CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: TROUBLING THE MARQUIS SO MUCH

Fu Shinian was truly exhausted, she went to sleep without having dinner.

She slept until late morning the next day before she could slightly feel better.

However, her spirits had recovered, but after yesterday’s mountain climbing, she now felt sore all over.

Just sitting up from bed made her grimace with pain.

She managed to stand up, but couldn’t sit down again.

When she tried to sit, the pain nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"Miss, are you still going to the marquis’s residence today?" Chunmian asked.

"Not going, the pain is killing me, I can’t go anywhere now." Fu Shinian originally promised Xiao Yingyue that she would visit the marquis’s residence every day, "You go and pass the message at the marquis’s residence, saying that I’m in such pain today that I really can’t move, I’ll go to the marquis’s residence tomorrow for his birthday."

"Yes."

"Miss, shall I massage you?" Chunyu suggested when she saw the situation.

"Then massage my legs, and gently." Fu Shinian sat on the bed and Chunyu moved her legs up.

As Chunyu was moving her legs, Fu Shinian cried out "ow ow."

Fu Mingzhu heard that Fu Shinian was in unbearable pain and came to check, just in time to hear her cries.

"Why are you in such pain?" Fu Mingzhu asked, "Shall we call the doctor to have a look?"

"It was just because I went to Law Temple yesterday, climbing the mountain was too exhausting." Fu Shinian explained, "Calling a doctor won’t help."

"Miss, I’m starting to massage, bear with it a little." Chunyu reminded.

"Alright." Fu Shinian replied, but as soon as Chunyu started, Fu Shinian cried out "ow."

"Miss, bear with it, it’ll get better after a bit." Chunyu said.

Fu Shinian’s eyes welled up with tears, her hand gripping the bed edge tightly, "Maybe I should just endure the pain."

Just then, Chunmian returned with Xiao Yingyue following her.

"How come you’re in such pain?" Xiao Yingyue exclaimed, "Walking those few steps at Law Temple shouldn’t make you hurt like this."

Fu Mingzhu was also puzzled and gasped, "You didn’t happen to take the mountain trail, did you?"

"Why did you go through such ordeal?" Xiao Yingyue was shocked.

"Stop shouting, stop shouting." Fu Shinian stretched her neck to look, noticing that the woman beside Xiao Yingyue seemed unfamiliar.

Seeing her expression, Xiao Yingyue explained, "I forgot to mention, this is a female physician my elder brother asked me to bring to see you."

"Ah?" Fu Shinian was surprised, "Even the marquis knows?"

"When Chunmian came to find me, my brother happened to be there." Xiao Yingyue explained.

"Don’t underestimate her, this female physician is the granddaughter of Director Zhang from the Imperial Hospital, well-versed in his teachings, especially skilled in massage, much loved by the palace ladies." Xiao Yingyue said.

"When Chunmian came to inform me you couldn’t come to the marquis’s residence today, I was curious. No wonder yesterday my brother returned to the residence and told me you might not be able to come today." Xiao Yingyue said, "Yesterday, my brother had already placed a request for Zhang’s granddaughter to leave the palace and see you today."

"It was fortunate that Chunmian went to find me, so it was a convenient time." Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been as quick.

Fu Shinian was dumbfounded, scratched her temple shyly and said, "I didn’t expect to trouble the marquis so much."

With Zhang’s granddaughter there, Chunyu stepped aside.

As expected, Zhang’s granddaughter, who is loved by the palace ladies, was very professional in her technique.

Though it hurt initially, it was only in the beginning. As Zhang’s granddaughter continued, Fu Shinian no longer felt pain but found herself relieved as the sore areas loosened.

Fu Shinian’s expression gradually relaxed.

Zhang’s granddaughter didn’t keep any secrets, explaining to Chunmian and Chunyu as she massaged, teaching them how they should press.

"Don’t press for too long each day." Zhang’s granddaughter said, "Three consecutive days should suffice. Even if left alone, after three to five days the pain will ease to a bearable level, and it should be fine in about seven days."

However, Fu Shinian still hoped it would heal quickly.

"Thank you, Zhang’s granddaughter." Fu Shinian stood up and thanked her, then asked Chunmian to bring a purse containing some loose silver.

"I can’t accept." Zhang’s granddaughter took a step back, "This is my duty."

"It’s a small token for the trouble of leaving the palace, please don’t refuse." Fu Shinian said, and Chunmian had already slipped the purse into Zhang’s granddaughter’s hand.

"Chunmian, escort Zhang’s granddaughter." Fu Shinian instructed.

"Yes." Chunmian led Zhang’s granddaughter, "Zhang’s granddaughter, this way please."

"Thank you, Miss Fu." Zhang’s granddaughter expressed gratitude and left with Chunmian.

Once Zhang’s granddaughter left, Xiao Yingyue asked, "Why did you choose the trail? Our frail bodies can’t withstand climbing such high mountains."

Fu Mingzhu’s lips twitched slightly. It would be understandable for someone else to be frail.

Xiao Yingyue might look slender, but she has climbed trees to collect bird eggs many times.

She couldn’t believe Xiao Yingyue would suffer like Fu Shinian from mountain climbing.

"I’ll tell you, but you mustn’t tell anyone." Fu Shinian cautioned.

"Rest assured, whatever you tell me, I’ve never shared with anyone." Xiao Yingyue said, sealing her lips and drawing a horizontal line in front of her mouth with her fingers.

"I won’t say anything." Fu Mingzhu urged, "Just tell us."

"Actually, it’s not a big deal." Fu Shinian finally said, "Tomorrow is the marquis’s birthday, isn’t it? So yesterday after leaving the marquis’s residence, I went to Law Temple, hoping to get a peace charm for the marquis."

"I’ve heard that taking the mountain trail shows sincerity, and the charms obtained are more efficacious." Fu Shinian explained, "Thinking this way, since I was seeking not just a charm but also blessings from Buddha, I decided to climb diligently and pray for Buddha’s protection over the marquis for a swift recovery."

"I heard you say the marquis’s health has improved compared to before." Fu Shinian said, "Hopefully, it will fully recover."

Xiao Yingyue clasped Fu Shinian’s hand tightly, overwhelmed with emotion, not knowing how to express it: "Niannian, you are so kind."

"Everyone outside is waiting to see the joke of our residence, expecting to see the miserable state my mother and I would be in after my brother passes away." Xiao Yingyue said with teary eyes, "I used to think only my mother and I sincerely hoped for my brother’s wellbeing, but now there’s you too."

Fu Mingzhu paused for a moment, unable to help but ask, "Even Xiao Fengxing doesn’t hope for the marquis’s recovery?"

Xiao Yingyue replied without thinking, "Humph! How could he hope for my brother’s recovery? He and Aunt Liu are the ones who most wish for my brother’s early death."

After speaking, Xiao Yingyue realized Fu Mingzhu was Xiao Fengxing’s fiancée and became embarrassed.

At home, her mother often advised her to think before speaking, but she never took it seriously.

Now it happened, speaking ill of people right before their fiancée.

"Um, I wasn’t..." Xiao Yingyue didn’t know how to explain.

She indeed had strong opinions about Xiao Fengxing, only maintaining surface-level decorum.