Chapter 73: The Taste of Medicine, The Trace of Sweetness

After Shen Lingwei finished dinner, Fan Chuan sent someone to get the medicine from Jiang Xian.

Jiang Xian had already arranged for someone to wait in the small kitchen downstairs.

They had brought their own medicine stoves.

Soon, Shen Lingwei’s medicine was ready.

The personal guard quickly brought the medicine upstairs.

Fan Chuan opened the door, took the medicine, and dismissed the guard.

She carried the medicine to Shen Lingwei’s bedside and placed the bowl on the nearby round stool.

Then she went to the round table and fetched the preserved fruit.

Fan Chuan picked up the medicine bowl.

Shen Lingwei quickly propped herself up.

“I can do it myself.”

Seeing that her spirits were much better than in the afternoon, Fan Chuan nodded.

“Alright.

Be careful, it’s hot.”

She placed the medicine bowl in Shen Lingwei’s hands, then went to pour a cup of tea, in case Shen Lingwei found the medicine bitter.

Shen Lingwei used a porcelain spoon to scoop up the medicine and began to drink.

Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed.

Even though the medicine was extremely bitter, she just frowned and endured it.

Fan Chuan saw how uncomfortable she was and quickly comforted her.

“It’s just the two of us here.

You don’t have to hold back.

This medicine is very bitter.”

Shen Lingwei, however, almost shed tears from holding back.

She forcefully drank the entire bowl of medicine clean.

Her good upbringing from childhood wouldn’t let her make a fuss over such a thing.

The next moment, Fan Chuan brought the cup to Shen Lingwei’s lips.

“Take a sip.

It’ll cut the bitterness.”

Shen Lingwei glanced at Fan Chuan and quickly drank most of the cup of tea from her hand.

Seeing she wasn’t drinking anymore, Fan Chuan quickly took out a small plate of preserved fruit and held it out to Shen Lingwei.

Shen Lingwei picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

Finally, the bitter taste in her mouth was suppressed.

But they hadn’t brought any preserved fruit or dried goods when they left.

Where had this come from?

After swallowing the preserved fruit, she asked, “Where did this come from?”

“Oh, I just had someone go to town and buy it.

Unfortunately, the town is too small; they didn’t have the osmanthus cakes you like.

So the guard had to buy some preserved fruit and dried goods instead.”

Seeing that her complexion was no longer as pale as in the afternoon, Fan Chuan breathed a small sigh of relief.

Shen Lingwei’s hand resting on the blanket tightened slightly, her fingertips clutching the fabric.

“The Marshal has gone to great trouble.”

“It’s nothing.

I was too careless before and didn’t take good care of you.

We won’t travel as urgently as before for the rest of the journey.”

Fan Chuan quickly said.

“I’m fine.

Don’t let this delay your important matters.”

Shen Lingwei knew military intelligence was urgent and didn’t want to hold Fan Chuan back.

“It’s no delay.

I know what I’m doing.

Besides, the soldiers have been out for so long; they really are tired.

They deserve a rest.”

Fan Chuan smiled at Shen Lingwei, then got up and took the medicine bowl and teacup from the bedside to the round table.

Shen Lingwei’s gaze followed Fan Chuan’s retreating figure.

After a long moment, she pressed her lips together and closed her eyes.

Fan Chuan came back and sat down on the round stool.

“Get some rest.

I’ll take care of you tonight.

If you feel unwell, please let me know.”

Shen Lingwei clutched the blanket tightly with both hands and nodded at Fan Chuan.

She moved further to the inside of the bed, making room for Fan Chuan.

“The Marshal has worked hard all day.

Please rest soon too.”

“Mm.

I’m not in a hurry.

You sleep first.”

Fan Chuan planned to wait until Shen Lingwei was asleep and her fever hadn’t returned before sleeping herself.

Fevers were so tricky.

Sometimes the fever would break during the day, only to return at night.

She couldn’t sleep too deeply tonight, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to take good care of Shen Lingwei.

Fan Chuan read a military strategy book for a while.

Seeing that Shen Lingwei had fallen asleep, she carefully reached out and felt Shen Lingwei’s forehead.

Her temperature wasn’t as hot as in the afternoon.

It seemed the bitter medicine was taking effect.

Fan Chuan took off her outer dress and carefully lay down.

The bed in this post station was naturally not as spacious as the one in the General’s residence.

When Fan Chuan lay down, her arm was right next to Shen Lingwei’s.

She simply turned on her side, facing Shen Lingwei.

That way, she wouldn’t take up much space, and she could notice any discomfort Shen Lingwei might have as soon as possible.

Fan Chuan had also been very tired from marching in armor these past few days.

Before long, she fell into a deep sleep.

In the middle of the night, Fan Chuan felt something burrowing into her arms, and something was grabbing at her, like a kitten.

Her eyes snapped open.

By the faint light outside, Fan Chuan saw that it was Shen Lingwei’s hand instinctively grabbing at her, and her whole body was pressing against her.

Fan Chuan’s heart immediately sank.

She reached out and touched Shen Lingwei’s forehead.

It seemed the fever had returned.

Fan Chuan gently patted Shen Lingwei’s back and coaxed softly.

“Do you want some water?

It seems the fever is back.

I’ll have someone call the physician.”

Just as she was about to get out of bed, her arm was grabbed by Shen Lingwei.

She was murmuring something.

Fan Chuan couldn’t quite make it out.

Seeing that Shen Lingwei was holding her arm very tightly, Fan Chuan didn’t get up.

Instead, she leaned in closer, trying to hear what Shen Lingwei was saying.

“Mother, Mother, don’t go.

Don’t leave me…”

The voice was intermittent, the tone anxious and aggrieved, like a kitten abandoned by its owner.

This was the first time Fan Chuan had seen Shen Lingwei like this.

In her memory, ever since they got married, Shen Lingwei had been a dignified, proper wife whom no one could find fault with.

Seeing Shen Lingwei so helpless was a first for her.

Fan Chuan pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment.

She reached out and gently patted Shen Lingwei’s back, soothing her.

“Don’t be afraid.

Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you.

I’ll take good care of you from now on.

I won’t let you get this sick again.”

As if sensing the comfort, Shen Lingwei’s agitation subsided somewhat.

Before long, she fell back into a deep sleep.

Fan Chuan carefully pried Shen Lingwei’s hand from the corner of her clothes.

She slowly got up, tucked Shen Lingwei in, and put on a cloak before walking to the door.

There were personal guards on duty outside, rotating through the night.

“Go call Jiang Xian.

Tell her the lady seems to have a slight fever again.”

Fan Chuan instructed quietly.

The guard quickly went to summon her.

Jiang Xian hurriedly dressed, grabbed her medicine box, and went to Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei’s room.

She knocked and carefully pushed the door open.

Fan Chuan beckoned to her and said quietly, “It seems the fever is back.

Take her pulse again.”

Jiang Xian quickly bowed to Fan Chuan, then carried her medicine box to the bedside.

She carefully placed one of Shen Lingwei’s hands on a small cushion and took her pulse.

As she stood up, she also carefully felt Shen Lingwei’s forehead.

“Marshal, it’s quite normal for the fever to return at night.

This subordinate will have another bowl of medicine prepared and brought up.

If you’re really worried, you can use some strong liquor on a cotton cloth to wipe the lady’s palms and the soles of her feet.

That will help cool her down faster.”

Seeing how anxious their Marshal was about his wife, Jiang Xian offered.

“Alright.

Go have someone find a jar of strong liquor from the post station.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Xian quickly withdrew and instructed the guard at the door to do it.

Soon, a guard brought in a small jar of strong liquor and a wine bowl.

Fan Chuan took a clean cotton cloth, soaked it in the liquor, wrung it out until it was half-dry, and then used the small cloth to wipe Shen Lingwei’s palms.

Shen Lingwei was born fair, and her hands were long and fair as well, her fingertips as delicate as white jade.

Fan Chuan tried to keep her movements gentle, afraid of hurting Shen Lingwei.

She wiped Shen Lingwei’s palms several times, then looked towards the foot of the blanket.

Should she wipe Shen Lingwei’s soles?

This seemed like a very intimate act.

If Shen Lingwei found out, would she be angry?

She was such a proper, well-bred young lady; if she knew she had done this, she would surely think her presumptuous.

But seeing Shen Lingwei’s furrowed brow, Fan Chuan told herself not to overthink.

Shen Lingwei was sick now.

Her health was the most important thing.

With that thought, she hesitated no longer.

She wet the cloth with more liquor and sat down at the foot of the bed.

Fan Chuan placed one hand on the end of the blanket.

She looked at Shen Lingwei, still fast asleep, and said softly, “Forgive me.”

With that, she lifted the end of the blanket.

Fan Chuan carefully held one of Shen Lingwei’s bare ankles in her hand and gently wiped her sole with the liquor-soaked cloth.

Shen Lingwei’s feet were small and fair.

But because of the fever, her feet were also hot, and Fan Chuan’s hand holding her ankle grew hot as well.

Fan Chuan didn’t dare look too much.

She quickly averted her gaze and gently wiped Shen Lingwei’s sole.

Soon, she wet the cloth with more liquor and started on the other foot.

She didn’t stop until the person delivering the medicine knocked on the door.

Fan Chuan tucked the blanket back over Shen Lingwei, then got up to get the medicine.

The herbal decoction still smelled very bitter.

Fan Chuan placed the medicine bowl on the round stool by the bed.

Then she poured half a cup of warm tea and brought the plate of preserved fruit over, placing them on the stool as well.

Fan Chuan sat on the edge of the bed and gently reached out to shake Shen Lingwei.

Seeing she still wasn’t awake, she simply lifted Shen Lingwei and sat her up a little, letting her lean against her chest.

Once Shen Lingwei was settled, Fan Chuan shook her again.

“Wake up.

Take your medicine, then sleep.”

Shen Lingwei’s eyes barely opened before closing again.

Her body was very hot, and she felt terrible.

Fan Chuan naturally saw she was uncomfortable.

She reached for the medicine bowl, scooped up a spoonful of medicine, blew on it gently, and brought it to Shen Lingwei’s lips.

“Open up.

Time for medicine.”

As if understanding Fan Chuan’s words, even with her eyes closed, Shen Lingwei opened her mouth and took the medicine.

Seeing that she understood, Fan Chuan relaxed a little.

She fed Shen Lingwei spoonful by spoonful.

Shen Lingwei seemed to find the medicine bitter; her eyebrows furrowed.

Fan Chuan quickly brought the teacup to her lips and said softly, “Drink some tea.

It won’t taste so bitter.”

With that, Fan Chuan slowly fed her the tea.

Seeing she had taken a few sips and her expression had softened slightly, Fan Chuan picked up a piece of preserved fruit and brought it to Shen Lingwei’s lips.

“Open up.”

Shen Lingwei instinctively nuzzled against Fan Chuan’s shoulder and obediently opened her pink lips.

Fan Chuan felt her heart race extremely fast.

She quickly put the preserved fruit into Shen Lingwei’s mouth.

Seeming to have tasted something sweet, Shen Lingwei felt a little better and just leaned against Fan Chuan without moving.

Fan Chuan quickly laid her back down, tucked the blanket around her, and then went to the table to pour herself a cup of water.

Her mind kept flashing back to Shen Lingwei’s fair ankle and the way she had nuzzled against her just now.

Her heart itched; something was wrong.

Fan Chuan drank three cups of tea in a row before finally calming down.

She took a few deep breaths and warned herself:
Shen Lingwei was someone the old emperor had planted by her side.

Whether she could be trusted needed to be verified.

She couldn’t be fooled by the comforts of a gentle bed.

Thinking like this for a while, Fan Chuan felt a little better.

Once her mood had settled somewhat, she went back to the bedside and lay down again next to Shen Lingwei.

Having been up for most of the night, Fan Chuan soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning, due to her internal clock, Fan Chuan still woke up early.

After waking, she reached out and touched Shen Lingwei’s forehead.

Finding that her fever had broken, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

About another hour passed before Shen Lingwei slowly woke up.

She propped herself up and sat up.

Her spirits were much better than the day before.

Fan Chuan was sitting at the table drinking tea.

Seeing her awake, she quickly went over.

“How do you feel today?”

“Much better.

My head isn’t dizzy anymore.”

Shen Lingwei looked at Fan Chuan as she spoke.

She had slept fitfully last night.

She had a vague impression that someone had been feeding her medicine while she was half-asleep.

“Did you feed me medicine last night?”

“Mm.

Your fever returned last night, so I had them prepare more medicine and gave you a dose.”

Seeing her spirits improved, Fan Chuan finally relaxed.

She sent someone to get the military physician to take Shen Lingwei’s pulse and had the kitchen send up breakfast.

Breakfast was still plain congee and simple dishes.

Fan Chuan brought the small table over, set it up on the bed, and placed the wooden tray on it.

“Eat breakfast first.

You’ll need to take medicine again later.”

“Alright.

Thank you for taking care of me last night.”

Shen Lingwei’s fingertips, hidden beneath the blanket, clenched together.

“No need to thank me.

You are my wife.

Taking care of you is only right.

Eat.”

Fan Chuan smiled at her and went to sit at the table, keeping watch.

Xiao Tao had been desperate to see her young lady.

But she was afraid of coming too early and disturbing their rest, so she had held back until now.

She knocked on the door and, receiving Fan Chuan’s permission, entered the room.

Xiao Tao bowed to Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei, then quickly asked,

“Young lady, how are you feeling?”

Shen Lingwei smiled at her.

“Much better.

The fever is gone.

It’s all thanks to the Marshal taking care of me.”

“Thank goodness you’re alright.

Thank goodness.”

Xiao Tao finally relaxed a little.

When Shen Lingwei had almost finished her breakfast, Jiang Xian arrived.

She took Shen Lingwei’s pulse again and confirmed that she only needed one more day of medicine to consolidate her recovery.

Only then did Fan Chuan finally feel at ease.