Chapter 33

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Last night she played until it was really quite late; that thrill still seemed to linger in her heart. Fortunately, today she did not have to go to the Shangshufang, which was a bit stifling, so Qianqian could sleep in comfortably, sleeping until the sun had risen high, nearly noon. When she slowly woke, she suddenly realized it had been several days since she had gone to see her beloved horse Honghong. A wave of inexplicable guilt and longing surged in her heart; she hurriedly got up, tidied herself up properly, and headed for the Wangfu stables.

The Wangfu stables consisted of individual small compartments, each housing a different horse. Qianqian's Honghong and Yan Wang's Zhuoying were leisurely staying in the largest compartment. After more than a year of meticulous care by the servants, both Honghong and Zhuoying seemed reborn, having visibly grown a full size larger, their coats becoming ever more glossy and smooth, as if shimmering with captivating light under the sun.

When Qianqian slowly stepped into the stables, the servants swarmed around her like a flock of happy birds, greeting her with smiling faces; Qianqian replied gently to each of their greetings. Just then, the servant who usually looked after Honghong walked over with light steps.

Seeing this, Qianqian asked with concern: "How has Honghong been these past few days?" The servant hurriedly bowed to Qianqian and said respectfully: "Fifth Miss, Honghong has not defecated normally for three days straight; you can feel her belly is slightly distended. I have bought some laxative and will mix a little into her fodder shortly, hoping to restore her to normal."

Hearing this, Qianqian frowned slightly and said softly: "Oh, let me see that laxative." As she spoke, she reached out to take the laxative from the servant's hand, her eyes full of worry and concern... The servant carefully pulled out a slightly worn small paper packet from his tattered bosom, gave it a gentle shake, and the packet unfolded in the air, revealing a pile of white powder like a small hill. The powder was fine and pure white; Qianqian curiously leaned closer, her small exquisite nose twitched as she sniffed gently, but she detected no pungent or strange odor. A flash of anticipation crossed her eyes as she said to the servant: "Can you give Qianqian a little of this? Qianqian wants to try it."

The servant asked with a puzzled face: "Fifth Miss, what is this for? You must know, although it is something humans can use, it cannot be used in excess. For an animal the size of Honghong, at most only a fingernail's worth can be used."

Qianqian blinked, a trace of cunning flashing in her eyes, and explained: "Daji hasn't pooped for several days either; Qianqian just wants a tiny bit, it'll be fine." The servant, though somewhat worried, did not think further and casually took out a clean sheet of paper.

He skillfully spread the paper on his palm, then carefully poured half the laxative onto it; the white powder poured down like fine sand, covering a small area of the paper. Then he picked up the paper and said to Qianqian: "Daji is small; each time indeed only a tiny bit can be used, just like this — pinch this little bit with two fingers." As he spoke, he pinched that tiny pinch of laxative between two slender fingers, showing it to Qianqian so she would understand how little to use.

Qianqian nodded obediently, indicating she understood. Then she took the small paper packet the servant handed her, carefully tucked it into the exquisite small sachet she carried, and walked out of the stables.

Qianqian bounced along, preparing to go to the Wuchang to find Yan Wang. After practicing martial arts with Yan Wang in the morning, she only remembered in the afternoon the homework the Master had assigned for the two-day break, so she hurried to Yan Shuang'er's Shufang to do her homework.

As she wrote, she suddenly remembered the laxative she had brought back from the stables today; there happened to be a cup of water on the table. Qianqian pondered a moment, took the laxative from her sachet, carefully opened it, pinched a tiny bit with her fingers, then felt it wasn't quite right. She carefully recalled the dosage the servant uncle had mentioned today — seemed like a fingernail's worth. Hmm, she'd use that much. She picked up the paper packet and poured some white powder into the cup; her hand shook — oops, she accidentally poured too much. Looking more closely, the servant uncle's fingernail seemed bigger than hers, so this should be correct. The powder did not dissolve instantly in the water, so little Qianqian stuck out her little finger and stirred, then put it in her mouth — huh, no taste at all.

She had just set down the cup when Yan Shuang'er and An Wang walked in together. The moment Qianqian saw An Wang, she immediately rushed over, "Father, Father," running and hugging An Wang's thigh. An Wang asked: "You have class at Shangshufang tomorrow; have you finished your homework?" Qianqian replied: "Finished." An Wang slowly sat on the chair, a trace of helplessness and fatigue in his eyes.

He quietly looked at the homework Qianqian had just finished; the handwriting was like a swarm of wriggling tadpoles, truly like ghost-drawn symbols, crooked and twisted, uneven in size... forget it, as long as it's done.

After reading it, he casually picked up the cup on the table and took a sip of water. He tilted his head back slightly and drank the cool tea in one gulp; a refreshing coolness instantly spread through his mouth and throat, making him feel indescribably comfortable. Just then, Qianqian tried to stop him from drinking.

Suddenly, her abdomen felt as if seized by an invisible giant hand, a sharp pain striking violently; her features twisted together in agony, she could not utter a complete sentence, only instinctively clutching her stomach and sprinting toward the lavatory at top speed.

Yan Shuang'er saw this but did not think much of it, only assuming her little sister was in too much of a hurry. Immediately after, An Wang set down the cup and began seriously examining Yan Shuang'er's homework. His gaze moved back and forth among the neat, evenly arranged characters, and he couldn't help but nod inwardly, affirming Yan Shuang'er's study attitude and writing level.

Compared to Qianqian's, this homework was worlds apart; whether in stroke thickness or character regularity, it displayed Yan Shuang'er's care and effort.

An Wang patiently finished reading Yan Shuang'er's homework, raised his head, and was about to stand and leave when he suddenly felt a dull ache in his own abdomen.

The pain came without warning, as if a cold current had suddenly risen from deep in his abdomen and rapidly spread through his whole body, making him involuntarily gasp; fine beads of sweat instantly oozed on his forehead. He endured the pain, trying to stay calm, but the agony grew stronger and stronger, until he could barely stand; cold sweat poured down his forehead like a spring. An Wang no longer cared about anything, directly using qinggong — with a "whoosh" he flew to the lavatory.

His movements were agile and swift, leaving a blurred afterimage in the air. After waiting quite a while, Qianqian finally staggered out of the lavatory with weak steps. Her face was covered in sweat, the sweat crystal clear like pearls, slowly trickling down her cheeks and dripping onto the ground. Her complexion was frighteningly pale, not a trace of blood, as fragile as a sheet of white paper.

Seeing Qianqian like this, Yan Shuang'er hurried over and asked: "Little Sister, what's wrong with you?" "Stomach hurts... thr—" Before she could finish, Qianqian dashed back into the lavatory like a gust of wind with a "whoosh." Qianqian had just gone in when An Wang, with the same symptoms, walked out.

Yan Shuang'er asked worriedly: "Father King, your stomach hurts too?" An Wang replied: "Quick, call a doctor!" Before the words fell, he "whooshed" back into the lavatory. Yan Shuang'er dared not delay; she hurriedly sent Xiao Jin to fetch a doctor and Xiao Yin to notify the Wangfei.

Hearing Xiao Yin's news, the Wangfei rushed to Wufangyuan in a flurry. The moment she entered, she saw Yan Shuang'er at the door, anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing in circles...