Just as Ruoyin was feeling gloomy, Lord Fourth said charitably, "It's better to write beautifully and understand the text than to write a lot. We'll be heading to the manor in three days to avoid the heat. You should prepare."
Ruoyin had not caught up to what he was saying, and she thought she had heard him wrongly. Why was reality different from her imagination?
She pointed to herself quizzically and asked, "Does my Lord mean that I should go to the manor to avoid the heat too?"
"You're the Fujin. It won't be proper to not bring you along," Lord Fourth said coolly, clearly stating that he was doing so not because he felt like bringing her along.
Lord Fourth was bringing her there only because he was a Beile who was mindful of the rules and wanted to avoid gossip.
However, Ruoyin was not concerned about this. Instead, she asked straightforwardly, "So I'm not to be confined to this house and won't need to copy the Lessons for Women anymore?"
"Your Lord will not stop you if you still desire to continue to be confined and copy the Lessons for Women; stay in the residence and take a leave of absence, then," Lord Fourth teased before rising and leaving.
Ruoyin looked at Lord Fourth's retreating silhouette and pouted. How could he say such mean words when he was so handsome?
Couldn't they simply have a pleasant chat?
Whatever. She would not argue with him since he had waived her confinement and her copying of the text.
Aiyah, today was such a wonderful day. She had thought that Lord Fourth came today to lecture her for being lazy because she had copied so little of the text.
In the end, not only did Lord Fourth not lecture her, he even graciously waived her punishment.
This made her realize again that it was alright to offend anyone in this residence but Lord Fourth, or her life would be difficult.
But that wasn't right—her recent days seemed to have been quite jolly. Ruoyin covered her mouth to hide a secret smile.
Upon seeing Ruoyin trying to conceal a silly smile, Nanny Liu went forward to remind her, "Fujin, it looks like Lord Fourth still holds you dear in his head. Going to the manor to avoid the heat is a great opportunity that you must seize."
What she meant was: Fujin, going to the manor this time will be a great opportunity for you and Lord Fourth to patch things up, so you must seize it!
Things had not begun to take shape, so Ruoyin did not agree to this naively. Instead, she said, "Go and prepare the daily necessities with Qiao Feng."
"Understood," Nanny Liu replied. She then called Qiao Feng so they could prepare the things together.
It was now the next day, and Ruoyin was enjoying a slushie that, yes, she had taught the kitchen staff to make. It was even more delicious than the shaved ice in the modern world.
Firstly, the ice was ground into fine particles, then drizzled with fruit juice. It was thoroughly cooling.
She was eating it when Qiao Feng entered. "Fujin, Chief Physician Feng is asking to see you."
"What is he here for? Send him away." Ruoyin was not sick and did not call for Chief Physician Feng, and was thus naturally not willing to see him.
Moreover, if Chief Physician Feng had not interfered last time, Lord Fourth would not have found out that she was drinking contraceptive soup.
"But he says that Lord Fourth asked him to come," Qiao Feng said awkwardly.
Ruoyin was puzzled now. Why was he here for a checkup? She wasn't sick.
However, after pondering for a while, she realized why. She had choreographed a scene with Nanny Liu the day before and complained of her backbone aching from writing, and now Chief Physician Feng was here.
Lord Fourth must have heard this exchange and asked him here, right?
"Since Lord Fourth is the one who asked him here, let him in, then," said Ruoyin.
Qiao Feng acknowledged her words before bringing Chief Physician Feng inside.
Chief Physician Feng bowed once he was in the room. "Paying my respects to the Fujin."
"You may rise." Ruoyin looked at Chief Physician Feng indifferently. "Tell me, what has Lord Fourth asked to check?"
Chief Physician Feng was slightly startled and said awkwardly, "Fujin, Lord Fourth only mentioned that the Fujin's health was not well and requested me to check up on you. He did not provide any details."
"Is that so? You can go back, then." Ruoyin placed the teacup in her hand down.
"Fujin… but Lord Fourth asked me to check up on you. I haven't even felt your pulse yet; how is that a checkup?" Sweat started to form on Chief Physician Feng's temples. This was a difficult assignment, and he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Ruoyin smiled and said, "That's easy; just tell him I didn't allow you to check on me and all will be fine."
Upon hearing this, Chief Physician Feng immediately fell to his knees. "Fujin, that absolutely cannot be done!"
If he were to tell Lord Fourth what the Fujin had suggested, he would lose his job as the resident physician.
If a physician was unable to make his patient cooperate with him, it would send the message that he was not skilled enough to be trusted.
"Why not? You were quite the capable person previously, to have told Lord Fourth that there was something wrong with my medicine." Ruoyin was amicable as she continued, "Anyway, I'm keeping an eye on you. Either tell me the truth or go back."
Chief Physician Feng wiped the sweat from his face as he thought deeply before replying, "Fujin, I lacked consideration last time, but as the resident physician, it was my duty to do so. Today, Lord Fourth said that your neck is not well and asked me to check on it."
"I see. You may go back, then," Ruoyin said, smiling.
Chief Physician Feng was even more worried now and asked, puzzled, "Fujin, I am speaking the truth. Why won't you let me check you?"
"Because there's nothing wrong with my neck. Just tell Lord Fourth that there isn't a problem with my neck and everything will be alright," Ruoyin said carelessly.
Upon hearing this, Chief Physician Feng pondered deeply. He had offended the Fujin once already, so he could not do so again.
She was still the mistress of Zhen Beile Fu, and her conflict with Lord Fourth was his doing.
Why would he matter if she reconciled with Lord Fourth?
After thinking about this, he replied, "What would the Fujin like me to say to Lord Fourth?"
Upon hearing this, Ruoyin knew that Chief Physician Feng was finally understanding matters. "Just tell him that there's an ailment with my neck, but it is inconsequential and I'll be fine if I exercise it."
"Alright, I will tell him that." Internally, Chief Physician Feng sighed. "I hope the Fujin will not take to heart the previous incident."
"Of course not." Ruoyin gestured to Li Fukang.
Li Fukang understood and helped Chief Physician Feng up from his kneeling position on the floor.
Ruoyin's only intention was for Chief Physician Feng to cooperate with her once. She did not really bear a grudge against him.
If Chief Physician Feng, who only worked for Lord Fourth, got away with offending her, the other Consorts in the back courtyard would not be able to curry favor with him.
After getting up, Chief Physician Feng uttered some ceremonial phrases reverently before leaving.
He then headed to the front courtyard to report to Lord Fourth that the Fujin was alright and only needed to take care of herself.
Lord Fourth dismissed Chief Physician Feng after hearing that the Fujin was alright.
He attributed Ruoyin's discomfort to her writing with her head lowered all day. Additionally, she had used to like copying scriptures, but she had refused to answer when he asked her why she copied so little of the Lessons for Women.
Never mind, he would not make her copy anything in the future.
However, after that thought, Lord Fourth felt conflicted with himself again. Why was his heart aching for her again?
Refusing to answer him meant that she was keeping something from him. Did she like to keep things from him that much?!
…
On the day they were to set off to the manor to avoid the heat, the residence was abuzz with preparation.