Chapter 246: Chapter 242: Cough_1

Translator: 549690339

Changxiu didn’t understand why Yingbao wanted to catch a hedgehog, but she still grabbed a branch and ran over, tapping lightly on the back of the fleeing hedgehog. It instantly stiffened and rolled into a ball.

Yingbao squatted on the ground and looked at the ball of quills, not knowing how to proceed.

“Young doctor, you wait, I’ll go get a piece of grass to tie it up.” Changxiu said, and then she ran over to the grass.

She returned shortly after with a bunch of long thin grass in her hand, quickly weaving it into a net bag. Using the stick, she pushed the hedgehog into the grass bag and picked it up. “Can we go back now?” she asked.

Yingbao nodded, “Let’s go! Back home.”

When they returned to their quarters, Yingbao put the hedgehog in a bamboo basket. Changxiu also collected some lotus leaves from the lake to place under the basket.

Yingbao, having nothing to do that day, saw Xiao Chengjun coming again, so she sat at the entrance to the main hall and told tales of midnight ghosts to the gatekeepers.

“Once upon a time, there was a scholar staying in an inn for his exams. At night, he would always hear someone coughing under his window. He thought it was the innkeeper, so he didn’t pay it any mind. But for two days in a row, there was someone coughing under his window which made him curious, so he pushed open the window to see…”

The two gatekeepers, engrossed in the story, stretched their necks and asked, “What did he see?”

Yingbao took a sip of almond tea, and with a glance out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Chengjun standing not far away. She then put down her tea cup, pulled her eyelids with both hands, rolled her eyes while sticking out her tongue, and made a strange voice, “He saw a hanged ghost out the window, with a long tongue hanging out, howling at him – give me back my life…give me back my life…”

The two gatekeepers jumped in fright, and then laughed, “Aiyo, young doctor, don’t scare us.”

Yingbao picked up her almond tea again and took a sip, “What’s there to be afraid of? It’s broad daylight, hanged ghosts won’t come out. Only at night…hee hee, that’s when they come out to claim lives.”

The two gatekeepers looked at each other and shivered in unison.

Yingbao turned her head and saw Xiao Chengjun had already entered the inner hall.

After another day, the Empress personally came to the East Palace to visit her son who had greatly recovered.

“My son seems to have put on some weight.” Empress Xiao held Murong Xian’s hand, looking him up and down.

Murong Xian looked healthier now, not only gaining weight but also appearing much more lively.

Murong Xian laughed, “Yes, Yingbao makes me eat five meals a day, naturally I would gain weight.”

The Empress looked around, asking, “Why don’t I see young doctor Yingbao? And where is that little girl named Chen Tiantian?”

“Yingbao probably went to the orchard.” Murong Xian said, “As for the palace maid, I told her to learn some manners from nanny.”

The Empress uttered an ‘oh’, chatted with her son for a while longer, and then ordered for Rong Family to be called into the main hall.

At this time, the Rong Family and several palace attendants were waiting outside the entrance of the main hall for instructions. Hearing the summons, they hurriedly entered the hall and bowed, “Your servant Rong Family greets the Empress. May your majesty have peace.”

The Empress waved her hands with a smile and asked her to sit down and talk.

Rong Family thanked the Empress, then sat down on a small stool next to her.

Empress: “These past few days, due to my busy schedule, I’ve imposed on you to take care of the Crown Prince.”

“Your Majesty, don’t mention it, taking care of the Crown Prince is my duty.” Rong Family answered respectfully.

As the Crown Prince was still underage and had been ill for a long time, all internal affairs were managed by the Rong Family apart from the administrative duties of the steward of the palace.

Everything from the Crown Prince’s food, clothing, shoes, and socks to the daily affairs and assignments of the palace attendants, were all her responsibility.

However, receiving foreign guests and dealing with external matters, arranging various congratulatory gifts and letters, were the responsibility of the palace’s officers.

The Empress said a few words of encouragement, and then ordered several bolts of silk to be brought over as a reward for Rong Family.

She also called for a few officers from within the palace and awarded each of them with fabrics and wealth too.

By the time Yingbao rushed back to see the Empress, she saw the Empress was holding Chen Tiantian’s hand and chatting.

“Indeed, she’s a child of good fortune,” said the Empress with a smile, “From now on, continue to work hard in Qing Palace, I will certainly not treat you unfairly.”

“Yes.” Chen Tiantian knelt down and bowed.

Yingbao’s eyes swept over the Empress and Chen Tiantian and she quickly understood the situation.

The Empress probably considered Chen Tiantian as a lucky charm for her son.

When the Empress saw Yingbao, she gestured for her to come over.

She then bestowed a few lengths of silk to her, and encouraged her to get along with Chen Tiantian, saying that since they’re both from the same hometown and also schoolmates, they should naturally care for and love each other.

Yingbao could feel a vein popping on her forehead upon hearing this.

She turned to see Xiao Chengjun standing nearby, giving her a displeased look.

An hour later, the Empress finally left, and Yingbao let out a sigh of relief.

Back in her room, she tossed a few fruits to the little hedgehog, and started thinking.

As the prince’s condition had improved, there was really no need for her to stay, hence she needs to go home.

But, how can she convince the Empress to let her go?

Maybe she should just be honest with the prince. As long as he lets her go, the Empress would probably have nothing to say.

By evening, Yingbao fetched a chunk of honey from the cave and fed it to the hedgehog.

After watching it finish the honey, Yingbao picked up the basket containing the hedgehog, snuck out and headed to the window of Xiao Chengjun’s room.

She let the hedgehog out, directing it to squeeze into the gaps between the flower pots under the window, before sneaking back to her own place.

She climbed into bed, closed her eyes and went to sleep.

In the middle of the night, she was suddenly awakened by a lot of noise.

Yingbao simply turned over and continued sleeping.

She slept until the morning when Changxiu came in and whispered to her, ” Last night, Xiao Langjun was startled and had a dozen eunuchs patrolling around the room all night.”

Yingbao got dressed, and without even raising her head, she asked, “Why?”

“They said someone was coughing outside the window at midnight, but when they went out, they couldn’t find anyone. It scared Xiao Langjun quite a bit.”

Changxiu chuckled, “So Xiao Langjun had a dozen eunuchs guarding outside until dawn.”

Yingbao snorted in amusement, “Coward!”

After breakfast, she casually walked to Xiao Chengjun’s windowsill. Noticing that no one was around, she quickly retrieved the hedgehog from the gap in the flower pots, put it back in the basket and carried it back.

She encountered a few eunuchs along the way who greeted her, “What are you up to, little doctor?”

“The hedgehog ran away. I went to fetch it.” Yingbao waved the basket in her hand.

Back in her room, Yingbao fed the hedgehog a couple of grapes, watching its behavior.

The hedgehog ate the grapes quickly, then curled up and stopped moving. After a while, it gave a few coughs that were indistinguishable from human coughs.

Yingbao grinned mischievously, covered the basket with something and went to find the prince.

At that moment, Murong Xian was walking around in the main hall, exercising his legs.

Seeing Yingbao come in with a smile on her face, he asked, “What’s making you so happy?”

Yingbao: “I’m happy for you, recovering so quickly. Why don’t you come and take a seat? Let me take your pulse again.”

Murong Xian did as he was told, stretched out his arm and sat down next to the table.

After taking his pulse, Yingbao said earnestly, “Your Highness, you’re all better now. The imperial physician can take over from here, I want to go home, is that okay?”

Murong Xian was stunned, lowered his eyes and after a long pause, he said, “Okay, I’ll have someone send you there when you want to leave.”

Yingbao thought for a moment, “Three days later?”

She needed to prepare some medicine to leave behind, and also wanted to see how Xiao Chengjun would embarrass himself.