Chapter 156 Disaster Looms (Gu Jinyu)
Gu Changqing's face turned cold as he picked up the medicine bowl and gently fed Gu Yan the medicine.
Gu Changqing is the eldest brother, and he has two younger brothers. Although he is not much older than them, his biological mother passed away early, and his stepmother remarried. His biological father only has eyes for his stepmother and her two children.
There are some things that servants cannot provide, so he was quite experienced in taking care of his two younger brothers.
Of course, Gu Yan is different from Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin. He is too weak and must be treated with utmost care, like a newborn kitten.
In her dazed state, Gu Yan tasted the bitterness and disgustedly pushed the spoon away with her tongue.
A few drops of medicine were spilled on the back of Gu Changqing's hand.
Gu Changqing wasn't annoyed. He sat down by the bed, helped Gu Yan sit up, and put a pillow behind his back.
He scooped up another spoonful and fed it to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan turned her face away and tilted her head on the pillow, refusing to drink.
Gu Changqing was incredibly experienced at dealing with such little creatures. There were candied fruits on the table, so he picked one up and fed it to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan licked it; it was sweet. He opened his mouth to eat it, but Gu Changqing stretched out a spoon and fed him the medicine.
Caught off guard by the sudden dose of medicine, Gu Yan opened his eyes wide, completely bewildered!
When Gu Chenglin was a child, Gu Changqing fed him medicine in the same way, and he had the same little expression. However, to be honest, Gu Chenglin was not as cute as Gu Yan.
Gu Yan had a high fever, her cheeks were flushed, and a tuft of hair stuck up on the top of her head.
Gu Changqing couldn't help but think of the silly little roe deer he had seen while hunting.
I'm afraid I'll never be able to face roe deer as prey again.
Gu Yan was a little dazed from the fever and didn't react to Gu Changqing for a moment, thinking he was dreaming. Then, in a daze, Gu Changqing fed him the medicine.
Gu Changqing rewarded him with a candied fruit.
He didn't eat it; instead, he held it in his hand.
Gu Changqing asked, puzzled, "Why aren't you eating?"
Gu Yan said aggrievedly, "If I wake up and the candied fruit is still there, I'll know I'm not dreaming."
He had a terrible cough, his voice was hoarse from coughing, and you could hear the grievance in his voice even without looking at his eyes.
Is it because I haven't visited him lately?
Gu Changqing remained silent for a long time.
You know nothing yet.
If one day you knew that I was the older brother who neglected you, disliked you, and let you be bullied by others when you were a child, you would never say that again.
You wouldn't want to see me either.
They certainly won't wait for me.
Gu Changqing looked at Gu Yan again, who had already fallen asleep on the pillow.
He pulled the blanket over him and prepared to leave, but as soon as he moved, he found Gu Yan's hand tightly gripping his sleeve.
Gu Changqing stared at the hand for a long time, sighed helplessly, and sat back down on the stool.
That night, Gu Yan had a high fever. He had a heart condition and couldn't take antipyretics indiscriminately.
Gu Jiao put an ice pack on his forehead, then took two quilts outside to freeze, and brought them back inside to wrap Gu Yan in once they were frozen solid.
Gu Yan refused to obediently wrap himself in the ice blanket, so Gu Changqing pulled him and the blanket into his arms.
The temperature was just right for Gu Yan, but for a normal person it would be like hugging a huge block of ice. Gu Changqing's lips turned white from the cold.
By daybreak, Gu Yan's high fever had finally subsided completely and did not recur.
Gu Changqing dragged his body, which was already numb and stiff from the cold, back to the mansion.
Gu Yan was the most dangerous of the three children. If he's alright, then everyone else is basically safe.
Madam Yao came once and learned about the three children's illness. She was extremely anxious, but since she had never had smallpox, Gu Jiao did not allow her to enter the house.
Today, Gu Jiao tidied herself up and decided to go to the Marquis's residence to let Yao Shi know that she was safe.
The weather is nice today, no wind, and the sun is shining brightly, making it feel warm and cozy on your skin.
The servants in the mansion knew her identity, so they didn't dare to stop her. She walked in openly through the main gate.
The Yao family's courtyard was truly secluded; one had to pass through the second gate, walk past the waterside garden, and then circle around half of the mansion.
When Gu Jiao arrived at the Water Pavilion Garden, she heard a melodious zither tune coming from inside, which sounded very much like the tune that had bothered her for half an afternoon at the clinic that day.
It's just a little smoother, and the sound quality of the guqin is also purer.
"Sister Jinyu, you play so well."
In the pavilion with its rolled-up curtains, a girl in pink looked at Gu Jinyu with genuine praise.
Gu Jinyu stroked the strings and looked at the girl gently: "Once you learn it, you'll be able to play it very well too."
The girl sighed, "But how can I learn it?"
Gu Jinyu smiled gently: "Once you get into the girls' school, you'll be able to learn it. The teachers at the girls' school are the best in the entire Zhao Kingdom, much better than the tutors you hire at home."
The girl took Gu Jinyu's arm and said affectionately, "Then cousin, you have to help me!"
Just a moment ago she was calling her Sister Jinyu, but now she's changed her address.
Gu Jinyu patted her hand: "Don't worry, as long as you are willing to learn, I will definitely teach you well."
Gu Jiao had no intention of eavesdropping on their conversation, but... it was just too quiet here, and the two of them weren't lowering their voices at all.
Gu Jiao recognized the girl; her name was Ling Shuixian, the grandniece of Old Madam Ling, and she was a month younger than Gu Yan.
This time, I came to the manor intending to stay for an extended period. My reasons are twofold: first, to fulfill my filial duty to Old Madam Gu, and second, to seek guidance from Gu Jinyu, hoping she can help me pass the entrance examination for the girls' school after the New Year.
Madam Gu doted on this grandniece and harbored the idea of bringing her and Gu Changqing together, so she agreed to let her stay at her residence.
Whether or not she could pass the entrance exam for the girls' school was not within the scope of Madam Gu's worries.
Gu Jinyu's earnest tutoring was a way of giving face to Old Madam Gu, which pleased Old Madam Gu greatly, and she grew to like Gu Jinyu even more.
"Huh? Who's that?"
Gu Jiao had no intention of befriending Ling Shuixian, but Ling Shuixian noticed Gu Jiao at a glance.
There's no way around it; even without her face, Gu Jiao's refined and elegant demeanor is simply too eye-catching.
Gu Jinyu had the curtain lifted, glanced at Gu Jiao, and said, "That's my sister."
"Your sister?" Ling Shuixian frowned. "Which sister? I don't know her."
Gu Jinyu smiled wryly: "Yan'er's twin sister."
“Her.” Ling Shuixian suddenly realized. As a cousin of the Marquis of Ding’an, she had naturally heard such important gossip.
She had long been curious about what her cousin, who grew up in the countryside, would be like, and seeing her today, she was truly not disappointed!
"How rude! Going out without even wearing a veil, showing your face in public without any regard for the reputation of the Marquis's mansion!"
Daughters of prominent families like theirs are very particular. For example, when she came to her uncle's mansion, she would ask someone to lower the curtains when she sat in the pavilion, so as not to damage the young lady's reputation.
Gu Jinyu smiled and said, "Cousin, please don't say that. I've suffered a lot in the countryside, and I only show my face in public because I have to make a living."
Ling Shuixian suddenly asked, "Did she really feed pigs?"
"Huh?" Gu Jinyu was taken aback.
Ling Shuixian said with disgust, "How filthy!"
Ling Shuixian didn't dislike Gu Jiao; she simply looked down on her. She had always despised Yao Shi, whose child had been raised in the countryside for over a decade. Who knew what kind of good-for-nothing had been raised to be?
And that face, oh my god, what a huge birthmark!
It's so ugly!
Ling Shuixian scoffed, "I heard she used to be an idiot? Is she still an idiot now?"
Gu Jinyu smiled and said, "My sister's silly habit is cured. Cousin, please don't say such things anymore. Let's go and say hello to my sister."
Ling Shuixian said disdainfully, "I'm not going, you go if you want!"
Gu Jinyu was definitely going; with so many servants watching, she couldn't be rude to her sister.
She stepped out of the pavilion, came to Gu Jiao, and affectionately called her "sister." Then she introduced her, "...That's my cousin Shui Xian over there. Would you like to come and sit with us?"
"No need," Gu Jiao refused.
Gu Jinyu wasn't surprised at all, but still smiled and tried to persuade her to stay: "You can sit for a while."
"I'm not going," Gu Jiao still refused.
Gu Jinyu lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "Then go ahead and do your work, sister. I won't bother you any longer."
Gu Jiao walked away.
After taking a few steps, as if remembering something, she turned back to look at Gu Jinyu: "I'm going to see Madam, do you want to come with me?"
This was the first time Gu Jiao had taken the initiative to invite Gu Jinyu.
Gu Jinyu was stunned for a moment.
The lady she was referring to must be her mother.
Does she still call her mother that?
Also, why would she suddenly ask her to come along?
It was rare for her to take the initiative, and reason told Gu Jinyu that this was a great opportunity to repair their relationship. If her mother saw her with her sister, she would be very happy.
But that would mean she would have to leave Ling Shuixian behind.
Ling Shuixian was the apple of Old Madam Gu's eye, and her three older brothers in the mansion also doted on her. If I were to befriend her, Old Madam Gu and my brothers would treat me differently.
Ultimately, Gu Jinyu chose Ling Shuixian over Yao Shi.
Whether her mother comforted her or not, she loved her the same; but her brothers, on the other hand, required her to constantly work hard.
"I'm sorry, sister. I just promised my cousin Narcissus that I would tutor her. I'll come find you and Mother after I'm done with the tutoring," she said sincerely.
Gu Jiao didn't say anything, and turned to leave.
Gu Jinyu returned to the pavilion.
Ling Shuixian asked, "What did you talk to her about for so long?"
Gu Jinyu said softly, "She asked me to go to my mother's place, but I thought I'd finish tutoring you first before going."
Ling Shuixian was very satisfied that Gu Jinyu had chosen her.
Just then, the trusted nanny from Madam Gu's courtyard came over carrying a food box. She greeted the two of them and said, "Miss, this is the medicine you instructed the servants to prepare for the young master. Would you like this old servant to deliver it to him, or would you like to deliver it yourself?"
Gu Changqing is ill.
He's always been in good health, but for some reason, he fell ill after returning home three days ago.
Madam Gu immediately notified her family and asked Ling Shuixian to stay at the mansion, ostensibly to fulfill her filial duty, but in reality, to find an opportunity to curry favor with Gu Changqing.
This medicine wasn't prepared by Miss Ling; it was prepared by Old Madam Gu. The trusted nanny's words were a subtle reminder to Ling Shuixian to quickly take the medicine and go take care of the young master!
Ling Shuixian liked her eldest cousin very much, so how could she not understand Madam Gu's arrangements?
"Give it to me, I'll deliver it myself!"
She took the food box.
After thinking for a moment, she said to Gu Jinyu, "Do you want to come with me to see my older brother?"
Gu Jinyu's eyes lit up.
Her elder brother had been ill for several days, and she had wanted to visit him for a long time, but she couldn't get into his courtyard.
As expected, I was right to refuse Gu Jiao earlier; the opportunity to please my older brother has come so quickly!
The two went to Gu Changqing's courtyard.
Unfortunately, Gu Changqing went to practice his swordsmanship on the back mountain.
When the old Marquis was still in the Marquis's mansion, he never allowed him to slack off or be lazy just because he was sick.
He was an unlucky kid who had to practice horse stance and swordplay even when he had a high fever.
Ling Shuixian decided to wait for him in the courtyard.
After waiting for a long time without seeing Gu Changqing return, Ling Shuixian gradually became restless and began to wander around the courtyard.
She was a cousin of the Marquis's family. The old lady and the three young masters doted on her. The servants dared not say anything to her, only reminding her not to go to the Prince's study.
But he might as well not have reminded him at all.
Ling Shuixian went there anyway.
As soon as she entered, a series of loud bangs came from the study.
Gu Jinyu's expression changed, and she quickly went to the study: "Cousin! Are you alright?"
...
In the courtyard, Yao met her daughter.
She took her daughter's hand and sat down on the kang (heated brick bed) in the warm room.
"You've lost weight," she said with concern.
Taking care of three patients, with poor eating and sleeping habits, Gu Jiao has indeed lost some weight.
"Are they all alright?" Yao asked.
"She's alright now," Gu Jiao said.
The three little patients are all lively and energetic now, but they are still contagious, so Gu Jiao still lets them stay at home.
Madam Yao was relieved: "Thanks to you, otherwise Yan'er's health would not have been able to withstand this illness."
Gu Yan's health was so poor that even a minor cold could kill him, let alone smallpox.
Madam Yao understood that her daughter had made countless efforts behind the scenes to give her son a body that was ten times healthier than before.
This time, it must have been my daughter's meticulous care that allowed my son to recover so quickly.
Gu Jiao hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
As the mother and daughter were talking, a maidservant rushed in, looking flustered: "Madam, Eldest Miss, something terrible has happened! Second Miss is in trouble!"
(End of this chapter)
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