Chapter 106 : Surprised (1)

During winter, the garden in Duke Han of the State Residence would be bleak. Unlike the garden in Marquis Pingqing Residence where flowers would bloom all year long. As a matter of fact, Yuxi just caught sight of a blooming crabapple flower.

Chiang Xin said with a show-off tone, “This crabapple flowers does not bloom well this year, while wintersweet flowers bloom beautifully!”

Yuxi genuinely said, “Then let’s go straight to see wintersweet.” Since it was said that the crabapple didn’t bloom that well, wouldn’t it just be a disappointment if she couldn’t see them the same way she had expected?

Previously, because of the unpleasant experience in her previous life, Yuxi totally avoided the Chiang family. Now that she the way she thought of things had changed, it also changed the way she acted. Naturally, many things around her changed too. So, she did not need to avoid Chiang’s family anymore. It was natural for her to be friendly towards them. If she couldn’t be friendly with certain people, she wouldn’t be hostile to them either.

After walking for a few minutes, Yuxi suddenly smelled a faint fragrance. Without even needing Chiang Xin to introduce it, Yuxi knew that the wintersweet was up ahead.

The Chiang’s wintersweet was different from Duke Han of the State’s. In Duke of the State Residence, the wintersweet was reddish in colour, while in this courtyard, it was white. The white wintersweet that bloomed at the tip of the branches were like flat thin snow.

Yuxi stepped forward. She could see that all of these white wintersweet had five petals, which were white and flawless, giving the viewers a pure and noble feeling. Just by standing in the middle of wintersweet, while smelling their fragrance, was also a pleasure.

Chiang Xin laughed “Si Biaojie¹si=fourth, biaojie=eldee female cousin has never seen wintersweet before?”

Yuxi smiled and said, “We planted red wintersweet in our residence. However, when wintersweet bloom every year, San Jie²san=third, jie=elder sister, short form for Jiejie and her maid will collect snow water from them to make tea.” This only made the Han family look like country bumpkins. Although the Han family did not have the power like the Chiang family right now, in any case, they were still the people of Duke of the State official residence. It was really funny that they dare to look down on the Han family so much.

Chiang Xin wasn’t happy when she heard this. She looked at Yuxi and asked, “Say, what is the difference between tea steeped with spring water and tea steeped with snow?”

Yuxi smiled and shook her head as she said, “I don’t usually drink tea. Though, when I do, I usually drink scented tea.” She seldom drank tea even the scented tea.

Hearing this, Chiang Xin then asked, “I heard that you are better at chess than San Biaojie³san=third, biaojie=elder female cousin? Is this true? ” In fact, she didn’t actually believe it. Her intuition said that it was only hearsay, mainly because Yuchen usually performed too perfectly.

Yuxi chuckled, “That is an exaggeration praised by others. My chess skills are similar to San Jie²san=third, jie=elder sister, short form for Jiejie, but San Jie²san=third, jie=elder sister, short form for Jiejie is proficient in all of the four arts. I am only good in chess.”

Chiang Xin became more interested in Yuxi, “Then, what do you usually do?”

Yuxi answered with a smile, “I usually read books, do embroidery, and then learn some cooking skills. If I have the opportunity, I will go visit Shiya Biaojie⁴elder female cousin and have a chat with her.”

Hearing this, Chiang Xin’s affection for Yuxi rose. While for her, her daily life was no different than Yuxi’s.

When the wind blew, the wintersweet fell down from the branches. Yuxi felt a bit pity when she saw this scene. If she had more time to spend right now, she would have collected these white wintersweet flowers and made them into scented tea.

When Chiang Xin knew about Yuxi’s idea, she was very surprised, “You can make scented tea?”

Yuxi nodded and said, “Of course! Plum blossom tea, rose scented tea, snow lotus scented tea, honeysuckle scented tea, xueli⁵wild green flower scented tea, and in addition, I know how to make bitter gourd tea and kuding tea.”

Plum Blossom Tea

Image Credit | Jeon Gun-joo (Jul 7th, 2016, 대전드라이브 고운빛)

Snow Lotus Scented Tea

Image Credit | CLYK CLYK Store via Aliexpress

Honeysuckle Scented Tea

Image Credit | All About Honeysuckle Tea via Chinese Tea Info

Xue Li (wild green flower) Scented Tea

Image Credit | Anhui Natural Source Impex Ltd. via Alibaba

Bitter Gourd Tea

Image Credit | To the right owner. Please let me know if you own this picture

Kuding Tea

Image Credit | 小百貨 (Aug 22nd, 2018, 苦丁茶的功效與作用) via Meishijr

Chiang Xin happily asked, “Can you teach me?”

Yuxi naturally knew that Chiang Xin also liked to make scented tea by herself, and especially fond of mixing fragrances, “Naturally, but I’m of average standard, so don’t be disappointed in the future.”

When both of them returned to the main room, the people in the room found that Chiang Xin’s attitude had changed greatly. She kept on calling out ‘Yuxi Biaojie⁴elder female cousin’ and continued asking her a lot of questions. Their relationship was like close blood sisters.

Yuchen was delighted to hear the changes in Chiang Xin, while for Old Madam Chiang, her heart was unconvinced with the changes. After everyone had left, Chiang Xin’s maid was called in for questioning.

As Old Madam Chiang listened to the maid’s report, she could only say with a sigh, “No wonder Yuchen totally sets her heart on this girl.” This means, this thinking, not ordinary people would have. Old Madam Chiang was very familiar with Yuxi’s situation. She had no one to teach her other than Momo⁶wet nurse Quan. Therefore, Momo⁶wet nurse Quan had taught all her skills to Yuxi. This noob translation was translated by a noob translator きつね. Please read this chapter at xin-shou.blogspot.com.

On the way, Yuchen also asked Yuxi the same question, “Si Meimei⁷si=fourth, meimei=younger sister, how did you get Xin Biaomei⁸younger female cousin to accept you?” She had always wanted to live in peace with Chiang Xin, but Chiang Xin was very exclusive to her and often made her felt very helpless with her sarcasm.

Yuxi replied with a smile, “I don’t know. Xin Biaomei⁸younger female cousin asked me what I do at home every day? I told her that I’m learning to embroider and so on. After the Lantern Festival, I will have to learn to manage the household. By then, Xin Biaomei⁸younger female cousin’s attitude towards me had become much better?”

Yuchen smiled gently, “Xin Biaomei⁸younger female cousin has a little temper, but she is very nice.” For a Marquis Residence young miss, to have a little temper was very normal. As long as she had good nature and moral character, everything else was fine.

Yuxi knew what Yuchen meant. “San Jie²san=third, jie=elder sister, short form for Jiejie, I will get along well with Xin Biaomei⁸younger female cousin.” She had always known that Yuchen had been hoping for her to get close with the Chiang family. It was impossible for her to make friends, but it was still necessary to establish a good relationship on the whole.

After returning to Han Residence, Yuxi took a nap before going to the main courtyard. It happened that Ye Shi and Qiu Shi were currently discussing family affairs. Yuxi was going to learn how to manage the household soon, so it was natural for her to listen to Ye Shi when she came.

Ye Shi talked with Qiu Shi for less than half an hour, while Yuxi was looking at Ye Shi who continued touching her stomach four to five times. Ye Shi’s face looked good with makeup, and most people won’t notice anything unusual. However, Yuxi had learned pharmacology, though she had never seen or treated anyone, but she could still Ye Shi’s discomfort.

When Ye Shi and Qiu Shi had done talking, Ye Shi went out. Yuxi looked at Ye Shi’s back and frowned, but she didn’t say a word to Qiu Shi.

Once Ye Shi dealt with her matter, she immediately returned to Rosin Courtyard. At this time, she no longer kept her bravado, as she weakly said, “Help me into the room so that I can have a rest.” She had a bad stomach ache, that she didn’t even want to talk. In fact, her stomach had started to not feel comfortable after she came back from the palace yesterday, but she didn’t pay much attention to it. She thought it would be better after she had a rest, but she didn’t expect to have such severe pain today.

Old woman Hua, Ye Shi’s wet nurse, advised, “Da Nainai⁹da=eldest

/big, nainai=young mistress of the house, please send for a physician! Just to see if there is any problem!”

Ye Shi shook his head and said, “It’s not good to have a doctor on the second day of Lunar New Year. Please wait after the Lantern Festival before calling for a physician.” She hasn’t been able to give birth for more than two years, so she was very cautious in doing things, and she was afraid that her grandmother-in-law and her mother-in-law would not be happy because she hadn’t done everything well.

Old woman Hua was helpless as she said, “Then Miss should go to bed and have a rest. I’ll call for you when the meal is here.”

Ye Shi was also feeling quite uncomfortable at this moment, so she agreed to take a rest.

When Yuxi came out of the main courtyard, instead of returning directly to her own courtyard, she turned to Rosin Courtyard. At this time, Ye Shi hadn’t yet fallen asleep.

Once Ye Shi heard that Yuxi was coming, she didn’t get up but she instead asked a maid to bring in Yuxi into the room directly. Seeing Yuxi, she smiled and asked, “What brought Si Meimei⁷si=fourth, meimei=younger sister here?”

Yuxi noticed that Ye Shi’s complexion was much better than before and said, “Just now, I saw that Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law complexion wasn’t good. Are you not feeling well Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law?”

Ye Shi didn’t deny it, as she answered, “En, I’m feeling a bit unwell. I think I’ve been too tired recently.” To be a clan leader wife, not only one should be able to handle the household and manage its affairs, but also, one had to be filial to her parents-in-law, and also had good health. Ye Shi’s health is pretty good, but she was bad in enduring.

Yuxi frowned and questioned, “Why didn’t you call for a physician?”

Ye Shi smiled bitterly, “This is the second day of the Lunar New Year, how can I invite a physician over?”

As Yuxi heard what Ye Shi said, she finally understood Ye Shi’s taboo. If a physician was invited on the second day of Lunar New Year, superstitious people like Old Madam would feel that the luck of the year would also be affected. Although Yuxi could only snort at this kind of statement, no one could choose a day when one fell ill, and one couldn’t make it mandatory not to get sick during the New Year. Unfortunately, the Old Madam believed that her subordinates had to avoid talking about it and should not ever say anything about any illness.

Ye Shi looked at Yuxi’s tangled appearance and said with a smile, “Si Meimei⁷si=fourth, meimei=younger sister doesn’t have to worry. I’m just a bit tired and I only need to take a rest.”

Yuxi couldn’t say anything to counter. Although she had learned pharmacology and medical skill in secret, what she had learnt was only military tactics on paper¹¹Chinese idiom : idle theorizing. Furthermore, she didn’t have the courage to feel other people’s pulse and give any prescriptions. After thinking for a moment, Yuxi stood up and said, “Then Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law, have a good rest.”

After Yuxi left, old woman Hua turned to Ye Shi and said, “I heard that the Fourth Miss has learned pharmacology. Da Nainai⁹da=eldest

/big, nainai=young mistress of the house should have let Fourth Miss feel your pulse just now. It is better for you to know.”

Ye Shi shook her head and said, “Fourth Miss studied pharmacology, not medical skill. If I asked her to help me feel the pulse, wouldn’t it make things difficult for her? Say no more, I’m going to sleep.”

Yuxi walked along the road thinking for a long time. Ye Shi had always been very friendly to her since she married into the residence. Although this was for Eldest Aunt’s sake, Yuxi did not dislike it either. No one in this world could treat you well for no reason, unless there was a plot.

After racking her brain left and right, Yuxi felt that she should talk to her Eldest Aunt. She should give the decision making to her. If she already knew that Ye Shi was unwell and still didn’t ask for a physician, then she was at the end of her rope.

Qiu Shi listened to Yuxi’s words and felt very surprised, “Where did you see Ming-er wife* is ill?” Her daughter-in-law*¹²both are 媳婦 xífù but it has different meaning based on its usage in sentence. Though it refers to a same person. looked normal when she saw her just now.

Yuxi smiled, “Eldest Aunt forgot that I’ve studied pharmacology, thus I can still tell whether one looks good or bad. Just now, when I went to see Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law, her look was very pale. It was just that Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law has some scruples and does not dare to let Eldest Aunt know.”

Qiu Shi did not doubt Yuxi’s words. Over the years, she had taken the medicated diet prepared by Yuxi for her, and her body had now become much lighter. Of course, all the medicated meals were made under the guidance of Momo⁶wet nurse Quan. Yuxi had not yet completed her apprenticeship, so she did not dare make any complicated medicated meals. “It may be that she has been overworked for a while.” There were so many things to be done during Lunar New Year, that she herself used to lose several jin¹³a traditional Chinese unit of a catty, or 500g every time Lunar New Year had passed.

Yuxi thought it would be better to invite the physician to come to take a look, because Ye Shi had been touching her stomach at that time and it was obvious she was feeling uncomfortable. “Eldest Aunt, can you please ask a physician to take a look at Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law? If one doesn’t feel unwell, one must seek a physician in time, otherwise minor problems will become major problems.”

Qiu Shi didn’t agree, as she said, “Your Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law is not a child anymore. If she is not well, how come she doesn’t know how to ask for a physician herself? So don’t worry yourself over it.”

Yuxi thought for a moment and said, “Eldest Aunt, it’s because Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law is not a child, that she didn’t say it. If it was me, I would have told you. Eldest Aunt, it is better to ask for a physician to help in examining Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law! I can’t set my mind at ease until I can request a physician for her.”

Qiu Shi was both amused and angry at that time, “What does this have to do with you?”

Yuxi bluntly said, “Eldest Aunt didn’t see how Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law looked then. Her face was even looking pale. Eldest Aunt also knows that I have studied pharmacology, and from what I have seen, it is not the result of tiredness. Eldest Aunt, we can’t hide our illness, let alone delay our illness because it is the second day of the Lunar New Year!”

Under Yuxi’s great efforts in persuading her, Qiu Shi finally compromised, “Okay! I’ll send for Physician Bai to look at your Dasao¹⁰eldest sister-in-law. ” She finally promised to do so because, firstly, she loved Yuxi so much, and she was ready to pamper her; secondly, Ye Shi, this daughter-in-law of her, had not yet given birth to a grandson. She was worried that Ye Shi would not be able to give her a son because Ye Shi’s body had really gone wrong.