Chapter 189: Just As I Said, Right?
Fu Jing only started to break his fever when the sky was about to brighten. He felt groggy, his whole body weak, his throat stuffed with a lump of burning charcoal—hot, dry, and painful—his back burning hot as if someone was vigorously brushing it back and forth with a wire brush.
Because the wound was on his back, Fu Jing had been lying prone the whole time. After waking for a short while, he felt as if many little worms were crawling inside his body, numb, itchy, and painful, making him unable to resist wanting to move a little. However, just as he tried to prop himself up, the tearing pain in his back made him groan out loud.
“Cough cough, water······” Fu Jing’s voice was almost too low to hear.
The servant had taken care of him all night and only sat on the footstool leaning against the bed edge to nap a bit after dawn when his high fever subsided. Hearing his voice, he jolted awake and called out in surprise: “Young Master, you’re awake!”
“Mm, give me some water to drink.”
“Alright, Young Master, please wait a moment. I’ll pour it for you right away.” The servant jumped up happily from the footstool, ran to pour him a cup of water, brought it over, and tried to feed it to him.
“Help me up first. My whole body is numb from lying prone.”
“Young Master, the household physician said not to let you move around, to avoid opening the wound.”
“It’s fine, just be gentle.” Fu Jing really couldn’t lie prone any longer.
Seeing how uncomfortable he truly was from lying prone, the servant finally had no choice but to carefully help him sit up, then quickly checked his back. Seeing no new blood stains on the bandages, he relaxed, picked up the teacup from the side, and held it to Fu Jing’s lips.
After drinking two cups of water in a row, Fu Jing finally felt the lump of charcoal fire in his throat barely extinguished. He slowly moved his neck a bit, accidentally pulling on his back again, hissed, and didn’t dare move.
“Young Master, how do you feel now?” The servant gently draped a slightly thicker cloak over Fu Jing’s shoulders, then carefully watched his complexion and asked.
“Much better, just still no strength.”
“It’s natural to have no strength. Young Master, you had a high fever all last night and nearly scared me to death.” The servant pursed his lips and said.
“Mm, you’ve worked hard. Later, I’ll give you double the monthly pay.” Fu Jing was amused by his wrinkled face.
“Thank you, Young Master!” The servant pursed his lips again and thanked him in a low voice.
“By the way, did my father send anyone over yesterday?” After slightly shifting his body to a relatively more comfortable position, Fu Jing asked.
At the mention of this, the servant’s face immediately fell. “He came, it was Changsheng from Master Fu’s side. He asked why Young Master hadn’t gone to the Dingguo Duke’s Mansion to find Young Master Mo. I said Young Master had a fever and he didn’t believe me. I had to directly pull him to the bedside to see with his own eyes before he believed it.”
“What else did my father say?” Although he no longer held hope for his family, hearing it directly still made Fu Jing feel his heart hurt once more.
“Nothing. Changsheng went back and hasn’t returned since.”
“······Heh, that’s fine too.” After a long pause, Fu Jing finally uttered these words.
“Young Master, you······are you okay!” The servant felt heartbroken seeing Young Master like this and also deeply indignant on his behalf.
“I’m fine. Help me pack up. I need to go out in a bit.”
“What?” The servant’s eyes widened like copper bells. “Young Master, in your current state, even getting out of bed is hard. How can you go out! Hurry and recover from your injury properly!”
Fu Jing shook his head, a trace of desolation flashing in his eyes. “It’s precisely because I need to recover that I have to go out. Otherwise, do you think I can recuperate well at home?”
The servant thought about it and found it very reasonable. He quickly rummaged through boxes and cabinets, neatly bundled the found things into a bundle and carried it on his chest. He thought again, unpacked it, spread out the neatly folded clothes inside, repeated this several times until it wasn’t obvious even with the bundle on his back, and was satisfied.
Fu Jing’s injury was really quite serious; just getting out of bed had exhausted a great deal of his strength.
“Young Master, how about we rest another day and leave tomorrow?” The servant looked at him with heartache and tentatively asked.
“No need, let’s go now!” Fu Jing shook his head.
The servant had no choice but to help him put on a new outer robe. To avoid the belt pressing on the wound, he specially chose a loose one.
After dressing, Fu Jing slowly walked out of the Fu family with the servant’s support.
“Young Master, should we tell Master before we go?” After reaching the end of the alley and turning the corner, the servant asked somewhat nervously.
“No need. Father should already know I’ve gone out by now.” Fu Jing gave a self-mocking smile. How many of the people in his courtyard were planted by Master Fu and Madam Fu—did he really think he didn’t know!
“Ah?” The servant clearly didn’t understand his meaning.
“Ask fewer questions and walk faster! Young Master, I can’t hold on much longer.”
“Oh, got it. Young Master, let me support you!” The servant didn’t dare ask more, hurriedly stepped forward to let Fu Jing lean on his arm for support.
The two walked for nearly half a shichen before arriving at the destination.
“Young Master, aren’t we going to the Dingguo Duke’s Mansion?” Seeing the two words “Meng Residence” high on the plaque above the gate, the servant suspected his Young Master might have gone muddleheaded from the pain.
“Are you afraid we won’t be chased out? Hurry and knock!” Fu Jing found this servant quite exasperating. Although he was very loyal— the kind no one else could buy—his brain really lacked a string, and talking to him was sometimes too tiring.
“Oh, alright.”
After knocking and stating their purpose, the two were led inside.
“Fu Jing! What happened to you? How did you end up like this?” Meng Yixuan hurriedly followed the servant over and saw Fu Jing’s pale face, cracked lips, and stiff body. For a moment, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Haven’t I come to throw myself on your mercy!” Fu Jing said with a bitter smile.
“What kind of talk is that!” Meng Yixuan helped him sit in a chair, frowning as he asked: “What exactly happened?”
“Isn’t it because of that matter with the Heir of Marquis Zhaoyang! My father got a wild idea to have Fu Qing marry Zi Yuan as an equal wife.” Fu Jing said, “You’d better have someone notify Zi Yuan. I’m not convenient to move around for the time being. If my father doesn’t get a reply from me and stirs up something else, then I and Zi Yuan as friends will be completely done for.”
“Alright, I’ll have someone call him over right away. It’s best if you tell him face-to-face clearly. I’m afraid if it’s passed along, it won’t be the original flavor.” Meng Yixuan had his own concerns.
“Good, you go!” Fu Jing also agreed with Meng Yixuan’s words.
“I’ve already sent someone to call Zi Yuan. Now can you tell me what happened to you!” Meng Yixuan went out for a while and quickly returned.
“What else could it be? Fu Qing went home and complained!”
“I told you, spoiling your sister like that would eventually cause trouble. See, I was right!” Meng Yixuan also disliked Fu Qing greatly. It could be said that none of the young masters from noble families in the entire capital city didn’t find her annoying.
Fu Jing gave a bitter smile, but besides that, what else could he say!
Thanks to Xuewu Feiyang Leng Qingqiu for the monthly ticket, thanks to reader 20230609337-ac and Mmy Dang for the votes, thank you all for your support, thank you!
