Transmigrated As A Scholar Chapter 4 Part 1

Chapter 4

Warmed palms covered the wound, feeling warm and hot. Qiao Hezhi's eyes were wide open like a little deer's, watching Fang Yu's long, broad hands gently kneading his knee.

It was extremely painful at first. He gritted his teeth and made no sound, but after more kneading, it didn't seem to hurt anymore.

Holding his breath, he stole a few glances at the man carefully applying medicine for him, and his face actually grew warm.

Although the two had been married for nearly a month, they hadn't even touched hands, let alone been intimate. He didn't know what whim had struck the man today, that he would patiently apply medicine for him.

This hard-won warm moment made him want to say something pleasant, but the original estrangement between them made him not know what to say now that things were suddenly like this. 

They remained quiet like this until Fang Yu withdrew his hand and spoke: "The physician said this medicine is very good. Don't worry about it leaving a scar."

Fang Yu handed the ointment back to Siyu, then glanced at Qiao Hezhi's long, well-proportioned, fair calves: "Let the medicine absorb for a bit before pulling down your trouser legs, so you don't catch cold again."

Qiao Hezhi nodded slightly and did as Fang Yu said.

He remembered the last time Fang Yu spoke kindly to him was over ten days ago, when he asked him for silver to feast with his poetry friends. He felt uneasy inside, not knowing what request the man wanted to make now.

He wanted to ask in his heart, but felt it was inappropriate. After struggling several times, he decided to wait for him to bring it up himself, and casually made small talk: "Husband, I heard from Siyu that you went to eat. Are you finished?"

Fang Yu coughed dryly. Every time he heard the word 'husband,' he shuddered all over: "They just set the dishes. Since you haven't eaten either, have the servants bring them over and we'll eat together here."

Before Qiao Hezhi could speak, Siyu said happily: "This servant will go serve the dishes now and fetch some water for the master to wash his hands."

Qiao Hezhi glanced at Siyu but ultimately said nothing, letting the young maid happily leave the room.

The evening meal was sumptuous, with seven dishes covering the small round table. When Qiao Hezhi moved to stand and serve Fang Yu his meal, Fang Yu stopped him and told him to remain seated.

"Sit and eat."

Having dozed fitfully all day, Qiao Hezhi's stomach was truly empty, but his illness had left him with little appetite. He picked at his food slowly, all the while stealing glances at what Fang Yu was eating. Fang Yu, by contrast, as if recovered from a serious illness, had a good appetite, heartily eating several chopstickfuls of mutton and having some pickled cabbage and tofu fish soup.

"This mutton and fish soup are both quite good. The physician said you have a weak constitution, eat more to nourish yourself." Fang Yu noticed that after eating for a while, he had already finished two bowls of rice, but Qiao Hezhi was still holding a small half-bowl of soup he hadn't finished. He picked up some vegetables and put them in his bowl: "You're too thin, and you eat so little." When he had carried him earlier, he felt light as a feather.

Qiao Hezhi moved his chopsticks weakly, a warmth in his eyes: "Husband, you work hard studying and often read late into the night. You should nourish yourself too."

"You..." Fang Yu put down his bowl: "From now on, just call me by my name."

"Call husband by your name? Wouldn't that be too disrespectful? Outsiders would laugh if they heard." Qiao Hezhi's fingers holding the bowl tightened, and the faint anticipation in his heart died, but he still responded considerately: "If you dislike me addressing you that way, then should I call you 'Master' from now on?"

Seeing Qiao Hezhi's cautious expression, Fang Yu felt his heart soften again. He was already mistreated in this family, and the servants were already gossiping and laughing behind his back. If he was stripped of even a form of address, he would probably have even less of a foothold.

"Call me whatever you like. I was just saying it casually. My childhood name is Ziruo. If you don't want to use my formal name, you can use that."

[子若 (Zǐruò): "like a virtuous sage" or "resembling a noble son."]

Qiao Hezhi's brow moved slightly: "Ziruo..."

Fang Yu acknowledged.

Qiao Hezhi pressed his lips together, cradled the bowl in both hands, drank a sip of fish soup, and concealed the slight smile at the corners of his eyes behind the bowl's rim.

After the meal, Fang Yu was a bit too full and wanted to go for a walk to aid digestion, but it was already dark early in winter, and it was cold outside, so he dismissed the idea. After sitting for a while in Xiaotong Courtyard, the two chatted briefly and then Fang Yu returned to his room.

"Young Master, why didn't you ask the master to stay? It was such a good opportunity today."

Siyu saw Fang Yu leave the courtyard, turned back to tidy Qiao Hezhi's bed, and glanced at the person leaning on the soft couch reading a book of poetry. The book was in his hands, but his eyes weren't on it.

"What nonsense are you talking? I'm ill, how can I ask him to stay?" Qiao Hezhi tossed the book aside, having no mind to read at all, his heart feeling quite restless: "Besides... if he were to really stay, it should be because he himself is willing to stay. What would it look like if I tried to make him stay?"

His heart was in turmoil. He originally thought Fang Yu came because he had a favor to ask, but the man left without saying anything, which made him feel uncertain.

"Although that's true, now that the master's attitude has finally softened, we should make some effort too." Siyu suggested: "How about I have the kitchen prepare a bowl of soup? The master will surely go to the study to read now. I'll accompany you to deliver it to him."

But Qiao Hezhi shook his head. It wasn't that he found it troublesome, but: "The soup from the kitchen doesn't taste that great either."

"Naturally, it's not as good as Young Master's skill."

Qiao Hezhi got up from the soft couch. He already had his own idea in mind: "Tomorrow, after I pay my respects at mother-in-law's courtyard, I'll go to the small kitchen and prepare some food for him. Let's not trouble ourselves today. I took medicine and am very sleepy. You should go rest early too."

"Alright, this servant will make the charcoal in the room warmer so you don't kick off the covers in the night and catch a chill."

"Wake me early tomorrow, don't let me miss the time for paying respects." Qiao Hezhi lay down on the bed: "Don't give mother-in-law another reason to send me to the ancestral hall."