"It... it was I who accidentally knocked over the teacup and got burned." Min looked at Xiqiu cautiously, then took her hand for reassurance, "Mother, it was really my carelessness that burned me."

If he had knocked over the teacup himself, it should have burned the back of his hand. How could it burn the wrist?

Xiqiu did not look at Min, released his hand, and walked to the door, lifting the curtain: "Where are Wuzhong and Erquan?"

"Madam." Hearing Xiqiu’s call, Wuzhong and Erquan came over from the corridor and stood at the door. Xiqiu frowned and said, "Come in, I have something to ask you."

Erquan and Wuzhong looked anxious, hanging their hands as they entered.

"How did Young Master Min injure his hand? Tell me." Xiqiu stood by Min and held his hand. Erquan, being honest, turned pale at the question. Wuzhong’s eyes shifted as he hurriedly replied, "It... it was I who brewed tea for Young Master Min, but he couldn’t hold it and it spilled, burning him." He quickly knelt in front of Xiqiu: "It was my fault, please punish me, madam!"

Standing beside, Min anxiously gestured to Wuzhong.

"You speak." Wuzhong was clever, Erquan was honest, so Xiqiu turned to ask Erquan. Erquan trembled and knelt down too, saying, "...It... it was me who brewed tea for Young Master Min; I... I accidentally... knocked over the teacup..."

Though Erquan spoke, he stuttered. Xiqiu, despite not interacting much with them regularly, understood each person’s temperament. Erquan was an honest person, always stuttering and blushing when lying, making it clear they had prearranged the story.

"Alright, I got it. You two may leave." She understood after asking, wanting to spare Min’s dignity in front of the servants, and waved her hand, "Ask Bihuai to bring some ointment for burns."

Erquan and Wuzhong looked worriedly at Min before cautiously backing out.

Xiqiu pulled Min to sit back on the rose bed. Her anger seemed to vanish as she softly spoke, "How did you get burned? Why don’t they wait for the tea to cool before serving?" Without looking up at Min, she rolled up his sleeve, waiting for Bihuai to bring the ointment.

"Next time, if something like this happens, the first thing you should do is rinse with cold water for a quarter of an hour, then it won’t be so severe."

Min nodded, feeling guilty and said, "Mother..." He lowered his head, looking remorseful, "I’m sorry."

Xiqiu sighed but didn’t say anything. Just as Bihuai brought in the ointment, surprised to see Min’s wound, "Young Master Min, how did you get burned so severely?" She opened the jar, said to Xiqiu, "Madam, let me handle this."

Xiqiu nodded slightly, released Min’s hand, and walked to the table to drink tea. Min looked at Xiqiu’s indifferent expression, eyes reddening, lowering his head, silently letting Bihuai apply the ointment.

"Young Master Min, how did this happen?" Bihuai saw the transparent ointment already applied, gently wiped with cotton cloth, applied fresh ointment, and gently blew air: "Does it hurt? Try to bear it."

Min nodded, responding to Bihuai, "...It was hot tea." Quickly glanced at Xiqiu.

Bihuai frowned, angrily said, "It must be Wuzhong’s doing, he’s always clumsy." She paused, "How could he serve hot tea without cooling it, how could the master drink this!"

Min’s mouth moved, but he said nothing more.

Bihuai finished applying the ointment and asked Xiqiu, "Madam, should it be wrapped?" Xiqiu set down her teacup, nodded mildly, her voice still cool and clear, "Wrap it, just avoid clothing contact."

Bihuai complied, carefully wrapping with a layer of cotton cloth. She noticed Xiqiu’s low spirits, glanced at Min worriedly, quickly finished and stood with the tray, saying, "Young Master Min, keep it dry; tomorrow morning, I will change the ointment again."

Min nodded, and Bihuai lifted the curtain, leaving. At the door, she signaled to Min, indicating Xiqiu’s apparent displeasure, suggesting he should actively apologize.

"Mother!" Min, head down, walked to stand by Xiqiu, "I... I was wrong."

Xiqiu set down her teacup, turned to him, asking, "What was your mistake?" Min hesitated, not daring to look at Xiqiu, "I... I didn’t dare to deceive Mother, yet I instructed Erquan and Wuzhong to deceive you together."

"Hmm." Xiqiu’s expression finally improved: "Then tell me, how did you lie to me."

Min pondered for a moment, looking at his feet, "The tea was knocked over accidentally by the Eldest Prince and Mr. Shen while playing."

So that’s how it was, Xiqiu eased her brow, pulled him to sit by her, asking, "So you feared my anger, yet knowing you couldn’t truly be angry at the Eldest Prince, you fabricated this story to deceive me?" Min uneasily glanced at Xiqiu, nodded.

Xiqiu held his hand, softly speaking, "Silly boy, if I truly wanted to know, I could have simply asked around and found out. Besides, since it was unintentional, there’s no reason to be upset. Next time, when you see them horsing around, stay clear of them." Min saw Xiqiu wasn’t angry nor blaming him, instantly relieved, nodded, "I understand."

Xiqiu looked at him, but shifted her tone, "So was that hot tea on your table? Who brought it?"

"It was Xiao Anzi." Having opened up, Min felt better. The Eldest Prince, being royalty, even if it wasn’t intentional, they couldn’t really do anything. Moreover, even the Emperor had spoken favorably, they couldn’t hold grudges, nor had the right or possibility to do so... Hence, Xiqiu didn’t get angry; Min had no need to hide anything further.

Xiqiu nodded, patting his head, "Understood, you can go play now; be cautious with the pen, don’t let it touch water with your burnt hand." After a pause, she asked, "Will this delay your learning?"

"No," Min shook his head, though it somewhat affected him; it hurt a lot!

Xiqiu helplessly smiled, sighing, "Then go find Seventh Uncle and Zhi." Min nodded, agreed, smiling as he left. At the entrance, Wuzhong and Erquan greeted him, "Young Master Min, madam didn’t punish you, right?"

"I’ll explain later." Min quickly lowered his voice as he headed to the courtyard via the corridor.

Xiqiu stood at the window, watching Min’s disappearing figure, her expression turned somber.

If the tea was brewed by Erquan and Wuzhong, she could understand. Both were young and not accustomed to such tasks, so occasional negligence was forgivable. However, the tea was brewed by the little eunuch from Wenhua Hall. Eunuchs serving in the palace undergo strict selection and training. The temperature and timing of serving tea, its placement, are all taught meticulously.