Pharmacist Penumbra (Draft)

Chapter 13 : Meet Xiao Bao

Ying Yue was walking back to the Pearl Palace, as her hand wrapped securely around the Little One. Realising, that she did not know this child's name. "Little One, what is your name?" asked Ying Yue.

The little boy jovial smile quick disappeared and look shamefully on the ground. This quickly alarmed her, "How about I call you Xiao Bao?" She suggested. The boy not wanting to upset her smiled brightly.

Moving along, as they finally reached the Pearl Palace. The other maids created a scene full of mayhem, as she entered the room. Bowing to Consort Ming, "Greeting, Consort Ming. Forgive my absence of presence this morning." said Ying Yue.

"So where were you?" she asked almost darkly. Ying Yue tried to avoid the piercing gaze of Consort Ming.

Ying Yue then explained what had happened last night, but leaving out the part where she slept in Long Fan's bed.

"So is this the little boy?" she asked, gesturing for him to come forward. Xiao Bao shyly walked over to the Consort, as she looked at him and hugged him tightly. "Hello, Xiao Bao. I am Su Ming." greeted Consort Ming. He nodded his head in respect, obviously a bit intimidated by the woman. "A boy with few words?" Asked Consort Ming.

Ying Yue nods in agreement, as she decides to turn her attention to the other attendants. She can literally feel the flames of anger radiating off the three maidservants. "Where is Li Mei?" asked Ying Yue.

The atmosphere was quiet without the hot-headed maidservant. "She got food poisoning," informed Li Lian. As Ying Yue sighed and walked up to Li Mei's bedroom.

Li Mei was pale and sweaty. For Ying Yue was not use to seeing the ever so energetic Li Mei so weak and still. Li Mei shot up from her pillow and grabbed the nearby bucket and threw up the contents.

The smell of vomit was foul and seem to choke the poor people who had just entered. Ying Yue grabbed a cloth from her bosom and wrapped around her mouth to block out the smell, as she approached the window and pushed open the lattice window. A gust of fresh crisp air circulated throughout the room purifying the air, approaching Li Mei.

Grabbing a nearby cup of water, she lifted the heavy head of Li Mei. Ying Yue brought the cup to her lips and gave small sips of water. "Li Lian, make sure to hydrate Li Mei but only give sips at a time. I will prepare a herbal tonic to ease her symptoms."

Li Lian nodded determinedly, as she wanted to help Li Mei with her illness. Ying Yue sped to the kitchen and grabbed ingredients such as tangerine peels and ginger, preparing them into a pot to steep them into a soup broth. As she was distracted by making the soup, Ying Yue felt a tug on the skirt of her dress.

"Xiao Bao, what are doing here?" his eyes looked sad and pitiful. "Would you like to help me prepare soup?" she asks gently. The little boy nods enthusiastically, as she directs him how to cut certain herbs and how to make to most of them.

She opens the lid to the pot. The smell is fragrant and herbaceous, as it wafts gentlyshingles at their noses. As Ying Yue carries the pot of soup tonic, Xiao Bao carries a bowl and spoon.

Ying Yue finds Xiao Bao's action of helpfulness rather adorable. Grabbing a spoon, as she feeds Li Mei patiently and carefully.

In a few days, the symptoms of food poisoning have decreased and Li Mei is slowly gaining back her strength. Li Mei is sitting in her bed sipping at the tonics that Ying Yue has been making for her.

Ying Yue comes into the room with Xiao Bao following after her. "How are you doing?"

Li Mei smiles vibrantly, "Very good. I'll probably be back in a matter of days now." she fist pumps the air excited to get back to work.

"Seems like a simple case of food poisoning can keep you down." Ying Yue sighs exhausted. Walking away from Li Mei, as she continues to do more chores. Since Li Mei is currently recuperating, the other and Ying Yue have a slight more workload to go through in their day.

As Ying Yue was taste testing the tea that Consort Ming was drinking, "Thank you for helping Li Mei recover." Consort holds a gentle grateful smile towards Ying Yue.

"It was no problem. As long as my skills are used then, I will continue to help around the Pearl Palace," said Ying Yue bowing.

"Your skills as a pharmacist have been exceptional. Without you, the livelihood of the Pearl Palace would have been compromised." Consort Ming smiles sweetly.

Ying Yue sits on the walls of the Pearl Palace with a sigh. She stares out at the setting horizon with an indifference, as her face is nestled in her palms. This lifestyle was enjoyable, but this would last a short time. By the time she has repaid her time here in the harem, she will be saying bye to all of this. The Consorts, the other maids and the General."

Her thoughts linger on the General, as she removes herself off the wall and returns to head back inside the Pearl Palace.