The morning sun shone brightly into the room, filtering through layers of sheer curtains and softening the light.
Shi Lan opened her eyes groggily, feeling a splitting headache, her head throbbing and numb, as if she had been beaten up. Her throat felt like it was stuffed with a hot coal, burning and dry with pain.
"Someone come here!" The moment the words left her lips, Shi Lan was startled by her own voice. It was hard to imagine that in just one night, her voice had become as if it had been roughly ground by sand.
Zhu'er lifted the curtain covering the inner room and quickly walked over. Seeing the unnatural blush on Shi Lan's face, she was somewhat alarmed. "Wife, what's wrong?"
Shi Lan stood up weakly, raised her hand to touch her forehead, and said, "I guess I caught a chill last night."
Zhu'er quickly placed a soft pillow behind her and said with concern, "I'll go and ask the lady scribe to come and examine you."
Shi Lan shook her head, showing great self-awareness. The female scribes of the Protectorate were sent by the imperial court to provide medical consultations for the female relatives of the Grand Protector. They were proper female officials. What qualifications did a mere house maid like her have to be treated by them?
"No need, go to the lady-in-waiting and get some medicine for typhoid fever."
Pearl was a little worried, but she still obediently went.
After sitting for a while, Shi Lan felt the weightlessness and dizziness lessen, so she forced herself to get up, changed into a light Hu-style outfit, and slowly began to practice body-refining techniques.
The discomfort in her body made her feel very uncomfortable, but fortunately, her body was very flexible. After a few adjustments, she was able to perform the movements correctly with ease. A warm current gradually surged through her body. Although it was only a thin thread, thinner than a hair, it had already dispelled some of the bone-chilling coldness in her body.
After finally finishing the first round, Zhu'er's voice came from outside, "My lady, I'm going to brew the medicine. Please bear with it a little longer."
Shi Lan hummed in response, wiped the sweat from her forehead, took off her wet Hu-style clothes, and put on a new ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). Even looking in the mirror, Shi Lan couldn't help but break out in a sweat.
The clothes here are far too revealing. Even if you wear two more layers, it's just like looking at flowers through a fog, adding only a bit of allure. Shi Lan was a little worried, so she had no choice but to take out the only other set of Hu clothing she had left and change into it.
After practicing martial arts, her physical strength was depleted. Even though she was still feeling unwell, she still felt a little hungry due to her body's needs. Shi Lan walked into the hall, where there were some flatbreads and a bowl of soup with oil floating on top of them on the table.
Shi Lan frowned, tore off a piece of flatbread, and nibbled on it bit by bit, basting it with her saliva.
Because of typhoid fever, her throat was dry and sore. The flatbread was already terribly dry, and as it slid down her throat, it caused a tearing pain.
Zhu'er brought over the medicine bowl and saw her eating a pancake, so she quickly went over and said, "Madam, let me get you some soup pancakes."
Shi Lan shook her head; she already had something in her stomach and didn't want to eat anything else.
When Zhu'er saw her looking over, she quickly handed over the brownish medicine, saying, "My lady, drink it while it's hot."
A faint, astringent bitter taste wafted over. Shi Lan frowned, barely managing to spit it out. If it weren't for Zhu'er's busy preparations, she probably would have spat it out.
It was truly bitter. In all the worlds she had lived through, the dregs of the medicine she had drunk would probably be as tall as two or three people. This was truly the most bitter medicine she had ever drunk, without exception.
Seeing her contorted expression, Zhu'er looked at her with pity, "My lady, good medicine tastes bitter. Drink it and sweat it out while it's hot, and you'll feel better."
Shi Lan moved her tongue and felt a little numb. It was as if her mouth had suddenly lost its own control. She asked, "What's in here? Why isn't my tongue working properly?"
Zhu'er shook her head, looking bewildered, and said, "I don't know. It was the prescription written by Lady Han. I gave it to the steward, and he got the medicine."
Shi Lan swallowed hard, moved around a bit, and felt much better, which put her mind at ease.
"My throat is parched, go and boil some water," Shi Lan said, glancing at the still half-finished medicine.
Pearl accepted the order and withdrew.
Shi Lan carried the medicine, looked around, and finally found a window. She hurried over and craned her neck to look.
The ground is covered with short green grass, and a few patches of yellow sand are decorated with small and delicate plants, giving the courtyard a unique vitality.
Shi Lan rolled her eyes and looked around, then turned to look inside the house. Seeing that no one was there, she quickly splashed the medicine outside. The medicine seeped silently into the ground, leaving only a few water droplets on the grass that trembled and dried up in a short while as the breeze blew.
Zhu'er brought in hot water, and Shi Lan drank a few sips, feeling warmer. She then covered herself with the quilt and lay back down on the couch.
Pearl quietly closed the window and tucked the blanket in before slipping out.
Shi Lan's mind was still a little hazy. She closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up, it was already dark, and candles had been lit in the room. Shi Lan blinked and took her arm out from under the quilt. Before she could move, a large hand pressed her down.
"Don't get up. What do you want? I'll get it for you."
The voice was deep and gentle; if you didn't see his face, you would think he was a refined and cultured gentleman.
Shi Lan raised her eyes, looked at the person who had come, and with a strained waist, said in a hoarse voice, "Lan Niang greets A Lang," as she tried to get up.
Yue Zhan frowned and pressed her back down, "Alright, you're so sick, what's the point of talking about manners?"
Shi Lan took a few breaths and lay back down, surprised at how quickly her body was losing energy.
Yue Zhan raised his head and called out, "Someone come here."
Pearl walked in quickly.
"Get some soft, mushy soup dumplings, and then call Lady Han over to take your pulse."
Pearl said yes and turned to leave.
Shi Lan quickly pulled Yue Zhan aside and said, "It's better not to. Zhu'er took some medicine this morning. Just brew another dose and drink it."
Yue Zhan sneered and said, "Those ladies are all so arrogant. They don't give anyone a proper medical consultation all year round, but they expect to be fed and pampered by the household. I'm not a philanthropist, and I'm not going to put these people to good use."
Hearing him say that, Shi Lan remained silent. Anyway, with him protecting her, what did she have to be afraid of?
Pearl, who was standing at the door, heard the conversation inside and quietly left.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Lady Han entered with her apprentice.
Yue Zhan glanced at her and then helped Shi Lan lean against the soft pillow.
Han was slightly surprised, but as someone who had experienced the ups and downs of the inner palace, she calmly stepped forward after a brief moment of surprise.
Yue Zhan took Shi Lan's arm out from under the covers. Seeing that her sleeve was tightly pressed against her wrist, he wanted to help her take it off, but he was afraid that she would get cold, so he simply tore off a piece and slapped her wrist onto the examination pillow.
"Come and see how she is?"
Han Nvshi stepped forward, her fingers resting on her wrist. After a long while, her expression darkened.
Yue Zhan's heart tightened instantly, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. (To be continued.)
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