By this time, the sun had already begun its descent. Its dancing light and floating dust fell upon the windowsill. Fortunately, the second floor had no obstructions outside, so everything remained quite clear.
Chu Mingxi took the pulse for a while. When she withdrew her hand, the expression on her face was graver than before.
Seeing her silence, Madam Deng grew even more panicked. Wiping her tears, she asked, “Doctor, what illness does my daughter have? Is it serious?”
The nephew standing by the window heard this and hurried forward to support his aunt.
Chu Mingxi then took a serious look at Miss Deng.
Miss Deng lowered her head, covered her heart, and coughed a few times, looking as frail and timid as a willow in the wind.
Chu Mingxi nodded. “It is serious.” She looked around the room and continued, “Unrelated persons, please leave first.”
She spoke with such severity that everyone in the room was frightened, waiting anxiously for the Madam to speak. Madam Deng let out an “Ah!” and her tears streamed down like pearls slipping off a broken string.
Seeing this, the young man gave the order for the servants to leave. The maids and matrons felt as if they’d been granted amnesty and retreated completely in an instant. Even Qingdai, under her young mistress’s signal, followed them out the door.
“I need to examine symptoms elsewhere,” Chu Mingxi said, vaguely gesturing towards Miss Deng’s neck. “May I?”
Miss Deng looked up at her mother, but Chu Mingxi noticed her gaze actually fell upon that young man. Hearing Madam Deng agree, she hurriedly withdrew her gaze.
The bed curtains were hooked back. Miss Deng huddled on the bed, hesitantly raising her hand as if to undo the knot at her collar. Chu Mingxi was truly speechless and had to turn her head to look at the aunt and nephew. “A young lady is about to undo her clothes. Do unrelated males truly not need to excuse themselves?”
Madam Deng cried out again, slapping her forehead. “Look at my brain, it’s completely addled.” She turned and pushed her nephew. “Hurry out. I know you’re worried about your cousin. You can come see her later.”
The man’s face was also flushed with embarrassment. He quickly turned around, his face red to the ears, and walked two steps. He wanted to turn back and say something but forcibly held himself back.
The sun sank a little further, and the light in the room grew dimmer. Madam Deng lit a lamp herself and moved it to the low cabinet by the bedside, illuminating her daughter’s face, which was now a patchwork of red and white.
Perhaps due to the flickering lamplight, Miss Deng’s expression was even more listless than before. Tears pooled in her eyes, threatening to fall. She raised her hand and slowly undid the knot at her collar, revealing a few red rashes on her originally fair neck—not many, and much better than the condition on her face.
Madam Deng let out a sigh of relief. At least it wasn’t worse.
“Doctor, what illness does my daughter have?”
Chu Mingxi said calmly, “Miss Deng’s room is too fragrant.”
“Ah?” Madam Deng froze, looking around blankly.
Although Li County was on the Northern Border, it was surrounded by mountains on three sides, a rare place of scenic beauty. In springtime like this, the county’s common folk liked to pick flowers to keep in their homes as decoration. Official and noble families were certainly not short of such flora.
Which young lady didn’t love beauty? So the County Deputy’s daughter’s boudoir was always filled with several clumps of flowers, red and purple, blooming brilliantly.
Chu Mingxi offered no explanation, only looking at Miss Deng. “Undo your clothes.”
Miss Deng’s expression faltered. Madam Deng quickly said, “Yes, yes, undo your clothes so the doctor can see if there’s any on your body. Oh, you child, this is a female doctor! What are you afraid of?”
Miss Deng slowly undid her garments. Inside, she wore a moon-white inner garment close to her skin. Neither her mother nor the doctor spoke, so she had no choice but to untie the strings with trembling hands.
The lamp on the low cabinet used large candles, clearly illuminating the bed curtains. Red patches appeared all over Miss Deng’s originally fair body. Near her heart, in the shadow of her bosom, was a patch of purplish-black.
The moment the inner garment fell open, Madam Deng covered her mouth and gasped, her head spinning, staggering as if she would faint dead away.
Chu Mingxi caught her arm and let her sit down on the edge of the bed.
After catching her breath, Madam Deng clutched her chest and wailed, “My child… my child… oh, my child…” She grabbed her daughter’s arm, completely disregarding any fear of a malignant disease, and sobbed, “Doctor, what is wrong with my daughter…”
Miss Deng endured in silence, her head bowed, tears falling like broken beads onto the thin blanket.
Chu Mingxi watched all this silently, not even examining the afflicted area further. Only when mother and daughter had cried themselves out did she say coldly and sternly, “Your life is almost gone, and you still want to cover for that person?”
The sobbing mother and daughter both suddenly froze. Madam Deng was utterly shocked, while Miss Deng’s face turned deathly pale, a mix of alarm, guilt, and panic, a panic that revealed deep fear.
“What does the doctor mean by this? My daughter…” Madam Deng’s mouth opened and closed. She turned to glare at her daughter. “What’s going on? Cover for whom? Who did this to you?!” Seeing her daughter frozen and silent, she slapped her arm hard in hatred, fresh tears streaming down. “Didn’t you hear the doctor? If we don’t treat this illness, your life is in danger!!”
Chu Mingxi looked at the terrified Miss Deng and shook her head inwardly, not knowing whether to call her foolish or fearless.
“The rashes on her face and neck are from the flowers and plants in this room. Usually, they wouldn’t matter much, but in spring, kept together, they most easily provoke skin ailments. However, the condition on her body was caused by a drug. This drug wouldn’t normally be a big problem, but Miss Deng has been covering it day after day, letting it fester along with the skin ailment—” Her voice was cool and detached to the point of coldness, but it struck to the heart of the matter: “This kind of drug would be very difficult for a young lady in her boudoir to obtain.”
Miss Deng’s entire body trembled, and it was unclear which matter she feared most. Hearing the doctor speak thus, she finally burst out crying, sobbing, “It… it was Cous…”
“Madam Deng.” Chu Mingxi suddenly interrupted her, speaking to the mother. “Miss Deng’s facial rash is not serious. Remove all the flowers and plants, and it will clear up in a few days. The ailment on her body has already passed the skin and flesh; I’m afraid it will be more troublesome. I’ll write a prescription, and she should recuperate slowly.” Without waiting for an answer, she turned and walked towards the Flower Hall.
Madam Deng understood this was a gesture of discretion. The family’s private shame was indeed not something to be shared with outsiders. Her heart swelled with even more gratitude for this female doctor.
Outside the Flower Hall was the main hall of the second floor, already lit with lamps. Seeing Chu Mingxi emerge, Qingdai and the young man both approached. At that moment, sounds of weeping and angry scolding came from the room. The man looked questioningly at Chu Mingxi, but she paid him no attention, simply seating herself at the table. A glance at her medical kit was all it took for Qingdai to hurry and lay out paper and brush.
The man thought for a moment, then bowed to her with clasped hands. “Doctor, may I ask what illness my cousin has? Is it serious?”
Without pausing her brush, Chu Mingxi finished writing a moment later and handed it to a nearby maid. “Take this in to your Madam.” She then rose.
The young man frowned and followed two steps.
Qingdai blocked him, saying angrily, “Our family’s guards are right downstairs. Do you want to test that?”
The man stopped short, saying hesitantly, “That’s not what I meant…”
Chu Mingxi had already gone downstairs with Qingdai.
A short while later, a maid came running to say the Master requested the doctor take tea in the main hall. Chu Mingxi brought Qingdai along, while Kang Ze left the Deng residence.
Magistrate Deng had likely already heard about the household matter, his face a mix of shock and fury. Seeing the maid lead the doctor in, he barely suppressed his expression and carefully inquired about his daughter’s illness. Hearing that her life was not in immediate danger for now, he sighed and nodded.
The Deng family presented a very generous consultation fee. Chu Mingxi did not refuse and let Qingdai accept it.
Lamps were lit all around the main hall. Madam Deng also came in; it was clear she had been crying hard, her eyes swollen like peach pits. Seeing Chu Mingxi, she forced a twitch of her lips, her smile very bitter.
A servant came to report that dinner was ready. It was indeed very late, so Qingdai accompanied her Mistress to eat a little in a side hall. The Deng residence also prepared a guest room, but Chu Mingxi declined. Madam Deng, worried about her daughter’s illness, desperately wanted the doctor to stay longer, but just then, Kang Ze arrived to report that an inn had been secured. Madam Deng had no choice but to politely escort the doctor out.
When boarding the carriage, Madam Deng personally saw them to the main gate. Chu Mingxi turned back and said that although Miss Deng’s illness had been somewhat prolonged, the corresponding medicines existed for everything. The prescription had been given; after using it for a month or two, once the bruises and marks had faded, they could invite a physician to prescribe some warming and restorative tonics. Everything would be fine.
These words made Madam Deng’s eyes redden again, tears falling with soft patters. She thanked them profusely as she watched master and servant board the carriage before wiping her tears and returning.
Li County was not large, and there was only that one inn. Kang Ze stood tall, weapon in hand, looking like someone not to be trifled with. The innkeeper didn’t dare deceive him. He gave an honest price for the best upper room, adding a soft couch inside for the serving maid.
That night, Chu Mingxi stayed in the upper room with Qingdai.
Kang Ze booked the rooms to the left and right—one for the driver, one for himself. When night fell, Kang Ze did not undress and lie down, but sat meditating on the bed to rest, prepared for any eventuality.
Fortunately, the night passed peacefully. Just before dawn, a rain fell, droplets pattering on the leaves, startling the roosting birds and waking the sleeping flowers.
Early the next morning, the four of them—master and servants—made do with breakfast in the inn’s main hall, packed some snacks, and, once everything was settled, set off for Peaceful Ease Prefecture.
After leaving the county, the road gradually became muddy, and the carriage moved much slower than on the way there. Chu Mingxi instructed that safety and stability were paramount.
Thus, it was past noon before the carriage slowly entered the city gate of Peaceful Ease Prefecture.
Chu Mingyu had been waiting very impatiently in the rear residence of the branch store. Hearing that her sister had returned, her eyes lit up and she eagerly ran outside, with Song Jia chasing after her, unable to keep up.
As soon as she reached the courtyard, she indeed saw her sister walking in gracefully. She stood properly and curtsied to her sister. “Head Proprietor, you’ve finally returned.”
Chu Mingxi saw her playful and adorable manner and gave her a gracious smile.
The two sisters linked arms and went back inside. Chu Mingyu chattered incessantly. Chu Mingxi told her what she could, but avoided the matter of the Deng family cousin. Her younger sister was still young; such filthy matters shouldn’t soil her ears.
Chu Mingyu was about to ask more when Chu Mingxi said helplessly, “I’ve been traveling all this way, dusty and weary. At least let me change clothes first.”
Chu Mingyu nodded obediently. “Go, go. I’ll have the kitchen make you something to eat.”
Hot water was already prepared in the bathhouse. The maids attended to the Eldest Young Miss’s bath and change of clothes. It was nearly half an hour before she emerged from behind the screen.
The meal had long been prepared and was kept warm in a food box heated from below. Chu Mingyu was sitting at the small round table waiting for her.
Chu Mingxi wrung her damp hair half-dry and sat down beside her sister. Yining opened the food box and laid out the dishes one by one.
Before they could even pick up their chopsticks, Song Jia lifted the door curtain and entered, hands lowered in a respectful report.
“Eldest Young Miss, Second Young Miss. Shopkeeper Yu from the store has come, saying he has urgent business with the Eldest Young Miss. He has been waiting outside for a while.”
