Chapter 94
After Lin Xiyue brought Jiang Cairu back home, she threw her directly into the cellar.
Jiang Cairu's delicate body slammed heavily against the hard wall, and she slid to the ground weakly like a bag of skin with its spine pulled out.
Lin Xiyue's face was grim. He lifted his knee guard, strode over, and twisted her throat. Jiang Cairu's face flushed red from being pinched by him. Only a little bit of air came out. She gasped weakly, opened her swollen eye and stared at him.
"Husband...husband..."
Lin Xiyue's cold face flashed with disgust, and seeing her pitiful appearance, she let go of her hand and sneered, "How stupid."
Jiang Cairu covered her throat and breathed heavily. She leaned against the wall listlessly, barely able to breathe.
"You said...you would spare my life..."
"Are you content?" Lin Xiyue returned to the armchair behind her and sat down, her slender figure lazily leaning against the armrest, her tone icy, "I warned you a long time ago to be a quiet young lady in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and not to cause any trouble. But what happened to you? Not only did you provoke Wang Shuhuai, you even dared to complain to His Majesty and even wanted to go back to the Jiang family? Jiang Cairu, do you think you are not dying fast enough?"
Jiang Cairu buried her head under her arms, trembling with fear and saying nothing.
On the wedding night, she made a scene in the side room, so Lin Xiyue threw her into the cellar. After she was released, she tried to escape back to the Jiang family and complain to her father. Lin Xiyue threw a non-venomous long snake into her room. In order to avoid the snake, she got bruised all over and her mind was completely broken.
Later, Lin Xiyue told her that as long as she followed his instructions, nothing would happen. Jiang Cairu was finally driven crazy and lost her temper, so she did everything as he asked.
Until this time...
"I will never dare to do that again..."
Lin Xiyue rushed over like lightning, grasped her delicate hand bones, and approached her with cold eyes.
"You know what I hate the most? I hate stupid, jealous women who can't stand seeing others doing well and try to ruin other people's lives. You could have lived a good life, but you messed up your hand. Who can you blame?"
"I still say the same thing. When I have accomplished my mission, I will let you go back to the Jiang family. If you cause trouble again, I will not only punish you but also the Jiang family."
Jiang Cai regretted it all. She had been spoiled since she was a child. She was the most popular person in Jinling and never allowed anyone to surpass her. Seeing that Xie Yunchu was outstanding in every aspect, she was jealous. Because of Qiao Zhiyun, she held a grudge and made one mistake after another until today. She sobbed and her eyes were filled with fear. She nodded quickly, "I will listen to you, I will listen to you..."
Lin Xiyue stood up indifferently, patted the dust off her palms, and walked up the stairs.
"You'll be given three days to recover from your injuries in the cellar."
Half a month after the academy opened, Xie Yunchu fell ill.
The weather suddenly turned cold that day. Xie Yunchu was covered in sweat and came back to feel the cool breeze. He felt dizzy when he woke up the next day.
She said that since her rebirth, she had always paid attention to keeping healthy and rarely fell ill. This time, she was probably too busy running the academy and fell ill. This illness was a wake-up call for her not to forget the lessons of her previous life.
So he just lay on the bed and didn't get up.
At first it was just a stuffy nose, but at 9:00 p.m. I started coughing, and the symptoms appeared one after another.
The imperial physician examined her and prescribed three days' worth of medicine. After taking it, Xie Yunchu fell into a deep sleep. It was not a big deal, but now she was the wife of the Crown Prince, and many matters in the mansion had to be consulted by her. She did not report to the Glazed Hall that day, and everyone knew that she was sick.
In the morning, the third and fourth wives brought people to visit her.
Xie Yunchu ordered someone to put up a screen to block the way and not allow the two ladies to come in.
"I have caught a cold, and I'm afraid I'll pass the disease on to you two aunts. Please go back quickly, aunts."
The Third Madam was not too worried, as everyone has colds and illnesses. However, she heard Xie Yunchu's nasal voice and gave her some advice, "I brought you some mint incense. Burn it and put it on the tip of your nose to smell it. It will definitely open your mind."
"If you are not feeling well, I will take Brother Er to him and bring him back at night. You can rest and recuperate during the day."
Ke Jie'er went to school. Xie Yunchu was worried that her son might get sick, so she was about to order someone to send the child away. But after hearing what Third Madam said, she suddenly felt grateful and said, "Thank you, Third Aunt."
The fourth wife had just been ill a while ago, so she was not afraid of being infected. She boldly came through the screen and came to the bed to look at Xie Yunchu.
"Oh, your face is flushed, is it because of a high fever?"
Xie Yunchu covered his head and said, "There are some, it's okay, take some medicine and I'll be fine in the afternoon."
The fourth wife said, "I had a cough for half a month before I recovered. Look, there is some loquat paste left. I left it there. Remember to eat it."
Xie Yunchu said ashamedly, "I'm sorry for disturbing the two aunts."
After much persuasion, they finally left. Wang Shuqin and Wang Shuya also rushed back after hearing the news. They didn't even bother to go back to their rooms, but came to Chunjing Hall excitedly.
"Second sister-in-law, you are fine, why are you sick?"
Wang Shuqin's loud voice could be heard from a distance. Xie Yunchu was half asleep, so Nanny Lin stopped him.
"Good girls, the second madam has gone to bed. She is worried that her illness will spread to others, so no one is allowed to go into the house to see her. Girls, please go back."
Wang Shuqin peeked through the window. A six-fold flower-and-bird screen covered Xie Yunchu's bed tightly. Wang Shuqin was unhappy and quickly ordered,
"Move the screen aside and let Second Sister-in-law get some fresh air. We won't go in."
Wang Shuya also said softly, "When you are ready, please send someone to tell them."
“It’s natural.”
By the afternoon, everyone in the house knew about it. The eldest wife and her daughter-in-law Miao came to visit with generous gifts. Wang Yining also came to take a look out of concern, but was sent away by Xie Yunchu.
Xie Yunchu slept for an hour, and his high fever subsided. He leaned on the pillow to rest. After the fever subsided, he felt more exhausted and coughed more violently. The screen was moved aside, and the bright daylight outside poured in. There was a pot of golden chrysanthemums on the windowsill, and the golden stamens drooped, floating in the autumn wind.
A figure came in from outside the beaded curtain, holding a small box in his hand.
It’s Xu Shiwei.
Xie Yunchu looked at her in surprise, "Why is Fourth Brother's wife here?"
Xu Shiwei glared at her and said, "Everyone in the house knows that you are sick, how can I not come?"
Jin Wu sat down in front of her, opened the box and handed it to her. "Here, this is a throat-soothing mint candy. It cools you down and detoxifies you. You cough a lot, try one."
Xie Yunchu was slightly stunned. In her previous life, after she fell ill, Xu Shiwei and others avoided her, but in this life, they rushed to show their goodwill.
"I appreciate your kindness, Fourth Sister-in-law. I just ate one and my mouth is sticky now. You can eat this mint candy in your spare time. I don't really like candy. Fourth Sister-in-law, take it back and enjoy it yourself."
Xu Shiwei showed a bit of sneer, "Let's just leave it here. Sister-in-law can put one in her mouth when she wants to eat it."
Xie Yunchu said nothing.
Seeing that she was tired, Xu Shiwei immediately stood up and said, "I'm leaving first. People coming to visit you one after another will disturb your sleep. You should rest well."
Over the years, Xu Shiwei has always agreed with Xie Yunchu, hoping to win the favor of her sister-in-law, but unfortunately Xie Yunchu has always treated her coldly.
Xie Yunchu asked Nanny Lin to send her out. After a while, Nanny Lin came back with a jar of lemon ointment in her hand.
"Miss, this is what the Third Young Madam just sent. She said that if too many people came to visit you, it would make you feel uneasy, so she won't come. Right now, she has to help the Fourth Madam check the account for the newly bought curtains, so she won't come."
"This lemon ointment is a recipe she got from someone when Xuan Ge'er was sick a while ago. It helped relieve cough. I heard you were coughing badly this afternoon, so I made a jar of it and sent it to you. I hope you will accept it."
Xie Yunchu looked tired and closed his eyes and said, "Let's put it all aside."
In Ninghe Hall, Jiang was sitting in the yard playing with Yue Ge'er. When she heard Nanny Ming mention that Xie Yunchu was ill, her expression froze.
"Is he seriously ill?"
Nanny Ming answered carefully:
"It's just a cold, it's not necessarily serious, but several ladies have come to visit, and you are the second grandmother's serious mother-in-law, wouldn't it be unreasonable for you not to say anything?"
Jiang sighed a few times, revealing a dilemma.
"It's not that I don't want to go, I'm just afraid that she won't like me. Look, she sent my son to my third brother's wife and didn't even leave him to me. Doesn't my biological grandmother care more about him than my great-aunt from the next room?"
She had tried to show her goodwill several times, but Xie Yunchu always treated her coldly, which made Jiang feel embarrassed.
Aunt Ming advised,
"Second Madam is not someone who doesn't know the importance of things. If you go over and look at her, you will see how happy she is. The gap between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will naturally disappear."
Mrs. Jiang was in a state of hesitation. Her son had been promoted step by step over the years and was now a second-rank minister. As a mother, she had never been so proud. Ever since Xie Yunchu became the principal of the academy, many ladies had come to her for help and wanted Xie Yunchu to take care of the young ladies in their families. All of them were very respectful to her. Mrs. Jiang had also benefited to some extent from her son and daughter-in-law.
After hesitating for a while, Jiang gritted his teeth and said,
"Take out the ginseng from my storehouse. I'll go and see her."
Nanny Ming was delighted. She immediately took the key and went to the storehouse to get the ginseng. She then took Jiang's hand and walked slowly towards Chunjing Hall.
But when they arrived at the door, Nanny Lin came out politely and just thanked Yun Chu and went to sleep.
Jiang's tense nerve suddenly relaxed, and she immediately said,
"It's better for her to sleep. Then I won't go in. I'll make her some soup with this ginseng to nourish her body."
Jiang was happy not to meet Xie Yunchu, so she took Nanny Ming and left.
Nanny Lin stared at the ginseng box in her hand and was stunned for a while.
The boiled medicine was taken in two doses, one bowl at 9:00 in the morning and another bowl at 5:00 in the afternoon. Not long after drinking, Xie Yunchu fell asleep again. When she woke up next time, it was pitch black outside the window. She was sweating all over. She was twisting her waist. A hand reached out to take off her wet clothes, and covered her with a warm towel to wipe off the sticky sweat on her body.
Xie Yunchu turned his eyes and met Wang Shuhuai's clear and gentle gaze.
"Second Master?"
She was sleepy and everything looked blurry. Wang Shuhuai's handsome face flashed before her eyes, as if she was dreaming.
Wang Shuhuai carefully helped her wipe the sweat off her body, and then took the dry clothes handed to her by Nanny Lin and asked her,
"Can I wear it myself?"
Xie Yunchu's throat was blocked and his face was hot. "I'm fine. I can put on my clothes by myself."
Nanny Lin lowered the curtain, pursed her lips gently and went out.
The dim yellow light shone through the thin bed curtains. Xie Yunchu tried to sit up, and just as his snow-white shoulders were slightly exposed, he realized that he was naked, so he shrank back.
"Turn your back."
Wang Shuhuai had already changed into his casual robe and seemed to be planning to take a rest.
Xie Yunchu urged him again, "I'm still coughing, go to the study these few days."
Wang Shuhuai refused and said solemnly, "What if you have a high fever again at night and no one notices? I will accompany you and take care of you."
Xie Yunchu looked at him deeply, his expression becoming strange.
Wang Shuhuai was confused by her stare, "What's wrong?"
Xie Yunchu thought of her previous life. In her previous life, she shouldered the responsibility of the entire family. As long as she was not too sick to get out of bed, she would still go to the meeting room to report for duty. She did not finish the birthday banquet for the Jiang family, and then she collapsed completely.
When Wang Shuhuai came to visit her, his face was solemn. He immediately asked a doctor to see her and told her to rest well and not think about anything.
She hoped that he would accompany her, but he was busy competing with Prince Xin and had no time to care about her.
Everything in this life is going in the right direction.
Her husband was willing to serve her, and she enjoyed it.
"Then turn your back and I'll change my clothes."
Wang Shuhuai stared at her straight. He had just helped her wipe her body, so he had seen it everywhere. Knowing that she was shy, Wang Shuhuai did not tease her and lay down with his face turned to the side.
Xie Yunchu changed his clothes and continued to stay in his quilt. He felt much more comfortable now.
“Ahem…”
The cough is intermittent.
Wang Shuhuai freed up one hand and said, "Sit up."
Xie Yunchu panted, "What?"
Wang Shuhuai simply helped her up, let her lean on his shoulder, half-undressed her, raised his hand and pushed down along the Du channel on her vest. His palm was very hot, and the first time he pushed, her skin immediately turned red, and Xie Yunchu shivered with pain. Wang Shuhuai called Nanny Lin to get some medicated oil, put it on his palm and pushed again. This time it was much smoother. Slowly, Xie Yunchu felt that her chest was no longer so blocked, and her cough was relieved a lot.
That night, Xie Yunchu wanted to drink water and got up to go to the bathroom, which disturbed Wang Shuhuai all night.
When he brought her back for the last time, Wang Shuhuai held her tightly, buried his head in her neck, and smelled the scent of medicine on her body.
Xie Yunchu looked at his tired appearance and said fearlessly, "Are you unhappy about the torment? Then sleep in separate rooms."
In the game of love, she is open and honest, and can devote herself to it at any time and withdraw from it at any time.
Wang Shuhuai listened to her carefree tone, and suddenly became angry. He opened his dark eyes and
"Don't try to get rid of me."
I held him and his quilt in my arms and slept all night.
Since Xie Yunchu didn't go to the academy that day, Xiao Youran knew that she was ill. The Xiao family lived close to the Xie residence, so the news was quickly delivered to the Xie residence.
During dinner in the evening, Madam Ming said to Xie Hui, "I have to go and see her tomorrow no matter what. Yun Chu has a very patient temper. She won't rest unless she is seriously ill."
Xie Hui was also worried. "Last time when I was sick, His Majesty gave me a 100-year-old ginseng as a reward. You can bring it to her. She is a thoughtful child and won't complain easily."
Madam Ming glanced at him and smiled, "You also know her personality, why don't you pay more attention to her?"
Xie Hui's face turned red. "As a father, how can I care for my daughter?"
Madam Ming snorted, "You are just full of rigid rules."
Xie Hui was despised by Mrs. Ming and kept silent.
Ever since Madam Ming wanted to help Xie Yunyou find a wife, Xie Yunyou has disappeared without a trace. He is good-looking and cheerful, his brother-in-law holds a high position, and his father is the chief academic officer of the Imperial College. Most of the newly-qualified Jinshi scholars follow him as their leader, and all day long he is either attending banquets or Hanlin banquets. He is even busier than his father Xie Hui, who is an official.
Xie Yunzhou had been devastated since Aunt Lu's accident and could not concentrate on his studies. He failed to pass the imperial examination this time and Xie Hui asked him to take it again in three years, but Xie Yunzhou refused. Xie Yunzhou had studied hard for many years and was exhausted, so he did not want to take the exam again, and Xie Hui could not force him. Moreover, Xie Yunyou's success also made the old father very happy, so he was less demanding on Xie Yunzhou. Xie Yunzhou was getting married soon, and Xie Hui did not want his son to be idle, so he asked his colleagues to find him a teaching position in the county school of Jingzhao Prefecture.
Xie Yunzhou went to work.
There were only two daughters left at the table, Xie Yunshuang and Xie Yunxiu.
Upon hearing this, Xie Yunshuang immediately said to Madam Ming, "Then my daughter will go with you tomorrow."
Xie Yunxiu was under house arrest by Xie Hui and was not allowed to leave the house easily. After hearing this, she fell into deep thought.
Madam Ming glanced at Xie Yunxiu and saw that she lowered her eyes and did not speak. She stroked the ends of Xie Yunshuang's hair lovingly and said, "Good child, you should stay at home. Your sister is not feeling well. If too many people go, it will only disturb her."
Although Mrs. Ming did not like Xie Yunxiu, she did not want to favor one over the other and make Xie Yunxiu appear isolated, so she simply left Xie Yunshuang at home and did not take anyone else with her.
Xie Yunshuang nodded obediently.
But the next morning, Mrs. Ming also caught a cold and fell ill. Xie Yunshuang stayed behind to take care of her, so naturally she didn't mention visiting Xie Yunchu.
Xie Yunxiu got the chance and slowly came to Xie Hui's study to consult him.
"Father, when I passed by my aunt's farm on my way back to Beijing, I saw that my aunt had lost a lot of weight and was always having nightmares, muttering about you, father. I felt sad and wanted to go to the temple to pray for my aunt to get rid of her bad luck. Besides, my mother and sister are both sick, and I am worried about them. So I decided to go to the temple to get amulets for them, one for my sister and one for my mother. What do you think?"
After all, Xie Yunxiu was raised by Xie Hui, and she was usually very obedient and well-behaved. Thinking of her good intentions, he did not stop her and told the housekeeper to get some silver for her, "Then go quickly and come back soon."
Xie Yunxiu dressed herself up and went out, pretending to take a stroll around the nearest Dragon Emperor Temple. She used the private money she had saved in Jiangzhou to buy a valuable gift and went straight to the palace.
She did not approach Xie Yunchu, but instead sent a letter to the second wife, Jiang, under the name of Madam Ming.
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