Chapter 8: The Drowning Child

The beautiful woman said gently

"Old Madam, you are too kind. It is late; please go back and get some rest. I will look after things here, so you may set your mind at ease."

The Old Madam nodded in agreement: "With you here, I am naturally at ease."

She took one last look at the child on the bed before exiting the inner chamber. When she reached the outer room, the people who had been sitting there all stood up to inquire. Only after receiving the assurance that there was no cause for concern did they disperse.

The beautiful woman, who had tended to the child all night, only leaned against the foot of the bed to sleep once she saw the child’s fever had broken just before dawn.

After sleeping for over an hour, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, the woman woke up to find the child staring at her without blinking. The woman smiled

"You’re awake, why aren't you saying anything?"

Seeing the child still staring at her with wide eyes, she walked over and sat at the head of the bed, feeling the child’s forehead. She then reached into the collar to touch the child's neck before looking at her and asking

"The fever has completely broken, but is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?"

The child still did not answer, only staring at her. The woman gently pinched the child’s nose and laughed

"Why do you keep staring at me? Don't you recognize me anymore?"

She stood up, intending to pour a cup of water for the child. The moment she rose, the child reached out and grabbed her sleeve tightly.

The woman sat back down and coaxed the child: "I’m not leaving, I’m just going to pour you a cup of water."

The child, however, continued to stare at her fixedly without letting go. The woman’s heart skipped a beat: Could the fever have damaged her brain?

Thinking of this, the woman’s expression turned anxious. She cupped the child’s cheeks in her hands and asked

"Were you frightened? Do you remember who I am?"

As the woman’s hands touched the child’s cheeks, the child looked terrified. She touched the back of the woman’s hand, quickly pulled her own hand back, and resumed staring at the woman’s face.

This action frightened the woman even more. She gently shook the child’s shoulders and asked

"Yan'er, what is wrong with you? Don't scare me. Yan'er, do you know who I am?"

The child still only stared at the woman. Anxious, the woman pulled out the child’s hand to check her pulse. Her brows furrowed as she checked the pulse three times, muttering to herself

"It clearly should be fine now."

Determined that the body was unharmed, she reasoned that the child must have been shocked and was temporarily confused. Seeing the child’s lips were slightly chapped, the woman called out

"Yutong, Yulan, bring in some warm water."

Shadows flickered behind the screen, and two maids, both around ten years old, entered—one carrying tea, the other a basin of hot water and a towel.

The round-faced maid brought the hot water forward, beaming as she looked at the child

"Young Miss, you’re awake? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable? Are you hungry?"

The child’s large eyes darted from the woman to the maid, her face full of astonishment, yet she remained silent.

The woman helped the child sit up and directed the maids to place two soft cushions behind her to make her more comfortable. She took the warm water from the maid to feed the child, then wrung out a towel in the basin to wipe the child’s face and hands.

Throughout this, the child continued to watch her without looking away. The woman ordered the maids to go decoct the medicine and prepare some porridge.

Once the maids had acknowledged the order and left, the woman asked softly

"Was Yan'er frightened? Everything is fine now, don't be afraid."

Just as she was speaking, a middle-aged man’s voice sounded from the outer room

"Sister-in-law, is Yan'er awake?"

This voice struck the child like a bolt of lightning, startling her so much that she dared not move.

The woman replied: "She is awake, and the fever has broken. She was just frightened, and she is still a bit dazed right now."

The man’s voice sounded again: "It is good that she is awake. Thank you, sister-in-law. Yan'er, Father is heading to the academy; I will come home to see you later."

(End of chapter)