Chapter 27: Mei'er

 Chapter 27: Mei'er

Shen Shi was also aware of this.

Five days ago, after Chu Qianchen had left, Chen Mama specifically went to Mei'er's house. When she returned, she reported that Mei'er hadn’t seen anyone near the rockery.

Chen Mama furrowed her brows and continued, "That day, Mei'er was talking, and suddenly she had a nosebleed. I handed her a handkerchief, and some of her blood got on my hands."

Upon hearing this, Chu Qianchen firmly concluded, "The source of the infection should be Mei'er."

At that moment, the head maid came in to report that everyone in the courtyard had been checked. No one had any wounds or rashes. They had already sent someone to fetch mugwort leaves from the storeroom, and the kitchen had boiled water, so everyone would take a mugwort bath soon.

Chu Qianchen organized her thoughts and explained to Shen Shi: "Mother, although 'Seven-Day Fever' is severe, only the blood of the infected is contagious. In other words, a person can only be infected if they come into contact with the infected person's fresh blood."

"The reason why 'Seven-Day Fever' spread so quickly in Ruxian was because the disease originated from a butcher shop. The owner of the shop caught the fever, and his blood dripped onto the meat he sold, causing the disease to spread violently."

"Chen Mama was infected because she came into contact with Mei'er’s blood while her palm wound was still healing."

In other words, as long as Chen Mama's rashes hadn’t broken open and she didn’t have symptoms like vomiting blood, coughing blood, or nosebleeds, the disease wouldn’t be contagious yet—she was simply sick, not contagious.

Earlier, when Chu Qianchen ordered everyone in the main courtyard to check for wounds and rashes, it was just to be cautious.

Shen Shi let out a sigh of relief and silently whispered a prayer.

"As for Mei'er..." Chu Qianchen's phoenix eyes flashed with a strange light.

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Shen Shi understood the implication.

There were no such things as coincidences. It was likely that when Chu Yunmu fell, Mei'er had witnessed something and was silenced in this way to cover it up.

Shen Shi couldn’t help but shiver, a wave of fear washing over her.

If it hadn’t been for Chen’er’s reminder to look for Mei'er that day, Mei'er might have died quietly in her own home.

If Chu Qianchen hadn’t been so careful today and noticed something was off with Chen Mama, Chen Mama might have died without anyone knowing why.

The thought made Shen Shi feel even colder.

It was supposed to be the warm, blossoming season, but it felt as though she had just crawled out of an ice cave, her whole body cold.

At that moment, she was certain that the accident with Yunmu was no accident!

What was even more frightening was that the person behind it was trying to use such a hidden method to kill and silence people.

If Mei'er had died, anyone would have assumed she died of illness. Frankly speaking, a young woman from a family of commoners dying of an illness would just be wrapped in a thin sheet and no one would investigate the cause of her death.

The room was dead silent, with only the sound of a needle falling.

Chen Mama, too, had come to the same realization. Her body trembled slightly.

Shen Shi remained silent for a long time before letting out a deep sigh. "Chen'er, you’ve worked hard."

"Mother, I’ll prescribe some medicine for Chen Mama," Chu Qianchen said, already having formulated a plan. "She should take three doses first, and we’ll see how it goes."

This was Chu Qianchen’s first time treating Seven-Day Fever. In her previous life, she had only seen the symptoms and pulse patterns in her master Lin Miao’s medical notes.

The head maid quickly went to prepare the writing materials, and Chu Qianchen swiftly wrote out the prescription. Shen Shi immediately sent someone to get the medicine.

Chu Qianchen also reminded, "Chen Mama, you should stay in your room for the next three days and avoid going out. Don’t scratch the rashes on your face. It’s best to cover your fingertips with coarse cloth, just to be safe."

Chen Mama hastily agreed, not daring to say a word more.

She was too scared to leave her room. Although the Second Miss said the disease wouldn’t spread unless the rashes bled, what if? If she were to pass the disease onto Shen Shi or the Fourth Young Master, she would never forgive herself.

Chen Mama hurriedly returned to her back room.

Following Chu Qianchen’s instructions, someone would soon deliver the prepared medicine to her doorstep, and her meals would also be placed at the door for her to take.

The other servants had been moved to the back rooms for temporary accommodation.

Shen Shi watched as Chu Qianchen meticulously arranged everything, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

This child had truly been hiding her talents all along! Whether it was her exceptional medical skills or how she handled people and situations... how many secrets did she still have hidden?

"Mother," as Shen Shi was lost in thought, she heard Chu Qianchen speak again. "I want to visit Mei'er at her house."

By the time calculation, Mei'er had been suffering from "Seven-Day Fever" for six days already. Moreover, Chen Mama had mentioned that Mei'er had had a nosebleed five days ago, which meant that her condition was far more severe than Chen Mama's.

Shen Shi frowned slightly and disagreed, "No, it's too dangerous."

A gentleman doesn't stand under a dangerous wall, and Chu Qianchen wasn’t a physician. There was no need for her to put herself at risk.

Chu Qianchen smiled and said seriously, "Mother, Mei'er can still be saved."

In her previous life, Mu Ge’er had died mysteriously when he was only five years old, buried beneath the yellow earth. Since he died young, he couldn't even be buried in the Chu family’s ancestral tomb.

At the time, she knew nothing, and couldn’t seek justice for Mu Ge’er. But now, everything was different.

"Mother, I must go."

Chu Qianchen looked at Shen Shi with clear, unwavering eyes. Her voice remained gentle but impossible to refuse.

Her face, delicate as a painting, was firm, and the sunlight outside the window shone into her beautiful phoenix eyes, which gleamed with golden light, bright and radiant.

Shen Shi stared at her for a while before responding, "Be careful, then."

"Don’t worry, Mother, I know what I’m doing," Chu Qianchen smiled.

There was no time to waste. Chu Qianchen didn’t hesitate. She quickly returned to her own courtyard to make some simple preparations. After putting on her veil, she set off immediately.

She hadn’t intended to bring Hu Po, but since Hu Po insisted on coming, Chu Qianchen had no choice but to let her wear a veil as well. 

Mei'er was a servant born into the family, living in the Drum Alley on Songhe Street, where the Marquis' estate was located.

The alley was long, with many houses where the family-born servants lived. They had been living there for generations, and not only the houses, but they themselves were also considered part of the Marquis' household.

The family-born servants, regardless of gender, were sent to the Marquis' residence at the age of seven to be selected by the masters. If they were lucky enough to be chosen, they could earn a monthly wage for their families.

Chu Qianchen asked Hu Po to inquire about the situation, and an old woman directed them to Mei'er’s home.

When Hu Po went to ask for directions, she also found out more about Mei’er’s background, and she reported back to Chu Qianchen:

"Miss, Mei'er’s father passed away when she was three years old, and her mother remarried. Mei’er’s life has been hard since she was young. At the age of seven, she was selected to work in the Marquis’ residence and rarely returned home."

The Drum Alley mostly consisted of row houses, and Mei’er lived in the furthest house at the end of the alley.

"Miss, Mei'er is the only one living here. Her mother and stepfather live somewhere else."

This was the information Hu Po had just gathered.

Knock, knock!

Hu Po stepped forward to knock on the door, but it was eerily quiet inside, as if no one was home.

Hu Po hesitated, "Miss, could she have gone out?"

"No." Chu Qianchen said with certainty, "Her 'Seven-Day Fever' is much more severe than Chen Mama’s. It’s already the sixth day; she wouldn’t be able to move around."

With that, Chu Qianchen tried pushing the old wooden door.

Creek—

The door opened with a soft sound, and Chu Qianchen stepped inside, with Hu Po nervously following her.

(End of Chapter)