Jinyi Spring

Chapter 233 Red Rashe Fever

They sped along the road. Shui Chuchen sat in the car and ate some snacks to tide her over.

Upon arriving at the Feng residence in Baima Village, a thick layer of lime was spread at the base of the courtyard wall, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant and burning vinegar. At the entrance to the west courtyard, there was a burnt-out charcoal fire with an iron pot on top. The vinegar in the pot had burned away, leaving only a layer of black charcoal at the bottom.

Shui Chuchen and Shaoyao changed into disinfected clothes and put on two masks. Tang Jian and several palace maids knelt on the ground, kowtowing and pleading, "Princess, you can't go in..."

Shui Chuchen ignored them, pushed open the side door of the west courtyard, stepped inside with Shaoyao, and closed the door behind her.

Tang Jian knelt outside the door, his forehead hitting the ground, his shoulders shaking with sobs, knowing he couldn't stop him. This guy's temper was like a donkey from the Imperial Hospital; once he got stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull him back.

However, she was genuinely kind to her servants. Thinking about how he had such a mistress, Tang Jian felt incredibly fortunate.

Guo Hei stood outside the courtyard, staring at the tightly closed door, his brows furrowed deeply.

He lowered his voice and instructed, "Be smart, fence off the yard properly, and don't let a single fly in."

"Yes." The dozen or so Flying Eagle Guards dispersed and each took up a post.

The east courtyard was quiet. Sunlight shone on the whitewashed ground, dazzlingly bright. The door to the west room was ajar, and from inside came the intermittent coughing of Hibiscus, like a broken bellows, pulling and stopping, making one's heart tighten.

Shui Chuchen stood at the door and pushed it open. Shaoyao went to the kitchen to "cook the medicine".

Not only was Mu Jin standing inside, but Chen Qingrui was also sitting there.

Hibiscus's face and hands were covered with a dense rash, some of which had scabbed over, while others were still red.

Mu Jin is fine. Those rashes were applied with rouge and cinnabar, and the fever was caused by drinking hot ginger soup and covering herself up. She made up to look like she had "rashe fever".

This is to prevent anyone from seeing it.

Shui Chuchen nodded to Mu Jin, and then happily went into the bedroom hand in hand with Chen Qingrui to talk. Mu Jin stood by the window, occasionally covering her mouth with a handkerchief and coughing.

Chen Qingrui knew that he would see his daughter less and less, so he held Shui Chuchen in his arms, reluctant to let go.

After Shui Chuchen finished administering acupuncture to her, the mother and daughter talked for more than an hour before Shui Chuchen had to leave.

Chen Qingrui's eyes reddened again.

Shui Chuchen said, "Brother will be back on the 27th, and we'll try our best to come see you."

Upon reaching the door, Shui Chuchen took Mu Jin's hand again and said, "You are a good girl. Take good care of my mother from now on. I will remember your kindness."

As he spoke, he took out five hundred taels of silver notes from his pocket and handed them to her, saying, "Consider this my advance dowry for you."

Mu Jin also knew that this might be the last time she would see her master.

With tears streaming down her face, she knelt down to accept the silver note, sobbing, "It is my blessing to serve the princess and Aunt Chen. From now on, I hope that everything will go well for you, my lady, and that you will be healthy and well."

Shui Chuchen put on a mask, Shaoyao opened the side door, and after the two of them went through, Aunt Qian quickly locked the door again.

Uncle Qian asked, "Princess, how is Mu Jin's illness?"

Shui Chuchen said sadly, "Her rash fever was delayed and is now beyond medical help. I have been staying in the palace and have not been able to give her acupuncture often. I am sorry for her. Let's prepare for her funeral."

Tang Jian then gave Aunt Qian twenty taels of silver, saying, "Since we were master and servant, let's make sure the funeral is handled properly."

Peony covered her face and cried a few times.

Later, Shui Chuchen and Shaoyao took off their masks, washed their hands in disinfectant, changed their clothes, and then got into the carriage.

As the carriage returned to the capital, the setting sun was slowly sinking behind the western hills, casting a dark red glow on the city walls. Lanterns had already been lit in the streets and alleys, creating a festive atmosphere.

The crowd was dense, and the carriage moved very slowly. Shui Chuchen and her party arrived at the clinic first. She took a bath at the residence, disinfected herself from head to toe, changed into clean clothes, and then took the carriage back to the palace.

Feng Buji couldn't bear to part with his sister, so he rode with her to the palace gate.

He sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain, watching eagerly as Shui Chuchen got off and walked into the palace gate.

Shui Chuchen stopped inside the palace gate and turned to look at him. He waved to her, and she waved back.

The palace gates are just a few steps apart, yet they feel like they are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.

"Sister, I'll come to the palace to see you in a few days!" Feng Buji's voice came from behind, crisp and clear, with a hint of tears.

Shui Chuchen stopped and looked at him again, nodding.

The carriage rumbled away into the distance.

The carriage stopped in front of her, and she got in. Several palace servants led the way with lanterns, their dim yellow light shimmering along the long palace path.

She lifted the curtain, and a cold wind mixed with snowflakes blew in her face, carrying the chill of the night dew.

Shui Chuchen took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic and depressed feelings. The road ahead is long; she'll take it one step at a time. Once she gets out of this cage, things will be better.

After dinner, Shui Chuchen went to her study to get her diary. Unable to shake off the bitterness in her heart, she wanted to write a few lines, even if she couldn't express it explicitly.

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the twenty-second year of the Jianzhang era, snowflakes fell, each one cold and frigid.

Returning to one's home is nothing more than jumping into a golden cage.

Some farewells are drawing near, some reunions are becoming distant. Those who were once within reach are now separated by towering red walls and grand gates. Fortunately, there is still something to cherish, something to remember, something to look forward to.

As for the rest—the crabapple tree in front of the courtyard, with several sparrows perched on its branches, chattering incessantly all day long. Spring is approaching, and all things are stirring with life, but the wind in this courtyard never seems to bring warmth.

She sighed, locked the diary in the cabinet, and got up to walk outside.

Tang Jian and Shaoyao hurriedly followed behind, while Caiju lit the horn lantern and carried it ahead.

The snowflakes continued to fall softly, and the lamplight reflected on them, turning the nearby snowflakes a warm orange-red color, which then settled on the blue brick ground, covering it with a thin layer.

Shui Chuchen looked at the empty courtyard and walked towards the backyard.

The garden was eerily quiet, with only the faint fragrance of a few wintersweet blossoms floating in the cold air. The pond was frozen over, covered with a thin layer of snowflakes. The usual flowers and plants had all withered, leaving only bare branches standing in the snow. A breeze blew by, carrying the crisp chill of the snow.

She stood there for a while, then walked deeper into the garden.

Unexpectedly, Shui Raofu was pulling the Third Princess Shui Raohua along the cobblestone path. Shui Raohua looked unwilling, clearly having been dragged out by force.

Although Shui Raofu was dressed in plain clothes, she had a bright smile on her face and did not look like she had just lost her own mother.

I've heard that King Zhao is still grieving the loss of his mother and often sheds tears. These brother and sister are hardly like siblings born of the same mother.

Upon seeing Shui Chuchen, Shui Raofu looked smug and tilted her head, saying, "Oh, isn't this my eldest sister? Father and Grandmother felt sorry for me and lifted my ban. Hehe, your complaint was for nothing."

Shui Raohua quickly curtsied: "Eldest Princess."

Shui Chuchen nodded to Shui Raohua and greeted her, "Third Imperial Sister."

As she was about to leave, Shui Raofu chased after her, saying, "I grew up with my grandmother and father, and we've known each other for over a decade. You, a mere midwife, think you can sow discord between us? Dream on!" (End of Chapter)