On the afternoon of the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zijin and Yu Zhi returned to the Yun residence for the New Year celebr...
On the afternoon of the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zijin and Yu Zhi returned to the Yun residence for the New Year celebration. Ever since Master Yang revealed his ability in medicine-making, he had transitioned from being one of Yuxi's guards to becoming a medicine-maker. Yun Qing had also set aside a courtyard here specifically for him, where he could prepare the medicines.
When Zijin saw Yuxi, she happily praised her, "Wangfei, you really are becoming more beautiful." To be precise, Yuxi was becoming increasingly energetic and imposing.
Yuxi looked carefully at Zijin and wondered aloud, "Why do I feel that your complexion doesn't look very good? Have you been feeling unwell recently?" Zijin had always been in very good health, but her face looked somewhat pale this time.
Before Zijin could respond, Yu Zhi spoke up, "Wangfei, please persuade her! A few days ago, she was feeling somewhat unwell. I told her to see a physician, but she absolutely refused."
Zijin interjected, "Didn't I listen to you by seeing the army physician? He said that I am in very good health and that there isn't the slightest problem. You're the one making a fuss over nothing, all right?" Since the army physician had said she was fine, Zijin absolutely refused to go outside and see another physician.
Yuxi frowned slightly and instructed Gancao beside her, "Go invite Physician He over." She truly could not trust the army physician's medical skills and would only feel at ease after inviting a reliable one to examine Zijin.
Zijin did not dare to object to Yuxi's words.
After Yuxi had the two of them sit down, she asked, "I heard from Wangye that you two are preparing to go to Hanzhong after the New Year?" Zijin and Yu Zhi were skilled in battle, but they were still not yet ready to take charge of an area on their own and could only serve as assistants.
Zijin nodded. "Yes, staying in Haocheng is making my bones rust. At least if I go to Hanzhong, I can stretch my muscles a bit!"
Yuxi smiled. "Wangye means to send you to Linzhou City. What do you think?" Not only was the environment in Linzhou much harsher than in Hanzhong, but it was also closer to foreign territories and farther from Haocheng, which meant battles often broke out there.
Zijin's eyes lit up. "Great! If we can go to Linzhou, that would naturally be even better." There were barbarians over there, after all!
While most people found life in the military camp monotonous, Zijin thought it was rich and colourful. She said to Yuxi, "Wangfei, you have no idea. When I first went there, there was a fellow called Hutou who looked down on me a lot because I was a woman. After I gave him a fierce beating, he became completely obedient..." Zijin was extremely strong, and very few people could beat her.
Watching from the sidelines, Yu Zhi felt deeply depressed, seeing Yuxi listen with great interest. After Zijin joined the military camp, she tended to solve problems with violence. Sometimes, when her husband did not listen to her, she would just beat him. In the military camp, Yu Zhi had already become the representative figure of a man who was afraid of his wife.
Just as Zijin was speaking excitedly, Gancao walked over and announced, "Wangfei, Physician He has arrived." Now, when Zijin went out, whether in speech, behaviour, or appearance, she was no different from a man. Fortunately, she was already married; otherwise, with her current behaviour, she would definitely be unable to find a husband. In fact, Zijin was also lucky to have met Yu Zhi, who obeyed her in every way and followed her every command.
Physician He walked into the main hall, paid his respects to Yuxi, and asked, "Where does Wangfei feel unwell?" Looking at Yuxi's rosy, glowing face, she did not look like a patient at all.
Yuxi pointed at Zijin and said, "She is feeling somewhat unwell. Please examine her." The reason Zijin could be like a fish in water1 while in the army without being rejected or mistreated was partly due to her own strong abilities, and partly because everyone in the military knew she was Yuxi's trusted confidant. If they offended Zijin and angered Yuxi, the loss would outweigh the gain.
After extending her right hand, Zijin did not forget to add, "Mr Physician, I'm perfectly fine. There's nothing wrong with me." After saying this, she fiercely glared at Yu Zhi. It was all because of that mixed egg2 Yu Zhi, who had made a fuss over nothing; otherwise, Wangfei would not have forced her to see a physician.
Physician He acted as though he had not heard her and calmly felt Zijin's pulse. He had seen plenty of people who concealed illnesses and avoided medical treatment.
When a physician was checking on the patient's pulse, everyone around must maintain silence. Yuxi also said nothing as she leaned against the reclining couch.
After a while, Physician He told Zijin, looking displeased, "You have already been pregnant for more than a month."
"Ah…" Zijin's jaw dropped so wide that you could fit an egg in her mouth.
Hearing this, Yu Zhi happily grabbed Physician He's arm and asked, "Is it true? My wife has been pregnant for more than a month?" The two of them had been married for over two years, and he had always wanted a child. Yet there had never been any sign of a baby on the way. Now, at last, his wish had come true.
Physician He's arm was hurt badly from being grabbed. Shaking off Yu Zhi's hand, he asked Zijin, "Did your stomach often hurt before this?"
As Physician He spoke, he rubbed his arm. Only then did Yu Zhi realise that he had offended the physician, and he hurriedly apologised, "Sorry, sorry, I didn't notice."
Physician He ignored Yu Zhi. Seeing Zijin nod, he asked again, "When your stomach hurt back before, why didn't you know to see a physician?"
Zijin replied somewhat gloomily, "I did see a physician, but he said my body was very healthy and there wasn't any problem!"
Physician He's face immediately darkened. "What kind of quack physician did you see? Couldn't he even diagnose a pregnancy pulse?" Physician He deeply detested such people. A physician like that was absolutely bringing disgrace upon their profession.
Zijin answered timidly, "It was an army physician I saw in the military camp, half a month ago." At the time, the pulse signs were not very obvious, and, besides, the army physician had always treated men, never women. Although he felt that Zijin's pulse seemed somewhat unusual, seeing that Zijin was like an alive dragon and a living tiger3, the army physician assumed there was no problem.
After hearing this, Physician He found it difficult to call the other party a quack physician. Most army physicians' medical skills were only average. It was also because life in the military was too harsh, so capable physicians were unwilling to stay there. Physicians like Physician Bai, who took joy in contributing4, were extremely rare.
Yu Zhi asked nervously, "Mr Physician, is there something wrong?"
Physician He's tone softened considerably, but his words were far from polite: "The fact that this child hasn't miscarried up until now can already be considered lucky. But if she still doesn't take proper care of herself, she won't be able to keep the child either."
Hearing this, Yu Zhi's face instantly turned pale. "Mr Physician, please save my child! Please." He had hoped for a child for so many years, and he could not lose this one just like this.
Physician He looked towards Yuxi, who was seated in the place of honour.
Gancao said softly, "Madam was too tired and fell asleep." After Yun Qing returned, Yuxi had taken over the household affairs and was preparing for the New Year celebrations.
Zijin touched her stomach and carefully asked Physician He, "Mr Physician, what should I do to keep the child safe?" Although she did not particularly want a child herself, Zijin knew that Yu Zhi really wanted one. Therefore, she still hoped to keep this child safe.
Hearing Zijin's words, Physician He's expression improved somewhat. "I'll prescribe some miscarriage-prevention medicine for you. Take it for a few days first, then we'll see how things go." After pausing for a moment, he continued, "If you can stay in the residence to rest and protect the pregnancy, and let Momo Quan prepare some medicinal cuisine for you, the chances of keeping the child will be even higher." Physician He thought very highly of the medicinal dishes prepared by Momo Quan.
Zijin let out a sigh of relief. "That won't be a problem." Given her long-standing close relationship with Momo Quan, she would definitely prepare medicinal dishes for her.
Physician He immediately wrote out a prescription and handed it to Zijin. Before leaving, he also advised Gancao, "You mustn't let Wangfei overexert herself either. Her body won't be able to endure it."
Upon hearing that Zijin was pregnant and that the child was unstable, which was why her complexion had looked so poor, Yuxi shook her head. "Honestly, how can a mother be so oblivious to her own pregnancy?"
Gancao said, "It's fortunate that Wangfei noticed it. Physician He said that if it had been delayed by a few more days, the child wouldn't have survived." Given Zijin's behaviour, who always wielded weapons and galloped on horseback, it would have been strange if the child had remained unharmed!
Since Physician He said the child would be fine as long as Zijin rested quietly, Yuxi stopped worrying. "This can also be considered the child's good fortune. By the way, where are Zijin and Yu Zhi now? It's no longer suitable for them to continue to stay in Master Yang's courtyard."
Gancao replied with a smile, "Physician He said that if Momo Quan could help Sister Zijin improve her health, then the child would be fine. Sister Zijin and Brother-in-law Yu went to beg Momo Quan for help, but they were scolded harshly by her instead. She probably still hasn't finished scolding them yet." It was not that Gancao was taking pleasure in their misfortune; it was just that seeing Zijin and Yu Zhi looking so pitiful felt rather amusing to her.🦊
Yuxi smiled. "I remember there's an empty courtyard next to Master Yang's place. Have it cleaned up for the two of them to stay in!" With Momo Quan and Mama Lan in the Yun residence, Zijin's child would definitely remain safe and sound. Besides, given Zijin's temperament, Yuxi would not feel at ease if they were made to live outside the residence either.
Gancao nodded. "I'll tell Mama Qu right away." The courtyard that Yuxi had mentioned was not large — it only had a main room, two side rooms, a kitchen, and a woodshed. However, Zijin and Yu Zhi were only staying there temporarily. They would definitely move into a larger residence outside in the future, so the size of the courtyard was more than sufficient for now.
Footnotes Full List
- 混得如鱼得水 (hùn de rú yú dé shuǐ): (lit.) 'getting by like a fish obtaining water'; to thrive in a suitable environment.)
- 混蛋 (hùn dàn): A curse word meaning 'b@stard' or '*jerk'.
- 生龙活虎 (shēng lóng huó hǔ): Full of vitality and energy.)
- 乐于奉献 (lè yú fèng xiàn): Willing to sacrifice or devote oneself for others.
- 🤣 I've already expected this. If even Yuxi, a boudoir lady, can't escape from Momo Quan's wrath, only for using her brain until she was exhausted, just imagine Zijin, who has to use her physical strength.
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