Chapter 2 Xing'er
Xiao Yuxuan's lips curled into a mocking smile.
In her past life, her parents and brother took turns forcing her to admit her mistakes, but she refused to bow her head. In the end, she was bedridden and developed a chronic illness. Every winter, a fine pain would rise in her bones.
This time, she pretended to bow her head and admit her mistake, and did not interrupt Bihui's explanation. By a twist of fate, she was able to get cured.
Thank you.
She thanked him sincerely, but she wasn't thanking Xiao Jue or the Xiao family; she was thanking God for giving her this second chance.
Xiao Jue was rebuffed and unable to personally apologize to Xiao Yuyao, so he snorted and walked out, sending someone to find a physician from Baozhen Courtyard.
Before long, the physician, Doctor Pei, came in with a young girl carrying a medicine box.
Doctor Pei was already in his sixties, with his hair and beard completely white.
The little girl behind him is his granddaughter, Pei Xing'er. She is standing quietly behind Doctor Pei, carefully and attentively observing the process of observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation.
Xiao Yuxuan lowered her eyelashes.
In her past life, Xiao Yuyao rescued Pei Xing'er from a local ruffian and took her under her wing, using Pei Xing'er to commit many heinous acts.
Later, after repaying the debt of gratitude for being saved, Pei Xing'er left behind a letter of self-reproach and hanged herself.
If she had the chance in this life, she would like to save this kind and innocent child.
Doctor Pei took Xiao Yuxuan's pulse and asked Bi Sui and Chun Wen about her symptoms over the past two days. His expression grew increasingly serious.
He stroked his beard for a long time, then suddenly excused himself, rose and went outside. He bowed to Xiao Jue, who was waiting outside, and said in a low voice:
"Young Master, Fifth Miss's condition is not good. If it is delayed any longer, it may become a chronic illness. However, there are two approaches to treating this condition. One is to proceed gradually, focusing on gentle tonification with medical treatment as a supplement. The other is to administer strong medicine, which will have an immediate effect, but the process will be more painful. What do you think..."
Xiao Jue looked impatient. She really was sick. He knew that Yu Yao had been weak since childhood. How could his younger sister, who had grown up exposed to the elements, be so useless and fall ill so easily?
He glanced at Xiao Yuxuan's bedroom with the windows tightly closed: "Mother's birthday is in a few days, and there's a palace banquet next month. We can't afford to miss it. Let's go with the second option..."
"Young Master!"
Before he could finish speaking, Pei Xing'er stepped forward, her eyes clear and bright, showing no fear of Xiao Jue:
"I just asked Fifth Sister about the time and symptoms of her fever, and observed her complexion. The first method is definitely the best option. Fifth Sister is your own sister, why would you want her to suffer through another illness?"
After she finished speaking, Doctor Pei hurriedly pulled her behind him, repeatedly saying:
“Young Master, this girl is used to being willful and outspoken around me. Please forgive her.”
After saying that, he turned to Pei Xing'er and scolded her: "Xing'er! Hurry up and apologize to the young master. You are not skilled enough, yet you dare to show off in front of me. When we get back, you will be punished to copy the medical book ten more times!"
Pei Xing'er glanced at her grandfather's face, lowered her eyes, and bowed respectfully to apologize.
Xiao Jue naturally couldn't really argue with a twelve-year-old female doctor. After hesitating for a while, he finally let Doctor Pei use the second method.
Xiao Yuxuan, who was inside the room, listened to their conversation without missing a single word, and sneered inwardly.
She had taken the most bitter medicine in her past life.
In order to conceive a child with her frail and sickly husband, she was forced by her mother-in-law to use all sorts of folk remedies and strange prescriptions, and she drank bitter medicine for a whole year before she finally got pregnant.
But her father was frail, and her son was no better off. In just three years, both father and son passed away, leaving her alone to struggle to support the family and deal with her unreasonable mother-in-law and annoying sister-in-law.
In fact, that seemingly glamorous marriage was also orchestrated by Xiao Yuyao.
The newly appointed third-ranked scholar seemed promising, but Xiao Yuxuan only realized after marrying him that he was all show and no substance, actually suffering from a chronic cough and shortness of breath, and only kept alive by taking ginseng soup every day, which was why she didn't become a widow.
It must have taken a lot of effort for Xiao Yuyao to find such a person.
Now that she has a second chance, Xiao Yuyao can no longer scheme against her.
Seeing her sitting against the headboard, seemingly lost in thought, Bihui felt a pang of heartache.
Although she had only served at Lanting Pavilion for a month, she, who served the young lady closely, knew her personality best.
Regardless of the reason why Miss Yuyao fell into the water that day, the young master's occasional acts of favoritism would have made anyone else cry and protest long ago.
Their young lady remained quiet, as if all of this had nothing to do with her; she was still an outsider who did not belong to the Xiao family.
But she was a maid and dared not interfere in the affairs between her masters. She could only do her best to fulfill her duties and make things easier for her mistress.
"Miss, this is the new medicine that Doctor Pei prescribed earlier. I have already prepared it. Please take it and then get a good night's sleep."
Before Bi Sui could even bring the medicine closer, Xiao Yuxuan could smell its bitterness. Her gaze fell upon it; the medicine was dark, thick, and so bitter it made her want to vomit.
She took it, felt the slightly hot temperature on her fingers, and when it was just the right temperature to enter her mouth, she brought it to her lips, tilted her head back without changing her expression, and drank it all in one gulp.
Startled, Bi Sui immediately took out a purse from her sleeve, untied it, and poured out several round, brown pills:
"Miss, these are sugar pills that Pei Xing'er secretly gave you. She said they won't affect the efficacy of the medicine and can suppress the bitterness. Please eat a few quickly!"
The medicine was so bitter that even the smell made her scalp tingle and her chest churn. How wronged must this girl be to drink it all in one gulp so calmly without uttering a single complaint about the bitterness?
This medicine had to be taken three times a day without fail. Fortunately, Miss Pei Xing'er was thoughtful and even gave the girl some pills.
Xiao Yuxuan was taken aback when she heard Pei Xing'er's name.
The bitterness in her mouth wasn't unbearable for her, but she still reached out and pinched the few sugar pills, slowly putting them into her mouth.
It's sweet but not cloying, and melts in your mouth.
It also seems to have a minty flavor, leaving a pleasant aftertaste.
Pei Xing'er... even if it's just for her frankness just now and for this sugar pill, she has to save her.
After taking the medicine and taking a nap, he woke up in the evening. Chunwen was standing outside and said that Madam had arrived.
Xiao Yuxuan was eating chicken porridge in small bites when she heard this. She put down her spoon, straightened her clothes slightly, and stood up to greet the noblewoman who had entered.
"Yu Xuan greets her mother."
Madam Xiao wore a crimson brocade long coat, with two elegant jade hairpins tucked into her temples. Although she was nearly forty, she was well-maintained and looked like a woman in her thirties.
Perhaps it was because she had been taking care of Xiao Yuyao these past few days that she looked a bit haggard, but fine lines appeared at the corners of her phoenix eyes, which were just like Xiao Yuxuan's, and there were also dark circles under her eyes.
She learned from her eldest son that Xiao Yuxuan had also fallen ill with a fever, and her symptoms seemed to be no less severe than Yuyao's. She felt somewhat displeased.
“I heard from your older brother that you’re someone who never gives me peace of mind. Since you’re sick, why don’t you rest properly? Why are you being so formal with me, your mother and daughter?”
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