Translated by gingercat
Edited by gingercat
Ru Hua walked in with a bowl of dicine. “Madam, it’s ti to take your dicine.”
dicine rarely slled pleasant. When Yaoniang was in confinent a while ago, she had to drink three bowls every day in the morning, noon and evening. Whenever she slled the dicine she would get a headache and nausea. By the end of the confinent, she could only finish the dicine with Jin Wang at her side, coaxing her. Now, she was very sensitive to the scent of dicine. She couldn’t help furrowing her brows as she inhaled the sll of it.
Qiao-shi seed to notice that Yaoniang didn’t like the sll of dicine.
She opened her mouth to speak but then she hesitated.
Yaoniang also knew that all dicines have dicinal properties, so she hurriedly said, “It’s better to drink the dicine while it’s still hot. In this last while, I drank too much dicine to the point that just the sll of it makes nauseated, but it’s no big deal. Is there sothing wrong? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Qiao-shi downed the dicine and took two sips of plain water from the teacup in her hand. Then she wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief before saying, “I have also drunk too much of this stuff. It’s not because I feel unwell anywhere but because of my cough, which gets really bad in the winter. Eventually, I learned my lesson. Every year before winter cos, I drink this dicine in advance to keep it manageable.”
“It’s so serious? Have you seen a doctor for it?” Yaoniang thought of Doctor Liu. In her mind, Doctor Liu’s dical skills were superb, and he could cure many intractable and strange diseases.
“I’ve seen many doctors, but they are unable to cure the root cause. Once the weather turns cold, I’ll start having coughing fits. It’s not that serious, but it is indeed annoying.” After she finished talking, she coughed twice as if to prove her words. Then she smiled helplessly at Yaoniang. “See? This is why once the weather gets cold, I don’t go out.”
Speaking of the cold weather, Yaoniang smiled. “The weather in the capital is not as cold as in Jinzhou. If you were in Jinzhou at this ti, it would probably already be snowing heavily.”
“Jinzhou? I haven’t been there before. Tell what it’s like there… …”
The two chatted for a long ti. Once it reached lunchti, Yaoniang and Xiaobao ate their al here.
After the al was over, Yaoniang said goodbye, but Xiaobao and Yueyue were reluctant to part with each other. Only after Yaoniang promised to co back in a few days did Yueyue break into a smile and her chubby hand let go of Xiaobao.
Qiao-shi gave Yaoniang several paintings and books, along with so good brushes and inkstones from her collection, which pleasantly surprised Yaoniang. She made up her mind to study hard, and to practice her calligraphy well.
When she was younger, in order to save ink, Su Xiucai never let Yaoniang use any paper to practice her calligraphy. Yaoniang could only practice writing on the table using water. This is why she’d always say that she only knew a few words because her words were too ugly for others to see.
Qiao Xiuli returned to the guest courtyard.
This small courtyard was located at the northernmost corner of the entire Duke Zhenguo Manor. Although it was quite a distance away from the main entrance, it was beautiful and serene.
Sun Mang knew that Qiao Anhe needed to prepare for the imperial exam. This was why he specially ordered soone to arrange for them to live in an area suitable for studying. Both brother and sister share this small courtyard together. Between the two of them, they have an older servant for rough labour, a young maid and a young manservant. This was enough for the two of them.
Duke Zhenguo Manor didn’t treat Qiao Anhe and his sister badly at all. This was also the usual practice of the noble families. Even the imperial family would have so poorer relatives, what more than these noble families. Generally, when relatives and friends co to the door, they are all arranged to stay like this.
The only reason Qiao Anhe and Qiao Xiuli could live here was because of Qiao-shi’s face.
Neither Qiao Anhe nor Qiao Xiuli was close to Qiao-shi by blood. Their family had split off long ago and could only be counted as distant relatives at best. However, Qiao-shi’s father was talented, and he didn’t forget to take care of the clan after he beca successful.
Not only was the ancestral hall rebuilt, but a school for the younger generation of the clan to study in. Both food and an allowance were provided every month, and there were even additional rewards for those with excellent grades. Qiao Anhe was the most outstanding child of the Qiao Family in the past ten years. He eventually beca a xiucai then a juren1. After that, he attempted to beco a jinshi, but he failed the exam.
It just so happened that Qiao Anhe and his sister’s widowed mother passed away. Qiao Anhe could only study hard while mourning for his mother. This ti, although he dared not say he was a hundred percent ready, he could guarantee at least sixty to seventy percent.
But this was only his estimate. If it was so easy to beco a jinshi, people’s hair wouldn’t turn gray from the exam and still fail. This imperial examination differed greatly every year, depending on what happened that year. Even the chief examiner and deputy examiners could change and their preferences and taboos mustn’t be neglected.
Qiao-shi’s father wrote a letter to his son-in-law, asking Qiao Anhe to enter the capital ahead of ti, precisely for this reason. Sun Mang’s identity was special, and he’d be able to help inquire about so news in advance. As for Qiao Xiuli, she wasn’t supposed to co to the capital, but she insisted on following along in the na of taking care of her brother. Indeed, Qiao Xiuli did help a lot along the way. After all, most n weren’t very attentive.
When Qiao Xiuli ca back, Qiao Anhe was reading a book.
Noticing that his sister was back, he looked up at her. “You went to Madam Shizi’s place again?”
Qiao Xiuli nodded with a smile on her face. “Madam had a guest here today. It was the side consort of His Highness Jin Wang and she also brought along her son. Her Highness Side Consort is a very nice person, and she even gave this bracelet.” As she spoke, she showed Qiao Anhe the jade bracelet on her wrist.
Looking at her sister’s demure smile on her face, Qiao Anhe sighed lightly in his heart.
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