Chapter 623

Chapter 630: Temper (Part 1)

In the main room of the eastern wing, though maids and matrons lined the room, the silence was so deep one could hear a pin drop.

Lady Eleven sat by Jin’er’s bedside.

"Where does it hurt?" Though anxiety was evident in her expression, her voice remained as gentle and composed as ever.

Tears clung to Jin’er’s porcelain-like face as he pouted and pointed at his leg. "It hurts here!"

Lady Eleven pushed up his pant leg.

Jin’er cried out, "Mother, it hurts so much!"

Though frantic inside, Lady Eleven moved even more carefully, rolling the fabric up to his thigh.

His fair, delicate skin bore not even the faintest mark.

No external injury...

Lady Eleven thought of how Jin’er had been doing horse stances with Master Pang these past two days.

Could it be muscle aches from the sudden increase in exercise?

She gently pressed his leg. "Does it hurt, or is it sore?"

Jin’er couldn’t answer.

Lord Xu burst in like a winter draft.

"Where is he hurt? Has a physician been called? Does it still hurt now?" His words were rapid but enunciated clearly, his bass voice brooking no delay. As he spoke, he took a seat on the stool by the bed, his eyes scanning Jin’er’s leg while he addressed Hong Wen, who stood nearby in distress. "Summon Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu!"

Hong Wen hurried off to comply.

"A physician has already been sent for," Lady Eleven said urgently. "It doesn’t hurt unless touched, but when it is, it’s painful. My lord husband, do you think it could be from doing horse stances?"

As one trained in martial arts himself, Lord Xu should have some insight.

"It shouldn’t be," Lord Xu replied sternly, though the worry in his gaze betrayed his true feelings. "Master Pang has taught children younger than Jin’er. He’s experienced."

By then, Hong Wen had returned with Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu.

The two clearly knew what had happened and looked deeply concerned. With both Lord Xu and Lady Eleven present, they bowed hastily before craning to see Jin’er, forgetting propriety.

"Young Master Jin complained of leg pain," Lord Xu said coolly, his bearing alone made them quake. "Did he bump or knock against anything?"

Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu thought for a moment before Liu Erwu spoke up. "I have been with Young Master Jin every day. These past two days, he’s either been at the Xiumu courtyard or in Her Ladyship’s quarters. He hasn’t gone anywhere else..." His voice quivered slightly.

A small head peered around the door curtain before quickly retreating.

"How is it?" Chang’an whispered to his brother outside.

Chang Shun replied in a little-boy voice, "Young Master Jin isn’t crying anymore. His Lordship and Her Ladyship are both sitting beside him, watching over him!"

No crying meant no pain.

Chang’an exhaled in relief.

He’d slighted Young Master Jin. Though the madam had praised him for doing the right thing and even allowed him and his brother to be taken into service, his grandfather still worried that Young Master Jin might hold a grudge. Unexpectedly, while Jin’er didn’t favor him as he did Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu, he hadn’t made things difficult either. Musing, Chang’an took his brother’s hand to leave, only to notice his fist closed around a sweet.

Zhang Shun said to his brother, "Have some candy, it'll make the pain go away!"

Chang An smiled.

The sixth young master was always kind to Zhang Shun.

Speaking of which, the sixth young master was quite a good person.

He praised his younger brother, "Zhang Shun is so well-behaved!"

A servant boy rushed in, "Quick, notify Lord Xu and Lady Eleven, Physician Liu from the Imperial Hospital has arrived!"

A young maid on duty lifted the curtain and entered.

The maids and older women retreated behind the screen. Lady Eleven rose and stepped back from the bedside, making room for Physician Liu to take Jin Geer's pulse.

Physician Liu couldn't help but glance at Lord Xu. Seeing his expression unchanged, he quickly focused on taking Jin Geer's pulse.

After some time, Physician Liu said thoughtfully, "The sixth young master's pulse is steady and strong... There's nothing abnormal. Perhaps we should invite Imperial Physician Xie to take a look—he specializes in rare childhood ailments."

Lord Xu immediately sent someone to summon Imperial Physician Xie. After examining for a while, Imperial Physician Xie also found the pulse normal. Facing Lord Xu's gloomy expression, he recommended Imperial Physician Wu. Imperial Physician Wu, in turn, recommended Imperial Physician Kong... Imperial physicians came and went in quick succession.

Lady Eleven sat by Jin Geer's bedside, chatting and laughing with him, but her heart churned with anxiety. She thought of all the illnesses she knew from her past life—leukemia, osteomyelitis—and cursed this era's lack of ultrasound technology, regretting that she hadn't studied medicine...

Hearing the commotion, the elder madam arrived, followed closely by the second madam.

Seeing the usually lively Jin Geer lying in bed, the elder madam sat by his side, tears welled up immediately.

Noticing Lady Eleven's distracted state, the second madam pulled Xiang Shi aside and pressed her for details.

Learning that several imperial physicians couldn't determine the cause, the second madam took Jin Geer's pulse herself.

"How is it?" the elder madam asked hopefully.

"The pulse is steady and strong..." the second madam hesitated, "It seems there's no issue..."

Hearing this, the elder madam immediately stood up and called loudly for Madam Du, "Quick, help me prepare my court attire. I must seek audience at the palace. Perhaps Her Majesty might know what to do!"

"Several imperial physicians have said there's nothing wrong!" Lord Xu hurriedly interjected. "Let him rest for a day and observe. No need to alarm Her Majesty unnecessarily."

"What I fear most is sudden illnesses," the elder madam said, remembering her second son's untimely death. "You mustn’t take this lightly." She insisted on going to the palace.

Shen Geer had been at the Xiumu Courtyard and only then learned that Jin Geer was ill.

He went to visit Jin Geer. Just as he entered the courtyard, the fifth madam came carrying Cheng Geer to check on the patient. Shen Geer followed his mother inside.

While the elder madam and others gathered close, speaking in hushed tones about Jin Geer's condition, Shen Geer perched on the bed to chat with him.

"So you can't do your horse stance practice today?"

Jin Geer nodded dejectedly, "My legs hurt when I move."

"Then I’ll get ahead of you!" Shen Geer said with a hint of pride. "Yesterday you lasted five incense sticks, and I only did two. If I do two more today and another two tomorrow..." He counted on his fingers, "I’ll be ahead by one incense stick!" he announced triumphantly.

Jin Geer glared at him, refusing to back down. "Just wait. Once I recover, I’ll do six incense sticks a day—I’ll pass you in no time!"

The children's argument immediately drew the adults' attention.

"Shen Geer," Lady Eleven kneeled beside Jin Geer, "What did you just say?" Her eyes lit up with hope, her expression eager. "You lasted two incense sticks, and Jin Geer lasted five..."

Shen Geer's face flushed slightly as he glanced timidly at Fifth Aunt. Seeing her listening attentively, he bashfully admitted, "I squatted the least... Sixth Brother squatted the most... even two incense sticks' worth longer than Master's requirement!"

"Really!" As if seeing light at the end of the tunnel, Eleven Miss felt a flicker of relief. She turned to Jin Geer, "Did you hold the horse stance for a very long time yesterday?"

Jin Geer nodded proudly, "I lasted one incense stick longer than Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu!"

Lord Xu caught on. No longer cautious, he firmly massaged Jin Geer’s calves ignoring the boy’s protests. After a while, he let go and said calmly, "Try moving your legs now."

Jin Geer tentatively stretched his legs.

"It’s not as bad as before!" His face lit up with joy. "Mother, it’s better!" He then looked at the elder madam, "Grandmother!"

Everyone sighed in relief.

"That’s good, that’s good!" The elder madam clasped Jin Geer’s hand, delighted.

At his age, just starting training, could harm themselves by overexerting in horse stance rather than strengthening their bodies.

"This is downright reckless!" Lord Xu’s expression darkened as he summoned Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu. "What happened?"

The two lowered their heads. "Master Pang tried to stop him, but the young master wouldn’t listen!"

The elder madam remembered Master Pang was their son-in-law’s recommendation, she hesitated but showed disapproval.

Eleven Miss, overwhelmed with relief, didn’t notice. She hugged and kissed Jin Geer repeatedly. "Silly boy, you can’t rush progress. Listen to your master next time. Now you understand the consequences, don’t you?"

Jin Geer buried himself in her embrace.

Lord Xu continued massaging his son’s legs.

"Thank goodness it’s nothing serious," Fifth Aunt sighed. "I even sent for Fifth Uncle to come home. Now we can rest easy." She then instructed a maid to inform Xu Lingkuan to ease his worry.

Xiang Shi brought Eleven Miss some hot tea. "Mother, please drink some tea," she said, guiding her to a stool.

Xu Sizhun hurried over.

Seeing Lord Xu tending to Jin Geer, he stood respectfully nearby.

After drinking tea, Eleven Miss felt better. Noticing Jie Geer wasn’t there, she asked, "Where’s Jie Geer?"

Xu Sizhun smiled. "We came back together at noon. I invited him to dine with me, but he said he had to review his books. He skipped his afternoon lessons at Shuangfu Court. I’ve already sent for him."

"If he’s studying, don’t disturb him," Eleven Miss said. "His schoolwork comes first. It’s almost dinner anyway—he’ll come to greet me afterward."

Since Jin Geer wasn’t seriously ill... Xu Sizhun whispered to Bi Luo.

That evening, Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie visited Jin Geer together. Since Lord Xu wasn’t there, Xu Sizhun ribbed Jin Geer, who hid shyly in Eleven Miss’s arms.

Eleven Miss patted his head fondly. "Alright, remember to thank Grandmother, Second Aunt, and Fifth Aunt tomorrow."

Jin Geer mumbled a yes.

Xu Sizhun was about to tease him further when Lord Xu and Xu Lingkuan entered, deep in conversation. "Getting a new master will raise eyebrows. It’s better to talk to Master Pang directly. He’ll understand how to manage Jin Geer."

Xu Lingkuan, however, focused on Jin Geer. With a chuckle, he called out, "Oh, our Jin Geer is still shy!"

Compared to Lord Xu, his warmth and cheer made him a favorite among the children.

Jin Geer turned and mumbled, "Fifth Uncle."

"How are the legs? Still sore?" Xu Lingkuan knelt by the bed. "When you’re better, we’ll go boating!"

Jin Geer’s eyes brightened briefly before dimming again. He shook his head softly. "I need to practice horse stance. Otherwise, I’ll never catch up to Huang Xiaomao and Wang Erwu!"