Ich denke an dich, wenn der Wind weht

Kapitel 56

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Yunshu had already abandoned him and rushed out.

The boy was stunned for a moment when his face suddenly fell, then someone patted him on the back of the head. Xie Jingze smiled slightly.

"Hurry up and take me there! Haven't you seen how the third brother looks?"

Outside Madam Xie's room, there was a commotion, with an unknown number of people crowding around. Some uncles, aunts, and other relatives, along with their maids, were peeking with interest. The sudden appearance of strangers undoubtedly provided stimulating gossip. Seeing Xie Yunshu arrive, they consciously made way for him, not paying attention to the whispers behind their handkerchiefs. They only stared at the body curled up on the couch in the inner room.

Jia Ye's forehead was cold, her skin icy to the touch. Unlike the previous, more severe attack, when she was curled up unconscious, her brows furrowed and sweating profusely, he tore open her trouser leg amidst gasps. Her fair, jade-like calves appeared normal, not like a case of reversed meridians. Ignoring the stares of others, he picked her up and pressed one hand against her back.

As time passed, the internal energy flowing into He Xi gave Su Yan a faint touch of color.

Xie Jingze also rushed over. Qinglan, seeing this, wisely advised everyone to leave. She bowed and asked the various aunts to leave, dismissed the maids and servants, and finally simply closed the door, keeping all sights outside.

"Jingze, take a look at what's wrong with this child." Madam Xie urged gently, without reprimanding Xie Yunshu for his overstepping his bounds. "How did she end up lying in the garden, hiding so well? If Yu Dian hadn't screamed so loudly, no one would have found her by now."

Yu Dian was Madam Xie's pet dog, and at this moment it lay obediently at its owner's feet, panting heavily.

Although she was middle-aged, Madam Xie still looked delicate and beautiful, not at all like a mother of five. Sitting by the couch, she held Jia Ye's hand, her eyes full of pity.

"Your hands are so cold, you must have caught a cold. Should we get some more brocade quilts?"

Xie Jingze pressed his fingertips against the slender wrist, carefully cutting for a while before switching to the other hand. As soon as he placed his hand on it, it was shaken away, and Jia Ye opened her eyes.

Noticing that she wanted to sit up, Xie Yunshu hid his anxiety and comforted her.

"This is my second brother. He has been studying medicine under a national master since childhood and is quite skilled. Let him examine you."

He should have noticed her unusual behavior much earlier. There was something wrong with her when he first saw her, but she covered it up, saying she just wanted to look through some medical books. Given Jia Ye's vigilance and suspicious nature, he must have been feeling extremely unwell to act this way, but he carelessly ignored it, and he was filled with regret.

Jia Ye was still pale and weak, and shook her head with difficulty. "I want to go back."

"How can that be? You're so careless with your health." Madam Xie gently scolded, taking out a plain handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. "You don't even care about being sick. Look how much pain you're in. Since you're Shu'er's friend and you saved Lan'er, do you think the Xie family is going to eat you alive? Just stay here and recover. If you continue to ruin yourself like this, not only will your parents be angry, but I will be too."

The person in his arms stopped moving. Xie Yunshu looked at Jia Ye in surprise, who had put away her arrogant and stubborn nature and silently let Madam Xie nag on without saying anything more.

Stay

"Second brother, can you diagnose the cause?" Xie Yunshu was worried that her old injury had flared up again.

Xie Jingze hesitated for a moment, unsure of where to begin.

Madam Xie urged, "Jingze, hurry up and tell me. I see that Miss Ye is in a lot of pain. Could it be something serious?"

Xie Jingze coughed awkwardly, chased his younger brother, who was sticking out his ears, out the door, and then turned to face his mother and third brother.

“Miss Ye’s abdominal pain is nothing serious, but she is…” He hesitated for a long time, his voice very low, “…about to have her period.”

After a long pause, Xie Yunshu blushed unconsciously.

"Could there be a mistake? Even if it's the first period of menstruation, it shouldn't hurt that much," Madam Xie wondered.

“This is related to the martial arts she practices.” Xie Jingze coughed repeatedly, embarrassed. “I don’t know which style she practices, but it’s definitely an extremely cold and yin one. She’s only just started menstruating at the age of twenty, so it must be due to this, and the symptoms are more severe than in ordinary women. In addition, her internal energy is icy cold, so the more she circulates her energy, the more intense the pain becomes.” As he spoke, he suddenly remembered, “Qinglan said that Father and Fourth Uncle encountered her in the Bamboo Garden and even got into a fight, so it’s probably true…”

"Is there any way to lessen her pain?" Madam Xie asked, having roughly understood the situation.

Xie Jingze nodded. "I'll write a prescription to promote blood circulation and relieve pain. Also, be careful not to let her catch a cold. Her body is too weak, so we need to pay close attention to her, otherwise she's very likely to develop health problems."

"You don't need to tell me that. I'll go and tell her in a bit. Her mother isn't around, so I'll take care of her myself." Madam Xie turned to Xie Yunshu with a reproachful tone. "Speaking of which, you have to blame her parents. How could they bear to let such a lovely girl practice such evil martial arts? Where are they from?"

His mother's question startled him. "Her parents passed away when she was about five years old."

Madam Xie paused, then sighed with heartache. "What a pitiful child." Her eyes reddened as she spoke. "I'll go talk to her. Jingze finished writing the prescription and instructed the servants to quickly brew it and bring it in. Shu'er told the kitchen to make a bowl of ginger and brown sugar soup."

Seeing that his mother had gone to the next room, Xie Jingze spread out his brush and ink and wrote the prescription in a flowing, elegant style, while explaining it to his younger brother.

"I just examined her pulse and found that she was indeed poisoned, and it has been a long time. It is probably the Jade Iris Flower that you mentioned. This flower is too rare. I need to examine her more carefully to find out the specific method of removing the poison, otherwise I am not sure."

"Thank you for your trouble, Second Brother." Xie Yunshu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“However…” Xie Jingze frowned, puzzled. “There’s something wrong with her meridians.”

"What does 'Second Brother' mean?" His heart leaped again as he stared at the person deep in thought.

"It's still related to the kung fu she practices. Her meridians are quite fragile, unlike ordinary people... It seems she's supported entirely by her internal energy."

A chill ran through him, and he revealed everything he knew about the cultivation technique, including how Jia Ye's old injuries would periodically flare up.

Xie Jingze remained silent for a long time, his expression hardening.

"According to you, this kind of skill is very dangerous. In the short term, it depletes the meridians to achieve quick results, but in the long term, it will inevitably lead to disaster. If it goes wrong, the consequences will be unimaginable. Knowing that the outcome is uncertain, how could she be so reckless? Putting aside other things, the periodic backlash alone is something that ordinary people cannot withstand. If it continues to flare up, it will inevitably become more and more severe."

He was speechless for a long time, and could only ask the most crucial question.

Are there any treatment methods?

“I was halfway through my diagnosis when she knocked me away. I need to assess the extent of the damage before I can make a decision.” Xie Jingze paused, his voice tinged with hesitation. “Right now… to truly remedy this, we’d at least have to cripple this martial art.”

To have her hard-earned martial arts skills destroyed... would be worse than death for her.

With her proud nature, Jia Ye would never allow herself to lose her ability to protect herself. If she were to become an ordinary person, powerless to even kill a chicken…

He leaned against the door, lost in thought.

Madam Xie was gently instructing her daughter on the little things she should pay attention to. Jia Ye listened quietly and meekly, unusually so. Whether from pain or shame, her dark eyes were misty and soft, making her look like a well-behaved little girl, yet pale and pitiful.

Despite her youthful appearance, her body was riddled with wounds, and she endured it all through desperate, self-destructive struggle. He had no right to criticize her reckless self-harm, nor dared to consider the price she had paid to gain her current freedom—a price far longer, greater, and heavier than his seven years.

A maid brought over a warm hand warmer, which Madam Xie personally placed in her bosom and tucked the silk quilt around her. Seeing him gazing longingly by the door, she smiled knowingly, led the maid out, and also grabbed Qinglan, who was peeking out from the window.

As he approached, Jia Ye's face gradually flushed red, and she dared not meet his gaze. What was even more terrifying was that she knew she was blushing, and she felt even more ashamed and embarrassed.

I thought it was internal organ damage caused by practicing martial arts, but I never expected it to be for this reason. I was so embarrassed when I found out. If I had known this, I would have preferred to bear it rather than embarrass myself in front of others.

"Is it still very painful?" The clear male voice was very soft and gentle. A warm hand touched the snowy forehead. After taking the medicine and hugging the heater, the temperature returned to normal and was no longer frighteningly cold.

Jia Ye's constitution was always on the cold side. Only now did he realize that it was the result of his extremely weak blood and qi, and the coldness penetrating to his bones. The reason, of course, was the unique martial arts he practiced.

“Your body is very weak, you must take extra care of yourself.” He suppressed his emotions and advised. “You’ve suffered so many injuries before, I’ll have my second brother prescribe some medicine for you to recuperate properly.”

Her bright, dark eyes finally caught sight of me, and the blush gradually faded. "I'm much better now. I'll go back to the inn tomorrow."

"Don't talk nonsense, you still have to take medicine for several more days."

"I wanted you to take me back now, but I bet you wouldn't agree." She gave a self-deprecating smile. "I can't move, and without someone to help me, it'll be difficult to get out of the Xie family's maze. I can only wait until tomorrow."

"Does being involved with the Xie family make you so upset?" He almost forgot how easily she could provoke his anger.

Her long eyelashes fluttered, then she curled them even tighter. "I don't like to linger in other people's places."

"You have your own place?" He knew he had made a mistake as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Thank you for reminding me, but you don't need to worry about that." Jia Ye's face suddenly lost all emotion, leaving only indifference, instantly transforming back into a distant and aloof demeanor.

It was too late for regrets; the room fell into a frozen silence.

"...Do you have to be so stubborn and make yourself suffer like this?"

“I’ve always been like this, there’s nothing wrong with it.” She tossed aside the heater, sat up, and casually tucked her hair behind her ear, her coldness making her unapproachable. “Thank you for your help. Please convey my apologies to everyone in the household. I will not be able to visit you again to express my gratitude.”

"You're leaving now? Have you forgotten you're still sick?" He was so angry that he reached out to grab her, but she moved her right hand slightly, her fingertips brushing against him, forcing him to pull his hand back.

"Stop being stubborn, or you'll be in even more pain." He tried his best to suppress a growl, not daring to go any further. "You know perfectly well that you can't use your inner energy now."

"So what? I'll just have to put up with it." His dark eyes remained completely calm. "It would be great if you were willing to take me out, but even if you aren't, I'll eventually find my way."

He watched her leave, furious and helpless, feeling heartbroken yet powerless to do anything about it.

She can endure anything and bear any pain, which is why she has become the way she is today. She doesn't care about hurting others or herself, but she makes onlookers feel heartbroken.

After stepping out of the room and getting her bearings, she headed straight for the moon gate on the right, only to be blocked by someone after a few steps.

Madam Xie approached with two personal maids, and was surprised to see the person who should have been resting in bed standing awkwardly in front of her. Her beloved son followed behind, both angry and upset, not knowing what to do.

The air stood still for a moment.

The frail woman smiled gently and took Jia Ye's hand. "Why are you getting up, child? If you need anything, just ask Shu'er. You're still weak, and look how cold your hands are. The kitchen has made you some nourishing chicken soup. Go back and lie down to drink it, so I won't worry about you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I am much better now and really dare not trouble you..." The warm and soft hand held her tightly, and she could not easily pull away. Her stammering refusal was easily interrupted, and Madam Xie complained with concern and reproach.

“You’re too young to understand. A young woman’s illness is no small matter. You’ll understand when you’re my age. Don’t think I’m nagging, but you need to rest for at least a few days. The Xie family’s bed isn’t made of nails, so why do you insist on leaving? If you keep this up, I’ll scold you on behalf of your mother.” The woman gently grumbled as she pulled her back to the room. Jia Ye couldn’t resist using her internal energy and was forcibly dragged back. Without a word, she was pressed onto the bed and covered with the blanket, without giving her a chance to interrupt.

“You kids are just relying on your martial arts skills to tough it out, stubbornly refusing to rest properly, which breaks the hearts of your elders. The soup was made by the kitchen using my usual method, with some medicinal herbs added, making it more nourishing than usual, so you should drink more of it.”

Needless to say, Madam Xie was also surrounded by two clever maids who chimed in. The three women surrounded her, leaving her with no room for composure. She finally managed to get a chance to speak, but before she could utter a word, she was bombarded with a mouthful of chicken soup, leaving her in an unprecedentedly embarrassing situation.

Xie Yunshu watched in disbelief, his earlier anger vanishing completely. If he weren't afraid of Jia Ye's embarrassment and rage, he would have burst out laughing. Why hadn't he realized sooner that Jia Ye had a nemesis? Her loving and kind mother was the perfect person to control her. He'd even been forced to drink chicken soup by his mother before; although nutritious, it tasted terrible, and Jia Ye, who had never liked meat, had to drink such a large bowl…

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Jia Ye couldn't hold on any longer and cast an embarrassed, pleading look at him. Jia Ye, in turn, looked at him with a pitying but helpless expression, struggling to suppress his laughter... which was quite difficult.

Reject

What does it feel like to be surrounded by a group of women and unable to move?

She didn't know that before.

Until Madam Xie kindly and considerately inquired about his well-being.

During the day, they often chatted and did needlework around her, and at night they sent their personal maids to take care of her daily life. As a result, her room became the gossip and entertainment room of the Xie family women.

Madam Xie's attention only highlighted her special status, and curious and speculative glances came and went incessantly. Her only daily task was to watch the many aunts, sisters-in-law, and other relatives of the Xie family come and go, and to patiently answer all sorts of repeated questions. She had never felt so tired.

Her origins, her apprenticeship, the reason for their meeting, her personal feelings, how she entered the household, her illness, her social preferences... Of course, what she was most interested in was the small jade pendant hanging from her waist.

It was an identity token belonging exclusively to men of the Xie family, one that even wives were not given. Thanks to this item, she wasn't considered a spy and thrown into the Xie family's punishment hall. They always treated her as a temporary accomplice, failing to appreciate its importance; no wonder Bai Fengge looked at her with such resentment.

"What are you listening to?" Xie Yunshu asked from behind his younger brother. Qinglan turned around and smiled sheepishly.

"Second Brother, Third Brother," he called out softly, making a face. "I'm listening to them talk. Poor Miss Ye, she's constantly being bombarded with questions by a bunch of women."

"Who is it today? Is Mother here too?" Xie Jingze glanced at her and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"It's my eldest sister-in-law, my second sister-in-law, and Miss Bai," Xie Qinglan reported truthfully.

"You look pretty good," Xie Jingze awkwardly changed the subject.

"Really? I think her expression is a bit strange." Xie Qinglan looked back again. "But it could also be because Mother just made her drink a big bowl of soup."

"Chicken soup again?"

"Hmm." Xie Qinglan held up her fingers. "Twice a day, I think she's almost throwing up from drinking it."

All three of them had expressions of sympathy on their faces.