Chapter 16

 

Pei Yuan wrapped Bao Ning in a quilt and pushed her all the way back to the west wing.

 

Both shocked and frightened, Bao Ning was already ill.

 

She had been holding on with sheer willpower, but now the sickness overwhelmed her.

 

She quickly felt dizzy, and her clothes seemed to let in the cold, making her shiver all over.

 

Pei Yuan spread out the quilt, settled her in, and then turned to start a fire. The wound on his leg was almost healed. Squatting down didn't hurt anymore, but it was still strenuous.

 

He forced himself to get the fire going. The kang (heated brick bed) slowly warmed up, but Bao Ning still felt miserable.

 

She wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, feeling sore all over and unable to sleep. Her head began to ache, and she felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to cry.

 

Pei Yuan came over to check on her and sat beside her, asking, "Still cold?"

 

Bao Ning nodded. Pei Yuan looked around, "Do we have any medicine at home?"

 

Bao Ning shook her head." No medicine won't do; the fever needs to go down." 

Pei Yuan thought for a moment and said to Bao Ning, "Lie down properly and wait for me."

 

Pei Yuan went to the east wing and fetched a jar of wine. Ah Huang (the dog) had been circling around Bao Ning, barking, and Pei Yuan, annoyed, pulled it into the east wing and shut it inside, not letting it follow him.

 

Bao Ning watched as Pei Yuan warmed the wine, then took out a bowl and poured some.

 

She asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"

 

Pei Yuan glanced at her, "For you to drink."

 

His broad hand made the bowl look particularly small. He held it steadily with one hand and used the other to support her back, helping her sit up, "Be good, take a few sips to warm up. I'll wipe you down later, make some porridge, and after a good night's sleep, you'll be better by tomorrow."

 

Hearing that she had to drink wine, Bao Ning was already resistant.

 

When Pei Yuan mentioned wiping her down, her face turned pale, and she pushed his hand away, "I don't want to!" "Don't move, you'll spill it!"

 

Pei Yuan frowned, holding the bowl to her lips and ordering, "Drink."

 

Bao Ning shook her head and leaned back, but Pei Yuan blocked her from behind, "It's medicinal wine, not strong, just a bit of alcohol. Smell it if you don't believe me."

 

Bao Ning sniffed it and found it didn't have much of an alcohol smell; the scent of ephedra was quite strong, suggesting it was for inducing sweat.

 

But she still didn't want to drink it. Her alcohol tolerance was poor, and she didn't dare risk making a fool of herself if she got drunk.

 

Seeing her uncooperative, Pei Yuan's patience wore thin, and he sternly said, "Will you drink it or not?""I don't want to..."

 

Before Bao Ning could finish, Pei Yuan pinched her chin and poured a mouthful down her throat.

 

Afraid she might choke, Pei Yuan patted her back from behind, coaxing her, "Doesn't it taste good?"

 

The bitter and spicy taste made Bao Ning gag, nearly throwing up.

 

Pei Yuan pinched her nose, bringing the bowl to her face, "Do it yourself, or I'll be rough."

 

Bao Ning had no choice. Closing her eyes, she swallowed the entire bowl. Pei Yuan seemed satisfied. "Breaking a sweat will help."

 

He reached for a cloth, dipped it in warm water, and pulled down Bao Ning's quilt, "Turn over, lift your clothes, I'll wipe you down to reduce your fever."

 

"No, really, no." Bao Ning retreated from him, almost pleading, "Pei Yuan, please stay away from me, don't touch me." Pei Yuan grabbed her wrist, pulling her back, "You're sick, you need treatment, stop thinking unnecessary things." "I don't want treatment..."

 Bao Ning clutched her arms, almost crying, "Please go out, okay?" She truly didn't want it, and Pei Yuan couldn't force her. After a moment of hesitation, he compromised, "Fine, I'll just wipe your face." Bao Ning, exhausted, lay down as he suggested.

Pei Yuan, being a man, was still heavy-handed despite his care. After a few strokes on her face, Bao Ning whimpered in pain, so he moved to her neck and then her palms, wiping them with water. He wiped all the exposed areas several times until they felt less hot. Then he slipped his hand inside to remove her socks, wiping her feet too.

Bao Ning, terrified, pulled her legs back, her eyes filled with tears, "What are you doing?" At this point, Pei Yuan had no other thoughts. Besides, with her clothes still on, even if he wanted to think of something else, he had no material to work with.

His legs were not convenient, and taking care of her took several trips back and forth, exhausting him. Seeing Bao Ning like this, his face darkened immediately, "Straighten your legs, don't make me say it twice."  

Bao Ning said, "I don't..."Pei Yuan finally realized something was wrong with Bao Ning. She had pulled the quilt up to her nose, her eyes watery and bright, with her cheeks flushed. Pei Yuan was surprised, "Are you drunk?"

He didn't know what expression to make, "Just two sips of medicinal wine, and you're drunk?" Bao Ning said, "I want to go home." Pei Yuan frowned, "Why do you want to go home?" "I want to see Aunt Ming." Bao Ning's voice was muffled under the quilt, "I'm telling you, Aunt Ming is amazing. When I was little, I almost drowned once, and she cured me with a potion. I'm sick this time; she can cure me with one too. And your leg..." "I don't need your Aunt Ming; I can cure you myself." 

Pei Yuan interrupted, pulling down her quilt, "Pull it down a bit, you'll suffocate." "I won't suffocate." Bao Ning pushed his hand away, "Don't touch me, I like it this way, it's warm." "Are you cold?" Pei Yuan slipped his hand under the quilt, checking the temperature, "It's pretty hot. Still burning?" He reached to touch her forehead, but Bao Ning dodged.

Pei Yuan's expression darkened, just about to scold her, when Bao Ning said, "Stop moving around, listen to me."...Alcohol really does give courage. Normally so well-behaved, now she dared to lecture him.

Pei Yuan pressed his lips together, coldly saying, "Speak." Bao Ning blinked her eyes, "Your attitude is bad." Pei Yuan was so angry he laughed, reaching out to pinch her neck through the quilt, "I should just strangle you." 

He was joking and didn't use any force, purely teasing her. Bao Ning, however, took him seriously. Her mind was muddled, unable to distinguish between good-natured and bad-natured comments. She froze, her eyes slowly reddening, "You can't do that."

Pei Yuan felt a surge of panic. He couldn't follow Bao Ning's train of thought or understand what she was saying. He only saw her suddenly start crying, "What's wrong? What can't I do?" Bao Ning didn't answer, tears gathering in her eyes, ready to spill over.

Pei Yuan cursed under his breath and used the back of his hand to wipe her tears, "Alright, stop crying. All you do is cry every day. Cry over nothing." "You can't..." Bao Ning's muffled voice came from under the quilt, "You can't strangle me." She sniffled a few times and added, "That's illegal. "Pei Yuan took a deep breath, "Did I say that?" Bao Ning said, "You did."

 Pei Yuan thought back carefully and then remembered he had indeed said it. "I was joking, I won't strangle you!" Pei Yuan gritted his teeth, scolding her, "If I ever die, it'll definitely be because you made me so angry. Alright, stop crying. You've snot all over my hand. "

The topic shifted, and Bao Ning's gaze followed, looking at his hand, which indeed was shiny, though it was unclear if it was from tears or something else. She scooted down and buried her face in the quilt, leaving only a tuft of hair outside, "I don't know, it's not my snot." Pei Yuan played along, "Mm, it's not yours, it's the dog's." Don't insult me." Bao Ning popped her head out and said seriously, "It's mine." "Are you sick?"

Pei Yuan, feeling dizzy from her antics, stopped humoring her and yanked the quilt down, shouting, "Keep your head out and don't move. Otherwise, I'll throw you out, and the wolves outside will eat you, understand?" Bao Ning stared at him in shock, unhappy with his tone. Her mouth twitched, about to cry again. Pei Yuan glared, "Hold it in!"

Bao Ning sniffled, "Okay..."... If only I'd done this earlier, he thought. A stubborn mule can't be coddled, you have to reverse it. Shouting works better than anything else. Soon, Bao Ning fell asleep. Taking advantage of the break, Pei Yuan cooked a bowl of porridge, cooled it down, and went back to wake her up to eat. She was still groggy, not fully awake, and after a couple of bites, refused to eat more.

Pei Yuan forced one more spoonful on her, and seeing she really didn't want any more, he finished the rest himself. After eating, Bao Ning felt a bit more energetic and said, "In a few days, I want to go home. Can you come with me?" Pei Yuan sighed, "Why?" Bao Ning said, "Aunt Ming is amazing. She knows many ancient remedies and folk prescriptions that are very effective.

Aunt Ming's second daughter married the third young master of the Chong Yuan Marquis family and had a son the next year. The eldest daughter of the main wife married the heir of the Chong Yuan Marquis family three years ago and still doesn't have a child. I've heard the servants say that the eldest daughter is having a hard time holding her head up in the marquis's household."

 

Bao Ning didn't realize the conversation had strayed and seriously pondered her earlier words, "Is having a son really that important?" Pei Yuan said, "The heir of the Chong Yuan Marquis family wants a son, not your eldest sister, so a son is very important." "Oh."

Bao Ning didn't quite understand but nodded, pretending she did. Pei Yuan asked, "Any other questions?" Bao Ning remembered something, "I want to go home." Pei Yuan felt a headache coming on and rubbed his temple, "Okay, how will you get there?" Bao Ning thought for a moment, "By carriage." Pei Yuan asked, "Where's the carriage?" Bao Ning was stumped, frowning as she thought hard, "I'll write to Ji Yun and have him bring the carriage."

Pei asked, "How will you send the letter?" "My goodness." Bao Ning looked at him, her cheeks flushed, "How are you so clever?" She pursed her lips, "But I'm a bit smarter. I can use a pigeon to send it." Pei Yuan felt a surge of anger and suppressed it, "Where's the pigeon?" "I don't have a pigeon."

Bao Ning shook her head. She looked up at Pei Yuan and tugged at his sleeve, softly asking, "Pei Yuan, can I raise a pigeon in the future?" "Shut up!" Pei Yuan's temple veins throbbed, and he pinched her cheek with two fingers, "I regret it so much.

 

My brain must have been squeezed by the door to give you those two sips of wine! You were already foolish, and with the wine, you're talking nonsense. Ji Bao Ning, listen to me, from now on, keep your mouth shut, or else..."Pei Yuan leaned down, whispering fiercely in her ear, "I'll throw your Ah Huang out."

Bao Ning was frightened. She quickly closed her eyes obediently. The light was bright, hurting her eyes, so she peeked at Pei Yuan through half-closed lids. Pei Yuan was staring at her. "Do you want me to blow out the light?" Bao Ning nodded.

 

Pei Yuan blew out the light with a "huff" and lay down with his clothes still on, "Sleep!" After a moment, he turned over and threatened, "No more talking..." He hadn't finished when he heard her gentle, rhythmic breathing, already asleep.

 

Pei Yuan lay back, staring at the ceiling, letting out a deep sigh. The whole night had been exhausting, leaving him feeling stifled. But turning to look at the small, steadily rising and falling figure under the quilt, he felt... it wasn't so bad after all.

 

The next morning, when Pei Yuan woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. Bao Ning was still asleep, curled up like a shrimp beside him.

 

Her long hair tickled him, and Pei Yuan closed his eyes, ruffling her hair and pushing her away gently.

 

Suddenly, a soft, slightly aggrieved boy's voice sounded in his ear, "Fourth Brother, you never held me like this."

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