Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

While Ming Xian and Li Yong were discussing those things, Yui Mei was preparing to visit Yu Xiu. She felt refreshed after sleeping like a log, so she thought she would fulfill her promise.

“Good day, Honored Consort Jiang.”

Yu Xiu was already awake and sitting up on the wooden bed when Yui Mei entered the clinic.

“Oh, come here, Yui Mei.”

Yu Xiu was in better spirits, so she greeted Yui Mei with a smile.

“Thank goodness, your Ladyship’s complexion looks better. Please accept my gift.”

Yui Mei also respectfully bowed to Yu Xiu. Afterward, she took a package wrapped in paper from her breast pocket. It was mushipan, especially made by Mei Na.

“It is freshly steamed, so it is still warm.”

“Oh my, they look so delectable!”

Yu Xiu was thrilled with the warm buns. Her appetite was proof that she recovered.

“Can you please brew some tea? Join us and let’s eat together.”

Yu Xiu called out to the court lady beside her. The adorable girl had her hair up in two buns above her ears. She seemed younger than Yui Mei.

“Yes!”

The court lady straightened up, and started to make tea. She gave the impression that she was also a novice, rather than someone seasoned with experience.

“The crown prince sent this girl.”

Yu Xiu noticed that Yui Mei was staring at the maiden, so she explained. Apparently, the crown prince personally selected this person to avoid bringing harm to the patient, and to take care of her necessities.

“A, ahm, please.”

The court lady nervously served the tea. Yui Mei thought she was her senior, since she was not included in their recruited group, but she was strangely timid.

“Nice to meet you. I’m a novice, and I just entered the Inner Palace recently.”

Yui Mei tactfully expressed that there was no need for her to be so nervous.

“Oh, yes, please take care of me too!”

The court lady straightened her back, rigidly bowed, then replied with formal words.

‘Maybe it’s her personality.’

She was trembling like a leaf, reminiscent of a small animal, so it was easy to feel soft towards her. Maybe the selection was done to recruit unexpectedly soothing personnel. The crown prince was also someone who cannot be taken lightly.

Yu Xiu also rose from her wooden bed, and she sat at the same table beside Yui Mei and the court lady. She elegantly tore the mushipan into bite-size pieces, and then placed one in her mouth, and smiled.

“It is perfectly done. Very delicious, indeed.”

Yu Xiu was fond of Mei Na’s deluxe mushipan. It was carefully selected with the patient’s weak stomach in mind.

‘I’ll tell Mei Na later that Honored Consort Jiang was elated.’

Yui Mei thought about how Mei Na paid careful attention to the quality of her snacks.

“I was always served lavish dishes since I became a consort, but the opportunity to eat freshly made food lessened.”

Yu Xiu sadly recounted as she ate the bread. After the kitchen finished cooking her meals, they passed through a lot of hands before they were served to her. The carriers were obviously part of those, but it also took time to test the food for poison. Yu Xiu was relieved from such formalities while being in the clinic.

 ‘Bigwigs truly live a constrained life.’

Perhaps, her mother was the same. It must have been hard for her, not being able to taste warm foods. Yui Mei contemplated as she sank her teeth into the bread.

“Hey, where’s my portion?”

Ziliang, who was evidently in the back room, suddenly appeared.

“No worries, here you go.”

Yui Mei took another package out and handed it to Ziliang. The four of them sat together as Ziliang laid out the plans for Yu Xiu.

“Noble Concubine Jiang will be staying in the clinic until tomorrow, as planned. She will return to the palace the day after. I already informed the crown prince regarding this.”

“Well, it is as expected.”

Yui Mei nodded at Ziliang’s medical judgement. In her previous world, the patients could return to their own homes to do self-quarantine two days after the fever abated. The disease was most contagious during the recovery period, so it would be a wise decision.

“What a relief, Lady Yu Xiu.”

The court lady was ecstatic that the discharge date was set, and they could return to the palace. Yu Xiu nodded at the maiden’s happiness.

“Yes. When I was suffering from fever, I really thought my time had come.”

Certainly, one suffering from influenza would have high fever, and it would feel as if their heads were boiling from the elevated temperature. The whole body and joints would also feel painful, and there would be a feeling of extreme fatigue, nausea, and splitting headaches. It was only natural that one would think they were on the brink of death. Yui Mei never contracted the flu in her previous life, but she did hear about how it felt from her patients.

According to the crown prince, nobody tended to Yu Xiu, having neglected her, so she must have suffered needlessly.

“I had a near-death experience, but I believe it is a great fortune that I was able to meet a person like you. Again, thank you. You have my utmost gratitude, Yui Mei.”

Yui Mei smiled after being thanked again.

“It is my honor, Honored Consort Jiang.”

Yu Xiu’s recovery was largely due to Yui Mei conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation just in time. However, medicines and treatments would all go to waste, without the person’s resilience. Yu Xiu’s desire to live triumphed against influenza.

“Please treat your stay in the clinic as a vacation, and rest leisurely until you return to the crown prince’s palace. There are plenty of delicious snacks, too.”

There was nobody here with prying eyes, so it would be good if she were to relax to her heart’s content, and to nurture her strength.

Yu Xiu giggled at Yui Mei’s words.

“Yui Mei, you really say such amusing words. To treat a disease as vacation..”

It was apt to think of a disease as a misfortune. However, an ill person should rest, so it would be good if she were to do so with her heart at ease.  There was no rule that said one should mop around when sick.

“Well, it is good. Besides, this mushipan is truly divine. The people in this kitchen have great skills.”

Yu Xiu narrowed her eyes in bliss as she ate another piece. Her appearance was truly adorable, full of expressions. She was a very pretty woman, indeed.

‘So, (provisionary) elder brother’s type was someone like her.’

Yui Mei thought he had great tastes.

——

T/L Thoughts: Merry Christmas, everyone! We have a triple release for today! Bonus chapter for Kof-fi, and another as my gift to you guys. I also released them earlier than the scheduled time, while I’m still free. Hope you enjoy reading them. Please leave a rating in NU, if you do ?