MSBCH Chapter 21.1

Chapter 21

"Is that all?"

As soon as Feng Shu said this, he realized he might have said something inappropriate. His expression immediately stiffened, and he silently took a step back, pretending he hadn’t said anything at all.

Having grown up with Qi Yunchi and ultimately risen to the position of Grand General, how could he be a simple, honest person who understood nothing?

"For now," Wen Ninghan corrected herself.

At this moment, the young master was still unconscious, his back covered in golden needles, so densely packed that even someone with trypophobia would be terrified. 

However, it was clear that his previously flushed and purplish complexion had turned a faint pink, and his once pale lips now had a trace of color.

Feng Shu knew nothing about medicine, but even he could tell that the young master’s condition was much better than before.

In contrast, Wen Ninghan looked somewhat weary. Could this acupunture be physically demanding?

Wen Miss, what about the hot water and the strong liquor?"

Wen Ninghan walked over to the copper basin filled with hot water and took a brown pill from the scented sachet at her waist. 

As soon as the pill touched the water, it dissolved instantly, turning the clear liquid into a light herbal green.

Feng Shu: Hmm? Brown turning into green? What kind of magical trick is this?

"Once the water cools down enough to handle, use it to wipe down the young master's body."

Feng Shu glanced hesitantly at the young master, who was currently looking like a pincushion. He really didn't dare to touch him.

Seeming to understand Feng Shu's apprehension, Wen Ninghan smiled and said, "It's alright, these needles will be removed soon."

When inserting the needles, Wen Ninghan was slow and meticulous, but when removing them, her speed was astonishing. Feng Shu barely had time to blink before she was nearly done.

The young master lay on the bed, fair and clean, with hardly a trace of the needle marks visible on his back.

Wen Ninghan pondered for a moment, then walked to the table. She glanced at the prescription left by the imperial physician and frowned slightly. 

It wasn't that there was anything wrong with the prescription. If the young master had simply fallen into the water and suffered from cold invading his body, causing a persistent high fever, this prescription would have worked. 

However, the imperial physician had taken a gentle approach, likely considering the young master's young age and being hesitant to use overly aggressive medicine.

But the young master's body not only contained cold, but also heat-toxin from an unknown source. 

Under the clash of these two, and then being further aggravated by the medicinal properties, the young master's small body simply couldn't bear it. 

It could be said that if Qi Yunchi hadn't had the sudden idea to come find her, this young master had a ninety-nine percent chance of not making it through tonight.

Wen Ninghan picked up paper and pen and quickly wrote out a prescription, blowing on the still-wet ink. 

"This prescription should be given to the young master for the next two days. He should be fine after that. For the subsequent body conditioning, I believe the physicians at the Princess Manor will be more than capable."

The physicians employed by these high-ranking noble families were mostly there to deal with basic ailments and were most skilled in recuperative care, so there was no need for her to intervene further.

However, for extra assurance, she took out a small porcelain bottle.

"These pills inside, one pill each day, dissolved in hot water, are for the young master's medicinal bath. Make sure to keep him warm and prevent him from catching a cold again."

Feng Shu: "..."

Should he remind this Miss Wen that he was from the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, not the Princess Manor or the Duke of Rongguo's Mansion?

Sigh, never mind, he consoled himself. This must be Miss Wen's way of showing her trust in him. No one else had received this treatment, they had all been chased out, including his own young master!

Only Feng Shu had personally witnessed the specifics of Wen Ninghan's treatment of the young master. 

Qi Yunchi could probably guess, but Princess Huiling and the heir of the Duke of Rongguo were completely in the dark.

"He's really out of fever?"

Being his beloved son, the heir of the Duke of Rongguo immediately rushed over to check on the young master's condition, even directly instructing the family physician to examine him.

Princess Huiling was also worried about the young master's health, but seeing her uncle's behavior, she immediately felt a little embarrassed. Wen Ninghan was still present!

“Miss Wen, my uncle is just anxious about his son, please forgive his impoliteness.”

Wen Ninghan chuckled, "It's alright, I understand."

Although this Duke of Rongguo's seemed unreliable in many ways, his love for the young master was genuine.

Wen Ninghan repeated what she had just told Feng Shu to Princess Huiling, "If the Duke has any questions about the prescription, he can first consult the family physician and the imperial physician."

Princess Huiling, however, looked at Wen Ninghan with a complicated expression. Everything she had experienced today had left her utterly exhausted. 

Yet, throughout the entire ordeal, Wen Ninghan's composure had been unbelievably steady, not to mention her medical skills. 

Even the imperial physicians had been helpless, practically telling them to prepare for the worst. And then, Wen Ninghan had stepped in and resolved the situation.

Although Du Xinghu was still unconscious, Princess Huiling could see that the child's condition had stabilized significantly.

“We are truly grateful for Miss Wen's help today.”

“It was just a small effort, if Princess continues to say such things, I will become embarrassed.”

Princess Huiling: To be honest, she really couldn't see any sign of embarrassment on her face.

Night had deepened, and they had already been delayed long enough. Now that the young master's condition was temporarily stable, even if Princess Huiling wanted to keep Wen Ninghan for extra reassurance, she couldn't very well suggest that an unmarried young lady remain overnight like this.

Not to mention that Wen Ninghan hadn't even entered through the main gate. Princess Huiling glanced at Qi Yunchi, whose face was pale, and figured that only someone like Qi Yunchi, who didn't follow common sense, would think of sneaking the eldest daughter of a noble family out of her residence in the middle of the night.

Naturally, Qi Yunchi was still responsible for sending Wen Ninghan back.  Having changed his attire again to avoid attracting attention, Qi Yunchi took Wen Ninghan away as if he were a ghost.

Princess Huiling gazed at the deep darkness in the courtyard, and asked Feng Shu with unease, “The person brother Chi sent, is he trustworthy?”

Having come and gone twice in haste, from bringing the Wen family's eldest daughter to escorting her away, Princess Huiling hadn't been able to clearly discern the figure of the person, let alone what they looked like.

Now, with a growing fondness for Wen Ninghan, Princess Huiling was sincerely worried about her safety.

There were things Feng Shu couldn't say. After all, he was the only one here who knew the true identity of this masked person, it was the young master himself. How could he be untrustworthy?

“Of course, he is trustworthy. He is the person the young master trusts the most.”

Well, of course. Who wouldn’t trust themselves the most?

Princess Huiling glanced thoughtfully at Feng Shu, wanting to say, "Isn't Feng Shu the person Qi Yunchi trusts most?" and "Feng Shu doesn't seem jealous at all when saying this?"

Never mind, I don't understand.

Leaving the Princess Manor, the night wind felt bitterly cold. Wen Ninghan pulled aside the fur trim around her face, revealing half of her soft, delicate cheek, and snuggled closer to Qi Yunchi's chest, seeking shelter from the sharp wind.

Qi Yunchi's body stiffened involuntarily as he looked at the young lady in his arms, who was completely at ease with him, feeling rather helpless.

How should he bring up the topic of propriety between men and women with this young lady? It seemed he himself, holding her like this, wasn't in a position to say such things.

“There’s something I shouldn’t say,” Wen Ninghan began, “but since I’ve already saved a life, I might as well see it through to the end. I don’t want my efforts to go to waste, so I think it’s necessary to remind you of something.”

Qi Yunchi: "Hmm?"

“It’s hard to say whether the young master falling into the lake was an accident or intentional. Many traces at the scene have been destroyed, but I believe you probably have a sense of what happened in your heart…”

Qi Yunchi interrupted Wen Ninghan, “When did I get a sense of what happened in my heart?”