Chapter 11: Little Lamb

After Xie Rong and Xie Zhen got lost, they immediately searched the surroundings with the servants from the Gao family. However, they were scattered by the crowd and couldn’t find Xie Zhen and Li Yu even after searching for a long time.

Xie Rong looked anxious, his handsome face serious without any extra expression. He instructed the steward to inform Xie Liqing at the yamen and continued searching nearby himself.

Having just lost one child, could they afford to lose another? The steward insisted on not leaving him alone, either both of them would go back together, or both would stay.

Gao Xun stepped forward and said, “You two go back. I’ll lead people to continue looking for Ah Zhen and Ah Yu.”

Xie Rong’s gaze, as sharp as ice blades, swept over him, sending chills down his spine. He knew it was all his fault. If he hadn’t insisted on taking Xie Zhen out, this accident wouldn’t have happened. He regretted it deeply and was equally worried about Xie Zhen and Li Yu, which motivated him even more to contribute his efforts.

In the end, both Gao Xun and the steward didn’t leave. Instead, a servant went to the yamen to inform Xie Liqing. Upon learning the news, Xie Liqing hurried over, looking anxious. He didn’t have time to scold the children and led a group of people to search nearby.

Little did they know that Xie Zhen and Li Yu had gone in the wrong direction, and despite searching the whole afternoon and evening, they couldn’t be found. As the night approached, there was a growing concern that not returning could pose more danger.

Xie Liqing, distressed, didn’t dare to inform his wife, Madam Leng. However, in the end, he couldn’t hide it from her. Madam Leng probably heard from the servants and nearly fainted upon hearing the news.

Her precious little lamb was lost, such a small and delicate child. What if something happened to her?

Xie Zhen had always been delicate, even more so than her sister Xie Xian. It was remembered that when they were at Duke Dingguo’s residence, she was only four years old. In the middle of winter, she was pushed into a pile of snow by her third sister, Xie Ying. She fell ill for almost half a month, causing Madam Leng great worry. Other girls in noble families were robust and could play in the snow without issues, but she was the most honest with her body, expressing any discomfort immediately. A little cold would make her sick, a little pinch would turn her purple.

She couldn’t scold or reprimand her, only shower her with love.

Now, their delicate daughter was lost on the streets, and Madam Leng became more and more despondent as she thought about it. Unable to bear it, she sat by the window and burst into tears.

Unaware of the situation at home, Xie Liqing was still discussing with others at the yamen about how to find the children. At this point, they had to prepare for the worst. If the children were kidnapped, they would search every nook and cranny in Qingzhou until they found them.

Li Xiqing and Gao Qing rushed over. Gao Qing, holding his son, continuously apologized to both of them. Xie Liqing and Li Xiqing exchanged pleasantries but were deeply worried. As dusk arrived, the yamen became chaotic. Everyone knew that the magistrate’s daughter was missing.

As the sky darkened, the last remnants of the red sunset lingered. Struggling for a while, it eventually disappeared. The darker it got, the more unsafe it became. How could two small children spend the night outside? The glimmer of hope in Xie Liqing and Li Xiqing’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by exhaustion and despair.

Suddenly, the gatekeeper rushed in, saying, “Sir, there are two children at the gate. I don’t know if they are…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xie Liqing rushed out like a gust of wind.

Hearing this, Li Xiqing quickly followed.

*

Four lanterns hung at the entrance, and in the dim light, two small figures were reflected.

Li Yu, carrying Xie Zhen, stumbled towards them. He was small and weak, almost dragging Xie Zhen along. Xie Zhen, lying on his back, was speaking incoherently, clearly in a confused state. Despite being disoriented, she clung tightly to the clothes on his back.

Xie Liqing walked over and quickly lifted Xie Zhen from his back. Overwhelmed with joy, he couldn’t help but cry, “Gao Gao, Father’s good Gao Gao!”

Not hugging her would have been better, as soon as he did, he was startled. She was burning hot, like a fireball, trembling in waves.

On the other side, Li Xiqing also approached Li Yu, examining him from head to toe. He held him tightly in his arms, murmuring repeatedly, “It’s good as long as everything is fine.”

Li Yu was exhausted, nearly devoid of strength as he lay in his embrace, unable to speak much.

He lifted his eyelids and saw Xie Liqing anxiously holding Xie Zhen. He touched her forehead and held her hand, asking, “Gao Gao, what’s wrong? Say something to Father.” In an instant, his concern escalated, and he turned with red eyes, instructing, “Quick, go get the doctor!”

Li Yu took a few deep breaths, then said, “She has a fever.”

As they walked on the road, Xie Zhen kept saying she couldn’t walk and needed to rest. Li Yu thought she was just being coquettish and didn’t pay attention. However, she suddenly fell silent on the roadside, startling him. Upon touching her, he realized she had a high fever. So, he carried her step by step to the entrance of the yamen.

If they hadn’t encountered a few kind-hearted people on the way to guide them, he wouldn’t have made it here. Xie Liqing repeatedly thanked Li Yu, and even the usually silent Xie Rong expressed gratitude. Li Yu felt a bit embarrassed. In fact, he hadn’t treated her well, scolding her several times on the way, almost making her cry.

Thinking about it, Li Yu glanced at Xie Zhen, who had been carried onto the carriage by Xie Liqing. Her eyes were tightly closed, her small face flushed, beautiful eyebrows furrowed, seeming to be in discomfort.

“Yu’er, what are you looking at?” Li Xiqing had someone bring the carriage over, ready to take him home.

Madam Song at home was probably anxiously pacing around, fortunately, the child was fine and safely returned.

Li Yu withdrew his gaze and followed him onto the carriage, “Wasn’t looking at anything.”

Sitting in the carriage, he was probably truly exhausted, lying on the cushions without any intention of moving. His limbs felt weak and sore. That darn girl was really heavy, he thought. Next time, he won’t carry her again.

After thinking for a while, he closed his eyes and asked, “Father, why did she get a fever?”

Li Xiqing, feeling more at ease after finding his son, first asked, “Which she?” Then, realizing, he quickly answered, “Are you talking about Zhen? She’s young, got frightened, and with the cool weather today, getting a fever is unavoidable.”

He fell silent for a moment, “But I didn’t get a fever.”

Li Xiqing smiled, rubbing his son’s head, explaining with sincerity, “Zhen is a girl, and girls are naturally more delicate than boys. They can’t be compared.”

He asked again, “What does delicate mean?”

Li Xiqing thought for a moment; this question wasn’t easy to answer. “It means being naturally fragile… needing a man’s protection, afraid of hardship, fatigue, and hunger… um… like a newborn animal.”

Li Yu thought seriously for a moment and surprisingly said, “What animal? A little lamb?”

This child, usually so quiet, remembered Xie Zhen’s nickname very clearly. Li Xiqing laughed heartily and nodded, saying, “Exactly, a little lamb.”

Turning over, Li Yu disdainfully curled his lips.

Afraid of hardship, fatigue, and hunger… wasn’t that precisely her? He had seen newborn lambs, but none were as delicate as her.

*

Back at the Xie residence, Xie Liqing quickly carried Xie Zhen back to the main room and called for a doctor to examine her.

Madam Xie had been praying to Buddha at home several times, finally getting her daughter back. However, she never expected her daughter to be burning up with such a high fever. She stood at the bedside, leaning in Xie Liqing’s arms, tears streaming down, “I shouldn’t have let her go with you… It’s only been half a day, and she’s like this…”

Xie Liqing gently patted her back, constantly comforting, “It’s my fault, all my fault.”

After a while, when the doctor finished the examination and stood up, he said, “She was frightened, and her pulse is not very stable. The fever is caused by exposure to cold and shock. I’ll prescribe some medicine. The master here should send someone with me to get the medicine. If she takes it continuously for three days, she should be fine.”

Xie Liqing quickly thanked the doctor, paid the consultation fee, and also sent someone to fetch the medicine.

It was well into the middle of the night when Madam Xie finally managed to feed Xie Zhen the medicine. She gradually calmed down. During the ordeal, she remained unconscious, occasionally muttering, “Save me.” Hearing this, Madam Xie’s heart twisted, and she stayed by her bedside the entire night, not daring to leave even for a moment.

As dawn broke and the first light appeared, Madam Xie touched Xie Zhen’s forehead, letting out a long sigh. Thankfully, she was no longer burning up.

Shuangyu, who had brewed the medicinal broth, brought it over. Madam Xie fed Xie Zhen spoonful by spoonful. Halfway through, Xie Zhen, with a wrinkled brow, woke up. Surprisingly, her first words were, “Bitter…”

It had only been a day, but her rosy little face had lost its color. She hunched into a shrimp-like shape, long eyelashes drooping wearily, covering the radiance in her dark eyes. After a good while, she realized where she was. Her bewildered eyes glanced around, and seeing Madam Xie looking regretful at the bedside, she blinked, thinking it was an illusion, “Mother?”

Madam Leng nodded, “Is Gao Gao feeling better? Any discomfort?”

It’s really mother!

She joyfully rushed into Leng Shi’s arms, holding onto her neck without letting go. “Mother, mother, am I back? Is this our home?”

Madam Leng confirmed, hugging her and comforting her for a while.

At first, she was happy, but later, remembering the grievances she suffered on the street, she quietly rubbed against Leng Shi’s neck, rubbing the neckline of her mother. She whimpered and began to complain, “Our carriage broke down, and we encountered bad people… Little brother Yu bought me candied fruit and yam cake. I bought a hairpin for you, but later, someone wanted to catch me, and Little brother Yu threw a box at him, and the hairpin broke…”

She spoke incoherently, but Madam Leng still understood.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, as long as our Gao Gao is okay.” Leng Shi thought, if a hairpin could bring her daughter back, she would be willing to never wear jewelry in her life, just to make Xie Zhen safe.

After comforting Xie Zhen, Leng Shi continued to feed her the remaining half-bowl of medicine. Although the medicine was bitter, this time she didn’t complain at all, eating it all obediently.

In the end, Madam Leng rewarded her with a piece of candied fruit, smiling slightly, “Later, I’ll let Ah Xian come in to accompany you. She insisted on coming over last night, and I was afraid she would disturb you, so I didn’t allow it.”

Xie Zhen, recovering from a serious illness, wasn’t in great spirits. After a few words with Xie Xian, who imitated Madam Leng’s manner and touched her head, she felt guilty. “Sister, I’m sorry…”

From Xie Rong, she learned that Sister went out to buy a hairpin. If it weren’t for her, Sister wouldn’t have had a fever and almost lost her way.

The servants in the Xie mansion could see that Xie Xian had been exceptionally well-behaved these days, running to Xie Zhen’s room every day, helping with chores, and no one dared to boss her around, given her young age and her status as the third young lady of the house. She was basically just busy doing random tasks.

After a few days, Xie Zhen finally recovered, returning to her lively and energetic self. Laughter and joy once again filled the Xie mansion, just in time for winter, with the Lantern Festival approaching after the New Year, and decorations adorning every corner.

There is also a guest from the capital in the mansion.

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