Oops! The Black Lotus Can't Be a Female Supporting Character - Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Ibuprofen
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Gu Feichi subtly pursed his lips and instructed Li Shu, saying, “Li Shu, go prepare some chicken soup porridge and simmer it on the stove.”
Li Shu, now composed, nodded repeatedly, saying, “Yes, it’s time to make some porridge. It’s good for recovery.”
During this time, Duke Weiguo struggled with sleepless nights, his appetite waned, and he was tormented, leaving him visibly thin. He felt helpless, unable to do anything for him.
Finally, Duke Weiguo’s fever had subsided, and he stopped coughing. After a good night’s sleep, his appetite would surely return.
Li Shu hurriedly left after coming in.
Gu Feichi stayed quietly by Duke Weiguo’s side, waiting for him to wake up in the afternoon. He gave him his second dose of medicine for the day and some porridge.
Duke Weiguo’s body remained weak. After eating the porridge, he fell into a deep sleep again.
Gu Feichi continued to watch over Duke Weiguo, staying with him until the early hours of the morning. At times, Duke Weiguo’s fever resurged after the medicine’s effects had worn off, but it would subside again after taking more medicine.
His cough improved somewhat, with only occasional coughing, and his breathing gradually stabilized.
Both Gu Feichi and Li Shu could see that the medicine given by Xiao Yanfei was indeed effective in treating Duke Weiguo’s condition.
Seeing his father’s condition improving, Gu Feichi finally eased his worries. In the middle of the night, he discreetly sent him back to the mansion and quietly left by himself.
The door opened and closed without alerting unnecessary individuals.
It was late at night, with stars dotting the sky. The capital city was as quiet as still water, with only the night wind howling.
The next day, Duke Weiguo’s mansion remained tightly shut, with no signs of activity, and no one entered or left, drawing the attention of many in the capital.
Another day passed, and Duke Weiguo’s mansion continued to bar guests.
For three or four consecutive days, the Duke’s friends and acquaintances grew concerned. Some attempted to visit but were turned away at the door, with the gatekeepers offering no explanation.
The news spread quickly, and in just a few days, the entire capital city knew about this matter, secretly speculating when the Duke of Weiguo’s mansion would be draped in white, and some even prepared the funeral rites in advance.
Unexpectedly, on the morning of the fifth day, the Duke of Weiguo, who was rumored to be on the brink of death, appeared at the morning court.
The Duke of Weiguo wore a black silk cap on his head, a narrow-sleeved crimson robe embroidered with a golden dragon, and a jade belt around his waist. He was dressed in the attire of the imperial court as usual, but his figure was noticeably slimmer, his face showed signs of illness, and his spirit seemed somewhat diminished.
There was silence in the Hall of Golden Chimes.
Everyone knew that the Duke of Weiguo was critically ill, but now, the Duke, who should have already stepped into the coffin, was standing alive in Jinluan Hall.
Even the Emperor was shocked and asked, “Yanzhi, are you cured of your illness?”
Duke Weiguo smiled and clasped his hands, saying, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I happened to come across a divine physician who prescribed me some medicine. I have only taken a few doses, and I am already much better.”
“It seems that if I continue taking it for a few more days, I will fully recover!”
The entire court was in uproar, as if it were a bustling marketplace.
Could there really be such a miraculous medicine in this world?! The courtiers couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.
Some of them had visited Duke Weiguo’s mansion, and at that time, the Duke not only looked emaciated but also coughed up blood from time to time. Anyone would have thought he was at death’s door.
Moreover, the Duke’s mansion had invited renowned physicians from the capital, and every doctor had shaken their heads and sighed. Even the Imperial Medical Institute had gently suggested that the Duke of Weiguo’s mansion would inevitably have to prepare for a funeral if he didn’t recover within the month.
This divine physician had miraculously pulled Duke Weiguo back from the brink of death!
The surrounding courtiers were making a commotion, but the Emperor ignored them and gazed down at Duke Weiguo from his high golden throne.
The Emperor smiled slightly and sighed, “In that case, I can be at ease.”
His right hand subconsciously gripped the dragon-carved armrest of the throne, and the veins on the back of his hand tensed.
Duke Weiguo calmly raised his head to look at the Emperor.
He was also smiling, with a few laugh lines appearing at the corners of his eyes, though the mirth in his eyes did not reach the depths of his soul.
In the tranquil atmosphere between the monarch and his ministers, a sudden tension overcame the Jinluan Hall. It seemed as if invisible sparks were flickering in the air.
During the subsequent morning court session, most courtiers were disinterested in state affairs. Their gazes couldn’t help but drift towards the Duke of Weiguo, who stood at the forefront of the military officials.
Among them was the Marquis Wu’an, Xiao Yan, also within the ranks of military officials.
Xiao Yan spent an hour in court, lost in thought.
After the court session, he hurriedly returned to his mansion and shared the situation with his mother.
“Is Duke Weiguo really recovering?” His mother’s hand trembled, and she almost dropped her prayer beads in disbelief.
All the servants present were dismissed, leaving only Xiao Yan, his mother, and herself.
Xiao Yan nodded and took a sip of tea. “He’s still a bit weak, but it’s definitely not a major issue.”
Recalling the intrigue between the Emperor and Duke Weiguo during the morning court, Xiao Yan’s expression darkened, and his restless heart began to calm.
His mother absentmindedly played with her prayer beads and sighed softly. “What a pity.”
If Duke Weiguo had recovered, their betrothal with Duke Weiguo’s household might not proceed. Given Duke Weiguo’s noble background, it would be impossible for him to marry a concubine-born girl unless it was for some political advantage.
This is quite unfortunate.
If only Duke Weiguo had recovered a few days later, they could have married off the girl first, and when Duke Weiguo improved, it would have been a favor to his household!
Why did Duke Weiguo have to recover now?
A hint of displeasure appeared on his mother’s face.
Xiao Yan noticed his mother’s discomfort, moved to sit on the nearby recliner, and handed her another cup of tea. “Mother, please calm down.”
His mother had no intention of drinking tea. She accepted it and then set it aside.
Xiao Yan rubbed the bridge of his nose, collected his thoughts, and continued, “I’ve been thinking; perhaps it’s for the best if this marriage doesn’t go through.”
“Duke Weiguo’s residence today appears to be flourishing for the moment, but it’s like a fire in hot oil. Just one wrong step, and it may be irreparable.”
“Think about it, if the Emperor truly cherished the late Empress, these years they wouldn’t have used Gu Feichi as a tool!”
People often say that the current Emperor has deep affection for the late Empress , Gu Shi. They say that the Emperor and Duke Weiguo are not brothers by blood, but they’re like brothers. The Emperor is known for his deep feelings and righteousness. After ascending the throne, he has always remembered Duke Weiguo’s support in securing his position as the heir, and their loyalty has lasted for decades.
The Emperor is renowned for his wisdom and generosity.
But anyone with keen eyes can see that the Emperor has now entrusted various underhanded matters to Duke Weiguo’s heir, Gu Feichi, which has led to his notorious reputation.
For instance, two years ago during the Yanzhou flooding, a group of refugees escaped to Jizhou and turned into bandits, causing trouble in the region. There was a heated debate at the court on whether to eliminate the bandits or offer them amnesty, which lasted for two days. Finally, the Emperor handed this task to Gu Feichi, allowing him to handle it as he saw fit.
Gu Feichi issued a severe crackdown, killing thousands of bandits, and people at court accused him of being ruthless and excessively bloodthirsty.
Now, everyone talks about him as: “cruel and ruthless!”
Xiao Yan stopped there and didn’t say more, but Grand Madam, who had lived for most of her life, understood this point after her son’s explanation.
However…
She tightly held the prayer beads in her hand and said, “I initially thought that by sacrificing a concubine’s daughter, the Duke of Weiguo’s residence could at least help you secure the vacant position of Deputy Commander of the Shensu Camp.”
“Sigh!”
She sighed deeply, then remembered how Xiao Yanfei had broken her Guanyin statue. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she slammed the tea table heavily. “This girl is absolutely useless!”
“What a bad luck!”
Grand Madam’s exclamation of “bad luck” suddenly made Xiao Yanfei’s previously tranquil and carefree life take a turn for the worse.
When she saw that the dinner that day was all vegetables, tofu, and pickled cucumbers, she still hadn’t realized it.
But after having three consecutive vegetarian meals, she wasn’t naive.
“Bad luck?” Xiao Yanfei raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Hai Tang looked at her Miss with some concern. It was not a good thing for a young lady to be associated with “bad luck.” The Grand Madam was being unreasonable. How could she blame her Miss for Duke’s recovery?
Xiao Yan turned to look at the Sasanqua Camellias outside the window, casually plucked a branch, and sniffed the fragrance. Then she asked, “Did you inquire about whether Mama He has been feeling unwell lately?”
“I inquired,” Hai Tang nodded. “When I went to the kitchen to prepare the early dinner, I saw Mama He’s face was a bit pale. The kitchen maid said Mama He is having her monthly period.”
Hai Tang’s round face showed a bit of embarrassment and awkwardness as she continued, “Every time Mama He has her monthly period, she experiences pain.”
“Is it severe?” Xiao Yanfei interjected.
“Very severe,” Hai Tang sympathetically sighed. “Mama He was in so much pain last night that she couldn’t sleep. The kitchen maid even mentioned that there was one time last year when she fainted from the pain.”
“In the past, my mother and grandmother told me that women wouldn’t experience pain during their monthly periods after giving birth to children, but Mama He has already given birth to two sons and a daughter.”
“Some people say that Mama He must have committed some sin in a past life, and that’s why she’s experiencing this in this lifetime.”
Xiao Yanfei couldn’t help but feel frustrated, “Nonsense!”
Why do people always attribute everything to women’s faults?
Dysmenorrhea can be primary or secondary. If it’s the former, most women stop experiencing pain after giving birth. But if it’s the latter, like in Mama He’s case, having children won’t alleviate the pain.
At such times, the most effective remedy is—
Ibuprofen.
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Translated By: Allthingsfluff