Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 144
Chapter 144 - Requesting an Imperial Physician
The carriage soon arrived at the gates of the Xie residence.
Stepping down from the carriage, Yun Chu raised her head to look at the plaque above the main entrance. These two characters had been written in Xie Jingyu's own hand, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
She thought back to her past life. After Xie Shian was named the top scorer in the imperial examinations, the Xie family had moved to a new estate—purchasing a sprawling five-courtyard mansion in a place in the capital where every inch of land was worth a fortune, located in an alley not far from the Yun family. At that time, it was Xie Shian who personally wielded the brush to write the characters "Xie Residence," drawing countless people to come and offer their congratulations.
The Xie family's days of flourishing splendor still seemed fresh before her eyes.
However, in this lifetime, everything was completely different...
Yun Chu crossed the main threshold and walked inside. No sooner had she returned to her courtyard than an elderly maid came forward to report, "Madam, the Mistress asks that you pay her a visit."
Without any fuss, Yun Chu changed into a fresh set of clothes, drank a cup of tea, and only then made her way to Madam Yuan's courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, she saw her father-in-law, Xie Zhongcheng, was also there.
Xie Zhongcheng's expression was rather displeased.
When he sent someone yesterday to Shengju to invite this daughter-in-law over, the people at Shengju first claimed the Madam was absent, and finally informed them that the Madam would not be returning for the night.
In all his years, this was the first time he had ever witnessed a married woman staying away from home overnight.
Had the Yun family never taught their daughter the meaning of wifely virtue?
Yet he dared not voice these grievances aloud and could only bottle them up inside, which naturally left his complexion looking quite grim.
"Chu'er is back," Madam Yuan said mildly. "How were the matters handled at the estate? Was everything smooth?"
Yun Chu nodded. "Is there something Mother needs?"
A trace of awkwardness flickered across Madam Yuan's face. She glanced at her husband before speaking, "With September just around the corner, An-ge'er will soon enter the Imperial Academy. Since our Xie family is of humble origins, An-ge'er will surely not receive much regard from the instructors once he enters. Your father-in-law and I have been discussing this—what sort of gifts should we send to the Imperial Academy's instructors? What do you think, Chu'er?"
Yun Chu's expression remained indifferent. "Mother can handle such minor matters however you see fit."
Madam Yuan nudged Xie Zhongcheng with her elbow.
Keeping his hands clasped behind his back, Xie Zhongcheng said coldly, "There are quite a few instructors at the Imperial Academy, and sending gifts will require a substantial sum of silver. As An-ge'er's mother, you should foot this bill."
Although the Xie family originated from humble scholarly roots, they weren't actually particularly poor. Because the Xie family held an illustrious reputation back in their Jizhou hometown, many wealthy households registered their farmlands under the Xie family's name, allowing them to collect thousands of taels in rent every year simply by sitting back. Over so many years, they had accumulated tens of thousands of taels in savings.
Yet after the Old Mistress passed away, countless people in the capital gossiped and pointed fingers. To save face, the Xie family hosted a lavish funeral, spending every last coin of the savings they had accumulated over the years down to the last copper.
Now, the Xie family was caught in a season of troubles, having become the laughingstock of the capital during tea and leisure hours. Only if An-ge'er made something of himself could the Xie family shake off these humiliations...
An-ge'er's future must not be delayed under any circumstances.
Xie Zhongcheng continued, "We must prepare gifts worth roughly two thousand taels for each instructor before those teachers will pay any heed to An-ge'er."
A mocking curve touched Yun Chu's lips.
Having fallen to such a state, the Xie family truly had no choice but to pin all their hopes on Xie Shian.
What a pity that Xie Shian...
Seeing that she remained silent, Xie Zhongcheng's expression darkened. "What? Are you unwilling?"
"It's not that I'm unwilling," Yun Chu sighed. "I only have about five or six thousand taels on hand, which I was keeping to hire an imperial physician for my husband's illness. Since Father has put it this way, let's postpone hiring the imperial physician for now and prepare the gifts for An-ge'er's instructors first."
At these words, Xie Zhongcheng fell silent.
Over the past two days, he had visited Xie Jingyu's quarters numerous times, watching helplessly as this son grew weaker and weaker by the day. Despite taking so many medicines, none of them had the slightest effect, and he wished he could take his son's place.
An imperial physician was certainly far superior to those quacks on the streets, yet the Xie family had no way of summoning one.
If this daughter-in-law was willing to step forward, it would naturally be for the best.
"Chu'er, can an imperial physician truly be invited to pulse-diagnose Xie's residence?" Madam Yuan asked with great delight. "Let's set An-ge'er's matter aside for the moment and treat Jingyu's illness first."
Yun Chu replied, "We naturally cannot summon the imperial physicians from within the palace, but I do know an elderly retired imperial physician. Many first-rank noble households seek out this old physician when they fall ill—it simply requires spending a bit of silver."
Madam Yuan turned right back around, fetched her own jewelry box, and fished out a money pouch to hand to Yun Chu. "Chu'er, Jingyu is still young. You must cure his illness so that our Xie family will not fall."
Yun Chu accepted the silver. "Mother, rest assured, my husband will be fine."
After she departed, Madam Yuan remarked, "Once Jingyu's illness is cured, he will surely find a way to pave the path for An-ge'er. Let's not fret over this anymore."
Xie Zhongcheng sighed.
For now, that was the only course of action.
Yun Chu handed the money pouch to Tingfeng and sent her out on an errand. By dusk, Tingfeng returned to the Xie residence accompanied by an elderly man.
Xie Jingyu was lying on the couch while Concubine Jiang served him medicine. He felt as though he spent all day and night taking medicine, yet his physique showed not the slightest sign of improvement.
Watching his own body gradually slip out of his control, there was no one who wouldn't feel terrified.
He had fallen ill to this extent, yet his wedded wife refused to return home, staying out the entire night.
Concubine Jiang had just told him she was back, yet she hadn't even bothered to come and take a single look at him.
Even if he had been at fault for concealing matters regarding Madam He, did she commit no wrong by utterly disregarding her husband's illness?
"Clatter!"
Xie Jingyu raised a hand and knocked the medicine bowl over.
Concubine Jiang hurriedly crouched down to gather the shards. "You must drink this medicine for your illness to improve, Master. This concubine will go ladle another bowl for you."
Xie Zhongcheng—ah, Xie Jingyu spoke in a deep voice, "There is no need to bring that medicine here again!"
Medicine that couldn't cure an illness wasn't even worth taking.
Concubine Jiang still wanted to persuade him otherwise.
When she heard a gentle voice speak up, "My husband is right, this medicine needn't be brewed anymore."
Xie Jingyu raised his head and saw Yun Chu walking in from the doorway. Catching sight of her brilliant and vibrant face, an array of surging emotions churned within his heart.
He was just about to open his mouth with questions.
When an elderly man walked in right behind her.
"Husband, this is an elderly retired imperial physician who once specialized in taking the peaceful pulse for the Empress," Yun Chu sat down on a chair a few paces away from the bed. "Let the old physician diagnose your pulse and see how this should be treated."
Xie Jingyu's face was plastered with utter disbelief.
Previously, when he asked Yun Chu to invite an imperial physician to treat him, she had worn an indifferent expression, leading him to believe she hadn't taken his words to heart at all.
Yet as it turned out, she still cared about him, and had even managed to invite an imperial physician who used to treat the Empress herself...
"Madam, thank you..."
All the countless words in Xie Jingyu's heart melted down into this single, brief sentence.
Married as husband and wife for five years, he had wronged her far too much. Once this illness healed, he would never fail the person sleeping beside his pillow again.
He extended his hand, and the elderly physician placed his fingers over his pulse.
The old imperial physician's expression abruptly shifted. "This pulse of Master Xie's... something is wrong... How does it seem as though... you have contracted the ailment of absolute infertility?"
Xie Jingyu's eyes flew wide open. "Impossible!"
He had fathered so many children one after another; how could he possibly contract an ailment rendering him incapable of siring offspring...
"Let this old man examine you more closely." The elderly physician closed his eyes and carefully probed the pulse once more.