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Chapter 151.1
Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 151 Pt. 1
Translated by gingercat
Edited by gingercat
Duke Zhenguo Manor, Lanruo Pavilion.
Following a series of light coughs, Qiao-shi fell weakly onto the pillow behind her.
Ru Meng hurriedly picked up a teacup, wanting to feed her water. Qiao-shi was also desperate for water given how itchy her throat was, but as soon as the water went into her mouth, she felt another itch in her throat. Unable to control herself she let out another cough and all the water spurted out of her mouth.
The maids were busy, wiping her mouth and cleaning up the mess on the bedding.
Ru Meng patted her on the back lightly, and complained, “This medicine doesn’t seem to be helping at all. Why don’t you ask another doctor to come and take a look? That old madam is really… All she needs to do is make a visit to the palace to ask for an imperial physician. Why can’t she do it? Yet, she even gives an excuse of not wanting others to think our family is crazy!”
“Silence!” reprimanded Qiao-shi. She let out another few coughs, then said, “This old illness of mine wasn’t something that happened overnight. What mother-in-law said also makes sense. Just a few coughs and you want to go to the palace to invite an imperial physician. You think it’s so easy to ask for an imperial physician? The Shizi is not in the manor, and father-in-law doesn’t involve himself in these matters. If we were to use mother-in-law’s pendant, we’d need to go through Empress Wei. It’s too troublesome.”
“But…”
“Enough, Ru Meng. I’m fine. It’s not like you don’t know what this illness of mine is like. It’s not a big problem, it’s just that the endless coughing is a little annoying. Whether I take the medicine or not, whether I see another doctor or not, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll be fine after a while.”
Since Qiao-shi said so, Ru Meng could only listen.
The maids brought over some hot water and towels. The two senior maids served Qiao-shi by wiping her face and neck. Qiao-shi laid back on the soft pillow, her face pallid with abnormally flushed cheeks due to her coughing.
A maid came in to report that the sixth young miss was here. Sure enough, not long after, Qiao Xiuli was led in by a maid. She stepped forward with a worried look on her face.
“Sister Yan, are you feeling better?” No one noticed that as she approached the bed, she shot a quick glance at the sachet hanging by the side of the bed.
“You don’t need to worry about my old problem. It’s nothing, I’m fine.” Qiao-shi took a sip of tea and leaned back on her soft pillow with a smile on her face.
“I know that this is an old illness of yours and that it will get better after a while, but I still can’t help myself from feeling concerned. Sister Yan, you seem to be sick longer than usual this time. Is it because the medicine prescribed by the doctor is useless? Do you want to ask another doctor to come and take a look?”
Qiao-shi waved her hand indifferently. “No need, the medicine I’ve been taking all this time is pretty good…”
As she was talking, she coughed again. The coughing didn’t cease even after a short while. No matter how much Ru Meng and Ru Hua patted her back, she couldn’t stop. After coughing several times in a row, Qiao-shi finally caught her breath and released the handkerchief she used to cover her mouth. No one else noticed, but Qiao Xiuli saw a trace of red on it with her sharp eyes.
“Blood!” she exclaimed in surprise.
Hearing this, Ru Meng quickly took the handkerchief from Qiao-shi’s hand. Indeed, there were indeed a few traces of blood on the jade-white handkerchief. The bright crimson red on the handkerchief looked like plum blossoms in the snow. However, it didn’t make people feel that it was beautiful, but an inexplicable chill.
There was a reason behind their apprehension.
Qiao-shi’s cough was an old illness that she has had ever since she could remember. Doctors were consulted and she tried taking many medicines, but it was all in vain. Although Qiao-shi was born as a di daughter, it wasn’t that her father, Old Master Qiao, didn’t have any concubines. When there were concubines, there would naturally be shu children. With so many people, it was inevitable for troublesome matters to occur.
For a while, rumours floated around the Qiao Family that Qiao-shi’s neverending coughing was because of tuberculosis.
Because of this, Old Madam Qiao became furious. She killed some servants while sold the others. Old Master Qiao was also very annoyed and he even invited the most famous doctor in the Jiangnan area to diagnose Qiao-shi.
Qiao-shi’s cough was an ordinary cough but he couldn’t tell if it was caused by the cold or anger. However, once the temperature dropped, coughing was unavoidable. Usually, after a month or so, she’d stop. Then her recovery would be no different from ordinary people.
In the end, he came up with a plausible suggestion. Back when Old Madam Qiao gave birth to Qiao-shi in the winter, perhaps the cold temperature affected the child, leaving her with this lingering illness.
It wasn’t tuberculosis.
Although tuberculosis didn’t cause people’s blood to drain from their faces as fast as smallpox, it was still not a minor illness. This was why Old Madam Qiao and Old Master Qiao were so cautious.
Qiao-shi was not yet married. If word spread that she had tuberculosis, she’d never be able to get married in this life, and the Qiao Family would have no place for her.
Not only Qiao-shi, but everyone around her knew about this incident, so when the traces of blood were pointed out, they couldn’t help but make a connection.
The air seemed to turn stagnant. Ru Hua looked like she was about to cry when Ru Meng tugged on her from behind.
With an air of indifference, Qiao-shi said, “Look at you all so terrified. I’ve been coughing so much for the past two days that my throat hurts. All this coughing probably injured my throat.”
“Is it really not tuberculosis? Why don’t we find a doctor to take a look.” It was unknown whether it was because Qiao Xiuli was so worried that she couldn’t even think straight or something else, that she said such taboo words.
Ru Meng was unwilling to hear anymore, and said quickly: “Sixth young miss, what are you talking about? What are you trying to say? In July, madame’s illness flared up, and the Shizi asked for an imperial physician from the palace to take a look. How long has it been? If it was really tuberculosis, do you think the imperial physician wouldn’t be able to diagnose it?”
Qiao Xiuli also realized she slipped up, and explained with a pale face, “It was me who misspoke. It’s all because I was too worried about Sister Yan. Sister Yan, you mustn’t blame me. This mouth of mine is really too useless.”
Looking like she was about to cry, she raised her hands as if to slap her mouth.
Qiao-shi hurriedly asked people to stop her and then turned to stare at Ru Meng, saying, “Don’t think too much. I don’t blame you. Ru Meng was also too panicked. You’re both concerned for me, I know. Don’t cry.”
“I’m really sorry Sister Yan, I won’t speak of it anymore.” Qiao Xiu wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. Afterwards, she accompanied Qiao-shi to talk for another while. Once she saw that she was getting tired, she bid goodbye.
After the people left, Ru Meng whispered indignantly, “She’s already so old, yet she can’t even control her mouth! This sixth young miss is really… Can’t she just speak properly?”
“Enough, enough. Don’t be mad. Isn’t it only a few words?”
“But there are some things that could be said, and some that shouldn’t. How can the sixth young miss not know this?”
Hearing this, Qiao-shi couldn’t help but frown. However, in order to not worry her maids, she tried to remain positive and said, “Anyways, didn’t you already say an imperial physician came to see me in July? Don’t fret over this anymore.”
On the other side, Qiao Xiuli exited the gate of Lanruo Pavilion and continued on her way quietly. Holding a handkerchief, she wiped the corners of her eyes from time to time, as if something had happened to make her sad.
She ran into an old mama on the road, who asked her curiously, “Sixth young miss, what’s the matter with you?” Qiao Xiuli came to Lanruo Pavilion quite frequently, so many maids and mamas of the backyard recognized her.
Qiao Xiuli glanced at her and shook her head. “It’s nothing.” But there was still a gloomy expression on her face.
“Was sixth young miss bullied by someone? Although you are not one of the masters of the manor, you’re still a relative of Madam Shizi. If there was an ignorant maid who bullied you, don’t hide it. Those of us who work in Duke Zhengguo Manor have no tolerance for people like that.”
“Ru Meng didn’t mean it…”
Hearing this, the old mama immediately grew agitated, “You mean that Ru Meng who serves next to Madam bullied you? She’s Madam’s dowry maid. That girl likes to throw her weight around and always makes a big deal out of everything as if she’s afraid others aren’t aware of her status.”
Hearing the old mama’s understanding words, Qiao Xiuli seemed to be flustered, and she looked like she was about to cry again. “Ru Meng didn’t bully me. What she said was also a slip of the tongue. It was me who said something that shouldn’t be said, so she reprimanded me. It’s all my fault. Why did I say that about Sister Yan…”
“What did you say? “
“Sister Yan coughed up some blood. I asked if she was suffering from tuberculosis and whether she should ask another doctor to see her…” Halfway through the sentence, Qiao Xiuli seemed to realize that she had made a slip of the tongue, so she hurriedly stopped speaking. She then explained, “But not long ago, in July, an imperial physician came to see Sister Yan. If it is tuberculosis, it would have been diagnosed long ago. Aiya, this useless mouth of mine…”
Annoyed at herself, she didn’t notice the expression of the person beside her. A strange light flashed in the old mama’s eyes, followed by a look of fright on her face.