After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Entangled by the Paranoid Eldest Princess - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Just as Si Jinghua’s patience was about to reach its limit, this rustic doctor finally withdrew her “insolent” hand.

After examining her eyes, the doctor began to take her pulse again. Once the entire routine was finished, Doctor Shen pondered the pulse—which was now different from before—and murmured, “This young lady’s pulse is currently rapid and weak, which is a symptom of deficiency in Qi and blood. Her long period of unconsciousness is exactly her body’s way of conserving energy and building up strength after exhausting its vital essence.”

Wen Chenqing understood this explanation. She turned and asked, “Then what about the memory loss? Is there a chance of recovery?”

Doctor Shen replied, “This young lady has no external injuries and her mind is clear, so it is evident that the blockage of the brain’s meridians was not caused by head trauma or poor blood circulation. Combining this with her symptoms of Qi and blood deficiency, she likely encountered a major upheaval or a long, severe illness. This has caused damage to both the heart and spleen, leaving her Qi and blood with no source for regeneration, leading to the loss of memory.”

“For this kind of ‘Lost Soul Disease,’ it is difficult to prescribe medicine for the time being. We can only wait for the lady to nurse her body back to health; perhaps then there will be a change.”

Wen Chenqing was somewhat skeptical. Although this A-Jin looked a bit pale, her lip color was faint, and her figure wasn’t exactly plump, her mental state didn’t seem like that of someone who had suffered a long, severe illness. Combining the clues—no external injuries but the smell of blood on her last night—Wen Chenqing suspected she might have encountered some major trauma and lost her memory due to the shock.

She nodded thoughtfully, having already accepted Doctor Shen’s diagnosis.

Truly a quack, Si Jinghua concluded in her heart. Whether she had amnesia or not—did she not know that herself? It was merely a lie she had made up on the spot, yet this quack actually spoke a mountain of nonsense to this strange Second Miss Wen. A bunch of fools.

Wen Chenqing, who trusted the doctor implicitly, followed up by asking, “Then how should this Qi and blood deficiency be treated?”

Doctor Shen explained some dietary precautions, wrote a prescription, and dispensed some herbs for conditioning the body. Wen Chenqing took it and saw that the handwriting on the prescription was neat and clear at a glance. She offered her thanks and signaled Ginkgo to pay the consultation fee and see Doctor Shen out, and to take the newly copied prescription to the pharmacy to fetch the medicine.

Si Jinghua spoke up: “Is that for me?”

The girl named A-Jin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. Wen Chenqing met her gaze as she looked at the prescription in her hand and nodded. “Mhm. You heard what the doctor said just now; your body is a bit weak and needs conditioning.”

Si Jinghua said, “I don’t feel weak. I have plenty of energy.” She had been galloping across the hunting grounds yesterday, catching plenty of prey. How had she become “deficient in Qi and blood” today? Furthermore, the Imperial Physicians in the palace frequently took her “peace pulse,” and her medical records were on file; there was nothing wrong with her health. This rustic doctor was truly a quack.

Wen Chenqing looked at A-Jin and fell silent for a moment. Not weak? Then why did you suddenly faint last night? She questioned her silently but was emotionally intelligent enough not to argue. Instead, she said tactfully, “The doctor has more experience, after all. It’s better to listen to her instructions.”

Then, Wen Chenqing saw the girl named A-Jin lower her head slightly.

“But I remember nothing except my name. You shouldn’t know who I am.” A piteous and innocent tone should sound like this, right? Si Jinghua thought, imitating the mannerisms of the concubines vying for favor in the back palace she remembered.

Her voice was soft as she spoke with her head down. Wen Chenqing couldn’t see her expression and only felt that she seemed to be suppressing some emotion.

“We are strangers, and I have no money on me. You have already done more than enough by calling a doctor for me. I don’t feel unwell; I don’t need these things.” Si Jinghua couldn’t imagine what her own face looked like making a “pitiful” expression, so she simply kept her head lowered.

Even without seeing her face clearly, A-Jin’s emotions were plain in her words. So she’s worried about being a burden? Wen Chenqing’s expression softened. Taking in this stranger last night, calling a doctor this morning, and having Ginkgo fetch medicine—along with the secret plan to help this amnesiac girl find her family through the local authorities—were all things she had done voluntarily.

Now that her kindness had been acknowledged, it proved that at the very least, A-Jin’s nature after losing her memory was quite kind. Having seen too many people who took others’ kindness for granted or were insatiably greedy, Wen Chenqing felt a bit soft-hearted.

She offered a somewhat clumsy comfort: “You don’t need to worry. Memory loss isn’t something you can control. For these next few days, stay here and rest peacefully. I will have people keep an eye out for any families searching for relatives, and I’ll send someone to the government office to inquire. If we can find your household registration, perhaps we can send you home.”

“I have nothing to repay you with,” Si Jinghua said, looking up. She barely managed to keep her expression under control. “What if my memory never recovers? What if my family can’t be found?”

A-Jin’s questions were very realistic. Wen Chenqing gazed at her pale, calm face and said in a gentle voice, “Heaven never seals off all exits. Even if your memory doesn’t return, and even if your family isn’t found, you still need to nurse your body back to health first. Then, you can learn a trade to make a living. By then, you will be able to live your own life with peace of mind and confidence.”

She didn’t make any grand promises about keeping her forever or letting her live there indefinitely. Wen Chenqing thought: My own future is uncertain, and I cannot yet fully control my own life. What right do I have to make promises to another? Besides, strictly speaking, she and A-Jin had only met this morning. If A-Jin’s fears really came true, Wen Chenqing figured she would help her find a way to earn a living and then let her take charge of her own life.

Si Jinghua looked at the woman standing by the bed with a completely new perspective. If this Second Miss Wen had taken the opportunity to promise she would harbor her forever should she never recover her memory, Si Jinghua had already decided to have her seized. Since such an interesting change had occurred in this woman, she naturally intended to pry her mouth open and conduct a thorough interrogation. After all, she was just an abandoned concubine-born daughter; who would dare snatch a person from the Eldest Princess?

But Si Jinghua could hear that the person before her was making serious, sincere plans. This was truly rare. She considered herself quite beautiful—perhaps not a celestial goddess, but certainly a peerless beauty. Even though this strange Second Miss Wen had been kicked out to a villa, she was still the daughter of a third-rank official. It would be more than easy for her to take advantage of an “amnesiac” woman; no matter what she forced her to do, she could reap quite a bit of profit.

But the strange Second Miss Wen didn’t seem interested. An ambitious yet foolish and reckless person falls into a pond once and suddenly turns into a noble-minded gentleman who goes against her former nature? Such a bizarre thing was happening right before her eyes; Si Jinghua was becoming more and more curious.

This curiosity even overshadowed her distaste for this bed. The fastidiousness she had felt since waking was instantly diverted.

Wen Chenqing noticed that after her words, the light in A-Jin’s eyes returned. She understood; A-Jin must have been feeling insecure just now. It seemed her words were able to soothe someone whose memory was a blank slate. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Wen Chenqing’s face as she asked, “Are you hungry? I’ll go get you something to eat.”

She was indeed a bit hungry. Si Jinghua nodded. “I must trouble you.” After speaking, she frowned slightly. She had never spoken so politely to anyone.

Since Wen Chenqing had already applied a “kind-hearted” filter to her, she automatically interpreted the expression on A-Jin’s face as the guilt one feels when bothering someone else. She was right; A-Jin had a good personality.

After the Second Miss Wen left, Si Jinghua was the only one left in the room. There was a movement by the window. Si Jinghua turned her head. The closed latch was pushed open a few finger-widths, revealing a pair of familiar eyes. Fuqu, seeing no one else in the room, boldly opened it a bit wider.

“What is it?” Si Jinghua had known there was someone outside the window. She always had guards watching day and night; now that she was in a strange place, her people were surely hidden all around this three-entry courtyard.

Hearing the Princess’s stern question, Fuqu immediately replied, “Princess, when will you return?” Having overheard most of the conversation in the room while clinging to the window, she had a bad premonition.

Si Jinghua didn’t look at her. She surveyed the crude furnishings of the room and gave a snorted laugh. “Return? Wait a bit longer.” Once this newfound interest faded, she could go back.

Fuqu gritted her teeth and said, “But Princess, staying here is truly beneath you!”

Si Jinghua said, “It is indeed beneath me.”

Fuqu felt a surge of joy. The Princess had never suffered like this; was she about to change her mind?

Si Jinghua instructed her: “Go and have people prepare items identical to the furnishings in this room—I want to swap them out.”

“…” Fuqu replied, “Yes.”

Si Jinghua narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a low voice, “Have someone investigate this Second Miss Wen. The more detailed, the better. Send the report as soon as it’s ready.”

Hearing the faint sound of footsteps outside, Si Jinghua told Fuqu to shut the window and withdraw. With a click, the window was latched just as the door opened.

Wen Chenqing, carrying a tray, looked toward the source of the noise. “What was that sound?”

Si Jinghua feigned confusion. “Was there a sound?”

Wasn’t there? Wen Chenqing withdrew her gaze. “Perhaps I misheard.” She placed the tray on the small table. Seeing A-Jin give a reserved and shy smile, she returned the smile. “The food is at the perfect temperature. Eat quickly.”

“…”

Seeing A-Jin pause, Wen Chenqing asked with concern, “Is it not to your taste?”

It is definitely not to my taste, Si Jinghua said in her heart. She picked up some stir-fried toon with her chopsticks, swallowed it slowly, and then took a sip of chicken soup. She shook her head at Second Miss Wen and said, “No, it’s very delicious.”

Occasionally eating simple porridge and side dishes was actually a unique experience.

After seeing A-Jin finish most of her food, Wen Chenqing helped clear the items away and said, “My maid Ginkgo has brought the medicine back; it’s being brewed in the kitchen now. After you take your medicine, you can come out to the courtyard for a walk. The sun is perfect today; you can soak up some sunshine.”

Hearing there was still medicine to take, Si Jinghua suddenly felt her patience today was exceptionally good. Her eyes darkened as her gaze settled lingeringly on the person who had her back turned, tidying up the room.