Chapter 17: Cherishing Literature

  In the afternoon, Qionglanju is quiet and serene, with white walls and ink-like tiles.

  Xian Wen just woke up.

  She has been resting quietly since her illness, sleeping a lot every day and not getting up until the afternoon.

  The warm sunlight of April sifts through the window lattice and casts a complex sparse shadow on the dressing table.

  Xī Wén sat on the embroidered stool in front of her dresser, letting her maid comb her hair. Her gaze passed over the half-opened window frame and fell into the courtyard.

  The courtyard wall of Qionglouju is not high, covered with green vines. The vines, gently caressed by the sunlight, are swaying in the wind, stirring up green ripples. Banana plants are planted at the corner of the wall, and the thick banana leaves are swaying in the green shade.

  In the courtyard, two pear trees were also in full bloom with crystal-like pear flowers. The dense flowers were like a tree covered with white snow, and also like a cluster of silver-colored jade.

  Regrettably, Wen's slender wrist supported her chin as she stared blankly at the pear tree in the courtyard, her dense eyelashes framing a languid yet charming gaze.

  "...Wait a moment, I'll go pick some pear blossoms and put them in a vase." Xi Wen instructed the maid behind her.

  Her eyes were clear and bright, her voice soft and gentle. The golden sunlight of the afternoon fell on her eyebrows, making her expression seem like a tapestry of flowing clouds.

  The maid replied, "Yes."

  Xīwén likes simple and unadorned things.

  Two people were talking, and the maid had already helped Xiwén to comb her high bun, with two pure white pearl hairpins inserted at the temples, simple and elegant.

  Another maid brought out a few aprons and skirts.

  She chose a white crane-patterned Ru grass jacket and a moon-white embroidered skirt. Her skin was as smooth as snow, her clothes were simple and unadorned, and her makeup was light. Under the plain face and white shirt, however, she exuded a fiery passion, elegant and charming.

  In the courtyard, there came a knock at the door.

  Xiwén glanced at Yāo Niáng: "Go and see who it is..."

  The maid said yes, and quickly ran downstairs to open the courtyard gate.

  Xianwen herself also attached to the dressing table, looking down.

  The visitors were a slender woman wearing a peacock blue jacket and a young man wearing a Buddhist-style cyan silk robe.

  Her lips curved slightly upwards, revealing a faint smile.

  It was her mother, Madame Ruan, and Chen Gongzi who had arrived.

  Soon, Wan Niang and Chen Gongzi went upstairs.

  Xiwen let the maid help her tidy up her skirt and came out to see the guests.

  The Chen Gongzi who came was not Chen Jing but Chen Yu and Chen Qi.

  "Master Chen." Xiwen bowed to Chen Qi, greeting him with courtesy. Her figure was slender and elegant, her voice soft and sweet, and Chen Qi's heart immediately skipped a beat, his pulse racing wildly.

  This is Xiwen, he has been thinking about her day and night. It's already the second time Chen Qi has seen Xiwen, but he still feels very nervous.

  "Miss Wen, I've come to deliver the prescription." Chen Qi was nervous and didn't even bother with small talk, getting straight to the point.

  Last time Chen Jiong sneaked into the consultation room, he gave Xi Wen a check-up. I don't know what Chen Jiong said, but as a result, Wan Niang liked Chen Jiong's prescription and used it on Xi Wen. After taking one dose of medicine, Xi Wen passed out black dry stool the next day, and the internal heat evil was reduced by more than half. He became clear-headed and regained consciousness.

  He drank two doses in a row, and unfortunately, Wen was no longer dizzy with red eyes.

  Wan Niang was overjoyed and hastily asked Chen Xuan to make another diagnosis.

  Chen Jiong feared that his elder sister would find out about this matter, and thinking of Chen Qi's longing for Xiwen, he opened a prescription at home, handed it to Chen Qi, and asked Chen Qi to deliver it to Wenyuan Pavilion.

  Then Chen Qi told Chen Xuan about Xiwen's illness again.

  Chen Qixi repeatedly bowed to Chen Jing, calling out "good brother": "Brother, in the future I will repay you by being a cow or a horse for you!"

  Chen Jie sent over the prescription, and after taking it for six or seven days, Wen's condition improved by 70-80%, she no longer had wild delusions, her critical period passed, and she regained her former gentle and quiet demeanor, although her body was still weak.

  These days, Xiwen has been recuperating from illness.

  Many kind guests came to visit him when he was ill, but Wen refused them all.

  Today is Chen Qi's second time giving Xiwén a prescription.

  Xiwen smiled and slightly raised her wrist, taking over the prescription from Chen Qi's hand.

  She took a closer look, and this prescription was almost the same as the one Chen Qi had brought last time. It was still "Xiao Cheng Qi Tang", composed of rhubarb, magnolia officinalis, and fructus aurantii, which is used to dispel heat and treat yangming fuli.

  This time, Dahuang's weight was reduced somewhat.

  The last prescription had five qian of rhubarb, but this time there are only three and a half qian.

  "It's almost the same as last time." Xiwen looked up, her eyelashes slightly raised, her eyes sparkling like ice and clear water, smiling softly at Chen Qi.

  Chen Qi looked and her face turned red again.

  He felt embarrassed about himself, how could he be so awkward in front of this woman? He was also a veteran of love affairs.

  He gets nervous and can't speak.

  Wan Niang also took it over, looked at it for a few moments, and said: "Indeed, the difference is negligible. Seventh Young Master, when will you come again to re-examine? Even the best doctor can't just rely on oral descriptions to re-examine, right?"

  Although Chen Jing didn't come in person, he relied on Chen Qi's retelling and was able to cure Xi Wen of this strange illness by about 70-80%, earning Bao Niang's admiration.

  But he should come and take a look himself.

  Only then can Wan Niang truly be at ease.

  "Boss said that after he finishes his medicine, he will come to see you." Chen Qi said.

  "That's the best." Yuanni smiled lightly.

  Chen Qi also smiled along with them.

  He stood in front of Xi Wen, his mind a complete muddle, as if he was in a fog, and had lost all his usual cleverness and vigor, becoming clumsy and wooden, just like a fool.

  The more he wanted to exert himself, the less strength he had.

  "Where is the divine doctor Chen Gongzi?" Xiwen asked Chen Qi.

  Her voice was clear and lazy, yet charmingly entwining, Chen Qi's ears were numb from listening.

  Chen Qi's heart skipped a beat again, and he tensed up, just like a bamboo tube pouring out beans, without any reserve or restraint, rattling off Chen Jing's family background: "...... His sister-in-law is counting on him to pursue his studies, so that in the future he can become a jinshi gentleman like his older brother, and then go on to become a high-ranking official.

  "If his sister-in-law knew he came to Qinglou, wasting time, she would scold him. Last time, it was me who dragged him here..."

  He also wanted to show off a bit and make Xiwen and Yu'nan think that Chen Qi had contributed to Chen Jing's cure of Xiwen's illness.

  "He's still afraid of his sister-in-law?" Xī Wén interrupted Chen Qi's words, her tone soft and gentle, but with a hint of cunning in her expression, her eyes sparkling as if she had discovered something interesting.

  Chen Qi didn't know how to respond anymore.

  Does Chen Jing fear his sister-in-law? Chen Jing gave Chen Qi the opportunity to stand in front of the woman he admired and speak, which was a kindness to Chen Qi. Chen Qi cannot forget this kindness and betray Chen Jing by slandering him behind his back, saying that Chen Jing fears women.

  Afraid of women, always appear silly.

  Aren't you afraid? What you just said sounds like it was made up. If you leave an impression on Wenyang and Xiwu that you're a liar, how can you face Xiwu in the future?

  Embarrassed and at a loss, Chen Qi was speechless.

  "The Chen family is strict and traditional, a family of scholars. Elder sister-in-law is like a mother to me, and since Dr. Chen is still young, she naturally needs to be strictly disciplined in order to become accomplished." Yuanni smiled and helped to mediate.

  "Yes, yes." Chen Qi hastily agreed with him.

  Regretful smile.

  After saying a few words, Xi Wen put away the prescription and thanked Chen Qi with a bow.

  The most polite, Chen Qicai left from Qionglan Residence.

  As he walked out of Qiong Lan Ju, Chen Qi let out a long sigh. A gentle breeze blew by, and his mind cleared up a bit. Thinking back to his performance at Qiong Lan Ju, he couldn't help but feel regretful.

  What can Wenxian do to me?

  I had saved up so much money just to see Wenwen, but it was all in vain. I had been struggling for over a year. Now that I can see her so easily and even talk to her at such close distance, why am I still so nervous!

  "Chen Mo, you're really a good-for-nothing!" Chen Qi cursed himself.

  He also wanted to be a confidant of Wen's. How could it be possible with such tension and fear?

  Chen Qiyue felt more and more regretful.

  I don't know why, but when Xiwen speaks, her tone is always so gentle and soft, it makes people feel timid and respectful, unlike other women.

  After leaving Wenyun Building, Chen Qi went directly to Qiwan Lane and told Chen Xuan about the situation with Xiwen.

  He himself couldn't understand either, because he didn't dare look at the girl properly.

  Chen Jiong listened and nodded slightly.

  Chen Qi also felt surprised: "Just like this, you can determine what disease Xiwen girl is?"

  "I have a count in mind." Chen Jiong smiled and said, "Miss Wen's complexion is much better than last time, isn't it?"

  Chen Qi nodded.

  It's strange to think about it, Chen Qi asked Chen Jing: "Central and, how did you learn medicine after all?"

  "Reading books." Chen Jiong smiled and said, "I have medical books. I'll lend them to Seventh Brother for half a year, and you can also learn medical skills. Do you want to read?"

  "Let's just forget it!" Chen Qi shook his head repeatedly, "I'm your seventh brother, not someone who loves reading books. If I had that kind of heart, I would have taken the imperial exam to become a scholar long ago."

  "But if you put it that way, studying medicine seems quite easy and simple..."

  Chen Qi curled his lips and from then on had a slight disdain for medical skills, thinking it was quite easy to learn.

  Chen Jiong smiled on one side.

  "When are you going to go for a follow-up examination again?" Chen Qi didn't know what Chen Jing was laughing at and didn't bother to ask, he just said, "Yuanniang seems to be a bit worried. She says, how can we have a follow-up examination if we don't see each other?"

  "Let's wait for five days." Chen Jing said, "The medicine that Xi Wen gave to the young lady can be taken for five days. After she finishes taking it, I will go and check on her again. Even if Wan Niang doesn't look for me, I will still look for her. Seventh Brother, do you still remember the promise made at Yuankun Pavilion? I want to find Wan Niang to fulfill that promise."

  Chen Qi was stunned for a moment.

  Promise?

  Who cured Xiwen girl, then married off Xiwen girl, what about the promise of dowry from Wanjun Building?

  Chen Qi felt a pang in his heart. He couldn't marry Xi Wen himself, but he also didn't want her to be taken by someone else. If she were to be married off, they wouldn't even be able to see each other.

  "Wan Niang is quite formidable!" Chen Qi splashed cold water on Chen Jing, "She has a wide network of connections in Wang County. She doesn't want to marry Xi Wen to you, and there's nothing you can do about it."

  Chen Jiong just smiled and didn't argue back.

  "....You little rascal, you really want to marry Xiwen?" Chen Qi saw that Chen Jing didn't respond and thought he still had a chance, so he continued, "There are many people pursuing Xiwen, even if you manage to marry her, you won't be able to keep her."

  Chen Jiong smiled again.

  Chen Qi Bai gave him a glance and said: "What's so funny? You're having wild fantasies."

  Chen Jing didn't answer him, but instead asked: "Next time I go for a follow-up examination, will Seventh Brother go or not?"

  "Go, go." Chen Qi hastily said. Then he thought for a moment and asked, "You're not thinking of asking me to help you out by pressuring Ruan Wan to fulfill her promise and marry Xi Wen, are you? I won't be helping you with that."

  Chen Jiong burst out laughing.