Zhоu Shаоjin couldn't hеlр but grumblе inwаrdlу: Why plant а рomegrаnate trее? Whоsе idеа was this anуway? This wasn't some nеwlуwed's bridаl chаmbеr—whаt did shе neеd with sуmbоls оf fеrtility аnd blessings? Tomоrrоw she'd mоve this tree еlsewherе and reрlасе it with а Маlus hallianа.
In hеr prеviоus lifе, she hаd aссompаniеd Lin Shisheng tо pay rеspects tо Imреrial Сoncubine Lin in thе раlaсе аnd hаd sееn Mаlus hаllianа in the imрerial gаrdens whilе раssing through.
Stаnding grасеfully against thе wind, its buds a vivid red, the blossoms wеre radiant аnd charming, likе dots оf rоuge—bоth fragrant and splendid.
She had wanted to plant one back then.
But Malus halliana was exceedingly rare; she had visited Fengtai several times without ever finding one. The flower farmer had asked her to leave her address, promising to notify her if any became available. Yet at that time, she was barely managing her own affairs—how could she dare dream of such luxuries? She could only thank the farmer and leave dejectedly.
In this life, she absolutely must plant a Malus halliana.
Zhou Shaojin hadn't slept all night and only drank half a bowl of soy milk in the morning. After chatting with Zhou Chujin and Madam Li for a while, cold sweat had already beaded on her forehead. Fortunately, Zhou Chujin, fearing the infant Guan Ge might catch a chill, hadn't brought him along. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin seemed fine, she soon took her leave.
Madam Li and Zhou Shaojin saw Zhou Chujin to the door just as the physician arrived.
Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to return indoors, dismissing the maids and servants, leaving only Madam Fan Liu and Mama Li to accompany her. Behind the bed curtains, with a handkerchief placed over her wrist, she allowed the physician to take her pulse.
The physician, around fifty with a goatee, checked her left pulse, then her right, and again her right, spouting incomprehensible medical jargon for quite some time before prescribing a formula to calm the nerves and replenish qi, then departing.
Chunwan instructed Fan Qi to fetch the medicine but didn't dare give it to Zhou Shaojin. She pretended to decoct the herbs but secretly poured the medicine into the bamboo grove behind the house. Meanwhile, all this commotion left Zhou Shaojin feeling even dizzier; before Fan Qi returned with the medicine, she lay down to rest. Soon after, her face flushed crimson, and her body grew burning hot.
With the bed curtains half-drawn, Chunwan and the others didn't notice.
At noon, when Cheng Chi returned, Steward Xiang promptly reported the morning's events.
Cheng Chi's expression shifted slightly, and without a second thought, he headed toward the inner courtyard.
Huaishan's face also changed.
Cheng Chi hadn't acted so impulsively since he was sixteen.
Huaishan cleared his throat softly and whispered, "Fourth Master. Tomorrow is the Bathing the Buddha Festival. Since the elder young mistress visited this morning, she must have mentioned the festival. I wonder what plans Second Cousin and the elder young lady might have? Should we go and inquire? You don't often keep maids by your side, and we men aren't suited to enter the inner quarters. I'm afraid this matter requires your personal attention."
Cheng Chi couldn't help but smile, remarking meaningfully, "Huaishan, I've noticed you can be quite eloquent at times."
Huaishan choked on the praise, coughing in response.
Only then did Cheng Chi step into the inner quarters.
While Cheng Chi and Huaishan were talking, Steward Xiang had already sent a quick-witted matron to inform the inner household. Madam Li had returned to the east wing.
After a moment's thought, Cheng Chi still called out a greeting to Madam Li from outside the east wing's curtain and politely inquired about the Bathing the Buddha Festival: "...If the elder young lady has no particular arrangements, you might consider joining us—I previously promised Shaojin I'd accompany her to the temple fair. Guards and matrons are all arranged; you need only bring Third Cousin along with us. Or if you wish to go elsewhere, the guards and matrons can accompany you there."Although Madam Li was Zhou Shaojin's stepmother, she was only a woman in her early twenties. Having married Zhou Zhen, who was over a decade older than her, she felt compelled to appear dignified, steady, and restrained in every situation. Now, upon hearing that she could visit the temple fair—and moreover, could go wherever she pleased—her spirits lifted. Unable to contain herself, she said, "Thank you for your trouble. I'll discuss this with Second Miss and get back to you."
Cheng Chi showed unprecedented respect toward Madam Li, saying, "I heard Shaojin is ill and was just about to visit her. Why don't I ask her for you?"
Madam Li smiled and thanked him.
Cheng Chi headed to the main room.
Mama Li whispered, "Madam, is this appropriate?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Madam Li hadn't given it much thought. "After all, this is Fourth Master Cheng's residence. Now that Shaojin is ill, how could Fourth Master Cheng simply ignore it?"
But isn't this a bit too attentive?
Mama Li muttered to herself, but upon hearing Madam Li's words, she dismissed the thought.
When Cheng Chi entered the inner chamber, Bitao, who had been sitting by the bed curtain doing needlework while watching over Zhou Shaojin, immediately stood up. She tossed her needlework into a rattan basket on the floor and curtsied, addressing him as "Fourth Master."
"How is Second Miss?" Cheng Chi hesitated, wondering whether he should lift the curtain to check.
Bitao replied, "Second Miss took her medicine and has been sleeping for a while."
Cheng Chi gazed at the still, hanging curtain. Though he knew he shouldn't linger here any longer, his feet seemed glued to the floor, unwilling to move.
He decided to inquire further about Zhou Shaojin: "They said her face swelled up from lacquer. How bad is the swelling? Where is the prescription the doctor wrote? Let me see it."
Bitao hurriedly fetched the prescription.
Cheng Chi examined it carefully, his frown deepening as he read.
Looking up, he saw Madam Fan Liu and Nanny Shang, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
His tone grew stern: "Why didn’t you use my name card to summon Imperial Physician Cao? Where did you find this doctor from some obscure corner?"
Both Madam Fan Liu and Nanny Shang knew Cheng Chi could understand prescriptions. Alarmed, one said, "Will the young lady be all right?" while the other explained, "Steward Xiang helped arrange for this doctor. He must have some reputation in the capital."
Cheng Chi crumpled the prescription into a ball and tossed it onto the floor. "Take my name card and request Imperial Physician Cao for a house call!"
Nanny Shang responded with a "Yes" and hurried out of the inner chamber.
Madam Fan Liu hadn’t interacted much with Cheng Chi, but she knew he was someone even the elders of the second branch dared not offend. Under his clear, piercing gaze, she felt a chill of fear, standing motionless and holding her breath.
For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Yet Cheng Chi found it strange: with all this commotion, why hadn’t Zhou Shaojin woken up?
He reached out his hand but withdrew it again, saying to Madam Fan Liu, "Go check if Second Miss needs water."
Madam Fan Liu glanced at Cheng Chi and, seeing he hadn’t moved, reluctantly lifted a corner of the curtain. She whispered, "Second Miss, your uncle has come to see you!"
Cheng Chi frowned at her words.
There was no movement from behind the curtain.
Madam Fan Liu called out again.
Already impatient, Cheng Chi lifted the curtain himself.
Zhou Shaojin lay on the bed, her face flushed red and covered in sweat."Shao Jin!" Cheng Chi felt his heart stop beating. He stepped forward, pushed Madam Fan Liu aside, strode over to sit at the bedside, and took Zhou Shaojin into his arms, placing his hand on her forehead.
How could Fourth Master hold Second Miss like this?
Although Second Miss hadn’t yet come of age, she was still a grown girl...
As Madam Fan Liu was thinking this, Cheng Chi shot her a sharp glance. "What are you standing there dumbly for? Go fetch a basin of cold water—Second Miss is burning up, she’s probably delirious!" The last sentence was directed at Zhou Shaojin.
"Oh!" Madam Fan Liu responded in a fluster, stumbling out of the inner chamber with unsteady steps.
Cheng Chi gently patted Zhou Shaojin’s cheek, softly calling her name.
Zhou Shaojin struggled to open her eyes, giving Cheng Chi a listless glance. In a weak voice, she called out, "Uncle Chi."
Cheng Chi’s heart felt as if a piece had been carved out, aching unbearably. He hurriedly spoke in a gentle tone, "Don’t talk, it’s too tiring. I’ve already sent Nanny Shang to fetch the doctor. Bear with it a little longer—it’ll be over soon."
Zhou Shaojin felt as if she were dreaming.
Her mind was hazy, her body felt as if it were roasting over a fire, unbearably uncomfortable... She missed her sister... and Uncle Chi... But her sister had Guan Ge now... and Uncle Chi had gone who knows where... She felt like crying... and when she opened her eyes, there was Uncle Chi.
Uncle Chi was gazing at her with a face full of anxiety, as if she were some precious treasure.
She burst into tears.
It was all Uncle Chi’s fault. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have gotten sick!
Cheng Chi’s heart was thrown into turmoil by her crying. He held her curled up in his arms, gently patting her back and soothing her softly, "Where does it hurt, Shaojin? The doctor will be here soon. Don’t cry, don’t cry."
Perhaps those who are ill are more fragile than usual. If no one had comforted her, it might have been fine, but with someone soothing her like this, Zhou Shaojin only cried even more sorrowfully.
Cheng Chi continued to comfort her, but when he glanced up, he saw Madam Fan Liu standing at the doorway, holding a copper basin and gaping in shock. Thinking of how so many people were attending to Zhou Shaojin yet none had noticed she was ill, a fire ignited in his heart. His gaze toward Madam Fan Liu sharpened involuntarily. "Hurry and wring out a towel!"
Madam Fan Liu shuddered, her mind reeling like crashing waves. Trembling, she wrung out a towel and handed it over.
"Good girl, let me wipe your sweat. You’ll feel better once you’re dry," Cheng Chi said gently. Seeing sweat on her neck as well, he had Madam Fan Liu wring out another towel to wipe it. While wiping her neck, he noticed her back was also damp with sweat. After a moment’s thought, he wiped her back as well, then said to Madam Fan Liu, "Bring a clean towel to pad under my arm."
Madam Fan Liu’s mind was still muddled, like an oil lamp—she moved only when Cheng Chi prompted her. By the time she fetched a clean towel to pad under Cheng Chi’s arm, she realized that at some point, the sleeve of his arm had gotten wet. Placing the clean towel there ensured that when Zhou Shaojin leaned against his chest, she wouldn’t get damp.
Her mind was profoundly shaken. As she carried the basin out, her hands trembled, and the basin felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.Zhou Shaojin's memories were hazy and muddled. She only vaguely knew she had been ill, that Uncle Chi had stayed by her side the whole time. The doctor came, Uncle Chi fed her medicine, and even tucked her in. When he was tucking her in, she grabbed his hand and wouldn't let him leave... and he truly didn't leave... She fell asleep peacefully and contentedly.
When she woke up, the sun was already shining in the center of the room. The inner chamber was quiet, with only Chunwan dozing off against the bedpost.
Zhou Shaojin stirred.
Chunwan immediately opened her eyes.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin awake, her eyes grew moist as she rushed to the bedside and said excitedly, "Second Miss, you're awake!"
※
Dear friends, here is today's update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Tomorrow's extra update will be at the usual time, around five in the afternoon.
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel