Buying People’s Hearts
“Very well, thank you very much!” Gu Ye smiled “gently” and nodded with a satisfied glow in her eyes. “By the way, I still have to trouble you with my medical chest. Let someone carry it in.”
Niu-momo replied forthwith, “It’s already on the table outside. Do you want it now, Miss?”
”Momo, do you have a sore throat, or are you suffering from coughing and dry mouth?” Gu Ye noticed the cracks at the corner of her mouth as soon as she entered the door. She cleared her throat from time to time, and she has difficulty swallowing her saliva, thus this question.
Niu-momo originally thought that the big medicine chest was owned by the two elderly doctors, and this girl was at most an apprentice who was new to medicine. Unexpectedly, they have just met but she noticed her illness. Sure enough, a great teacher could produce a brilliant student.
Her originally enthusiastic attitude heightened anew. She confessed, “To tell the truth, this old maid has had a low fever since the day before yesterday. After taking a few pills, it has been relieved. But at night, I cough so badly that no matter how much water I drink, I don’t feel like I quench my thirst. Plus, the heat goes straight out of my throat.”
”You caught a chill due to the wind and heat. Just take a few Antipyretic Yinqiao Pills.” Gu Ye said to the somewhat restrained Gu Ming, “Brother, go outside and fetch my medicine chest.”
”I dare not let Young Master Gu work. It’s better for this old maid to carry it here!” When Niu-momo heard this, she realized that she wanted to give her medicine!
W-What?
Yinqiao Pills?
Pills?
Are you kidding me?
Her masters probably never ever used such precious medicine. How could she, a servant, enjoy such a blessing?
Gu Ye chuckled and said, “Momo, let my brother go. You may not be able to carry it.”
Gu Ming went around the screen and saw the familiar medical kit on the outside table. He carried it in with one hand and placed it on the dresser.
Gu Ye turned her back to the crowd and blocked their sight with her body. She then took out nine honey-refined Yinqiao Pills from her space and put them in a white porcelain bottle: “Yinqiao Pills works in cooling down the skin, clearing away heat and detoxifying the body. Twice a day, one pill at a time. It will take effect in three days.”
”Ehem, t-this… is such an expensive pill. This old maid dare not take it.” Niu-momo stared at the porcelain bottle, rubbing her hands constantly, but she didn’t dare to stretch a hand out.
Gu Ye laughed. “Momo, these are handmade with the herbs picked from the mountains. They’re not worth anything. Could it be that… Momo is afraid that I am not good at my studies and can’t cure your illness?”
”Please don’t take it that way, Miss. Then this old maid thanks Miss for the medicine. I’ll take it boldly!” Niu-momo received the white porcelain bottle containing the pills and carefully stuffed it into her sleeve. “Miss, are you tired from sitting in the carriage for so long? Lie in bed and rest for a while while this old maid goes to the kitchen to see if lunch is ready.”
As soon as Niu-momo stepped out of “Tingfeng Garden”, she walked quickly to the main courtyard, reported the matters that had happened to the Old Madam, and presented the Yinqiao Pills to her.
The Old Madam took out a pill, examined it carefully, shook her head and smiled. “This little girl is indeed a disciple of Sage Apothecary. She is really generous. Don’t worry, with Sage Apothecary keeping an eye on her, there will be no problem. Qing Yun, you are blessed.”
Qing Yun was Niu-momo’s name when she was still a lady’s maid. She put the white porcelain bottle on the table in front of the Old Madam and said with a smile, “This is such good medicine. This servant is afraid of losing this blessing. How about you take it, Old Madam?!”
”The little girl gave it to you, yet you are giving it to me? Three days later, if your illness does not improve and the little girl asks, how are you going to explain? The ignorant will probably think that I, the master, covet my servant’s goodies!” The Old Madam put the pill back into the porcelain bottle and waved her hand for Niu-momo to get it and take it away.
”Thank you, Old Madam!” Niu-momo gratefully took the medicine bottle and put it back into her sleeves.
The Old Madam smiled kindly and said, “You should thank the little girl from the Gu family. Wait for a while, and when she gets better, ask her to come and chat with me. Since Shanshan got married, the manor has become much more deserted.”
Jun Shanshan is Jun Yonglun’s youngest daughter, and she has grown up by the Old Madam’s side since childhood. The little girl has a lively and clever temperament, and she has countless wisecracks every day, which amused the Old Madam. She married Mo Jiaxuan, the eldest son of the Minister of Imperial Academy two months ago.