There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Princess of a Weak Nation in a Peace Marriage X Barbarian General

“General Peifeng… is sick?”

Anjisa almost thought he had misheard. He scratched his head and asked worriedly: “What kind of illness is it? Is it serious?”

He was supposed to accompany the General to the Royal Capital camp today to inspect the winter training. But when he waited and waited without seeing her, he had to rush to the General’s residence to inquire, only to learn that Jiang Peifeng was actually ill.

The General was always strong. Unless she was truly too sick to get out of bed, she would never be absent. Thinking of this, the worry on his face deepened.

Ashinuo led him toward the back garden, saying: “The Princess said the General must have caught a chill and has a slight fever. But you don’t have to worry too much. The General drank the medicine the Princess personally decocted this morning and also ate a large bowl of noodles. She seems a lot better.”

Anjisa stumbled, nearly tripping over the threshold.

It was just a fever… was it?

He remembered the last time they attacked the Haoting Tribe. The General was slashed on her left arm. Right after the wound was bandaged, she led them on a pursuit for a full three hundred miles, defeating the remnants of the Haoting army so they dared not cross the border again. The General’s heroic appearance then was still a model example for old soldiers to encourage new recruits!

He walked into the reception hall, filled with confusion.

The person who received him was Ruan Jiyun, who also looked very anxious: “She suddenly developed a fever in the middle of the night and didn’t want the maidservants to notify me. Fortunately, Ashinuo didn’t listen to her… She took medicine this morning, and now I’m making her rest.”

Seeing Ruan Jiyun’s worried look, Anjisa corrected his earlier judgment. He guessed that the General must truly be too ill to get out of bed.

After all, a fever can also come on fiercely!

Thinking this, he nodded: “The General should rest. She is usually too hard on herself. Thankfully, Your Highness lives here. Your medical skills are so advanced; the General will surely be fine.”

Ruan Jiyun was a little curious: “Is Peifeng… the General always this busy with her duties?”

Anjisa said: “That is natural. The Great King has three sons and two daughters, but it’s a known fact that our General is the most outstanding one! She commanded the Snow Cavalry at fifteen and is always the first to lead the charge in the military camp. The unification of the Twelve Xiji Tribes today is all thanks to our General’s efforts.”

“Not only that, the General also organized everyone to cultivate land and guard the borders, and subsequently allied with Great Jing, Western Lou Lan, and other neighboring countries. There are also plans to open trade markets between the allied nations when spring arrives… No one in Xiji understood these things before; the General worried about everything.” Anjisa sighed. “I heard the General cough a few times not long ago, but she kept saying it was nothing serious. She must have fallen ill back then!”

Ruan Jiyun listened quietly, her heart stirring. She was similar in age to Jiang Peifeng and also a Princess, but Jiang Peifeng was clearly doing so much better than her.

Whether it was leveraging her talents or doing her part to improve the lives of the people, Jiang Peifeng always instilled a sense of stability and reliable confidence.

Yet she is still just a young girl, too. There must be times when she is very exhausted, tired to the point of illness, and needs someone to accompany her, right?

Thinking of this, she said softly: “Don’t worry, I will take good care of her.”

When Jiang Peifeng was urged by Ruan Jiyun to sleep and woke up again, it was the middle of the night. Only two small lamps were left in the room. The wicks were trimmed low, leaving only a gentle halo of light enveloping the room.

As soon as she moved her neck, Ruan Jiyun, who was keeping watch by the side, leaned over: “You’re awake? Drink some water first… Let me see if the fever has gone down…”

The little white flower’s voice was gentle, bringing a rare comfort in the cold, silent winter night. She placed her palm on Jiang Peifeng’s forehead. Seeing Jiang Peifeng looking at her with a solemn gaze, she couldn’t help but ask: “Are you still uncomfortable?”

Jiang Peifeng shook her head: “Why aren’t you resting at such a late hour?”

“Patients with fever are most likely to relapse at night. I can’t sleep anyway, so I’ll just keep watch here for you.” Ruan Jiyun answered, while softly taking down the white congee that was simmering on the stove.

“You have to eat something first before you can drink the medicine.” She didn’t call the maidservants to wait on them, instead personally bringing the congee to Jiang Peifeng.

Jiang Peifeng watched her quietly.

“It’s just a cold. But you’re tired out and haven’t been able to rest properly for half the night.” Although she felt reassured to see the person she wanted to see the moment she opened her eyes while sick, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for the little white flower. “Have you been eating properly yourself?”

Seeing Ruan Jiyun nod, she used her strength to sit up and, without needing further prompting, managed to drink the entire bowl of congee clean.

After eating, it was time for the medicine.

The amber-colored decoction had a clear, bitter aroma. Ruan Jiyun crouched by the bed, staring intently as Jiang Peifeng drank the medicine. Seeing the slight flinch in her typically clear phoenix eyes, she couldn’t help but ask: “Is it very bitter?”

Jiang Peifeng originally intended to just endure it. Ruan Jiyun had watched over her all day, and she didn’t want her to worry over such a small matter. But turning to see those dewy eyes, she felt a change in her heart, frowned, and complained: “Mmm… it is a little bitter…”

Ruan Jiyun smiled slightly, with an “I knew it” expression. She pulled something out of her pouch: “Here, open your mouth.”

Faced with such a smiling face, Jiang Peifeng obediently opened her mouth without thinking, and immediately felt a rush of sweetness on her tongue.

“After drinking too much medicine, your mouth must be bitter. I asked Ashinuo to buy some honey this afternoon and slow-cook it into a candy with dried tangerine peel for you,” Ruan Jiyun explained with a smile, seeing her look of surprise. “Is it very sweet?”

Jiang Peifeng couldn’t help but curve her lips: “Actually, you don’t need to go to this much trouble. You clearly have something sweeter.”

With that, she leaned in and briefly touched the little white flower’s lips.

Under the candlelight, those cheeks, as fair as jade, instantly flushed into a pleasing red.

The thaw came to Mirror Lake, and the withered yellow grasslands were once again covered in green. Xiji’s long winter finally passed, and spring returned.

Jiang Peifeng became busy again. The grassland was naturally poor in resources, and although Xiji had gradually unified the various tribes in recent years, production was still the utmost priority. The state letters sent to Great Jing and Western Lou Lan regarding the establishment of trade markets were gradually receiving replies. She was busy arranging to host the envoys, often unable to return to the residence for days.

And Ruan Jiyun also had visitors.

“Thanks to Your Highness’s discovery of the Chaihu herb last winter, those afflicted with cold-induced fever have been treated with the new medicine. The data reported from the various Witch Doctor Posts shows a significant reduction in the death toll. The Great Witch Doctor has ordered me to invite you to the Witch Hospital!” Official Langji finished in one breath, his face flushed with excitement.

“Your Highness! Thank you. Your arrival has brought us hope,” he sincerely bowed in gratitude to Ruan Jiyun.

Ruan Jiyun hadn’t expected that an unintentional discovery of hers would bring such a great change to the people of Xiji. After arriving at the Witch Hospital, the Great Witch Doctor extended an invitation that she could not refuse.

The Great Witch Doctor wanted to invite her to work at the Witch Hospital, specifically to teach students how to identify medicinal herbs and study the medical knowledge of Great Jing. When he made this suggestion, the Great Witch Doctor’s white beard trembled again.

“Previously, I had a narrow view and always thought that foreign things could not compare to Xiji, which is blessed by the Witch God. Now, Your Highness’s prescription has saved countless Xiji lives. I apologize to Your Highness and brazenly beg Your Highness to pass on your medical skills to Xiji.”

Seeing the Great Witch Doctor about to bow to her, Ruan Jiyun immediately rose to avoid it: “You don’t need to do this. When I first arrived, I only thought to try it because I happened to discover the Chaihu myself…” She hesitated and said, “However, my medical skills are self-taught, and what I know is probably insufficient to serve as a teacher.”

“A single word makes a teacher,” the Great Witch Doctor said solemnly. “Your Highness, by willing to pass on the medical knowledge of your Great Jing to Xiji, you become the kind teacher of all Xiji medical officials.”

He invited Ruan Jiyun to sit down and then brought up the news he had just received: “I hear that Xiji will open trade markets with Great Jing this summer. I presume exchanges between the two nations will become smoother then. Your Highness is a Great Jing person, and I would also like to entrust you with helping draft the medicinal material procurement plan at that time…”

Ruan Jiyun had heard Jiang Peifeng mention the establishment of the trade markets, but didn’t expect the matter to be finalized so quickly. She said happily: “That’s no problem. I will draft a list first and then ask for your advice.”

“By summer, Your Highness will have been in Xiji for a full year,” the Great Witch Doctor chuckled, stroking his beard. He then asked her in detail about the setup of medical institutions in Great Jing, before instructing Langji to accompany her to rest.

“Langji will be staying in the Royal Capital these days,” he pointed to his disciple. “Your Highness needs to retrieve historical patient data from the Witch Hospital archives, and you must assist her thoroughly.”

Langji, knowing this was an opportunity for personalized instruction from the Great Jing Princess—an extraordinary favor from his teacher—nodded excitedly, saying eagerly: “This disciple will definitely do his utmost!”

Ruan Jiyun thus gained a job at the Witch Hospital. The story of her using medicine to treat evil spirit possession had long spread throughout the Witch Hospital. Medical officials of all ranks, seeing the Princess herself present, began running to the archives room with or without reason, keeping Langji happily busy to the point where his throat was nearly hoarse.

When Jiang Peifeng returned to the residence to look for Ruan Jiyun, she learned that the little white flower had been taken to the Witch Hospital.

She rode her horse directly to the Witch Hospital. The guards, seeing the Royal Daughter, did not stop her. Jiang Peifeng smoothly walked into the back courtyard, where she heard Ruan Jiyun’s familiar voice.

The spring sun was pleasant. Ruan Jiyun was teaching a class to the medical officials in the courtyard. Various herbs that could be found within Xiji were neatly laid out. She personally guided everyone to identify and study them one by one.

Her voice was gentle as she carefully explained the name, characteristics, and medicinal uses of the herbs before allowing the officials to examine them hands-on. One eager official held a piece of Coptis and examined it repeatedly, curious to taste it. Langji spotted him first and immediately snatched it away anxiously.

“You can’t eat it randomly,” he warned with a serious expression. “Listen carefully to what Her Highness says.”

He would never forget the sourness of that plum pill in his lifetime!

Jiang Peifeng saw the harmonious atmosphere in the courtyard and did not interrupt, instead standing quietly watching them. It was only when Ruan Jiyun finished her lesson that she looked up and noticed Jiang Peifeng’s presence.

“Why didn’t you call me!” A smile immediately flashed in her eyes. She didn’t even bother tidying the things in her hands, jogging toward Jiang Peifeng. “Is something the matter?”

Jiang Peifeng smiled and shook her head: “It’s the Spring Equinox today. I wanted to take you out to eat Spring Equinox cakes, but then I found out you’re here acting as a lady teacher.”

As she spoke, she gently stroked Ruan Jiyun’s hair: “I have good news to share with you.”

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