Xie Wanqing was ill for two days, and Mrs. Zheng was restless both days, visibly becoming pale.
After much persuasion from her confidant mama and eldest son, Mrs. Zheng finally got up and left.
Erqing ca in with a bowl of dicine, which was taken over by Xie YanYu.
He sat by the bed, stirring the dicine spoon, when Er Xia, also a first-class maid, hurried in and reported, "Young Master, a ssage from the gatekeeper says Princess Pingning has heard of the young lady’s illness and has co to visit. She is already in the manor and should be arriving soon."
The hand holding the dicine bowl paused slightly, but before Xie YanYu could speak, footsteps were heard outside the door.
He said calmly, "Let her in."
......
Pei Yuxuan left her maid outside and entered the inner room alone, lifting the curtain.
Upon entering, she saw the man who was cold and distant to her, wishing to avoid her, feeding dicine to his sister.
His actions were gentle, his gaze focused.
She was slightly stunned, her eyes instantly revealing a joyous expression.
Unexpectedly, it ca to visit the sick and t her beloved.
Xie Wanqing awoke from the bitterness, her mouth and nasal cavity filled with the bitter taste, which flowed down her throat, making her whole body feel bitter.
She frowned and opened her eyes, imdiately seeing a spoon of dark black dicine being handed over, which frightened her to quickly turn her head away: "Bitter!"
Supporting her from behind, Erqing was overjoyed: "The young lady has finally awakened."
Xie YanYu withdrew the spoon and reached out to feel his sister’s forehead. After a mont, he withdrew his hand and said, "Now that you’re awake, drink the dicine yourself."
Xie Wanqing was silent for a mont, daring not to refute, reluctantly taking the dicine bowl yet unable to force herself to swallow it.
Pei Yuxuan, who had watched for a long ti, finally couldn’t help but laugh.
"Sister Xuan!" Xie Wanqing looked up and saw her, her eyes widening slightly: "Why are you here?"
"I heard you were sick, so I had to co and see for myself." Pei Yuxuan took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat and laughed: "Not only did I co, but my brother happened to be free and ca too. He can’t co in, so he’s outside looking at your flowers and plants."
Xie Wanqing: "..."
She opened her mouth: "Pei Yuqing ca?"
Calling an older outside man by his full na like this was actually sowhat disrespectful.
Pei Yuxuan slightly raised her eyebrows, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Xie YanYu knocked his sister’s head and said calmly, "Drink the dicine while it’s hot."
Xie Wanqing glared at him resentfully, holding her breath and drinking the dicine down in one go.
Erqing brought a dish of candied fruit, Xie Wanqing picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, finally easing the bitter taste.
Xie YanYu instructed Er Xia, "Go and call the family doctor to take the pulse again."
"There’s no need to go to such trouble," Pei Yuxuan stopped Er Xia, smiling: "My brother’s dical skills are good, he always takes care of whenever I catch a cold or fever. Since he’s outside, I’ll go call him in."
Saying so, she didn’t bother to ask if it was okay and ran out.
Xie Wanqing: "..."
The family doctor is an outside man, Pei Yuqing is also an outside man.
Both would diagnose by pulse, essentially there’s no difference.
But...
She glanced at her brother, Xie YanYu t her eyes and said, "If you don’t want him to co, I’ll ask him to leave."
"No!" Xie Wanqing cried out urgently.
Only after she spoke did she realize what she’d said, clutching the blanket tightly, her pale cheeks from illness turned a slight pink.
Xie YanYu looked at her lowered head and said no more.
In the silence, the Pei siblings walked in.
Pei Yuqing stopped a few steps away and his gaze fell on the girl within the curtains.
(p>The young girl was sitting on the couch holding the quilt, her long hair simply tied up, wearing a light thin nightgown, covered by a coat, with a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead, looking fragile and haggard.
No longer the lively and unrestrained girl who teased him then.
He felt a sudden ache in his heart, his brows slightly furrowed.
Xie YanYu had already stood up, giving up his seat, saying calmly, "Thank you, Brother Changqing."
Pei Yuqing nodded slightly and walked over.
The hand clutching the quilt tightened even more, Xie Wanqing suddenly regretted not letting her brother stop him at the door.
She didn’t know how long she’d slept, her clothes were drenched in sweat, sticky and uncomfortable, surely she didn’t look well.
In her dreams, two months before she coughed up blood, she was sickly and haggard. So thin she couldn’t even support simple clothes, hideous-looking.
Lost in thought, a figure was already seated in front of her.
Pei Yuqing said, "Give your hand."
Xie Wanqing’s fingers tightened, then she quietly lifted her head, and at the mont their eyes t, suddenly she wasn’t nervous anymore.
She pursed her lips and calmly extended her wrist.
Warm fingertips touched her skin.
Pei Yuqing lowered his gaze, seriously taking her pulse.
Pei Yuxuan watched, tilting her head towards Xie YanYu, whispering sothing he paused, his gaze shifting to his sister, and ignored her.
Though all these people were inside, it beca eerily quiet.
After a while, Pei Yuqing lifted his gaze, carefully inspecting her complexion, and said, "Afraid of bitterness?"
Clearly, he had heard her reluctance to drink dicine outside.
Xie Wanqing nodded, pursing her lips.
Pei Yuqing smiled slightly: "You’re in good health, nothing major. To avoid bitterness, I won’t prescribe dicine, but use dicinal cuisine. I’ll have soone send it to you daily, rember to eat it."
His voice was gentle and soothing, with a hint of indulgence, causing Xie Wanqing’s heart to race.
She awkwardly said, "Wouldn’t that be too troubleso?"
"It’s not troubleso at all, it’s just a matter of instructing," Pei Yuxuan interjected: "My brother has many capable people under him, even the cooks’ dicinal cuisine tastes better than others’, you can’t taste the dicine unless you try hard, I promise you’ll be satisfied."
Hearing she couldn’t taste the dicine, Xie Wanqing’s eyes brightened suddenly, "Really?"
Those bright eyes turned towards him, Pei Yuqing’s breath hitched, pausing briefly before saying, "There’ll still be so dicinal taste, you mustn’t be picky, and take care of your health."
Xie Wanqing nodded obediently.
In their back-and-forth dialogue, the room’s atmosphere grew strangely.
Pei Yuqing’s attentively caring attitude was obvious even to the blind.
Realizing her hand was still being held by him, Xie Wanqing hurriedly withdrew it, awkwardly saying, "I’m a bit thirsty."
Er Xia, observant, offered a cup of tea.
Pei Yuqing took it first, checking it was warm water, before handing it to her.
Xie Wanqing looked at him speechlessly, taking big gulps of warm water to quell her discomfort, glanced at the man still at the bedside, and quietly said, "I’m fine now, you should go out."
Pei Yuqing acted as if he hadn’t heard, taking the empty jade cup from her hand.
Seeing this, Xie YanYu couldn’t stand it and called his na, "Let’s go out, let the two girls talk."
Pei Yuqing rose, his eyes falling on the young lady on the couch, saying, "Don’t indulge in cold things, no iced sugar water for a few days, understood?"
Seeing Xie Wanqing nod, he finally turned and left with Xie YanYu.
Once the two n left, Xie Wanqing took a deep breath, her back straightening.
After calming her emotions, she turned to see Pei Yuxuan smiling ambiguously at her.
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