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墨書 Inktalez
I was busy taking care of my newly adopted daughter, which led to me neglecting my son. Tang Mufeng and Su Wanyi had a conflict. Su Wanyi came to me in tears, reporting the incident.
"Miss, Tang Mufeng bumped into me in the woodshed and tore my skirt with a hatchet."
"That was the skirt I just made; you haven't even worn it yet."
"He showed no intention of apologizing and even said..." She hesitated.
I lazily raised my eyes, "What did he say?"
"He said that if it weren't for your orders to bring me into the manor, he wouldn't want to live with troublesome women like us."
"He also said that when I grow up, he would sell me."
I was left speechless. Su Wanyi's tear-streaked face made me feel quite troubled. How had Tang Mufeng become so sharp-tongued? The original book didn't mention their first meeting being so unpleasant.
I scratched my head; this was a tricky situation. It was difficult to choose sides. I sighed, "Both of you will be punished. Tang Mufeng will receive ten lashes, and you will stand for an hour."
"Miss, this is unfair!" Su Wanyi's eyes widened in disbelief at what she heard.
"Be quiet! Who is the master here, you or me?" I waved my sleeve and walked away.
As I stepped outside, I instructed Zhi Xia, "Make sure they go easy on him; Tang Mufeng is still young and weak; he can't handle the lashes."
"Understood," Zhi Xia replied softly.
"Miss, it seems you... prefer Tang Mufeng more," he said.
I frowned. "Don't talk nonsense, I treat them all the same..."
Before I could finish my sentence, a jolt of realization hit me.
Indeed, why did I instinctively feel protective of Tang Mufeng?
In the original story, Zhao Ruochu was cruel to her adopted son, tormenting him at the slightest inconvenience. Her temperament was violent and unpredictable; she would punish Tang Mufeng for any little thing that displeased her. Yet, I seemed to be growing increasingly lenient towards him.
In fact, I even felt a hint of maternal affection towards him.
Perhaps I was too immersed in the story. After all, Tang Mufeng was undeniably handsome. It wasn't my fault he fit my aesthetic so perfectly.
...
Tang Mufeng indeed had a fever in the middle of the night. When the servant came to report, I was just about to fall asleep. He had always been weak and rebellious; he couldn't handle any punishment.
"Miss, Tang Mufeng's fever is quite severe. What should we do?"
I clenched my fists. "Have you called for a doctor?"
"I have. The doctor said someone needs to stay with him and keep applying alcohol to reduce his fever."
"Zhi Xia, you go."
Zhi Xia lowered her head awkwardly. "Miss, Tang Mufeng won't let me attend to him."
I sighed deeply.
Great, it looks like I have to go myself.
Zhi Xia looked at me with concern. "Miss, maybe you shouldn't go; your health..."
"It's nothing."
I wrapped myself in a coat, picked up the lantern, and hurried toward the backyard.
Zhao Ruochu's health was indeed not good.
When Zhao Ruochu was a child, he fell into the water one winter day, which left him with lingering effects.
Every time it rained on a cloudy day, his knees would ache unbearably.
Although I was also half a patient, I was still much better off than Tang Mufeng.
"Miss, please take it slow."
"Zhi Xia, do you think I've been too indulgent with Tang Mufeng?"
Zhi Xia hesitated and said, "Miss, you used to... treat him poorly. Now that you're being nice to him, he seems ungrateful."
I shot her a cold glance.
She immediately lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Miss."
"You’re right," I sighed. "I have spoiled him too much."
Tang Mufeng lived in a remote place, in a small shed for storing fodder, right next to the stable.
Dim light filtered through the window.
A thin young man sat at the head of the bed, carefully blowing on his medicinal soup to cool it down.
His cheeks were flushed, his eyes hazy, and a thin layer of sweat covered his pale skin.
I frowned.
He had quite a fever.
"Miss, what brings you here?" He looked at me in surprise.
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