Font Size:
Everyone dined together. The old marquis and Chu Lingxuan sat at one table, while Abbess Lao Chen and Chen Feng led the three children at another. Two tables were set up in a meditation room. It was evident that the old marquis was treating Abbess Lao Chen, his former daughter-in-law, quite well. He was the typical person who drew a clear line between his biological son and his former daughter-in-law.
After the meal, the old marquis and the children went to rest. Chu Lingxuan, Chen Feng, and Abbess Chen sat in the Western meditation room, chatting about family matters.
The room was filled with a faint sandalwood scent. A stove burned, and a charcoal basin emitted warmth. White jade flower vases adorned the tables, and large blue and white porcelain vases with blooming red plum blossoms were placed in two corners, creating a warm and bright atmosphere, akin to spring.
Abbess Lao Chen led Chen Feng to sit cross-legged on the edge of the kang, holding her left hand. Her hand was soft and delicate, not at all like the hand of a middle-aged woman. Chu Lingxuan sat on the other side of the kang, speaking softly about family affairs.
He mentioned that his third aunt would come to visit her once the marquis mansion was sorted out. His sister was doing well in her in-laws’ house, and their son was almost a year old. When the child was older, they would also come to visit their mother. He also mentioned some family matters related to Abbess Lao Chen’s maternal family. Her mother’s health had improved, and the Lou family had sent some New Year gifts, and so on.
Listening to their conversation, Chen Feng gained a better understanding of the affairs of the Marquis Mansion in the capital and the Lou family. Chu Lingxuan have a younger sister named Chu Hua, who was nineteen years old, and her in-laws were from the Huguogong Mansion. The old marquis second son, Second Master Chu’s wife had been overseeing the Marquis household for years, and there had been annual deficits. Yet, she continued to embezzle without any qualms, leaving the old marquis helpless and furious. The reason is that when second master Chu was young, he encountered a sudden situation while hunting in the mountains with a group of noble sons, resulting in the loss of an arm to a wolf pack. The second master Chu could no longer enter officialdom and could only retire with the rank of a fourth-rank official. Out of affection for this son, the old marquis had been patient with his son’s wife, the second madam… While, Abbess Lao Chen’s mother is still alive, but she had been bedridden due to poor health…
Chu Lingxuan, wearing a slightly worn purple cotton robe, seemed like an ordinary man going about his daily life. He spoke gently, discussing trivial matters about home with his mother. Surprisingly, Abbess Lao Chen appeared engrossed in the conversation and occasionally added her own comments.
Unexpectedly, this stern man had such a side to him.
Chen Feng clearly sensed that Chu Lingxuan’s behavior was likely a deliberate attempt to keep Abbess Lao Chen engrossed in mundane matters, not wanting her to completely detach herself from worldly concerns…
With these three individuals and their conversation, it felt less like a discussion in a meditation room and more like a family gathering in a house.
Later, Chu Lingxuan inquired about Chen Feng’s visit to Master Wuzhi. She didn’t dare mention Master Wuzhi’s comments about Dabao, only mentioning his statement about the possibility of Wang Cheng, her uncle, still being alive.
Chu Lingxuan said, “Your uncle enlisted under the name Li Guosheng, right? When I return, I’ll write to my third uncle and my brothers stationed at the border, asking them to inquire about it.”
Chen Feng thanked him again.
After talking for about an hour, the old marquis and the three children got up, and everyone bid farewell and left for home.
Abbess Lao Chen escorted them to the edge of the temple, her eyes slightly red as she waved goodbye.
Back at the Tangyuan gates, Chen Feng lifted Chu Hanyan into the carriage and handed the marquis’s pouch to Chu Lingxuan. Seeing that Chu Lingxuan clearly didn’t want to accept it, she explained that she also didn’t want to get involved, but circumstances had forced her to take it.
Chu Lingxuan hurriedly said, “I’m not blaming you. I just feel that, at this point, why would he go to such lengths and drag you into this, as if he knew I wouldn’t…” He didn’t finish his sentence and took the pouch. Seeing Chen Feng’s flushed face, he asked, “Are you unwell?”
Chen Feng nodded, “Possibly. On the way back, I felt dizzy and lightheaded, with a chilling sensation in my back.”
Chu Lingxuan blamed himself, “It must have been from being frightened by that woman. It’s my fault. I should have advised you to go to Yingshuan first.”
Chen Feng smiled, “It’s not too serious. I’ll just have some ginger soup and sleep it off when I get home.”
Chu Lingxuan instructed her to rest well and, if it got worse, to inform him so he could arrange for a good doctor. He then had the coachman take them back to Luyuan.
Upon returning home, Chen Feng found Chen Ye, Chen Shi, and grandma Chen sitting and chatting in the main room. After greeting them, she asked auntie Mu to make her some ginger soup and instructed Lu to put Dabao to bed, as she was feeling unwell. She then went to the western wing, washed up, and hurried to bed.
After drinking the ginger sugar water brought by auntie Mu, she covered herself with the blanket and fell into a deep sleep.
The illness struck fiercely, causing a high fever and prolonged periods of unconsciousness. She vaguely heard crying, especially the distressing cries of the children. She tried to open her eyes, but they felt impossibly heavy. Occasionally, she sensed others in the room. Mrs. Wang was crying as she tried to feed her medicine, but she couldn’t open her mouth…
And then, there was the Golden Swallow’s voice scolding her, asking why she hadn’t entered the space first…
When she finally regained consciousness, she saw Mrs. Wang sitting by her side, wiping away tears with a handkerchief.
“Mother.” she called out.
Seeing her awake, Mrs. Wang happily exclaimed, “A’Feng, you’re finally awake. Do you know you frightened me to death?” She then got up and called for Xiaoqing, “Quickly, go to the main room and inform Uncle Chen that A’Feng has woken up. Also, send someone to Tangyuan to inform the Old Marquis and Mr. Chu that A’Feng is awake.”
At that moment, an elderly doctor with a white beard entered the room. Mrs. Wang said he was Doctor Huang, specially summoned from the capital by Mr. Chu. He had previously served as the imperial physician. After examining Chen Feng’s pulse and administering acupuncture, he said, “Miss Chen is out of danger. If she takes medicine for another half month, she will recover.”
Shortly after, voices from Chu Lingxuan and Doctor Huang were heard outside. The doctor was briefing Chu Lingxuan on Chen Feng’s condition, and Chu Lingxuan expressed his gratitude, stating that he would accompany Doctor Huang back to the prefectural city.
After taking the medicine, Chen Feng fell asleep again.
When she woke up once more, she felt much clearer. It was now the twelfth day of the first lunar month.
According to Mrs. Wang, she had slept until the evening of that day, not responding to anyone’s calls, and her forehead was burning hot. It was only then that her family realized something was wrong and became frightened. They quickly called the local doctor, who tried acupuncture and administered medication, but her condition showed no improvement.
Chen Ming then went to Tangyuan to seek Mr. Chu’s help. Chu Lingxuan rode overnight to the prefectural city to summon Doctor Huang, known as the best physician in the prefecture. On the tenth day, Chu Lingxuan had not gone to his office and had been waiting for news about Chen Feng. Upon learning that she was out of danger the day before, he and Doctor Huang returned to the capital together…
As for the children, Dabao, Hanyan, and Lu, upon learning of Chen Feng’s illness and being unable to enter the room, they all stayed outside and cried. Particularly Dabao, who hadn’t been eating or sleeping well and had lost a few pounds. Chu Hanyan was also not doing well. She visited Tangyuan every day but couldn’t enter the western wing, so she sat in the eastern wing, looking lost. She clearly didn’t feel like talking and had lost her previous liveliness…