Jinshi and Maomao Short Stories Collection

You are really here, Part 7

Looking like thin, translucent threads, a cold rain was falling from the sky and soaking the ground, while an icy wind was blowing the colorful leaves from the trees and making them fly through the air.

There was definitely not much time left until the arrival of winter. Not much time until that rain would turn into snow and bury the surroundings under a layer of white flakes.

With his long hair slightly tousled by the wind, Jinshi was walking calmly through the Outer Palace under his umbrella. Careful to not step into any of the puddles in order to not get any stains on his clothes.

He had just completed a task at the Inner Palace and was now on his way back to his residence, where Gaoshun was probably already waiting for him with the usual paperwork.

But despite that, Jinshi wasn't really in a hurry. He was sure that his aide would be able to wait a few more minutes, and if not, then a scolding was nothing the young lord wouldn't be able to handle. It wouldn't be the first time, anyway.

Jinshi used said few minutes to make a brief stop and inhale the scent of the rain, filling his lungs with the fresh, cold air that was making his face burn slightly and reddening his cheeks. Since his nose was finally unclogged once more, he could take deep breaths to his heart's content now and perceive all the smells around him. What a blessing!

It certainly was true what people said: only after having lost them, you learn to truly cherish the things in life.

And Jinshi had already more than once confirmed through his personal experience just how much truth these words were holding. An experience he would really prefer to never have to go through again.

After having cast a brief gaze towards the cloudy sky, the man known as a "celestial nymph" put on a little smile and resumed his way. Neither the bad weather nor the thought about the mountain of paperwork on his desk was currently able to dampen his mood.

He had to admit that, thanks to Maomao's attentive care, he felt absolutely great and was bursting with energy. Perhaps now, his state of health was even better than before his cold. The apothecary was truly a master in her field. Not that he had ever doubted that fact.

Two days had passed since the young lord had returned to his work, after having ended up spending three days in bed until Maomao had determined that he had fully recovered from his cold and allowed him to leave his chambers. Since he really had no desire to find a laxative in his food, he had been doing everything she said without any objections (Even though he did secretly wish for her to give him one of these menacing gazes of hers again. Sometimes, he wondered whether there was maybe something wrong with him. Hm, well...).

The young noble chuckled when he remembered the sheer amount of medicine she had prepared for him and made him take during these three days. A fever remedy, a cough remedy, something to boost his immunity, the inhalations... nothing had been left out, and everything had been working wonderfully. When that young woman was doing something, then she was doing it with total diligence, that he had to admit. Very admirable, in his opinion.

Not to forget that her mere presence was already a kind of medicine on its own...

Jinshi let out a little sigh. Unfortunately, she hadn't slept in his bed again since that one time, but he understood that this would have really been a bit too much to ask. After all, she had already done everything in her might and spent so much time nursing him back to health. And he was deeply grateful for that.

He grinned at the memory of her beaming with joy when he had expressed said gratitude after his recovery by giving her the bottle of wine he had promised her. A big one. Almost two liters. Then, the next morning, Suiren had reported to him that the bottle was now standing on the apothecary's table, completely empty. Having heard that, the young noble couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, so hard that tears were running over his face. So his little drunkard hadn't been able to resist, after all, and had drunk it all at once, huh?