Gu Jiu was in poor health and felt tired after just talking for a while.
In addition, long-term use of inappropriate medicines made her health even worse.
Fortunately, there is still time.
She just had a cold and inflammation, and her body was harmed by the inappropriate medicine.
As long as the prescription is changed and the medicine is made with good medicinal materials, she will get better soon.
"Miss, Sister Qing Mei is here."
Xiao Cui deliberately lowered her voice, as if she were afraid that Tao Hong would know that she had called Qing Mei over.
Gu Jiu heard the sound and looked towards the door.
Qing Mei was a girl of seventeen or eighteen years old. She was wearing a washed-out dress and standing at the door with a haggard look on her face.
Tears flashed in her eyes, and she choked up and said, "Miss, are you feeling better?"
"Qing Mei, come here quickly." Gu Jiu waved at her.
Qing Mei took two steps at a time, came to the bed, and kneeled down directly.
She looked at Gu Jiu's face and blamed herself: "Forgive this Maid; she cannot serve you, young lady. Maid have made you suffer."
Gu Jiu smiled faintly. "I'm fine. Get up and talk."
Qing Mei wiped her tears, stood up, and sat on the footstool.
Gu Jiu said to Xiao Cui, who was standing nearby, "Xiao Cui, go outside and guard; don't let anyone in. If Tao Hong comes, just let her stop at the door."
Xiao Cui opened her mouth, subconsciously wanting to refuse. Suddenly she remembered Gu Jiu's previous temper, so she walked out silently.
After Xiao Cui left, Qing Mei lowered her voice and asked, "Miss, do you have something to tell me?"
Gu Jiu smiled with satisfaction. She was indeed a smart and clever maid.
Gu Jiu was about to speak when she suddenly felt a pain in her throat and couldn't help coughing.
"Miss, are you okay?"
After coughing several times, Gu Jiu waved her hand and said softly, "I'm fine. Qing Mei, let me ask you, are all the keys to Zhi Lan Courtyard in Tao Hong's hands?"
Qing Mei nodded and said, "Since Tao Hong came here, all of the lady's belongings have been managed by Tao Hong."
Gu Jiu stared at the chest on the shelf, which contained the monthly allowance she had accumulated over the years, as well as valuable cloth. It could be said that all her property was in that chest.
The cabinet was locked, and the key was in Tao Hong's hand.
Gu Jiu clenched her fists. She had to get the key back. The financial power must not be controlled by an outsider.
"Qing Mei, I have two things for you to do."
"Miss, just give me your orders."
Gu Jiu stared at Qing Mei. "First, go to the storehouse and get the medicine according to the prescription. Second, go see Li Chuan, the servant next to your brother. Tell him to wait for the master to come back from the government office and ask him to invite the master to Zhi Lan Courtyard."
Qing Mei looked up at Gu Jiu with a nervous look on her face. "What are you going to do, Miss?"
Gu Jiu smiled softly. "I want you to come back to serve me; are you willing?"
"Maid is willing." Qing Mei nodded repeatedly with tears in her eyes. "But Maid didn't have the young lady's prescription. The servant went to the storehouse and didn't know what medicine to get."
Gu Jiu said, "Prepare the pen and ink; I will write the prescription for you."
Qing Mei nodded and stood up to get pen and ink.
She thought that the young lady must be familiar with the prescription since she took medicine all day.
Little did she know that Gu Jiu had figured out the prescription entirely from the taste she had taken before.
The pen and ink are ready.
Gu Jiu said, "Help me over there."
Qing Mei helped Gu Jiu get out of bed. "Be careful, Miss."
Gu Jiu was panting. Her body was so weak that she was even weaker than Lin Daiyu. She just got out of bed and took a few steps before she started panting.
With Qing Mei's help, Gu Jiu came to the desk.
The desk was next to the window, which was closed, and the light was dim.
Gu Jiu said, "Open the window."
"Miss, be careful of the wind, or your condition will get worse."
Gu Jiu shook her head and smiled, "It's okay. I haven't seen the sun for a long time. Open the window and let me get some fresh air."
Qing Mei followed the order and opened half of the window.
The mottled sunlight came in and reflected on Gu Jiu's face.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It was the smell of sunshine, so nice.
She smiled; her smile was gentle, and her eyes were warm. Then she picked up the pen and began to write the prescription.
The small calligraphy with silk flowers appears weak and powerless, which is consistent with her current physical condition.
After writing the prescription, she handed it to Qing Mei: "Go to the storehouse to get the medicine. If the housekeepers give you a hard time, don't argue with them. Just take whatever herbs they give you. It doesn't matter if the herbs are inferior. I can use them."
Qing Mei was worried, "What if that villain gave her moldy and spoiled herbs? How can the Miss Condition get better if she can't get good herbs?"
Gu Jiu laughed, "It would be good if the warehouse manager really gave you the moldy and spoiled herbs."
"Miss?" Qing Mei was puzzled.
Gu Jiu said, "You don't need to ask too much about this matter. Just do as I say. Qing Mei, I will definitely let you come back to me."
Qing Mei's eyes filled with tears. "This servant is not worthy of you, young lady."
"You're worth it! You're my head maid, and I need you by my side. After you get the herbs, remember to go see Li Chuan."
Qing Mei put the prescription close to her body and said solemnly, "Don't worry, young lady, servant will definitely do what you asked me to do."
Qing Mei left in a hurry.
Gu Jiu sat at the desk, closing her eyes to rest. The sun shone on her face, revealing warmth.
Xiao Cui stood at the door, wanting to go in but not daring to.
"Is that Xiao Cui? Come in."
Xiao Cui walked into the bedroom and said, "Miss, you are weak; you should go back to bed."
Gu Jiu opened her eyes and raised her hand, "Hold me."
Xiao Cui helped Gu Jiu onto the bed. Gu Jiu found a comfortable position, leaning against the head of the bed, holding a book in her hand, and flipping through two pages.
Tao Hong watched the little maid boil the medicine, filter out the residue, and personally bring the medicine to the bedroom.
"Miss, take your medicine!"
Gu Jiu put down the book in her hand, coughed repeatedly, and looked sick and haggard. "Thank you for your hard work, Tao Hong. Please put the medicine on the table."
"The doctor said to drink it while it's hot."
Gu Jiu wrinkled her nose and said weakly, "Too much soup; my throat hurts."
"Miss, listen to the doctor and drink the medicine quickly."
Tao Hong came to the bedside with a medicine bowl in her hand, ready to force the medicine down her throat if they didn't agree.
Gu Jiu looked at the medicine bowl in her hand with disdain and said dissatisfiedly, "It's too bitter and hot. I don't want to drink it."
"How can the young lady get better if she doesn't take the medicine?"
"I have taken so many medicines in the past six months, but my health has not improved. It is obvious that Dr. Xu, who prescribed the medicine, is a quack. I will not take this medicine."
Tao Hong looked down at her and said, "Young lady, this is not the time to be petty. The mistress and the master have instructed me to supervise you to take the medicine. Xiao Cui, hold her, and I will feed her the medicine."
Gu Jiu glanced at Tao Hong, and Tao Hong was indeed planning to force-feed her the medicine.
Xiao Cui walked to the bedside and said, "Miss, you should drink the medicine while it's hot so that you can get better faster."
Gu Jiu looked guilty; her eyebrows were soft, and she seemed to have compromised. "Xiao Cui is right. Give me the medicine and I will drink it."
Xiao Cui was very happy. "Sister Tao Hong, the young lady is willing to take the medicine."
Tao Hong stared at Xiao Cui sharply. "What a bitch! You made the Miss listen to you instead of me. I tried so hard to persuade her but failed. Just one sentence from you actually made her change her mind."
Xiao Cui looked uneasy. "Sister Tao Hong, why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"
"Xiao Cui, come and help me take the medicine." Gu Jiu added fuel to the fire.
Tao Hong suppressed her anger and said to Gu Jiu, "Miss, let me serve you. Xiao Cui is clumsy, and I'm afraid she won't be able to serve you well."
Gu Jiu covered her lips with her hands; her expression was weak, but her tone was firm: "Xiao Cui served me very well; I like her to serve me."
What he meant was that he didn't like Tao Hong serving her.
Tao Hong took a deep breath and said, "Miss, this servant will help you drink the medicine." Her tone was even stronger than Gu Jiu's.
Gu Jiu lowered her head and remained silent!
Neither talking nor taking medicine.
Tao Hong was immediately furious.
She won't take the medicine unless Xiao Cui serves her.
Good, very good.
Tao Hong said dissatisfiedly, "The young lady is really in a bad mood today. It seems that the young lady dislikes my rough hands and feet and is not to her liking. Xiao Cui, you come and help the young lady drink medicine."
Logically, after she said that, the young lady should have said a few soft words and stopped Xiao Cui from serving her, and the matter would have passed.
As a result, things did not develop at all as she expected.