"Madam, although what happened to Young Lady Ning is strange and bizarre, I feel sorry for her. Don't worry, I know what I should do," said Yin Lan.
Gu Ying knew Yin Lan was reliable and would handle things properly. She pulled up the corners of her mouth and said, "Yin Lan, I bought a set of miscarriage medicine and a set of fertility medicine. The ones marked with red dots are the miscarriage medicine. Bring these medicines and decoct them with gentle heat, reducing three bowls of water to one bowl before bringing it to me. If Cai Xiu asks, tell her it's fertility medicine I'm decocting for myself. You must not let the Ning family detect anything amiss."
Yin Lan held the medicine package in her palm and solemnly said, "Madam, don't worry. I know how to deal with Sister Cai Xiu."
Gu Ying smiled faintly. Her face revealed traces of fatigue. She pinched the space between her brows and said, "You go first. I'll go bathe and change clothes myself."
Yin Lan nodded and left the room.
...
Ever since the prince's wife had arrived, except for Cai Xiu, no one else was allowed casual entry into the main residence.
Now that the prince's wife was staying in the young lady's quarters, Cai Xiu's opportunities to enter the room decreased.
Even this morning's hot water for the young lady's washing up had been carried in by Yin Lan.
Cai Xiu had long harbored dissatisfaction in her heart.
Although the prince's wife was of esteemed status, since her arrival, the prince had not visited even once. Whether she was favored remained questionable.
With much difficulty, Cai Xiu had managed to be assigned to serve the young lady in hopes of following her to Bianjing one day to enjoy glory and splendor.
Yet now the situation was the opposite. The young lady spent her days waiting upon the prince's wife and no longer needed Cai Xiu's service.
In a few more days, wouldn't she be relegated back to her original courtyard to serve as a lowly maid?
That would not do!
With indignation in her heart, Cai Xiu walked along the covered corridor. At first glance, she spotted Yin Lan carrying two packages of medicine towards the small kitchen.
She glanced at the lit candlelight in the main building, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Then she went straight to Yin Lan and amiably asked, "Sister Yin Lan, why are you going to the kitchen so late?"
Yin Lan held the two medicine packets openly in her hand and politely smiled, "The madam is having issues stabilizing her fetus, so I'm decocting two doses of fertility medicine to bring to the madam."
Cai Xiu's eyes were glued to those medicine packets. Her sharp eyes noticed the packaging on both medicines differed––they were clearly not bought from the same shop.
This was even more peculiar. What person buys fertility medicine from separate shops, moreover when the Ning manor had its own pharmacy with common medicinal ingredients readily available? As the esteemed prince's wife carrying the prince's child, the old master must have prepared fertility medicine for her from the start.
With her mind racing in thought, Cai Xiu followed Yin Lan the whole way to the kitchen. Enthusiastically, she asked, "I heard my young lady has been sleeping this whole day. Is she ill? Lately her complexion hasn't been good. As her servant I feel distressed seeing this, yet she's stubborn and refuses to see the doctor."
Yin Lan replied, "It shouldn't be serious. Don't worry too much."
Cai Xiu said, "How can I not worry? In the future the young lady is to become the Heir Apparent's consort. If anything happens, we servants will have to take responsibility."
Yin Lan was rendered speechless. Young Lady Ning had inexplicably conceived a child. With this, not only would marrying into royalty be questionable, even an ordinary marriage match would be uncertain...
"Sister Yin Lan," Cai Xiu's gaze dropped back onto the medicine packets set aside. Obligingly she offered, "Why don't I help decoct the medicine?"
"I appreciate the offer, but preparing the madam's medicine should not trouble you," Yin Lan politely declined, carrying the decocting pot to the stove. She made an excuse, "The prince ordered that everything the madam ingests must not pass through the hands of others, not that I distrust you. As servants we can only obey our masters' commands... With the madam pregnant, I dare not be careless..."
Cai Xiu let out an awkward laugh, somewhat displeased at what she felt was Yin Lan's pretentious attitude.
Still, Cai Xiu did not leave. Yin Lan grew uneasy––the miscarriage and fertility medicines were completely different. If Cai Xiu recognized the former from her many years spent serving in prominent households, all would be for naught.
As Yin Lan picked up the medicine packets to open them, she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my! Sister Cai Xiu, I just recalled the madam mentioned earlier she had something to ask you. Would you please head over to speak with her?"
Upon hearing the prince's wife was looking for her, Cai Xiu immediately stood up. "Then let me go first. Sister Yin Lan, please carry on decocting the medicine."
Yin Lan smiled and nodded. "I can manage decocting medicine myself. Hurry on over, Sister."
Cai Xiu hastily made her way to the main building, eager to respond to the summons.
Yin Lan breathed a sigh of relief. She took out both medicines and poured them into separate pots to decoct.
...
Not long after Gu Ying had returned to the room and changed out of disguise, she heard Cai Xiu knocking on the door.
"Esteemed Prince's Wife, Yin Lan told me you were asking for me?"
From small details, Gu Ying could tell Cai Xiu had impure intentions and was ambitious. After only a couple days here, Gu Ying realized the servant girl was eager for quick success and gains. Her sudden arrival now surely indicated Yin Lan had run into trouble, so Gu Ying went along and called her in to chat briefly. She then sent the girl off with an errand to obtain local gazetteers from Old Master Ning's residence to keep Cai Xiu out the way.
As expected, Cai Xiu did not doubt her words and immediately left under orders for Old Master Ning's courtyard.
Gu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and went to Ning Si's bedside. "Why are you still sleeping, Sis Ning?"
Ning Si had just woken up. She pulled down the covers from her head, revealing a flushed sleepy face. "Mm...Sis Ying, what time is it now?"
Gu Ying smiled. "The sky has already darkened."
Upon hearing this, Ning Si bolted straight up in bed. The sudden movement made her dizzy again.
Gu Ying helped prop her up against the pillow in annoyance. "Just like me back then, you're rash. Now that you know you're expecting, be more careful not to hurt your fundamentals. My medicine isn't too potent or damaging to your body. Yin Lan has gone to decoct it."
"Madam, although what happened to Young Lady Ning is strange and bizarre, I feel sorry for her. Don't worry, I know what I should do," said Yin Lan.
Gu Ying knew Yin Lan was reliable and would handle things properly. She pulled up the corners of her mouth and said, "Yin Lan, I bought a set of miscarriage medicine and a set of fertility medicine. The ones marked with red dots are the miscarriage medicine. Bring these medicines and decoct them with gentle heat, reducing three bowls of water to one bowl before bringing it to me. If Cai Xiu asks, tell her it's fertility medicine I'm decocting for myself. You must not let the Ning family detect anything amiss."
Yin Lan held the medicine package in her palm and solemnly said, "Madam, don't worry. I know how to deal with Sister Cai Xiu."
Gu Ying smiled faintly. Her face revealed traces of fatigue. She pinched the space between her brows and said, "You go first. I'll go bathe and change clothes myself."
Yin Lan nodded and left the room.
...
Ever since the prince's wife had arrived, except for Cai Xiu, no one else was allowed casual entry into the main residence.
Now that the prince's wife was staying in the young lady's quarters, Cai Xiu's opportunities to enter the room decreased.
Even this morning's hot water for the young lady's washing up had been carried in by Yin Lan.
Cai Xiu had long harbored dissatisfaction in her heart.
Although the prince's wife was of esteemed status, since her arrival, the prince had not visited even once. Whether she was favored remained questionable.
With much difficulty, Cai Xiu had managed to be assigned to serve the young lady in hopes of following her to Bianjing one day to enjoy glory and splendor.
Yet now the situation was the opposite. The young lady spent her days waiting upon the prince's wife and no longer needed Cai Xiu's service.
In a few more days, wouldn't she be relegated back to her original courtyard to serve as a lowly maid?
That would not do!
With indignation in her heart, Cai Xiu walked along the covered corridor. At first glance, she spotted Yin Lan carrying two packages of medicine towards the small kitchen.
She glanced at the lit candlelight in the main building, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Then she went straight to Yin Lan and amiably asked, "Sister Yin Lan, why are you going to the kitchen so late?"
Yin Lan held the two medicine packets openly in her hand and politely smiled, "The madam is having issues stabilizing her fetus, so I'm decocting two doses of fertility medicine to bring to the madam."
Cai Xiu's eyes were glued to those medicine packets. Her sharp eyes noticed the packaging on both medicines differed––they were clearly not bought from the same shop.
This was even more peculiar. What person buys fertility medicine from separate shops, moreover when the Ning manor had its own pharmacy with common medicinal ingredients readily available? As the esteemed prince's wife carrying the prince's child, the old master must have prepared fertility medicine for her from the start.
With her mind racing in thought, Cai Xiu followed Yin Lan the whole way to the kitchen. Enthusiastically, she asked, "I heard my young lady has been sleeping this whole day. Is she ill? Lately her complexion hasn't been good. As her servant I feel distressed seeing this, yet she's stubborn and refuses to see the doctor."
Yin Lan replied, "It shouldn't be serious. Don't worry too much."
Cai Xiu said, "How can I not worry? In the future the young lady is to become the Heir Apparent's consort. If anything happens, we servants will have to take responsibility."
Yin Lan was rendered speechless. Young Lady Ning had inexplicably conceived a child. With this, not only would marrying into royalty be questionable, even an ordinary marriage match would be uncertain...
"Sister Yin Lan," Cai Xiu's gaze dropped back onto the medicine packets set aside. Obligingly she offered, "Why don't I help decoct the medicine?"
"I appreciate the offer, but preparing the madam's medicine should not trouble you," Yin Lan politely declined, carrying the decocting pot to the stove. She made an excuse, "The prince ordered that everything the madam ingests must not pass through the hands of others, not that I distrust you. As servants we can only obey our masters' commands... With the madam pregnant, I dare not be careless..."
Cai Xiu let out an awkward laugh, somewhat displeased at what she felt was Yin Lan's pretentious attitude.
Still, Cai Xiu did not leave. Yin Lan grew uneasy––the miscarriage and fertility medicines were completely different. If Cai Xiu recognized the former from her many years spent serving in prominent households, all would be for naught.
As Yin Lan picked up the medicine packets to open them, she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my! Sister Cai Xiu, I just recalled the madam mentioned earlier she had something to ask you. Would you please head over to speak with her?"
Upon hearing the prince's wife was looking for her, Cai Xiu immediately stood up. "Then let me go first. Sister Yin Lan, please carry on decocting the medicine."
Yin Lan smiled and nodded. "I can manage decocting medicine myself. Hurry on over, Sister."
Cai Xiu hastily made her way to the main building, eager to respond to the summons.
Yin Lan breathed a sigh of relief. She took out both medicines and poured them into separate pots to decoct.
...
Not long after Gu Ying had returned to the room and changed out of disguise, she heard Cai Xiu knocking on the door.
"Esteemed Prince's Wife, Yin Lan told me you were asking for me?"
From small details, Gu Ying could tell Cai Xiu had impure intentions and was ambitious. After only a couple days here, Gu Ying realized the servant girl was eager for quick success and gains. Her sudden arrival now surely indicated Yin Lan had run into trouble, so Gu Ying went along and called her in to chat briefly. She then sent the girl off with an errand to obtain local gazetteers from Old Master Ning's residence to keep Cai Xiu out the way.
As expected, Cai Xiu did not doubt her words and immediately left under orders for Old Master Ning's courtyard.
Gu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and went to Ning Si's bedside. "Why are you still sleeping, Sis Ning?"
Ning Si had just woken up. She pulled down the covers from her head, revealing a flushed sleepy face. "Mm...Sis Ying, what time is it now?"
Gu Ying smiled. "The sky has already darkened."
Upon hearing this, Ning Si bolted straight up in bed. The sudden movement made her dizzy again.
Gu Ying helped prop her up against the pillow in annoyance. "Just like me back then, you're rash. Now that you know you're expecting, be more careful not to hurt your fundamentals. My medicine isn't too potent or damaging to your body. Yin Lan has gone to decoct it."
