The midday sun cast long shadows as Nurse Xu hurried back into the room. Jing Shu, having meticulously prepared the medicine, assisted the nurse in supporting and feeding the old lady, mirroring their routine from earlier that morning.
Two doses of the medicine later, the old lady finally drifted off to sleep, slumbering until the first whispers of evening painted the sky. When she finally stirred awake, Nurse Xu, overcome with relief, burst into tears. “Thank heavens, my lady! You’ve finally awoken.”
The old lady, her face pale but a weak smile gracing her lips, murmured, “It’s nothing but the same old trouble, nothing to fret about, Xu’er.”
Nurse Xu, her voice thick with emotion, choked back a sob. “But you’ve been unconscious for a full day, my lady!”
Jing Shu, ever attentive, swiftly approached with a steaming cup of tea. “Grandmother,” she said gently, “let me help you with some tea to soothe your throat first.”
Only then did the old lady seem to fully register Jing Shu’s presence. Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Shu’er? When did you return?” she inquired.
Nurse Xu cast a warm smile towards Jing Shu before turning to the old lady. “My lady,” she said, “the Second Lady only returned last night. Imagine, upon finding you unwell this morning, she hasn’t left your side for a moment, tending to your every need.”
A soft sigh escaped the old lady’s lips as she closed her eyes. “Such a good child,” she murmured. “But you worry too much, Shu’er. Your grandmother is still strong. This is nothing serious. Go and rest, dear one.”
Jing Shu chuckled as she blew on the teacup. “Grandmother has just woken up, and already you want to chase me away? Tired of me so soon?”
A tender smile graced the old lady’s features. “It’s not that, my dear. I simply worry you’ll exhaust yourself.”
“A daughter-in-law isn’t so easily tired,” Jing Shu replied, handing the teacup to Nurse Xu. With gentle support, mirroring their earlier routine with the medicine, she helped the old lady lean comfortably against her.
Nurse Xu gently guided the cup to the old lady’s lips. The old lady took a tentative sip, her eyes flickering open briefly. “This tea,” she murmured in a raspy voice, “it’s quite refreshing. What is it?”
“A special blend, my lady,” Nurse Xu replied with a smile. “The Second Lady brewed it, especially for you. It’s been kept warm by the hot water, waiting patiently for you to wake and enjoy it.”
Jing Shu, her face etched with concern, offered a gentle explanation. “I brewed some green tea with fritillaria bulbs and pear juice, Grandmother. It’s known to be particularly effective in clearing heat and reducing inflammation.”
The old lady reached out a frail hand and patted Jing Shu’s with surprising strength. “Such a thoughtful child you are,” she croaked, her voice filled with warmth.
After finishing the tea in small, delicate sips, the old lady sank back down onto the pillows. Though weakness still clung to her, she managed a reassuring smile towards Jing Shu. “Don’t fret, my dear. It’s nothing serious. Just a wave of fatigue that needs some rest. You too, child, go and get some well-deserved rest.”
Nurse Xu peeked into the bowl of porridge. “The kitchen has kept it warm, my lady,” she coaxed gently. “Perhaps a small portion before you return to sleep?”
The old lady shook her head faintly, her voice barely a whisper. “No appetite, Xu’er.”
With a sigh, Nurse Xu tucked the old lady in more securely before exiting the room alongside Jing Shu.
Once outside, Nurse Xu turned to Jing Shu. “Second Lady,” she said kindly, “you’ve been by the old lady’s side all day, clearly exhausted. Please, go get some rest.”
Jing Shu, relieved to see the old lady awake, offered a reassuring smile. “Thank you, Nurse Xu. I will take a short nap, but I’ll be back to relieve you during the night.”
Returning to Qingfeng Garden, Jing Shu found the house empty. Li Ling hadn’t returned yet. Zi Yun, assisting her with a change of clothes, murmured, “The young master sent word. He’ll be busy all day and return late tonight.”
“Bring me a bowl of hot porridge,” Jing Shu instructed, weariness evident in her voice.
Dan Zhu arrived swiftly with a steaming bowl of white porridge and a selection of side dishes. Jing Shu ate quickly, her movements fueled by worry rather than hunger. “Call me when it’s the hour of the pig,” she told Zi Yun as she pushed away the tray. “I need a short rest.”
Zi Yun’s eyes widened in surprise. “But Miss,” she protested gently, “you’ve been at the old lady’s bedside all day. Surely you need more rest than that?”
Jing Shu sighed, a hint of worry clouding her features. “Grandmother may be awake, Zi Yun, but she’s not in good spirits. Nurse Xu and I are taking turns keeping watch.”
Zi Yun nodded her understanding, concern etched on her own face. “Then by all means, rest now, Miss. You’ll need your strength for tonight.”
Perhaps fueled by her worry, Jing Shu found herself wide awake well before the hour of the pig. She rose from the bed and began to prepare for her return to the old lady’s chambers.
A creak of the floorboard alerted Zi Yun, and she hurried into the inner room to find Jing Shu already dressed and preparing to leave. Concern etched on her face, Zi Yun exclaimed, “Miss, it’s not yet the hour of the pig! Why don’t you catch some more sleep?”
Jing Shu shook her head, her voice laced with worry. “Sleep won’t come, Zi Yun. I must head back to the old lady’s chambers now.”
As Zi Yun assisted her with dressing, the door slid open, revealing Li Ling. His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Jing Shu fully dressed at such an hour. “My wife,” he inquired, “where are you headed so late in the night?”
Early morning had seen him depart for the day, leaving him unaware of the old lady’s illness.
Jing Shu offered a gentle explanation. “Grandmother hasn’t been feeling well today. I’m just going over to check on her and see if she needs anything.”
Li Ling’s brow furrowed with concern. “Is it serious? Did you send for a physician?”
“The Imperial Physician Zhang visited earlier,” Jing Shu replied. “He assured us it’s nothing serious, just a recurrence of an old ailment. He prescribed some medicine, and we’re hoping for a swift recovery.”
Relief washed over Li Ling at Jing Shu’s words. “Wait for me,” he urged. “I’ll change out of these robes, and we’ll go together.”
Jing Shu, already prepared, cast him a reassuring smile. “Go ahead, my lord. I’ll head over first and get settled.”
With that, she slipped out of the house and made her way towards Anxi Hall.
Nurse Xu, her eyes widening slightly in surprise, greeted Jing Shu at the entrance. “Second Lady,” she exclaimed. “Why have you returned so soon?”
Jing Shu’s eyes held a flicker of concern. “I couldn’t rest,” she admitted. “I’ll keep watch here for a while. Why don’t you go and get some much-needed sleep?”
Nurse Xu, touched by Jing Shu’s genuine care, could see there was no point in arguing. “Very well then,” she conceded. “You keep watch for now. I’ll return in the second half of the night to relieve you.”
The door barely shut behind Nurse Xu when Li Ling hurried in. He cast a quick glance into the inner room where his grandmother lay before returning to Jing Shu. “Zi Yun told me you’ve been here all day,” he said, his voice laced with concern. “Go back and get some sleep. I’ll take over watch for now.”
Jing Shu offered a wan smile. “I’m not truly tired.”
Li Ling saw the pale cast to her face and the worry etched in her brow. He opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it.
Silence settled between them, each lost in their thoughts. He perched on the couch, while she sat on a nearby chair. The only sound was the gentle drip of the water clock marking the passage of time. Jing Shu’s gaze would occasionally flicker towards the inner room, checking on the old lady’s well-being.
Finally, Li Ling broke the silence. “That day,” he began hesitantly, “Liang arrived with an urgent matter requiring my immediate attention. I had to leave in a hurry, without properly informing you…”
His voice was very low. He looked at Jing Shu with a hint of apology, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze. Her eyes darted towards the inner room. “I know,” Jing Shu said, her voice flat.
“When I left,” Li Ling continued, “I ordered the boatwoman to send you back after the rain stopped. But mentioning her…”
The nausea surged again. She looked at him, her eyes cold.
“After the rain stopped, I went back,” she interrupted. “It’s not a big deal. Young master, don’t worry about it, and let’s not bring it up again.”
Seeing Jing Shu’s demeanor, Li Ling stopped mid-sentence. He rose, approached her, and asked with a hint of worry, “Are you angry?”
“What’s there to be angry about?” Jing Shu scoffed, a humorless sound.
Li Ling sat down opposite her, reached out to hold Jing Shu’s hand, and said, “That day, Qing Luan was in mortal danger. Anxious, I didn’t have time to explain. Someone put peanuts in her food, which she’s allergic to. Luckily, she barely ate any.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Jing Shu’s expression, but it remained indifferent. Li Ling pressed on, detailing the dangers of food allergies, hoping to evoke her empathy for Qing Luan.
As the saying goes, “Excessive concern leads to chaos.”
She is the apple of his eye. Whenever she is slightly hurt, he loses his composure, abandoning her to face the insults of that venomous woman all alone.
Does he truly expect her to care for his beloved as much as he does?
She is no bodhisattva.
What does the life or death of his beloved have to do with her?
Jing Shu patiently listened to Li Ling until he finished speaking. Her face remained expressionless, and she replied indifferently, “I’ll go in and check on grandmother.”
(End of chapter)