helped Azhuo sit down beside the bed and said softly, "Don't be afraid, it's safe here." Azhuo nodded, but tears still flowed down her face.
Yu Lan quickly returned with hot water. Cen Jie Xiao took the basin, wrung out a clean handkerchief, and gently wiped the tears from A Zhuo's face. "Okay, stop crying. Tell me, what happened?" Cen Jie Xiao asked softly.
Ah Zhuo sobbed and spoke intermittently: "I...I didn't break the vase...it was...it was Cui'er..."
"Cui'er? The Cui'er beside Concubine Shu?" asked Cen Jiexiao.
Ah Zhuo nodded and choked up, "It was...it was she who framed me..."
Cen Jiexiao helped Ah Zhuo remove her outer garments and prepared to clean her wounds. She gasped when she saw the crisscrossing scars covering Ah Zhuo's body. These scars, some new, some old, were shocking.
Cen Jiexiao carefully cleaned the wounds and found that there were many types of scars. Some were whip marks, with purple-red whip marks deeply embedded in the flesh; some were burns, with pieces of charred skin that looked particularly glaring; and some were like scratches from sharp weapons, with long and deep wounds, and some had even festered.
"These injuries... were all caused by Cui'er?" Cen Jiexiao's voice was filled with anger.
Ah Zhuo nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. "She...she's jealous of me...she's always targeting me..."
"Why is she jealous of you?" Cen Jiexiao asked while carefully cleaning Azhuo's wound.
Ah Zhuo sobbed and said, "This servant... This servant doesn't know either... This servant is just doing her duty... But... But she..."
"She is jealous of you because you are beautiful, hardworking, and loved by other palace people." Yu Lan interrupted from the side, her tone full of indignation.
Cen Jiexiao nodded in agreement. As she applied the medicine to Ah Zhuo, she softly comforted him, "Don't be afraid. I'll take care of this for you. I won't let Cui'er go!"
"Dean, Cui'er is too cruel! She actually framed Azhuo like this!" Yu Lan said indignantly.
"That's right! This harem is scarier than a snake's nest!" Xiaozhi also echoed.
Cen Jiexiao snorted coldly and said, "I will never let Cui'er go! And as for Concubine Shu, since she dares to be so arrogant and domineering, I will not let her have an easy time either!" Her eyes were sharp and her tone was firm, as if she had made up her mind to seek justice for Azhuo.
Ah Zhuo looked at Cen Jiexiao with gratitude, her eyes full of hope. She knew that she had met someone who truly cared about her.
Cen Jiexiao continued applying the medicine to Azhuo, her movements gentle and meticulous. As she did so, she carefully observed the scars on Azhuo's body. Some were whiplash, some were burns, and some looked like they had been lacerated by a sharp weapon. The mixture of old and new was a startling sight.
"This harem is indeed full of traps and every step is terrifying!" Cen Jiexiao sighed.
"Dean, you must do something for Azhuo!" Yu Lan pleaded.
"Don't worry, I won't let them go!" Cen Jiexiao said firmly. She looked at Azhuo with eyes full of pity and love.
"Azhuo, don't worry, I will protect you. From now on, you are mine, and no one can bully you anymore!"
When Azhu heard that Cen Jiexiao was willing to take her in, she immediately knelt down on her knees, ignoring the new and old wounds on her body, and cried bitterly, choking and saying, "Dean... your servant... your servant..." She was so excited that she couldn't finish a sentence, and the grievances she had felt in her heart for many years poured out like a flood.
Cen Jiexiao quickly helped Ah Zhuo up, patted her back, and said softly, "Okay, don't cry. From now on, just follow me. I won't let anyone bully you again."
Azhuo hugged Cen Jiexiao tightly and cried even harder. She had been sold into the palace since she was young and had suffered all kinds of bullying and hardship. Now she had finally found a safe haven to rely on. The grievances and emotions in her heart were intertwined, making her unable to control her emotions any longer.
Yu Lan and Xiao Zhi also came forward to comfort A Zhuo. They felt deeply sympathetic to A Zhuo's experience and admired Cen Jie Xiao's righteous help.
"Azhuo, don't be afraid. We will be friends from now on and we will protect you." Yu Lan said gently.
"Yes, Azhuo, after the dean has dealt with the affairs in the palace, you will return to Zhaoyin Academy with us. From now on, Zhaoyin Academy will be your home, and we will all be your family." Xiaozhi also said.
Listening to these warm words, Azhuo's heart was filled with gratitude and hope. She knew that she had finally found a real home, a place where she could feel safe and secure.
Cen Jiexiao gently patted Azhuo's hand and comforted him, "Don't be afraid, Azhuo, we'll be here for you from now on. Also, regarding the bullying you suffered before, I will definitely seek justice for you."
Then, she turned to look at Yu Lan and said firmly, "Yu Lan, go and secretly investigate Cui Er immediately. I want to know everything about her, including her likes and dislikes, weaknesses, and all the evil things she has done. I want to know everything, no matter how big or small!"