Chapter 282: Illness
Fei Shi's words left Yu Jingxiu momentarily stunned. She turned her face away to wipe the moisture from her eyes, and when she looked back, her expression was radiant with a bright smile.
"This humble one will take her leave now," she said, curtsying respectfully to Yu Jingxiu. "Young Master should rest early." With that, she rose and swiftly exited the study, hurrying back to the kitchen.
The kitchen was as quiet as when she had left. Everything had already been tidied up, and Cai Rong sat on a small stool, lost in thought.
Seeing Fei Shi return, her face lit up with joy as she called out, "Madame!"
Fei Shi smiled and nodded at her. "After I left, did any of the kitchen matrons give you trouble?"
"No," Cai Rong replied, her heart warmed. "No one else came after you left."
"Then let's return to our quarters," Fei Shi said cheerfully. "It's getting late, and we must pay our respects to the First Madam early tomorrow morning."
Cai Rong agreed, holding up an umbrella to escort Fei Shi back.
For some reason, she felt as though Fei Shi had let out a sigh of relief, her entire demeanor now much lighter.
The next morning, the rain had stopped.
Cai Rong rose early to help Fei Shi wash and dress. Just as they stepped out of the side chamber, before they could even call for Consort Wu, they heard Yu Jingxiu's furious shouts from the main room. Though the words were indistinct, the anger in his voice was unmistakable.
Yu Jingxiu was known for his gentle temper—rarely did he lose his composure, let alone in front of the First Madam!
Cai Rong shivered, her heart fluttering nervously as she glanced at Fei Shi.
Fei Shi's expression was grave. "Go inform Consort Wu," she whispered. "We'll wait a while before going over."
Cai Rong nodded hastily, supporting Fei Shi back inside before heading next door to relay the message to Consort Wu.
Consort Wu thanked her with a smile, handing her a handful of honeycomb toffee, then had Lianxin help her change into a casual gown. She settled onto the heated kang by the window and began her needlework.
Lianxin, however, was restless as if a cat were clawing at her heart. She kept tiptoeing to the door of the side chamber to peer outside.
Consort Wu called her back. "Beware of inviting unnecessary trouble."
Lianxin flushed with embarrassment and sheepishly returned to Consort Wu's side, picking up her own needlework.
At noon, word came from the front courtyard that Fan Shi had fallen ill.
After a moment's thought, Consort Wu instructed Lianxin, "Help me change into proper attire. We'll go see the First Madam."
Lianxin hesitated. "Is now really the right time?"
Even a fool could tell that the First Madam's illness stemmed from her quarrel with the Young Master.
She couldn't help muttering under her breath, "Who knows if she's really sick or just..." She didn't dare utter the words "pretending."
"Must you always speak so carelessly?" Consort Wu frowned, scolding her in a low voice.
Lianxin quickly clung to Consort Wu's arm, offering an ingratiating smile. "I only say such things in front of you, Madame! I'd never dare around others!"
"And you know such words shouldn't be spoken at all!" Consort Wu fretted over Lianxin's lively, impulsive nature, fearing she might land herself in trouble. With little power to shield her, she could only admonish her sternly. "Haven't you learned that disaster comes from careless words? Do you not remember what happened to that little maid who served in the front hall? Why can't you ever learn?"
Lianxin paled, trembling as she clung tightly to Consort Wu's arm, hastily promising, "I won't dare again!"Consort Wu whispered a few more instructions to her before leading the way to the main house ahead.
Fei Shi and Cai Rong had arrived earlier and were waiting under the eaves. When they saw Consort Wu approaching, Fei Shi smiled and nodded at her, then glanced toward Fan Shi’s main house, indicating that Fan Shi was unwell and it wasn’t the right time or place to greet her.
Consort Wu was happy to avoid the trouble and returned the smile.
The curtain of the main hall was lifted as Mo Zhuan stepped out with a stern expression. “The imperial physician that the young master invited for the mistress will arrive shortly. The two consorts should step aside for now.” With that, she turned back inside without even sparing a glance at Fei Shi or Consort Wu.
Consort Wu didn’t mind and was about to leave when Fei Shi called out softly, “Let’s go together.”
Consort Wu nodded with a smile, but just then, Madam Yu entered, surrounded by a large entourage of maids and matrons.
The two quickly stepped aside and curtsied respectfully as Madam Yu passed, greeting her with a deferential “Madam.”
Madam Yu’s gaze swept over them, but she didn’t slow her pace, striding straight into the hall.
The maids and matrons followed, eyes downcast, except for Mama Shu, who glanced back at Fei Shi.
Fei Shi had been discreetly observing Madam Yu’s group, and their eyes met.
Mama Shu’s lips twitched into a faint, ambiguous smile.
Fei Shi’s heart skipped a beat, but before she could scrutinize further, Mama Shu hurried after Madam Yu into the hall.
Mama Shu was an extremely low-profile figure, obedient only to Madam Yu—even Yu Jingxiu might not command her. What could her look possibly mean?
Consort Wu had kept her head bowed the entire time. Once Madam Yu and her entourage entered, she exhaled in relief and turned to Fei Shi, who seemed distracted. “I’m heading back. Will you wait here or come with me?”
“I’ll go with you!” Fei Shi’s expression was stiff as she forced a smile at Consort Wu. The two walked back in silence.
By the afternoon, word came from the main house that the imperial physician had diagnosed Fan Shi with heartache.
This news even startled Grand Secretary Yu.
“How could someone so young suffer from such an illness?” he asked Madam Yu with a frown, irritation flickering between his brows. “You should select a few more women for De Pu’s household. This can’t go on.”
“Are you confused, my lord?” Madam Yu replied with a smile. “How can we assign anyone to De Pu’s household at a time like this? Even if we must, we should wait a while. Let’s take this slowly.”
Grand Secretary Yu grew impatient. “We’re halfway to the grave already, yet we only have Zhen Jie’er as our sole granddaughter. This isn’t the time to coddle him.”
Having been married for decades, Madam Yu could read his thoughts from his tone. Her expression darkened. “My lord, has something happened outside?”
“What could possibly happen outside?” Grand Secretary Yu waved his hand dismissively, though his agitation was clear. “Just focus on managing the household.”
Madam Yu acquiesced but later sought out Yu Huaian for answers.Yu Huaian cautiously weighed his words: "There hasn't been much happening these days... except that General Zhao from Guizhou was commended for pacifying the barbarians. His Majesty ordered the Grand Secretariat to deliberate on promoting General Zhao to Assistant Commissioner of the Right Military Governor's Office, with the additional honor of bearing the Seal of the Southern Expedition General... It seems for this matter, His Majesty even specially had Her Majesty the Empress summon Zhao Ling's wife to the palace for an audience to show imperial favor..."
Madam Yu's mood instantly turned sour.
A Sen, however, was in excellent spirits.
He asked Fu Tingyun: "So that means Ninth Master is getting promoted again?"
"We'll have to wait for the official document," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile, bending down to retrieve a pair of tiger-head shoes that Xi Ge'er had worn as a child from a chest and handing them to Wang Jingtong. "Here, put these by your pillow for good luck."
Wang Jingtong blushed as she accepted the shoes, only to look up and see A Sen grinning foolishly beside her. She shot him a glare that was more bashful than angry, its gentleness robbing it of any real sting.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Sister-in-law!" Wang Jingtong stamped her foot in protest.
Everyone burst into laughter.
"I'm just happy for A Sen!" Fu Tingyun said, her eyes growing moist. "A Sen is going to be a father now..." The memory of her first meeting with A Sen brought tears to her eyes despite her efforts to hold them back.
A Sen's eyes reddened as well.
Wang Jingtong knew of A Sen's background—he had shared his past with her often after their marriage.
Her heart ached, and she too began to cry.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'll treat A Sen twice as well," she assured Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly. Seeing Wang Jingtong's tear-streaked face, she felt she had been too sentimental and quickly wiped her own tears away with a laugh. "Look at me—you've come all this way, and here I am saying such sad things." Taking Wang Jingtong's hand, she added, "Come, let me find you a few more of Xi Ge'er's old clothes... Newborns have such delicate skin; worn clothes are gentlest and won't chafe them. They're the best choice..."
Wang Jingtong also felt she had overreacted. Though still somewhat embarrassed, she smiled and followed Fu Tingyun into the inner room where the chests were kept. Hoping to lighten the mood, she brought up Zhao Ling's possible promotion again: "Father mentioned that a general bearing the seal is considered first-rank, while an Assistant Commissioner in the Governor's Office is third-rank. Since Elder Brother is currently second-rank, wouldn't his new position count as first-rank? I wonder if he'll receive three salaries?"
Fu Tingyun laughed at Wang Jingtong's words. "I'm not after his three salaries—I was hoping he'd get that Assistant Commissioner position... When Her Majesty mentioned it, I secretly rejoiced for ages, only to find out it's just an honorary title!"
"Don't underestimate honorary titles, Sister-in-law," Wang Jingtong said with a smile. "With this title, Elder Brother will receive intelligence reports from the Right Military Governor's Office and have a say in its affairs..."
Fu Tingyun was well aware of this, though she couldn't help nursing certain hopes.
Since Zhao Ling wouldn't be returning anytime soon, she dropped the subject and sighed instead. "I wanted to visit your elder brother in Guizhou, but he wouldn't hear of it—said the miasma there is too dangerous and might make me ill... If only Xi Ge'er were a little older."Generals like Zhao Ling, who guard the frontiers, are required by regulation to leave their families in the capital. If they wish to bring their wives to their posts, they must leave their eldest sons to reside in the capital.
Both options are equally painful. Staying with Zhao Ling means being separated from their son, while caring for their son means living apart from Zhao Ling. She could only hope that Zhao Ling would truly make the decision to leave Guizhou in ten years...
As Fu Tingyun and Wang Jingtong were chatting, Yue Chuan rushed in in a panic: "Madam, it's terrible! The young mistress has hit someone!"
"Youyou?" Fu Tingyun was shocked. "Wasn't she practicing calligraphy in her room? How could she have hit someone? Is the injured person alright? Has a doctor been called?"
"Steward Zheng has already gone to fetch the doctor," Yue Chuan said, nearly in tears. "The one who was hit is a young boy. He's covering his eyes and crying in pain—we don't know how bad it is..."
Hearing it was a child and that the eyes were injured, Fu Tingyun felt her limbs go weak with fright, barely able to stand.
As a mother herself, she couldn't help but imagine how she would feel if it were her own child in such a situation...
She didn't dare think further, urging Yue Chuan frantically: "Quick, take me to see what happened!"
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A bit earlier today—hopefully tomorrow will be back on track... O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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