Chapter 19 Master Wu Na's Visit-MoboReader
The next morning, Qin Meng came in early just as she had promised, "Qin Yi, is the Princess awake?"
Qin Yi turned around. She followed Qin Meng's stare and noticed that her eyes were firmly fixed on the bowl of cold medicine on top of the bedside stool. A flicker of hatred passed through Qin Yi's eyes. However, she did not behave any differently, "She did wake up last night, and the fever subsided. But when I brought the medicine for the Princess, she would not drink it no matter what, saying that it was too bitter. It was in the middle of the night, and I couldn't find any candied fruit. I didn't know what to do..."
Qin Meng listened and smiled, "Is the Princess still asleep? You've been caring for her the entire night. You must be really tired. You should get some rest. Since the Princess is not up yet, I'll boil the medicine again, and prepare some candied fruit. When the Princess wakes up, I can serve her the medicine."
Qin Yi's eyes turned to Yun Shang who was in bed. She nodded after a while, "I appreciate your kindness. I'll go get some rest then." As she spoke, she turned and left the inner hall.
Qin Meng watched Qin Yi exit. Then she quickly turned and ran to the bedside. She held up Yun Shang and brought the medicine to her mouth, hoping to feed her. Yun Shang seemed to be dreaming. In her disturbed sleep, her body would not stay still. Qin Meng tried several times but still could not make Yun Shang drink the medicine.
Qin Meng frowned and put the medicine back. She stared at Yun Shang for a while before she laid her body down. Then she stood up and walked out with the medicine. As soon as Qin Meng left, Yun Shang opened her eyes. Her suspicions had just been confirmed.
A moment later, Qin Meng returned. Seeing that Yun Shang was still asleep, she waited by her side. It was almost noon when she heard the Princess murmur before finally waking.
Qin Meng was taken by surprise. She immediately bowed and asked, "Princess, are you awake? I'll fetch your medicine..."
She quickly ran out of the inner hall.
Yun Shang opened her eyes. She smiled disdainfully at the maid's silhouette. She had suspected many people before, but she always felt that Qin Meng was too straightforward to hide any schemes. That was why Yun Shang never wanted to suspect her, but she did not expect...
Now Qin Meng had finally shown her true motives.
"Princess! Princess. Here's the medicine. When I came in this morning, I was worried that the medicine had gone cold. So I kept it warm over the stove. It's just the right temperature for you to drink it." The sound made by lifting the curtains was followed by Qin Meng's voice.
"It's bitter, I don't want to drink it." Yun Shang frowned and turned away in disgust. Defiance was written all over her face.
Qin Meng sat down by the bed with a smile, coaxing the Princess, "Good medicine is often bitter, but it's good for your health. I knew the Princess would hate the bitter taste, so I took some candied fruit when I passed by the. Drink this and have some candied fruit. Then it won't be bitter at all."
"Humph, " Yun Shang grumbled. "Liar. When I was sick before, the maids said the same thing. But when I tried it, the trick didn't work at all!"
Qin Meng was just about to answer, but Yun Shang interrupted, "I am a Princess. I said I don't want to drink it, and I mean it. Qin Yi... Lin..." Yun Shang suddenly raised her voice and cried out.
"Yes, Princess!" The curtains were pulled open. Lin walked in, approached the bed, and bowed before Yun Shang, "Princess, is there anything I can do for you?"
Yun Shang cocked her head and thought for a moment, "I want to eat shrimp omelette. Have the kitchen make some. I want big shrimps."
Lin quickly answered, "That's not a good idea, princess. You are still ill. You shouldn't eat something so heavily flavored. Why don't you allow me to have some red bean porridge made for you?"
Yun Shang pouted, "No. Why porridge? It's so bland. If I can't eat shrimp omelette, then I'll have fried crab cakes."
Lin shook her head, "Princess, do you want to stay in bed like this all the time?"
Yun Shang shook her head. Lin continued, "If the Princess doesn't want that, then please listen to my advice. You can't have shrimps or crabs. No other meat is allowed either. I believe it's best for you to have some porridge."
Before Yun Shang could reply, Qin Meng interjected, "Yes. Lin is right. If the Princess wishes a speedy recovery, she should take her medicine on time as well..."
A sardonic glimmer flashed in Yun Shang's eyes. Qin Meng was indeed looking for any chance she could find. As Yun Shang was about to speak, a voice could be heard from outside, "The Emperor has arrived..."
"My father! The Emperor is here!" Yun Shang was delighted. She raised her head and looked towards the entrance curtain. As the curtain was pulled open, she called out, "Father, father. Did you bring me something delicious to eat?"
A figure dressed in purple walked past the curtain. It was Emperor Ning in his casual attire. He was followed by another man dressed in a monk's robe. His long white beard gave him an unearthly aura.
Yun Shang froze for a second. This man, if she remembered correctly, was Master Wu Na from Ning'guo Temple. She had seen him twice at the Ning'guo Temple in her previous life, but... Why was he here? And why did the Emperor bring him here?
"I see your illness does not look serious. Although your face seems pale, you are still asking me for treats, so you must be fine. Master Wu Na is here. Look at you. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of the Master..." Emperor Ning laughed as he sat down beside Yun Shang. Both, Qin Meng and Lin had fallen to their knees the moment the Emperor entered.
Yun Shang smiled back, "How could I know that Master Wu Na was coming. I thought it was just you, father. Good to see you, Master. Last time, the Master said that there would be rain on the seventeenth, and then it really did rain. Master Wu Na is quite impressive."
Master Wu Na put his palms together in a Buddhist salute, "Amitabha, the Princess has a connection with the Buddha. Therefore, the Buddha cares for you. The Buddha in his earnestness prayed for the Princess, so here we meet again under this circumstance."
Emperor Ning listened carefully. Then he looked at Yun Shang. With a smile, he turned to Wu Na, "The Master has met Shang'er now. Now can you tell me the reason for your sudden visit to the Palace? You startled me. Asking to see Shang'er without saying anything else..."
"Huh?" Yun Shang was surprised. She had no relations with the Master whether in her previous life or in this one. She met him no more than twice before she died. The first time, he provided divination for her. At the Coming-of-age Ceremonies of royal children, people would invite renowned priests or monks to divine the children's fates. Yun Shang remembered that it was Wu Na who divined for her in her previous life. Wu Na surmised for her after the ritual that she would "experience seven sufferings, and start from the beginning."
Yun Shang was astonished. In her previous life, she simply thought this comment to be inauspicious and forgot about it soon afterwards. She now recalled that everything was exactly as the Master had predicted. This man could not be underestimated.
Yet, Master Wu Na came to the Palace today. What was he here for?
Chapter 19 Master Wu Na's Visit-MoboReader
The next morning, Qin Meng came in early just as she had promised, "Qin Yi, is the Princess awake?"
Qin Yi turned around. She followed Qin Meng's stare and noticed that her eyes were firmly fixed on the bowl of cold medicine on top of the bedside stool. A flicker of hatred passed through Qin Yi's eyes. However, she did not behave any differently, "She did wake up last night, and the fever subsided. But when I brought the medicine for the Princess, she would not drink it no matter what, saying that it was too bitter. It was in the middle of the night, and I couldn't find any candied fruit. I didn't know what to do..."
Qin Meng listened and smiled, "Is the Princess still asleep? You've been caring for her the entire night. You must be really tired. You should get some rest. Since the Princess is not up yet, I'll boil the medicine again, and prepare some candied fruit. When the Princess wakes up, I can serve her the medicine."
Qin Yi's eyes turned to Yun Shang who was in bed. She nodded after a while, "I appreciate your kindness. I'll go get some rest then." As she spoke, she turned and left the inner hall.
Qin Meng watched Qin Yi exit. Then she quickly turned and ran to the bedside. She held up Yun Shang and brought the medicine to her mouth, hoping to feed her. Yun Shang seemed to be dreaming. In her disturbed sleep, her body would not stay still. Qin Meng tried several times but still could not make Yun Shang drink the medicine.
Qin Meng frowned and put the medicine back. She stared at Yun Shang for a while before she laid her body down. Then she stood up and walked out with the medicine. As soon as Qin Meng left, Yun Shang opened her eyes. Her suspicions had just been confirmed.
A moment later, Qin Meng returned. Seeing that Yun Shang was still asleep, she waited by her side. It was almost noon when she heard the Princess murmur before finally waking.
Qin Meng was taken by surprise. She immediately bowed and asked, "Princess, are you awake? I'll fetch your medicine..."
She quickly ran out of the inner hall.
Yun Shang opened her eyes. She smiled disdainfully at the maid's silhouette. She had suspected many people before, but she always felt that Qin Meng was too straightforward to hide any schemes. That was why Yun Shang never wanted to suspect her, but she did not expect...
Now Qin Meng had finally shown her true motives.
"Princess! Princess. Here's the medicine. When I came in this morning, I was worried that the medicine had gone cold. So I kept it warm over the stove. It's just the right temperature for you to drink it." The sound made by lifting the curtains was followed by Qin Meng's voice.
"It's bitter, I don't want to drink it." Yun Shang frowned and turned away in disgust. Defiance was written all over her face.
Qin Meng sat down by the bed with a smile, coaxing the Princess, "Good medicine is often bitter, but it's good for your health. I knew the Princess would hate the bitter taste, so I took some candied fruit when I passed by the. Drink this and have some candied fruit. Then it won't be bitter at all."
"Humph, " Yun Shang grumbled. "Liar. When I was sick before, the maids said the same thing. But when I tried it, the trick didn't work at all!"
Qin Meng was just about to answer, but Yun Shang interrupted, "I am a Princess. I said I don't want to drink it, and I mean it. Qin Yi... Lin..." Yun Shang suddenly raised her voice and cried out.
"Yes, Princess!" The curtains were pulled open. Lin walked in, approached the bed, and bowed before Yun Shang, "Princess, is there anything I can do for you?"
Yun Shang cocked her head and thought for a moment, "I want to eat shrimp omelette. Have the kitchen make some. I want big shrimps."
Lin quickly answered, "That's not a good idea, princess. You are still ill. You shouldn't eat something so heavily flavored. Why don't you allow me to have some red bean porridge made for you?"
Yun Shang pouted, "No. Why porridge? It's so bland. If I can't eat shrimp omelette, then I'll have fried crab cakes."
Lin shook her head, "Princess, do you want to stay in bed like this all the time?"
Yun Shang shook her head. Lin continued, "If the Princess doesn't want that, then please listen to my advice. You can't have shrimps or crabs. No other meat is allowed either. I believe it's best for you to have some porridge."
Before Yun Shang could reply, Qin Meng interjected, "Yes. Lin is right. If the Princess wishes a speedy recovery, she should take her medicine on time as well..."
A sardonic glimmer flashed in Yun Shang's eyes. Qin Meng was indeed looking for any chance she could find. As Yun Shang was about to speak, a voice could be heard from outside, "The Emperor has arrived..."
"My father! The Emperor is here!" Yun Shang was delighted. She raised her head and looked towards the entrance curtain. As the curtain was pulled open, she called out, "Father, father. Did you bring me something delicious to eat?"
A figure dressed in purple walked past the curtain. It was Emperor Ning in his casual attire. He was followed by another man dressed in a monk's robe. His long white beard gave him an unearthly aura.
Yun Shang froze for a second. This man, if she remembered correctly, was Master Wu Na from Ning'guo Temple. She had seen him twice at the Ning'guo Temple in her previous life, but... Why was he here? And why did the Emperor bring him here?
"I see your illness does not look serious. Although your face seems pale, you are still asking me for treats, so you must be fine. Master Wu Na is here. Look at you. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of the Master..." Emperor Ning laughed as he sat down beside Yun Shang. Both, Qin Meng and Lin had fallen to their knees the moment the Emperor entered.
Yun Shang smiled back, "How could I know that Master Wu Na was coming. I thought it was just you, father. Good to see you, Master. Last time, the Master said that there would be rain on the seventeenth, and then it really did rain. Master Wu Na is quite impressive."
Master Wu Na put his palms together in a Buddhist salute, "Amitabha, the Princess has a connection with the Buddha. Therefore, the Buddha cares for you. The Buddha in his earnestness prayed for the Princess, so here we meet again under this circumstance."
Emperor Ning listened carefully. Then he looked at Yun Shang. With a smile, he turned to Wu Na, "The Master has met Shang'er now. Now can you tell me the reason for your sudden visit to the Palace? You startled me. Asking to see Shang'er without saying anything else..."
"Huh?" Yun Shang was surprised. She had no relations with the Master whether in her previous life or in this one. She met him no more than twice before she died. The first time, he provided divination for her. At the Coming-of-age Ceremonies of royal children, people would invite renowned priests or monks to divine the children's fates. Yun Shang remembered that it was Wu Na who divined for her in her previous life. Wu Na surmised for her after the ritual that she would "experience seven sufferings, and start from the beginning."
Yun Shang was astonished. In her previous life, she simply thought this comment to be inauspicious and forgot about it soon afterwards. She now recalled that everything was exactly as the Master had predicted. This man could not be underestimated.
Yet, Master Wu Na came to the Palace today. What was he here for?
