Chapter 41:
Xie Wanning had been ill for two days, and Madam Zheng had been uneasy without sleep or appetite for those two days, her face visibly paling.
Her confidant mama and the eldest son had advised her repeatedly for a long time before Madam Zheng finally got up and left.
Er Qing came in holding the medicine bowl, and it was taken by Xie Yanyu.
He sat down at the bedside, stirring the soup spoon, when Er Xia, also a first-class maidservant, hurriedly entered and reported, “Young Lord, news came from the doorkeeper that Princess Pingning heard the young lady was ill and came specifically to visit. She has already entered the estate and should arrive soon.”
The hand holding the medicine bowl paused slightly, and before Xie Yanyu could speak, several footsteps sounded from outside the door.
He said indifferently, “Let her in.”
…………
Pei Yuxuan left her maidservant outside the door and lifted the curtain herself to enter the inner chamber.
As soon as she entered, she saw the young master who was distant and cold toward her, wishing to avoid her by three measures, feeding medicine to her younger sister.
His movements were gentle, his gaze focused.
She was slightly stunned, her eyes instantly revealing joy.
She had not expected that coming to visit the sick would allow her to encounter the man of her heart.
Xie Wanning was awakened by the bitterness; her mouth and nasal cavity were full of bitter taste, sliding down her throat, making her whole body bitter.
She frowned and opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was a spoon of pitch-black medicinal soup handed over, startling her into quickly turning her head away: “Bitter!”
Er Qing, who was supporting her from behind, was overjoyed, “The young lady is finally awake.”
Xie Yanyu withdrew the soup spoon and reached out to touch his younger sister’s forehead, withdrawing his hand after a moment and saying, “Now that you’re awake, drink the medicine yourself.”
“…” Xie Wanning fell silent for a moment, not daring to refute at all, and took the medicine bowl with a bitter face, truly unable to bring herself to swallow it.
Pei Yuxuan, who had been watching for a long time from the side, finally couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.
“Xuan Jie Jie!” Xie Wanning looked up and saw she had come, her eyes widening a bit: “How did you come?”
“I heard you were ill, so how could I not come to see you?” Pei Yuxuan took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, smiling, “Not only me, my elder brother happened to have nothing to do and came too, but he can’t come in, so he’s outside looking at your flowers and plants right now.”
Xie Wanning: “…”
She parted her lips: “Pei Yuqing came?”
Calling an older outer male by full name and surname like this was actually somewhat discourteous.
Pei Yuxuan’s brows lifted slightly, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Xie Yanyu from the side knocked on his younger sister’s head and said indifferently, “Drink the medicine while it’s hot.”
Xie Wanning gave him a look full of deep bitterness and hatred, held her breath, and drank the medicine in one gulp.
Er Qing brought over a dish of candied fruit, and Xie Wanning picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, finally easing that bitter taste a bit.
Xie Yanyu instructed Er Xia from the side: “Go call the estate doctor to come take the pulse again.”
“No need for such trouble,” Pei Yuxuan stopped Er Xia, smiling, “My elder brother’s medical skill is not bad. Whenever I have a cold or fever, it’s always him who treats me. He’s outside right now; I’ll go call him.”
With that, she didn’t even ask if it was okay and turned to trot out.
Xie Wanning: “…”
The estate doctor was an outer male, and Pei Yuqing was also an outer male.
Both were taking the pulse, so there was no real difference.
But…
She looked toward her elder brother, and Xie Yanyu met her gaze, saying, “If you don’t want him to come, your elder brother will go ask him to leave.”
“No!” Xie Wanning hurriedly spoke out.
As soon as the words fell, she realized what she had said, her hand gripping the quilt tightening slightly, her pallid cheeks during illness tinged with a faint blush.
Xie Yanyu looked at her lowered head and said no more.
In the silence, the Pei Family brother and sister entered.
Pei Yuqing stopped a few steps away, his gaze falling on the young lady inside the curtain.
The little young lady was sitting on the couch hugging the bedding, her long hair simply pinned up, wearing thin nightgown with an outer garment over it, a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead, looking somewhat fragile and haggard.
No longer having the lively wantonness from the day she teased him.
He only felt a sudden pang in his heart, his brows slightly frowning.
Xie Yanyu had already stood up to make way, saying indifferently, “Thank you for the trouble, Changqing brother.”
Pei Yuqing nodded slightly and walked over.
The hand gripping the bedding tightened even more, and Xie Wanning suddenly regretted not having her elder brother stop him outside.
She didn’t know how long she had been unconscious; her body was soaked in sweat, sticky and uncomfortable, and her complexion surely wasn’t good either.
In her dream, the two months before she spat blood, she had a sickly and haggard appearance. So thin that even plain clothes couldn’t be supported, looking terribly ugly.
While she was lost in wild thoughts, a figure had already sat down in front of her.
Pei Yuqing said, “Give me your hand.”
Xie Wanning’s fingertips tightened, then she gently looked up, and the instant her gaze met his, she suddenly wasn’t nervous anymore.
She pursed her lips and frankly extended her wrist.
A warm fingertip pressed on.
Pei Yuqing slightly lowered his eyes, seriously taking the pulse.
Pei Yuxuan from the side saw this, tilted her head to look at Xie Yanyu, and whispered something. Xie Yanyu paused, glanced at his younger sister, and ignored her.
In the room with so many people, it surprisingly became this quiet.
After a long time, Pei Yuqing raised his eyes, carefully examining her complexion for a while before saying, “Afraid of bitterness?”
Clearly, he had heard her refusing to drink the medicine just now from outside.
Xie Wanning nodded with pursed lips.
Pei Yuqing smiled slightly: “Your foundation is well-nurtured, nothing serious. Since you’re afraid of bitterness, I won’t prescribe medicine; use medicinal cuisine instead. I’ll have someone send it to you every day; remember to eat it.”
His voice was gentle and mild, faintly carrying indulgence. Xie Wanning’s heart pounded as she listened.
She awkwardly said, “Won’t it be too much trouble?”
“What trouble is that? Just a word of instruction,” Pei Yuxuan from the side interjected, “My elder brother has many capable people under him; even the medicinal cuisine made by his chefs is tastier than others’, and you can’t even taste the medicine if you don’t pay attention. Guaranteed to satisfy you.”
Hearing that the medicine taste couldn’t be detected, Xie Wanning’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Really?”
Those bright sparkling eyes looked over, and Pei Yuqing’s breathing hitched slightly. He paused before saying, “There will still be some medicine taste; don’t be picky, you need to regulate your body well.”
Xie Wanning nodded obediently.
As the two exchanged question and answer, the atmosphere in the room inexplicably became strange.
Pei Yuqing’s attitude of utmost care was so obvious that even a blind person could see something was off.
Realizing her hand was still being held by him, Xie Wanning quickly withdrew it, saying awkwardly, “I’m a bit thirsty.”
Er Xia perceptively offered the teacup.
Pei Yuqing took it first, checked that it was warm water inside, and then handed it to her.
Xie Wanning gave him a speechless look, drank the warm water in big gulps, finally suppressing that bit of unease. Looking at the man still sitting at the bedside, she said softly, “I’m fine now; you can go out.”
Pei Yuqing seemed not to hear, reaching out to take the empty jade cup from her hand.
Xie Yanyu, still standing at the side, finally couldn’t bear it and called his name, saying, “Let’s go out and let the two young ladies talk.”
“…” Pei Yuqing stood up, lowered his eyes to gaze at the young lady on the couch, and said, “Don’t crave cold things; no iced sugar water for these few days, got it?”
Seeing Xie Wanning nod, he then turned and left with Xie Yanyu.
As soon as the two men left, Xie Wanning took a deep breath, even straightening her back a bit.
Just as her emotions eased, she turned her head and saw Pei Yuxuan smiling at her with an enigmatic meaning.
Vote~~
