Chapter 10 Prescription: Some Private Matters

Chapter 10: The Prescription - Personal Affairs

Jiang Yueyi was also meeting Qi Hao’s cousin for the first time. She had only heard stories before: how Zhou Congshen was rebellious and ignoring advice, throwing away a promising future—even though he could have just inherited a title like Qi Hao—to go study medicine, and under a woman no less, disregarding all propriety between men and women, bringing shame to the Zhou family.

Now that he stood before her, Jiang Yueyi, not being timid by nature, gave him a few extra looks and found he was nothing like the villain he was made out to be in the rumors.

He was clearly a refined and noble gentleman. Neither Qi Hao nor Qi Yuan smiled much, but Zhou Congshen had a smile on his face from the moment he entered. When meeting someone’s gaze, his smile grew even wider. He spoke and acted without restraint or evasion, always open and easygoing, like a warm spring breeze.

Maybe people who heal others just have kinder faces.

Jiang Yueyi agreed silently.

As soon as Zhou Congshen finished taking the pulse, Feng Shi anxiously asked, “How is it? When you and Dr. Lu left last summer, you had Hao’er’s health under control. How has his old ailment flared up again after a year? I’m beside myself with worry, and I didn’t know where you’d gone. If you hadn’t come back, I would have sent people to search everywhere for you!”

“Aunt, don’t worry for now,” Zhou Congshen soothed Feng Shi, and indeed she calmed down a little. Then he continued, “My cousin has been frail since childhood, and relapses are common. Now that I’m back, I’ll gradually get him back on track.”

“And Dr. Lu? Why did you come to the manor alone?” Feng Shi asked again.

Zhou Congshen said, “My master is still out practicing medicine and can’t get away. I had some matters to attend to in the capital first. Aunt, you don’t doubt me, do you?”

Zhou Congshen’s master, Lu Ruohui, was a renowned physician in the capital, having cured many difficult and complicated cases over decades and saved countless lives. She had a good reputation and was respected, so it was natural for Feng Shi to insist on her.

Feng Shi quickly said, “How could I doubt you? Back when you were determined to follow Dr. Lu to study medicine, and your mother disagreed, I was the one who put in a good word for you. Anyway, since Dr. Lu isn’t here, you can stay at the manor. I’m so worried about your cousin’s health.”

“Alright,” Zhou Congshen agreed readily. “Going home, I’d just be a nuisance to my parents. Since Aunt is willing to take me in, that’s the best.”

This made Feng Shi, who had been frowning for days, finally crack a smile.

After cracking that joke, Zhou Congshen said to Qi Hao, “I’d like to take your pulse again.”

Qi Hao extended his hand again and coughed twice. “Go ahead, cousin. I doubt I’ll ever get better anyway.”

Zhou Congshen frowned slightly but said nothing. After a while, he finished and said, “It’s nothing serious. I’ll write him a few prescriptions for my cousin to take first.”

Hearing this, Feng Shi grew worried again. “Is it really nothing serious? He’s been ill for a while, and I think he’s even developed more symptoms than before.”

Zhou Congshen gave Qi Hao a deep look, sighed, and said, “Aunt, don’t worry too much. My cousin just has an old ailment. After some treatment… he should be fine.”

With Zhou Congshen’s words, Feng Shi felt a bit relieved, but her hand, gripping Jiang Yueyi’s, still trembled uncontrollably. Even Jiang Yueyi, who had remained silent, couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

After Zhou Congshen wrote the prescription, Feng Shi sent Xing An to pick up the medicine. Suddenly remembering something, she asked Zhou Congshen in a low voice, “When you took your cousin’s pulse just now, did you detect anything else…”

Zhou Congshen was momentarily confused. “What?”

Feng Shi glanced at Jiang Yueyi beside her and said, “Some private matters. Your cousin… in the bedroom, he has some issues…”

“Mother,” Qi Hao cut in calmly, not angry, “There’s no need to bring that up again. I have something to discuss with my cousin. You and Yueyi should go out first.”

Interrupted, Feng Shi felt embarrassed to continue. Afraid that discussing such matters might upset Qi Hao and harm his health, she quickly stopped.

Zhou Congshen looked from Feng Shi to Qi Hao, lingered briefly, then quickly glanced at Jiang Yueyi. He frowned again, and this time his smile faded somewhat.

Jiang Yueyi naturally noticed this. She immediately thought that if Zhou Congshen already knew about Qi Hao’s condition, he might be catching on to her pregnancy. Luckily, Zhou Congshen was family, and even if exposed, Feng Shi would handle it—she wouldn’t need to worry.

She followed Feng Shi out. Feng Shi stood at the study door for a while but couldn’t hear what was being said inside.

Feng Shi then pulled Jiang Yueyi to the middle of the courtyard, took her hand, and said, “I know you’ve been wronged. As long as Hao’er’s health improves, I ask for nothing else. I am his mother, but now that you’re married, I’m putting Hao’er in your hands. Take good care of him for me.”

Jiang Yueyi thought to herself that Qi Hao wouldn’t even let her enter his study freely, so how could she take care of him?

But she only thought this and naturally didn’t say it.

After parting with Feng Shi, who returned to her own quarters, Jiang Yueyi headed back to the inner courtyard. Just as she stepped over the threshold, she heard arguing from the study behind her. Before she could turn around, it suddenly stopped.

Jiang Yueyi pretended not to hear. Back in her room, after sitting for a bit, she heard no further commotion from the front and let it go.

***

Zhou Congshen then temporarily settled in the manor. He and Qi Hao were cousins and had been close since childhood, practically friends. He rarely went anywhere, often coming to keep Qi Hao company and cheer him up during his illness.

As for the argument that day, it was never mentioned again.

With Zhou Congshen’s care, Qi Hao’s condition improved noticeably, but only to a point—he never fully got better.

Feng Shi often called Zhou Congshen over to ask about the situation. He knew how to soothe her fears, and as her own nephew, she trusted him more. Though still worried about Qi Hao, she was no longer as helpless as before.

Jiang Yueyi and Qi Hao continued to avoid each other.

Qi Hao’s health was managed by Zhou Congshen, while Jiang Yueyi hired an outside doctor, who came every three to five days to take her pulse and prescribe calming and nourishing medicines for her pregnancy. She took them when she remembered, and skipped them when she forgot.

One afternoon, Jiang Yueyi was sitting under the eaves playing cat’s cradle with Zi Zhu and the others when Yu Ju burst in like a headless fly, her face covered in sweat.

Yu Ju was the youngest and wasn’t entrusted with important tasks. She mostly did small chores. Seeing her, Cui Mei frowned. “Where have you been playing? Why are you in such a rush? Is a ghost chasing you?”

“No, no,” Yu Ju quickly waved her hands and ran up to Jiang Yueyi. “I was brewing the lady’s medicine, but…”

Cui Mei tapped her on the head, and Yu Ju continued, “The master’s medicine was also being brewed nearby. They told me to watch both. I dozed off for a moment, and when I woke up, I couldn’t tell which pot was the lady’s and which was the master’s…”

Even Qing Lan scolded her when she heard that. “There were two pots. How could you forget after just a nap?”

“Forget it,” Jiang Yueyi said, unconcerned. “Just dump them both and brew new batches.”

Yu Ju, relieved, was about to run off to deal with the two pots when Dr. Zhao, who regularly took Jiang Yueyi’s pulse, was led in. Seeing this, Jiang Yueyi called Yu Ju back. “Since the doctor is here, take him to identify the medicines. It’s no big deal for me, but I don’t want to delay the master’s medicine time.”

For a doctor, distinguishing the decoctions was easy. Soon, Yu Ju brought Dr. Zhao back, along with Jiang Yueyi’s bowl of medicine.

Dr. Zhao saw Jiang Yueyi and smiled. “This bowl is yours, madam. Drink it without worry.”

Jiang Yueyi drank the medicine and went inside for the pulse diagnosis. But once inside, the doctor hesitated. Jiang Yueyi noticed immediately and said, “Dr. Zhao, speak freely.”

She worried something might be wrong with the baby and braced herself inwardly, though she didn’t show it.

Seeing only Jiang Yueyi and her trusted maids inside, Dr. Zhao opened his mouth but hesitated again before saying, “Just now, I heard this maid say the other pot was the master’s?”

Jiang Yueyi looked at Yu Ju, who replied, “That’s right. Xing An had business today, so I was watching it for a while.”

“Then this…” Dr. Zhao licked his lips, clearly more hesitant, but finally said, “I’ve always heard the master is very ill, and now Dr. Lu’s disciple is treating him. But when I looked at that pot of medicine, it was just simple tonic herbs.”

Jiang Yueyi was stunned and quickly asked, “Tonic? Not for treatment?”

Dr. Zhao shook his head and said quietly, “I’m not skilled, but I can distinguish herbs. That’s the most basic formula, nothing really special. If you don’t believe me, ma’am, you can have someone else check.”

Jiang Yueyi said nothing more, just gave Qing Lan a look. After the pulse diagnosis, when Dr. Zhao was about to leave, she had Qing Lan bring out some silver coins, a little more than usual.

She said to Dr. Zhao, “I’m afraid my young maid is too childish and mistook someone else’s medicine for the master’s.”

Dr. Zhao, who was no stranger to household intrigues, understood the implications. He took the money, thanked her, and left.