After having tea with Master Xiao, Jin Chao went with him to Lin Yan Pavilion.
Concubine Song was lying on a large kang bed by the window, leaning against an old green and gold welcoming pillow. Her face was pale, and Cao Ying was helping feed her mung bean soup to relieve the summer heat.
Jin Chao first called her “Stepmother,” then said: “This is the doctor I invited for you, Master Xiao from the Marquis of Chang Xing’s household. He previously treated the young master.”
Concubine Song was momentarily stunned—how had she managed to invite someone from the Marquis of Chang Xing’s household?
Earlier, she had been making a fuss about her belly for days, merely wanting to discipline the maids in her room so they would serve her more attentively. She also wanted to irritate Gu Jin Chao—wasn’t she managing the inner courtyard now? She would have to deal with her affairs! Later, Madam Xu found several doctors, all of whom she drove away in anger. Who would have thought that today Jin Chao would invite a doctor who had treated the heir of the Marquis of Chang Xing?
Now if Master Xiao couldn’t diagnose her illness, she couldn’t stubbornly insist that his medical skills were poor! If she angered the heir of the Marquis of Chang Xing, causing him to resent the Gu family, the master would dislike her even more.
Concubine Song now just wanted Master Xiao to leave…
But she restrained herself and could only smile and say: “It’s troublesome for the young miss to be so attentive…”
Jin Chao said: “It’s no trouble. Why are you being so formal with me, Stepmother!” She then had someone bring a small pillow for Master Xiao to carefully take her pulse.
Concubine Song was nonchalant—she had no illness; this was all just a charade.
Master Xiao naturally saw through this. A hint of a smile flashed across his lips before he closed his eyes to listen carefully.
After a while, he withdrew his hand and said with a serious expression: “Madam, this illness is quite serious!”
Concubine Song was very surprised to hear this. How had Master Xiao diagnosed an illness? Her body was perfectly fine; she would know. She hurriedly asked Master Xiao: “Master, what exactly is my illness?”
Xiao Qishan frowned and said: “This is difficult to explain. The illness is strange; in my over ten years of medical practice, I’ve only seen two cases… But don’t worry, Madam. As long as you take the medicine I prescribe, it will surely cure your disease.” He then had his attendant pack up his things.
Concubine Song glanced at Xiao Qishan, feeling very suspicious. He spoke so definitively—could he be someone Jin Chao found to fool her?
Jin Chao, however, looked very pleased: “Since the illness has been diagnosed, Stepmother can rest assured. Once you take Master Xiao’s medicine, you’ll naturally be fine. Your stomach should no longer hurt… You rest now, and I’ll see Master Xiao off.”
A young maid lifted the curtain to let her out. Jin Chao quickly caught up with Master Xiao and said softly: “Thank you for your help, Master Xiao! With my stepmother causing such a fuss, I had no choice—I just wanted her to bear her child peacefully. But the medicine you prescribed, it won’t harm someone who isn’t ill, will it?”
Xiao Qishan smiled and said: “All medicines are somewhat toxic, but I’ll prescribe some mild nourishing herbs for her to drink. There shouldn’t be any major issues.”
Jin Chao then asked: “I’ve heard that taking medicine requires dietary restrictions. Are there things one shouldn’t consume while taking your medicine? I want to prevent my stepmother from inadvertently harming her child without knowing…”
Xiao Qishan thought to himself, he didn’t realize this young miss was so kind-hearted, showing such concern for a concubine’s child. Her personality was completely unlike Ye Xian’s—if someone harmed Ye Xian even slightly, he would return it a thousandfold!
She was just an ordinary maiden from a good family. Although her virtue was commendable, apart from her appearance, there wasn’t anything particularly outstanding about her.
Xiao Qishan continued: “In my prescription, I’ll include ingredients like ginseng and coptis. She should avoid herbs like veratrum and niter, and her diet should exclude dry, hot, and spicy foods. That should be sufficient…”
Jin Chao escorted Master Xiao to the entrance gate and had Madam Xu prepare a box of tribute Yang Xian tea for him. Seeing that it wasn’t gold or silver, Xiao Qishan accepted it. After returning, he went to find Ye Xian to tell him about Miss Gu.
“…I think she’s a good person, with fine virtue and appearance. But her personality is too gentle, not very interesting!…”
Ye Xian was half-crouching in a tree, testing his crossbow. He aimed the arrowhead at Xiao Qishan, smiling to reveal his fine white teeth: “You must have mistaken her for someone else. In all of Beijing, who has worse virtue than her? And gentle is the last thing she is! But weren’t you sent to examine an illness? How did you end up assessing her character?”
Xiao Qishan, looking at the arrowhead pointing at him, felt his heart skip a beat. He raised his eyebrows and said: “Now you dare aim a crossbow at your master!”
He rolled up his sleeves and climbed the tree in a few moves, ready to discipline him.
Lady Gao, surrounded by attendants, approached from a distance. Seeing Ye Xian crouching in a tree, she was very displeased—how was this the behavior of an heir! Even if he didn’t care about his status, shouldn’t he at least think about his health? She sent a maid to call him down and personally scolded him for a while.
No matter how willful Ye Xian was, he was obedient and compliant before his mother. After being scolded, he was confined to the study to practice calligraphy.
Lady Gao smiled and invited Xiao Qishan to the hall, as the old Marquis of Chang Xing wanted to speak with him.
The night deepened.
Jin Chao was still sewing the pillow insert.
Recently, Gu Dezhao has been staying at Ju Liu Pavilion or visiting Concubine Guo. Luo Su often came to Jin Chao’s quarters, and privately, Madam Tong told Jin Chao: “…Concubine Luo is feeling insecure.” Jin Chao understood. She had originally brought Luo Su back to divide Song Miaohua’s favor, but now there was no need to compete with Song Miaohua. Yet Gu Dezhao hadn’t visited Luo Su for a long time, so naturally, she felt insecure and could only cling tightly to Gu Jin Chao.
Bao Pu curled up beside Jin Chao to sleep. The cat was plump, and Rain Bamboo and Embroidery Canal often washed its fur. The cat grew lazier and more reluctant to move, preferring to sleep against people.
Luo Su held a cup of cold tea in her hand and smiled at Bao Pu: “The young miss’s cat is raised so well and isn’t afraid of people.”
Jin Chao smiled: “I haven’t done much to raise it. The day before yesterday, it sneaked into the small kitchen and stole yellow fish to eat. It’s taking good care of itself.”
Luo Su paused for a moment.
The butter lamp suddenly dimmed. Jin Chao took the gilt lotus hairpin from her head to tend to the wick, and the flame leaped back to brightness. At this moment, Madam Xu brought in a package.
“Young miss, the things you requested, this servant has prepared them all.”
Madam Xu opened the paper package to show her. Luo Su saw some tuber-like objects. Jin Chao merely picked through them with her fingers before saying: “This will do.”
Madam Xu put the items away. Jin Chao looked at Luo Su, who was still as beautiful as a flower, appearing more enchanting than her previous simple prettiness. Jin Chao said flatly: “Tomorrow, go to the supply office to exchange for a new welcoming pillow. I heard Father had the steward make several new ones and send them over. Among them is a medicinal pillow that helps one sleep very sweetly. Go get it, so you can sleep better in the future.”
Luo Su was somewhat surprised but promptly agreed, curtsying before withdrawing.
After Luo Su left, Madam Xu reopened the paper package and also took out a blue narrow-necked porcelain bottle from her person, pouring all the powder inside into the paper package.
Jin Chao took the paper package handed to her by Madam Xu and sewed the contents into the pillow insert, stitch by stitch. She told Madam Xu: “Find a pillowcase to cover it, then send it to the supply office later, and also have someone inform Gu Lan. By the way, Concubine Song took Ban Lian back with her. Is she still drinking the white fungus soup that Ban Lian brews daily?”
Madam Xu smiled and said: “Don’t worry, she drinks it every day.”
Jin Chao smiled faintly: “Good medicine tastes bitter. She might be unwilling to take it, so it’s better to add it to the white fungus soup. Ban Lian is someone she trusts, so she won’t be suspicious.”
Madam Xu agreed and added: “Cao Ying sneaks in through the small door each time to add the medicine, and Miss Ban Lian doesn’t know. But what will happen to Miss Cao Ying in the future?”
Jin Chao said: “Better to keep her under close watch. This maid is clever; she can be a second-class maid in the Clear Tong Courtyard.”
Early the next morning, Gu Lan went to the supply office and had the newly appointed Manager Xu bring out the recently delivered welcoming pillows for her to see.
“…I need one for my quarters. I heard the household just sent a medicinal pillow that helps one sleep well. Do you know which one it is?”
Manager Xu had a servant bring out the welcoming pillows. Gu Lan smelled a faint medicinal fragrance from one of them and confirmed it was this one. The cover was made of royal blue fabric with golden cloud patterns, very beautiful. However, holding this pillow, she hesitated somewhat.
Previously, she had gone to her mother’s quarters and noticed her welcoming pillow was old, so she wanted to replace it for her. Coincidentally, she hadn’t been sleeping well lately, and resting against this would be more comfortable. But now she was suspicious of everything. This supply office was now under Gu Jin Chao’s control—what if there was something wrong with this pillow…
From outside came a servant’s voice: “…Concubine Luo, what a rare visit!”
Luo Su? What was she doing here?
Luo Su’s voice was faint: “I heard new welcoming pillows had arrived. I haven’t been sleeping well lately and wanted to get that medicinal pillow.”
The servant ushered Concubine Luo in. Luo Su was surprised to see Gu Lan was also there. She curtsied and greeted her.
Gu Lan glanced at her and slowly asked, holding the pillow: “You want this too?”
Luo Su hesitated for a moment before responding softly: “Reporting to the Second Miss, the Young Miss mentioned a medicinal pillow had been delivered. She thought that this concubine wasn’t sleeping well and told this concubine to come get the medicinal pillow to use…” This was what Gu Jin Chao had said—surely Gu Lan wouldn’t refuse?
Gu Lan felt very uncomfortable. How could Gu Jin Chao try to take even this from her? She looked coldly at Luo Su, but her voice was very gentle as she said: “Concubine… you’re merely half a servant. Such items are not for you to use. What would you need it for?”
Luo Su bit her lip. This was the Young Miss’s instruction! If she couldn’t even do this well, what use was she? She pleaded again: “Second Miss, this truly is the Young Miss’s order. Please let me have it!”
Seeing how desperately she wanted this medicinal pillow, Gu Lan was even more determined not to let it go.
Gu Lan smiled and said: “…Go back and have Elder Sister teach you well about the hierarchy between legitimate and concubine children! Daring to take something I want, you have no sense of propriety.”
Thinking that this Luo Su was also someone who had caused her mother grief, she showed her no kindness.
Gu Lan gave a signal with her eyes, and her maid took the medicinal pillow and left.
Manager Xu stood to the side, not daring to say anything—this was not something he could interfere with.
Luo Su stood there, thought for a moment, and then went to Clear Tong Courtyard to report to Jin Chao.
After hearing this, Jin Chao laughed for a long time. Indeed, things that needed to be fought over were best; when Gu Lan took something she had fought for, she wouldn’t be suspicious. Seeing Luo Su looking at her in confusion, Jin Chao consoled her: “It doesn’t matter if you didn’t get it. I’ll make one for you in the future.”
She had a maid bring Luo Su a plate of freshly picked blessed tangerines to help calm her nerves.