When Shuanghong came out, the back of her hand was covered with dense red welts. Jiang Yanwan, seeing the plague, held her breath and retreated to her original position, her expression tense.
The physician then came out, his hands also frighteningly red as if scalded by boiling water.
"The medicine is effective, but... someone needs to apply it for the lady." The physician didn't realize that he himself was already infected and could have applied the medicine before coming out.
Without thinking, the apprentice handed the ointment to Jiang Yanwan, saying, "Miss."
Jiang Yanwan was terrified that the bottle would touch her clothes, her face showing both fear and disgust. "Take it away!"
She only realized how many people were watching as soon as she said it, but she was genuinely afraid.
If it really gets infected, how will she go to the palace banquet and see the prince in a couple of days!
Lin Qingwan silently took the medicine bottle and drank it without saying a word. Jiang Yanwan gritted her teeth and called out to her unwillingly, "Qingwan! If you get infected, Father will worry when he comes back. Besides, you're not well; you just vomited blood this morning..."
Lin Qingwan glanced at her, "Then you're going?"
Jiang Yanwan bit her lip, her eyes trembling, and remained silent for a long time.
Lin Qingwan scoffed and went into the inner room.
Jiang Yanwan gritted her teeth and stomped her feet in hatred, but there was nothing she could do.
As Lin groggily felt the burning sensation all over her body gradually disappear, she felt something cool against her skin, which felt very comfortable.
Her eyelashes trembled as she opened her eyes a crack, vaguely catching a glimpse of a figure, "Yan Wan..."
Lin Qingwan froze. Although she had no ulterior motive, Lin's fever was mostly due to her unresolved headache and the use of medicated oil, coupled with the doctor's rather strong antidote, which caused the rash and detoxification. Lin Qingwan was partly to blame.
However, when she heard Lin calling Jiang Yanwan's name while still unconscious, her heart clenched.
Rong Ma, her face covered, approached. "Madam, it is Miss Qingwan."
Madam Lin frowned. "Is she being disobedient again?"
"I... I just said I'd marry her off to someone else to avoid causing trouble..."
Madam Rong hurriedly stopped her, "Madam, it's Miss Qingwan applying medicine to you, she..."
"Alright." Lin Qingwan put away the medicine bottle, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and got up to leave, but then heard Madam Lin weakly call out, "Qing... Qingwan."
She felt a flutter in her heart, but she didn't turn around.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yanwan had been trying to calm herself down outside, hoping that Lin Qingwan would be infected and die. Even if her mother was moved by her, Jiang Yanwan wouldn't mind giving a dead person more burial items.
Seeing Lin Qingwan emerge unharmed, Jiang Yanwan blinked in disbelief, "You, you..."
Fortunately, she was more clear-headed than before. "Are you alright?"
Lin Qingwan repeated her previous statement, "I've disappointed you again."
"Qingwan, what are you saying!" Jiang Yanwan was the first to be displeased. "You risked your life to apply medicine for Mother, and I was worried sick."
"Although you don't seem to have any infection, you must not be careless. The physician is not available to see you right now, but I have already instructed the apprentice to prepare some things and have him take you back to Ningsi Garden. He can also burn some mugwort and calamus in the house."
Jiang Yanwan added, "Please bear with me for a few days. There are so many people in the Prime Minister's residence, so please be careful."
Lin Qingwan knew that she was using this as an excuse to confine her to her quarters, and that when Lin Shi woke up, she wouldn't be able to say what she wanted.
Lin Qingwan's lips curved into a faint smile, her gaze so clear that Jiang Yanwan felt she had seen right through her.
But so what?
Lin Qingwan said slowly, "If I go back, and Mother needs to apply the medicine again, then Miss will have to go in person."
"If you are afraid of getting infected, you can let the servants in."
Lin Qingwan glanced at Xia Yan behind Jiang Yanwan out of the corner of her eye.
Xia Yan's heart skipped a beat. Thinking of Chunyu and Granny Lai who had been beaten to death, cold sweat broke out on his back.
Jiang Yanwan twisted her handkerchief, "I'd rather let the servants take risks than let anything happen to my sister Qingwan, otherwise how can I explain it to my father and mother?"
Lin Qingwan didn't need to say anything more. Rong Ma came out from inside, her tone leaving no room for doubt, "Miss Qingwan hasn't developed a rash yet, so it's very likely that only she won't be infected if she gets close to Madam."
"Miss Qingwan will remain in the Orchid Garden."
Rong Ma didn't consult or ask for instructions; she made a decision.
Jiang Yanwan frowned.
Madam Rong added, "Even if we take a step back and assume that Miss Qingwan has already been in contact with Madam, and she ultimately cannot escape being infected, staying here is the most suitable option. Going back to Ningsi Garden would only make it easier for her to infect those two maids."
“Miss always need to eat and drink, and the servants who come into contact with them are also easily infected.”
"So it would be better to let Miss Qingwan stay."
Jiang Yanwan disagreed a thousand times, but Rong Ma's words made sense, and she couldn't refute them. She could only suppress her dissatisfaction and look at Lin Qingwan with worry.
"You've worked hard, Qingwan."
Lin Qingwan chuckled, "If you want to stay and take care of your mother, I'll grant your wish."
Jiang Yanwan's pupils dilated. She longed to replace Lin Qingwan, but the sight of Shuanghong and the physician's hands covered in red rashes was still vivid in her mind. She took two deep breaths, but ultimately dared not.
Rong Ma curtsied, "Miss, you must be tired after a long day. Please go back and rest. If Madam wakes up, I will have someone inform you."
After saying that, she invited Lin Qingwan to the inner room, "Miss Qingwan, have some tea. Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
Lin Qingwan knew that Rong Ma was genuinely worried about her, so she shook her head and said, "I don't feel anything right now."
Only Jiang Yanwan and Xia Yan remained outside. Even though the underfloor heating was burning brightly, she felt a cold wind whistling into her heart.
Xia Yan noticed that she was in a bad mood and said weakly, "Miss, let me help you back to have something to eat."
Jiang Yanwan's bright eyes couldn't hide her anger. "Did you see the look in Rong Ma's eyes just now?"
Xia Yan didn't dare to utter a sound.
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