Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 122: The Medicine Is Not Relieving

That night, the official ship docked in Baoying County, and Jia Cong went ashore to find a pharmacy and bought more than ten herbal tablets.

The next morning, the official ship continued to sail south. Jia Cong estimated that it would take another four or five days of sailing to reach Jinling.

In the past few days, he began to read the books he bought before the trip, laying a solid foundation for the eight-legged essay and policy essays for the future imperial examination.

Early in the morning, Qingwen was asked to go to the deck to boil medicine. Wu'er had felt much better after taking one dose last night.

These days, Jia Cong stayed in the cabin reading, and Qingwen somehow became familiar with Qin's maid Ruizhu.

Maybe they were bored on the boat, and the two little girls were at their most energetic age, so they actually got along quite well and often chatted and laughed together.

Wu'er was accompanying Jia Cong to read books. She had never left the capital since she was born. Unlike Qingwen, who had wandered around with her aunt and uncle since she was a child and had no taboos when she went out.

Wu'er was fresh on the boat for half a day, then he felt seasick. He lay down for two days before he recovered. The river breeze also made him feel unwell.

Seeing that Wu'er still looked a little gloomy, Jia Cong reached out and touched her smooth forehead: "She had a slight fever yesterday, but it's gone today. She will be fine after two more days of rest."

He subconsciously squeezed Wu'er's soft and delicate little hand, turned and left the cabin to see if the medicine was ready.

Wu'er behind her had a blushing face. Ever since the day when the Third Master took her out of Rong Xi Tang, he seemed to have taken root with her. He often touched her hand, making her feel embarrassed, but she was reluctant to refuse.

When Jia Cong left the cabin, he saw a small red clay medicine stove on the deck with smoke coming out of it. A maid was squatting in front of the stove, but it was not Qingwen. Where had that maid gone?

"Ruizhu, why are you here looking at medicine? Where is Qingwen?"

Ruizhu's eyes were bright and she smiled: "Qingwen just left for a while, I helped her watch."

Ever since Qingwen and Ruizhu became familiar with each other, Jia Cong and Wu'er also recognized her. After all, the upper cabin was only that big.

However, Qin Keqing had never left the cabin. As she had been promised to someone else's daughter, there were always more taboos. Even her shy younger brother seldom left the cabin.

"I've seen you and Qingwen together these past two days. Does your young lady not want you to serve her?"

"The young lady caught a cold in the river wind the other day and has been lying down for half the day, not wanting me to take care of her. The master said that he would invite a doctor to see her when we get to Gusu."

Jia Cong didn't know that Keqing had suddenly fallen ill. Qin Ye and his wife were a little worried because their daughter had always been in good health and had rarely been sick since she was a child. Now she suddenly fell ill.

But Keqing said it was no problem, it was just the river breeze, so the two elders didn't need to worry, and she just hid in her room every day.

Jia Cong returned to the cabin and took a few packets of herbs to Ruizhu: "The wind is strong on the river, and girls are weak and easily affected by the wind. Wu'er also caught a cold. I got this medicine in Baoying.

The medicinal properties are mild and clear, and it will be effective after taking a decoction. It is more convenient than your daughter having to wait until she goes to Suzhou to see a doctor."

……

In Qin Keqing's cabin, the maid Ruizhu brought in a bowl of steaming medicine soup.

"Ruizhu, where did you get the medicine soup?"

"It was given by that Master Jia. His maid Wu'er also caught a cold. This is the medicine that Master Jia got in Baoying. He said that Wu'er felt much better after taking it, so he asked me to boil a bowl of it for Miss as well."

"It's him." She thought of the figure standing at the bow like a banished immortal, the young man who belittled his family's studies as worthless.

"Miss, he is a very good person. He loves his maid so much."

Ever since she overheard her parents' conversation that day, Keqing has been feeling sad and depressed. In addition, she was too busy looking at the river view and was blown by the wind a few days ago. So it was more of a mental illness than a physical one.

After drinking the medicine, she seemed to feel a little relieved from the depression in her chest. She asked, "You and Qingwen seem to have been having a good time these days." Ruizhu cleaned up the medicine bowls and helped Qin Keqing lie down. She said, "Well, Qingwen has a straightforward personality and is easy to get along with. But she has a sharp tongue."

"I've been lying down these days, so I don't need you to stay by my side all the time. I can just lie down and rest. You can go and play with Qingwen. We won't have time to be together in Jinling."

Ruizhu still had some childishness in her heart, and said happily, "Miss, take a good rest. I'm downstairs, and I'll come up to see you every quarter of an hour."

A few days later, when they were about to arrive in Gusu, the herbal medicine that Jia Cong sent was actually very effective. Ruizhu decocted it twice and gave it to Qin Keqing to drink, and she got better.

Ruizhu saw that the young lady looked much better. Every time she entered her room, she saw her embroidering a rain-blue handkerchief in the embroidery shed. She seemed to be in a much better mood.

When the official ship arrived in Gusu, Qin Ye saw that his daughter's illness had recovered, so he did not stop in Gusu, but went straight up the river to Jinling.

This time, His Majesty was extremely concerned about the construction of the Da Ci'en Temple. He did not dare to delay the journey and the sooner he could reach Nanjing, the better.

When passing through Yangzhou, Jia Cong wanted to pay a visit to Daiyu's father, Lin Ruhai, who was now the Imperial Censor of Lianghuai Salt in Yangzhou, out of courtesy.

The book of Lin Ruhai's reading notes that Daiyu gave him had helped him a lot in his studies. He and Lin Ruhai were like a teacher and a disciple, so it was only natural for him to visit him when he passed by.

However, this time it was an imperial errand, and as an eighth-rank official he could not act on his own, so the itinerary would be determined by Qin Ye, who was responsible for the construction.

I can only wait for the next opportunity to visit Lin Ruhai. Fortunately, Jinling is not too far from Yangzhou.

After passing Zhenjiang, the official ship entered the mighty Yangtze River.

That morning, when it was still half dark, Jia Cong took the two maids to the bow of the boat to watch the sunrise.

Wu'er and Qingwen both knew that although their master loved reading, he was not a nerd. He loved playing since he was a child and had many strange and weird tricks.

During those years in Luocang Mountain, there were many strange and bizarre stories.

They watch the snow in winter, the flowers in spring, go fishing in summer, and admire the maple leaves in autumn. They go to watch the sunrise in the morning and often watch the moon and stars in the evening. They have long been accustomed to it and love to play with him.

Qingwen was dressed smartly. She stood beside Jia Cong, gazing at the rough river. She remembered what the Third Master said about a strange bridge that could be built on the river in the future. The little girl began to fantasize.

Wu'er was wearing a blue satin cloak with a stand-up collar, which wrapped her entire delicate body, making her skin look even whiter than snow and her charm even more pleasant.

In the east, where the river meets the sky, a little red light appeared. Almost instantly, the river water was covered with a large area of ​​jumping golden color. The world gradually woke up in this brilliant and strange light.

Qingwen called out in a charming voice, "Third Master, look how beautiful it is."

The fiery red morning sun dyed Wu'er's face rosy, making her look even more beautiful. She tightened her cloak around her body, and her tender little hand was inadvertently held by Jia Cong again.

The window on the second floor of the ship was opened, revealing a pretty face that seemed intoxicated as it looked at the pool of fiery red in the surging river.

Next to her was Ruizhu, who looked at the three people at the bow and said, "Miss, look, this Master Cong is really unusual. He brought his maid to see the river view so early in the morning."

Keqing withdrew her gaze from the fiery red spectacle in the river and looked at the handsome young man standing at the bow of the boat.

The morning sun made her pretty face red, and a rain-blue handkerchief in her hand fluttered in the river breeze.

Her father chose a prominent and wealthy family for her, the engagement letter had been exchanged, the marriage had been arranged, and her life had come to an end.

A feeling of sadness and loneliness filled her heart. She didn't know which young man on the street was so handsome. Even if there were still beautiful things in the world, it had nothing to do with her.

(End of this chapter)