Chapter Nineteen: Rescuing Autumn Swallow in the Palace

“Move all these flowers away? No more planting flowers?”

Master Zhang, frail since childhood and unable to do much else, had always found solace in caring for his beloved plants and flowers. Yet, ironically, his greatest passion had become the source of his deepest affliction.

“Yes. Much of Master Zhang’s illness is caused by pollen, along with animal fur and dust. At the slightest scent, he sneezes uncontrollably, his eyes itch and water, become red and swollen; he has a runny nose, a scratchy throat, chest tightness, coughing, and even asthma.”

“No wonder, no wonder!”

“I not only love growing flowers, but also adore cats and dogs,” Master Zhang lamented, stamping his foot in frustration. After living more than half a century, he suddenly realized his affections had been misguided all along. “Send someone—remove all those flowers, and send Xiao Huang, Xiao Hei, and Xiao Bai away.”

Hearing this, the servants gaped in disbelief. Had their master lost his mind?

To them, these plants were Master Zhang’s very lifeblood—no one dared touch them. They were even more precious than the ladies of the household. Xiao Huang, Xiao Hei, and Xiao Bai lived like nobles, eating only fresh fish and meat, never leftovers. The servants often sighed in secret: “Living as a mere dog is better than us! To be one of Master Zhang’s cats or dogs would be a blessing.”

Now, the master wanted to remove everything and send the pets away? Was he about to abandon his family?

“Uncle Hu, are we really moving them?”

Only Uncle Hu dared give orders; the servants did not dare act on their own.

“Has the master been drinking? What if he wakes up… we, the servants, would be unable to bear the consequences!”

“The master gave this order.”

Uncle Hu himself was unsure of the reason. He had been tending outside and had not caught the full conversation between the young lady and the young master inside. Master Zhang had sent someone urgently to relay the command.

“Very well, move all the flowers and plants to the guest quarters. As for Xiao Huang and the others... send them to the stables for now. Xiao Xue, you tend to the plants; Old Zhu, take care of the cats and dogs—you must not neglect them.”

At this point, it was impossible to refuse. If the animals ever remembered mistreatment and sought revenge later, Uncle Hu knew even his old bones could not withstand it.

Having given all the necessary instructions, he could at least defend himself if needed.

“Yes, sir.”

Though puzzled, the servants obeyed, moving with utmost caution. No one could afford to damage the master’s cherished possessions.

Watching the hustle and bustle outside, Chun Nuan gently reminded, “Avoid foods contaminated with pollen.”

Therefore, the flower cakes she specially fried remained untouched by Master Zhang.

“One more thing,” Chun Nuan recalled, “some people are very sensitive and may also be allergic to certain foods. If Master Zhang notices any abnormal reactions after smelling or eating something, he must be cautious and avoid it in the future.”

“For example?”

Master Zhang instantly panicked. Everything he saw, touched, or ate might be problematic. That he had lived to fifty-two was nothing short of a miracle. He could only imagine how fiercely his ancestors in the Zhang family mausoleum had prayed for his survival.

“Fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, peanuts, milk, eggs, and so on.”

“Wait, I remember now,” Master Zhang hastened to say. “Crab and shrimp—I definitely cannot eat them. Every time after eating, I itch all over. I never realized before that this was called an allergy. Uncle Hu, quickly, throw all the crab and shrimp in the kitchen away.”

“Yes, master.”

Uncle Hu found it no great loss; crab shells and shrimp shells were tough, and eating them was less satisfying than gnawing on a pig’s trotter.

Chun Nuan sighed silently as Uncle Hu turned to discard the seafood. “Even in a grand household, there are starving souls along the road.”

She longed to ask Master Zhang if he would mind tossing them into her bamboo basket. She wouldn’t refuse; she could eat them!

“Miss Xiao, I’m a bit curious.”

Master Zhang’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Really, she was only imagining it!

“Please, Master Zhang.”

“I have suffered from this illness since childhood, and many doctors have treated me. Why have none ever mentioned this before?”

Chun Nuan was momentarily stunned. That question was tantamount to asking nothing at all.

The obvious answer was that the doctors weren’t skilled enough to diagnose it.

Chun Nuan was certain because she had thoroughly studied the medical notes of her great-grandfather and grandfather in the capital.

Her great-grandfather had recorded a noble’s pollen allergy.

That year, at the empress dowager’s birthday celebration, eight-year-old Chun Nuan accompanied her grandmother to the palace. During the solemn ceremony, the empress dowager suddenly began sneezing repeatedly, her eyes watering profusely. The empress dowager’s attendant, Madam Yu, reacted as if facing an enemy and immediately administered a pill.

Chun Nuan noticed Miss Qiu standing nearby, a sprig of apricot blossom pinned in her hair. She quickly tugged her sleeve, signaling her to remove it.

Though puzzled, Miss Qiu heeded the advice and quietly slipped out to discard the flower.

The next day, Madam Qiu came with gifts to express thanks.

Some things went without saying. From then on, Miss Qiu became a sworn sister to Chun Nuan. The Xiao and Qiu families established friendly ties.

When leaving the capital that day, Miss Qiu sent a maid disguised as a commoner to whisper to Chun Nuan, “If you ever need help, be sure to find me. Qiu Yan will always be your sister.”

Chun Nuan was deeply moved. She entrusted her eldest sister to Qiu Yan’s care, knowing the Wu household was complex and not everyone kind-hearted.

Chun Nuan’s warning to Qiu Yan was prompted by the palace’s decor on that auspicious day—no bright red or green flowers adorned the halls, only some green plants for accent.

Recalling her great-grandfather’s secret medical notes mentioning a noble, she realized it must have been this very noble.

According to the records, the diagnosis took place before the noble entered the palace, explaining why her great-grandfather had been summoned to monitor the empress dowager’s health all along.

This was also why the ladies of the Xiao family had earned the empress dowager’s favor and thus escaped calamity upon returning to Sichuan.

“Miss Xiao, what medications must I take for this illness?” Master Physician Xiao, pointing to the small vial in Chun Nuan’s hand, asked, “Miss Xiao, could you spare some of these pills for me? Price is no object.”

Pills?

Chun Nuan glanced down at the tiny porcelain bottle.

“Master Zhang, it’s not that Chun Nuan won’t sell them—it’s that only two remain,” she said bitterly. “These pills were secretly made by my grandfather for my grandmother, to be used only in emergencies...”

No further explanation was needed—too much would only bring sorrow.

“Well then…” Master Zhang bowed deeply. “I have been greedy. Thank you, Miss Xiao, for your gracious gift.”

As the master physician had suffered greatly, these secret medicines must be rare and precious. For Chun Nuan to offer even one pill was a kindness impossible to repay. Even if he were to chop down some bamboo or give her the entire grove, it wouldn’t suffice.

“Master Zhang, do not worry. Once the cause is found and attended to, and with some medication, your illness will improve.”

“Thank you, Miss Xiao.”

Master Zhang’s gratitude was sincere, and he immediately offered a hundred taels of silver to Chun Nuan.

“No,” she quickly refused.

Though the Xiao family was in need of money, some things simply could not be accepted.

She was here to express gratitude, not to extort—one hundred taels for consultation was far too much.

“If Master Zhang wishes to thank me, two taels of silver will suffice for my fee.”

Two taels was quite a hefty consultation fee.

“Also, please allow me to ask one favor of you, Master Zhang.”

“Miss Xiao, please speak.”