Chapter 93 Unspeakable Worries: What's wrong with you? Can't sleep? Can't eat? I see…
When everyone returned to the Deng residence, Yu Qiu ordered people to tidy up the first floor of the east corner tower and use a screen to divide it into two rooms, one inside and one outside, for Guo Jia and the two young ladies.
Seeing that it was getting dark, Yu Qiu ordered someone to bring a lampstand and light candles for Deng Jie to use for illumination.
While everyone was tidying up the corner tower, Deng Jie instructed Afu to go to the kitchen to prepare egg whites, simmer licorice and bean soup, and cook rice water. He also wrote a recipe for sulfur honey water and gave it to a maid, asking her to make several copies so that she could get some sulfur ore from Deng Zhao and send it to various medical clinics. He also instructed her, "Be sure to say that this is a recipe from Master Yu Ji and Doctor Hua."
After the three were settled into their lodgings, Deng Jie knelt down beside Liu Niang, undid her clothes, and gently touched the edge of her wound with his fingers. Liu Niang dared not cry out, but the pain made her break out in a cold sweat.
Deng Jie said softly, "I'll try to be gentle, please bear with it."
She soaked a fine linen cloth in warm water, wrung it out, and gently wiped the wound.
Liu Niang gasped, her fingers gripping the bedding tightly.
But more than her physical injuries, she felt saddened that she had become the source of this chaos.
She had intended to keep this secret forever, but when she saw Deng Jie intently tending to her wounds, tears welled up in her eyes: "Miss Deng... Xu Hong said... it's all my fault... I leaked the information..."
Deng Jie glanced at her, but didn't stop what he was doing. "Don't say that. He's deliberately provoking you."
She took the prepared wound medicine and applied it evenly to the wound. "Xu Hong had planned this all along. Even without you, he would have taken action anyway. Besides, I was the one who told you first. If anyone should be blamed, it should be me first, right?"
Liu Niang pursed her lips, her voice trembling, and shook her head repeatedly.
Deng Jie smiled at her, took out some fine linen and began to bandage her. After wrapping her up layer by layer and tying a knot, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Liu Niang's eyes, which were filled with guilt, worry and fear, she wrung out some warm water and wiped her face: "Alright, don't think about these things anymore. You should recover first. I'll have someone bring you some antidote soup later, so that your poison will gradually dissipate."
With tears in her eyes, Liu Niang slowly nodded and watched her get up and walk towards A Qiao on the couch next to her.
Deng Jie checked on A Qiao. Fortunately, Guo Jia fastened her mask in time. The poisoning was still mild, but her right hand was burned. She would definitely not be able to weave cloth until the flesh had fully healed.
When Aqiao woke up, her eyes were vacant. She just stared blankly at the candlelight, unwilling to speak. She let Deng Jie cut away the charred flesh and apply ointment without making a sound.
The maid brought over some medicine and fed it to her. Deng Jie was worried about Guo Jia, so he comforted her first, saying, "Your hand... can only wait for the flesh to grow back, but the ointment needs to be applied regularly. Fortunately, the symptoms of the gold poisoning are not severe. I'll go see the doctor first, and then I'll help you with moxibustion later, so that the poison can be cleared faster."
Aqiao remained unresponsive and lay down as the maidservant arranged her.
Deng Zhao and Yu Qiu stood guard beside Guo Jia, while Fu Xiao squatted alone by the wall.
Seeing Guo Jia's ashen face, and Deng Jie's continued absence from the inner room, Deng Zhao frowned and said, "Should we go to the clinic and ask a doctor to come over? A-Jie can't handle this alone."
Yu Qiu shook his head: "The clinic must be overflowing with patients by now. If it weren't for Ajie at home, the three of them probably wouldn't even be able to get a bowl of medicine."
Deng Zhao glanced at Fu Xiao, turned around and said disdainfully, "Why are you still here? You can go back now."
Fu Xiao immediately stood up, but pointed to the sky and said, "At this hour, the city gates must already be closed!"
Deng Zhao raised an eyebrow and said, "Then go stay at the inn." He then took out a money pouch from his sleeve and threw it at him, "I'll pay for it."
Fu Xiao immediately tossed it back: "Isn't there a curfew in the city? I dare not go out on the streets. I can rest here! No need for you to spend money, brother."
Deng Zhao snorted coldly, "There's nowhere for you to rest here. You'd better leave now!" Just as he was about to get up and shoo him away, Guo Jia suddenly started coughing violently.
Deng Zhao and Yu Qiu quickly gathered to look. Deng Zhao brought over a bronze bowl, and Yu Qiu handed over a cotton cloth.
Just then, Deng Jiegang finished dealing with Aqiao and came out of the inner room. He saw Guo Jia coughing up bloody foam and hurriedly called Afu to bring the egg white. Deng Zhao helped Guo Jia open his chin and forced him to vomit.
The intense vomiting made Guo Jia's throat hurt even more, and a burning sensation overwhelmed his mind, making it impossible for him to think or speak. Deng Jie slowly fed him warm honey water, followed by licorice and bean soup.
Compared to poisoning, Guo Jia's throat and lung meridians were probably more seriously damaged.
Although Yu Qiu ordered people to light charcoal fires in both compartments, the room was still only one level of ventilation, and wisps of cool air seeped in through the gaps in the lattice doors.
Guo Jia lay stiffly with his eyes closed. Deng Jie repeatedly checked his pulse to confirm, sweat beading on her forehead. Suddenly, she shuddered, reaching out to check Guo Jia's forehead and neck, then turned to Deng Zhao and said, "He... he's starting to lose his temperature! He needs to be moved to a warmer place!"
Deng Zhao squatted down beside the bed, and Yu Qiu hurriedly called Fu Xiao over to help.
They helped Guo Jia onto Deng Zhao's back, Deng Jie draped a blanket over Guo Jia, and Yu Qiu and Deng Jie, with Deng Zhao on either side of the blanket, rushed towards the main building.
On the way, Yu Qiu instructed her maid to light all the charcoal in Guo Jia's room and seal the windows and doors.
Deng Jie tucked two layers of blankets around him, placed a bronze stove at his feet, called a maid to stand guard, and went downstairs to prepare the medicinal herbs.
When Yu Qiu accompanied her downstairs, he saw that she was unsteady on the stairs, so he helped her up: "Why don't you rest first? Your brother and I will watch over Fengxiao here."
Deng Jie wiped the fine sweat from his temples, his eyes slightly red, and looked back at Yu Qiu: "I'm not tired, I'm scared..."
Yu Qiu had never seen Deng Jie so helpless before. She gently hugged her and patted her back, saying, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Fengxiao is a lucky person and will surely be blessed. Tell me about your condition, and your sister-in-law will send people to various medical clinics to inquire about prescriptions. You can also study at home slowly. We will definitely make progress."
Deng Jie nodded, tears streaming down her face.
Deng Zhao returned to the corner tower and saw Fu Xiao still squatting by the wall. He helped him up and said, "I'll have someone tidy up the second floor. You can sleep upstairs tonight and leave at dawn tomorrow."
Fu Xiao took a step back and said, "No need for all that trouble, I'll just lie here!" He pointed to the bed where Guo Jia had lain.
Deng Zhao glared at him, pointed at him, and said in a low, harsh voice, "What are you up to? There are two girls lying inside, are you going to share a room with them?"
Fu Xiao was shocked and waved his hands repeatedly: "How could I dare to have such thoughts at my elder brother's house? You would have killed me! I just happen to see that your mansion is short of people. I will keep an eye on things for my elder brother tonight. If anything happens, I will call for help. At least I can be of assistance."
Deng Zhaoxin's heart sank. Thinking about it, it made sense. Tonight was destined to be anything but peaceful. The servants would probably have to take turns resting to keep up. So he nodded slowly and repeatedly warned, "If you dare to offend me in the slightest, I guarantee you won't leave this room alive!"
Fu Xiao repeatedly cupped his hands and nodded.
Inside the embroidery workshop's cellar, Liu Lanzhi peered through the entrance and listened: "It seems there's no sound."
Jiao Zhongqing put down the blood-stained cloth in his hand, staggered forward and pushed the partition out with Liu Lanzhi, but a dull thud came from the heavy object scraping against the partition.
The two exchanged a startled glance, then strained together, but the partition only bounced slightly.
"It must be those loom racks that have collapsed!" Liu Lanzhi shouted anxiously.
Jiao Zhongqing refused to give up and continued his efforts, but the partition remained firmly in place.
The cellar was so small that it wasn't worth searching for, and the damp, chilly air seeped into their bones.
Liu Lanzhi was shivering from the cold. She took the fabric that was originally intended to be used to make clothes for the Lu family and wrapped it around herself. Seeing that Jiao Zhongqing was struggling in vain and was even pulling on the wound on his head, she comforted him and told him to save his energy and rest first.
Jiao Zhongqing stopped what he was doing and felt his teeth chattering. Liu Lanzhi moved closer to him, lifted the cloth, and wrapped him up in it.
Jiao Zhongqing's heart skipped a beat, and he pulled Liu Lanzhi into his arms. "Miss Liu... I was rude..."
Liu Lanzhi's eyes welled up with tears. She didn't even know if the two of them could make it through the night. Ignoring all propriety, she turned and embraced him. "Fool, even the master knows how we feel. What are you pretending for..."
Jiao Zhongqing tightened his grip on her arm. "If we could get out... would Lanzhi be willing to marry me?"
The girl in his arms didn't answer, but buried her face even deeper and nodded.
Deng Jie looked at A Qiao and Liu Niang again before feeling relieved and returned to Guo Jia's room with the medical scroll and medicine bag.
Although it was disrespectful for their reputation to be alone together in a room, nothing was more important than protecting his life. Guo Jia was coughing badly, and she needed to try different remedies.
Guo Jia's head was spinning, and in his hazy state, he only knew that he was leaning on Deng Jie and being coaxed to drink one cup after another, but in the end, he coughed and vomited again and again.
Despite being heartbroken by the vomit, Deng Jie still mustered his spirits to write down the prescriptions, record the medical cases, and continue reviewing the files. The more he reviewed, the colder his heart became, and finally, tears welled up in his eyes.
"A-Jie." The door was gently knocked open, and it was Deng's mother who slowly walked in carrying a lacquer tray.
"Mother?" Deng Jie quickly wiped his face and stood up to greet her. "Why aren't you asleep yet, Mother, so late?"
Deng's mother handed her the chicken soup on the plate, saying, "I heard Fengxiao coughing for so long, and I figured you must still be with him, so I came to check on him."
Deng Jie looked somber, gently placed the chicken soup on the table, and sighed heavily: "I've tried so many remedies, but none of them worked. They just made him vomit even more."
Deng's mother picked up the soup spoon and fed the chicken soup to Deng Jie: "Jie'er, you worry about others, but your mother worries about you."
Deng Jie's nose stung with tears. She took a sip, then buried her face in her mother's arms, letting out a muffled groan, "Mother..."
Deng's mother's hand paused slightly in her daughter's hair. The muffled, nasal "Mother" sound suddenly brought her back to the snowy night in the old house in Xinye.
At that time, Deng Jie was only eleven years old. Her father and brother left home one after another. The mother and daughter huddled in the thatched roof of the house, and the little girl would snuggle in her mother's arms and call her "Mother".
Memories flashed by like a revolving lantern. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, her husband was conscripted into the army and never returned. When Deng Zhao was just over twenty, she hardened her heart and sent her son to the south to make a living, fearing that he would follow in her husband's footsteps and die on the battlefield.
Her neighbors praised her for her exceptional talent, but a woman's life was ultimately not enough to earn a living. During her most difficult time, she pawned her dowry jewelry just to get half a month's worth of food for herself and her daughter.
A slight tremor ran through the girl in her arms. Looking down, Deng's mother noticed a single silver strand in her daughter's black hair. Yes, the girl who used to snuggle up to her and act spoiled was now staying up all night for others.
Five years ago, Deng Zhao brought his new wife and daughter to Lujiang, and their lives changed dramatically.
Yu Qiu was a clever child who took good care of the mother and daughter. The house was decorated exquisitely, and she didn't ask about their expenses. She catered to their preferences and satisfied their various needs. Naturally, Deng Jie also became closer to this sister-in-law, and even decided to study medicine because of her heart palpitations.
She watched with a mixture of relief and melancholy. The children had found a new world. The little girl who used to tug at her sleeve and cry had gradually grown into a capable young woman. She had even started calling her "Mother" like her brother had. This "Mother" finally revealed her strength.
“Don’t worry, Jie’er. As Mencius said, ‘When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test his mind and will.’ For someone as intelligent as Fengxiao, this calamity may well be a test from Heaven.”
Deng's mother gently stroked her back to comfort her, "The effects of medicine are like spring mud protecting flowers, taking effect silently, so it can't be rushed. A doctor can't collapse himself; his body can't collapse, and his spirit can't collapse either."
Deng Jie looked up, tears welling in his eyes, his nose red, and nodded vigorously. He then picked up the chicken soup and drank it all down.
"You should also get some rest," Deng's mother reminded him again before leaving. Deng Jie nodded and pulled his mother's outer robe tighter. "Mother, you should rest early too. I'll finish trying this medicine."
Suddenly, shouts came from the direction of the corner tower, startling the two of them, who went out of the corridor to look.
Then a servant boy and a maid rushed over, and the lights inside the room came on. A dark shadow was cast on the lattice door, and it was impossible to see what it was doing, but it was struggling and shaking violently.
From upstairs came Deng Zhao's hurried footsteps and shouts: "What happened?"
The maidservant rushed out, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Miss Aqiao has gone mad! She's going to kill Liu Niang!"
Everyone was shocked to hear this. Deng Zhao hurriedly put on his outer robe and went downstairs. He bumped into his mother and her husband, who were also rushing to the scene, and stopped them, saying, "Mother, go back to your room. I will handle this. Ah Jie, go and watch over Feng Xiao. Don't come out!" After saying this, he hurried towards the corner tower.
At this moment, Yu Qiu also came down wearing a fur coat and helped Deng's mother: "Yes, yes, the two of us will go over there. Mother still needs to guard the main camp. If Ming'er is woken up, someone will have to soothe him!"
After Deng's mother went upstairs, Deng Jie thought that if Liu Niang's injuries worsened, he would still have to go. He closed Guo Jia's room door and followed his brother and sister-in-law to the corner tower.
When Deng Zhao arrived, Fu Xiao was snatching the candlestick from A Qiao's hand and smashing it on the ground: "Crazy woman, what are you doing!"
But then they saw A-Qiao, her eyes red and veins bulging on her forehead, pointing at Liu Niang, whose head was bleeding profusely on the bed, and roaring: "It's all because of that harlot's loose tongue! If she hadn't spread the word about the poisoned gold, how could we have suffered this disaster today?"
She still tried to rush over, but Fu Xiao pressed her to the ground. The servant was trembling with fear. When Deng Zhao came in, he grabbed a piece of hemp cloth from the table and pressed it haphazardly onto Liu Niang's wound, causing Liu Niang to cry out in pain.
Deng Jie rushed in, took the cloth from the servant, gave a few instructions, and immediately began to treat Liu Niang's fresh wounds. Liu Niang groaned and wept incessantly, and Deng Jie stopped the bleeding while wiping away her tears.
Aqiao lay on the ground still screaming. Deng Zhao grabbed Aqiao's hands and gestured for Fu Xiao to take her out first.
The two carried Aqiao to the outer room's couch, and Yu Qiu quickly came forward to comfort her: "Today's chaos is not Liu Niang's fault. Xu Hong had planned it all along, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to set fire to the poisoned gold everywhere in such a short time. Even if it wasn't Liu Niang, he would have found an opportunity to incite everyone."
Aqiao, however, stubbornly shouted, "But what about my wages for three months? They threw all my gold certificates in and burned them. I worked for nothing for three months, and we won't have any food at home for the New Year... not to mention..."
She raised her hands, trembling, and cried out, "My hands... Will I never be able to weave again... How am I going to live?"
Yu Qiu glanced at Deng Zhao, took a gold bracelet off his wrist and stuffed it into her hand. "This is to be considered as compensation from the Deng family for your wages and medical expenses. If you are still unable to weave next year after you have recovered from your injury, come here to find me. I will arrange a job for you in the house that is not too strenuous. What do you think?"
Aqiao looked at Yu Qiu in disbelief, then glanced back at Deng Zhao. The thing she had risked her life for could be resolved so easily in their eyes. She felt both resentful of their different backgrounds and ridiculously like a shrew. She laughed while crying, clutching the gold bracelet and saying nothing more.
Seeing her like this, Yu Qiu instructed a maid to take her to the second floor to settle her in, so as not to disturb Liu Niang's rest any longer.
Just as they finished settling things at the corner tower, before Deng Zhao and his two companions had even stepped out the door, the gatekeeper came running to report: "Master! Soldiers have arrived outside with Jiao Zhongqing's mother, looking for someone!"
Yu Qiu, clutching her chest, felt her legs go weak. Deng Zhao, startled, quickly caught her and handed her to Deng Jie, saying, "You two mustn't collapse! Ah Jie, quickly take Jing Yuan back to rest. Leave this to me."
Outside, the wind and snow were raging. Deng Zhao had been running so fast that he hadn't noticed that the ground was already covered in snow.
After the disturbance on the street, Jiao's mother waited and waited at home for her son to return, but he did not come home. She chased her second husband and youngest daughter to ask the neighbors for a long time before someone told them that they seemed to have seen him near Liu's embroidery shop.
When her second husband saw that the snow was too heavy, he refused to go again. So Jiao's mother had to sneak out to look for him at night, but she was caught red-handed by the patrolling soldiers. Only then did she ask him for help.
Deng Zhao followed the soldiers and Jiao Zhongqing's mother to the East Market. On the way, he inquired with the soldiers and found that the fire situation had been dealt with.
The soldiers told him that the snow had suppressed the smoke, and the number of houses demolished was not large, so it was still within a controllable range.
Xu Hong's body was also found. A shop assistant from Wu's Rice Shop identified him as Wu Gao's boss, and they also found the seals of Yuan Shu and Hui Qu on his body.
The officer approached him again and whispered, "The Prefect said that I should tell Lord Deng that there is something to discuss with him tomorrow and that he would like to ask Lord Deng to come to the Prefect's residence at Chenshi (7-9 AM)."
Deng Zhao sighed inwardly; at least this matter was finally settled.
The soldiers were so polite; the prefect must want him to cover some of the losses. It just so happened that I also needed to inform him of my plan to exchange iron for grain. So, I exchanged the warrants and bowed to the soldiers to accept the order.
The three rushed to the embroidery workshop. Soldiers, carrying torches, found the doors wide open, the floor in disarray, the loom racks broken and scattered with tattered pieces of cloth. Jiao's mother cried out, "Zhongqing! Zhongqing!"
Deng Zhao surveyed the area inside and out, and remembered that there should be a cellar here, which was currently being weighed down by wooden frames. He then called for soldiers to come and help.
When the cellar partition was lifted, Jiao Zhongqing and Liu Lanzhi were seen embracing each other tightly, their hair and eyebrows frosted over, with a wisp of white vapor still visible.
Jiao's mother shouted her son's name, but Deng Zhao stopped her outside and, together with the soldiers, carried the two out of the cellar. The soldiers found a night watchman to help, and the watchman pushed a cart over and took the frozen two men back to Jiao Zhongqing's home.
Although reluctant, Jiao's mother eventually agreed to let Liu Lanzhi stay at home to recuperate.
When Deng Zhao returned to the bedroom, Yu Qiu was already asleep. He took off his outer robe, which still felt chilly, and sat alone in front of the charcoal brazier to warm his hands.
These past few days have been truly agonizing. I had hoped for a peaceful holiday, but so many troubles have arisen. I need to consider how the Prefect plans to act tomorrow and devise a way to prevent my family from suffering too much loss for no reason.
The flames flickered and swayed, and he wasn't the only one staring at them.
In Guo Jia's room on the second floor, Deng Jie was also staring blankly at the candlelight.
He didn't vomit after taking the last dose of medicine, but no one knew if it would be effective. Besides, the medicine wouldn't take effect immediately, and he wasn't sleepy at all, so he could only lean against the table, propping his face up, and wait foolishly.
The candlelight cast shadows on Guo Jia's reclining figure, and she recalled once again his imposing and spirited appearance from the day before, but now he lay there with his eyes tightly closed, seemingly dead.
Looking at his pale, bloodless profile, and recalling his usual playful, serious, flustered, and silent expressions, I felt a pang in my heart, silently shed tears, and secretly resolved to heal him.
The snow fell silently, covering the rooftops of Wancheng with a blanket of white. Heaven and earth seemed to know better and fell silent, letting this little bit of human attachment sway in the long night.
Candle wax clung to the candlestick, Deng Jie lay asleep at her desk, the morning light after the snow gently bathing her.
She turned her stiff and sore neck slightly, her eyelids felt as heavy as lead. She was thinking that she had to go and see how Guo Jia was doing. She struggled to get up, but because she was still sleepy, her head hit the table hard with a thud.
The impact jolted her awake. She staggered to her feet, rubbing her forehead, only to find that the person on the bed seemed to have been awake for a long time, turning their face to the side and quietly watching her.
"Mr. Fengxiao..."
The sudden touch startled Guo Jia. Her warm cheek pressed against his cold chest, and his heart pounded faster. He was about to speak when only a low, hoarse voice, unfamiliar even to himself, escaped his lips. He frowned, coughed, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.
Deng Jie skillfully pulled a piece of hemp cloth from the table beside the bed and held it under his chin. With his other hand, he gently patted his back. After his cough subsided a little, he fed him some water and then whispered, "Don't worry, the poisonous smoke has choked your throat. You won't be able to speak for at least three days."
She put down the bowl of water, her fingertips naturally gliding over the water stains remaining on the corner of his lips, completely ignoring the shy look in Guo Jia's surprised eyes, and said to him, "I'll go get some hot water to wipe you down, sir."
A hint of embarrassment flashed in Guo Jia's eyes. He tugged at her sleeve and shook his head slightly.
Deng Jie's eyes darted around, and she quickly found an excuse for herself: "Last night, the master almost lost his fever, so I didn't dare to move. Today is a good day to check if there are any other injuries on his body!" After saying that, she slipped away with her ears turning red.
Guo Jia remained silent, pursed his lips, tightened his fingers, and ultimately could no longer lift his head.
Deng Zhao and Yu Qiu arrived at the corner tower. The maid in charge of the second floor hurriedly came up to them and whispered, "Master, Miss Aqiao left before dawn..."
Yu Qiu glanced at her: "Did you take the gold bracelet with you?"
The maid nodded: "They should have taken it with them; I didn't see anything left in the room."
Yu Qiu breathed a sigh of relief. Since he was willing to take his belongings with him and wouldn't commit suicide, she felt at ease.
The first floor was bustling with activity. Before the two even entered, they heard Fu Xiao's voice from inside: "With a single swing of my longsword, they all fell to the ground..."
Deng Zhao frowned and strode into the inner room. Sure enough, he saw Fu Xiao sitting cross-legged by Liu Niang's couch, holding half a pancake in one hand and making exaggerated gestures with the other, chewing on crumbs. "If it weren't for the heavy snow and slippery roads, I could have chased them for another three miles!"
Liu Niang, wrapped in a quilt, leaned against the couch, listening intently. When she saw him spit out crumbs of biscuit, she couldn't help but smile, hissing as she pulled at her wound. Fu Xiao quickly broke off a piece of biscuit and stuffed it into her mouth: "Don't smile, be careful not to reopen your wound..."
Deng Zhao snorted coldly: "You're quite energetic first thing in the morning!"
Fu Xiao turned around and saw that it was Deng Zhao. He quickly stood up and brushed the crumbs off his clothes: "Big brother is here? Perfect timing, I was just getting to the exciting part of the story..."
Deng Zhao stopped Fu Xiao from approaching, saying, "It's already dawn. You should leave now. I have things to do."
Before Fu Xiao could answer, Liu Niang became anxious and struggled to sit up: "Master Deng! Brother Fu is just talking to me. My wound hurts so much that I can't sleep, and he's telling me stories to distract me..."
Deng Zhao choked, and Yu Qiu looked at the two of them with wide eyes. She then stepped forward and gently took Deng Zhao's arm, saying softly, "Yuanming, since Liu Niang needs someone to accompany her, and A Jie is also busy, and we still have to go out, why don't you let her stay for two days?"
Seeing this, Fu Xiao quickly stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting: "Sister-in-law is reasonable! I can see the external injuries clearly. If there is any accident, I will definitely go and call Miss Deng immediately!" Seeing Deng Zhao glare at him, he quickly changed his words: "I will send someone to invite Miss Deng immediately!"
Deng Zhao pointed at Fu Xiao's nose and said, "If she accuses you of any misconduct when I come back?"
Fu Xiao made a gesture as if he were chopping at his own neck, and Yu Qiu burst out laughing. She coaxed Deng Zhao out the door and then turned her back to Fu Xiao, telling him to close the door quickly.
Before leaving, Yu Qiu instructed the maid to prepare today's meals as the young lady had instructed yesterday and to bring them to each room. However, she also instructed the maid to keep a close eye on any activity and to send someone to call her if anything seemed amiss.
As soon as the couple's carriage arrived outside the prefect's residence, they saw Lu Yu, dressed in a green robe, standing at the bottom of the steps waiting for them.
"My two masters," she stepped forward and bowed, "the Lord is already waiting in the study."
Deng Zhao nodded, and as they brushed past each other, Lu Yu suddenly whispered, "The official granaries have grain, but the Prefect... doesn't want to open them."
Inside the study, Lu Kang was reviewing documents when he saw the two enter. He put down his pen and smiled, saying, "Young Master Deng, Madam Yu, thanks to the Deng family's help yesterday, otherwise the East Market would have been destroyed."
Deng Zhao bowed and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. It is my duty."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lu Kang sighed, "Although the body of the culprit Xu Hong has been found, Wu Gao has escaped. When we went to the Wu family yesterday, they had already moved out, and we heard that he has fled to Shouchun."
Lu Kang raised his eyebrows slightly, "With Wu's escape, the people's gold certificates have been destroyed, and it's almost the end of the year. If we don't appease them in time, I'm afraid there will be further unrest in the city..."
Although Yu Qiu knew he would say that, he was still somewhat displeased, but ultimately wanted to leave some room for maneuver for his family: "Does the Prefect not consider opening the granaries and distributing grain first, and then discussing it again after the New Year?"
Lu Kang coughed lightly and stroked his beard, saying, "Madam should know the reason for Xu Hong's matter. Yuan Shu covets my Lujiang Commandery. The other day, he sent someone to ask me for grain, but I refused. I was afraid he would hold a grudge, so I directly sent Chen Yu to bring troops over after the New Year. If the granaries are all opened, where will we have any surplus grain to prepare?"
Deng Zhao had anticipated this and calmly replied, "If Your Excellency is in trouble, I have a plan."
He offered to exchange silk for government grain to appease the people, then transport the raised funds to Jingzhou to exchange for grain, and finally return them to the city to exchange for silk. Lu Kang stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, "But what about the losses involved..."
Deng Zhao bowed and smiled: "Then please, Your Excellency, grant the Deng family a chance to recover its losses."
Stepping out of the prefect's residence, Yu Qiu took Deng Zhao's hand with satisfaction and said, "Was this plan also devised by Fengxiao? It's so thoughtful, and it doesn't harm the Deng family at all."
Deng Zhao smiled smugly at her: "Of course it was my idea. How could Fengxiao understand such a scheme!"
Yu Qiu gently tapped his forehead, "Look how smug you are. Have you sent anyone to the embroidery workshop yet?"
Deng Zhao gently squeezed her fingers: "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements over there. Let's go to Zhongqing's house first. His stepfather is a private tutor, so please be careful what you say."
Yu Qiu rolled her eyes at him lightly: "When have I ever spoken nonsense?"
Deng Zhao chuckled and pulled her into his arms.
As the two were cuddling, they didn't notice the little maid in the mansion silently watching them leave, clutching a sachet in her hand, her fingers constantly twirling the tassel.
When Deng Jie returned, he had already changed his clothes.
The maids also served Guo Jia soup and water, and as Deng Jie instructed, they took away the bronze stove at his feet to replace it.
Just as he was making these arrangements, the orange cat squeezed through the crack in the door, searched around for a while, and then jumped onto Guo Jia's couch, lying quietly at his feet.
The maids chuckled and said that the bronze stove probably didn't need to be replaced anymore. They told the young lady to stay in the room without worrying about being disturbed and tactfully left the room.
Deng Jie blushed as the two maids teased him, and when he turned around, he met Guo Jia's gaze.
"These young girls are just talking nonsense, sir, please don't take it to heart."
As she spoke, she placed a blanket behind Guo Jia so that he could lean back and drink his medicine, while she wrung out a hot linen cloth and gently wiped his cheeks and neck.
Deng Jie unbuttoned his shirt. Whether it was the intense heat of the charcoal fire or something else, he felt a little warm. So, trying to distract him, she began telling him about the unexpected events of the previous night. Guo Jia was completely unaware that so many things had happened that night. The fact that this girl knew everything meant she hadn't slept a wink, and the reasons behind it…
He sighed silently to himself.
When it was mentioned that Fu Xiao was allowed to stay in the house temporarily at Liu Niang's request, the two of them simultaneously showed expressions of disgust, looked at each other, and laughed at the same time.
Guo Jia started coughing up blood again as he was laughing, and Deng Jie wiped it away for him in a tacit manner.
As Guo Jia was about to wipe Deng Jie's lower abdomen with hot water, he suddenly grabbed Deng Jie's hand, closed his eyes tightly, his eyelashes trembled slightly, and extended his other hand, making a "go" gesture to her.
Deng Jie was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, and his cheeks flushed instantly: "You, you want to..."
Guo Jia's ears turned bright red. He didn't dare look at her and nodded firmly.
Deng Jie stood up and said, "I'll go call Afu!" and hurriedly fled the room.
When Deng Zhao and his wife arrived at Jiao Zhongqing's house, the atmosphere inside was tense.
Jiao's mother sat upright at the table, her face somber. Jiao Zhongqing knelt before her, his face pale, but his expression resolute. Her second husband stood against the wall, his arm around their youngest daughter.
"Master, Madam..." Jiao Zhongqing saw the two enter and forced himself to stand up and bow, his voice hoarse.
Deng Zhao raised his hand to indicate that there was no need for formalities. Yu Qiu handed him the lacquered wooden box in his arms: "Inside are some Sichuan pepper, aconite, and mutton fat. You caught a cold last night and will need them."
Jiao Zhongqing accepted the box and placed it on the table beside his mother. His mother forced a smile and said, "Thank you for your expense, sir."
Seeing the scene before him, Deng Zhao asked, "Zhongqing suffered an accident last night, why aren't you resting properly today? Is Liu Shi alright?"
Jiao Zhongqing was about to speak when his mother interrupted him, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Master. This is a family matter. Master, you have come and gone now."
Jiao Zhongqing took a deep breath and knelt down before Deng Zhao and Yu Qiu: "The master knows the friendship between us, but my mother is unwilling to grant our request!"
Jiao's mother's face changed drastically, and she slammed her hand on the table, saying, "Nonsense! Marriage is a major life event, decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers. It's neither your place to decide your own fate nor for outsiders to interfere!"
Jiao Zhongqing turned to his mother and bowed, saying, "Last night, in the face of life and death, if it weren't for our mutual support, I would have died inside long ago! I have promised Lanzhi that if I survive, I will marry her!"
Jiao's mother sneered and pointed at him, scolding, "You've lost your mind! She's just an embroiderer, with no father or brothers here, and she hasn't even gone through the proper formalities of marriage. What kind of engagement is that? If she were truly from a good family, how could she make such an important decision on her own?"
Liu Lanzhi heard everything clearly in the side room. She leaned against the half-open lattice door and silently wiped away her tears. Yu Qiu caught a glimpse of this and stepped forward to say to Madam Jiao, "Madam, please forgive my bluntness, but Zhongqing and Lanzhi have been through life and death together, and their friendship is extraordinary. It would be unfortunate to separate them because of incomplete etiquette."
Lanzhi's mother and brothers are all in Chaisang. She came here alone with her master to learn her craft. If the proper etiquette is observed, the Deng family can bring her family over.
Jiao's mother looked disgusted: "Although my Zhongqing is dull-witted, he comes from an official family. My late husband once served as the Prefect of Kuaiji County, and my current husband is a well-read tutor."
Although I am currently unlucky enough to be working as an accountant in your household, I am not one to remain a subordinate for long.
Not to mention marrying just any random mulberry picker or embroiderer; that would truly break his spirit.
Deng Zhao was filled with displeasure. If it were Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, or Lu Kang, it would be one thing, but how could this old woman be so tactless as to speak ill of his family to his face? He couldn't help but frown, but Yu Qiu forcibly grabbed his hand and said with a forced smile, "Although my Deng family is of lowly status, we have never wronged Zhongqing."
"It was out of consideration for this favor that I allowed him to stay at your residence."
Jiao's mother interrupted her rudely, saying something that even Yu Qiu found unpleasant. Jiao Zhongqing suddenly stood up and shouted, "Mother, how can you be so rude! The master treats me very well..."
Deng Zhao sneered: "Since the old lady values official career, I do have a way. Liu Jingzhou is willing to give me some face. If you are willing, after the two of them get married, I can introduce Zhongqing to Liu Jingzhou's mansion to find a job."
Jiao's mother's expression softened, but she still didn't believe he had that kind of influence, and her face showed disdain: "The master certainly has methods. If that's really the case, why don't you go yourself?"
Deng Zhao laughed loudly: "Compared to an official career, I prefer this smell of money."
Madam Jiao snorted, "A man with such wealth is indeed free to do as he pleases. If my family had such wealth, I wouldn't need him to pursue any grand ambitions. However, Jingzhou is too far away, and I don't want him to go. Let's just forget about it!"
Upon hearing the words "net worth," Yu Qiu's heart skipped a beat, and he stepped forward: "If such a net worth were available before you, would you be willing to grant my request, Madam?"
Jiao's mother glared at her, "What do you mean by that?"
"You don't know, but Lanzhi's embroidered screen is worth two shi of millet. She owns twenty mu of mulberry fields in the mulberry grove, and the Liu family embroidery workshop is under her name. She has more than thirty embroiderers and weavers working in the workshop and at home, and she also has a ten percent share in other embroidery workshops. In this Wancheng, there is probably no girl richer than her."
Jiao's mother was shocked. Did this girl really have this ability? Was she just lying to me?
Although I had heard before that Lord Lu had specified that Liu's embroidery was the gift, I really didn't know its value.
Jiao's mother composed herself, raised her eyes, and said, "Even so, with her mother and brother still alive, how many can she really control?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Qiu saw an opportunity and beckoned to the concubine, "Lanzhi, you speak for yourself."
The lattice door opened softly, and Liu Lanzhi, wiping away her tears, staggered out, taking out three silk documents from her bosom and placing them on the table: the land deeds and house deeds for the mulberry grove, the embroidery workshop's registration, and the embroidery workshop's shareholding agreement. "I have been away from home for three years, and these are all my private property. My mother and brother have their own ancestral property in Chaisang and have never asked for a penny."
Jiao's mother, along with her second husband and youngest daughter, gathered around to examine the documents. Every document was stamped with an official seal, confirming their authenticity. Even the private tutor couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, realizing that he had taught all his life without ever owning a single acre of land.
Liu Lanzhi looked at Jiao Zhongqing and said, "If I really marry Jiao Lang, these things will naturally come with my dowry..."
After pondering for a long time, Jiao's mother finally looked at her husband.
The tutor understood and coughed lightly, "This... isn't about the dowry. It's just that your mother and brother are unaware that you've secretly pledged your life to each other..."
Yu Qiu continued, "That's simple. You set a date and I'll send someone to bring Lanzhi's family here to discuss the marriage. All six traditional betrothal gifts will be given without exception."
The tutor glanced at Madam Jiao and said, "Madam, look..."
Jiao's mother pouted, "Since that's the case... let's agree on this beforehand: if Zhongqing takes up an official post in the future..."
Liu Lanzhi grasped Jiao Zhongqing's hand, looked at her firmly, and said, "Naturally, his career is the priority!"
Only then did Jiao's mother relax. The two lovers finally got their wish and held hands tightly, unwilling to separate again.
After Afu left, Deng Jie never came back.
Guo Jia gazed at the door, hoping that the familiar figure would appear again.
When Deng's mother brought Deng Ming to visit, the little boy lay by the bed and asked, "Why doesn't the master speak?" This made Guo Jia's helpless face show bitterness.
"Master's throat is injured." Madam Deng picked up her grandson and placed two bamboo scrolls beside Guo Jia's bed. "Jie'er went to the clinic to ask for a prescription. He will be back later."
A gust of cold wind blew in as the door opened and closed. The maid outside had peeked in countless times, only to come in once to light some calming incense for him.
While she was bored, Guo Jia gestured to her, pointing to the cat and then poking his waist, drawing a square in the air.
The maid searched high and low but couldn't find anything. Guo Jia leaned back on the couch in frustration and waved her away sullenly.
Before leaving, the maid timidly said, "The young lady said that the master needs to sleep more today to replenish his energy..."
Guo Jia kicked the bedding in displeasure, startling the cat at his feet, which ran away with the maid.
Now I'm truly all alone in the room.
For the first time, Guo Jia found it so difficult to endure.
On one hand, there was the dull pain in my chest from a violent cough, and on the other hand, there was the vulnerability of emptiness and loneliness.
He picked up the bamboo slips beside the bed, but had no desire to unfold them and read them.
Guo Jia quietly counted the dripping sound of melting snow from the eaves. He realized that when a person is physically weak, they feel even more lonely.
My eyelids felt so heavy, but I just couldn't close them. I felt a tightness in my chest and a sense of unease.
Guo Jia leaned against the door, lost in thought, watching as darkness fell outside.
Earlier, the maid brought over dinner, saying it was millet porridge and chicken soup that the young lady had instructed her to prepare. She sat down and was about to feed him, but Guo Jia only ate a couple of bites and then felt he had no appetite, so he gestured for her to take it away.
Helpless, the maid retreated from the room again, only to be stopped as soon as she stepped outside: "Why haven't you eaten?"
A familiar voice rang out, and Guo Jia looked up in surprise, staring at the slightly ajar door, eagerly waiting for her to come in.
"Sir seems to have no appetite, so please excuse me," the maid replied, seizing the opportunity to start complaining to her. She said he hadn't slept all day, and that he didn't know what he was looking for, and that he got angry when he couldn't find it.
Deng Jie chuckled, thinking to herself that the person she was describing was completely different from the Mr. Fengxiao she knew. When she asked him what he wanted, the maid gestured to her exactly what he wanted, and Deng Jie suddenly realized: "It's that orange cat medicine pouch, isn't it!"
The maid was taken aback. "Ah, so that's what you embroidered—a cat?" She had previously run her hand over the medicine pouch in the pile of clothes, but hadn't figured out what it was and had skipped over it.
Knowing he was out of the loop in embroidery, Deng Jie quickly interrupted her: "Oh dear, never mind that! But this porridge... isn't it still hard to eat? I'll go to the back room and see if I can find him something else to eat."
With a "thud," it slammed against the lattice door.
What was that sound?
The maid was taken aback, recalling Guo Jia's expectant expression earlier. She handed the lacquer tray to Deng Jie, saying, "Why don't you take a look yourself, Miss? What do you mean by insomnia and loss of appetite? It sounds more like a heart ailment to me." With that, she covered her mouth and ran off.
These little girls are getting more and more unruly, Deng Jie thought to herself, blushing.
"Mr. Fengxiao?" Deng Jie called softly, his eyes darting around, but there was no sound from inside.
Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard a knocking sound on the edge of the bed. Deng Jie chuckled, pushed open the door and entered. He never expected that Deng Jie would have such a childish side.
When Deng Jie arrived, he touched his stomach through the blanket, indicating that he was hungry.
Seeing his expression, Deng Jie was both amused and annoyed. She sat down and scolded, "Then why didn't you eat earlier?"
Guo Jia's eyes darted around, but he managed to utter the word "hot" from his throat.
Deng Jie shoved the bowl into his hands: "Is it hot? It's all cold now!"
Guo Jia, however, happily picked up the bowl and put it in his mouth, eating it all while watching Deng Jie's smiling face.
Deng Jie wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth, put away the bowl and spoon, and was about to get up.
Seeing that she was about to leave again, Guo Jia reached out and grabbed her wrist through her sleeve.
Deng Jie was slightly taken aback, the heat spreading to the tips of her ears. She remembered that the maid had said he was looking for a medicine pouch, so she took the medicine pouch out of the pile of clothes and stuffed it into his hand. Guo Jia, however, threw the medicine pouch onto the pillow and increased the pressure on his hand.
Her gaze darted around, and she hesitated to look up at him.
"Stay with me..." Guo Jia uttered two words in a hoarse voice.
Deng Jie reluctantly sat back down, and it took a while before the two dared to look at each other. Deng Jie muttered, "They said they wanted this, but now they've thrown it away..." Seeing Guo Jia staring intently at her, she cleared her throat and asked, "Are you just going to sit here like this?"
Guo Jia nodded at first, then seemed to remember something and pointed towards the first floor of the corner tower. Deng Jie frowned, trying to understand: "Tell a story?" Guo Jia smiled and nodded.
Deng Jie chuckled; he had originally intended for himself to imitate Fu Xiao and tell stories to Liu Niang.
She tilted her head back and thought for a while, but her mind was blank. "I don't have as many stories to tell as that person... How about I read you a medical record?"
Guo Jia was taken aback, but then thought that at least he could get her to stay and talk to him, so he nodded again.
Just as Deng Jie went to the table to retrieve the medical records, Deng Zhao and his wife knocked on the door and entered.
"How is Fengxiao today?"
Deng Zhao's voice preceded her arrival. She strode across the threshold, but the heat from the charcoal fire inside made her pause. She immediately took off her outer robe, which Yu Qiu skillfully took and hung on the clothes rack. She then walked lightly to the bedside.
Deng Jie was clearly startled by his brother and sister-in-law's sudden appearance. "When did you get back?"
"Why did you arrive at such an inopportune time?" Yu Qiu said with a smile.
Guo Jia tried to rise and bow, but Deng Zhao stepped forward and pressed his shoulder down, saying, "Don't move."
He moved his throat slightly, pointed to his own throat, and shook his head apologetically.
Deng Zhaoming understood and helped him lean back, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. Your complexion is much better today than yesterday."
“A-Jie does have some skills.” Yu Qiu moved a soft cushion for Deng Zhao. “Fengxiao still needs some time to recuperate. I heard from the doctors at the clinic that A-Jie has visited every clinic in the city today. You’re going to have a lot of bitter medicine to take.”
Deng Jie patted Yu Qiu's shoulder lightly, scolding her for being so talkative.
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia lowered his eyes, smiled faintly, and nodded slightly.
"We've been busy all day, and only now do we have time to visit Fengxiao." Yu Qiu smiled and took Deng Jie's hand. "You wouldn't believe it, but today Yuanming and I actually acted as matchmakers for Jiao Zhongqing and Liu Lanzhi!"
Seeing the two men's surprised expressions, Yu Qiu and Deng Zhao told them about what had happened that day.
"Alas, if Jiao's mother is so calculating, Lanzhi will probably have a hard time in the future." After saying this, Yu Qiu couldn't help but express his feelings, and then poured tea and water for the four of them.
“That’s still better than eloping,” Deng Zhao said, taking the teacup Yu Qiu handed him and taking a sip. “We’ll have to live together eventually.”
Deng Jie fiddled with the empty cup, muttering, "Living with this old mother is less comfortable than the two of them going out on their own..."
Yu Qiu chuckled: "Lanzhi has such a good fortune, she won't suffer any losses." She gently stroked Deng Jie's hair, "In this world, marriages are still mostly arranged by parents and matchmakers. It's already not easy for lovers like them to get their parents' approval."
Deng Jie raised her eyes: "That's because you're capable, sister-in-law, and my mother is reasonable and doesn't fuss over things. I think Old Madam Jiao is not like my mother..." Her gaze swept over Guo Jia, then quickly looked away, her ears burning, "Besides, people like you who have both parental approval and lovers are truly a minority."
Guo Jia tapped Deng Zhao's arm with interest, then turned his head toward Yu Qiu, as if asking him, "What other stories do you two have?" Deng Zhao unexpectedly showed a shy expression, and Yu Qiu also raised his sleeve to cover his face.
Deng Jie became interested and was about to speak when Yu Qiu pulled Deng Zhao up and said, "You two can talk slowly! Yuanming, let's go first."
After Deng Zhao stood up, he coughed lightly and said, "Our family has always been open-minded. My mother is open-minded towards me, and we are open-minded towards you..." He looked at Deng Jie, "We support you in everything you do."
Deng Jie was not happy to hear this. Was his brother implying something to him? But in the current situation, if he could not restore his health, let alone show him any affection... he felt ashamed just thinking about it.
She shrank back and stopped answering.
Guo Jia also understood the implication in Deng Zhao's words. In his current state, how could he dare to have any unrealistic hopes? He silently lowered his head and looked at his reflection in the tea in his hand.
After the two left, Deng Jie put down her empty cup and remained silent. She touched the medical record she had just received, and for a moment she didn't know whether to stay or leave, or how to face Guo Jia.
Guo Jia reached out his index finger and hooked the corner of Deng Jie's clothes, giving her a relaxed smile, as if to comfort her that she didn't need to think too much right now. He pointed to the desk on the side and squeezed out the words "testing medicine" with difficulty.
A glint flashed in Deng Jie's eyes, and he nodded and stood up with pleasure.
Yes, let's treat him first, and discuss the rest later.
After drinking three bowls of medicine, Guo Jia collapsed, his eyes vacant.
I have to endure this suffering for several more days.
When Deng Jie brought the fourth bowl, Guo Jia felt like he wanted to cry.
"Sir, you've suffered. Here's a reward for you—something sweet."
Deng Jie looked at him with a grin, wanting to put the bowl in his own hands, but he tucked both hands into the quilt and opened his mouth to wait.
Helpless, Deng Jie let out a soft hum and finally fed him the whole bowl of honey water.
As Deng Jie unfolded the medical records to read to him, Guo Jia grabbed her sleeve, pointed upstairs, and gestured for Deng Jie to tell him the story of the two men.
Deng Jie looked up and saw his expectant eyes, and couldn't help but chuckle: "Sir, you really do like to inquire about these trivial family matters."
Guo Jia squinted and smiled, waiting for her to tell her story.
In the second year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turban Rebellion had spread throughout the Central Plains, and Xinye also suffered from the ravages of war.
After her father's recent death, her mother suppressed her grief and sent her older brother to the south to make a living.
Deng Zhao traveled south and encountered a caravan besieged by bandits on the outskirts of Lujiang.
Guo Jia couldn't help but chuckle, recalling his first encounter with Deng Zhao, in which he also stepped in to help those in need, just like Brother Yuanming.
"Lord Yu was originally from a prominent family in Kuaiji. It is said that there was a famous doctor in the family, but because he was engaged in business, he refused to treat his family members. His wife died in the family, and his only daughter could not be cared for, which caused a conflict with the family members." Deng Jie slowly told Guo Jia.
Guo Jia could imagine a father, unwilling to be mistreated, taking his daughter away from their homeland and clan to venture out on his own.
"Master Yu took a liking to my elder brother, who was of upright character and skilled in martial arts, and took him in as a disciple. My elder brother thus studied business under Master Yu for three years, and my sister-in-law was also always with the caravan at that time. The two were of similar age and shared similar interests, so naturally..." Deng Jie chuckled softly as he spoke, then suppressed his smile and revealed a regretful expression.
Unfortunately, before they could get married, Yu Jun was robbed and killed by bandits on his way to prepare Yu Qiu's dowry.
“This house was also left by Lord Yu.” She sighed softly and looked around. “The two of them were already very close, and my brother couldn’t abandon my sister-in-law. The caravans in Lujiang are still around, so they brought my mother and me here to live.”
After that, the two worked together to manage the business. Deng Zhao opened up the trade route in Jingzhou, while Yu Qiu took charge of Wancheng, making the shops in the city thrive. The Deng family's life got better and better.
Guo Jia sighed inwardly. The perfect match between Deng Zhao and Yu Qiu was not only arranged by their parents, but also based on their enduring affection and their vast wealth, which made the Deng family what it is today.
He had just glanced at Deng Jie's silent expression when he tried to get up and change his position, but he was suddenly numb and unable to move, letting out a low, hoarse groan.
Deng Jie got up to check where he felt unwell. Guo Jia raised his hand and rubbed his fingers. "They're numb..."
"By the way, you haven't moved a muscle all day." Deng Jie had learned before that lying still for a long time would obstruct the flow of qi and blood. Without saying a word, she pulled back Guo Jia's blanket. The sudden chill made Guo Jia instinctively cover himself, and he growled in a low voice, "What...what are you doing..."
"Push your hands away and loosen your muscles!" Deng Jie moved his hands away, helped him lie flat, and took off his outer robe. "You can't move now, so I'll help you. Although my strength may not be very steady, I have been specially trained."
Guo Jia felt a surge of panic.
Originally, I just wanted to tease Deng Jie to go along with what Deng Zhao and his wife wanted, and I never thought that I would really be reluctant to let go.
Deng Zhao's almost explicit words just now made it impossible for her to pretend she hadn't heard them. Deng Jie's silence must also mean she understood. What was she thinking?
Now that Deng Jie was treating him so wholeheartedly... he felt somewhat at a loss.
He couldn't help but recall the scene when he personally summoned Chen Qun to take Xun Wei away when he left Yingchuan.
At that time, he, Deng Zhao, and Xun Wei escaped from Yuan Shao's place to save Xun Yu, and led Zhang Yang into Hanoi to create chaos. After Deng Zhao led a caravan to escort them back to Yingchuan, Xun Wei took out a jade pendant and asked him to help her escape her marriage alliance with the Chen family.
How could he betray Wenruo, who had treated him with kindness?
Besides, he only deliberately spoke intimately with Xun Wei in order to take advantage of Chen Qun in his heart. How could he be so inconsiderate as she was Chen Qun's betrothed?
Although Xun Wei was the orphan of the Tang family who came with Madam Tang as part of her dowry to the Xun family, Wen Ruo treated her like his own son. He originally thought that his deliberate treatment would make her disgusted, but he never expected that she still had doubts about her status as an orphan deep in her heart.
Xun Wei's intense and piercing gaze made it difficult for him to refuse directly, so he agreed to let her hide in the car.
Fortunately, reason prevailed, and he asked Old Chen to pass on a message to Wenruo. However, Wenruo herself did not come and sent Chen Changwen in person.
It's not hard to imagine that Wenruo probably didn't want to create an awkward situation with herself.
He naturally couldn't refuse Xun Wei's request, so he simply told Chen Changwen: "Miss Xun has injured her foot and can't walk. She's waiting for you in the carriage."
Even without seeing her face clearly as she stepped out of the car, one could tell she must have been in tears.
Chen Changwen probably pretended not to understand and asked her, "Does it still hurt?" She answered with a sobbing voice, "It hurts," which still stirred a trace of pity in his heart.
It was rare to see Chen Changwen lose his composure and carry the girl away in front of everyone.
After all, he had made up his mind to leave alone. It would be a lie to say that he had no regrets, but he hadn't really fantasized about anything. The guilt of betraying her feelings definitely outweighed the other's feelings.
If the same scene were to happen to Deng Jie now, and someone wanted to take her away, she would definitely fight for it.
Just thinking about watching her figure disappear into the distance made my heart clench.
But what can I offer her now, and what can I promise Deng Zhao?
He grasped Deng Jie's hand, his trembling fingertips perhaps unnoticed even by himself.
“Miss Deng…” he struggled to suppress his unease and sorrow, “This is not appropriate for you. A man and a woman alone in a room is already damaging to your reputation, and if you… if you continue to treat me like this…”
After struggling for a while, he finally blurted out the word "inappropriate".
Deng Jie ignored his eyes and instead gently pulled his arm apart, kneading it from light to heavy pressure down to his fingertips. “Mr. Fengxiao, you’re overthinking it. Since I have this skill, it’s not the first time I’ve given massages to people. Not to mention my mother, brother, and sister-in-law, didn’t I also come into contact with other people when I was studying at the clinic?”
Guo Jia's body trembled slightly, and his heartache vanished instantly.
If it weren't for his physical limitations, he probably would have jumped up immediately. He glared at Deng Jie and asked in a gruff voice, "You've also massaged other people?"
The voice was horribly unpleasant. Deng Jie finished fiddling with his fingers and threw his right hand away: "Yes! Sir, don't let your mind wander. Just stay put!"
These words made Guo Jia both happy and somewhat unhappy.
He was happy because he had a reason to lie there and enjoy being manipulated by her without any guilt. He was unhappy because he was actually concerned about who else she was doing things to, and whether she had been harassed. Just thinking about the scoundrels during the free clinic and people like Xu Hong and Fu Xiao made his teeth grind back and forth unconsciously.
After finishing the physical massage, Deng Jie noticed that although his eyes were closed, his eyelashes were still trembling slightly with unease, his breathing was suppressed with a hint of unease, and he coughed occasionally.
She could understand that the anxiety stemming from pain and exhaustion made it difficult for him to fall asleep.
His gaze swept over the Boshan incense burner on the table, where the calming incense rising from it was the one he had prepared for each room.
Looking closely now, the swirling smoke must have been torture for his damaged throat and lungs, something he had overlooked earlier.
She immediately got up and extinguished the embers in the stove, then pushed the lattice window open a crack to let in the cool air.
The aromatherapy is no longer usable, but given his condition, we need to find a way to get him to sleep properly.
Guo Jia opened his reddened eyes, confirmed that Deng Jie was still in the room, and let out a low, hoarse voice.
Upon hearing the sound, Deng Jie quickly returned to the bedside and leaned down with concern: "How are you feeling, sir? Are you more comfortable?"
He blinked slowly, pointed to her and the doorway, and struggled to squeeze out the word "rest".
Deng Jie didn't get up; instead, he moved closer, raised his hand to cover his eyelids, and closed them for him. "I'll go back once you're asleep."
Her fingertips gently traced the contours of his brow bone. "Although I've never had my face massaged like this before, I still remember the acupoints..." she explained softly, her fingertips applying slightly more pressure as she gently massaged and pressed from the center of his brow outwards, slowly moving towards his temples.
Guo Jia's heart skipped a beat at first from the intimate touch, but under her calm and focused reassurance, his tense mind gradually relaxed.
“Recovery takes time and effort,” she said, her voice growing softer as she continued her work. “Sir has just survived a great ordeal, and he needs to close his eyes and conserve his energy these next few days.”
After her fingertips left his temples, she turned her fingers upwards, probing into his hair and pressing slowly and deliberately along the meridians of his head, starting from his forehead and moving towards the top of his head.
Under her patient massage, the pain in Guo Jia's body and the loneliness in his heart that had accumulated throughout the day were gradually dissolved, and his breathing became steady, even and long.
Hearing his breathing as he fell asleep, Deng Jie worried that he wasn't fully asleep, so he continued pressing for a while longer. Only after confirming that he hadn't woken up again did he stop.
She gazed at him for a long time, her eyes lingering on his face, a hint of tenderness quietly emerging from the concern in her eyes.
The serene face before me, the fearless and heroic figure under the blue flames of that night in my memory, and the vulnerable and dependent look on her face today, all flashed repeatedly in my mind.
She savored Deng Zhao's words, "I support you," and deep down, she hoped for the possibilities that lay behind that support.
Her heart pounded like a drum, and an unprecedented surge of emotion drove her hand to caress his cheek. Her gaze lingered on his lips, and a selfish desire to possess him arose within her. This startled her, and the burning sensation on her cheeks made her realize that she couldn't overstep her bounds, so she hurriedly withdrew her hand.
Reason compelled her to calm down after the frenzy of her private fantasies, and she resolved that she must not entertain such filthy thoughts again until he recovered.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
