Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Master Hui’en Wants to See You (1)
A person fainting for half a day or a day, especially after being busy for a period, is usually seen as caused by overexertion. It’s within the normal range, and a bit of rest will suffice.
But if a person faints for three consecutive days.
This arouses concern.
The old lady sent people to inquire several times.
The doctor could not provide any answers, feeling completely helpless.
You’d think if there were some ailment, at least there’d be some symptoms. With no symptoms, how could the doctor start treating?
But a response must be given to the old lady, and the Princely Heir’s order must be followed by saying externally it’s due to exhaustion and will be fine after a few days of rest.
Yet whether it can be fine, or when it will be fine, the doctor can’t say for certain.
Pei Ji’an lifted the curtain and gazed at Qu Fulan, seeing her complexion appear normal. He reached out to feel her pulse, which was steady, furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, then stood up and instructed Douya and Hai Xia, "Take good care of her."
The two nodded like garlic shoots.
Actually, Douya was fine. Her attitude toward the Princely Heir was obedient; after all, she was a maid and naturally followed the master’s orders.
Hai Xia was different. She was fine with others, but when it came to the Princely Heir, the fear was rooted in her heart, embedded deep in her bones, and couldn’t be shaken off.
She heard that Fulan was sick, was worried, and naturally had to come to see her, despite her inner fear of the Princely Heir. Yet the bond of sisterhood gave her courage.
Moreover, she specifically inquired with Douya that the Princely Heir wasn’t there before coming.
Unexpectedly, just as she entered the door, the Princely Heir arrived.
"Unlucky," was all she said.
Luckily, the Princely Heir didn’t stay long; otherwise, Hai Xia wouldn’t have known what to do.
Qu Fulan was unconscious for four days before waking up.
The first thing she did upon waking was eat.
She didn’t know how long she had fainted, but judging by her hunger to the point of death, she surmised it must have been not too short, yet not too long, or else with the primitive technology of ancient times, she would have starved to death.
Yet a starved person shouldn’t eat too much at once; she only ate some bland rice porridge with small dishes, barely filling her stomach, then stopped.
Slowly, a small meal at a time, allowing her body functions to gradually recover, would allow her to indulge freely.
With food in her stomach, Qu Fulan finally had the strength to think and ask questions.
The first thing was naturally asking how long she had been unconscious.
Douya, who had carefully looked after her for several days, gave the answer.
"Sister was unconscious for a full four days, almost worrying us to death. Even the old lady sent people every day to inquire, saying it was due to exhaustion from working on the ’Flower Garden Ode’. The Princely Heir, no need to mention, despite his busy daily affairs, would come several times a day and said once sister woke up, to inform him immediately."
Qu Fulan’s first reaction was surprise at being unconscious for four days.
No wonder she was so hungry.
Then she began contemplating her fainting incident.
She was aware of her own body, contrary to what Douya said about fainting from exhaustion.
She remembered clearly that she was feeling fine that day, then suddenly blacked out, and knew nothing afterwards.
It was as if something had possessed her.
During her days of unconsciousness, she wasn’t entirely without sensation, but just couldn’t wake up, as if her soul was trapped in a dark room, unable to get out, just occasionally seeming to hear people talking, but not distinctly.
Thinking of possession, she thought of Master Huideng.
The mighty master, she fainted right after seeing him; she was sure of it.
But why would she faint upon seeing Master Huideng? She had a vague guess but dared not be certain.
Where is Master Huideng now? Did he notice or sense anything?
And the Princely Heir, did he know anything?
Her heart was filled with numerous questions, none of which she could answer for herself.
About to ask Douya if Master Huideng was staying at the Pei Mansion, she heard a voice from outside.
"The Princely Heir is here."
Qu Fulan didn’t have time to prepare mentally before the Princely Heir had already lifted the curtain and entered.
Pei Ji’an paused slightly upon seeing Qu Fulan, who was sitting up against the bed; though he had been visiting her comatose form for days, today she suddenly woke up.
Today’s Princely Heir was dressed in luxurious attire, wearing a jade crown, with double jade pendants at his waist, and carrying a faint scent of ambergris, exceptionally splendid, as if he had just come from a palace banquet—usually, he dressed casually for everyday gatherings.
"How do you feel?" He approached her, bent down to touch her forehead, surrounded by the faint ambergris scent. "Does your body feel unwell?"
"No," she instinctively moved back a bit, feeling quite uneasy.
She didn’t know concerning her fainting, whether Master Huideng had told him anything or hadn’t.
What his current attitude meant, she couldn’t discern.
The unknown always made people uneasy.
"I’m fine, perhaps just fainted from being too tired," Qu Fulan said, lowering her eyes.
Pei Ji’an stared at Qu Fulan for a while, after only a few days, she already appeared much leaner, her face once slightly chubby now angular, her palm-sized face accentuating her almond-like eyes all the more rounded, seeming so delicate and weak, as if a gust of wind could topple her over.
"Wear your outer clothes first, then call a doctor to check your pulse." Saying this, he turned around and left.
Douya reacted and hurriedly helped Qu Fulan dress, tidied her hair a bit, brought water to wash her face, then went to call the doctor.
In no time, the mansion’s doctor arrived, and after a series of observations, inquiries, and examinations, he told the Princely Heir standing nearby, "Her pulse is fine; no illness is diagnosed. It’s just some weakness from lying down for a few days. Resting well, she will recover."
After saying this, he advised some matters and left.
Pei Ji’an drew his mouth into a slight smile, "You’ve become the ’Flower Garden Ode’s’ major hero. During the days you were unconscious, without a leader, ’Flower Garden Ode’ almost fell apart."
"What’s the current situation?" Qu Fulan asked concernedly.
"I’ve presided for a few days, and there’s no great trouble." He raised the corner of his lips.
"Thank the Princely Heir for his hard work," Qu Fulan said.
Pei Ji’an chuckled lightly, seemingly amused by her words.
Qu Fulan then realized she was originally working for him, a worker attempting to thank the master.
Yet what could he know of the importance "Flower Garden Ode" holds for her?
"However, you are remarkably wise, always having contingency plans for everything; even when you are absent, ’Journey to the West’ was no setback," he said with a hint of admiration.
Having contingency plans was the approach she became accustomed to when working in modern office environments.
She had already penned three Chapters of Journey to the West back in modern times, locked in the cabinet. In case she missed work due to illness, he could open the cabinet and take out the manuscript to give to the storytellers.
Any goal she intended to achieve wouldn’t easily get disrupted, unless she died.
Feeling assured about the "Flower Garden Ode", yet at the Princely Heir’s subsequent words, her heart rose anxiously.
"Such profound stories; no wonder Master decided to stay, saying he would only leave after meeting you once."