Fang Yu tried his best to suppress his anger, but remembering that mother and son had originally been raccoons from the same hill, if he acted too radical, it would surely arouse suspicion.
[一丘之貉 (yī qiū zhī hé): lit. raccoons from the same hill; fig. people who are of the same kind, often used derogatorily for those sharing the same bad nature]
He softened his tone. "Mother, let him rest and recover properly. There's no need to make things difficult for him anymore from now on."
"Why? A daughter-in-law listening to her mother-in-law's reprimands is only right and proper. How can it be called making things difficult? Did the Qiao family come to complain? I'll go have a word with them about what's reasonable."
"That's not it." Fang Yu knew to speak differently to different people, now he had to use language she understood. "Seeing as it's almost the end of the month, our harassment hasn't made him submit. It's clear this method isn't working. Wouldn't it be better to step back and coax him properly? Things might actually be much easier to handle that way."
"This..."
Madam Chen clasped her hands, unwilling to agree with Fang Yu. In the past, when she worked as a servant in a merchant family, she had suffered enough from the master's harshness. Now that she had finally become the Old Madam and was enjoying the authority of being a mother-in-law and mistress, she was naturally unwilling to give it up easily.
"My son, although the Qiao family has some money, they are, after all, a merchant family. For Qiao Hezhi to be able to marry you, a young scholar, is them marrying above their station."
Madam Chen continued, "Besides, didn't you used to say that if we treat him too well, people outside will think we covet the Qiao family's wealth and have lost the integrity of scholars?"
You've already married into their family, why pretend to be so high and mighty? Fang Yu inwardly criticized. Seeing that soft words weren't working, he played his trump card. "Let's settle it like this. Mother, listen to me, it definitely won't be wrong. Don't make him kneel in the ancestral hall anymore either. If word gets out, people will say Mother mistreats her daughter-in-law. If I become an official in the future, it will harm my official reputation."
Hearing this, Madam Chen indeed fell silent.
When Fang Yu passed the imperial examinations and became a xiucai, she had gone to have his fortune told. The fortune teller said Fang Yu was destined to become a high official or even a chancellor, and that she would enjoy great fortune through her son. When it came to matters related to him becoming an official, she was always compliant. After a long while, she said, "So, should we not even have him come to pay his respects anymore?"
"Let him do what should be done, but don't make him do what shouldn't."
"Fine then." Chen Xui hung her head and sighed. "My son, you've really suffered for Rao'er's sake. In the future, if that girl doesn't give birth to several fat sons when she enters our family, she won't be worthy of all this trouble we've gone through. And you, son, why must it be her? With our family's current status, are we afraid we can't find a good concubine?"
Fang Yu laughed coldly inwardly: Your son's horizons haven't broadened yet, his mind is still simple. Right now, it's his cousin. Later, he'll fall in love with every woman he sees, have a house full of wives and concubines, and a whole brood of children. When he gets exiled to the borderlands, it will be quite a lively scene with the whole big family.
Leaving Changshou Hall, Fang Yu felt stifled and short of breath. Talking with Old Lady Chen was truly draining. He hurriedly turned back to Xiaotong Courtyard to check on Qiao Hezhi. The physician had already finished the examination and was writing a prescription, but Qiao Hezhi still hadn't woken up.
"Young Master is weak, caught a cold, and fainted. He needs to replenish his qi and blood properly. Furthermore, he is suffering from pent-up emotions and depression in his heart. His emotional knots must be loosened for his recovery, otherwise his condition will only relapse and could even worsen."
Fang Yu listened carefully. "Please, physician, prescribe some good medicine."
"Scholar Fang, there's no need to worry. The medicine I prescribe will all benefit the Young Master. As long as he takes it on time and follows the medical advice, his condition should improve."
"Thank you very much."
Fang Yu paused, glanced towards the inner room through the screen, and said in a low voice, "Could the physician also prescribe some topical ointment for bruises and sprains?"
The physician was momentarily taken aback by this but didn't ask further. "Then I will write another prescription."
"Thank you for your trouble."
____
When Qiao Hezhi woke up, it was already dusk.
Having slept the entire day, his throat was dry and rough, as if scorched by fire.
Hearing movement, Siyu quickly put down the bowl of medicinal broth she was holding. "Young Master, you're finally awake."
"Get me some water..." Qiao Hezhi smelled the herbal medicine in the room and sighed softly. "Never mind, just bring the medicine over. It saves me from having to drink water and then not being able to drink the medicine."
Siyu carefully helped him sit up and brought over the warmed medicine. Qiao Hezhi took just one sip and said, "It seems the taste is different."
"This is the medicine the physician prescribed today." Siyu said this with a smile. "The Master sent for the physician, and he specifically asked the physician to prepare a bottle of ointment for external injuries. This servant thinks it's a very good bruise ointment. After you finish the medicine, apply it. Your knees are already red, swollen, and badly bruised, with some areas turning purple."
Qiao Hezhi slightly furrowed his brows, incredulous. "My husband came?"
"Not only did he come, but when you fainted in the ancestral hall, it was the Master who carried you back to Xiaotong Courtyard. The Master was originally staying in the room watching over you. He only just left a short while ago to eat, and before leaving, he instructed this servant to inform him immediately if you woke up."
Compared to Siyu's delight, Qiao Hezhi was clearly much more sober. "He was rather unusual today."
"This servant thinks the Master felt sorry for you. Falling ill and then fainting from kneeling in punishment in the ancestral hall... even this servant's heart aches terribly."
Qiao Hezhi lowered his eyes and patted Siyu's hand, comforting the young maid. As for Fang Yu feeling sorry for him, he didn't believe it much. If he were going to feel sorry, he would have long ago. Why wait until today?
He dutifully drank the medicine and let Siyu roll up his trouser legs. On his pale knees was a bruised area about the size of half a fist, both blue and purple.
"Ouch... be gentler."
Fang Yu, having heard from a servant that Qiao Hezhi had woken up, put down his bowl and chopsticks and came to see him before he had even started the meal that had just been served. He arrived at Xiaotong Courtyard and, before anyone could announce him, first heard the voices from inside the room.
"Using cotton to dab on the ointment only hurts, the efficacy isn't good."
Fang Yu walked around the screen directly to the bedside. "Are you feeling any other discomfort?"
"Much... much better."
Qiao Hezhi hadn't expected Fang Yu to come to Xiaotong Courtyard. Having slept all day, his hair was uncombed and his clothes were disheveled, which was very improper. He flusteredly tried to straighten his clothes, but didn't expect Fang Yu to simply sit down on the edge of the bed and extend his hand towards Siyu.
"Stop just standing there, give me the medicine."
Siyu glanced at Qiao Hezhi, her mind blank for a moment before she understood. She hurriedly placed the small porcelain bottle into Fang Yu's hand.
Fang Yu poured some ointment onto his palm, rubbed his hands together to warm it, and looked at the knees, red and swollen like layered pancakes. In a tone like coaxing a child to take medicine, he said, "It might hurt a bit. Bear with it. After applying it three to five times, it will get better."
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