CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: SAVING QIU YAN IN THE PALACE

"Move these flowers away, can’t plant flowers anymore?"

Due to his frail health since childhood, Old Master Zhang couldn’t do much else, so he loved to cultivate flowers and plants. Who knew his greatest love would bring him the greatest harm.

"Yes, Old Master Zhang’s illness is largely due to the pollen from these flowers, as well as some fur, dust, and the like. Just a whiff, and he’ll start sneezing, experience itchy eyes, tears, red and swollen eyes, runny nose, itchy throat, chest tightness, coughing, asthma, etc."

"No wonder, no wonder!"

"I don’t just love planting flowers, I also love cats and dogs." Old Master Zhang stomped his feet in anxiety, realizing that his affections over half a lifetime were misguided: "Someone, move those flowers away, send Little Yellow, Little Black, and Little White away."

The servants, hearing this command, gaped in astonishment: Has the master gone mad?

Everyone knew that these flowers and plants were the master’s lifeline, untouchable by anyone, valued even more than his concubines and wife. Little Yellow, Little Black, and Little White were treated on par with the Zhang family’s young master and miss. They were fed fresh fish and meat, never allowed leftovers. The servants lamented in private: "Living not as well as a dog! Becoming one of Old Master Zhang’s dogs or cats would be a blessing!"

The master wants to have them all moved away, sent away!

Is he planning to abandon his family?

"Uncle Hu, do we really need to move them away?"

Even though Uncle Hu received the order, the servants dared not take action.

"Did the master drink too much? If he wakes and realizes...we servants can’t bear the consequences!"

"That is the master’s command."

Uncle Hu didn’t know the reason either, as he was waiting outside and hadn’t heard what was said between the girl and the young man inside that prompted the master to hastily dispatch someone to give these orders.

"Let’s do this. Move the flowers and plants to the guest courtyard, send Little Yellow and the others...to the stable for now. Xiao Xue, you take care of the flowers, and Lao Zhutou, you look after the cats and dogs, do not neglect them."

Uncle Hu thought it was better to make these arrangements just in case if the master remembers, sees they’ve been mistreated, and decides to settle scores later. He knew he couldn’t handle the consequences with his old bones.

He gave the necessary instructions and orders, so he could at least have some defense when questioned later.

"Yes, sir."

Even though the servants were puzzled, they carried out the orders, moving cautiously, knowing no one could afford to damage the master’s cherished items.

Seeing the chaos in the courtyard, Chun Nuan gently reminded, "Foods contaminated with pollen should also not be consumed."

Because of this, the flower cake she specially prepared was something Old Master Zhang could not taste even a bit of.

"And one more thing," Chun Nuan recalled, "some people are very sensitive and can be allergic to food. If Old Master Zhang notices any discomfort from smelling or eating certain things, he should avoid them the second time."

"Such as?"

Old Master Zhang instantly panicked, wondering what he could safely eat, play with, or enjoy. It’s a wonder he survived to fifty-two, not realizing how much effort his ancestors from the Zhang family had expended underground!

"Fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, peanuts, milk, eggs, and so on."

"Wait a minute, I remember." Old Master Zhang exclaimed hurriedly, "Those crabs and shrimps, I can’t eat them. Really, I can’t. I get all itchy from head to toe after eating them. I hadn’t thought of this before; eating them was actually an allergic reaction. Old Hu, quickly, get rid of the crabs and shrimp in the kitchen."

"Yes, master."

Uncle Hu thought nothing of it. Crab shells were hard, and shrimp shells were too much trouble; better to gnaw on a pig’s foot.

As Uncle Hu walked away to dispose of them, Chun Nuan sighed internally: "Within rich households, food goes to waste while freezing bones lie along the roads."

She longed to ask if Old Master Zhang could throw them into her basket; she wouldn’t mind and could eat them!

"Miss Xiao, this old man is curious."

Old Master Zhang interrupted her fleeting daydream. Indeed, they were just daydreams!

"Please speak, Old Master Zhang."

"Since childhood, this illness has plagued me, with many doctors having examined me over the years. Why has no one ever mentioned this before?"

Chun Nuan was momentarily taken aback. That question...what difference does it make whether it was asked?

Clearly, it was because those doctors weren’t skilled enough to diagnose it.

Chun Nuan was confident because she had pored over her great-grandfather and grandfather’s medical notes in the Capital until they were worn out.

Her great-grandfather recorded an aristocrat who was allergic to pollen.

In the year of the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, when Chun Nuan was eight, she accompanied her grandmother to the palace for the birthday banquet. In such an austere setting, the Empress Dowager suddenly began sneezing and tearing up, causing Nanny Yu, by her side, to panic and immediately administer a pill.

Chun Nuan noticed Miss Qiu standing next to her with an apricot flower in her hair, and quickly gestured to her to discreetly dispose of it.

Miss Qiu didn’t understand why but heeded the advice, quietly leaving to get rid of the flower.

The next day, Mrs. Qiu, along with Miss Qiu, came bearing generous gifts to express their gratitude.

Some things need not be spoken. From then on, Miss Qiu became a close friend, and the Xiao Mansion and the Qiu Mansion established cordial relations.

Before leaving the Capital, Miss Qiu specifically sent a maid in disguise to tell her: should she ever need help, she mustn’t hesitate to find her; Qiu Yan would always be her sister.

Chun Nuan was deeply touched and entrusted her eldest sister to Qiu Yan, asking her to discreetly look after her, as the Wu Mansion had a complex population with not everyone being upright.

The reason Chun Nuan could caution Qiu Yan was that on such a festive day, the entire palace lacked any vibrant red or green flowers, only some greenery for decoration.

Considering her great-grandfather’s secret medical notes mentioned a noble person, it was without doubt that this noble was the one!

According to her great-grandfather’s notes, it was records from when the noble had not yet entered the palace. Hence, her great-grandfather had always taken the Empress Dowager’s peaceful pulse after her ascension.

This was also the reason the womenfolk of the Xiao family received the Empress Dowager’s favor to avoid calamity and return to Shu City.

"Miss Xiao, do I need to take any particular medication for my illness?" Doctor Xiao pointed to the bottle in Chun Nuan’s hand, "Would you consider sharing some of that medicine, regardless of the cost?"

Pills?

Chun Nuan glanced down at the small porcelain bottle.

"Old Master Zhang, it’s not that Chun Nuan doesn’t want to sell, but there are only two pills left." Chun Nuan replied with a bitter smile, "This pill was specially prepared by my grandfather for my grandmother for emergency use..."

There was no need to explain any further!

To speak more of it was simply sorrowful!

"Then..." Old Master Zhang offered a deep bow, "I was being greedy. Thank you, Miss Xiao, for the medicine."

Since Doctor Xiao was in trouble, the secret recipe using such rare ingredients couldn’t have been easy; for Miss Xiao to share even one pill, this gesture of gratitude could never be repaid, not even by gifting her a whole bamboo grove!

"Old Master Zhang, do not worry. As long as the cause of the illness is identified and precautions are noted, your condition should improve with some medication."

"Thank you, Miss Xiao."

Old Master Zhang’s gratitude was sincere as he gifted Xiao Chunnuan a hundred taels of silver.

"No, it’s not necessary."

Chun Nuan quickly declined.

Though the Xiao family was indeed short on funds, there were some funds they could not accept.

She came to express gratitude, not to extort; what illness could warrant a hundred taels of silver?

"If Old Master Zhang wishes to express gratitude, two taels of silver will suffice."

Two taels as a consultation fee would certainly be considered steep.

"Additionally, I would like to ask Old Master Zhang to promise me one thing."

"Miss Xiao, please say."