Chapter 18: The Gold Bracelet

The Imperial Medicine Hall was half the Capital City away from the Marquis Mansion. The family carriage moved slowly, and Aunt Qi, burning with anxiety, kept glancing out the window.

Luckily, Chu Mingxi happened to be at the main hall. As Aunt Qi disembarked, she straightened her appearance. Though frantic inside, she maintained composure on her face. When the Chu Family Eldest Miss arrived, she carefully explained that the Heir Apparent had suddenly fallen gravely ill and the Grand Princess requested her presence at the mansion.

Chu Mingxi understood immediately after a moment’s thought. She nodded, told Qingdai to prepare the medical kit for out-calls, gave instructions to the front shopkeeper, and walked out with Aunt Qi.

The carriage was waiting right outside. Qingdai helped her young miss aboard and stood aside, preparing to assist Aunt Qi next. But Aunt Qi smiled and said there was another carriage behind; she would ride in that one.

The Marquis Mansion’s carriage was incredibly spacious; two or three more people could easily fit. Qingdai looked around, thinking the Marquis Mansion’s pomp was truly grand—even summoning a physician required two carriages, presumably with other maids inside.

Her young miss was strange, too. She had clearly refused the Marquis Mansion twice, yet the moment the Grand Princess invited her, she followed without even asking for details. Could it be she was afraid of offending the Marquis Mansion?

She wasn’t afraid when refusing the proposal, but now she was, when invited. How strange.

Her mind was full of questions she wanted to ask, but seeing her young miss’s furrowed brow as if deep in thought, she could only quietly hold the medical kit, acting like a silent quail.

The coachman truly did his best, but the round trip still took over an hour. During that time, the Old Titled Lady came leaning on her cane to see her grandson, but was stopped by the Grand Princess with the excuse that “that stinky boy just fell asleep.”

Wei Qingchen was still asleep when Aunt Qi led Chu Mingxi in. Her eyes were tightly shut, cheeks flushed crimson from the fever. The senior maid Jingyun had just wrung out a fresh cloth and placed it on her forehead. Seeing Aunt Qi bringing someone, she guessed it was a physician, but never expected such a young and beautiful woman. She was so startled she forgot to curtsy.

“You may leave now. Wait in the outer room and ensure no one disturbs us.” Mu Yunxian, seated by the tea table, dismissed her.

Jingyun acknowledged the order, curtsied, and closed the door behind her as she left.

“Your Highness, this is the Head Proprietor of the Imperial Medicine Hall, the Chu Family Eldest Miss.” Aunt Qi bowed slightly.

The Grand Princess carefully scrutinized Chu Mingxi. Chu Mingxi stepped forward and gracefully performed a junior’s curtsy.

Gentle, virtuous, and perfectly proper. Truly a fine appearance. Chen’er has good taste.

The Grand Princess silently approved. Chu Mingxi glanced at the half-drawn bed curtains. The Grand Princess said, “My unruly child was beaten with the rod yesterday and suddenly developed a fever today.”

Chu Mingxi nodded. “Aunt Qi mentioned some of it earlier. Illnesses vary, so I should check the Heir’s pulse first.”

As she spoke, she lifted the bed curtain. Qingdai hurriedly set down the medical kit to take the curtain, but looking down, she gasped, “Ah! Isn’t this Young Master Wei?!”

Chu Mingxi, however, showed no surprise. She sat on the edge of the bed, supported Wei Qingchen’s hand, and felt her pulse.

Eldest Miss, why didn’t you even put a handkerchief down? Have you forgotten the rule of no physical contact between men and women?!

Qingdai grumbled internally, then immediately found an excuse for her miss: Oh well, in Seven Miles Town, Miss even changed his clothes. Touching a hand is nothing.

Perhaps from her constant company of medicinal herbs, Chu Mingxi carried a faint, ethereal fragrance—neither overbearing nor fiery, calm and soothing, very comforting.

It was amidst this medicinal scent that Wei Qingchen hazily awoke. She slowly opened her eyes, seeing a familiar scene reminiscent of a few years ago: that exceptionally beautiful and gentle woman was sitting by her bedside, looking down at her with veiled concern in her brows, her movements carrying that familiar scent.

“Mingxi…” she gazed at her entranced, murmuring low.

Chu Mingxi froze slightly. Her fingertips resting on the pulse felt as if scalded. She released her hand, unconsciously curling her fingers.

Wei Qingchen’s mind was still muddled, unable to distinguish between reality and dreams. Heavy drowsiness pressed down. She blinked, then fell asleep again.

“Miss Chu, is my family’s Heir’s illness serious?” Aunt Qi asked on behalf of the Grand Princess.

“Heir Wei was drenched in the rain the day before yesterday; he already had a cold inside. Yesterday’s beating made it worse. The cold qi can’t dissipate. And…” Chu Mingxi paused her words, touching her wrist as she stood, her brows furrowing slightly. “My bracelet seems to be missing. Your Highness, could you have someone take my maid to look for it? It might have fallen in the carriage.”

The Grand Princess and Aunt Qi both understood this was a ruse to send Qingdai away. Aunt Qi quickly said, “I’ll go with the young lady, to prevent the servants from slighting our honored guest.”

Qingdai was led out by Aunt Qi with a face full of confusion.

Hearing the door close, Chu Mingxi returned to the bedside and lifted the soft blanket covering Wei Qingchen slightly. Mu Yunxian stood at the foot of the bed and immediately saw a small patch of fresh red staining the mattress beneath her daughter’s thin blanket.

“This…”

“It’s nothing. Heir Wei is just… mm… experiencing her monthly cycle.” Even with years of medical practice, Chu Mingxi found these words somewhat awkward. She coughed and continued, “The Heir’s body is fundamentally healthy, but unfortunately, she was rained on for most of the day the day before yesterday, and then beaten yesterday. These successive ordeals caused the illness to flare up all at once.”

“Mm… I see. Then… then…” The Grand Princess was even more embarrassed than she was. This broken child! Losing face for herself was one thing, but she’d dragged this seat’s dignity down with her!

“The Heir is not in serious danger. I’ll write a prescription. But she needs to rest for a while. The weather is growing hot; we must guard against both chills and summer heatstroke.”

Just as Chu Mingxi opened her medical kit, Aunt Qi and Qingdai returned.

“Aunt Qi, the Heir has sweated through his clothes. Change him into fresh ones. Miss Chu has come a long way and must be tired. Please, have some tea on this side.” Mu Yunxian guided them towards the Flower Hall.

“Your Highness is too kind.” Chu Mingxi didn’t stand on ceremony. She followed the Grand Princess to the desk, picked up a brush, and fluidly wrote out two prescriptions.

Aunt Qi was deft; she had served the Heir since childhood. Taking a fresh set of inner garments, she quickly changed the Heir behind the curtains. Chu Mingxi casually picked up the prescriptions to let them dry. Qingdai reached out to take them, but Chu Mingxi sidestepped her and handed them to Aunt Qi.

“One of these prescriptions primarily reduces fever, the other is for warming and nourishing. The fever reducer is to be taken three times a day for two days, freshly brewed each time. The warming prescription is to be used after the high fever subsides, twice a day, and the medicinal ingredients can be re-boiled the same day. Use it for five or six days, and the Heir will surely be healthy again.”

“Yes. Thank you, Eldest Miss.” Aunt Qi received the prescriptions with both hands. She glanced at the Grand Princess for instruction, and seeing her master’s slight nod, withdrew to personally brew the medicine for the Heir.

Jingyun had clearly received Aunt Qi’s orders and entered to serve tea. In less than half a quarter-hour, two little maids arrived carrying food boxes, laying out snacks on the table one by one.

Qingdai didn’t dare sit. Standing beside her miss, she wore a mournful face: “Miss, I searched inside and out of the carriage. The bracelet is truly nowhere to be found. Could it have fallen on the road? I wanted to retrace our path to find it, but Aunt Qi said after all this time, if it was dropped on the road, it’s likely unfindable.”

“It’s fine.” Chu Mingxi gave a light laugh, picking up a piece of jujube cake. A hint of imperceptible mischief hid in her eyes. “Sorry to have troubled you with this errand. I have nothing to reward you, so I’ll borrow flowers to offer Buddha—here, have a piece of cake.”

Qingdai saw she truly seemed unbothered, and the Grand Princess also wore a smile. Sheepishly, she took the pastry and retreated a couple of steps.

“Miss Chu, please have some tea.”

“Your Highness, if you don’t mind, please just call me by my name.”

“We’re all one family, why speak of minding or not minding?” Mu Yunxian’s smile grew more pronounced. Seeing the surprised looks on both Chu Mingxi and her maid, she added, “In the past, Lord Chu also frequently served in the palace. I probably saw you a few times when you were young.”

“Yes.” Chu Mingxi smiled faintly. “My late father once brought me to the palace to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. It was likely at the Longevity Palace that I had the fortune of encountering Your Highness.”

“Indeed. I thought you were excellent even then. Speaking of which, our families have connections spanning generations.”

This was an awkward statement to respond to. Jingyun refilled their tea, even giving Qingdai a cup. Chu Mingxi lifted the teacup and took a sip, then stood. “It’s getting late, and my home is far. Since the Heir is out of danger, Mingxi will take her leave now.”

Mu Yunxian glanced at Jingyun. Jingyun said, “The carriage is already prepared.”

Mu Yunxian nodded, stood, and took Chu Mingxi’s hand. “You’ve come all this way to treat the Heir. Having the servants prepare a consultation fee would make our two families seem distant. Just now, I heard your maid mention something about a lost bracelet?” As she spoke, without waiting for Chu Mingxi’s reply, she slid a gold bracelet off her own wrist and lightly, deftly slipped it onto Chu Mingxi’s. “I have nothing else good to thank you with. This bracelet, wear it for fun.”

“Your Highness,” Chu Mingxi immediately tried to refuse, “this gift is far too precious…”

“When an elder bestows, one must not refuse. Since I call you Mingxi, I consider you one of my own children.” The Grand Princess patted her hand, her smile kind. “In the future, just call me Aunt.”

Seeing she couldn’t decline, Chu Mingxi could only smile and give her thanks.

Jingyun saw the mistress and her maid out on behalf of her master. It was still the same carriage that had brought them to the Marquis Mansion, driven by the same steady coachman. Qingdai couldn’t help but scan the inside of the carriage front and back. Let alone a bracelet, she didn’t even see a jade fragment. She turned her wrinkled face to look at her miss, only to see the Eldest Miss leaning against the carriage wall, resting with her eyes closed. All this traveling back and forth must have tired her out somewhat.

It was just the time for lighting lamps when they returned to Chu Manor. Qi Xiaolong and Chu Mingyu had already had dinner. Hearing she came from the Grand General’s Mansion, they hastily ordered the kitchen to prepare a few fresh dishes.

Qingdai and Yining helped the Eldest Miss wash her hands and change clothes. Chu Mingyu poked her head out from the side. “What did Sister go to the Grand General’s Mansion for?”

“Their Heir fell ill and asked me to take a look.”

“Asked you to come all that way to look?”

“Mm.” Chu Mingxi acknowledged, rolling up her sleeves and reaching over the copper basin. Yining lifted a wide-mouthed pitcher to pour water for her to wash her hands.

“What’s that?” Chu Mingyu had sharp eyes and saw a glinting, new bracelet on her wrist.

“A thank-you gift from the Grand Princess.” Chu Mingxi emerged from behind the screen, sat at the table, and sighed. “It counts as… a consultation fee, I suppose.”

“Such an expensive consultation fee? The Marquis Mansion truly is the Marquis Mansion.”

“Yu’er, let your sister eat first.” Qi Xiaolong nagged.

Chu Mingyu sat beside her sister and touched the bracelet, her face drawing closer, her eyes widening. “I think this design is… dragons?”

Chu Mingxi froze. She truly hadn’t looked closely at the bracelet. When the Grand Princess put it on her, she only knew it was a gold bracelet. Gold bracelets were generally less valuable than jade ones, which was why she’d accepted it.

“Dragon designs? Aren’t those only for the imperial family?” Qi Xiaolong rose and walked over.

The perceptive maids nearby quickly moved the large lamp closer. Under the bright light, Chu Mingxi took off the bracelet and examined it carefully. The gold bracelet’s craftsmanship was extremely fine. Sapphires were inlaid on the golden dragons, and between the two dragon heads was a single, lustrous pearl.

“The Gold Bracelet with Four Dragons Playing with Pearl!” Chu Mingyu’s eyes flew wide open as she gasped.

“This… this was a dowry gift from the Empress Dowager to the Grand Princess at her wedding, wasn’t it?” Qi Xiaolong was also shocked. Her gaze darted between her two daughters and landed back on the bracelet. “Shouldn’t there be a pair of these?”

Chu Mingyu reacted lightning-fast, bursting into laughter. “The other one is definitely with their family’s Little Heir! Sister, their family is finding another way to propose marriage again!”

Chu Mingxi tossed the bracelet, like a hot potato, onto the table. Covering her eyes with both hands, she let out a long, deep sigh.