Love at First Sight, Chapter 35: Wen Yueqing Falls Ill with a Strange Disease

Another half month passed, and winter had arrived. The temperature had plummeted, and in the small imperial garden, beside the carp pond, Wen Yueqing was seated, feeding the fish. Dozens of lively red carp leapt in the water, their scales shimmering silver in the sunlight, making them quite beautiful.

She was a bit worried; if the weather grew colder, would the water in the pond freeze?

Nearby, Tong’er led Jinzi, running back and forth. The two, accompanied by the dog, looked relaxed and content.

Just then, Fangcao from the needlework workshop approached. She walked briskly, waving a handkerchief in greeting.

“Miss Wen, so you’re here! I’ve been searching everywhere for you,” Fangcao said with a cheerful smile.

“Oh, Sister Fang, how do you have time to visit?” Wen Yueqing quickly stood up.

“Well, the duck-down quilt and pillows you asked me to make are all finished. I thought Tong’er and I would bring them over together,” Fangcao replied.

It had been two months since Fangcao last saw Wen Yueqing, but now, Wen Yueqing looked much better, her face even a little rounder.

“Really? That’s wonderful! Thank you so much. The weather has turned cold, so it’s perfect timing,” Wen Yueqing said joyfully. She was delighted at last to have a soft bed to sleep on—she had waited so long.

Soon after, Tong’er and Fangcao went to the needlework room together, fetched the duck-down bedding set, and laid it atop the bed, which already had two thick layers of padding.

From the moment Fangcao entered, Jinzi barked at her nonstop. The dog circled anxiously under the bed and then, to Tong’er’s surprise, jumped onto it, prompting her to quickly scoop him up.

Wen Yueqing apologized to Fangcao, “Jinzi is rather mischievous. I suppose he finds the new bedding interesting and wants to lie on it himself.”

“No matter, that’s what makes him adorable. Clearly, you’ve raised him well,” Fangcao replied warmly.

“Always causing trouble! Sister Qing, Sister Fang, you two chat—I’ll take him outside to play,” Tong’er said, patting Jinzi’s head as she carried him out.

Wen Yueqing stayed to chat with Fangcao. As they talked, they discovered a pleasant rapport, and soon their conversation turned to clothing designs.

“Sister Fang, I have some fabric. In a few days, I’ll sketch some styles, and I’ll trouble you to make them for me,” Wen Yueqing said, thinking she could draw inspiration from modern fashion and blend it with the classical elegance of Hanfu to create her own favorite designs.

Fangcao was enthusiastic and readily agreed. Confident in her skill, she assured Wen Yueqing she could make any garment as long as she had a design.

Before Fangcao left, Wen Yueqing took out ten taels of silver and selected three exquisite pieces of jewelry, gifting them to Fangcao to show her gratitude.

That night, she finally slept beneath the duck-down quilt she had longed for. It was light and warm, and the soft bedding was wonderfully comfortable. She slept deeply and sweetly.

The next morning, Wen Yueqing should have woken early to practice aerobics, but she did not rise. Tong’er thought perhaps the cold weather had made Wen Yueqing reluctant and did not call her.

When it was time for breakfast with Zunyou, Tong’er saw that Wen Yueqing still hadn’t gotten up and grew anxious. If the prince became displeased, it would be troublesome.

“Sister Qing, it’s time to get up and wash. His Highness is waiting for breakfast,” Tong’er said, drawing back the bed curtain.

She was instantly alarmed and cried out, “Sister Qing, what’s wrong? Sister Qing!”

Wen Yueqing’s face was flushed, her forehead covered with tiny beads of sweat, her brows tightly furrowed, and her expression deeply pained.

Tong’er, at a loss, reached out to touch Wen Yueqing’s forehead and exclaimed, “Heavens, she’s burning up!”

Her forehead felt like a small furnace, much hotter than normal.

Looking closer, Tong’er saw several red bumps on Wen Yueqing’s neck, each topped with a dark mole.

Tong’er was frantic. She rushed out to call the manor physician, but not wanting to leave Wen Yueqing alone, she asked another maid, Ah Tao, to watch over her while she herself went in search of the doctor.

But the physician was not there—he had been summoned early that morning by Lady Li to the rear courtyard.

Seeing how seriously Wen Yueqing was ill, Tong’er braced herself and hurried to Lady Li’s pavilion.

She did not announce herself but entered directly.

Lady Li was half reclining on her bed, looking languid. Upon seeing Tong’er, she sat up with a displeased expression.

“You ignorant thing! Is my room a place you can barge into?” Lady Li said sharply.

Tong’er quickly bowed and apologized, her urgency evident. “Lady Li, I didn’t mean any disrespect. It’s a matter of emergency, please forgive me.”

She stepped forward, pleading, “I heard Physician Zhang is here. Sister Qing has a high fever. May I ask if the physician could come see her? Would you permit it, Lady Li?”

Lady Li, hearing this, supported her head with her hand and sank back into the bed, her body suddenly seeming weak.

“Oh dear, Cui’er, go check if Physician Zhang has finished preparing my medicine. My head aches terribly,” Lady Li now spoke with feeble weakness.

Cui’er pulled Tong’er aside disdainfully and said, “Leave at once! Don’t you see our lady is suffering from a headache? Physician Zhang is busy with her medicine and has no time for a maid.”

Tong’er realized Lady Li was feigning illness; just moments before, she had been full of energy, scolding loudly, and now pretended to be unwell.

But knowing this, Tong’er could only continue to plead.

“Lady Li, please have mercy! Sister Qing’s illness is strange; ordinary doctors may not be able to help her. Please let Physician Zhang come see her.”

Lady Li frowned and moaned, “Oh, I feel dreadful! My headache has turned into a stomach ache. Cui’er, quick, tell Physician Zhang to stop preparing the medicine and come examine me first!”

Cui’er shoved Tong’er hard. “Get out! Don’t disturb our lady!”

Tong’er was dragged and pushed out the door.

“Lady Li! Lady Li!” she cried, now in tears.

Receiving no answer, and seeing no other recourse, Tong’er went to seek Zunyou.

She ran back to the front courtyard. Kangqi saw her tear-streaked face and asked, worried, “Tong’er, what’s wrong? Who bullied you?”

Tong’er sobbed, “Brother Kangqi, I need to see His Highness—it’s urgent.”

“Alright, come with me,” Kangqi replied, leading her to Liu Yi.

When Liu Yi heard Wen Yueqing was ill, he immediately reported to Zunyou.

“Quick, summon the manor physician!”

Zunyou had not yet finished his breakfast, but upon hearing the news, he rose at once to visit.

“But the physician is with Lady Li, and she claimed to be unwell and won’t let him return,” Tong’er complained.