Chapter 72

Chapter 72: A Feigned Illness

Since he was only feigning unconsciousness, the head injury wasn't severe. After the doctor's examination, he prescribed medicine and advised against water contact for several days, recommending three daily applications for proper healing.

Wang Wanjun diligently noted everything, saw the old doctor off, and then, with trepidation, entered the room. She sat by the bed and adjusted Dong Yiheng's blanket.

A maid scooped ointment onto Dong Yiheng's temple, gently massaging it clockwise.

Though the fainting was an act, the wound was real. Dong Yiheng, feigning unconsciousness, couldn't help but twitch his eyebrows. The stinging pain, like ant bites, was almost unbearable.

Wang Wanjun softly offered, "Let me do it."

The maid applying the ointment stepped aside. Another maid brought a basin of water, assisted Wang Wanjun in washing and drying her hands, then withdrew, allowing the ointment-holding maid to step forward.

Wang Wanjun mimicked the maid's movements, dabbing the ointment onto the swollen wound and beginning to spread it.

However, she was clearly unsuited for such delicate tasks. Unable to control her strength, she applied too much pressure, causing Dong Yiheng to gasp sharply.

Dong Yiheng opened his eyes and turned his head away. Wang Wanjun, looking forlorn, continued to reach out with the ointment.

"It hurts terribly! Let someone else do it!" Dong Yiheng snapped.

Wang Wanjun pouted and reluctantly rose. Dong Yuting, unable to watch further, interjected, "What right do you have to be so particular? It's your good fortune that your wife is applying your medicine."

"Sister, you—"

Dong Yuting shot him a glare. If Dong Yiheng wished to remain in the capital in the future, he absolutely couldn't let Wang Wanjun, with her loose tongue, discover his plans.

Wang Wanjun huffed, thrust the ointment into a maid's hand, and declared, "Who do you think you are, some prized delicacy? Who'd want to apply it for you!" Without a backward glance, she stormed out of the room.

After the maid finished applying the ointment, Dong Yuting dismissed her and whispered to Dong Yiheng, "Alright, you're overdoing it. If you truly upset Wanjun and she leaves, you'll regret it."

Dong Yiheng offered a sheepish smile. He dared not defy his sister. From childhood, he had witnessed his father always deferring to his mother, and his sister had, by osmosis, developed a similarly strong personality. Disobeying her meant a scolding.

After receiving his assurance, Dong Yuting rose and departed.

Wang Wanjun lingered under the eaves, pacing back and forth. When she saw Dong Yuting emerge, she rushed forward, clutching her arm, and anxiously asked, "Sister, is the Marquis alright?"

Though she had appeared indifferent moments before, she was now clearly concerned—such was the dynamic between the young couple.

Dong Yuting reassured her, "He's fine, don't worry. If he acts superior around you, just tell me, and I'll deal with him."

Wang Wanjun nodded, her expression still wavering.

Dong Yuting, understanding her worry, patted her hand. "You don't need to worry about the money."

"Is Sister going to pay for the Marquis?" Wang Wanjun blurted out. "I feel there's something suspicious about this. The Marquis isn't the type to gamble like that—even if he did, he'd never dare to lose so much. I'm worried he might have fallen into someone's trap. Sister, perhaps we should investigate this?"

Dong Yuting paused, then offered a faint smile. "I was thinking the same thing."

After leaving the Marquis Yongle's residence, Dong Yuting feigned sending someone to investigate the gambling den, then made a detour to Crispy Fragrance Pavilion.

Recently, as rice prices in the city soared, other commodity prices followed suit. The faces of the common folk on the streets were etched with sorrow, resembling walking corpses.

Business at Crispy Fragrance Pavilion was equally dismal. They had already adopted a low-profit, high-volume strategy, but with flour prices rising, earning a profit would necessitate increasing pastry prices. Yet, with people struggling to afford even basic staples, who would spend money on pastries?

Qiu He and Chun Yue watched the deserted shop, their faces reflecting sadness.

Dong Yuting felt the same, even contemplating closure. However, observing the unusual desolation on the streets, with every shop empty, she abandoned the idea. While the East Market still saw wealthy young men gathering, the West Market was truly deserted.

Just as Dong Yuting was about to lower the carriage curtain, her peripheral vision caught several children tugging at a girl in the distance. She quickly ordered the coachman to halt the carriage and dispatched Chun Yue to investigate.

Qiu He was composed and steady, while Chun Yue was spirited and assertive, capable of handling those children.

From within the carriage, Dong Yuting watched from afar as Chun Yue, with an imposing demeanor, grabbed the ringleader by the ear, hands on hips, scolding them just as she would the young maids in the Li residence. Her eyebrows were highly arched, and her cheekbones seemed more prominent than usual, making her appear even fiercer. The children, as docile as little rabbits, immediately had reddened eyes. After Chun Yue said something, the children scattered and ran, with Chun Yue yelling after their retreating figures.

Chun Yue brought the dirty little girl to the carriage, excitedly exclaiming, "Madam, this girl is from the Compassion Hall!"

What a coincidence. Dong Yuting asked, "Why were they bullying you?"

The girl wore a coarse linen dress with a tear at the cuff, revealing straw stuffing. She dared not look up, keeping her hands behind her back, and softly replied, "They bullied me because I have no parents..."

Dong Yuting asked no further. Sometimes human malice was inexplicably cruel, and she understood this all too well. Some people, having never even met a celebrity, would unleash the most venomous attacks.

Dong Yuting handed her an octagonal food box from the carriage. "Take this to eat."

The girl joyfully accepted it, immediately stuffing pastries into her mouth.

"Don't you get enough to eat at the Compassion Hall?"

Eating too quickly, the girl nearly choked. She took the tea Qiu He offered and gulped it down. Wiping pastry crumbs from her mouth with the back of her hand, she blushed and said, "I get enough to eat, but... it's been a long time since I've had anything like this."

The girl was only slightly older than Li Borui. Dong Yuting said, "There's a pastry shop in the West Market called Crispy Fragrance Pavilion. It's mine. If you ever want pastries, go there. It's on me. Chun Yue, take her there to show her the way and make sure the shop staff recognize her."

Chun Yue replied, "Yes!" She took the girl's hand and headed back.

---

In the 57th year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, on the sixth day of the first lunar month, the Emperor dispatched Prince Wulie to lead troops to suppress bandits along the Cao River. Prince Yongming carried grain from Guanling to the Jianghuai region for disaster relief, while Prince Xiankang pacified the refugees outside the capital, registering them, and establishing shelters and soup kitchens.

On the seventh day, the Minister of Works reported ill, and the duties of the Ministry of Works were temporarily assumed by the Vice Minister.

Xia Qing wiped the tears from her eyes and returned to the Breeze-Chanting Courtyard as if nothing had happened. Standing at the doorway, she counted the stone slabs on the ground. The madam had taught them arithmetic, but she wasn't as proficient as Dong Zhi and would stumble after counting to ten.

Though she feigned nonchalance, her reddened eyes betrayed her.

Dong Zhi approached her and softly asked, "What's wrong? Did your mother come again?"

Seeing that Dong Zhi had noticed, Xia Qing no longer concealed it. "Yes, she came again asking for rice. I told her I had none, but she didn't believe me and insisted I ask the madam for it. Isn't she putting me in a difficult position?"

Dong Zhi sighed. After all, it was Xia Qing's mother, so she couldn't say much. "She's outside the estate. How could she know your difficulties?"

Xia Qing continued, "I've worked so hard to get to where I am today. How can I let her ruin everything? In our courtyard, Sister Qiu He is steady, Sister Chun Yue has a massage technique even the madam praises, and you're meticulous and clever. I had to find another way—relying on my good communication skills to gather information from other courtyards, just to secure a place here. I don't aspire to be a first-class maid; being a second-class maid would satisfy me. I send half of my monthly earnings home, but they don't save it properly. Now they come asking for more, as if I have any to spare!"

By the end, Xia Qing couldn't hold back her tears. Often, the deepest wounds came from one's own family.

Dong Zhi let her lean on her shoulder and comforted her, "Actually, you can't entirely blame your mother. I've heard it's chaotic outside, and rice and flour are no longer available. It's not just you—Sister Qiu He's family came looking for her too."

Xia Qing asked in surprise, "What did Sister Qiu He say?"

"After all, they're Sister Qiu He's family. Sister Qiu He told the madam, and without a word, the madam had the kitchen give her some supplies."

Xia Qing hesitated. "Sister Qiu He has served the madam for many years. I'm different." She turned her head, gazing into the courtyard.

"Xia Qing, why don't you tell the madam? The madam is kind-hearted and will surely help you."

Xia Qing thought for a moment but refused again. "It's better not to. The madam and the master are arguing right now. How can I bother her with such matters?" "What matters are bothering me?"

Xia Qing and Dong Zhi were startled, turning to bow in unison.

Xia Qing stammered, "N-nothing."

Dong Yuting smiled and said, "What is it that has you so nervous, even making the most eloquent Xia Qing in our courtyard stammer?"

Xia Qing's face flushed with embarrassment, too afraid to speak of the matter, knowing that gossiping about their masters would lead to punishment.

"Dong Zhi, you tell me."

Dong Zhi remained silent, standing with her head lowered.

Xia Qing quickly spoke up, "My mother came to the estate, saying the family is running out of food and asking me for some. But I've only saved a little silver and have no grain to give. I wanted to ask you, madam, but I was afraid of troubling you."

"Oh, is that it?" Dong Yuting laughed. "That's nothing. Go to the kitchen and take some. If your family has come to you in such need, they must truly have no other choice."

Xia Qing's eyes welled up with tears as she said gratefully, "Thank you, madam."

Dong Yuting, along with Qiu He and Chun Yue, left the estate and headed to Prince Xiankang's mansion.

Once in the carriage, Qiu He nudged Chun Yue's foot. Chun Yue stole a glance at Dong Yuting's expression and, seeing she seemed calm, cautiously asked, "Madam, are you not angry?"

"Why would I be angry?" Dong Yuting reflexively retorted, then realized they were referring to Xia Qing's mention of her argument with Li Lingchuan.

But how could she explain that it was all an act coordinated with Li Lingchuan, meant to make others believe they were quarreling and in a cold war—allowing rumors to spread and exaggerate the situation?

Qiu He softened her tone and spoke earnestly, "Madam, you really should have discussed it with the master before using the silver to pay off the Marquis's debts."

Chun Yue, speaking bluntly, added, "Yes, the master was so upset he fell ill! The old lady even accused you of using the money sent from the Jinling estate to pay the Marquis's debts, saying you were siding with your birth family and shouldn't be managing the household anymore!"