Chapter 66: Disdain Arises
At this moment, Wen Mingqian spoke, “Master, why don’t you go and see Concubine Song? A woman at this time must be flustered. Having you by her side will also prevent her from worrying excessively.”
She then said to the two maids, “You two, help Master over there properly. Master just had some wine, and the wind might make him feel a bit dizzy.”
It was getting dark, so Sang Er held a lantern, and Yun Ying supported Gong Xu.
Granny Yang still wanted to interfere, so she sidled over to pull Yun Ying away, saying, “Miss Yun Ying, let me help Master! Be careful not to let Master fall.”
“Granny Yang, please trouble yourself to lead the way! We are new here and don’t know how to get to Concubine Song’s courtyard,” Sang Er said with a sweet laugh. “Let Elder Sister Yun Ying support Master! Master just had some wine, and if your old scent were to offend him, it wouldn’t be pleasant.”
Sang Er’s words were not pleasant to hear, but Gong Xu was not angry at all. He simply found such a young girl to be frank and adorable, which was the rarest quality.
Especially when she slightly turned her face to look at him and secretly smiled, she appeared like a maiden in the throes of first love sending shy glances to her intended, making Gong Xu feel as if he had suddenly become over a dozen years younger, an eighteen-year-old young man.
“Granny Yang, you’ve been in Little Madam’s room for a long time, and you’re full of medicinal smells. You should go to the front!” Gong Xu waved his hand, also feeling that Granny Yang was becoming a bit senile.
Granny Yang muttered to herself, reluctantly going to the front to lead the way.
Yun Ying was by Gong Xu’s side, her small hand, like sheep fat jade, resting on his arm. Her sleeves and hair rustled, exuding the fragrance of orchids and musk, and she was gentle and considerate, “Master, please go slowly, watch your step.”
Consort Song was indeed feeling a bit unwell. Hearing footsteps, she knew Gong Xu had arrived and put on a very distressed appearance.
Gong Xu entered and asked, “How are you feeling now?”
“I only feel a severe soreness and swelling in my waist and abdomen, and I am very worried,” Consort Song lifted her head, her face looking frail.
But she immediately saw the two maids who had accompanied Gong Xu.
Indeed, they were breathtakingly beautiful.
“Greetings to Concubine,” the two women greeted Consort Song.
As they slightly bent their bodies, they were like flower branches swaying in the wind, their figures exquisitely beautiful.
Consort Song was so jealous her heart bled, but she showed no trace of it in front of Gong Xu. Instead, she praised, “Oh my, are these the two maids Madam just bought? They are truly stunning!”
“Concubine is too kind, we servants do not deserve such praise,” Yun Ying, being slightly older, was more composed. “Madam heard that Concubine is not feeling well and sent us to inquire. If you need anything, please just say so. She also said that if you don’t get better, perhaps it would be best to invite an Imperial Physician from the Palace. It would only be a matter of paying a consultation fee.”
“Please thank Madam for me. Once I am better, I will definitely go to pay my respects,” Consort Song put on a convincing act. “This is your first time here, and I haven’t prepared anything in haste. I’ll have Granny Yang give you some money as a token of good fortune.”
“We servants thank Concubine. Then we shall take our leave,” the two thanked her and departed.
“Master, I am truly sorry. I told them long ago not to disturb you and Madam. Who knew Granny Yang would become so restless with age and secretly run off to invite you?” Consort Song continued her act, looking innocent.
“It was right for her to tell me, otherwise how would I have known?” Gong Xu said this, but a strange feeling arose in his heart.
He felt that Consort Song at this moment was so gaunt and ugly. Her complexion was sallow, devoid of any spirit, her hair appeared disheveled, and due to lying in bed, her clothes were quite messy.
The whole person looked like a pearl that had lost its luster, turning into a yellowish fish eye.
Why was this happening? He immediately realized this was wrong. Consort Song was carrying his child, and she was weak now. He shouldn’t feel disgusted.
Out of guilt and a sense of unease, he immediately said, “Go and see which of the current Imperial Physicians in the Palace are available today. Take my calling card and offer them a generous consultation fee.”
Consort Song was immediately touched and said, “Master, it’s all my fault for troubling you repeatedly.”
“Don’t think that way. I can’t suffer for you, so I should at least take good care of you,” Gong Xu puffed out his chest unconsciously.
“Master…” Consort Song put on a tearful expression and slightly extended her hand.
In the past, at this time, Gong Xu would have certainly come to hold her and comfort her, but today he turned away. “I’ve had wine, and my breath smells bad. I’d better stay away from you! Have them prepare a bath for me. I’ll come after I’ve bathed.”
“Hua Hong, go and attend to Master’s bath,” Consort Song glanced at the maid beside her. “Be thorough, don’t be clumsy.”
After Gong Xu finished bathing, the Imperial Physician had also arrived.
It was Imperial Physician Chi, who was nearly sixty years old.
After carefully taking Consort Song’s pulse, he also asked some questions.
“Second Master, let’s talk outside!” It is a rule for doctors not to discuss the illness in front of the patient.
Gong Xu then invited him directly to the study to talk.
“Your Residence’s concubine has been pregnant for over two months, but her fetal condition has been unstable,” Imperial Physician Chi said after drinking a cup of tea. “In my humble opinion, this pregnancy may not result in a healthy child. If we try to preserve it, there’s a twenty to thirty percent chance, but even if born, the child will be congenitally weak.”
Gong Xu’s expression naturally soured upon hearing this, but he knew the Imperial Physician was speaking the truth. “Imperial Physician Chi, no matter what, please do your best. Since she is already carrying this child, we cannot just abandon her. As for whether it can be saved in the end, that will be up to fate.”
He knew that Consort Song had already lost one child, and if this one were also lost, she would be doubly heartbroken.
As the child’s father, he also could not bear to give up now.
Imperial Physician Chi sighed and said, “Second Master, I understand. I will first prescribe a formula for her to take. If there are signs of improvement, we will continue with it. I will come to check her pulse every seven days. I hope for the best.”
“Thank you for your trouble,” Gong Xu said gratefully. “Then please write a prescription, and we will get the medicine according to it.”
After a night of fussing, the medicine was finally procured.
Everyone busied themselves with decocting it and had Consort Song take it.
Consort Song had already taken too much medicine these days; the smell of it made her head ache. But there was no choice. In front of Gong Xu, she had to drink every last drop of the medicine to show her determination to keep the child.
“Master, can you stay with me tonight? Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep soundly,” Consort Song looked at Gong Xu pitifully.
“Alright,” Gong Xu agreed readily. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll stay with you.”
Consort Song nestled contentedly in Gong Xu’s arms and fell asleep.
To be honest, she was physically and mentally exhausted. She didn’t know what was wrong with this pregnancy, but it seemed to have drained her vitality.
However, Gong Xu could not sleep at all. His thoughts were in disarray, and he didn’t know what he was thinking.
Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I wish everyone a full moon and a happy reunion! If you have any votes, could you cast a few? Thank you very much, and I wish everyone great fortune!
