Chapter 6
This was the first time Ye Jiao had seen Qi Yun's face flushed with color. His usually pale cheeks now had blood color, and even though Qi Yun's eyes were currently closed, he looked strikingly handsome.
But the man's current good looks made Ye Jiao panic.
Her first thought was whether she had done something wrong yesterday that made this person's already poor health even worse.
Thinking of this, Ye Jiao felt something blocking her throat, her eyes swelling.
Originally the woman wasn't very strong, but somehow she found the strength to support Qi Yun all the way from the table to the bedside.
She laid the man on the bed, removed his outer clothes and shoes, and wrapped Qi Yun tightly in the blanket.
Because Ye Jiao had run barefoot from the bed upon hearing the noise, the bedding hadn't been tidied yet. When she wrapped Qi Yun up, the blanket still carried the woman's soft osmanthus fragrance and the warm temperature from her body heat.
Qi Yun's head was still heavy, but he didn't make a fuss or struggle, appearing especially docile.
Since childhood, his body had been like this, with hot and cold spells. Even occasional fainting was something Qi Yun had grown accustomed to.
But this time was slightly different.
His body felt hot, but his internal organs weren't in stabbing pain. Though his head was heavy, he didn't feel nauseous or want to vomit.
It was like being submerged in warm water, not particularly comfortable, but not unpleasant either.
But he could clearly feel someone supporting him, pulling him up, then dragging him to the bed.
This was Qi Yun's own bed, the one he'd slept in since childhood. Even with his eyes closed, he could recognize it.
...No, wait, he hadn't been sleeping here lately.
Before Qi Yun could figure it out, he smelled the osmanthus fragrance and felt genuine warmth.
His body was cold, and the blanket usually didn't have much warmth either, but now it was warm and cozy, making him somewhat drowsy.
This was the first time he felt sleepy when his body was uncomfortable. Qi Yun still didn't have the strength to open his eyes, just lay there half-asleep, half-awake with a peaceful expression.
Ye Jiao had no idea how the man felt. The reborn little ginseng had no ability to read people's inner thoughts, only able to feel Qi Yun's burning body temperature.
Sitting by the bed, Ye Jiao felt for the first time that this body wouldn't obey her.
She clearly wanted to touch his face, but her hands kept shaking, especially her fingertips, trembling uncontrollably.
When she opened her mouth wanting to speak and call to him, what came out was just a whimper. The little ginseng spirit didn't even know what she was saying.
She looked at her hands in bewilderment, then touched her neck and nose.
It felt blocked and somewhat sore. The more she thought about this person possibly getting worse, the more sore it became.
The little ginseng spirit who had just become human had been a person for only three days total, and in these short three days, Qi Yun was the one who treated her best.
He poured tea for her, fed her pastries, and would hold her hand telling her not to be afraid, that he was there for everything.
The little ginseng buried in the dirt for over a thousand years stubbornly believed that being able to eat and drink was the greatest benefit of being human.
Qi Yun satisfied all of this for her, so Qi Yun was the very best person in the world.
When Ye Jiao didn't yet understand what marriage meant, she had received a husband who cared for her.
The little ginseng didn't want him to die.
If before it was because the memories in this body told her that being a widow was difficult, so she had to preserve Qi Yun's life, now Ye Jiao truly didn't want him to die.
Qi Yun was good to her, very very good. Ye Jiao didn't think she could find another person who would treat her so well.
Now seeing Qi Yun like this, Ye Jiao's mind was in chaos.
Not caring whether she had put on shoes, not minding her pounding heart, Ye Jiao bit her lip and reached into the blanket, finding the man's wrist.
When she was still a ginseng, she had no body. When the spirits and monsters familiar to her occasionally got sick, she could only use her leaves to feel their pulse, which took a long time each attempt.
Now she had hands, making pulse-taking convenient, but Ye Jiao had no time to be happy.
She used her left hand to grab her right wrist, controlling herself not to shake, closing her eyes to feel Qi Yun's pulse. After several breaths, Ye Jiao finally relaxed.
The breath she had been holding also released, and her tense body felt somewhat weak after relaxing. She leaned softly against the bed frame, but her hand still didn't release the man's wrist.
Not taking his pulse anymore, but softly holding it, as if this could make her heart feel more at ease.
Seeing Qi Yun still hadn't woken up, Ye Jiao said quietly: "Thank goodness, thank goodness..."
Her essence could nourish people. Just holding hands with Qi Yun for two days had improved him considerably. Though he wasn't completely well and his complexion could still stop children from crying at night, Ye Jiao could feel that compared to the person who would fall over in a breeze on their wedding night, Qi Yun was developing in a good direction.
This gave Ye Jiao motivation. Last night she had secretly squeezed into the man's arms, letting him hold her to see if it would have an effect.
The result was that it did have an effect, just too stimulating an effect.
Qi Yun's body was weak, and she was highly nourishing, directly causing Qi Yun to be too weak to handle such supplementation. Combined with being hit by the cold morning air early in the day, this situation occurred.
Fortunately, the condition wasn't serious. As long as this surge of heat energy was digested, he would be fine. Not only would it not leave any lasting problems, it would actually improve Qi Yun's health.
But such exertion would be hard on anyone. It seemed she could only proceed gradually in the future. The hand-holding operation needed to continue developing.
Knowing Qi Yun wasn't in serious trouble, Ye Jiao's heart wasn't as panicked as before. But as soon as she calmed down, she suddenly felt something cool on her face.
Ye Jiao wiped her face with the back of her hand in bewilderment, then saw wetness on the back of her hand. Curiously, she licked it and found it somewhat salty.
What was... this?
"Jiao Niang, don't cry."
The man's voice sounded, and Ye Jiao couldn't help but look at him.
This glance made the just-awakened Qi Yun unconsciously hold his breath.
Ye Jiao was beautiful, something Qi Yun knew from the first time he saw her. Her face never showed the resentment of poverty or worry about the future. Instead, she was always full of vitality, especially cute when she smiled.
The woman's most beautiful feature was her pair of eyes.
Large and bright, with clear gazes, like a pool of crystal-clear spring water.
Now Ye Jiao's eyes were moistened with tears, misty and hazy. The tear tracks on her face had been wiped away, but those eyes, washed clean, looked incredibly pure.
Qi Yun reached out to touch her face, his voice even gentler: "Don't cry. The weather is gradually getting cooler. Crying too much will hurt your eyes."
But Ye Jiao quietly looked at the wetness on the back of her hand.
She had cried?
So this was tears...
The little ginseng seemed to have gained some new life insight. Her earlier worry completely disappeared. She touched her eyes with fresh curiosity and wanted to lick the back of her hand again to taste it.
Qi Yun pulled her hand away, somewhat amused and exasperated.
Feeling his head much clearer, Qi Yun propped himself up halfway, leaning against the pillow, and gripped Ye Jiao's hand in return, instructing: "Go have Little Su call the doctor over. Don't alarm my mother, so she won't worry."
Ye Jiao knew in her heart that Qi Yun was fine, so she didn't ask much and nodded obediently: "Okay."
Putting on shoes and an outer garment, Ye Jiao went out and called Little Su, who was sweeping outside, asking her to fetch the doctor.
Little Su immediately dropped her broom and ran off, fast as a rabbit.
After all the commotion just now, it was still early. Dawn had just broken and outside was still quiet.
While waiting for the doctor, Ye Jiao went to heat water, wrung out a cloth to wash her face, fixed her hair into a bun, then went to wipe Qi Yun's face and brought him salted water: "Rinse your mouth."
Ye Jiao had never taken initiative before. In fact, all these things were learned from Qi Yun one by one. The Qi family wasn't short of money and could afford to use salt water for rinsing. But he feared Ye Jiao wouldn't understand these procedures, so he had taught her hand by hand.
Now seeing Ye Jiao proactively bringing salt water for him, Qi Yun couldn't help but smile.
Perhaps because the internal heat hadn't dissipated yet, Qi Yun's face showed some flush, making him seem much more lively than his usual ghostly pale appearance.
Holding the water and rinsing his mouth, Qi Yun said gently: "Is this a rare benefit of being sick?"
Ye Jiao coughed lightly, too embarrassed to say she had meant well but caused harm, otherwise he wouldn't be lying here.
But Ye Jiao was still somewhat worried about Qi Yun's condition. Before the Qi family's doctor arrived, she put her hand back under the blanket.
Qi Yun was startled, feeling the woman's slender fingertips moving around on his arm, and instinctively dodged: "Jiao Niang, what are you looking for?"
Ye Jiao didn't look up: "I'm feeling around."
...Oh, feel away then.
Qi Yun calmly leaned against the pillow, letting Ye Jiao feel all over his arm.
Her soft hand went back and forth over the man's wrist several times, then pinched Qi Yun's forearm before releasing her grip.
Qi Yun actually felt it was somewhat regrettable. A bit more feeling would have been fine too.
But as soon as this thought emerged, Qi Yun suppressed it, once again disgusted with himself for his awful thoughts.
When the doctor came, he indeed didn't disturb anyone. Even if someone saw, they wouldn't find it strange.
Qi Yun calling for a doctor had become routine. Even when he wasn't feeling particularly unwell, Liu Shi would have someone come check on him. Over time, everyone got used to it.
After taking his pulse, the doctor rattled off a string of medical terms, with the final conclusion being: "Second Young Master's pulse is stable, just some internal heat that hasn't dissipated. Rest quietly and all will be well."
At these words, both had different thoughts.
Ye Jiao: It's all my fault. I can't be so hasty in the future.
Qi Yun: It's all my fault. What was I thinking about in my dreams yesterday...
After sending the doctor away, Ye Jiao heard Qi Yun say: "Today is your return home day. Later we'll prepare and then leave."
"No!" Ye Jiao, who never said no to Qi Yun, this time firmly shook her head at him.
Now that the weather was getting cooler and Qi Yun had excessive internal heat, he should rest properly. If he went out with her like this and was hit by cold wind, he might collapse again.
Ye Jiao didn't hide it from him either. While pressing the blanket down and telling him not to move: "You can't move around randomly. Didn't they say to rest quietly? Resting quietly means you can't go out."
But Qi Yun stared at her, frowning slightly: "But I'm somewhat worried about you going back alone."
Ye Jiao didn't care at all: "Then I won't go back either."
This time, it was Qi Yun's turn to shake his head: "You must go back and see them today."
It wasn't that Qi Yun particularly valued the Ye family as in-laws. Honestly, the Ye family's assets were nowhere near the Qi family's level.
The Qi family was a famous wealthy household for miles around, while the Ye family was poor as church mice. If not for this coincidental marriage arrangement, the two sides would never have had occasion to meet.
Not to mention they could actually push Ye Jiao into a fire pit, which made Qi Yun look down on them even more.
Obviously Qi Yun was very accurate in recognizing the fact that he himself was a fire pit.
But Qi Yun knew that having no contact with the Ye family in the future wouldn't matter, but now they needed to keep up appearances.
The Ye family had accepted substantial betrothal gifts before marrying Ye Jiao over, and the Qi family was just looking for a woman to bring good fortune to their son. This was something both families understood tacitly, but on the surface, they couldn't skip any steps.
One didn't want to be criticized for selling his sister, the other didn't want people saying behind their backs that their son was a consumptive ghost. So everything that should be done must be done completely.
Qi Yun wasn't afraid of being talked about. Having been talked about for so many years, even what he wasn't used to had become routine.
But he didn't want people always talking about Ye Jiao's faults. Jiao Niang was his properly married wife, now the treasure of his heart, so he couldn't give others reasons to gossip about her.
But Qi Yun wouldn't tell Ye Jiao these things. He could see that Ye Jiao didn't understand, and he didn't want her to understand either.
Holding Ye Jiao's hand, Qi Yun coughed gently twice before saying: "Don't worry. Later I'll tell Mother to have the helping woman from home accompany you back, and Little Su will go with you too. If you get tired on the road, rest at our family's medicine garden. If you don't want to stay long at your brother's house, just make a brief appearance and come back."
Ye Jiao didn't mind going anywhere. Though she didn't know what Qi Yun was thinking exactly, she knew this person was thinking of her in everything he said. Going once wouldn't matter.
What truly made Ye Jiao curious was the medicine garden Qi Yun mentioned.
Ye Jiao could slowly supplement Qi Yun's health, but this was a long-term process. Today's experience told her she absolutely couldn't rush.
But Qi Yun's constitution was weak, and major or minor illnesses were unpredictable. Ye Jiao still wanted to understand how the medicinal herbs of this life differed from her previous life, so she could prepare early for her husband.
She shook Qi Yun's finger: "Husband, where is that medicine garden?"
Qi Yun just thought she was curious and said gently: "You should be able to see it on the way. Our family has a medicine shop, and most of the medicinal herbs there are processed at this medicine garden before being sent to the shop."
Ye Jiao's eyes lit up as she nodded repeatedly, suddenly full of anticipation for this return home trip.
But soon, Ye Jiao became worried again.
This morning Qi Yun had collapsed because of excessive internal heat combined with early rising and cold wind.
If she wasn't by his side and Qi Yun was alone, what if something happened again?
After thinking it over, Ye Jiao had an idea.
She got up and went to the outer room, took scissors from the cabinet, and pulled a strand of hair from her bun to cut off.
Though this couldn't compare to her staying by his side and watching over him, since it was taken from her own body and left with Qi Yun, if he really had any problems, she could sense something.
She casually took a brocade pouch, stuffed the hair inside, tied it securely, and fixed her bun again before walking back into the inner room.
Qi Yun couldn't see clearly what Ye Jiao was doing. Seeing the pouch Ye Jiao was holding, he recognized it as one of his usual pouches for protective amulets.
Liu Shi had prayed to gods and Buddhas countless times for him, so he had quite a few such pouches.
But when Ye Jiao stuffed it into his hands, Qi Yun felt it was light and airy inside, as if there was nothing there.
Ye Jiao told him with rare seriousness: "Keep it with you properly."
Qi Yun thought she also knew this was a protective amulet. He felt it was useless in his heart, but facing the woman's clear eyes, he still nodded in agreement.
Just then Liu Shi sent someone to call Ye Jiao over. Qi Yun guessed Liu Shi was probably talking about the same matter, so he casually tucked the pouch into his chest and patted her hand: "Go ahead. Speak nicely with Mother. Do you want me to come with you?"
Ye Jiao insisted he rest properly and went to Liu Shi's courtyard herself.
After she left, Qi Yun stopped suppressing himself and suddenly began coughing.
Though he didn't feel dizzy anymore, his throat had been itchy since earlier. Especially after talking so much with Ye Jiao, his throat felt increasingly uncomfortable.
But he didn't want to worry Ye Jiao, so he had been holding it in. Now suddenly coughing, it inevitably seemed heart-wrenching.
Little Su, who was cleaning outside, was startled. Though she feared the always gloomy Second Master Qi, the little girl knew that if anything happened to Qi Yun, Liu Shi had the ability to make everyone's life miserable.
Hearing the coughing, Little Su immediately ran to the door and asked through the window: "Second... Second Young Master, should I call the doctor back?"
Qi Yun took the teacup Ye Jiao had left by the bedside and drank from it. The warm tea water made his throat feel much better.
Hearing Little Su's voice, Qi Yun took a few breaths, then said hoarsely: "I'm fine. Don't disturb anyone else."
This voice was somewhat raspy. Combined with Little Su's existing fear of him, her mind paired this hoarse, low voice with his pale face, and the little girl was actually frightened into shivering.
Then she heard Qi Yun's voice coming from the window again: "By the way, when you accompany Jiao Niang home later, be careful. If anything happens, come back and tell me."
Little Su shrank her head and answered quietly: "I understand."
"Don't be afraid of offending people. Protect Jiao Niang, understand?"
"I... I understand."
Seeing Qi Yun had stopped talking, Little Su immediately let go of the window and ran away.
Passing by that black feather shuttlecock, she ran even faster.
Second Young Master was indeed the most frightening!