As soon as Shi Muyuan returned to the Palace of Longevity and Health, she saw Ze Ze and Xiao Xiao running towards her, tears and snot streaming down their faces. Her young heart was shocked, and the foot she had just stretched out of the sedan chair was silently retracted.
"Empress Dowager!" Ze Ze threw himself on his knees in front of her and stared at her pleadingly.
"What are you doing?"
Xiao Xiao stepped forward a bit later. She waved Ze Ze's hand away and reached out to hold Shi Muyuan. "Empress Dowager, let this slave help you down."
Ze Ze felt snubbed. When he looked up and saw the sedan - carrying soldiers, he realized it was not the time for him to act up. He smoothed his robe, tilted his head up, and assumed his usual haughty posture.
Once inside the main hall, a warm current enveloped Shi Muyuan's whole body.
"I heard that the Empress Dowager fell into the water. This slave had the charcoal fire ready early this morning so that you could warm up when you came back." Xiao Xiao helped her take off the cloak and led her to sit on the soft couch.
Ze Ze wiggled his butt and squeezed Xiao Xiao aside. Then, under Xiao Xiao's incredulous look, he started to curry favor.
"Empress Dowager, you've worried this slave to death. This slave wishes I could take those sufferings for you."
Shi Muyuan took the hot tea Xiao Xiao offered and raised her eyebrows. "All right, you. Where did you learn such behavior? Go away. You annoy me just by looking at you."
"Alright, yes!"
"Pfft!" Ze Ze answered so quickly that Shi Muyuan couldn't help laughing.
The mistress and her two servants chatted and laughed for quite a while. Finally, Shi Muyuan, feeling sleepy, said, "You're so glib - tongued. All of you, withdraw. I want to rest."
Although Xiao Xiao had disliked Ze Ze earlier, after asking about Shi Muyuan's experience, she cried loudly.
Ze Ze pouted, led Xiao Xiao out of the room, quickly called Zi Huan to accompany the Empress Dowager, and then ran away on his own.
Inside the room, Shi Muyuan nestled softly on the couch. Since the charcoal fire had been burning for a long time, she only covered herself with a thin quilt.
She counted the days on her fingers. It had been some time, and the matter in Qingshui County should almost be over. Tomorrow, she would send Ze Ze to inquire about the result.
Shi Muyuan sneezed and rubbed her nose.
Falling into the water in the cold winter and being frozen for a long time, she didn't expect her delicate body to recover quickly, so she didn't pay much attention and just waited for it to get better slowly.
As the sun outside gradually set, Shi Muyuan fell into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning, Xiao Xiao thought that the Empress Dowager had suffered for many days, so she specifically told the imperial kitchen to prepare some delicious and nourishing food for the Empress Dowager. She even told Zi Huan to bring the maids to wait at the door of the main hall at the third hour of the day.
Unexpectedly, when she came back from the imperial kitchen with the food, she saw Zi Huan and a group of palace maids waiting outside the door with sad faces.
Xiao Xiao frowned. "Why are you still standing here?"
"Aunt Xiao, you've wronged us. The Empress Dowager hasn't woken up yet. How dare we go in?"
Xiao Xiao's heart skipped a beat. The Empress Dowager usually woke up at a fixed time. This was a good habit she had developed when she was a white - collar worker in her previous life.
The last time she didn't wake up on time, she caught a cold. Could something be wrong today?
Xiao Xiao quickly handed the things in her hands to others, pushed open the door, and strode in.
She had come to check on the Empress Dowager last night. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly on the small couch, she didn't dare to wake her up. She just fetched a quilt to cover Shi Muyuan, closed the doors and windows but left a small gap for ventilation, and moved the charcoal brazier to a proper position.
There shouldn't be any problem, right?
Xiao Xiao walked into the room. It was warm inside, and she felt a bit relieved. She told herself that maybe the Empress Dowager was just too tired and slept too soundly.
She tiptoed closer and peeked. Sure enough, Shi Muyuan was still sleeping soundly on the small couch. When she got closer, she saw that Shi Muyuan's face had an abnormal flush.
Xiao Xiao was shocked. She reached out and touched her. It was incredibly hot. She quickly ran out to call for help.
The small couch was, after all, small. Xiao Xiao called Ze Ze to move Shi Muyuan to the bed. After pulling the curtains, she let the imperial doctor come in to feel the pulse.
"Doctor Qing, how is the Empress Dowager?"
"The Empress Dowager has caught a cold. According to what the girl said, she has been staying in a room with a stove since she returned to the palace. I think it's because of the long - term fatigue. Finally, when she relaxed, her body couldn't adjust to it, so the illness showed up."
"What kind of illness is this?" Xiao Xiao had never heard of such an illness and was a bit confused.
"Well, it's like a person who has suffered from extreme cold and then is exposed to intense heat. The body can't bear it," Doctor Qing patiently explained to her.
"The Empress Dowager should eat some light food on weekdays to nourish her body. Otherwise, it's easy to damage her health."
Outside the room, Xiao Xiao was talking to the imperial doctor. Shi Muyuan was curled up on the bed, feeling speechless. After falling into the water, her clothes almost dried naturally without any big problems, but coming back to warm up gave her this trouble.
Many people came to the Palace of Longevity and Health one after another to visit her. Ji Heng and the other three children still had lessons to learn, so they just came to have lunch with her and then left.
Shi An and Shi Li also entered the palace together. They first went to Ji Heng's place and then came to see her.
Shi Li decided to stay in Changjing for a while. It was not only because of what Shi Muyuan had said when comforting the three children that day but also because Shi An hoped he would stay.
Shi Muyuan was not feeling well and was lying limply in bed. The two Shi brothers didn't go in. They just said a few words of concern outside and left after exhorting her.
So, Shi Muyuan stayed in the warm room for several days. The fever was long gone, but her nose was still a bit blocked, and her head was dizzy and listless.
"Achoo!" Suddenly, she sneezed again. Shi Muyuan pinched the sides of her nose to relieve the discomfort. Through the bronze mirror, she saw two maids busily arranging her hair behind her. Soon, a delicate snake - shaped hair bun appeared on her head, and the end of the snake was decorated with a beautiful peacock - blue gem.
Knowing that they weren't done yet, Shi Muyuan idly played with the jewelry on the table.
Early this morning, Xiao Xiao had leaned her face in front of Shi Muyuan, scaring away the drowsiness of her second - round sleep.
"Empress Dowager, this slave checked the sky last night and thought today was a good day. Sure enough, as soon as I got up this morning, I could see the sun. This slave thinks that Doctor Qing said that more walking is good for the body."
"Also, the flowers in the imperial garden seem to be in bloom at this time. Would the Empress Dowager like to go and have a look? How about hosting a banquet for those noble ladies this time? Usually, it's time for the plum - viewing banquet. But this year, the Empress Dowager's accident delayed it, and some young ladies from noble families must be getting impatient."
Shi Muyuan was still in a daze from being scared by Xiao Xiao's face. Before she knew it, she was sitting in front of the bronze mirror. Thinking about it, she really hadn't walked around for several days, so she let Xiao Xiao arrange her.