Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 147 Pt. 1
Translated by gingercat
Edited by gingercat
Ru Hua walked in with a bowl of medicine. “Madam, it’s time to take your medicine.”
Medicine rarely smelled pleasant. When Yaoniang was in confinement a while ago, she had to drink three bowls every day in the morning, noon and evening. Whenever she smelled the medicine she would get a headache and nausea. By the end of the confinement, she could only finish the medicine with Jin Wang at her side, coaxing her. Now, she was very sensitive to the scent of medicine. She couldn’t help furrowing her brows as she inhaled the smell of it.
Qiao-shi seemed to notice that Yaoniang didn’t like the smell of medicine.
She opened her mouth to speak but then she hesitated.
Yaoniang also knew that all medicines have medicinal properties, so she hurriedly said, “It’s better to drink the medicine while it’s still hot. In this last while, I drank too much medicine to the point that just the smell of it makes me nauseated, but it’s no big deal. Is there something wrong? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”
Qiao-shi downed the medicine and took two sips of plain water from the teacup in her hand. Then she wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief before saying, “I have also drunk too much of this stuff. It’s not because I feel unwell anywhere but because of my cough, which gets really bad in the winter. Eventually, I learned my lesson. Every year before winter comes, I drink this medicine in advance to keep it manageable.”
“It’s so serious? Have you seen a doctor for it?” Yaoniang thought of Doctor Liu. In her mind, Doctor Liu’s medical skills were superb, and he could cure many intractable and strange diseases.
“I’ve seen many doctors, but they are unable to cure the root cause. Once the weather turns cold, I’ll start having coughing fits. It’s not that serious, but it is indeed annoying.” After she finished talking, she coughed twice as if to prove her words. Then she smiled helplessly at Yaoniang. “See? This is why once the weather gets cold, I don’t go out.”
Speaking of the cold weather, Yaoniang smiled. “The weather in the capital is not as cold as in Jinzhou. If you were in Jinzhou at this time, it would probably already be snowing heavily.”
“Jinzhou? I haven’t been there before. Tell me what it’s like there… …”
The two chatted for a long time. Once it reached lunchtime, Yaoniang and Xiaobao ate their meal here.
After the meal was over, Yaoniang said goodbye, but Xiaobao and Yueyue were reluctant to part with each other. Only after Yaoniang promised to come back in a few days did Yueyue break into a smile and her chubby hand let go of Xiaobao.
Qiao-shi gave Yaoniang several paintings and books, along with some good brushes and inkstones from her collection, which pleasantly surprised Yaoniang. She made up her mind to study hard, and to practice her calligraphy well.
When she was younger, in order to save ink, Su Xiucai never let Yaoniang use any paper to practice her calligraphy. Yaoniang could only practice writing on the table using water. This is why she’d always say that she only knew a few words because her words were too ugly for others to see.
Qiao Xiuli returned to the guest courtyard.
This small courtyard was located at the northernmost corner of the entire Duke Zhenguo Manor. Although it was quite a distance away from the main entrance, it was beautiful and serene.
Sun Mang knew that Qiao Anhe needed to prepare for the imperial exam. This was why he specially ordered someone to arrange for them to live in an area suitable for studying. Both brother and sister share this small courtyard together. Between the two of them, they have an older servant for rough labour, a young maid and a young manservant. This was enough for the two of them.
Duke Zhenguo Manor didn’t treat Qiao Anhe and his sister badly at all. This was also the usual practice of the noble families. Even the imperial family would have some poorer relatives, what more than these noble families. Generally, when relatives and friends come to the door, they are all arranged to stay like this.
The only reason Qiao Anhe and Qiao Xiuli could live here was because of Qiao-shi’s face.
Neither Qiao Anhe nor Qiao Xiuli was close to Qiao-shi by blood. Their family had split off long ago and could only be counted as distant relatives at best. However, Qiao-shi’s father was talented, and he didn’t forget to take care of the clan after he became successful.
Not only was the ancestral hall rebuilt, but a school for the younger generation of the clan to study in. Both food and an allowance were provided every month, and there were even additional rewards for those with excellent grades. Qiao Anhe was the most outstanding child of the Qiao Family in the past ten years. He eventually became a xiucai then a juren¹. After that, he attempted to become a jinshi, but he failed the exam.
It just so happened that Qiao Anhe and his sister’s widowed mother passed away. Qiao Anhe could only study hard while mourning for his mother. This time, although he dared not say he was a hundred percent ready, he could guarantee at least sixty to seventy percent.
But this was only his estimate. If it was so easy to become a jinshi, people’s hair wouldn’t turn gray from the exam and still fail. This imperial examination differed greatly every year, depending on what happened that year. Even the chief examiner and deputy examiners could change and their preferences and taboos mustn’t be neglected.
Qiao-shi’s father wrote a letter to his son-in-law, asking Qiao Anhe to enter the capital ahead of time, precisely for this reason. Sun Mang’s identity was special, and he’d be able to help inquire about some news in advance. As for Qiao Xiuli, she wasn’t supposed to come to the capital, but she insisted on following along in the name of taking care of her brother. Indeed, Qiao Xiuli did help a lot along the way. After all, most men weren’t very attentive.
When Qiao Xiuli came back, Qiao Anhe was reading a book.
Noticing that his sister was back, he looked up at her. “You went to Madam Shizi’s place again?”
Qiao Xiuli nodded with a smile on her face. “Madam had a guest here today. It was the side consort of His Highness Jin Wang and she also brought along her son. Her Highness Side Consort is a very nice person, and she even gave me this bracelet.” As she spoke, she showed Qiao Anhe the jade bracelet on her wrist.
Looking at her sister’s demure smile on her face, Qiao Anhe sighed lightly in his heart.
gingercat's notes:
¹In case I didn't specify in my earlier chapters, Xiucai is a scholar who passed the imperial exams at a county level. Juren is a scholar who passed at the provincial level. Jinshi is for those who passed at the national (the highest) level.
