The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 15

Repairing the atlas was a good thing that would last for generations to come. Finally, the Emperor discussed with the cabinet and decided to send a deputy minister from the Ministry of Revenue to Jiangnan together with the censor of the Censorate to supervise the construction. The next most difficult issue was the selection of personnel.

If someone did this kind of thing well, they would be remembered in history; if they did it badly, they would be infamous, and if they were not careful, their entire family may lose their lives.

Besides, not everyone could go.

(Miao: Fish scale map registers were field catasters for the purpose of taxation. Because the maps were drawn quite crudely and the particular parcels of land, therefore, had the round shape of fish scales, the registers were given this strange name.)

Wang Shuhuai was known for his extensive knowledge when he was young and read a wide range of books. Because of his noble status, he was allowed to enter the royal library and had seen this map. Secondly, he was nominally the grandson of the Eldest Princess, and with this status, he could intimidate the group of local tyrants under him. Thirdly, Wang Shuhuai had outstanding abilities and a calm temperament and was simply the best choice for this matter.

Court officials above the third rank unanimously recommended Wang Shuhuai, the Emperor also approved of him, and the Eldest Princess had nothing to say.

The document from the Ministry of Personnel came down quickly, promoting Wang Shuhuai to the fifth rank of Yuwenlang of the Jiangnan Qingli Division of the Ministry of Revenue. He was to observe government affairs in the Ministry of Revenue for three months, and then take up his post after the national policy of clearing land was decided.

Wang Shuhuai was busy until the evening of the next day before he returned home. As soon as he arrived at the study, his long-serving servant Ming Gui poked his head out of the window, looking a little hurried.

“Master, Sister Ke has a high fever. We just called a doctor. The young mistress asked me to get some medicine.”

It turned out that Sister Ke was sick. No wonder there was no sign of Xie Yunchu. Wang Shuhuai immediately changed into casual clothes and returned to the backyard. It was two quarters past the hour of You (5-7 pm) and the sky had darkened. Dark clouds gathered in the sky. A heavy rain was about to come. Wang Shuhuai’s steps were obviously a little faster than usual. He calmly and urgently entered the east wing of Chunjing Hall.

The room, which was neither too big nor too small, was packed with people and the atmosphere was depressing.

Sister Ke was lying on the small couch with her eyes closed. Her cheeks were abnormally flushed, her brows were wrinkled, and her little red mouth was pouting as she rolled around on the couch restlessly.

The wife was sitting in front of the bed, methodically changing the child’s wet wipes and applying them to her neck and armpits to help her reduce her fever.

Hearing the servants greeting him, she turned around and gave Wang Shuhuai a tired smile.

“Second Young Master is back.” Then her eyes never lingered on him for even a moment.

Wang Shuhuai couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart and walked over.

Xie Yunchu told Chun Qi to turn Sister Ke over. She pushed the child’s clothes up high, revealing her snow-white, plump back. She dipped her white, jade-like fingers in the tea oil that she had prepared earlier and began to massage her spine.

The child screamed, resisted, and twisted her body when she pinched her.

Chun Qi and Xia An pressed Sister Ke at the head and tail. Although Sister Ke was small, she was very strong. She pushed Xie Yunchu’s chest with her pink little feet.

Xie Yunchu pinched it once, and a large red spot appeared on its back. When she let go, the little girl slipped out of her hands like a loach.

Chun Qi and the others felt distressed when they saw the child crying so hard that they hesitated to use more force. “Madam, is this okay?”

They had never seen such a treatment before and it was too stressful for the child.

Xie Yunchu looked calm and said, “It will come naturally.” In her previous life, there was a palace banquet, and the little princess of a noble family had a high fever. She saw with her own eyes that a female Imperial Physician in the palace used this method to reduce the child’s fever.

Sister Ke cried clearly and aggrievedly and stuck her little butt up, refusing to let Xie Yunchu continue no matter what.

At this moment, a pair of big hands reached out, one pressing her flapping knees, the other pressing the back of her neck. No one knew what method Wang Shuhuai used, but the child couldn’t move.

She looked up with grievance, and when she saw her father, she cried even louder.

Xie Yunchu glanced at Wang Shuhuai, and Wang Shuhuai also raised his eyes, and their eyes just happened to meet.

Xie Yunchu continued to massage the spine.

This time the child had no energy left but to cry.

Fortunately, the child started sweating and the temperature dropped soon. Xie Yunchu breathed a sigh of relief and a large layer of sweat broke out on her forehead.

Chun Qi quickly took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off her face. Wang Shuhuai on the other side also made way and asked Mama Lin to wipe the sweat off the child and change her clothes.

The servants left at some point, and only the couple were left in the room. Their eyes fell on Sister Ke at the same time.

The fever subsided and the child slept soundly.

Xie Yunchu was a little tired after all the trouble. Wang Shuhuai, who had just finished a round of intrigue in the palace, also looked a little tired, which was rare.

Neither of the couple said anything.

In the past, it was always Xie Yunchu who started the conversation and Wang Shuhuai would respond.

Now Xie Yunchu didn’t want to pay attention to him, and the atmosphere became a little cold.

After a moment of silence, Xie Yunchu glanced at the sky and asked softly, “Second Young Master hasn’t had his meal yet, right?”

Wang Shuhuai’s eyes fell on his wife. The bright light cast a shadow around her. Her cheeks were particularly clear and white, and her eyebrows were as thin as black, as thin as a trace of smoke. She clearly showed some fatigue. He said in a calm voice, “I’m not hungry. You eat first. I’ll stay here to watch over Ke’er.”

Being assigned to an external post is a big deal. In the past, she had been involved in every detail. But today, she had been sitting for such a long time without saying a word. It must be because of the child that she was delayed. Wang Shuhuai would wait to tell her after dinner.

Since he said so, Xie Yunchu went to the opposite wing to eat. She was worried about her child, so she quickly ate half a bowl of rice and put it down, then hurried to the east wing.