Number One Scholar's Spicy Wife

  "For the time being, we can't alarm the snake by cutting the grass. Without Master Jia, there's still Master Zhang and Master Li. The one who harms people is not these masters, but that old woman. If we don't eliminate the root cause, it's like treating the symptoms without treating the disease."

  "Everyone, don't be anxious, I'll take care of Father's side. We can't rush into fighting that old woman. Remember this, none of you are to say a word to anyone, or it will stir up trouble. Not even Mother, no one is allowed to speak about it, got it?"

  "Yes! Miss!" Du's mother shouted back with tears in her eyes.

  Knowing how to paint plum blossoms and orchids is also like this.

  Miss, despite suffering such a great injury, was able to remain calm and composed. How could they, her loyal servants, possibly drag her down? This was the psychology of several devoted attendants.

  The Xie family's dinner, usually each in their own small courtyard to eat, each small courtyard has its own small kitchen, is still the rules set by Xie Wenjing's grandmother when she was alive.

  Xie Wenjing finished dinner and went to the main courtyard once, where she met one of the officials of the Yangzhou government office, her second uncle.

  All he heard was him talking to his grandparents with a pleased expression about his proud place.

  "Father, mother, today's competition at the Suishan Literary Society had participants who were at least holders of the juren degree, and many geishas attended to show their support."

  "The Magistrate gave me a special day off, so I could meet those people and not bring shame to his name."

  "I happened to see the courtesan who had caught the eye of the Magistrate, Mei Niang, so I generously rewarded her with 1,000 taels of silver on behalf of the Magistrate. Overjoyed, she sang a new song for the prosperity and flourishing of Yangzhou. I reckon it won't take more than two days for the Magistrate to find out about all this. Those scholars can only envy me!"

  "Good! As long as the Magistrate is happy!" Grandfather smiled with a face full of kindness.

  "Wenjing, how did you come? Come and sit down quickly!" Grandmother had already seen Xie Wenjing standing at the door waiting, just as her son was speaking excitedly, not wanting to interrupt his words, so she let Xie Wenjing wait for a moment.

  "I've seen my grandfather, second uncle and grandmother. Wenjing wants to ask for a favor. Today I went to take care of Father, saw him thin and frail, without even the strength to speak. I think I'll go to the bamboo garden every day to help Father with his medicine, just to show some filial piety."

  Xie Wenjing knew that the bamboo garden seemed to be taken care of by her mother, but in fact, anyone who entered or left the bamboo garden had to get the old woman's nod of approval. Even she herself was no exception when going there.

  Going in and out of the bamboo garden without hindrance is only mother alone. But except for coming out to take a look at herself and her brother, mother will almost never come out.

  "However, you'll be following your husband to learn tomorrow too, won't you? Your father has your mother, aren't you at ease?"

  "Grandma, as the eldest daughter of Father, seeing him suffering from illness, I wish I could replace him. I hope that my sincere heart in taking care of Father can move heaven and earth, and let Father recover soon."

  "Go if you must!" Grandfather was interrupted by Xie Wenjing's arrival, extremely impatient, waving his hand to shoo her away.

  Grandma's face was kind and gentle: "Good child, you have such a filial heart, your father will get better, go!"

  Xie Wenjing achieved her goal with the old woman's words.

  However, the Mei Niang that Second Uncle just mentioned will likely be the downfall of his future prospects. The true decline of the Xie family is imminent. Thanks to Second Uncle's actions, he has provoked the top courtesan in Yangzhou and offended the Magistrate of Yangzhou.

  The next day, when Xie Wenjing re-entered the bamboo garden, Xie's mother felt very surprised, but Xie noticed that Liu Lingling didn't show a hint of surprise. Had Wang Yi already informed this woman?

  I don't know if there is an affair between Liu Lingling and Wang Yi?

  "Mother, is Father better today?" Xie Wenjing arrived a bit early. At this time, Mother was personally decocting medicine for Father. Liu Lingling heard the servant's report and came out to welcome Xie Wenjing.

  "Your dad couldn't even finish a bowl of rice porridge this morning, he just said he wanted to sleep, what about me?"

  Xie Wenjing's mother was on the verge of tears. Normally, even when her father was feeling unwell, he would still force himself to eat a little, but today he refused to take a single bite.

  "Has Big Miss arrived?" Liu Yiniang was only a servant in front of Xie Wenjing.

  "Hmm, is Dad awake?"

  "Not yet awake, just sleeping lightly, often humming." Liu Lingling looked uncomfortable.

  "Aunt Liu, you've worked hard. I'll go take care of Father. You and Mother rest first. When the medicine is ready, I'll come feed it to him. Maybe when Father sees me, he'll be willing to eat some rice porridge!"

  Xie Wenjing finished speaking, and didn't even have time to comfort her sorrowful mother. There are more important things to attend to, and Father's health is urgent. Wait a few days, let Mother see that Father has truly recovered, then she will understand.

  Liu Yinniang saw that Xie Wenjing had taken over her own task, and was delighted to be relieved of the responsibility. Her mission was now clear: to ensure that the man in the hospital bed took the medicine prescribed by Dr. Jia every day.

  I'm just a poor scholar's daughter from the countryside, my father is seriously ill and my brother doesn't have money for his wedding, so I sold myself to the old lady for 200 taels of silver for ten years. After ten years, the old lady promised me that she would give me back 200 taels of silver and let me leave this place.

  Ten years' time limit, I've only spent two years, still eight years left. The past two years have been like a long year, don't know how to get through the next eight years.

  But thinking of Wang's gaze at herself, Liu Lingling's heart suddenly started racing wildly.

  "Madam, I'll stay and decoct the medicine, you go with the young lady!" Liu Lingling calmed down and became considerate and understanding once again.

  "No need, you also know that every time I decoct medicine, I don't want to entrust it to others. You go back and rest for a while first, you were tired last night too!"

  Xie Wenjing's mother still had red eyes. Her spirit didn't look good either, but she wouldn't let others take care of the medicine for her.

  This is not only her intention but also her fear of making a mistake and harming her own husband.

  Liu Lingling also refused to leave, and the two of them chatted like good sisters in the small kitchen.

  Liu Lingling looks at Xie Wenjing with courtesy, but distant courtesy.

  So Liu Lingling is also unwilling to serve the young lady, and would rather coax this madam into a good mood.

  Xie Wenjing entered her father's room, and her father was dozing off. Seeing that there were no others around, she quickly exchanged the two hundred-year-old ginseng roots given by her grandmother yesterday.

  His father's medicinal materials were all placed in a small storage room next to his father's bedroom, which was full of his father's medicinal materials. This placement not only made it convenient to retrieve the medicinal materials but also allowed that old woman to show off how much precious medicine her stepson had spent from the Xie family, especially since the servants' mouths would spread the good name everywhere.

  However, this also made it convenient for Xie Wenyin to change her medicine. Xie Wenyin took a look at her father's pharmacy and estimated that in a few days, she would be able to exchange all these medicines.

  Xie Wenjing quietly replaced the five ginseng roots and turned back to her father's bedside, while Xie Chengyu's eyes were now open.

  "Dad! Are you awake? Dad, I went out to see an old doctor yesterday. Don't worry, people from the noble family won't go to him for treatment, and that person won't find out."

  "He said that this medicine cannot be taken, you need to drink a bowl of rice porridge or mixed grain soup every day, do breathing exercises twice a day, inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth, when exhaling, make six sounds: 'xū', 'hē', 'hū', 'xiāo', 'chuī' and 'xī'. You can sit, lie down or stand while doing this."

  Xie Wenjing's eyes were clear and she quickly grasped the opportunity to say the most important things, lest that traitor Liu Lingling come in.

  Xie Chengyu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Don't take any more risks, if she finds out, it'll be the death of you."

  Xie Chengyu rarely spoke a whole sentence in one breath.

  Xie Wenjing became happy and her father was in better spirits than yesterday.

  "Dad, I've already talked to that person and she agreed to come over every day to give you your medicine. So, for the next two days when I'm giving you your medicine, I'll just pretend to give it to you like I did yesterday."