Chapter 111: The Agreement

This morning, she came to check on Heng Ge’er, who was still asleep due to not feeling well, though his fever had gone down. By evening, however, his temperature had risen again a typical pattern for a young child’s fever, coming and going and seeming to reset each time.

Madam Zheng and Nurse He were pinching Heng Ge’er’s nose, trying to get him to take his medicine. He resisted with all his might, crying and thrashing like a little bull, kicking the bowl out of Nurse He’s hand and spilling the dark, thick medicine all over Madam Zheng’s embroidered jacket. Ignoring the mess on her gold-trimmed clothing, she held him tight and ordered, “Bring more medicine. He must take it, he’s burning up like a coal fire.”

As Xu Jun Ying and Meinang entered, Madam Zheng looked at them with a hard expression, holding Heng Ge’er close without a word. But Heng Ge’er, seeing Meinang, reached out for her, tear-streaked and pitiful, making her heart ache.

It wouldn’t be wise for Meinang to simply take Heng Ge’er from Madam Zheng, as it might provoke resentment or even get her dismissed. Instead, Meinang sat beside Madam Zheng, gently holding Heng Ge’er’s hand and soothing him. She then spoke kindly to Madam Zheng:
“Mother, you’ve worked so hard. Heng Ge’er is a handful and even dirtied your lovely clothes… why don’t you let me handle him for a while? I’ll try to coax him into taking his medicine. He must drink it if he is to get better.”

Madam Zheng glanced at her skeptically. “He’s strong enough now, he’s already kicked over two bowls of medicine. I doubt you’ll have any luck.”

“I’d like to give it a try,” Meinang replied gently.

“He’s already had one bath before sunset,” Madam Zheng cautioned. “Don’t bathe him again tonight; the cold could worsen his illness.”

Meinang nodded in agreement. “Understood, Mother.”

Reluctantly, Madam Zheng loosened her hold, and Heng Ge’er immediately clung to Meinang, resting his head on her shoulder to calm himself. She took a warm cloth from Chun Yue, her maid, and carefully wiped Heng Ge’er’s face. He was still feverish, though not as hot as before, and he seemed more lively than he had the night before.

Meanwhile, Xu Jun Ying spoke quietly with Madam Zheng as Meinang whispered to Chun Yue, “Has Heng Ge’er had anything to drink recently?”

Chun Yue answered, “He ate a small bowl of porridge at dinner but hasn’t had any water since we were waiting for him to take his medicine.”

As soon as Xia Lian returned with the medicine, Heng Ge’er turned his head away and tightly shut his mouth. Meinang gently held him, whispering, “Would you like some water, Heng Ge’er?”

He nodded enthusiastically. Madam Zheng frowned. “Drinking water will dilute the medicine’s effectiveness.”

Meinang smiled. “Just a few sips he’s thirsty, which is common with a fever.” She gave Heng Ge’er a few spoon fuls of warm water, which he eagerly drank, smacking his lips with satisfaction, making both Meiniang and Chun Yue chuckle.

Seeing the untouched medicine, Madam Zheng became agitated. “How will he recover if he only drinks water and won’t take his medicine?”

Meinang reassured her, “A fevered child is naturally thirsty. Let’s wait a short while before giving him the medicine.”

At that moment, Zheng Mei Yu entered, now dressed in a pink jacket and moonlight-blue skirt. She approached Meinang and bent down to touch Heng Ge’er’s face, her voice soft. “He’s so hot. A drink of cold water might help bring down the fever faster.”

Meinang shot her a stern look, recalling the time Zheng Mei Yu had tricked her into drinking cold water. Smiling faintly, she said, “That’s a good idea, but one more suited to you, dear cousin. Mother would never allow Heng Ge’er to drink cold water.”

Madam Zheng turned at this. “Who suggested cold water?”

Zheng Mei Yu quickly backpedaled, “No one, really.”

Meinang, however, continued, “But yes, last night Cousin Mei Yu drank some cold water herself, and today she suggested giving it to Heng Ge’er.”

Madam Zheng gave her niece a sharp look. “Who would give cold water to a sick child? If you’re clueless, just watch and learn.”

Zheng Mei Yu met Meinang’s gaze, but there was an unnerving glint in her eye a hint of defiance.

Zheng Mei Yu differed from Zhuang Yu Lan, if she decided to be malicious, she’d be far more ruthless. According to the maids, Zheng Mei Yu initially tried to win favor with Meinang, much as she did with Zhuang Yu Lan. But afterward, she schemed to have Meinang implicated in a scandal with her cousin Xu Jun Jie. Even though he was her own cousin, she had no qualms about exploiting him, driven by her ambition to become mistress of Qing Hua Courtyard, even if it meant becoming a lowly concubine. Zheng Mei Yu was no innocent, she was driven and somewhat unhinged her relentless ambition made her as dangerous as a madwoman.

Once the medicine was reheated, Meinang tried coaxing Heng Ge’er to drink it, while Zheng Mei Yu and Xu Jun Ying chatted idly at the table. Meinang dipped a spoon into the medicine and held it to Heng Ge’er’s mouth. But he shut his mouth tight, stubbornly refusing to open it.

Madam Zheng, seeing this, insisted, “He doesn’t want to drink it, but he must. Just force it in, a few mouthfuls will still help.”

Zheng Mei Yu, clearly eager, came over. “I’ll help. I can hold his hands while Xia Lian grabs his feet.”

Meinang glared at her. “My Heng Ge’er won’t be forced. You can treat your own son that way when you have one.”

Madam Zheng sighed. “No child likes taking medicine, but it has to be done. Back when Jun Ying was a child, we had to force the medicine down.”

At this, her voice softened. “A little struggle, a little cry, but as long as it cures the illness, it’s worth it.”

She rose and went into the inner chamber, leaving Meinang to whisper to Heng Ge’er, “We don’t need to force it, right?”

Heng Ge’er nestled closer to her, his large eyes blinking silently.

Then Zheng Mei Yu pulled up a stool to sit directly across from Meinang, placing herself close enough to be unnervingly intimate. With a faint smile and in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, she whispered, “You may have given birth to him, but my aunt is the one who truly understands how to raise him.”

Unfazed, Meinang returned her gaze with an equally calm tone. “Your aunt is also wonderful at raising you. She’s done an excellent job.”

Zheng Mei Yu’s face twisted. “What are you saying?”

Meinang looked at her plainly. “Do you need me to repeat myself?”

“I only meant well,” Zheng Mei Yu muttered, but Meinang’s eyes sparked with amusement as she said, “Thank you for your good intentions, then. But if you really want to talk, I’m sure we can find a better time and place for it.”

“Fine, but I’ll be coming to Qing Hua Courtyard to see you soon,” Zheng Mei Yu replied with a smirk, masking the simmering jealousy within. How could everything work out so well for Meinang, leaving her with unfulfilled ambitions and secrets she could barely contain?