Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 26

26: I’ll Send for the Doctor Immediately

The maids Yuanqi and another attendant waiting outside immediately opened the door upon their arrival. The brightly lit room had a simple study area to the right, seating furniture in the center, and a folding screen partitioning the left side where the bed was concealed.

Tian Qingyi quickly rounded the screen to find Yun Jingchu reclining on the bed, brows furrowed and eyes tightly shut. As she leaned in to check Yun Jingchu’s forehead, the younger woman suddenly opened her eyes – wide, glistening orbs staring at her in confusion.

Yun Jingchu hadn’t anticipated Tian Qingyi’s nighttime journey. She’d forgotten to send word about staying over, and hadn’t intended to meet in her discomfort. Yet Baoqin had brought Tian Qingyi in anyway.

Tian Qingyi’s heart melted under that gaze. Flushing, she withdrew her hand and straightened awkwardly by the bedside. “Baoqin said you were unwell, and seeing you pale with closed eyes worried me. I just wanted to check for fever – nothing inappropriate. I apologize if I overstepped.”

Without waiting for a response, she continued anxiously, “You were fine when leaving. What happened? Have you seen a physician?”

After a long pause staring at her own embroidered slippers, Tian Qingyi only heard a faint “I…” before silence resumed. Looking up, she saw Yun Jingchu biting her lip hard enough to bleed, eyes squeezed shut while clutching her abdomen.

“Stomach pain? Hold on – I’ll summon a doctor immediately!” Tian Qingyi reached out instinctively before pulling back, then hurried toward the door in visible distress. Yun Jingchu, slowed by pain, couldn’t stop her in time.

At the door, Tian Qingyi found it closed again. Throwing it open, she called out, “Baoqin! Yongnian has stomach pain! Send Wei Shier for a doctor immediately – have him take my horse!”

The door swung open to reveal Baoqin and Yuanqi, who’d been eavesdropping. Recognizing Yun Jingchu’s condition, they nearly laughed before noticing Tian Qingyi’s genuine concern.

Baoqin lowered her eyes demurely. “Second Young Master, the Fourth Miss’s discomfort is…normal. It will pass in a day or two. No physician is needed.” Yuanqi nodded emphatically beside her.

Realizing her mistake, Tian Qingyi flushed. Baoqin might as well have said outright it was menstrual cramps. While doctors could help, most here avoided gynecological matters, with few true specialists.

Seeing Yun Jingchu’s obvious suffering, Tian Qingyi wished for modern painkillers – not guaranteed to eliminate pain, but certainly effective. Without alternatives, she recalled a friend’s remedies.

“Yuanqi, prepare a hot…bed warmer,” she ordered, almost saying “hot water bottle” before remembering the term didn’t exist here. “Baoqin, have the kitchen make brown sugar ginger tea with aged ginger. Quickly now!”

The maids, intimidated by Tian Qingyi’s severity, hurried off despite the unseasonal request for a bed warmer.

Returning inside, Tian Qingyi found Yun Jingchu quietly weeping – sweat-drenched, lips bleeding from being bitten, oblivious to the pain. Alarmed, she thrust her hand forward. “Bite me instead. I can take it.”

When Yun Jingchu opened her eyes to Tian Qingyi’s anxious face so unlike her usual composure, she was mesmerized. Even knowing Tian Qingyi was female, she couldn’t look away. The world seemed to shrink to just them, her senses heightening until she caught the familiar scent of the unique blended incense she’d introduced to Yuzhu Residence after taking charge – her mother’s legacy. Finding it on Tian Qingyi felt inexplicably intimate.

Though intending to refuse, Yun Jingchu inexplicably bit down – hard enough to draw bl00d. The metallic tang shocked her back to awareness.

For Tian Qingyi, the soft warmth enveloping her hand sent heat flooding her entire body, especially her burning cheeks. The sensation seemed directly connected to her pounding heart. Then pain erupted, forcing her to grit her teeth against crying out. She could endure pain, but wasn’t immune to it.

When Yun Jingchu finally released her, Tian Qingyi sighed in relief. Noticing sweat on Yun Jingchu’s brow, she instinctively wiped it with her sleeve, then gently brushed away tears with her knuckles.

Eyes closed, Yun Jingchu keenly felt Tian Qingyi’s tenderness – the warm, smooth knuckles especially. The rapid heartbeat she heard could’ve been hers or Tian Qingyi’s. This unprecedented intimacy with anyone, even another woman, left her flustered and insecure. Why feel shy around another woman? Was this normal?

“If it hurts too much, cry freely. I won’t tell,” Tian Qingyi offered, noticing Yun Jingchu’s pale cheeks gaining color.

Yun Jingchu merely waved weakly before releasing Tian Qingyi’s hand and turning away abruptly.

Previously, only Baoqin had attended her during these times – preparing warm water and herbal tonics. None had ever made her heart race like this, leaving her flustered and instinctively retreating from the unfamiliar emotions.

Staring at Yun Jingchu’s back, a bewildered Tian Qingyi only noticed her bleeding hand when bl00d nearly dropped on the quilt. Tying it hastily with a handkerchief, she grappled with her own realization – her feelings for Yun Jingchu had surpassed sisterly affection.

This was wrong. Not just because such relationships were taboo even in modern times (though legal there), but especially in this ritual-bound ancient society. Moreover, Yun Jingchu was only eighteen, a native Song dynasty woman who deserved better after their annulment. Tian Qingyi couldn’t selfishly gamble on that one-in-ten-thousand chance.

Sighing in resignation, she said, “Rest well. I’ll take my leave.”

“Mm.” Yun Jingchu didn’t turn around.

After Tian Qingyi left, Yun Jingchu stared blankly at the bed canopy until Yuanqi returned with a porcelain bed warmer (having improvised a new cloth cover when the old one proved unusable). The warmth soothed her icy hands and abdomen.

At least she wasn’t like this every month – just a few painful episodes annually, making her envy Baoqin’s effortless cycles. Strangely, she’d never noticed Tian Qingyi menstruating since the marriage – either exceptionally discreet or…

When Baoqin arrived with the ginger tea, Yun Jingchu asked, “Why brown sugar ginger water?”

“The Second Young Master’s orders,” Baoqin replied, watching her drink. “He also sent Yuanqi for the bed warmer.”

Yun Jingchu was surprised – she’d assumed Baoqin arranged everything. While unsure about the tea’s efficacy, the bed warmer helped somewhat.

Guided to a side chamber by a maid, Tian Qingyi lay awake obsessing over parents, modern life, Yun Jingchu, and even her ex. The unfamiliar environment and weeks of banquets made past relationships feel like another lifetime.

Having subconsciously expected that breakup, she’d accepted it with only mild regret – life went on without anyone, after all.

Waking near midday, Tian Qingyi called for Wei Shier while dressing, only to find her clothes missing from the rack.

“Just past mid-morning,” Wei Shier answered from behind the screen. “The Second Madam said no suitable clothes were available here, so Baoqin took yours for cleaning and perfuming. They should return soon.”

9:45 AM! After over a month’s practice, she could now convert traditional timekeeping easily. Yun Jingchu’s consideration surprised her, though considering Song dynasty elites changed outfits multiple times (Yun Jingchu surely packed several changes unlike her rushed departure), it made sense.

“Any news? Did Yongnian resolve the tenant issue?” Tian Qingyi probed, wondering about Yun Jingchu’s condition and travel plans.

Wei Shier began answering when Baoqin and Yuanqi entered with Tian Qingyi’s clothes and toiletries – followed by Yun Jingchu herself in a fresh dark green ruqun outfit.

After the maids withdrew, Tian Qingyi asked softly, “Is your stomach better?”

“The ginger water with crystallized sugar is quite good; I’m already feeling much better,” Yun Jingchu replied with a smile. In truth, she wasn’t sure if the ginger water had any effect, and what she didn’t mention was that even without the ginger water or the hot water bottle, the pain would have lessened by the next day. “As for the matter of revoking the tenancy…”