Chapter 35 (1/2)
This chapter has been brought to you by me, Adnana, and Vivie.
府 fu: compound or estate; (jun)w.a.n.g fu: prince's estate/compound
郡王妃 junw.a.n.g fei: the official wife of a junw.a.n.g
亲王 qinw.a.n.g: first-rank prince
郡王 junw.a.n.g: prince (of the second rank); also referred to as junw.a.n.g ye, i.e. ”His [Your] Royal Highness”
太监 taijian: court or palace eunuch
公公 gonggong: how to refer to a taijian
娘娘 niangniang: respectful t.i.tle for an Emperor's wife and concubines
朕 zhen: illeism used by the Emperor; equivalent to the royal ”we”
妾 qie: I, your servant (deprecatory self-reference used by a wife or concubine)
Chapter Thirty-Five: Hards.h.i.+p
Hua Xi Wan knew that she had just lightly hit her head. Even though there was some blood, it was not as serious as the rumors outside said it to be. She did not know if the rumors had been exaggerated as they pa.s.sed between people, or if Yan Jin Qiu had intended for this kind of rumor to pa.s.s around, so she cooperated with him and rested on the bed. When she became bored, she had the singers in the fu sing for her. When she was irritated, she had the vaudeville people amuse her. She tried to do all she could to make her days on the bed even more comfortable.
”Junw.a.n.g Fei, a nurse has come to change your bandage.” Bai Xia walked in from outside. She helped Hua Xi Wan sit up and then put a soft pillow behind her back.
Hua Xi Wan had the performers retreat. ”Please invite her in.”
The nurse waited for the servant girls in the room to lift up the curtain before she walked in. She was directly responsible for outer injuries. Even though she had spent some years in the Grand Hospital, she had never come to Xian Junw.a.n.g Fu before. Seeing the different sceneries and drawings in Xian Junw.a.n.g Fu every couple of steps, she finally believed what the generation before her said: the previous emperor had really favored the original Xian Qinw.a.n.g.
Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei's room was decorated elegantly, but it would not cause people to feel that it lost the heavy reputation of a prestigious family. It could be seen that the person who had decorated the room had put in great effort and thoughtfulness and even greater attention towards the owner of the rooms.
”This one greets Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei.” The nurse saw a beauty in plain clothing lying on the bed and knew that this was Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei who was deeply loved by Xian Junw.a.n.g. She went forward and curtsied. ”This one has come under the orders of the Dean to change the bandages for Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei.”
”Sorry for the trouble, Official.” The voice of the person lying on the bed was very soft and had a slightly bewitching tone. Even as a female, the nurse felt as though her heart was tingling. She couldn't help but take a few more glances at the person on the bed. She was a nurse of the Grand Hospital, but she had an eighth rank position. Many prestigious families looked down on women in medicine, and there was always disdain in their conduct and speech. There were really not many who were sincerely polite like Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei.
”Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei, please do not move. It might be slightly painfl in the beginning..” The nurse went forward and slowly took off the gauze that had been put on before. Seeing that the wound had not become swollen or filled with pus, she sighed in relief. She used a cotton swab to first clean off the dressing around the wound and said in a light voice, ”Junw.a.n.g Fei, your wound is recovering well. Please pay attention to having the room properly aired. Do not get stifled or overheatedt, and your wound cannot get wet”
When she was was.h.i.+ng the wound, the nurse became even more careful. However, she knew that no matter how careful she was, it would still be painful. Fortunately, Junw.a.n.g Fei did not punish her for this, and did not even make a sound. After the dressing was changed, the nurse released a breath. ”Junw.a.n.g Fei, the dressing has been completed.”
Hua Xi Wan gave her thanks again and had Bai Xia personally see the nurse out the door. The status of the nurses was not as high as that of the males in the Grand Hospital. Also, many people felt that a woman's skills in medicine could not compare to a man's, so the trust in females in medicine was not very high. Even some of the females in the prestigious families had similar viewpoints.
But in Hua Xi Wan' view, that nurse had been very practiced when she had been changing the dressing, and extremely open and honest in her conduct. They were all women, and she was willing to give honor to the other.
Bai Xia personally saw the nurse out of the gates, and then the carriage from Xian Junw.a.n.g Fu delivered her back to the Grand Hospital. It caused many of her fellows to admire her for receiving the favor of Xian Junw.a.n.g Fei.
Not long after the nurse left, the Empress bestowed gifts down. The taijian who came to announce the decree was the chief steward of the Empress' palace. He was very polite to Yan Jin Qiu, and his att.i.tude was placed very low.
”How are Junw.a.n.g Fei's wounds? The Empress is very concerned about Junw.a.n.g Fei and has sent this small one to inquire.” Zhao Dong saw that it was hard to detect joy and anger on Xian Junw.a.n.g's face and knew that this matter would most likely not be resolved. ”The Empress has not been able to eat ever since she heard that Junw.a.n.g Fei was wounded. If it were not that she cannot leave the palace at will, she would have personally come to visit Junw.a.n.g Fei.”
”Wife cannot accept such concern from the Empress.” Yan Jin Qiu finally showed a smile, but this smile was slightly cold. ”Wife has good luck. Even though her head was injured, fortunately, it is not a major matter.”
Hearing this, Zhao Dong instantly gave a smile and said, ”Junw.a.n.g Fei is someone with good fortune. The Heavens protect her, protect her.”
Yan Jin Qiu's finger rubbed the teacup as he said sardonically, ”Isn't it really protection from the Heavens?” He slowly took a drink. ”Please, gonggong, report to Empress. Wife's wounds have not healed, and she cannot personally kneel to pay thanks for the phoenix grace. Empress, please have some tolerance.”
”This one doesn't dare, doesn't dare, this small one will definitely bring the words.” Zhao Dong laughed dryly and bowed. He felt that he really could not stay here. Xian Junw.a.n.g's presence was too much right now. He was the chief steward of the Empress' palace, but in front of this person, he really was not a significant person.
After Zhao Dong left with some junior taijian, Yan Jin Qiu raised an eyebrow and beckoned Mu Tong over. He said, ”Give the list of the gifts to Junw.a.n.g Fei to read, but do not deliver the things over to Junw.a.n.g Fei. If Junw.a.n.g Fei lacks for anything, take it from my stores. These things…” His gaze swept across the Empress' gifts. ”Find a storeroom to hold them.”