Ma Bing had a fever.
Yesterday, she got caught in the rain while seeing Yuan Yuan off. When she returned home, she felt chest tightness and skipped dinner, going to bed early. In the middle of the night, she started feeling dizzy and disoriented.
The first to notice was Wang Heng, who lived in the same courtyard.
Early in the morning, the old man noticed the door across from his was tightly shut, which struck him as odd.
At first, he thought it might be due to the continuous rainy days and that the young girl might be sleeping in. But when it was almost time for breakfast and there was still no sign of her, he became concerned.
He knocked on the door. After a long while, Ma Bing finally opened it, her cheeks flushed and her lips dry.
Usually vibrant and full of life, Ma Bing now looked listless, swaying like a withered eggplant.
Upon seeing her, Wang Heng reached out to feel her forehead and was startled. “You’ve got a fever! Go back to bed immediately!”
With that, he pushed her back inside, tucked her into bed, and proceeded to check her pulse.
Ma Bing lay on the kang bed, dazed and feeling as if half her soul had flown away, her mind sluggish.
When was the last time she had been sick?
Even she herself couldn’t remember.
After checking her pulse, Wang Heng furrowed his brows deeply. “You, you! So young, yet your pulse is like this!”
Excessive worry and liver qi stagnation!
Ma Bing blinked slowly. “It’s nothing, just water and soil incompatibility. I got caught in the rain yesterday and was careless.”
“Nonsense!” Wang Heng was so angry that his mustache stood up. He raised his hand to scold her but thought better of it and instead shouted a prescription across the courtyard. “Quickly prepare the medicine and bring it here!”
Upon hearing this, his two apprentices immediately got to work.
Since this was an herb garden, common medicinal ingredients were all available, making things convenient.
Ma Bing: “…”
She knew that no matter what she said, the pulse could not be deceived.
She had once used this method to help the Kaifeng Prefecture identify suspects. Now, it seemed the tides had turned, and it was another doctor who had exposed her.
Suddenly recalling how Huo Ping and others had once feared, Ma Bing trembled slightly as she stretched out her arm. “M-More licorice, please.”
“No!” Wang Heng glared at her with a stern face. “You’re a doctor yourself, and now you’re afraid of bitterness? What were you thinking earlier?”
As for licorice, he would add two liang of Coptis instead!
Ma Bing could only stare helplessly at his outburst, thinking to herself that with such a temper, it was fortunate he had retired early from the Imperial Medical Service; otherwise, he might have been beaten up one day.
“Two liang?” Yuan Pei’s voice came from outside the courtyard gate.
Ma Bing weakly replied, “You’re the two liang, and your whole family is two liang.”
Wang Heng was so amused he almost laughed. “Still have the energy to quip? Then you won’t die from the fever.”
With that, he strode outside, blocking the person at the gate with his arms akimbo. “What are you yelling for? Don’t come here for a few days!”
“Eh?” Yuan Pei scratched his head. “She’s not available?”
Xie Yu, who had just turned in from another path, sensed something was off and peeked into the courtyard. “What’s wrong with Miss Ma?”
“She has a fever and needs to rest for a couple of days.” Wang Heng glanced at him. At least this one showed concern, unlike the other guy who only knew how to eat!
“A fever?!” several people exclaimed in unison.
Wang Heng raised his eyebrows. “What? Only you guys are allowed to get injured, but she can’t get sick?”
Yuan Pei: “…”
Xie Yu asked, “Is it serious?”
He knew she had gone to see Yuan Yuan off yesterday. Had she forgotten to bring an umbrella?
No, she wasn’t careless like that.
Perhaps it was more of an emotional issue.
Actually, he wanted to check on her personally, but this was a young lady’s private room. Wang Heng was old enough to be her grandfather and a physician, so it was fine for him to go in. But for Xie Yu…
It would be improper.
Wang Heng pondered briefly. “As long as the fever breaks within the next two days, it should be fine.”
What worried him was a persistent high fever—many people had been ruined by it.
Actually, judging from the pulse, aside from the fever, getting sick might even have some benefits.
A person is like a bow. That foolish child must have been carrying many burdens in her heart. These years, she had clearly been holding herself too tightly. If she held on too much, eventually the bowstring would snap, and everything would be ruined.
Occasionally getting sick and resting for a few days was like maintaining the bowstring, naturally prolonging its lifespan.
Xie Yu immediately said, “I have some Qing Liang Pills. Would they help?”
Wang Heng was delighted. “Of course! They would be very effective.”
Qing Liang Pills were palace medicine for reducing fevers. For common colds and fevers, one pill would usually work.
Xie Yu nodded. “Alright then, thank you for your care. I’ll go back and get them right away.”
With that, he glanced toward the room once more before leaving in a hurry, his robe trailing almost straight behind him as he disappeared down the road in an instant.
Yuan Pei was stunned for a moment and then followed.
Soon after, the medicine was ready. Wang Heng entered and called Ma Bing to get up and take it.
“Get up and take it so you can sleep comfortably.”
Still half-asleep, Ma Bing mumbled, “If you hadn’t woken me, I would have been dreaming again.”
Before even opening her eyes, she could already smell the bitter, almost pungent odor. Her empty stomach churned, almost bringing up bile.
Pinching her nose, she said unhappily, “I’m strong. Maybe drinking a couple bowls of ginger soup and sweating it out would be enough… Can I skip it?”
Wang Heng held a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other, his expression impassive. “Two choices: drink it yourself, or I use the spoon?”
Ma Bing immediately reached for the bowl.
It was bitter enough already. Drinking it sip by sip—was he trying to kill her?
But the smell was truly eye-watering!
As Ma Bing leaned forward, she immediately felt nauseous, tears streaming down her face. Her already weak hands trembled, and the brownish medicinal liquid in the bowl almost spilled out.
Tsking, Wang Heng said, “Good medicine tastes bitter. Come on!”
He was a staunch believer in the saying “Good medicine tastes bitter.” He firmly believed that all medicine has some toxicity, so it was best not to add anything unnecessary, which meant many common herbs used to improve taste had no place here.
Ma Bing, feverish and already dazed by the smell of the medicine, gritted her teeth and forced herself to drink it, at one point thinking she might die right there.
No, she still had great tasks to accomplish…
Dying here would be too shameful!
She pinched the Neiguan acupoint to suppress the nausea and, like a green caterpillar, crawled weakly to the inner side of the kang bed. She fumbled in her small bag and took out a sour apricot candy to suck on.
The sour and sweet taste instantly overpowered the bitterness of the medicine, and Ma Bing felt her heart relax, almost moved to tears.
Ah, it’s sugar!
Wang Heng: “…”
Could it really taste that good?
The old man collected the bowl, shaking his head. “Nowadays, the young can’t endure bitterness at all.”
Ma Bing lay weakly under the covers, about to speak, but almost spat out the medicine again and quickly closed her mouth.
Her hair was loose, her cheeks flushed from the fever. Her usual sharpness seemed smoothed out, making her look unusually docile.
Looking at her, Wang Heng felt as if he were seeing his own young granddaughter far away, and his tone softened a bit.
He went out with the bowl for a moment and returned holding a wax pill.
“What’s this now?” Ma Bing thought to herself. Only after truly taking the medicine prescribed by Wang Heng did she fully understand why everyone avoided him. Now, whenever he pulled something out, her heart quivered in fear.
Wang Heng gestured outward, exaggerating slightly. “When you fell ill, someone even dug out their prized possession from the bottom of the trunk.”
Not quite “from the bottom of the trunk,” but it was indeed rare.
Don’t underestimate this small pill; in critical moments, it could save a life. The ingredients required were numerous and unusual, and the preparation methods were extremely strict.
Nowadays, in the palace, there were only three or five imperial physicians qualified to prepare it.
Whose “bottom of the trunk”?
The fever slowed her thinking. Ma Bing stared at the wax pill’s shell for a while before noticing the character “Qing” written on it. She paused before realizing, “This is Qing Liang Pill?”
If she remembered correctly, Qing Liang Pills were secret palace medicines. Even high-ranking officials like Tu Yao could only receive them as imperial gifts during festivals. Who in the Kaifeng Prefecture could just casually produce one?
Seeing that she had figured it out, Wang Heng chuckled and crushed the wax pill, taking out a honey pill the size of a longan and bringing it to her lips.
Old age brings wisdom. In recent days, he had observed the subtle interactions between the two young people. Zhi Zhi, usually so composed, had run so hard that he was out of breath, clearly deeply worried.
If it had been a day earlier, Ma Bing might have felt touched, but yesterday’s incident with Yuan Yuan suddenly reminded her:
Unknowingly, she had already become deeply connected to so many people.
For ordinary people, this would naturally be a good thing, but for her…
She was different from everyone else. Even her motives for coming to Kaifeng were not pure. Her past and future were shrouded in blood-red mist, filled with deep hatred.
Everything others saw was what she wanted them to see. The current laughter and joy were nothing but illusions.
One day, when the truth could no longer be hidden, this false happiness would instantly shatter.
When they realized they had been deceived all along, what would they think?
These few months of happiness were stolen, and she was a shameful deceiver and thief.
But it was too cold in winter, and the people here were too kind. Over time, she couldn’t help but crave this warmth, couldn’t help deceiving herself into thinking she was part of this place…
But how could a deceiver and thief filled with hatred deserve to taste love?
She had no way back, nor could she have a way back.
Looking at Ma Bing, who was still frowning even in her sleep, Wang Heng sighed.
The medicine took effect, and Ma Bing slept dazedly the whole day, waking up twice to take more medicine before falling asleep again.
She had many dreams, dreaming of the distant city of Liangzhou, the endless flames and sounds of battle on the day the city fell, and the once-clear blue sky shattering like ice.
She dreamed of her parents and older brother.
The dream was so real that she almost felt their fingers touching her face, soft and warm.
But then a wind carrying sand blew through, and everything before her vanished, leaving only an endless expanse of blood.
Her chest ached intensely, the strong smell of blood filling her nose. She looked down and saw a sword tip piercing there, blood dripping down…
Ma Bing suddenly woke up.
Her eyes wide open, she stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily.
Sweat soaked the bedding; she felt as if she had just been pulled out of water.
It was just a dream.
Her heart pounded under her palm, beat after beat.
There was a one-inch scar there. Just a little deeper, and even a god couldn’t save her.
She covered her eyes with the back of her hand, slowly calming her breathing.
How could she forget such hatred!
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she slowly exhaled and, when she opened her eyes again, had returned to her usual calm.
Indeed, the Qing Liang Pill was effective. Although the fever had been fierce, it had been suppressed.
But after a day of fever and not eating, her limbs were still weak and sore.
Nevertheless, Ma Bing still managed to change the bedding and went to the inner room to boil water, took a simple bath, and changed her clothes.
Feeling refreshed.
Her hands still trembled slightly as Ma Bing slowly dried her hair with a towel, only then realizing that it was already dark outside.
It was still raining outside, the fine raindrops hitting the window paper, making a pattering sound.
She had slept the whole day and felt a bit stuffy, so she went to open a window. A cool, moist breeze blew in.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she looked up, she saw someone standing at the courtyard entrance.
It was Xie Yu.
He probably hadn’t expected her to suddenly open the window either. In the brief moment their eyes met, a fleeting expression of surprise appeared on his face.
The courtyard was lit with lamps, the yellow candlelight swaying with the wind, creating circles of light in the rain, adding a touch of romance.
The entire rose wall was soaked, the sweet floral fragrance almost tangible, clinging to their bodies and making them feel dizzy.
Xie Yu tightened his grip on the umbrella handle, took a step forward into the herb garden.
It was unclear how long he had been standing there, but the hem of his robe was already soaked, appearing dark like the sea under the lamplight.
“You… are you better?” Xie Yu stopped a few steps away from the window, with a string of raindrops separating them like two different worlds.
It had been a whole day. Although Wang Heng kept saying she was “much better” and “nothing serious,” he couldn’t feel at ease without seeing her himself.
Ma Bing placed her right hand on the windowsill, her hand at her side slowly tightening. “Mm.”
She shouldn’t have let him come, she thought.
But… her usual self-control always became precarious the moment she saw him.
Xie Yu couldn’t help taking another step forward, blocking the wind, and carefully examining her complexion. “You haven’t eaten anything all day. Aren’t you hungry?”
She seemed thinner, as if her eye sockets had deepened.
Ma Bing was about to step back when he suddenly mentioned this. Instinctively, she nodded, then immediately shook her head after regaining her senses.
“I can’t eat.”
Indeed, she was hungry, but she really couldn’t eat.
It had been a whole day, and she had already drunk three bowls of medicine. Now, every burp was bitter and sour. How could she have any appetite for food?
Xie Yu pursed his lips slightly, seemingly somewhat regretful.
He had never worried about anyone before, and now speaking these words felt somewhat awkward.
Others always said that the young lord was quick-witted and well-read, but today, he couldn’t even say something decent…
He took out a small paper-wrapped package from his sleeve. “Master Wang’s medicine is always extremely bitter. You… have some honeyed dried fruit.”
He remembered she loved sweets, so he had impulsively bought some candied chestnuts from the street earlier.
He had never bought such snacks before. At the time, he was overwhelmed by the choices, and the shopkeeper had said that girls loved this kind of thing, and it was perfect for giving to a loved one.
“Loved one”… such a sweet term.
A complex mix of sweetness and bitterness surged in Ma Bing’s heart.
This emotion churned and boiled in her chest, swelling and threatening to erupt.
But she couldn’t.
She looked at him and then raised her hand to close the window.
“I don’t like them anymore,” she steadied herself and awkwardly bowed slightly. “I haven’t thanked you yet for the medicine, Your Excellency. It was so valuable that I fear I can never repay you.”
The previously built-up tenderness instantly dissipated.
Xie Yu’s heart sank.
She had never bowed to him like this before.
It was as if… she were facing a stranger.
Just as Xie Yu was about to speak, Ma Bing smiled. “Your Excellency is busy with official duties. I’m already fine, so there’s no need for you to come again.”
Meeting someone three times brings some affection; not meeting… would be best.
After all, she had publicly declared herself a physician. Just a physician. Why get involved in solving cases like others?
Going around like this, she had only ended up getting herself entangled.
Such words, such a smile, made Xie Yu feel as if he had returned to the day they first met months ago.
No, even back then, there had been more deliberate distance than now.
As the window shut, Xie Yu’s hand suddenly pressed against the window frame.
Fine raindrops soaked his sleeve as they trickled down his wrist, but he seemed not to notice. He slightly lowered his eyes, staring straight at her. “Can you… stop pushing me away all the time?”
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