The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0669 Warmth (3)

When Yuxi woke up, the space next to her was already empty.

Momo Quan came in smiling and said, ”Madam, the medicinal bath is ready. You can soak in it now and have breakfast afterwards.”

Yuxi looked astonished. Not only had Momo Quan changed how she addressed her, but she was also urging her to bathe in medicinal herbs so early in the day. Yuxi asked, ”When was this bath prepared?”

There was no one else in the room. Momo Quan, therefore, spoke frankly, ”Madam, your body is weak. You shouldnʼt try for a child for at least two or three years.” Given Yuxiʼs current physical condition, in eight or nine out of ten cases, having a child would result in one corpse two lives.

Yuxi finally understood. ”Is this medicinal bath safe?” She had initially considered drinking an anti-pregnancy soup, but if the bath were equally effective, that would be preferable.

Momo Quan replied, ”Rest assured, Madam, there will be no mishap.” It was medicine she had mixed herself—how could it go wrong?

The bath did not take long, about a quarter of an hour.

After the soak, breakfast was laid out. Seeing the simple, light dishes, Yuxi smiled—having Momo Quan nearby was truly comforting.

After eating, Yuxi planned to take a stroll to aid her digestion, but the sky was already heavy with dark clouds. She muttered, ”The weather in the third month is just like a babyʼs face—changes the moment you look away.” Yesterday was perfectly clear; today it was about to rain again.

With nothing urgent to do outside, Yuxi took up her needle and thread to make a few summer outfits for Yun Qing. As he sweated a lot, she chose cool ramie cloth. However, before she could cut the fabric, Momo Quan came in and gave her a little lecture.

Momo Quan advised, ”This residence isnʼt lacking seamstresses. Instead of spending your time on this, you should spend it keeping Zaozao and Liu-er company.” Making clothes was tiring, but with several nursemaids around, Yuxi didnʼt need to worry much about the children.

Yuxi was speechless. It seemed like she wasnʼt allowed to do anything, as though she were a porcelain doll.

Yun Qing had too many affairs to attend to outside and had to work until midnight before returning home. Yuxi was already in bed, but when he lay beside her, she could tell that something was wrong with him. Touching his forehead, her expression darkened. ”You donʼt even realise you have a fever?”

Yun Qing carelessly replied, ”Itʼs nothing—one nightʼs sleep will fix it.”

Yuxi pulled her hand from Yun Qingʼs grasp, dressed quickly, and called Gancao inside. ”Have Xu Wu hurriedly fetch Physician Bai—the General has a fever.” When one was ill, seeing a physician was only natural. How could one conceal oneʼs illness and avoid the physician?

Yun Qing thought she was making a fuss. ”Itʼs just a cold; nothing serious.”

Seeing him start to rise, Yuxi pushed him back down and said irritably, ”Youʼre burning up, and you still say itʼs nothing? Lie down and stay put! Honestly, youʼre worse than Zaozao — when she feels unwell, she at least knows to see the physician obediently!” Getting Zaozao to have her pulse taken was easy enough, but getting her to take her medicine was always a battle.

Yuxi poured a cup of boiled water and handed it to Yun Qing. ”Here, drink some first.” Then she took a towel, wetted it with cold water, and laid it on his forehead.

Leaning back against the pillow, Yun Qing wondered, ”Donʼt you and Momo Quan both know about medicine? Why call a physician and make it known to everyone?”

For the first time, Yuxi didnʼt look at Yun Qing kindly. ”Youʼre sick, not doing anything shameful, so what does it matter if they know? Speaking of which, you still havenʼt told me what happened. You left this morning perfectly fine, so how did you come back with a fever?” Seeing that Yun Qing was staying silent, Yuxi added, ”Donʼt tell me you got caught in the rain today?” Other than that, she honestly couldnʼt guess why he had a fever.

Frustrated, Yun Qing said, ”It was just a little drizzle!” It had started raining suddenly while he was outside, but he hadnʼt paid any attention to it. Back at the camp, Gao Song suggested ginger soup to warm him up, but Yun Qing hadnʼt drunk it.

On his way back home, Yun Qing had already started to feel dizzy, but relying on his robust health, he figured he could just tough it out. Who knew that Yuxi would notice something was wrong the moment she touched him?

Yuxi removed the towel from Yun Qingʼs forehead and replaced it with a fresh one. Then she scolded him, ”Do you think youʼre still seventeen or eighteen? Youʼre the father of two children and still this careless.” She knew heʼd been overworked, barely sleeping for more than ten days. That was why a mere drizzle had given him a cold; normally, it would have been nothing.

Yun Qing looked a bit embarrassed.

Seeing this, Yuxi softened her tone as she advised, ”From now on, you must take good care of yourself. The children and I still have to depend on you.” She held back any ominous words that might sound inauspicious.

Physician Bai came to feel Yun Qingʼs pulse and said that he had caught a chill, which had caused the fever. ”He needs medicine, or it will only get worse. Also, General, you must rest well for the next two days. Donʼt rely on your youth and take your body lightly.”

After receiving the prescription, Momo Quan went to the pharmacy to prepare the medicine. She told Yuxi, ”Take good care of the General. Leave the decoction to me.”

Looking at the bowl of pitch-black medicine, Yun Qing felt some regret. If only he had listened to Gao Song and drunk a bowl of ginger soup after the rain to make himself sweat, everything would have been fine.

Of course, Yuxi knew how much Yun Qing hated taking medicine! Even she found it incredible that he was afraid of it just because it was bitter. Yuxi said gently, ”Drink it—pinch your nose and swallow it all at once.” That was exactly how she herself drank medicine.

Yun Qing gulped the medicine in one go and soon went to sleep.

Momo Quan urged Yuxi, ”You should rest too. Let Gancao and Mama Qu keep watch! With your current health, if you stay up all night, youʼll likely fall ill tomorrow as well.”

Yuxi knew her own body and didnʼt dare to force herself to be strong. She went to sleep obediently, but feeling uneasy, she slept on the couch in the main room instead of going to the side chamber.

After taking the medicine, Yun Qing broke out in a full sweat and felt much better. However, when he saw Momo Quan bringing another bowl of that pitch-black brew, he wanted nothing to do with it.

Yuxi fixed her gaze on him and said, ”Finish this medicine, then have Physician Bai recheck you later. If everythingʼs fine, you wonʼt need any more.” She added that, even though yesterdayʼs dose had made him sweat, it was safer to take another one.

Yun Qing could only pinch his nose and drink the medicine down.

Just as Yuxi set down the medicine bowl, she heard Gancao announce that Zijin had returned.

When Yuxi saw Zijin, she was startled and exclaimed, ”How did you get this thin?” In barely half a month, Zijin had lost a lot of weight. To make matters worse, her arm was injured and in a sling!

Zijin first offered formal greetings to Yuxi and Yun Qing, and then she smiled. ”Itʼs nothing; a few daysʼ rest will fix it…” In this fierce battle, survival was just a matter of luck.

Yuxi nodded. ”Now that the fighting is over, let Mama Bai give you some proper nourishment.” She didnʼt press for details—those were not pleasant memories.

Zǐjǐn was quick to read the room and said, ”Madam, Iʼll take my leave for now.” She would speak to Madam about matters outside when the General wasnʼt present.

As he watched Zǐjǐn leave, Yun Qing remarked, ”Zijin is now a military officer of the lower fifth rank.” He had never imagined this former maid would be so valiant on the battlefield.

Yuxi commented, ”For her to come back alive is already a blessing.” The reason Zijin and Yu Zhi had survived was firstly because they were excellent martial artists; secondly, because they were lucky; and thirdly, because Master Yang had given them many useful items.

Yun Qing shook his head. ”You may not realise it, but that maid of yours has beheaded over a thousand enemies in ten days. Had her credit not been given to Yu Zhi last time, she would already be at least a full fourth rank. Killing over a thousand foes is a monumental achievement.”

Yuxi thought a lower fifth-rank post was already impressive enough. ”Since she has the ability, give her more chances in future and donʼt look down on her just because sheʼs a woman.” As long as Yun Qing gave Zǐjǐn opportunities to earn merit, promotion would follow naturally.

Yun Qing neither agreed nor refused. ”Weʼll have to see if sheʼs really cut out for it.” Killing many foes didnʼt automatically make one a good commander.

Zǐjǐn was too impetuous; Yun Qing didnʼt feel comfortable letting her command troops. Nevertheless, he wouldnʼt dismiss her outright — if she proved herself capable, he would naturally make full use of her talents.

Yuxi nodded. She had already fought to secure Zǐjǐn an opportunity, and now it was up to her own abilities how far she could progress.

After chatting for a while, Yun Qing lay down again. It wasnʼt that he was naturally drowsy; the medicine heʼd taken simply made him sleepy.

In his sleep, Yun Qing felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. When he opened his eyes, he saw little Zaozao sprawled across him.

Yun Qing sat up, gathered Zaozao in his arms, and asked Yuxi, who was walking over, ”Iʼm still sick—how can you let her come so close? What if the illness passes to her?”

Yuxi laughed. ”Physician Bai has already examined you. Your fever has gone, so thereʼs nothing to worry about. This little girl was playing happily downstairs, and in the blink of an eye, she climbed onto your bed and woke you up.” Zaozao moved so nimbly that it was impossible to tell how often she had fallen or bumped into things.

Not long after the midday meal, Mama Qu sought out Yuxi to discuss household matters, while Yun Qing stayed in the bedchamber playing with Zaozao.

Momo Quan came in and said to Yun Qing, ”General, I have a few things I wish to speak with you about.” She had arranged for Mama Qu to keep Yuxi occupied so she could speak to the General privately.

Yun Qing was a little puzzled. ”Momo, if you have something to say, just say it.”

Momo Quan said, ”Madamʼs body has sustained a serious injury. Even though General has found Taisui for her, she shouldnʼt try having a child for the next two or three years.” She did not want Yuxi to become pregnant within those two years. Although taking Taisui could indeed strengthen her constitution, it would take at least two years for Yuxiʼs body to recover its former robust state.

Yun Qing recalled that the previous physician had said no children for five years, yet now it was only two—clearly, the Taisui was effective. Yun Qing said, ”Of course, Yuxiʼs health comes first.” Having another child two years later didnʼt matter; after all, they already had Zaozao and Liu-er.

Momo Quan hesitated, but finally voiced what was on her mind: ”With Madamʼs current condition, it isnʼt suitable to use medicinal contraceptives. Whether itʼs drinking a potion or soaking in a medicinal bath, those methods arenʼt reliable.”

Hearing this, Yun Qing asked, ”Then are there any other methods?”

Momo Quan nodded. ”There is a way, of course, but I donʼt know if the General will agree.” Noticing Yun Qingʼs puzzled expression, she added, ”Madam canʼt take the medicine, but if the General can drink it, it will have the same effect.”

Yun Qingʼs face instantly darkened—ever since childhood, nothing had disgusted him more than drinking medicine. He asked, ”Is there no other way besides taking medicine?”

Momo Quanʼs heart sank. It seemed that Yuxi wasnʼt as important to Yun Qing as she had thought. ”General, that medicine really has no side effects. Madam shouldnʼt drink it only because she is already taking tai sui, and Iʼm afraid the properties might conflict.”

After a pause, Yun Qing asked, ”Taking a potion would have to be done in advance, which is inconvenient. Are there pills with the same effect?” A coupleʼs intimacy couldnʼt be scheduled; it happened on a whim. If he took the medicine and they didnʼt end up together, wouldnʼt he have suffered for nothing?

Seeing that Yun Qing had relented, Momo Quan smiled. ”There is.”