Chapter 2.1

[This is my first time translating and I would like to emphasize that I am not a professional translator and I don’t speak the Chinese language and English is not my language as well. I just want to share some good novels that I have MTL-ed. If you don’t mind these things, then feel free to read and if you don’t just go away (don’t be a meanie XD).]

Pan Er emptied the bowl of medicine, instead of it helping to press down the urge to vomit, she even felt more nauseous.

Xiang Pu is also a smart one. She picked up a salted plum from the small dish and hastily stuffed it into Pan Er’s mouth.

That sentence ‘Presumptuous!’, was so hard to be pushed back.

The Empress Dowager Yi An, who was treated as precious as gold and jade was dumbfounded. The palace maid and eunuch who served her carefully clean their hands and use aromatic incense in fear of dirtying the master. Now, was dirtied by a silly girl who didn’t know anything.

But –

She knew, however, that during her illness it was these two little girls who took care of her with all their might. They never slackened in feeding her daily medication to help her recover.

Empress Dowager Yi An can’t remember whether there was such a scene before. After all, these memories were far too long ago. She vaguely remembers that she was indeed ill on her way to Beijing, but not so seriously.

What has changed? Was it because she had comeback?

Pan Er was biting the plum in her mouth tastelessly. Her mouth was stimulated by severe acid, which lead to the overflow of saliva.

Up to now, Pan Er still can’t figure out whether she is like ^[1] Zhuang Zhou having the butterfly dream. When she wakes up, she would still be the respected Empress Dowager. She thought about the problem for days, but she knew she have no more time to think about it.

As a result of this sudden serious illness, Pei Yong Chang asked the boat to come ashore and find a doctor for her. The doctor has taken her pulse, she had taken a lot of medicine, but still her illness did not improve. In reality it was not a serious illness, it’s just that she can’t get out of bed because she was too weak.

It’s just a few days away from the capital. If her body condition will worsen, there’s no doubt that she will face an end. After all, no one knows better than her what Pei Yong Chang bought her for.

So she had to get better.

During her moment of deep thought, Qing Dai had cleaned Pan Er’s face, wiped her hands and neck, and put her on the bed.

Pan Er tried to use her little strength. She was still weak however it was better compared to the previous days.

She pursed her lips and said, “Xiang Pu, go and get some hot water. Give me a hot compress and massage me just like yesterday. I feel much better than the previous two days. Maybe it should be done a few more times. “

Although Pan Er knew nothing about medical skills, she can feel that she will be better if she uses this treatment for a while. What she lacks right now is time, so she can only pick up the little maids and encourage them. This is better than not doing anything.

Xiang Pu went down to do her task.

After a while, she came in with a young man carrying hot water.

It was early spring and the weather was still a little cold. However, it didn’t feel cold after burning a charcoal basin in front of my bed.

Sitting on the couch, Pan Er’s upper garment was half-opened. The dark green silk quilt complimented her complexion. Her skin is better than snow, sparkling and translucent.

This sight made Xiang Pu envious. The movements of her subordinates are more gentle, for fear of hurting the girl’s good skin.

The two little girls were so busy that they were sweating. First, use the hot compress and then massage the girl. The massage method was given to them by the girl. They don’t know how the girl would come up with this idea.

Empress Dowager Yi An, the golden and precious empress dowager, they did not know that her first years in the palace was not easy. In order to maintain being favored she needed to maintain her slender figure. She had to exercise for more than half an hour every day. After practicing, someone has to help massage and relax the muscles and bones. As time goes by, the massage skills were self-taught.

After pressing her arms and back, then her legs and feet, Pan Er was sweating, and Xiang Pu and Qing Dai were also tired.

But the two girls complained nothing and were busy scrubbing and dressing Pan Er.

And through such a scene, Pan Er soon fell asleep.

Everyone thought that Pan Er would not make it, surprisingly her condition gradually improved. She was able to get out of bed and walk a few steps by the time they are near ^[2]Tongzhou.

Arriving in Tongzhou is equivalent to the capital. After disembarking for one day, Pei Yong Chang saw that Pan Er was still weak. Her condition was not as sick as before, so he didn’t delay going to the capital any more.

It’s only half a day’s journey from Tongzhou to the capital.

The next day, before the sun is up, the party set out and hurried to the capital before noon.

The Chen family was heavily respected by the Emperor because of Chen ^[3] Shoufu. Their mansion is located in the west Tangzi Alley near ^[4] Donghua gate. The big house with five entrances and three roads is occupied by the four branches of Chen family.

Along the way, Pan Er followed Pei Yong Chang with her head down. She didn’t look up until they reached Yunxia courtyard where the second madam lived.

The courtyard has a total of five rooms, one main room and four side rooms. The yard is paved with blue bricks. In the middle is a rockery made of taihu stone. There is flowing water on the rockery, surrounded with blooming exotic flowers and rare plants. At the corner of the yard holly and pomegranate trees with luxuriant foliage can be seen

In front of the corridor stood several servant girls in green bǐ jiǎ.

When they saw Pei Yong Chang, they called ^[5] ‘gūyé’ respectfully. A servant girl in blue bǐ jiǎ stepped up to welcome Pei Yong Chang and Pan Er inside.

Xiang Pu and Qing Dai were left outside. They don’t know much about the rules of prestigious families. They had been intimidated by Chen family’s imposing manner and they don’t even dare to lift their heads.

T/N: Stay safe, stay at home! Just get a good novel let your time pass.

• [1] Zhuang Zhou’s Butterfly Dream <idiom> – it may sound like an unusual idiom: but in Chinese, it makes perfect sense. The butterfly dream, Zhuang Zhou Meng Die (庄周梦蝶 ) in Chinese, is a chengyu, an idiom, usually a four-character phrase. Zhuang Zhou Meng Die isn’t just a chengyu, but also a philosophy concept developed by the Taoist philosopher, Zhuangzi. Through the story of dreaming of being a butterfly, Zhuangzi poses a philosophical question: how does one understand reality? If the dream feels real enough, nobody could know whether he was in a dream or awake.
• [2] Tongzhou District is a district of Beijing. It is located in southeast Beijing and considered the eastern gateway to the nation’s capital.
• [3] Shoufu – an official title similar to a grand secretary
• [4] Donghua Gate <East Glorious Gate> – one of the gates of the Forbidden City
• [5] gū ye <姑爷> son-in-law (used by wife’s family); uncle (husband of father’s sister)

A mansion with 5 entrances and 3 road

Taihu Stone

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