Chapter 6 Lucky Star

  That evening, Su Yuxiang came back as usual to visit Yao Fengge's condition. Yao Fengge was still lying in bed drowsily. Xianghua said that three hours ago, the third lady woke up and drank half a bowl of clear water.

  Su Yuxiang stood in the house for a while before leaving. Under the eaves, he casually asked: "How has Er Gu Niang been these past few days?"

  Under the eaves, a little maid in a cyan blue apron hurriedly bowed and replied: "In response to Master's words, Second Young Miss usually comes over after breakfast and after her noon nap. In the evening, if Third Madam doesn't have anything urgent, she generally won't come over."

  So that's why I haven't seen her coming back these past few nights. Su Yuxiang's eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth before walking away.

  On the twelfth day of Yao Yan's visit to the Dinghou Mansion, Yao Fengge's periods of wakefulness during the daytime had clearly increased, and she was able to lean against her pillow and chat with Yao Yan about everyday matters. Her condition had shown obvious improvement, and she had begun eating various liquid foods such as millet porridge, swallow's nest congee, and silver ear soup. Behind Li Nian's back, who knows how many times she silently recited the Western Heavenly Buddha Tathagata Guanyin, and she even regarded Yao Yan as a benefactor.

  In the past ten or so days, as usual, the imperial physician came to take Yao Fengge's pulse, but was blocked by Li Nian'er each time. Li Nian'er handed the imperial physician a purse filled with silver notes and said apologetically: "Our master said when he was clear-headed that his illness looked terrible and he didn't want to see anyone. It's just a matter of dragging out the days, and whether or not you take his pulse is just going through the motions, please forgive us."

  The imperial physician was just going through the motions, and since he didn't have to take a pulse, he got his silver and left happily.

  In private, Li asked Yaoyanyu why she didn't let the imperial physician take her mistress's pulse. Yaoyanyu only countered with a question: Do you think those imperial physicians can cure your sister's illness? You've followed your sister for so many years, don't you feel that her illness is suspicious?

  Mrs. Li suddenly realized and never dared to be rude to Yao Yan again.

  July is a rainy season. And this year's rain seems to be particularly abundant, the northern capital and surrounding areas will have a heavy rain every one or two days. This weather is actually more comfortable than June, the air after the rain is very good, and it's not sultry.

  That morning, Yao Yanyu got up early and walked a few laps in the small courtyard. The night had just rained, and the flowers and grasses in the yard were all adorned with sparkling water droplets. A tree of jasmine flowers fell to the ground, and even the mud was stained with rouge color.

  Yao Yan was not the kind of person who would cry at the sight of fallen flowers, she didn't care about it at all. She simply stretched out her arms lightly and breathed in the cool and moist air, feeling refreshed in her heart and lungs.

  Wet nurse Feng came over from the front yard, saw Yao Yanyu standing alone under the honeysuckle tree, and walked over to say in a low voice: "Miss, Third Madame has woken up and says she feels better today than yesterday. She asks me to invite you over."

  "Good." Yao Yan also didn't say much, opened her eyes and let the wet nurse come forward to help her tidy up her collar and clothes, then went ahead.

  Yao Fengge was leaning on the bed, with Shanhu holding a white jade comb to help her detangle her hair, and beside her, the maid Xiupei who had accompanied Shanhu as a dowry servant was serving her mouthwash. Seeing Yao Yanyu enter, Yao Fengge spat out the clear salt water in her mouth into the spittoon and smiled: "Sister is here."

  "Sister, you're looking much better today." So-called inspection, inquiry, and palpation, Yao Yan smiled and walked up to sit beside Yao Fengge's bed, holding her wrist to take her pulse quietly.

  After a moment, Yao Fengge asked with expectation: "How?" In the past few days, Nai Niang and Shanhu had slowly told Yao Fengge's words to her, although she felt unbelievable, but the desire to survive made Yao Fengge ignore many things, after all, who would not want to live.

  Twenty days of hard work have not been in vain, Yao Yanyu smiled more deeply: "Sister can see the imperial physician outside." Call the imperial physician to diagnose the pulse, through the imperial physician's mouth tell Ding Houfu and all the people in the mansion that San Niangzi will not die.

  "Really?" Yao Fengge was overjoyed and grasped Yao Yanyu's hand tightly.

  Yao Yan nodded and said in a low voice: "I still hope that sister can fulfill me and let me out of the house at the right time."

  "Sister..." Yao Fengge immediately retracted her smile, looking worried, "You've grown up with the finest clothes and food since you were young, how could I bear to let you suffer in such a place? Since you're here in the capital, I must take care of your daily life on behalf of Father and Mother."

  Yao Yan knew that Yao Fengge was still not fully recovered from her illness and couldn't bear to leave her, so she smiled gently: "Sister, don't worry, for the next month I won't be leaving the Hou Mansion. Although your illness has shown some improvement, it's still not completely healed, how could I possibly leave at a time like this? My intention in saying this is only to get sister to start thinking about arrangements for my younger sister. In the future, if sister needs anything, just say the word and I'll definitely do it without hesitation."

  "You're getting more and more willful as you get older." Yao Fengge's weak joke was accompanied by a smile as beautiful as a pear blossom after the rain, with an unusual beauty.

  Yao Yan's eyes widened in surprise, this sister is really beautiful, still recovering from a serious illness, yet her weak smile is so captivating. It's just like what the book said about Xi Shi holding her heart, it must be something like this.

  "Third Master has arrived!" The aunties sweeping the yard greeted him in surprise: "Good morning, Third Master." Then, from inside the house, a chorus of maidservants' voices echoed with repeated greetings.

  Yao Yan's words made her pause, and she slightly furrowed her brow.

  Yao Fengge was also taken aback. Since she fell ill, Su Yuxiang had been sleeping in the study and only came to her room at night to attend to her needs. The three young masters of the Hou Mansion all got up early to pay their respects to the eldest princess and then to Lord and Lady Hou, and after breakfast, they had many official duties to attend to, so it was unlikely that they would come to her room. Why did he make an exception today?

  In the silence, Su Yuxiang had already entered and saw Yao Yanyu sitting on the edge of the bed holding hands with Yao Fengge, so she smiled: "Sister is here."

  Yao Yan got up and bowed: "Good morning, Third Master."

  Yao Fengge leaned into Shanhu's arms and smiled weakly at Su Yuxiang: "Third Master, why did you come so early? I'm seriously ill here..."

  Su Yuxiang sat down in the seat where Yao Yan had been sitting, reached out to hold Yao Fengge's hand, and carefully looked at her complexion: "Indeed, it is because of your sister's care and guidance that you have improved so much?"

  "It's not that, Coral and the others all say that little sister is a lucky star." Yao Fengge still smiled weakly, and remained silent about Yao Yan treating her illness.

  Su Yu Xiang smiled and turned to look at Yao Yan Yu standing beside him, saying: "Sister is indeed a lucky star. Big brother has had no news for over two months, and grandmother and mother are both anxious. Sister arrived at our mansion just a few days ago, and big brother's triumphant return was announced in the capital, and last night there was another message that said big brother will be back in the capital soon."

  "Really?" Yao Fengge was very surprised, and there were also a few sparks in her eyes.

  The Crown Prince Ding led the army to conquer the West last autumn, but the war has been stagnant with no results. There were no big victories, and small ones were useless. The battle had lasted for almost a year when I heard that they suffered a defeat recently, losing many soldiers and horses. The officials in the court and the Emperor were anxious, not to mention the Empress Dowager and Madame Lu who were worried to death.

  Yao Yanyu rolled her eyes in her heart, thinking that Su San Ye was really good at talking nonsense. What did she, a mere woman, have to do with the imperial court's great victory? If this got out, what would be the consequences? Wasn't he bringing trouble upon her?!