Chapter 12: Falling into the Manure Pit

“Ouch!”

Gu Jiaojiao felt a sudden weakness in her calf and fell forward, sprawling onto the ground!

Cui’er’s eyes widened.

She knew that there was a manure pit right in front of her!

Gu Jiaojiao flailed her arms, trying to grab onto something to slow her descent. But all she had were the two manure buckets with the carrying pole. As she swung them wildly, the buckets were knocked over and splashed towards her.

Attacked from both sides!

Gu Jiaojiao closed her eyes and held her breath, falling into the manure pit.

“Help! Someone! Second Miss has fallen into the manure pit!” Cui’er rushed to call for help.

Was this something to be proud of? Why was she shouting so loudly, as if she wanted everyone to hear?

“Shut your mouth!” Gu Jiaojiao wanted to stop her, but as soon as she opened her mouth, the liquid mixed with solids flowed into her mouth without hesitation. She immediately vomited.

Seeing her pathetic state, Gu Yunlan, hiding nearby, almost burst into laughter.

Cui’er quickly brought people back, but no one was willing to pick her up from the manure pit. Seeing that Gu Jiaojiao was about to faint, Cui’er had no choice but to find a long stick: “Miss, grab the stick, Cui’er will pull you up!”

Cui’er didn’t want to do this either.

But she was Gu Jiaojiao’s personal maid. If anything happened to Gu Jiaojiao, she would lose her life. So she had to force down her disgust and do it.

Gu Jiaojiao flailed her arms and grabbed the stick. Cui’er pulled hard, but she almost got dragged down by Gu Jiaojiao. Luckily, the people nearby were quick-witted and pulled Cui’er back. Together, they managed to pull Gu Jiaojiao out of the manure pit.

As soon as Gu Jiaojiao was free, she started vomiting again. She then grumbled and told Cui’er to find some water to wash her.

The early autumn weather was chilly, and it was difficult to get so much hot water at once. Cui’er could only use cold water to wash Gu Jiaojiao. After washing, Gu Jiaojiao sneezed several times.

“If anyone dares to reveal a single word about today’s incident…” Gu Jiaojiao’s eyes were dark: “Watch your heads!”

“Yes.” Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look at Gu Jiaojiao.

“Cui’er, go prepare some flower petals and milk.” Gu Jiaojiao looked disgusted: “I need to take a good bath.”

After watching the show, Gu Yunlan happily returned to her courtyard.

She found that Mu Chenye had woken up.

“Husband, you’re awake?” Gu Yunlan put down her medicine box and pulled Mu Chenye’s wrist with concern, carefully taking his pulse. But Mu Chenye hugged her.

“Thank you.” Mu Chenye’s voice was low, different from his usual cheerful puppy demeanor.

The fox had already told him everything that happened in Dugu Yue’s courtyard.

His rush marriage bride was truly good to him without reservation.

Gu Yunlan didn’t think much of it. She just thought the puppy was feeling wronged and wanted to whine and act cute, so she stroked his hair: “Husband, don’t be afraid. Your wife is very powerful. You’ve safely passed the critical stage. Rest for a few more days, and we’ll go back to the residence.”

“Hmm!” Mu Chenye nodded obediently, then touched his stomach: “Wife, hungry.”

“Hungry? I’ll have someone get you some food.” Gu Yunlan got up: “Let’s eat first, then take your medicine. Your stomach won’t be uncomfortable.”

“I want braised pork!” Mu Chenye blinked his eyes, looking at Gu Yunlan pitifully: “And steamed fish, steamed fragrant duck, lotus leaf chicken…”

Mu Chenye counted on his fingers.

“You can only eat liquid food now. You can’t eat those.” Gu Yunlan patiently coaxed him: “When you’re better, we’ll have them all, okay?”

“No, no, I want them now!” Mu Chenye was unwilling.

“But…” Gu Yunlan wanted to persuade him further, but she saw that Mu Chenye was about to throw a tantrum, so she quickly compromised: “Okay, okay, I’ll have them made.”

As for whether she would let him eat them, that was another story.

Gu Yunlan went out and instructed: “Bring chicken and matsutake mushroom porridge first. The braised pork and the rest, bring them out when he’s almost finished eating.”

The maids quickly went to work, and the chicken and matsutake mushroom porridge was soon served. Gu Yunlan coaxed Mu Chenye to drink two bowls of porridge. Seeing that Mu Chenye had burped, she had the hard dishes brought out.

“Here, the braised pork you wanted.” Gu Yunlan smiled like a little fox.

Mu Chenye was happy to cooperate with her, putting on a troubled expression: “But I’m already full.”

Gu Yunlan suppressed a laugh: “What should we do then?”

“Then, then you eat it!” Mu Chenye pushed the dish towards Gu Yunlan: “Wife saved me, you’ve worked hard. Wife, eat more. You’re thin.”

He pinched Gu Yunlan’s thin wrist, looking heartbroken.

Gu Yunlan’s heart warmed.

She could tell that the little fool wanted these things just to give them to her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have eaten the chicken and matsutake mushroom porridge so happily.

Although he was a little fool, he knew that she didn’t have a high status in the Gu residence. If she asked for things in her own name, no one would listen. But now that he was injured in the Gu residence, it was natural for him to ask for things.

Although she was independent, it didn’t mean she didn’t like being cared for.

It was just that she had few relatives, and no one cared for her. Everyone just saw her as the high and mighty, life-and-death-controlling master of the Divine Physician Hall. Even if someone cared for her, it was because of her status as the master of the Divine Physician Hall, and they had ulterior motives.

In this life and the last, only the little fool, who didn’t want anything from her, was good to her.

“Okay, I’ll eat.” Gu Yunlan reached out and rubbed the little fool’s head, and she ate seriously.

Mu Chenye had a silly smile on his face, but his eyes were full of tenderness.

Wife, the Mu family may seem prosperous on the surface, but there are undercurrents beneath.

Only by remaining a fool can I protect myself and you. But this way of acting will inevitably make you suffer. When this matter is cleared up, I will definitely make it up to you.

After eating and drinking, Gu Yunlan didn’t idle. She started to make medicine again. First, she didn’t trust others to make medicine, and second, she had her own secret methods of making medicine that could maximize the effectiveness of the herbs.

She had finally gotten good medicine from the old man, and she couldn’t waste it.

…

The main courtyard.

Yun’er knelt in the courtyard, her frail body swaying.

“Ziming is young and ignorant, and he made a big mistake. But he’s still a child. He’s been injured and hasn’t eaten or drunk for a day and a night. Ziming has been raised by you since he was a child, just like your own son. Please, Madam, be merciful and at least call a doctor for him and let him eat something.”

Zhao, the old nanny, lit a lamp for Wu Huanmei.

“Madam, Lady Yun has been kneeling outside for three hours.”

Wu Huanmei leaned lazily on the couch, gently rolling her face with a jade roller: “Let her kneel if she wants to.”

Zhao looked inquiringly: “Madam, are you really not going to care about Gu Ziming?”

Wu Huanmei’s expression was indifferent: “I spoiled him before, just to make him a useless person, so that Yun’er wouldn’t have a chance to turn things around. It was also to maintain my reputation for being kind and generous. Yesterday, Master’s attitude clearly showed that he considered him a lost cause. Why should I care about him? Let him fend for himself. When he cries a little, I can be praised for being compassionate and loyal.”

“But Master will be here soon. It won’t look good if he sees Lady Yun like this, will it?” Zhao reminded her.

Only then did Wu Huanmei put down the jade roller: “You’re right. Master seems indifferent to her, but if he really had no feelings for her, there wouldn’t be Gu Ziming.”

“Go, get her a bag of corn. Don’t use the animal mill, let her grind it into corn grits herself and make porridge for Gu Ziming. Tell her that this is authorized by me. Don’t let him eat anything else.” Wu Huanmei had a playful smile on her face.