Chapter 16: 016 Brother and Sister

 Chapter 16: 016 Brother and Sister

Shen Shi raised an eyebrow, glancing between the pair of siblings. 

In fact, she had already been informed by the servants that Mu’er had secretly gone to play with Chen’er.

She knew that the concubine’s daughter, Chen’er, was gentle and obedient, with no ill intentions, so she had not stopped them. What surprised her, however, was how close the two siblings had become.

At this moment, Mu’er was still pouting in anger, but Shen Shi, being a mother who knew her child best, could tell from the gleam in his eyes that the little one was actually happy.

These two children were truly compatible!

Over the years, Chen’er had likely been concealing her skills. This time, in order to save Mu’er, she had revealed that she knew medicine. Shen Shi looked at the pair of siblings with a smile.

"I came today because of that," Chu Qianchen said, gently holding Chu Yunmu’s hand and rubbing his palm. While casually checking his pulse, she observed his complexion. His face appeared somewhat pale, but his eyes were bright, and his pulse was a little slow but not weak.

Chu Qianchen sighed in relief and asked with a serious expression, "Did you eat sticky rice dumplings this morning?"

"..."

Chu Yunmu’s gaze shifted uneasily.

Chu Qianchen smiled and turned to Shen Shi, saying, "Mother, Fourth Brother simply overindulged. It’s nothing serious."

From his pulse, Chu Qianchen could guess that Shen Shi had probably withheld food from him since yesterday, likely because the physician was worried that if he had a head injury, vomiting might obstruct his airways and lead to suffocation.

The little one was starving, so he had eaten recklessly this morning, sneaking some sticky rice dumplings that were hard to digest, which had irritated his stomach and caused him to vomit.

Shen Shi froze for a moment and looked at the wet nurse. The nurse, Qian Niang, appeared anxious and stammered, "…The kitchen made pearl sticky rice dumplings today. I only gave Fourth Young Master one."

Chu Yunmu quickly nodded and said loudly, "Yes! Mother, I only ate one! I’m not feeling uncomfortable anymore!"

Chu Qianchen smiled without saying anything, knowing full well that he had at least eaten three!

But since he had vomited, he had gotten rid of most of it. A little more fasting, and he would be fine.

She didn’t call him out, continuing, "Mother, if you have any digestive tea, just give Fourth Brother a bowl. He should eat light meals for lunch."

Shen Shi nodded and instructed a maid, "Lan Ying, go make a bowl of digestive tea."

Lan Ying immediately knelt to take the order and went to prepare it herself.

The old servant, Chen Mama, hesitated and said, "Madam, perhaps we should call a physician to be safe."

Chen Mama was Shen Shi’s trusted confidante, always looking out for her.

In her opinion, while Second Miss was gentle and obedient, she was after all born of a concubine, and thus not to be fully trusted. Furthermore, at such a young age, who could say how much she understood medicine?

"No need," Shen Shi smiled. "I trust Chen’er."

She looked at Chu Yunmu on the bed with tenderness. Since Chen’er had noticed that Mu’er had eaten sticky rice dumplings without being told, it was clear she wasn’t simply guessing.

"..." Chu Qianchen felt a flicker in her heart.

This was only the second time in two lifetimes that someone had said they trusted her.

A smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of her mouth, her beauty enhanced by the radiant light in her eyes.

Chu Yunmu, relieved that the "crisis" was over, reverted to his usual playful self and urged, "Chu Qianchen, you still haven’t taught me how to solve the Kongming lock!" He had already forgotten all about the earlier complaint of not wanting to be friends with her.

Chu Qianchen responded again, "Call me Second Sister."

"Second Sister! Second Sister!" Chu Yunmu grabbed Chu Qianchen’s arm and shook it playfully, "Teach me!"

Memories seemed distant, but at that moment, Chu Qianchen recalled that in her past life, she had given him the Kongming lock to play with just before his accident.

She hadn’t expected to have the chance to play with Mu’er again.

"Qian Niang, quickly bring the Kongming lock over," Chu Yunmu instructed. The moment it came to playing, he was full of energy, his face turning rosy.

Shen Shi, sitting in the circle chair, looked at Chu Yunmu’s lively appearance and was finally at ease.

Soon, Lan Ying returned with the digestive tea.

Chu Yunmu drank it in one go, his face scrunching in displeasure. Then, with a sweetened apricot fruit in hand, he looked at Chu Qianchen with a pitiful expression, "Chu Qian… Second Sister, make me some layered pastry. I’m so pitiful."

Chu Qianchen gently ruffled his soft hair, agreeing happily, "Alright."

Chu Yunmu was delighted, his eyes crinkling in a joyful smile.

At this moment, Chen Mama returned, her expression serious as she reported, "Madam, we’ve figured it out…"

"What’s going on?" Shen Shi’s expression darkened, her sharp gaze landing on Chen Mama.

Chen Mama hesitated, glancing at Chu Qianchen, but Shen Shi spoke first, "Say it."

Chen Mama then spoke without hesitation, "There was a loose stone on the artificial mountain. It had rained heavily the night before, and the artificial mountain isn’t something people often climb, nor has it been repaired in years."

Chu Qianchen raised an eyebrow, thinking: Could this mean the stone on the artificial mountain was loosened by the rain, and Mu’er’s fall was just an accident?

"Mu’er," Shen Shi smiled gently as she looked at Chu Yunmu on the bed, casually asking, "Why did you climb the artificial mountain yesterday?"

Shen Shi had wanted to ask this yesterday, but because Mu’er hadn’t been feeling well, she had refrained from asking to avoid making him think too much.

Chu Yunmu replied, "The kite flew onto a tree branch next to the artificial mountain."

Shen Shi then asked, "Were there any other people around at the time?"

Chu Yunmu shook his head. "After I climbed up, I suddenly stepped on an empty spot and fell down."

Shen Shi slightly nodded, her thoughts aligning with Chu Qianchen’s: Could it have truly been an accident?

Chen Mama stood quietly to the side, her eyes lowered in deference.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Shi turned to Chen Mama and asked, "Chen Mama, have you investigated if anyone else climbed the artificial mountain yesterday?"

Chen Mama, having already sent people to check, quickly replied, "Replying to Madam, no one else was seen."

Shen Shi reviewed the situation once more in her mind. For now, there didn’t seem to be anything suspicious about it.

After a long silence, Chu Qianchen spoke up, "Chen Mama, did you ask Mei’er?"

She paused for a moment before adding, "Yesterday, Mei’er went to Rongfu Hall to report. Perhaps she saw Fourth Brother fall from the artificial mountain."

Mei’er had told her that she had seen Elder Sister Chu Qianhuang near the artificial mountain yesterday. However, since Chu Qianhuang was the biological daughter of the legitimate wife and Mu’er’s own sister, saying this might stir up suspicion. It was better for the legitimate wife herself to inquire about it.

(End of Chapter)