Chapter 30
Qiao Hezhi rode the carriage back from outside. Today, a merchant in the city was hosting a banquet and had sent out invitations. The host was an uncle who used to have frequent dealings with his maternal family, so an invitation had been sent their way.
He had asked Fang Yu about it earlier, who said that socializing with relatives was fine. But today, Fang Yu had gone out to the academy and wasn't home, so only he could attend the banquet. Given that he was still of merchant status, it was quite appropriate for him to attend such an event.
The return route wasn't far from the riding grounds in the outskirts. He wondered if he should drive the carriage to the riding grounds to pick up Fang Yu and go home together. But considering the riding grounds was large and especially crowded today, it might be hard to find him. Most importantly, he didn't know if Fang Yu might have already headed home halfway; if he went and found no one, he'd make a wasted trip, and by the time he got home, the sky would probably be dark.
So he gave up the idea and told the coachman to drive the carriage straight home.
Just as the carriage arrived outside the residence, he heard hurried footsteps approaching the carriage: "Master! You're finally back!"
Qiao Hezhi immediately lifted the carriage curtain: "What is it? What happened?"
"The Master fell off his horse! He was brought back on a stretcher! The household is in a panic! The Old Madam told us to find you and bring you back immediately!"
Qiao Hezhi felt like all the air had been sucked from his lungs. He clutched the carriage curtain to steady himself from falling over. He hurriedly got off the carriage, even jumping down before the stepping stool could be properly placed in front of the carriage.
"When did this happen? Why didn't someone send word to me sooner?!"
"The Master was only just brought back not long ago. We already sent someone to find you, Young Master. That servant was probably in such a hurry that he took the small paths and didn't run into you."
As he listened, Qiao Hezhi broke into a run, no longer caring about propriety or manners. His heart was filled with anxiety and fear, his emotions on the verge of losing control. It wasn't until he reached Bicang Small Pavilion that he realized his cheeks were ice-cold—tears had already streaked down his face without him noticing. He wiped them away hastily and rushed into the room.
"During this cold season, injuries don't heal as quickly. You must apply the medicine on time, both internally and externally. Furthermore, New Year's Eve is approaching, and meals will undoubtedly be sumptuous. Be careful not to overeat, and avoid overly heating foods. Otherwise, it can easily cause inflammation of the wounds, which is not good for recovery."
Qiao Hezhi saw Madam Chen and the physician talking outside the multiple-fold screen. Judging by the physician's words, it didn't seem like a life-threatening situation. But he was still anxious to go in and see Fang Yu, only to have Madam Chen grab his wrist: "You listen carefully to the physician's instructions too. Running around outside all day, only coming back now when something has happened to your husband."
"I want to see…"
"What's the hurry? Yu'er is lying down inside. He needs proper rest. You barging in like this will only disturb him."
The old physician stood to the side, unfazed. It was a common sight in every family; whenever the head of the household met with misfortune, the Old Madam would inevitably berate the daughter-in-law. Once the mother-in-law finished her lecture, he continued: "Young Master, you needn't worry too much. Fang Xiucai is physically robust and should recover well before long. Falling from a horse is a common occurrence among the sons of noble families, there's no need for excessive worry."
"Then… then are my husband's injuries serious?"
"Just some scrapes and bruises, perhaps a slight injury to the tendons and bones. He'll be much better after some recuperation."
Only then did Qiao Hezhi relax. As long as his life wasn't in danger, it was fine. But suddenly remembering Fang Yu's unique situation, his pupils contracted slightly. Seizing the opportunity to see the physician out, he privately took out an extra two taels of silver for him and asked quietly: "My husband fell from a horse… could it have caused him to lose his wits, or for his spirit to become confused?"
The physician gave Qiao Hezhi a puzzled look, then seemed to comprehend something: "Oh, Young Master need not worry. Although falling from a horse can sometimes result in a person losing their senses, that is due to hitting the head, which causes internal bleeding and related symptoms. Scholar Fang only injured his body; his mind is perfectly clear."
Qiao Hezhi nodded. Even a bodily injury frightened him. A violent event like falling from a horse—what if it had shaken his soul loose from his body? Fang Yu was no ordinary man; every aspect required caution. If something went amiss, that fragile, intangible essence might easily disperse and drift away. But hearing the physician say his mind was clear likely meant all was well. Only then did genuine relief settle over him.
He turned back, rushing to return, but Madam Chen hadn't left yet; she was standing right at the door waiting for him.
"I see these days Yu'er has spoiled you rotten. He exempted you from morning greetings, handed over management of all household affairs to you, and now you're throwing your weight around because of it. If anything more serious were to happen to Yu'er, I'd like to see how you'd manage for the rest of your life. You don't even have a son or daughter, yet you've bewitched Yu'er! Who knows what kind of sorcery you used, and now you've even gone and ruined the marriage arrangement with the Yin family! I fear the continuation of the Fang family lineage will be cut off because of you!"
Madam Chen had originally been scolding in a low voice, but once she got worked up, she couldn't help raising her voice. After all, she couldn't completely suppress habits formed from decades of living in the countryside.
Her loud exclamation caught the attention of Fang Yu inside the room: "Mother! Why are you scolding him? It's not his fault I fell off the horse."
Hearing this, Madam Chen quickly covered her mouth. After a moment, hearing no further words from inside the room, she shot Qiao Hezhi a few sharp glances before speaking again: "You take good care of Yu'er. If anything else goes wrong, you'll be sorry. I'm going back to my room now."
Qiao Hezhi didn't retort against Madam Chen. His heart was preoccupied with Fang Yu; how could he spare any attention for Madam Chen's scolding? Only hearing the words about leaving, he quickly said: "Let me see you out, Mother-in-law."
"No need."
Only after watching Madam Chen leave Bicang Small Pavilion did Qiao Hezhi quickly dart into the room.
Fang Yu was lying face down on the bed. Hearing the commotion outside finally cease, he let out a sigh. Madam Chen truly could go on and on, preventing Qiao Hezhi from entering. But now Qiao Hezhi should be able to come in. He turned his head and, sure enough, saw Qiao Hezhi standing there.
His eyes were red.
Fang Yu felt secretly pleased, but also a bit heartbroken: "Why are you crying? Did Mother scold you again? Don't take her words to heart."
Qiao Hezhi pursed his lips, squatting down beside Fang Yu. Answering as if to a different question, he said softly: "Tomorrow, I'll arrange for Cousin Yin to enter the household."
Hearing this, Fang Yu's eyebrows almost instantly furrowed together. He raised his hand and tapped Qiao Hezhi on the forehead: "Have you lost your mind? What nonsense are you spouting again!"
Qiao Hezhi covered his forehead, finally feeling reassured: "I… I just wanted to test if you were…"
Though he didn't finish, Fang Yu understood what Qiao Hezhi meant and couldn't help but sigh deeply: "Do you really think I'm some wandering ghost? Trying to take this chance to let your original husband come back, is that it?"
"Fine then, I'll go ask the King of Hell if he's gone far. If he hasn't gone far, I'll go get him and let him come back. But it's probably hopeless. The world is peaceful now, no natural disasters or famines. The Court of Hell is probably quite idle. Your husband has been gone so long; by now he should have drunk Grandma Meng's soup and long forgotten about you. Even if he came back, who knows if he'd still be any good."
[孟婆汤 (Mèng Pó Tāng): lit. Old Lady Meng's soup; fig. a mythical tea given to souls before reincarnation to erase all memories of their past lives].
"That's not what I meant!" Qiao Hezhi immediately refuted, quickly grabbing Fang Yu's hand: "Don't! Besides, he wasn't my husband either."
"Why wouldn't he be? You at least completed the three letters and six etiquettes, and you bowed together at the wedding ceremony."
[Three Letters (the Betrothal Letter, Gift Letter, and Wedding Letter) and Six Etiquettes (proposal, matching birthdays, presenting betrothal gifts, presenting wedding gifts, selecting the wedding date, and the wedding ceremony itself)]
"But… but we never consummated the marriage!"
Fang Yu saw the person was almost flushed with anxiety and chuckled, deciding not to tease him further. He pinched his cheek: "Alright, I know. I know everything."
Qiao Hezhi lowered his gaze, somewhat embarrassed. But seeing the person lying prone on the bed, with some grass-stain scrapes on his face—though not severe enough to disfigure—still injured after all, he couldn't help but complain: "When buying the horse, I said that horse looked listless. You wouldn't listen and insisted on buying it. And now? You took a big fall."
"The girth strap loosened while galloping, and the saddle turned, that's why I fell. Luckily that horse was listless, if it had been more spirited, wouldn't it have crushed my bones with a single stomp?"
Qiao Hezhi's heart was frightened by the danger of it, and his eyes reddened again: "Are you in a lot of pain?"
Fang Yu waved his hand: "Just got kicked by a horse. Actually, it doesn't hurt much. The wound just feels a bit like needle pricks, or like being scalded by fire. It really doesn't hurt at all."
Qiao Hezhi frowned: "How can it not hurt when it's like that! I'll call Xuezhu to apply medicine for you."
Fang Yu grabbed Qiao Hezhi's hand. After being kept at a distance for so many days, and now finally being close again, how could he be willing to let him leave his sight? "Xuezhu has already taken the internal medicine to brew. The external application medicine is right on the table."
Qiao Hezhi did indeed see the medicine on the table. He picked up the medicine box and opened it to smell it.
"Does it smell familiar?"
Fang Yu smiled as he looked at Qiao Hezhi. He was hoping to hear him say he'd used it before—what a coincidence, it was exactly the same injury medicine he had applied for him previously.
"It was used before too, when I was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall."
Upon hearing this, Fang Yu fell silent. Mentioning kneeling in the ancestral hall was rather awkward.
"Then let me apply it for you."
Qiao Hezhi thought it was just applying medicine to the back. Previously, when he had insisted on serving him during his bath, Fang Yu had refused. Now he finally had an opportunity. Originally, he thought Fang Yu was unaccustomed to others seeing his body, which was why he suggested having Xuezhu come in to apply the medicine. But since Fang Yu said so, then he couldn't blame him.
Fang Yu raised an eyebrow: "Really?"
Qiao Hezhi said with a straight face: "What's there to joke about with this?"
Fang Yu gazed at Qiao Hezhi with a radiant smile. He thought to himself that Qiao Hezhi was truly becoming more perceptive.
"So, where exactly are you injured? I'll undo your clothes; it'll be easier to apply the medicine that way."
"The tailbone."
Fang Yu said it euphemistically, yet honestly.
"Wh… what?"
Qiao Hezhi's hand holding the medicine stiffened. No wonder he was lying prone… so it was that kind of place that was injured. For a moment, he was at a loss, not knowing whether to apply the medicine or not.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing."
Fang Yu naturally noticed Xiao Qiao's unease. He said, rather "considerately": "If you don't want to apply it, forget it. Just let me endure the pain for now. I suppose Xuezhu should be back soon. The physician said the medicine needs to be watched and brewed for about one shichen (two hours). I see he's been gone for over a quarter of a shichen already, it shouldn't be much longer to wait."
Qiao Hezhi clutched the medicine bottle: "I… I'll apply it for you."
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