SGEIRS -Chapter 283 Being Mocked

Changxing Marquis’ Residence

As for how Madam Sun’s two children felt about their father preparing to remarry, Meng Jinyao had no interest in finding out. In any case, it wouldn’t be her who suffered under a stepmother. As for her second younger brother, she would protect him herself.

Thinking of her second brother, Chengzhang, who was studying at Lingshan Academy, Meng Jinyao handed the thick winter clothes she had prepared to Qingqiu and instructed her to send a servant to deliver them to the academy the next day.

At this moment, Gu Jingxi brought over her medicine and said gently, “Yao’er, it’s cooled down. You can drink it now.”

Meng Jinyao glanced at the dark brown liquid and showed obvious disgust. The medicine was bitter and foul-smelling, and after swallowing it, there was still a strange astringent taste. Every time she had to drink it two or three ke after meals, she felt nauseous, as if she might vomit everything she had just eaten.

Gu Jingxi coaxed her, “Be good. Good medicine tastes bitter but cures illness.”

Meng Jinyao raised her eyes and looked at him resentfully, mixed with unmistakable envy—envy that he had such a strong, healthy body.

Although they had been married for less than a year, Gu Jingxi understood her well. He knew what she meant and felt helpless himself. Was she the only one who had to take medicine? He only hoped that the quack’s prescriptions worked. Otherwise, after taking them for so long with no effect, it would all be in vain.

Sighing inwardly for the sake of her health, Meng Jinyao silently took the bowl. Frowning, she gulped it down in several swallows, forced down the urge to vomit, and handed the empty bowl back to Gu Jingxi.

Sensing her overwhelming resentment, Gu Jingxi—already used to her reactions—put the bowl aside and comforted her gently: “Imperial Physician Wen said that after taking it for a year or two, you’ll be fine. Once your body is well-conditioned, you won’t need medicine anymore.”

Meng Jinyao asked, “Husband, don’t you smell medicine on me?”

Gu Jingxi lied with a straight face, “No. What medicine smell? You smell fragrant.”

“You only know how to coax me,” she shot him a reproachful glance. “This afternoon, Second Sister-in-law chatted with me and even asked if I was sick.”

He paused. “What did you tell her?”

“Nothing much. I just said I was deficient in qi and blood and needed some tonic medicine. That’s not really a lie. Physician Wen did say I had that problem.”

Lowering her head gloomily, she thought: Drinking medicine for one or two years… By then, she’d probably be soaked in medicinal smells. She herself couldn’t notice it anymore, but others surely would. Sooner or later, people would start calling the Marchioness of Changxing a ‘walking medicine jar.’

Gu Jingxi understood her feelings. Back when he had taken medicine, he’d also felt annoyed—just smelling it ruined his appetite. After some thought, he said: “Yao’er, how about having them make it into pills? It’ll be easier to take and won’t taste so bad.”

Her eyes lit up. “Let’s try it first. We can alternate.”

Holding her in his arms, he told her some amusing stories he had heard from colleagues, coaxing her until she smiled again. Only then did he relax.

But plans never keep up with changes.

In the end, Meng Jinyao still couldn’t escape her fate of being ‘marinated’ in medicine.

When she was thirteen, she had been punished to kneel outside the Rongfu Hall in winter and had nearly frozen to death. Although she survived, the illness remained. Every winter, her knees and ankles would ache.

In early winter, before it became very cold, the pain was mild and bearable. She was used to it and ignored it, thinking it would go away once spring came.

By midwinter, when snow fell in the capital and cold winds howled, the pain worsened. After strolling in the courtyard and being exposed to wind, sharp pain would seep into her bones. It was unbearable. She stopped going out and stayed inside by the brazier. With plenty of silver-frost charcoal, she didn’t need to be stingy.

She never mentioned this to Gu Jingxi, pretending nothing was wrong to avoid worrying him. But Chunliu noticed and secretly informed him.

Because of this, Gu Jingxi scolded her. But when he saw her pitiful expression, he softened and pulled her into his arms.

“How could you hide something like this from me? You’re young now and can endure it, so you don’t take it seriously. You think just keeping warm will solve it. But when you’re as old as Mother, even with precautions, it’ll still hurt—and worse than now.”

She murmured, “It’s an old problem. I caught cold back when I knelt outside Rongfu Hall. It’ll heal when the weather warms.”

Pinching her cheek, he said firmly, “I’ve already invited Physician Wen. Take the medicine when told, get acupuncture when told. Don’t hide your illness and say you’re fine.”

Seeing her pout, he added, “I don’t want to be an old man someday, supporting a wife thirteen years younger than me who can barely walk.”

Meng Jinyao was speechless.

That was downright mocking!

He laughed. “If you don’t take it seriously and don’t treat it properly, let’s see if your legs will still work in thirty years.”

She stopped arguing. “I never said I wouldn’t see the doctor. I’ll see him, alright?”

Soon, Imperial Physician Wen arrived. Seeing the couple, he felt both depressed and sympathetic. Two medicine jars—what a perfect match. Which other couple in the capital took medicine together like this?

After checking her pulse, he asked, “Madam Gu, why didn’t you mention this before?”

“It wasn’t too painful then. I didn’t think of it.”

He nodded. “Your joints were frostbitten. To completely cure them so they won’t hurt in cold weather, it can’t be done quickly. It requires long-term treatment and careful warmth.”

“So… more medicine?” she asked reluctantly.

She felt resistant, but remembering her husband’s words, she gritted her teeth.

Physician Wen shook his head. “No need for decoctions. Medicinal baths will do, along with leg massages.”

She was stunned. “Just soaking my feet is enough?”

“It’s a full-body medicinal bath,” he explained. “It dispels internal cold and treats your legs. Two birds with one stone. It’ll also help your previous condition heal faster.”

Her mind stirred. “Then… do I still need to drink the earlier medicine?”

Physician Wen crushed her hope. “Yes. You still do.”

Her shoulders slumped.

Looks like I really am going to be soaked in medicine…