Chapter 87 - Repeat

By the time Shen Ziqiao returned to Shen Family, the items that the emperor rewarded were here too. Gold and silvers, as well as top-notch silk fabrics were all given to her. In the beginning, Old Madam Shen didn’t know that the decree from the palace was for Shen Ziqiao. She thought that the empress passed a decree to ask about her well-being because she hadn’t entered the palace to celebrate her birthday. She thought that the empress was giving her face, so she got dressed up and led the family out to receive the decree.

After the eunuch read the decree, the old woman was still in a daze and she didn’t hear clearly.

Under Shen Zikai’s indication, Shen Ziqiao walked over and received the decree.

“Third Miss Shen, the emperor rewarded you all of these items.” The eunuch pointed at the two chests behind him and smiled, saying this.

“The emperor is really polite…” Shen Ziqiao murmured. Lady Meng secretly tugged on her and shoved a thick embroidered pouch inside the eunuch’s sleeves. “Troubling the eunuch.”

Shen Zikai couldn’t take his sister’s foolish expression anymore. He smiled and waved at the eunuch. “You must be tired. Please come inside and drink some tea, and rest for a while too.”

“I don’t dare, I don’t dare. Why would I feel tired doing things for the emperor? I need to return and reply to the emperor. Eldest Master Shen, Third Miss Shen, I’ll come for some wine if I have the opportunity next time.” The eunuch smiled and said this, clutching the thick embroidered pouch in one hand. He smiled pleasantly.

“Old Madam, I’ll be going.” He didn’t forget to bid farewell with Old Madam Shen whose expression was a bit unwell.

The eunuch was startled when he saw Old Madam Shen’s expression. He thought that it was just a small sickness when he heard that Old Madam Shen wasn’t brisk. Now that he looked at her pale face, it seemed like she was nearing her end.

After sending away the angel from the palace, Shen Zikai turned around and flicked his sister’s forehead. Although he purposely wore a stiff expression, he couldn’t hide his pride and happiness in his tone, “You can’t say nonsense in front of Eunuch Su. What do you mean by that the emperor is really polite? You think that the emperor needs to be polite with you?”

Shen Ziqiao clutched her forehead and started foolishly laughing. “I was just saying. Elder brother, how much do you think these two chests are worth?”

“Nonsense!” Shen Zikai glared at her unhappily again. “These rewards have been registered in the palace. Lady Meng, carry the chests to the ancestral hall and worship it…”

“What? I can’t exchange it for silver taels? What about the one hundred gold taels?” Shen Ziqiao was shook. They had to worship the emperor’s rewards? Then they shouldn’t have given her it in the first place.

Shen Zikai resented Shen Ziqiao for not meeting his expectations. How did he raise such a muddle-headed sister? “Bring the one hundred gold taels over to the Third Miss.”

“Ah, elder brother, I have gold taels now! I’ll treat you out for a good meal.” Shen Ziqiao smiled and said.

This little brat! Shen Zikai was too lazy to scold her.

Old Madam Shen’s expression couldn’t be any more unwell from being ignored by the siblings. If it weren’t for Madam Zhou who kept on advising her to tolerate this for the sake of the big picture, she would’ve long gotten up to scold Shen Ziqiao.

“Grandmother, you have an unwell body. Let this grandson accompany you back into the room to rest.” Shen Ziyang glanced jealously at Shen Zikai and Shen Ziqiao. Under Concubine Gao’s indication, he walked over to Old Madam Shen and said respectfully and with concern.

Shen Ziqiao had been happily hugging the gold taels in her arms and laughing foolishly. She just recalled that Old Madam Shen was standing here. She subconsciously hugged the gold taels tighter in her arms, looking at Old Madam in alarm. She was afraid that she’d steal her gold taels that she was just bestowed.

Old Madam Shen coincidentally saw her look of alarm, and almost spat blood out from anger.

Shen Zikai softly coughed to conceal the awkward moment. He walked over and said, “Old Madam, the wind is strong outside. Why don’t we…”

“I’m not dying anytime soon.” Old Madam Shen coldly humphed, walking off angrily with the support of Shen Ziyang’s hands.

Shen Ziqiao scrunched her nose, not caring much for the old woman’s anger.

“Why did the emperor reward you all these things?” Shen Zikai watched Old Madam Shen leave before dragging Shen Ziqiao back to Qiao Xin Courtyard.

“That’s because of…the little imperial grandson…” Shen Ziqiao woke up from her money dream before coming to the shocking realization that she obtained these rewards in exchange for her life. The happiness on her face faded, and she retold the story of what happened at the east palace to Shen Zikai.

Shen Zikai’s face ashened even more as he listened to the story. He wanted to give his sister a beating so badly.

“You! Do you know that you’d almost land yourself the same consequences as those imperial physicians? Who let you for wanting to be in the spotlight? The imperial physicians already said that he’s incurable, so why are you trying to show off? Ah?” Shen Zikai thought that his sister had obtained appreciation from a noble person within the palace. Who knew that this happened. He still had lingering fear whenever he thought of how his sister would have almost been dead like the imperial physicians.

“I regretted it as soon as I said it, but the child was that young. He was only a few months old. I couldn’t help it when I heard him cry…” Shen Ziqiao knew to be afraid, but she was quite happy that she had saved the child.

Shen Zikai was so angry that he couldn’t make out his words. “You… silly girl!”

Was he calling her stupid? Shen Ziqiao pursed her lips, not daring to talk back.

“Thankfully, you did save the little imperial grandson. Otherwise, how are you supposed to get out of the situation?” Shen Zikai knew that there was no point in scolding her now. He helplessly sighed as a result.

“I will take in this lesson. I won’t do this in the future anymore.” Shen Ziqiao promised.

Shen Zikai glared at her. “It’s good that you know to be afraid. Rest well. I’ll be going back now.”

The empress was usually a kind and friendly person. The palace maids in Kunde Palace were rarely scolded, not to mention being sentenced to death. Why were her methods that severe this time? Shen Zikai was confused. He wanted to talk to his father in detail about this, so that he could prevent breaking a taboo.

Shen Ziqiao had a real scare in the palace. She just felt exhausted. After she washed up, she laid down and fell in deep sleep.

Lady Meng indicated for the maids to guard outside as she pulled up the corner of the blankets for Shen Ziqiao. Glancing at Third Miss who looked more and more like the madam, Lady Meng couldn’t help but tear up.

Third Miss had gotten face back for the madam today. She obtained the rewards from the palace, and she must’ve angered that old woman.

Shen Ziqiao ended up sleeping the night through. When she woke up, it was already bright and sunny outside. There was laughter ringing outside. The banquet had begun.

“Hong Yu, quickly help me brush my hair. I want to go guess riddles.” After Shen Ziqiao tossed the fear from the palace to the back of her mind, she called Hong Yu inside to help her brush her hair and change her clothes.

“Third Miss, eat something first. You haven’t eaten anything for half the day already.” Hong Ying brought in Shen Ziqiao’s favorite pastries, smiling as she said this.

Shen Ziqiao wolfed down some pastries to fill her stomach for now. Then, she pulled Hong Yu and the others to the garden to guess some riddles. Who knew that before she even walked out of Qiao Xin Courtyard, Shen Zikai appeared in front of her with a heavy expression. “There’s a decree from the palace. They want you to enter the palace immediately.”

“What? Go to the palace for what reason?” Shen Ziqiao was startled and subconsciously thought back to the silent murders in the palace today.

“It seemed like the little imperial grandson’s condition had repeated again…” Shen Zikai parted his lips with difficulty. He was really scared. He didn’t dare let Shen Ziqiao enter the palace.

Shen Ziqiao was also really afraid, but she didn’t dare to express it. “Then let me go take a look.”

“Jiao Jiao!” Shen Zikai had never been so afraid before. He even wanted to resist the decree and just send his sister off.

Shen Xiao’s figure appeared behind them. “Let Jiao Jiao go.”

“Father!” Shen Zikai looked unbelievably at his father. “Today, Imperial Physician Li, and the others…”

“Shut up!” Shen Xiao shouted, “Jiao Jiao, go quickly. Don’t let Eunuch Su wait that long for you outside.”

Shen Ziqiao reluctantly smiled. Seeing Shen Xiao’s determined expression, she shouldn’t be in any danger.

She nodded at the maids before walking out of the Qiao Xin Courtyard, hurrying into the palace with Eunuch Su.

When she arrived at the east palace, she found out that the little imperial grandson got a fever again, and red spots grew all over his body.

After Shen Ziqiao looked over him, she secretly sighed. He had the same conditions as her best friend’s son. It was just ordinary Roseola. She didn’t need to specially treat it. He just needed to drink more water and not catch a cold. The red spots would disappear within two days.

“The imperial physician said that it’s smallpox…” The crown princess cried loudly, clutching Shen Ziqiao’s hands tightly as if she could give her hope again.

“Nonsense! What smallpox? It’s just pseudo-measles.” Shen Ziqiao knitted her brows and said, “The little imperial grandson still looks spirited. He’s fine.”

She needed to reduce his fever first. She couldn’t add alcohol this time. She’d use warm water to reduce his fever.

“The little imperial grandson pooped again.” The wet nurse carrying the little imperial grandson hurriedly said.

The crown princess cried, “This is already the fifth time.”

It was normal for children to have diarrhea when they had fevers.

“Then let the little imperial grandson drink some sweet salted water again.” Shen Ziqiao said.

Sheng Peiyin who had been keeping quiet glared at Shen Ziqiao and then scolded harshly, “Jiao Jiao, the little imperial grandson is in danger. You can’t continue to play around. If it weren’t for you… why would the little imperial grandson have diarrhea? Why would he get smallpox?”

What does this have to do with her? Shen Ziqiao knitted her brows at Sheng Peiyin. “This isn’t smallpox.”

“You’re still trying to worm your way out of this. I’ve known you for many years. Why wouldn’t I know you? How can you use the little imperial grandson?... You’re too excessive.” Sheng Peiyin looked at the little imperial grandson in heartache, looking at Shen Ziqiao in disappointment.

“What am I quibbling about? I haven’t reprimanded you yet. Are you a physician? Since you’re not, then come up with conclusions that quickly. You’re saying that he’s incurable that quickly, and you didn’t even try to save him. How do you know he’s incurable? You said that you know me, but what do you really know about me? What did I use the little imperial grandson for then?” Without a care for the people present, Shen Ziqiao glared at Sheng Peiyin unhappily.

So what if she was the heroine? Heroines are terrific?!

Sheng Peiyin shook with fury from humiliation. She was about to retort when the empress stopped her. “What should we do now?”

Shen Ziqiao carried over the little imperial grandson that had his diapers changed already. While humming a lullaby, she fed him sweet salted water, and then used warm water to wipe his limbs clean. He finally got his fever reduced. Everyone’s expressions became a little better.

“It’s very likely that he’d get a fever again in the middle of the night. It’s better to pay attention.” Shen Ziqiao said.

As expected, in the second half of the night, the little imperial grandson started crying again. Shen Ziqiao was so tired that she couldn’t keep her eyes open, but she needed to in order to feed him some water.

Two days later, the red spots on the little imperial grandson’s body had gradually faded. He didn’t have a burning temperature nor did he have diarrhea anymore. He was really spirited. His pair of pitch-black eyes contained a smile as he rubbed himself against Shen Ziqiao’s neck, playing happily.

Shen Ziqiao almost cried right then. Little ancestor, thank god you’re okay.