Chapter 20 Tonic “This medicine is costly. Spill it, and your rewards pay for it…”

Chapter 20: The Tonic

"This medicine is very expensive. If you spill it, it will be deducted from your reward..."

Yue Rongrong approached, finding Zhen Xi utterly distraught, flames nearly licking her fingers. Yue Rongrong gasped, pulling her back, and the ginger soup in her hand sloshed to the ground.

"Did you get burned?" Yue Rongrong anxiously checked her hands, then breathed a sigh of relief. "What are you burning? What are you thinking about? How could you not even notice the fire?"

In the firelight, Zhen Xi's face was pale, her reactions sluggish. "I'm just... just burning some dirty clothes..."

Yue Rongrong saw the half-burnt clothes in the iron bucket and exclaimed, "If clothes are dirty, you wash them! Isn't this the Song brocade Young Master Luo gave you?"

Zhen Xi swayed as if chilled to the bone, hugging herself tightly. "It's too smelly... I don't want it anymore... Rongrong, I'm so cold."

Yue Rongrong asked no further questions, quickly helping her back to the room and covering her with a blanket. As her fingers brushed Zhen Xi’s cheek, she was startled, lowering her voice. "You have a fever! Your face is so hot!" No wonder she had felt something was off with Zhen Xi—she was truly ill. She was about to call a doctor when Zhen Xi stopped her.

"I'm fine. I'll be better after some sleep. Please don’t go. Don’t disturb anyone else."

"How can that be? Catching a chill can be serious..."

"Rongrong, please don’t go..." Zhen Xi pleaded, her voice almost tearful. "I don’t want to cause trouble for everyone."

Yue Rongrong was stunned. Since when had Zhen Xi become so... sensible? She didn’t want to overthink it but couldn’t help asking softly, "Did you have a fight with Young Master Luo?"

In the dim light, she didn’t see Zhen Xi’s face stiffen, only heard her sniffle and bury herself under the covers. "...No, Rongrong, I’m so tired..."

Seeing her ill, Yue Rongrong couldn’t bear to press further and said, "Alright, sleep first. If you feel unwell, call me. I’ll make another bowl of ginger soup for you."

By the time Yue Rongrong finished preparing the ginger soup, Zhen Xi was already asleep. Yue Rongrong looked at her pale face and couldn’t bring herself to wake her.

That night, Yue Rongrong slept restlessly, frequently getting up to check on Zhen Xi. At daybreak, she went out to fetch a doctor.

Zhong Yu also came after hearing the news. When the doctor said it was nothing serious and she just needed rest, their minds were put at ease. Zhong Yu took the prescription from the doctor and said to Yue Rongrong, "Don’t you have to go to the Marquis’s residence today? Go ahead. I’ll take care of her."

Yue Rongrong hesitated for a moment, glanced at Zhen Xi again, then nodded and prepared to leave. As she stepped out, she ran into Ren Hanzhen. Both of them averted their eyes and brushed past each other.

Ren Hanzhen sat at her dressing table, drawing her eyebrows. She had already gained Miss Jin’s favor and would soon enter the Marquis’s residence as a dowry maid. She tried to convince herself not to care about Yue Rongrong, but the thought of Yue Rongrong going to the Marquis’s residence every day, perhaps even seeing the Marquis, made her feel as if thousands of ants were crawling all over her. She was so jealous she could almost go mad. With a cold expression, she threw the eyebrow pencil onto the table.

As Yue Rongrong stepped out of Brocade Tower, Wen Song was waiting outside. Yue Rongrong was stunned, and Wen Song stepped forward respectfully. "Miss Yue, please get in the carriage."

Yue Rongrong nodded, still a bit dazed. "Why are you here?"

Wen Song smiled. "Naturally, I came specifically to pick you up. The Marquis’s orders." He glanced back at the carriage and laughed heartily. Yue Rongrong’s heart skipped a beat. She coughed dryly, turned her face away, and didn’t ask further.

When they arrived at the Marquis’s residence, Wen Song led her directly to another courtyard with the words "Yan Fu" inscribed above the gate. Yue Rongrong paused mid-step and looked at Wen Song, who explained, "This is the Marquis’s study."

Before Yue Rongrong could ask why she was brought here, Wen Song had already stepped inside. Servants were cleaning the courtyard. When they saw someone arrive, they stopped their work, stepped aside, and kept their heads down. Yue Rongrong felt a wave of nervousness for a moment and quickened her pace, lifting her skirt as she ascended the steps into the study.

As soon as she entered, she saw Shen Jichen behind the desk in the eastern hall. His demeanor was elegant and refined, but when he glanced up, his brows furrowed, and his tone was displeased. "Were you out stealing last night?"

Yue Rongrong was slightly taken aback and touched her eyes. "Is it still obvious? I applied extra powder this morning."

"Why couldn’t you sleep?" Shen Jichen walked over, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Yue Rongrong said, "Zhen Xi was sick."

"So, you took care of her all night?" For some reason, this angered Shen Jichen. A hint of sarcasm tinged his voice. "You’re so sincere with others."

Yue Rongrong marveled at how she was growing accustomed to his sarcasm and nodded. "We’re good friends. Besides, I did sleep for a while."

Shen Jichen’s expression darkened, as if he didn’t want to see her. "Go over there!"

Yue Rongrong turned around and saw an embroidery frame set up in the western hall, along with a cushion covered in a soft, furry blanket. A low table nearby even had a teapot, pastries, and fruits... She slowly turned back and looked at Shen Jichen in disbelief.

After a moment, she asked, "These won’t be deducted from my reward, will they?"

"..." Shen Jichen’s face turned extremely grim.

Yue Rongrong wisely walked over and sat on the blanket. It was soft, warm, and extremely comfortable. The teapot emitted a faint aroma of tea, mixed with the sweetness of the pastries, making it smell wonderful.

She looked up again and saw Shen Jichen coming in from outside. When had he left? Yue Rongrong had no idea but cautiously said, "Shouldn't I work in the original courtyard?"

Shen Jichen said sternly, "Work here. I can give my input at any time."

Ugh, so picky. Yue Rongrong pouted. She struggled for a moment, then lowered her eyes and said, "This isn't really proper. What if Miss Jin comes and misunderstands..."

She tried to keep her voice calm, but it came out stiff and unnatural. After a long silence, she looked up suspiciously and saw Shen Jichen staring at her, his eyes dark and intense. She froze, then heard his cold voice.

"You don’t need to worry about her."

Yue Rongrong was stunned. She lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. Yes, they were about to marry. He would naturally explain things to her. If she made a scene, he would patiently coax her. Unlike before, when she had made a scene because of Jin Tangsong—at first, he would coax her, but later he would just coldly watch.

After all, it was different. She took a deep breath, looked up, and forced a fake smile. "Since the Marquis says so, I won't hold back!" She gritted her teeth with a smile. It would be best if Jin Tangsong burst in right now, and the two of them had a huge fight because of her—it would at least give her past self some satisfaction!

Seeing her expression, Shen Jichen’s face darkened. "What are you thinking?"

Yue Rongrong smiled brightly and innocently. "Nothing at all." The moment she lowered her head, her smile vanished, and she began threading the needle, continuing the half-finished embroidery pattern from last time.

After a while, she covered her mouth and yawned. In her drowsy state, she met Shen Jichen’s deep gaze. She froze, secretly glared at him, and lowered her head to continue working.

Some time later, Wen Song entered carrying a tray with a pink-enameled green-lined floral bowl. Yue Rongrong was immediately captivated by the beautiful bowl. Only when Wen Song placed it on the low table to her right did she see it contained medicine...

"Miss, this is a tonic for replenishing qi and blood. Please drink it." He picked it up and offered it to Yue Rongrong.

Yue Rongrong leaned back. "No need, right? I’m not sick. I don’t need medicine."

Wen Song persuaded, "It’s a nourishing tonic."

"I won’t drink it." Yue Rongrong was still shaking her head when she saw Shen Jichen approach and stand behind Wen Song, taking the floral bowl from him.

Without any courtesy, he said coldly, "Drink it."

The two faced off for a long moment. In the end, Yue Rongrong’s resolve wavered, and she took the bowl. Coincidentally, the steward’s voice came from outside.

"Marquis, the Vice Minister of Works requests an audience."

Shen Jichen responded expressionlessly. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to add coldly, "This medicine is very expensive. If you pour it out, it will be deducted from your reward."

"..."

Yue Rongrong gritted her teeth in anger, closed her eyes, and downed it in one gulp. It wasn’t as bitter as she had imagined, but there was still a slight bitterness. She drank the water Wen Song poured for her and looked at the empty floral bowl, casually complimenting, "The bowls in your residence are truly beautiful."

Wen Song smiled. "As you know, the Marquis doesn’t care for these flashy things. He specifically instructed me to retrieve this from the storage room earlier, knowing you’d like it."

Yue Rongrong’s hands, holding the floral bowl, paused slightly. She stopped her wild thoughts and presumptions and looked leisurely at Wen Song. "Are you saying I only like these flashy things?"

"..."

Author's Note:

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Piao Yao: Go brew a bowl of ginseng soup.

Wen Song: Yes, my lord.

Piao Yao: Hold on.

Wen Song: [silence]

Wen Song: [confused]

Piao Yao: Go to the storeroom and fetch a set of gaudy bowls and dishes.

Wen Song: Yes, my lord!

Piao Yao: —Never mind, take out all those gaudy bowls and dishes and have them on standby.

Wen Song: [owl emoji]