The Sick Bamboo Story in Zhuoyingyuan
"It's already the end of the You hour, haven't Huai Yin and the others come back yet?" Ling Wan glanced at the clepsydra and frowned.
Hongyue said, "Qingyuan said that the Fourth Young Master said that the three young masters made mistakes today and are punished by reciting the Zhaoming Pian. They will be allowed to return to eat after they have finished reciting it."
Shen Huaijin had always been strict with the three young children regarding their studies. But people are made of iron and food is made of steel, and the three children were still growing. Besides, the "Zhaoming Pian" was a long and eloquent 860 words. What heavenly law had they broken today to deserve such a severe punishment?
Ling Wan's eyes flashed with three little faces crying but she couldn't remember them. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Bring four bowls of snow pear soup and follow me to take a look."
Because Chen Huaijin's Zhuoying Courtyard does not allow outsiders to enter, Chen Yuanyuan plans to wait outside the door in the name of delivering soup to put pressure on him.
But not long after she sent someone in to pass the message, Shen Huaijin's personal servant Qing Yuan came out to greet her respectfully: "Second Madam, the young master said that if you are here to pick up the three young masters, you will have to wait a while."
"If you don't mind, you can sit in the side hall for a while."
Well, since the people are here, we must do it with the purpose of taking them away.
This was Xu Lingwan's first visit to Shen Huaijin's courtyard. There were three courtyards, and many Xiangfei bamboos were planted in the front yard. Outside the study, there was a tall crabapple tree.
"Madam, please sit down for a moment." Qingyuan served tea and bowed to step aside.
Just at this moment, the sound of Shen Huaijie reciting and saying "Fourth brother, fourth brother, I can't remember it again, what's the next sentence" came from next door. The loudness of the voice startled Ling Wan.
"How much of the Zhaoming Chapter has the Eighth Young Master memorized?" Ling Wan held the tea and skimmed off the foam.
Qing Yuan lowered his eyes: "Six sentences."
"How much?" Ling Wan almost spit out a mouthful of tea.
"Six sentences. The Eighth Young Master memorized six sentences in two hours."
The little tiger's wailing could be heard from the next room again. Ling Wan no longer felt distressed at this time and began to ask the real question: "What mistakes did the three young masters make?"
"The Eighth Young Master pretended to be sick at school today and left early with the Seventh Young Master."
Huh? No wonder they came back early today. When Ling Wan asked them, Huai Jie said that the teacher got home early from school.
"What about the Sixth Young Master?" Ling Wan held his forehead.
"Sixth Young Master didn't do anything. But because he didn't do anything, Young Master punished him as well, saying that brothers and sisters are of the same blood. As an elder brother, Sixth Young Master knew he was wrong but didn't say anything and even covered up for him. That was wrong."
That makes sense. Brothers fight tigers together, fathers and sons fight together in battle. The decline of great families in ancient times all stemmed from their inner qualities, so they really need to be properly educated.
"Alright, in that case, I won't disturb Huai Jin from teaching his younger brother." Ling Wan gestured to the maid behind her to put down the soup. "It's dry weather, so the kitchen made some snow pear soup. You can take care of it and bring it to the young masters later."
Qingyuan nodded in agreement.
Ling Wan stood up and prepared to leave when she suddenly heard a muffled cough from the next room, followed by the little tiger's soft, sticky voice exclaiming, "Fourth brother, are you still recovering from your cold? Why are you coughing again?"
Is Shen Huaijin ill? Chen Yuanyuan thought about it and realized that he had indeed looked listless these past few days and seemed to have lost some weight.
"When did the Fourth Young Master fall ill?" Ling Wan frowned and walked towards the study.
"He caught a cold half a month ago and hasn't recovered yet." Qing Yuan whispered, "The Fourth Young Master doesn't want to hire a doctor."
"Don't want to seek medical treatment? Why not?" Chen Yuanyuan frowned.
If the doctor you find is not good, you can just change to another one. This was in ancient times when there were no antibiotics, and there were many examples of people dying from a cold. How could you just refuse?
Qingyuan lowered his head and dared not speak.
When I arrived at the study, I saw Shen Huaijin sitting in an armchair, his eyes red from coughing, and he was holding onto the chair handle, panting softly.
"Go get a doctor." Ling Wan looked around and realized there were only a few servants in the courtyard. She was a little confused as to why the precious Shen Silang would live like a monk.
"It's okay, no need to trouble the doctor." Shen Huaijin looked up at her and stood up to salute.
Ling Wan's brows furrowed even more. If this got out, it would seem like she had treated him harshly.
"Hongyue, take the three young masters back to Yanxi Residence first." Ling Wan ignored him. "Qingyuan, quickly go get Imperial Physician Liu. Qingshu, help the young masters to their bedrooms to rest."
Ling Wan sat outside the screen, and a low coughing sound continued from the inner bedroom.
Doctor Liu was a retired doctor who had always been on good terms with the Shen family. Seeing him come out, stroking his beard, Ling Wan immediately stood up and asked, "Master Liu, how is Huai Jin?"
Doctor Liu bowed and said with lowered eyes, "Second Madam, the Fourth Young Master has some heat in his lungs. I will give him three doses of medicine and he will be better."
"That's good, that's good. Thank you, Lord Liu." Ling Wan's heart settled down. As he personally escorted the imperial physician out, he had someone beside him present him with a thick silver envelope. "I'm so embarrassed to have to ask you to come so late at night."
"Second Madam, you are flattering me." The old doctor raised a corner of his eyelids and lowered his head again, "With Madam's concern, the Fourth Young Master's depression will naturally subside and his illness will heal faster."
Chen Yuanyuan only figured out the hidden meaning of the last sentence "get better faster" after Doctor Liu left. Was she saying that Shen Huaijin was in a bad mood, which led to a decrease in immunity?
The room was newly decorated with crabapple leaves, a delicate fragrance wafting through the air. Chen Yuanyuan lay on the soft cushion with drooping eyes, waiting for her hair to dry.
"Madam, what are you thinking about so absent-mindedly? You only ate half of the Jade Dew Ball." Chen Cong came back at some point, combing his fingers through the shiny black hair covering the incense burner, with the corners of his lips slightly raised.
Ling Wan ignored his teasing. It was rare for him to come home early today, so she could give her a massage. So she stretched out her jade foot and tapped his chest, leaning over and saying, "I'm thinking about my husband. Now that my husband is home early today, please give your wife a massage to relieve her fatigue."
Chen Cong's massage technique is first-rate. Every time he presses the acupoints on her body for a few circles, Chen Yuanyuan feels relaxed all over and feels refreshed for several days.
Chen Cong's Adam's apple moved slightly, and his eyes gradually darkened as he looked at Xu Lingwan, whose black hair was scattered and whose slender body was wrapped in a lilac-colored thin gauze nightgown.
Chen Yuanyuan waited for a moment, but seeing no movement from the person behind her, she turned around to meet Chen Cong's dark gaze. She cried out inwardly, "Oh no!" and hurriedly jumped up and ran away.
"Why are you running?" Chen Cong grabbed her waist and pulled her into his arms, lowering his head. "Didn't you say you missed your husband just now, huh?"
Uh. Uh. Chen Cong licked the tip of her nose again and again, waiting for her to answer. It's so numb and itchy, how can I talk?
"You...you don't..." The words "Don't do this here" just rolled to his lips when they were swallowed up by Chen Cong.
Under his palms, the delicate flesh radiated fragrance, delicate and boneless; the delicate child in his arms was powerless, panting with anger. Then, the slender plum branches drew up the delicate crabapple tree, and whipped it with whips. The raindrops crushed the petals, filling the room with a fragrant aroma.
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