Chapter 349: Chapter 123: Yueying Comes Down the Mountain_2
Cai Lan’s legs weakened with fright, causing her to fall to the ground as the lantern rolled away. Fortunately, Nanny Hao acted quickly to blow out the lantern’s flame before it could burn out.
Nanny Hao looked at the incontinent Cai Lan with a cold sneer and returned to the kitchen. She wasn’t worried about the Eldest Miss succumbing; after all, Fourth Young Master had survived a similar ordeal as a child, so there was no reason the Eldest Miss couldn’t as well.
Cai Qing followed Yueyao’s method, and seeing that Yueying was no longer delirious, she greatly admired Yueyao.
At the break of dawn, Yueyao asked Nanny Hao to take Qiao Lan to the temple for help. Although Yueyao did not like Yueying, she didn’t want her to come to harm, at least not while on the mountain.
However, Cai Lan said, “Third Young Lady, the monks at the temple are unreliable. It’s better if I return to Ma’s Mansion to seek Doctor Tang for the Eldest Miss.” In truth, Cai Lan wanted to take this opportunity to return to the mansion herself, and thus be able to go back as well.
Yueyao glanced at Cai Lan, aware of the Maid’s calculated intentions. Pretending to hire the doctor was false; her real wish was for Yueying to return to the mansion. As long as Yueying stayed at the temple, the maid had to stay too; but if Yueying returned, she would logically follow her back.
Yueyao looked at Cai Qing who was tending beside the bed and asked, “What do you think of her idea?” These two maids were at opposite extremes–one too cunning and the other too honest. Yueyao wondered how Yueying had chosen such opposites. But these matters were of no concern to her; she had no intention of managing the maids for others.
Cai Qing sighed inwardly, knowing her own lady lacked the cunning of the third younger sister. “It’s up to the young lady,” she said, ignoring the meaningful looks from Cai Lan. To Cai Qing, enduring the next two months was crucial to earning a good reputation. Returning now would make them a laughingstock; unfortunately, many things were beyond her control. All she could do was try to persuade their lady not to return, which would make all of Cai Lan’s scheming unnecessary.
Yueyao instructed Hua Lei to give five taels of silver to Cai Lan and said, “Rent a horse cart and descend the mountain. Make it quick; the elder sister’s illness cannot afford delays.”
The sight of the silver made Cai Lan’s eyes sparkle, like a pillow arriving as she dozed. She had been worrying about travel expenses. Suppressing her joy, she said, “I will go down the mountain immediately.”
Yueyao watched Cai Lan’s demeanour with a slight cold smile. Such a self-serving maid, with no regard for her master, she wondered what Yueying saw in her.
The monks at the temple, upon learning of the lady’s severe fever, swiftly sent a monk skilled in medical arts. For monks, saving a life was considered more virtuous than building a seven-tiered pagoda.
Seeing the efficiency of the monk, Yueyao was impressed.
The monk diagnosed and then prescribed, sending a younger monk to prepare the medicine. The temple often had sick monks, so it maintained an herb hall, “The fever caused by exposure to cold is severe, but well managed. Two doses should suffice for recovery.”
Yueyao took out the medicinal herbs sent by Ma’s Mansion, and the monk glanced at her, then prescribed a dose, saying, “Just one dose should do. Take the rest to the herb hall!” The herbs were somewhat excessive just to treat a cold.
After taking the medicine, Yueying woke up and seeing Yueyao beside her bed, she said gratefully, “Thank you, third younger sister.” She now owed significant gratitude on two accounts.
Feeling exhausted, Yueyao saw that Yueying had awakened and knew that there was no serious problem. “Eldest sister, rest well! If you feel unwell, let the Maid call me. I’m going back to my room,” she said, having been up since midnight.
Cai Qing quickly explained, “My lady, the third younger sister has been with us since midnight and hasn’t left. My lady, she is just weary.”
Yueying watched Yueyao walk away, her eyes reflecting a flicker of light.
Yueyao slept until the afternoon and upon waking, ate a little and asked, “Did elder sister have her meal?” Mainly because the monk had said Yueying was not in serious danger, Yueyao felt quite relieved.
Nanny Hao nodded, “She had a bowl of white rice porridge after waking and had her midday meal. The Eldest Miss’s complexion has considerably improved and she seems to be out of danger,” she reported.
After her meal, Yueyao visited Yueying and seeing her good complexion, felt truly relieved and said, “Eldest sister, your personal Maid Cai Lan was so concerned about you that she insisted on going back to the mansion to summon the doctor, saying the temple’s monks are unreliable. I could not stop her, so I let her go. I expect the doctor will arrive tonight.”