Transmigrated as a Cannon Fodder Wife A in Ancient Times - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

After Shen Lingwei finished eating dinner, Fan Chuan sent someone to fetch medicine from Jiang Xian. Jiang Xian had already arranged for people to wait in the small kitchen downstairs. They brought their own medicine stove, and soon, they prepared the medicine for Shen Lingwei.

The personal guard quickly carried the medicine upstairs. Fan Chuan opened the door, took the medicine, and dismissed the guard.

She carried the medicine to Shen Lingwei’s bedside and placed the medicine bowl on the round stool nearby. Then, she went to the round table and took some preserved fruits.

Fan Chuan picked up the medicine bowl. Shen Lingwei quickly propped herself up and said, “I can manage it myself.”

Seeing that Shen Lingwei’s spirit seemed much better than in the afternoon, Fan Chuan nodded and said, “Alright, be careful, it’s hot.”

She handed the medicine bowl to Shen Lingwei and poured a cup of tea in case Shen Lingwei found the medicine bitter.

Shen Lingwei scooped the medicine with a porcelain spoon and drank it. Her delicate brows furrowed tightly. Even though the medicine was extremely bitter, she only frowned and endured it.

Seeing her struggle with the taste, Fan Chuan quickly comforted her and said, “It’s just the two of us here, no need to hold back. This medicine is naturally very bitter.”

Shen Lingwei almost teared up but forced herself to finish the entire bowl of medicine. Her good upbringing from childhood kept her from making a fuss over such things.

The next moment, Fan Chuan brought the cup to Shen Lingwei’s lips and said, “Drink some, it’ll ease the bitterness.”

Shen Lingwei glanced at Fan Chuan and, with Fan Chuan’s help, drank most of the tea.

Seeing that she stopped drinking, Fan Chuan quickly took a small plate of preserved fruits and handed it to Shen Lingwei. Shen Lingwei reached out, took one, and put it in her mouth. Finally, it suppressed the bitter taste in her mouth.

However, they hadn’t brought any preserved fruits or dried snacks when they left. Where did these come from?

After she swallowed the preserved fruit, she asked, “Where did these come from?”

“Oh, I sent someone to buy them in town just now. Unfortunately, this town is too small, and they didn’t have your favorite osmanthus cake, so the guard bought some preserved fruits and dried snacks instead,” Fan Chuan said, noticing that Shen Lingwei’s face was no longer as pale as it was in the afternoon. She felt slightly relieved.

Shen Lingwei’s hand, resting on the quilt, tightened slightly, her fingertips gripping the quilt. She said, “The Marshal has taken great care.”

“It’s nothing. I was too careless before and didn’t take good care of you. We won’t rush as much on the road ahead,” Fan Chuan quickly said.

“I’m fine. Don’t delay your important matters,” Shen Lingwei said, knowing the urgency of military affairs. She didn’t want to hold Fan Chuan back because of herself.

“It’s not a delay. I know what I’m doing. Besides, the soldiers have been out for so long and are truly exhausted. They need a rest too,” Fan Chuan said, smiling at Shen Lingwei. She stood up, took the medicine bowl and teacup from the bedside, and placed them on the round table.

Shen Lingwei’s gaze followed Fan Chuan’s back. After a long moment, she pursed her lips and closed her eyes briefly.

Fan Chuan returned and sat on the round stool. She said, “Rest early tonight. I’ll look after you. If you feel unwell, make sure to tell me.”

Shen Lingwei’s hands tightly gripped the quilt. She nodded at Fan Chuan, then shifted toward the inner side of the bed to make space for Fan Chuan. She said, “The Marshal has worked hard all day. Rest early too.”

“Hmm, I’m not in a hurry. You sleep first,” Fan Chuan said, planning to wait until Shen Lingwei fell asleep and ensure she didn’t have a fever before resting.

Fever symptoms were the most draining. Sometimes, the fever subsided during the day but flared up again at night. She couldn’t sleep too deeply tonight, or she wouldn’t be able to care for Shen Lingwei properly.

Fan Chuan read a military book for a while. When she saw Shen Lingwei had fallen asleep, she reached out and cautiously touched Shen Lingwei’s forehead. The temperature wasn’t as hot as it had been in the afternoon, so the bitter medicine must have worked.

Fan Chuan took off her outer dress and carefully lay down. The bed in this post station wasn’t as spacious as the one in the Marshal’s Mansion. After lying down, her arm brushed against Shen Lingwei. She simply turned to face Shen Lingwei’s side to save space and to notice any discomfort in Shen Lingwei sooner.

Fan Chuan had been marching in armor for days and was exhausted. Soon, she fell into a deep sleep. During the night, she felt something burrowing into her arms and something grabbing at her, like a small cat.

Her eyes snapped open. By the faint light from outside, she saw Shen Lingwei’s hand unconsciously clutching at her. Shen Lingwei’s whole body was pressing closer to her.

Fan Chuan’s heart sank. She reached out and touched Shen Lingwei’s forehead. It seemed the fever had returned.

Fan Chuan gently patted Shen Lingwei’s back and softly comforted her, saying, “Do you want water? It seems the fever is back. I’ll send for a physician.”

As she moved to get out of bed, Shen Lingwei grabbed her arm. She was muttering something, but Fan Chuan couldn’t hear clearly.

Seeing Shen Lingwei grip her arm tightly, Fan Chuan stayed on the bed and leaned closer to hear what Shen Lingwei was saying.

“Mother, Mother, don’t go, don’t abandon me…” Her voice was broken and intermittent, filled with anxiety and grievance, like an abandoned kitten.

It was the first time Fan Chuan had seen Shen Lingwei like this. In her memory, since their marriage, Shen Lingwei had always been dignified, proper, and flawless as a wife. This helpless version of Shen Lingwei was entirely new to her.

Fan Chuan pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and gently patted Shen Lingwei’s back to comfort her. She said, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t abandon you. I’ll take good care of you from now on and won’t let you get this sick again.”

Feeling the comfort, Shen Lingwei’s emotions calmed slightly. Soon, she fell back into a deep sleep.

Fan Chuan carefully loosened Shen Lingwei’s grip on her clothing, got up slowly, and tucked the quilt around Shen Lingwei. Then, she put on a cloak and walked to the door. Outside, personal guards were on duty all night in shifts.

“Go call Jiang Xian. Tell her Madam seems to have a fever again,” Fan Chuan said quietly.

The guard quickly went to fetch her. Jiang Xian hurriedly dressed, grabbed her medicine box, and went to Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei’s room.

She knocked on the door and carefully entered.

Fan Chuan beckoned her over and said quietly, “She seems to have a fever again. Check her pulse.”

Jiang Xian saluted Fan Chuan, then carried her medicine box to the bedside.

She carefully placed Shen Lingwei’s hand on a soft cushion and took her pulse. As she stood, she gently touched Shen Lingwei’s forehead.

“Marshal, it’s normal for the fever to return at night. I’ll have someone prepare another bowl of medicine. If you’re still worried, you can use strong liquor on a cotton cloth to wipe Madam’s palms and soles. It’ll help dissipate the heat faster,” Jiang Xian said, seeing how concerned the Marshal was for Madam.

“Alright, go get a jar of strong liquor from the post station,” Fan Chuan said.

“Yes,” Jiang Xian said, stepping out to instruct the guard at the door.

Soon, a guard brought in a small jar of strong liquor and a wine bowl.

Fan Chuan took a clean cotton cloth, soaked it in the liquor, and squeezed it until it was half-dry. Then, she used the cloth to wipe Shen Lingwei’s palms.

Shen Lingwei’s skin was fair, her hands long and delicate, with fingertips as refined as white jade.

Fan Chuan applied gentle pressure, careful not to hurt Shen Lingwei.

She wiped Shen Lingwei’s palms several times, then glanced at the end of the quilt.

Should she wipe Shen Lingwei’s soles? It seemed like an intimate act. If Shen Lingwei found out, would she be angry? After all, a refined young lady like her, so proper, might think Fan Chuan was being improper.

But seeing Shen Lingwei’s furrowed brows, Fan Chuan scolded herself not to overthink. Shen Lingwei was sick, and her health came first.

With that thought, she didn’t hesitate. She soaked the cloth with more liquor and sat at the foot of the bed.

Fan Chuan placed one hand at the end of the quilt and looked at the still-sleeping Shen Lingwei. She said quietly, “Pardon me.”

Then, she lifted the end of the quilt and gently held Shen Lingwei’s ankle. She used the liquor-soaked cloth to carefully wipe Shen Lingwei’s sole.

Shen Lingwei’s feet were small and fair, but due to the fever, they felt warm. Even Fan Chuan’s hand, holding her ankle, felt warm.

Fan Chuan didn’t dare look too long and quickly averted her gaze. She gently wiped Shen Lingwei’s sole, then soaked the cloth again and wiped the other foot.

When someone knocked to deliver the medicine, Fan Chuan stopped.

She tucked the quilt back over Shen Lingwei and went to get the medicine.

The medicine still smelled bitter. Fan Chuan placed the medicine bowl on the round stool by the bed, poured half a cup of warm tea, and brought the plate of preserved fruits to the stool.

Fan Chuan sat on the bed and gently nudged Shen Lingwei. Seeing she didn’t wake, she carefully lifted Shen Lingwei to sit up, letting her lean against her.

Once Shen Lingwei was settled, Fan Chuan nudged her again and said, “Wake up, take the medicine, then sleep.”

Shen Lingwei’s eyes opened slightly, then closed again. Her body felt hot and uncomfortable.

Fan Chuan could see she was unwell. She reached for the medicine bowl, scooped a spoonful, blew on it gently, and brought it to Shen Lingwei’s lips. She said, “Open your mouth, take the medicine.”

As if understanding Fan Chuan’s words, though her eyes remained closed, Shen Lingwei opened her mouth and took the medicine.

Seeing her comply, Fan Chuan relaxed slightly and fed her the medicine spoonful by spoonful.

Perhaps finding the medicine bitter, Shen Lingwei’s brows furrowed.

Fan Chuan quickly brought the teacup to her lips and said softly, “Drink some tea, it won’t feel so bitter.”

She slowly fed the tea. Seeing Shen Lingwei drink a few sips and her expression ease slightly, Fan Chuan took a piece of preserved fruit and brought it to Shen Lingwei’s lips. She said, “Open your mouth.”

Shen Lingwei instinctively rubbed against Fan Chuan’s shoulder, her soft lips obediently opening.

Fan Chuan felt her heart race. She quickly placed the preserved fruit in Shen Lingwei’s mouth.

As if tasting something sweet, Shen Lingwei seemed more comfortable and leaned against Fan Chuan without moving.

Fan Chuan carefully laid her down, tucked the quilt around her, and went to the table to pour herself a cup of water.

Her mind kept flashing to Shen Lingwei’s fair ankles and the way she had leaned against her, rubbing against her. Her heart felt itchy, something wasn’t right.

Fan Chuan drank three cups of tea to calm down. She took deep breaths, reminding herself that Shen Lingwei was someone the old emperor had placed by her side. She couldn’t fully trust her and needed to verify her intentions. She couldn’t let herself be swayed by tender feelings.

After thinking this way, Fan Chuan felt a bit better. Once her mind calmed, she returned to the bed and lay down beside Shen Lingwei.

After tossing about until midnight, Fan Chuan soon fell asleep.

The next morning, due to her biological clock, Fan Chuan woke early. After waking, she reached out and touched Shen Lingwei’s forehead. Finding the fever had subsided, she relaxed slightly.

About an hour later, Shen Lingwei slowly woke. She propped herself up to sit, her spirit much better than the previous day.

Fan Chuan was drinking tea at the table. Seeing her awake, she walked over and asked, “How do you feel today?”

“Much better. My head’s not dizzy anymore,” Shen Lingwei said, looking at Fan Chuan. Last night, she had slept in a daze. She vaguely recalled someone feeding her medicine in her half-awake state.

“Did you feed me medicine last night?” she asked.

“Hmm, you had a fever again last night, so I had medicine prepared and fed you once,” Fan Chuan said, relieved to see her looking better. She sent for the military doctor to check Shen Lingwei’s pulse and asked the kitchen to send breakfast.

Breakfast was simple porridge and side dishes. Fan Chuan brought a small table to the bed, placed it there, and set the wooden tray on it. She said, “Eat breakfast first. You’ll need to take medicine later.”

“Alright. Thank you for taking care of me last night,” Shen Lingwei said, her fingertips under the quilt lightly clenching.

“No need to thank me. You’re my Madam, it’s only right to care for you. Eat,” Fan Chuan said, smiling at her and sitting at the table to keep watch.

Xiao Tao had been anxious to see her young lady but feared coming too early would disturb their rest. She waited until now, knocked on the door, and entered after Fan Chuan’s permission.

Xiao Tao bowed to Fan Chuan and Shen Lingwei, then quickly asked, “Miss, how are you?”

Shen Lingwei smiled at her and said, “Much better. The fever’s gone, thanks to the Marshal’s care.”

“That’s good, that’s good,” Xiao Tao said, slightly relieved.

When Shen Lingwei had nearly finished breakfast, Jiang Xian arrived. She checked Shen Lingwei’s pulse and confirmed that one more day of medicine would suffice for recovery. Fan Chuan finally felt at ease.