Shi Lan rushed to Lanxiang Courtyard. Shi Lan looked at her pale-faced mother with guilt. Shi Lan gently stroked her head and softly asked her if she felt unwell.
Shi Lan felt uncomfortable all over from her questions, but she couldn't say anything, so she could only bury her head in her mother's arms and remain silent.
Shi's mother first touched her forehead and, seeing that she didn't have a fever, breathed a sigh of relief. She guessed that she was probably having a nightmare, which was why she was so listless and unwilling to eat.
The doctor arrived after being urged by the old woman. After examining the patient, just as Tianguo had expected, he diagnosed her with qi deficiency and internal heat. The doctor didn't even prescribe a prescription, only saying that she should eat more mild and sweet foods to nourish her qi. He added that if she could take some medicinal food to nourish her for a while, she would naturally recover.
Hearing the doctor's diagnosis, Shi's mother's anxiety subsided. After seeing the doctor off, she hurriedly ordered Liu Mama to open the storeroom and fetch the aged Solomon's Seal ginseng and the newly purchased Cordyceps sinensis.
Shi Lan moved her lips, about to say no, but Tian Guo secretly gave her a look. Shi Lan paused, swallowing back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
As the sun began to set, Shi Lan saw off Shi Xi, who had come to visit. She looked at the brocade boxes piled on the table and the medicinal herbs she had just bought from the pharmacy. These were all sent by her mother, who had asked Cui Zhi to use them to make snacks for Shi Lan.
Cuizhi used to spoil Shilan, always using fresh flowers as an ingredient to enhance the sweetness of the desserts. Now, suddenly, she wanted to use goji berries, dried tangerine peel, jujubes, and poria cocos instead. Under normal circumstances, she would have been in a difficult position. But after seeing Liu Mama's actions, Cuizhi's thoughts changed drastically. As someone who aspired to be the most caring and trusted maid by her master's side, she not only didn't feel a headache at this moment, but was also inexplicably excited.
Cuizhi arrived at the small kitchen full of high spirits, intending to show off her skills, but instead saw a small earthenware pot sitting on the stove, with wisps of medicinal fragrance mixed with the rich aroma of chicken wafting throughout the house.
"What's this?"
Cuizhi stepped forward and examined the tightly sealed jar.
"Piglet and jujube soup," Sweet Fruit said, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan and tilting her head to check the cooking time.
Cuizhi glanced at him, knowing that some of the medicinal recipes were exclusive secrets and not to be shared with outsiders, so she turned around and went to the side to get the tools for making pastries.
Sweet Fruit lifted the lid and, seeing that the fire was getting right, moved the earthenware pot to a small stove to simmer. Just then, she noticed the poria cocos and other ingredients beside her and said, "This soup of mine is sweet and rich. It's a bit too sweet if you drink it on its own. I was worried about what to add to balance it out, but you just happened to think of the same thing as me. Honey soup with dry and soft poria cocos cake is the perfect combination."
Cui Zhi glanced at her and gave a faint "hmm," secretly reminding herself that no matter how much Cui Zhi tried to be friendly, she had to maintain her stance and not let her guard down.
Seeing that she looked wary, Sweet Fruit didn't mind, smiled, and turned to leave.
Cuizhi turned to look at her back, unable to figure out what she was up to.
In the evening, when it was time for dinner, Shi's mother sent someone to deliver the dinner early and sent Liu Mama to keep an eye on things. Shi Lan had drunk a bowl of thick soup and a few Poria cocos cakes in the afternoon, and was not hungry at all. In addition, the dishes on the table were all medicinal dishes made with medicinal ingredients, which smelled bitter, let alone want to eat them.
Seeing that Shi Lan refused to eat, Liu Mama set out the dishes from the side, gently persuading her, "These medicinal dishes are a bit bitter, but they are very effective. Madam has been restless because of your illness. Even just to ease Madam's mind, you should eat more of them."
Shi Lan sat upright in the armchair, her face stern and unwilling, but she finally picked up her chopsticks, took a mushroom from the plate, and slowly began to eat.
Seeing that she was willing to listen to advice, Liu's mother secretly breathed a sigh of relief and served her several more bites before stopping.
After dinner, Liu's mother took the tea tray from Cuizhi and served Shilan tea.
The maids cleared away the bowls, cups, and plates. Shi Lan took a sip of longan and jujube tea to get rid of the bitterness in her mouth before saying, "It's not a serious illness. I'll be fine after some rest. When you go back, please comfort my mother and tell her not to worry and hurt herself. Otherwise, if I get better in a couple of days and she gets sick instead, it will be my fault."
Liu's mother said yes, and seeing that Shi Lan had no further instructions, she withdrew.
Cuizhi saw Liu's mother off at the hospital gate. On her way back, she bumped into Tianye, whose eyes were gleaming with a sharp light, and was startled.
"what are you doing here?"
Cuizhi clutched her chest and glanced at her.
Sweet Leaf glanced at her, then looked at the figure disappearing outside the courtyard and asked, "Who was that person?"
Cuizhi turned her head and glanced at her, saying, "That's Liu Mama, who serves Madam."
Sweetie's eyes flashed, her thin lips pressed tightly together, and a captivating coldness suddenly appeared on her originally delicate face.
Cuizhi, not knowing why she was like this, asked, "What's wrong?"
Sweet Leaf glanced at her, said nothing, and turned to disappear into the gradually unfolding night.
Cuizhi pouted, picked up her handkerchief, turned around, and went back into the house.
Sweet Leaf hid among the branches of a tree directly opposite the house, lost in thought. For some reason, she felt that the figure looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she had seen it before.
The days of recuperation neither passed quickly nor slowly. Shi Lan, retaining most of the original owner's temperament, stayed in bed feeling that if she didn't get some sun, she would really get moldy.
Just then, Shi Rong returned in the brilliant sunset, and the Shi family, which had been quiet for a long time, suddenly became lively. Shi's mother, who had been saddened by Shi Lan's illness, immediately cheered up and hurriedly prepared a family banquet, and sent someone to inform Shi Lan.
Shi Lan was lying on the bed, boredly reading "The Story of a Heroine." Upon hearing that Shi Rong had returned, she excitedly sat up abruptly, startling Cui Zhi, who turned pale, fearing that Shi Lan's wound would reopen. Tian Guo smiled and said, "It's alright, Miss's injury is almost healed. As long as you don't exert yourself too much, there won't be any major problems."
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