SGEIRS -Chapter 394 Conveniently Sick

The doctor came to check Gu Jingxi’s pulse. Having a high fever in such hot weather was truly strange, so he asked Meng Jinyao what her husband had been doing and eating in the past two days.

Meng Jinyao made up a story, saying that her husband hadn’t done anything unusual and hadn’t eaten anything special—just regular home-cooked meals. She added that he felt hot last night, broke out in sweat, and couldn’t sleep, so he had indulged in a cool cold-water bath. But after bathing, he felt chilled all over, so he covered himself with blankets and went to sleep. In the morning, he was burning with fever and hadn’t woken up since.

After listening, the doctor drew his conclusion: Gu Jingxi had caught heatstroke, and the cold bath had caused the clash of hot and cold, worsening the heatstroke and triggering a high fever. At this point, if the fever wasn’t quickly reduced, it could be life-threatening.

The doctor then wrote a prescription and instructed Meng Jinyao to ensure the patient’s diet remained light before leaving.

Meng Jinyao sent the doctor off and handed the prescription to the maid, instructing her to rush to the pharmacy and bring back the herbs.

After finishing these tasks, Meng Jinyao returned to the room and saw her husband still lying there, unconscious. Although she knew he was fine, seeing him still asleep made her a little worried. She couldn’t understand how he had gotten himself into such a state—he had even managed to fool the doctor.

After a while, Gu Jingxi slowly woke up and saw his young wife sitting at the bedside, her eyes fixed on him with worry.

Seeing him open his eyes, Meng Jinyao quickly asked, “Husband, how are you feeling now? Is anything uncomfortable?”

Gu Jingxi replied softly, “Don’t worry, Jinyao. I’m fine—just a bit hot. Did you call the doctor?”

Meng Jinyao nodded. “Yes, the doctor came not long ago. He said your fever is high and the situation is serious. If it isn’t reduced quickly, it could be life-threatening.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi gave her an approving look. “Go to the drawer in the dressing table and bring me that white porcelain bottle.”

Meng Jinyao hurried to get it for him.

Gu Jingxi took the bottle, poured out a pill-like substance, and swallowed it. After about a quarter of an hour, the abnormal redness on his face gradually faded, his complexion returned to normal, and his body stopped feeling hot.

Meng Jinyao, astonished, asked, “Husband, what is that?”

Gu Jingxi answered, “It’s fever-reducing medicine. There’s another type of medicine that makes a person look like they have a high fever. Ordinary doctors won’t notice the trick. It was all concocted by the old imperial physician Wen. The old man specializes in inventing these strange remedies, but they’re quite useful in critical moments.”

Meng Jinyao asked again, “Does it harm the body?”

Gu Jingxi said, “It doesn’t affect the body at all. Don’t worry, Jinyao.”

Meng Jinyao, impressed, said, “Imperial Physician Wen is amazing. Not only can he treat illnesses, but he also makes beauty creams. I didn’t expect he could even make this kind of medicine—harmless, yet effective.”

Gu Jingxi silently added in his mind: That old man also likes to dig out improper books from the corners of his study.

After a moment, Gu Jingxi said, “Jinyao, I’m sick, so I’ll stay in Huzhou for a few more days to recover.”

Meng Jinyao replied, “Husband, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you.”

Gu Jingxi’s “illness” came on suddenly. After taking the medicine, his fever subsided and he “woke up.” After drinking a bowl of plain white porridge, he fell asleep again. But by the afternoon, he started running a fever once more, and no matter how she called, he wouldn’t wake up.

Meng Jinyao instructed the maid to follow the morning prescription again, going to the pharmacy to fetch the herbs for decoction.

His high fever recurred, and he fell into unconsciousness again. The situation seemed dangerous. Even the house steward Liu and the other servants were worried. Their hearts hung in the balance—if anything happened to the master, the Gu family would face turmoil. Since the marquis had no heir, either the eldest uncle would inherit the title according to seniority, or the madam would select a relative’s son to be adopted as the heir.

Meng Jinyao looked at her energetic husband and asked, “Husband, how long will your illness last?”

Gu Jingxi smiled. “At least three or four days. After recovery, I still need ten more days of rest before we can return to the capital. Otherwise, the journey will be too exhausting.”

Meng Jinyao scolded him lightly, “You suddenly fell so ill that the servants almost thought I’d become a young widow while still so young.”

“You won’t be made a young widow,” Gu Jingxi said, pulling her into his arms. Just as he was about to tease her, she stopped him. “Husband, you’re still unconscious. Don’t do anything reckless. If there’s a commotion, what will the maids think of me? They might think I even prey on the sick.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi suddenly felt a bit depressed.

By nightfall, Gu Jingxi changed into black night attire and went out to handle matters.

To avoid exposing the ruse, Meng Jinyao didn’t allow the maid in and waited in the room for over an hour. She was starting to feel sleepy and went to bed before he returned.

Wei Residence

Gu Jingxi’s reason for going to Deqing County was to visit his elders. But Lord Wei did not take it lightly. He sent people to secretly follow Gu Jingxi to Deqing County and staked out near the county office. Two days and two nights passed without seeing Gu Jingxi leave, seeming to confirm he was really just visiting elders.

Lord Wei heard the report from his attendants and felt partially reassured. He asked, “When will Gu Jingxi return to the capital?”

The attendant respectfully replied, “My lord, Marquis Gu and Madam Gu haven’t left Huzhou yet. I heard the marquis is ill, so the journey was delayed.”

“Ill?” Lord Wei frowned, sensing something suspicious. “Why did he get sick at such a convenient time?”

The attendant said, “I also asked the doctor who treated him. He said it was heatstroke, and because he indulged in a cold-water bath, the clash of hot and cold overwhelmed his body, causing a high fever.”

Lord Wei’s frown deepened. “What if the doctor was bribed to give false information?”

The attendant was momentarily speechless—he hadn’t thought of that. But the doctor had indeed said so. Seeing his master frown, he suggested, “My lord, since Marquis Gu is ill, you could visit with gifts. That way, you’ll know immediately if he’s truly sick or pretending. If Madam Gu tries to stop you verbally, then it’s certain deception.”

Hearing this, Lord Wei approved. “That’s a good method. You’re clever.”

The attendant humbly replied, “It’s my honor to ease your worries, my lord.”

On the rooftop, Gu Jingxi and Yu Chuan listened to their conversation.

Yu Chuan glanced at his master, whispering, “Marquis, I thoroughly checked the study—no hidden compartments. The study is full of books, but no account books. Shall we search further?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head slightly.

At this time, the voices in the study below had also stopped. The attendants had left.

Not long after, Lord Wei left the study and headed to Madam Wei’s courtyard. Upon entering, he ordered the maid to prepare water, apparently to bathe, change, and then sleep.

Madam Wei’s smile froze at first sight of him, but with the maid present, she quickly returned to normal, speaking to him gently.

Once the maid prepared the bath, Lord Wei went to the washing room, bathing without needing assistance.

Gu Jingxi, seeing him enter the washing room, climbed to the rooftop above it, lifted a tile, and peered down.

Yu Chuan muttered, “…”

We’re all men. What’s so interesting about a man taking a bath?

Thinking this, Yu Chuan also lifted a tile to take a peek, partly to understand his master’s strange habit. But looking at Lord Wei’s physique, he felt disgusted—how could anyone find anything attractive here?