Chapter 172 – Illness
Yesterday, after giving Yutang and Gu Xi their meeting gifts, Grand Madam Yi didn’t have time to speak with both of them due to the incident with Mrs. Shen. She only had the impression that Yutang had a gentle disposition and Gu Xi was graceful and elegant. Today, when she saw Yu Tang smiling, Yu Tang’s eyebrows were smooth and her eyes shone with brilliance, warmth and even glistened a little. She couldn’t help but take a second glance and said to Grand Madam Pei, “Yesterday, I felt she was pretty, but my eyesight was poor and I didn’t take a closer look. Looking at her today, Lady Yu is really beautiful, no wonder you want to keep her by your side, just looking at her a few times like this, my heart feels soothed!”
No one has ever complimented her like this before, especially in front of Grand Madam Pei.
Yu Tang’s face flushed red and she busily got up and mumbled a few modest words.
Grand Madam Pei laughed, the corners of her eyes showed zero traces of yesterday’s anger. She looked dotingly at Yu Tang and said, “Why not say that this dear girl is just like a flower, it makes people feel comfortable when they look at her! I think you shouldn’t always stay at the same place all day long, come out more often when you have time.” She added, “Is fifth uncle still practicing that longevity teaching?”
Grand Madam Yi said with a helpless look on her face, “He has gone to Longhu Mountain’s Tianyi Sect, otherwise, how would I find the time to come here for a visit!”
Grand Madam Pei hummed and asked, “Is he spending the New Year’s at home then?”
“He said he would be spending the New Year’s in the mountains.” Grand Madam Yi shook her head and said resignedly, “I can’t do anything about it. I can only instruct the steward accompanying him to take good care of him.”
“Good health is more important than anything.” Grand Madam Pei comforted Grand Madam Yi, “Why don’t you think of him as being blessed? Fifth uncle is still going strong as compared to the one in my family, and fourth uncle has also been sick for the past few years. If it were me, the next time Fifth Uncle comes back, why don’t we get him to take Fourth Uncle along to practice this Tianyi Sect’s longevity teaching?”
Both of them chatted about various family matters, and the juniors all let out long breaths of relief, each looking at the other with happy expressions. After accompanying them for a while, they were “chased away” by Grand Madam Pei, saying “All of you girls must be tired of listening to us the older generation talk about the past. Go now and play by yourselves. However, it’s starting to snow again, so no snow fights and no making of snowballs. Obediently stay in the house, otherwise I won’t be bringing all of you outside.”
All of them giggled and answered “yes”, but only fourth young miss was perceptive enough to ask, “Head Grand Aunt, where are you going? If we all behave ourselves today, you must take us along with you!”
“Dear me!” Grand Madam Yi smiled and turned to Grand Madam Pei, saying, “Look at this girl, there is no one among her sisters who is as smart as her, you just gave a small hint and she immediately understood your intentions.”
Grand Madam Pei laughed.
This clued everyone in, and even third young lady who had a calm, mature disposition couldn’t help but excitedly follow along with fifth young lady, each one hugging Grand Madam’s arm and cooing, “You can’t forget about us either!”
“Yes, we’ll all go!” Grand Madam Pei smiled, “We’ll go to Bitter Nunnery to have vegetarian food.”
Bitter Nunnery?!
The Bitter Nunnery where she met her calamitous death in her previous life!
Yu Tang’s eyes flashed back to the dimly lit hall of Bitter Nunnery and the sorrowful face of the presiding monk, Master Kefa.
Her mind went blank with a “buzz” sound, as if thunder had struck her ears.
“Sister Yu, Sister Yu!” After an unknown amount of time, she was shaken awake by someone, and Fifth Miss’ anxious voice was heard, “What’s wrong with you? Is it because you’re not feeling well somewhere? Don’t scare me!” With that, her voice began to catch.
“Quick, get a physician over!” While she was still coming to, Grand Madam Pei’s voice quickly followed. “This child, most of the time, she’s silent, and it makes feel at times, like she’s suppressing her discomfort. I had Ji Daniang keep an eye on her, so why did she still go so pale, her eyes going blank? It couldn’t be that she has some kind of insidious disease, could it? Quickly, quickly send someone to her home to check, but do not mention her falling ill, just say that in a few days we have to go to bitter nunnery to stay for a few days. Therefore, for fear that the weather will be too cold, the children may develop more illnesses so it’s better if we know in advance what to pay attention to, so that we can also prepare some medication or have a female physician accompany us ……”.
If they were to send someone to her home to ask questions, no matter how covertly, in the event that her mother noticed something awry, wouldn’t she be worried to death?!
As Yu Tang listened, she quickly took a few deep breaths and pinched her thighs, before she fully came to her senses, and immediately replied with a smile, “It’s fine, really. It’s that I had a sudden pain in my abdomen, and it hurts terribly. I, I wish to go to restroom…” Thinking this sort of explanation was too flimsy, Grand Madam Pei even suspected she had some kind of hidden disease, so she had to dispel her doubts completely. Otherwise, if she were to continue staying at someone else’s home for certain periods of time, if something were to happen to her, it would be difficult for the hostess as well. She quickly added, “It would be best if Grand Madam Pei could get me a physician. I’m afraid that I might have eaten something bad.” Her voice grew softer and softer towards the end.
Grand Madam Pei and Grand Madam Yi both laughed, clearly visibly relieved.
Yu Tang could not help but feel guilty.
The two Grand Madams were people who have undergone various situations and tribulations, so nothing would faze them. However, their anxiousness for her was clearly shown on their faces, so it was obvious that she had really scared the two Grand Madams.
As she pondered this internally, her eyes could not help but reveal some of her feelings.
The two elderly madams have experienced much more than she had, so naturally they could tell what she was thinking, and they exchanged looks with each other, and their gaze towards Yu Tang turned softer.
Yu Tang embarrassedly thanked them, and when she came out from the restroom, the physician had already arrived, taken her pulse, and said that her pulse was strong, not heavy or light, and that there was nothing wrong with her, and even joked with the two grand madams, saying “Look at the lady’s appearance, she can walk two or three times around the fake mountains in this courtyard without breaking a sweat. Grand Madams are worrying needlessly. Earlier it could have been a momentary lack of breath, I see from this pulse, there is not even signs of bloated-ness. Rest assured, you can take Young Miss along to climb to Zhaoming Temple.”
The two Grand Madams couldn’t help but laugh, and richly rewarded the physician.
Yu Tang embarrassedly thanked and apologized to the two Grand Madams.
She had some understanding of Grand Madam Pei’s character, but unexpectedly Grand Madam Yi was also a straightforward person. She waved her hand and said dismissively, “Child, when you’re feeling poorly, it’s not like you wish to be unwell, so why are you shouldering the blame for it? Although the physician said that everything’s fine, but you still need to have a break. Those juniors although younger than you, but you don’t always need to give in to their whims. If they are excitedly running around, it’s ok for you to slowly follow behind them. There’s a whole retinue of serving aunties and maids, surely they won’t go missing!”
Her words showed that she believed what the physician said, that it was only a momentary shortness of breath.
Yu Tang’s heart became even more uneasy, and she responded “Yes” firmly.
Fifth young lady went up to help her with a concerned face and said in a cute child-like voice, “Sister Yu, I’ll help you walk slowly.” Yu Tang’s heart nearly melted.
Fourth Miss also went up to help her with a face filled with worry.
Third young lady also stood beside her cautiously, as if she was going to fall if she moved a step, and even second young lady who was always so haughty also showed her concern.
Yu Tang couldn’t decide to laugh and cry, even if she said she was fine, they didn’t believe her.
Luckily, Grand Madam Pei spoke up, “Since you know that your sister Yu can’t run about, you all shouldn’t be wandering around. Stay in the house today and let your sister Yu teach you how to make silk flowers, or else, we’ll have Ji Daniang teach you how to do embroidery.”
Third Miss respectfully acquiesced, Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss both responded, “We’ll follow Sister Yu and make silk flowers!”
Grand Madam Pei shook her head and smiled, “Better get going then! All of you standing in front of me is giving me a headache.”
A few of them pulled Yu Tang along and started to run, but after taking two steps, they immediately stopped, and began to walk daintily as though they were worried about stepping on ants, all the while urging Yu Tang to be careful, ”Sister Yu, be careful! Are you alright? Why don’t I have Chen Daniang call for a soft sedan chair to carry you back.”
“I’m really fine!” Yu Tang’s heart overflowed with warmth, all the pain and hatred in her previous life suddenly seemed to have less importance, even the icy coldness before her death seemed to be separated by a veil, and she could plainly see those scenes as a silent observer, and no longer did they cause her to feel the same bone-chilling pain.
She thought of Pei Yan.
Speaking of which, in this life of hers, the one she should be most grateful to has to be him.
If it wasn’t for him, her mother’s illness wouldn’t have gotten better; if it wasn’t for him, her family wouldn’t have avoided a tragic end, and she wouldn’t have had a sudden windfall; if it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have been able to stay with Grand Madam Pei and get to know these wonderful girls …… who are all kind hearted and beautiful.
He is her benefactor.
Yu Tang’s eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears.
“What’s wrong?” Second young miss comforted her awkwardly, “If you can’t walk, don’t try to be brave. The last time I accompanied my grandmother to Zhaoming Temple I went up the mountain in a soft sedan chair, it’s not that much of a deal.”
Although Yu Tang had tears in her eyes, she wore a smile on her face.
She gently replied, “I’m really fine. It’s just that I felt all your care for me ……”
“I know!” Fourth Miss interrupted and said in a raised voice, “Sister Yu is just feeling grateful!”
This little girl!
Yu Tang instantly lost her train of thought.
Fifth Miss and Third Miss laughed heartily as well.
While Third, Fourth and Fifth Miss wanted to go to Yu Tang’s place to learn how to make silk flowers, Second Miss said, “I’m not going! I’m going to see Sister Gu!” Saying this, she glared at Yu Tang and the others, saying, “Don’t you all know that Sister Gu is also sick? Aren’t you going to keep her company?”
Third Miss and Fifth Miss both smiled at Second Miss in embarrassment, and Fourth Miss immediately retorted, “Sister Yu and Sister Gu are living so close to each other, and Sister Yu wasn’t feeling well just now, so can’t we send Sister Yu back first, and then accompany Sister Gu in the afternoon?”
Second young miss was a little miffed.
Yu Tang chuckled, ”Then let’s go see Lady Gu first. Lady Gu is sick and needs to rest, so let’s go and keep Lady Gu company and talk, then you all can go to my place for lunch. If the weather is good in the afternoon, we can even take a stroll by the lake, what do you all think?”
Second Miss’s face cleared up considerably.
Fourth Miss also clapped her hands and said “yes”.
The group then headed to Gu Xi’s room.
Yu Tang absentmindedly wondered how the Pei family knew about the Bitter Nunnery.
Bitter Nunnery was small, hidden in a small alcove in Tianmu Mountain. As a nunnery, they took in women who had no homes to return to, and some of them after entering the nunnery, had nowhere else to go, and had no choice but to become nuns.
And there wasn’t much incense offered by visiting families either.
If it wasn’t by chance, she, who grew up in Lin’an City, wouldn’t have known there was such a nunnery.
Chapter 172 – Illness
Yesterday, after giving Yutang and Gu Xi their meeting gifts, Grand Madam Yi didn’t have time to speak with both of them due to the incident with Mrs. Shen. She only had the impression that Yutang had a gentle disposition and Gu Xi was graceful and elegant. Today, when she saw Yu Tang smiling, Yu Tang’s eyebrows were smooth and her eyes shone with brilliance, warmth and even glistened a little. She couldn’t help but take a second glance and said to Grand Madam Pei, “Yesterday, I felt she was pretty, but my eyesight was poor and I didn’t take a closer look. Looking at her today, Lady Yu is really beautiful, no wonder you want to keep her by your side, just looking at her a few times like this, my heart feels soothed!”
No one has ever complimented her like this before, especially in front of Grand Madam Pei.
Yu Tang’s face flushed red and she busily got up and mumbled a few modest words.
Grand Madam Pei laughed, the corners of her eyes showed zero traces of yesterday’s anger. She looked dotingly at Yu Tang and said, “Why not say that this dear girl is just like a flower, it makes people feel comfortable when they look at her! I think you shouldn’t always stay at the same place all day long, come out more often when you have time.” She added, “Is fifth uncle still practicing that longevity teaching?”
Grand Madam Yi said with a helpless look on her face, “He has gone to Longhu Mountain’s Tianyi Sect, otherwise, how would I find the time to come here for a visit!”
Grand Madam Pei hummed and asked, “Is he spending the New Year’s at home then?”
“He said he would be spending the New Year’s in the mountains.” Grand Madam Yi shook her head and said resignedly, “I can’t do anything about it. I can only instruct the steward accompanying him to take good care of him.”
“Good health is more important than anything.” Grand Madam Pei comforted Grand Madam Yi, “Why don’t you think of him as being blessed? Fifth uncle is still going strong as compared to the one in my family, and fourth uncle has also been sick for the past few years. If it were me, the next time Fifth Uncle comes back, why don’t we get him to take Fourth Uncle along to practice this Tianyi Sect’s longevity teaching?”
Both of them chatted about various family matters, and the juniors all let out long breaths of relief, each looking at the other with happy expressions. After accompanying them for a while, they were “chased away” by Grand Madam Pei, saying “All of you girls must be tired of listening to us the older generation talk about the past. Go now and play by yourselves. However, it’s starting to snow again, so no snow fights and no making of snowballs. Obediently stay in the house, otherwise I won’t be bringing all of you outside.”
All of them giggled and answered “yes”, but only fourth young miss was perceptive enough to ask, “Head Grand Aunt, where are you going? If we all behave ourselves today, you must take us along with you!”
“Dear me!” Grand Madam Yi smiled and turned to Grand Madam Pei, saying, “Look at this girl, there is no one among her sisters who is as smart as her, you just gave a small hint and she immediately understood your intentions.”
Grand Madam Pei laughed.
This clued everyone in, and even third young lady who had a calm, mature disposition couldn’t help but excitedly follow along with fifth young lady, each one hugging Grand Madam’s arm and cooing, “You can’t forget about us either!”
“Yes, we’ll all go!” Grand Madam Pei smiled, “We’ll go to Bitter Nunnery to have vegetarian food.”
Bitter Nunnery?!
The Bitter Nunnery where she met her calamitous death in her previous life!
Yu Tang’s eyes flashed back to the dimly lit hall of Bitter Nunnery and the sorrowful face of the presiding monk, Master Kefa.
Her mind went blank with a “buzz” sound, as if thunder had struck her ears.
“Sister Yu, Sister Yu!” After an unknown amount of time, she was shaken awake by someone, and Fifth Miss’ anxious voice was heard, “What’s wrong with you? Is it because you’re not feeling well somewhere? Don’t scare me!” With that, her voice began to catch.
“Quick, get a physician over!” While she was still coming to, Grand Madam Pei’s voice quickly followed. “This child, most of the time, she’s silent, and it makes feel at times, like she’s suppressing her discomfort. I had Ji Daniang keep an eye on her, so why did she still go so pale, her eyes going blank? It couldn’t be that she has some kind of insidious disease, could it? Quickly, quickly send someone to her home to check, but do not mention her falling ill, just say that in a few days we have to go to bitter nunnery to stay for a few days. Therefore, for fear that the weather will be too cold, the children may develop more illnesses so it’s better if we know in advance what to pay attention to, so that we can also prepare some medication or have a female physician accompany us ……”.
If they were to send someone to her home to ask questions, no matter how covertly, in the event that her mother noticed something awry, wouldn’t she be worried to death?!
As Yu Tang listened, she quickly took a few deep breaths and pinched her thighs, before she fully came to her senses, and immediately replied with a smile, “It’s fine, really. It’s that I had a sudden pain in my abdomen, and it hurts terribly. I, I wish to go to restroom…” Thinking this sort of explanation was too flimsy, Grand Madam Pei even suspected she had some kind of hidden disease, so she had to dispel her doubts completely. Otherwise, if she were to continue staying at someone else’s home for certain periods of time, if something were to happen to her, it would be difficult for the hostess as well. She quickly added, “It would be best if Grand Madam Pei could get me a physician. I’m afraid that I might have eaten something bad.” Her voice grew softer and softer towards the end.
Grand Madam Pei and Grand Madam Yi both laughed, clearly visibly relieved.
Yu Tang could not help but feel guilty.
The two Grand Madams were people who have undergone various situations and tribulations, so nothing would faze them. However, their anxiousness for her was clearly shown on their faces, so it was obvious that she had really scared the two Grand Madams.
As she pondered this internally, her eyes could not help but reveal some of her feelings.
The two elderly madams have experienced much more than she had, so naturally they could tell what she was thinking, and they exchanged looks with each other, and their gaze towards Yu Tang turned softer.
Yu Tang embarrassedly thanked them, and when she came out from the restroom, the physician had already arrived, taken her pulse, and said that her pulse was strong, not heavy or light, and that there was nothing wrong with her, and even joked with the two grand madams, saying “Look at the lady’s appearance, she can walk two or three times around the fake mountains in this courtyard without breaking a sweat. Grand Madams are worrying needlessly. Earlier it could have been a momentary lack of breath, I see from this pulse, there is not even signs of bloated-ness. Rest assured, you can take Young Miss along to climb to Zhaoming Temple.”
The two Grand Madams couldn’t help but laugh, and richly rewarded the physician.
Yu Tang embarrassedly thanked and apologized to the two Grand Madams.
She had some understanding of Grand Madam Pei’s character, but unexpectedly Grand Madam Yi was also a straightforward person. She waved her hand and said dismissively, “Child, when you’re feeling poorly, it’s not like you wish to be unwell, so why are you shouldering the blame for it? Although the physician said that everything’s fine, but you still need to have a break. Those juniors although younger than you, but you don’t always need to give in to their whims. If they are excitedly running around, it’s ok for you to slowly follow behind them. There’s a whole retinue of serving aunties and maids, surely they won’t go missing!”
Her words showed that she believed what the physician said, that it was only a momentary shortness of breath.
Yu Tang’s heart became even more uneasy, and she responded “Yes” firmly.
Fifth young lady went up to help her with a concerned face and said in a cute child-like voice, “Sister Yu, I’ll help you walk slowly.” Yu Tang’s heart nearly melted.
Fourth Miss also went up to help her with a face filled with worry.
Third young lady also stood beside her cautiously, as if she was going to fall if she moved a step, and even second young lady who was always so haughty also showed her concern.
Yu Tang couldn’t decide to laugh and cry, even if she said she was fine, they didn’t believe her.
Luckily, Grand Madam Pei spoke up, “Since you know that your sister Yu can’t run about, you all shouldn’t be wandering around. Stay in the house today and let your sister Yu teach you how to make silk flowers, or else, we’ll have Ji Daniang teach you how to do embroidery.”
Third Miss respectfully acquiesced, Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss both responded, “We’ll follow Sister Yu and make silk flowers!”
Grand Madam Pei shook her head and smiled, “Better get going then! All of you standing in front of me is giving me a headache.”
A few of them pulled Yu Tang along and started to run, but after taking two steps, they immediately stopped, and began to walk daintily as though they were worried about stepping on ants, all the while urging Yu Tang to be careful, ”Sister Yu, be careful! Are you alright? Why don’t I have Chen Daniang call for a soft sedan chair to carry you back.”
“I’m really fine!” Yu Tang’s heart overflowed with warmth, all the pain and hatred in her previous life suddenly seemed to have less importance, even the icy coldness before her death seemed to be separated by a veil, and she could plainly see those scenes as a silent observer, and no longer did they cause her to feel the same bone-chilling pain.
She thought of Pei Yan.
Speaking of which, in this life of hers, the one she should be most grateful to has to be him.
If it wasn’t for him, her mother’s illness wouldn’t have gotten better; if it wasn’t for him, her family wouldn’t have avoided a tragic end, and she wouldn’t have had a sudden windfall; if it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have been able to stay with Grand Madam Pei and get to know these wonderful girls …… who are all kind hearted and beautiful.
He is her benefactor.
Yu Tang’s eyes couldn’t help but well up with tears.
“What’s wrong?” Second young miss comforted her awkwardly, “If you can’t walk, don’t try to be brave. The last time I accompanied my grandmother to Zhaoming Temple I went up the mountain in a soft sedan chair, it’s not that much of a deal.”
Although Yu Tang had tears in her eyes, she wore a smile on her face.
She gently replied, “I’m really fine. It’s just that I felt all your care for me ……”
“I know!” Fourth Miss interrupted and said in a raised voice, “Sister Yu is just feeling grateful!”
This little girl!
Yu Tang instantly lost her train of thought.
Fifth Miss and Third Miss laughed heartily as well.
While Third, Fourth and Fifth Miss wanted to go to Yu Tang’s place to learn how to make silk flowers, Second Miss said, “I’m not going! I’m going to see Sister Gu!” Saying this, she glared at Yu Tang and the others, saying, “Don’t you all know that Sister Gu is also sick? Aren’t you going to keep her company?”
Third Miss and Fifth Miss both smiled at Second Miss in embarrassment, and Fourth Miss immediately retorted, “Sister Yu and Sister Gu are living so close to each other, and Sister Yu wasn’t feeling well just now, so can’t we send Sister Yu back first, and then accompany Sister Gu in the afternoon?”
Second young miss was a little miffed.
Yu Tang chuckled, ”Then let’s go see Lady Gu first. Lady Gu is sick and needs to rest, so let’s go and keep Lady Gu company and talk, then you all can go to my place for lunch. If the weather is good in the afternoon, we can even take a stroll by the lake, what do you all think?”
Second Miss’s face cleared up considerably.
Fourth Miss also clapped her hands and said “yes”.
The group then headed to Gu Xi’s room.
Yu Tang absentmindedly wondered how the Pei family knew about the Bitter Nunnery.
Bitter Nunnery was small, hidden in a small alcove in Tianmu Mountain. As a nunnery, they took in women who had no homes to return to, and some of them after entering the nunnery, had nowhere else to go, and had no choice but to become nuns.
And there wasn’t much incense offered by visiting families either.
If it wasn’t by chance, she, who grew up in Lin’an City, wouldn’t have known there was such a nunnery.
