Jiang Yanyi glanced at the woman. She was not in a good condition. Chu Chengmao was concerned about the difference between men and women and only dared to hold one of her arms.
Jiang Yanyi said to Huo Jianjia who was following him, "Jianjia, go help that girl."
Although Xue was worried about the child, she couldn't just leave the girl alone at this moment, so she told her maid, "Shiya, go and help."
Although Huo Jianjia looked small, she was very strong. She almost lifted the whole woman up by herself.
Jiang Yanyi asked Huo Jianjia to go over and help the woman in order to give her some dignity. Otherwise, if she fainted here and was carried away by Chu Chengmao, and there were so many eyes watching in Shunkangfang, and the news spread outside, it would be hard to explain what happened between her and Chu Chengmao.
The woman knew Jiang Yanyi's intention, and gave her a grateful look, nodding slightly to express her gratitude. The grace and cultivation she inadvertently displayed in her every move were not like those of an ordinary girl.
Chu Chengmao also knew that his nephew was still waiting to see the doctor and could not delay. After Jiang Yanyi asked Huo Jianjia to support the woman, he took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to the madam: "I have to go out in a hurry tonight, and I don't have much money with me. You hold the jade pendant. I will send someone to send money to exchange for the jade pendant tomorrow."
The madam rolled her eyes and cried, "Oh, Mr. Chu, it's not that I won't let her go. This girl... I spent more than three hundred taels when I bought her..."
Chu Chengmao didn't buy her tricks and sneered, "Even if it's three thousand taels, you can't argue with me tomorrow. You've delayed the child's medical treatment, and you'll have to bear the consequences!"
Only then did the madam hold back the tears that she had shed in a pretentious manner.
After getting on the carriage, they headed straight to a nearby clinic.
The doctor was woken up in the middle of the night by a knock on the door. Because Chu Chengmao looked so frightening, he swallowed all his dissatisfaction and grumbling back into his stomach.
When checking Chu Nian'an's pulse, the doctor frowned tightly and said, "This is really a sin. How could a child who is only a few months old have such a high fever?"
Chu Nian'an was wrapped in Xue's cold-proof cloak. He was no longer cold at the moment, but his whole body was burning hot. His little face was red, and he kept crying in pain. However, his voice was hoarse from crying before, so he could only make a weak sound like a kitten.
"Doctor, please save my child." Xue didn't shed tears when she was in Shunkangfang, but now seeing Chu Nian'an seemed to be unable to breathe, her eyes turned red with heartache.
The doctor shook his head and said, "I dare not use medicine rashly for such a young child. I am afraid that the child will not be able to bear acupuncture. I can only think of a way to reduce his fever. I will prescribe a prescription for medicinal baths later. When you go back, you should also give the child medicinal baths for a few days. In this cold winter, children are most likely to have recurrent fevers."
There were many children who died of illness at a young age, and some whose brains were damaged by high fever. Mrs. Xue held the child in her arms, unable to maintain her forced dignity any longer, and choked up with sobs.
It was just as Chu Chengbai thought. Given her current situation, if she divorced Chu Chengbai, her future would only become more difficult.
She originally just wanted to raise the child well. It didn't matter if Liu didn't like her. She just had to please the old lady and have a good relationship with her younger brothers and sisters at home.
But if anything happened to this child, she would never be able to gain a real foothold in the Chu family in this life, and she would have no one to rely on in the future.
"Don't be sad, sister-in-law. Nian'an is a blessed man and God will bless him." Jiang Yanyi saw Xue crying and knew her difficulties. He felt bad too.
Women of this era regard their fathers as their heaven when they are at home, regard their husbands as their heaven after they get married, and when they have children, they regard their sons as their heaven.
Xue grew up here and was exposed to such ideas and concepts. Her temperament was much stronger and calmer than that of ordinary women. She could not go back to her parents' home, and her husband was a good-for-nothing, so she could only pin her hopes on her children.
That's why Chu Nian'an's illness was such a huge blow to her.
Xue choked up and said, "Ayi, I'm not as capable as you. I really don't know what to do now..."
"Don't worry, we'll listen to the doctor." Jiang Yanyi saw that Chu Nian'an had a fever and his lips were a little dry because he had been crying for too long. No matter whether it is an adult or a child, it is always good to drink more hot water to replenish the body's water when sick. So she asked Chu Chengmao to mix some warm water for her, and asked the doctor to get a clean spoon and feed the child water little by little.
Chu Nian'an had been crying for too long and was now too tired to open her eyes. When she felt the spoon coming towards her, she opened her mouth and leaned towards the spoon. Her originally tiny crying sounds turned into tiny humming sounds.
At this time, the doctor and his wife lit a few more braziers in the room. After making sure that the room was not cold, they untied Chu Nian'an's swaddling clothes and applied a towel soaked in cold water to Chu Nian'an's forehead, neck, armpits and groin.
Every once in a while, she would put the handkerchief back into the cold water, soak it, and then wrung it out before applying the mask. Jiang Yanyi and Xue also went over to help.
After struggling for half an hour, the fever in Chu Nian'an's body finally subsided.
The doctor prepared warm water for a medicinal bath, saying that the bath would force the cold out of the child's body and the child would get better faster.
Chu Nian'an is small, so a wooden basin can be used as a bathtub for him. Jiang Yanyi and Xue's hands are not strong enough, so it's ok for them to hold Chu Nian'an in the medicinal bath for a while, but their hands will be sore after a long time, so Chu Chengmao has to do it.
After Chu Nian'an finished the medicinal bath, Xue wrapped him in a cloak again. Not long after, he began to sweat all over. Perhaps because he was no longer feeling uncomfortable, he was much quieter when he slept, only humming occasionally, but his breathing was still heavy.
While Chu Nian'an was giving him the medicinal bath, the doctor also took the woman's pulse and said that she was overworked and had physical weakness.
It was late at night and Chu Chengmao was unable to send the girl to the Protectorate immediately, so he asked her to rest at the Chu family's house for a night and said he would send her there personally the next day.
From the time they left Shunkangfang until they took the carriage back home, Jiang Yanyi did not find a chance to ask Chu Chengmao about the identity of the girl, but from the moment Chu Chengmao met the girl, a string seemed to be stretched tight.
When she returned to the Chu family, Xue's heart was completely devoted to Chu Nian'an, and it was Jiang Yanyi who arranged a guest room for the girl.
Jiang Yanyi turned around and planned to ask Chu Chengmao about the identity of the girl. When she went over, she learned that Chu Chengmao had gone out again with his men overnight.
Jiang Yanyi was very tired that night, but thinking about the woman's identity and Chu Chengmao's purpose of going out in the middle of the night, he had no desire to sleep, so he simply waited for Chu Chengmao to come back in the front hall.
The wait lasted for an hour. After Chu Chengmao returned home, he learned that Jiang Yanyi was still waiting for him, so he went straight to the front hall.
"Is there anything that can't be asked tomorrow? Why do you have to wait until now?" Chu Chengmao's tone sounded like blame, but his words were words of concern.
Jiang Yanyi's face was obviously tired. She asked, "Second brother, why are you still going out so late? What are you doing?"
Chu Chengmao said: "Go and clean up the tail, so as to avoid getting into trouble in the future."
Jiang Yanyi guessed that the "tail" he was referring to was probably those people in Shunkangfang who knew that they had taken the woman away.
If Chu Chengmao just wanted to warn those people not to leak the news and ruin the woman's reputation in the future, he wouldn't have to rush over overnight. There must be some hidden reason behind this.
She hesitated and said, "That girl is..."
"She is the second daughter of the Xie family in Sheng'an." Chu Chengmao said in a low and slow voice, with a hint of hoarseness and not-so-obvious loneliness when he said this.
Isn’t the second Miss Xie the girl who was engaged to the prince of Wu Hou, Mu Xuanqing? After Mu Xuanqing’s death, the Chu family went to her house to ask for her hand in marriage on behalf of Chu Chengmao, but she refused.
Jiang Yanyi couldn't figure out what the connection between her and Feng Shuo was, so she asked Chu Chengmao directly: "Why did she go to the Protectorate?"
Chu Chengmao shook his head: "I really don't know about this. She only said that someone was chasing her, and in order to get rid of that group of people, she had no choice but to hide in Shunkangfang."
Although there are still many mysteries, at least we know the girl's identity.
****
On the first day of the new year, the whole family had to get up early to pay their respects to Old Madam Chu in her courtyard. Jiang Yanyi slept too late last night and almost got up with his eyes closed this morning. When he looked in the mirror, he found that there was a dark spot under his eyes and his complexion was not good.
I heard that Feng Shuo would come to the Chu family to pay New Year's greetings today. Jiang, who was usually too lazy to put on makeup, also put on three layers of makeup inside and out, trying to cover up the dark circles under her eyes.
When she arrived at Old Madam Chu's yard, it was not too late, but it was still considered late.
Madam Chu could tell at a glance that Jiang Yanyi was not in good spirits, so she asked with a smile, "How long did you play mahjong last night? Why are you and your sister-in-law so tired?"
Xue answered for Jiang Yanyi, "Nian'an had a fever last night, and Ah Yi happened to come to see Nian'an. He and I took care of Nian'an for a while, and then we went back late."
When Jiang Yanyi heard what Xue said, he knew that she wanted to hide it from Old Madam Chu.
On New Year's Eve, such a ridiculous thing happened at home. I don't care whether it is good or bad luck. I'm afraid that Madam Chu will be so angry that she will pass out on the spot.
Jiang Yanyi nodded in agreement with Xue's words.
When Mrs. Chu heard that her great-grandson was ill, she was really anxious and asked hurriedly, "Is the fever gone?"
Mrs. Xue said, "My granddaughter-in-law looked after Nian'an all night, and he no longer has a fever."
Old Madam Chu was originally a little dissatisfied because she learned that her great-grandson was ill. After seeing Xue's haggard face and hearing that she had personally taken care of the child for a whole night, she disappeared without a trace and said that the child had a wet nurse to look after him and asked her to pay more attention to her health.
Liu, who was standing aside, had a strange look on her face, and seemed to be feeling a little uneasy.
Madam Chu looked around and didn't see Chu Chengbai, so she couldn't help but ask Liu: "Why don't you see Chengbai?"
Liu said embarrassedly, "Brother Bo is ill. I was afraid that he would pass his illness on to you, so I didn't let him come."
When she said this, Chu Changping's face looked very ugly. Jiang Yanyi guessed that Chu Changping already knew about the ridiculous things Chu Chengbai had done, but he didn't want the family to have an unhappy New Year because of Chu Chengbai, so he didn't tell the old lady.
Old Madam Chu gave Liu some instructions and asked her to take good care of Chu Chengbai, and then the family started to have breakfast.
The glutinous rice dumplings cooked in the kitchen are the size of pearls. The snow-white and soft dumplings are served in a white porcelain bowl with a golden ruyi border. They look very beautiful. Sugar and fermented glutinous rice are added to them. They taste soft, sweet and have a faint aroma of wine.
Jiang Yanyi drank a few sips of the sweet soup, and his stomach warmed up. The fatigue all over his body also subsided a lot, and he felt very comfortable.
The side dishes include a dish of mixed shredded vegetables, a plate of salted duck eggs, and a dish of smoked goose breast and five-spice sausage.
Jiang Yanyi felt that the other dishes were just so-so, but the duck eggs were well pickled. The yolk was orange and oily, and tasted salty and appetizing. Served with sweet and glutinous rice balls, it was not greasy at all after eating.
After breakfast, Jiang Yanyi learned that Chu Chengbai was indeed at home, but he did not have a cold. Instead, he had several broken ribs and could not get out of bed.
Chu Chengbai pointed out that it was she who instigated the maid to beat him, but unfortunately Chu Changping didn't believe it at all. Chu Chengmao then said that he beat her up because he was angry at Chu Chengbai's behavior, and the blame for injuring Chu Chengbai fell on Chu Chengmao.
But Chu Chengbai was indeed a bastard, and Chu Changping did not blame his son at all.
The real head of the Chu family now is Chu Changping. He has planned to send Chu Chengbai to a farm in the countryside after the New Year, saying that he should cultivate his character, but this is no different from a disguised expulsion.
Old Master Chu is too old to take care of things, so Chu Changping becomes tough and Uncle Chu can't do anything about him. He can only say that if Chu Chengbai goes to the countryside, he will go with him.
***
Last night, Xie Chuji proposed to go to the Protectorate. Jiang Yanyi is now engaged to Feng Shuo. Chu Chengmao still has to understand why she wants to go to the Protectorate.
After breakfast, he went to see Xie Chuji. Compared to the dishevel she showed yesterday, after washing up, Xie Chuji had turned into the talented woman who was once famous in the capital.
Chu Chengmao didn't go into the house. He just watched her from a distance in the yard and asked, "Are you feeling better?"
Xie Chuji knelt down and bowed to him under the eaves: "Thank you very much for rescuing me yesterday, Mr. Chu."
She is a gentle beauty, but her eyes reveal a stubbornness and coldness that is completely different from the gracefulness around her.
Hearing the change in her way of addressing him, Chu Chengmao smiled and said nothing.
Xie Chuji saw the disappointment in his eyes and lowered his eyes in embarrassment.
Chu Chengmao said: "If you want to go to the Protectorate, you must tell me who you are going to see."
Xie Chuji uttered three words: "King of Liaonan."
Chu Chengmao's eyes changed slightly: "Why are you looking for him?"
Xie Chuji pursed his lips, seemingly unwilling to say more.
Chu Chengmao said, "He is engaged to my sister. If you don't tell me the reason, and I send you there rashly, what will my sister think?"
Xie Chuji had just arrived in Xizhou and didn't know that the Chu family and the Liaonan Palace had such a relationship. After hearing what Chu Chengmao said, he finally relaxed: "I found evidence to vindicate the Mu family."
Her voice was low and trembling, and she lowered her eyelids to hide the moisture in her eyes.
The author has something to say: Huo Jianjia: I am so thin, and you can tell at first glance that I am not someone who can break someone’s ribs.
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