Chapter 1551 - 1398: Fake Commandery Princess 8
Ye Feiying, Ye Fangchen, Ye Jingyi, and Ye Jingfei lived together, but there weren’t enough foot basins, so Ye Jingfei and Ye Jingyi shared one for soaking their feet.
Shuangshuang carried a basin of medicinal foot soak to Bai Menghan for a foot bath. Bai Menghan lay collapsed on the bed, unable to endure even a movement because of the pain all over her body.
When Shuangshuang was washing her feet, Bai Menghan didn’t react at first. It wasn’t until her feet were submerged in the water that she realized Shuangshuang was the one attending to her.
Bai Menghan quickly sat up and pulled her feet away from Shuangshuang’s hands: "Shuangshuang, you don’t have to do this. You’ve been tired all day too. Just take a good rest. It’s just washing feet, I can do it myself."
As she said this, a pang of bitterness rose in Bai Menghan’s heart. Shuangshuang used to be a Commandery Princess who had everything done for her, so how could she now be serving her?
Shuangshuang didn’t mind at all. She caught Bai Menghan’s withdrawn foot and pressed it back into the water basin, saying, "I’m not tired. Mother suddenly walked such a long way today, your body surely can’t take it.
I’ve seen Mother cramp a few times before. After soaking your feet, I’ll give you a good massage. Otherwise, tomorrow you’ll be afraid to walk."
Bai Menghan’s eyes reddened. She couldn’t help but stroke Shuangshuang’s head, choking up, "Good child, it has been hard on you, coming along to endure this suffering with us."
Shuangshuang shook her head with a smile, comforting Bai Menghan, who was somewhat upset: "Mother, don’t overthink it; these things are nothing.
No matter how hard the journey ahead is, as long as our family is healthy and together, it’s the best. There’s nothing that truly can’t be overcome."
After soaking her feet, Shuangshuang noticed several blisters on Bai Menghan’s soles. She carefully pricked them with a needle and used ground herbs to draw out the juices to clean the blisters.
After treating the blisters, Shuangshuang advised Bai Menghan not to mind the rules of the gentry, to leave her feet exposed and sleep, as the blisters would significantly heal by morning.
Shen had already fallen into a deep sleep during Shuangshuang and Bai Menghan’s conversation. She was too exhausted, not physically, but mentally. Ever since the Ye Family’s troubles, Shen had not relaxed.
Shuangshuang hesitated but didn’t wake Shen to soak her feet. Shen didn’t have to walk much, so her body wouldn’t be worn out. In her case, getting more sleep was more important than soaking her feet.
To avoid disturbing Shen, Shuangshuang massaged Bai Menghan on the floor mat. After a day’s walking, Bai Menghan’s legs were so sore and swollen that being pressed by Shuangshuang made her feel quite uncomfortable.
Bai Menghan gritted her teeth to hold back her cries. Once the massage was over, she broke into a sweat. Held by Shuangshuang, she was placed on the bed and quickly fell asleep.
Seeing Bai Menghan and Shen asleep, Shuangshuang got up, quietly went out, greeted the government officer on night duty, retrieved the branches she’d previously set on the carriage roof, and requested an oil lamp from the innkeeper.
Shuangshuang sat in the inn’s lobby, using the weak oil lamp light to start weaving chairs for carrying people.
The two soft chairs made during the day were hastily done and not very comfortable to sit on.
This time, Shuangshuang wove three chairs, adding cushions for comfort, and wrapped the parts resting on the shoulders with cloth to prevent chafing when carrying people.
One of the chairs was made particularly large by Shuangshuang, intended for Bai Menghan and Ye Jingfei to sit on together.
So Ye Fangchen would carry Ye Feiying, Ye Jingyi would carry Shen, and Shuangshuang would carry Bai Menghan and Ye Jingfei. In this way, the weakest among them were all taken care of.
After toiling busily all night, Shuangshuang finally managed to weave the three chairs, then went to wash her face. Being young enough, despite staying up all night, she didn’t feel too uncomfortable.
In the morning, everyone had rice porridge, steamed buns, and small pickled vegetables for breakfast. White porridge and buns were considered excellent food for the common people, but the Ye Family, accustomed to delicate cuisine, found it hard to swallow.
Ye Feiying and Shen had only a little porridge and couldn’t drink any more. Bai Menghan forced herself to eat a bun but was not in high spirits.
Though Shuangshuang had massaged Bai Menghan last night, sparing her serious discomfort today, some aftereffects of overexertion remained unavoidable.
After breakfast, they continued their journey. Seeing the three chairs Shuangshuang had brought out, everyone felt heartache. Bai Menghan and Shen couldn’t hold back their tears.
Both Ye Feiying and Ye Fangchen had reddened eyes. This child, who never spent a day living with the Ye Family, resolutely joined them in their misfortune.
By now, they understood that Shuangshuang had deliberately come along on this exile to help care for them. She worried about them, preferring to endure hardships together, even at the expense of her comfortable life in the Prince Nan Mansion.
This left their hearts soft, guilty, yet warm, a mix of indescribable emotions.
Bai Menghan couldn’t resist and pulled Shuangshuang into her embrace, hugging her tightly, her voice choked: "It has been hard on you!"
A thousand words were in her heart, but when they reached her lips, Bai Menghan didn’t know what to say to Shuangshuang, what she could say? Truly, it has been hard on this child.
Held by Bai Menghan, Shuangshuang felt a bit awkward. Suddenly, her relationship with Bai Menghan seemed like familiar strangers. Seeing Bai Menghan’s sadness, she could only comfortingly pat her back: "Mother, it’s not hard for me."
Bai Menghan finally released Shuangshuang. Ye Jingyi approached, holding Shuangshuang’s hand, his eyes red: "Sister, next time remember to call me if you have anything to do. Don’t work alone."
Shuangshuang smiled, patting Ye Jingyi’s shoulder: "Okay, I’ll remember to call you next time."
"Me too!" Ye Jingfei also joined in. After being carried by Shuangshuang the whole afternoon yesterday, Ye Jingfei felt much less estranged from her.
Shuangshuang smiled and patted Ye Jingfei’s head: "Alright, I’ll call little brother too."
After a few words, everyone naturally started their journey again. Today, Ye Fangchen was still responsible for carrying Ye Feiying, Ye Jingyi switched to carrying Shen, while Shuangshuang had Bai Menghan and Ye Jingfei both sit on the chair she had specifically widened, as she carried two people today.
The combined weight of the two wasn’t light, but after yesterday, they weren’t worried about Shuangshuang not being able to lift them, but rather whether she’d manage after a sleepless night.
Along the way, Bai Menghan couldn’t help but frequently ask if Shuangshuang was tired or uncomfortable. Each time, Shuangshuang assured her she was fine, but Bai Menghan still couldn’t rest easy.
At midday rest, Shuangshuang took a quick nap for only half an hour before continuing the journey.
In the afternoon, everyone had to walk a short section of mountain road to reach the next county. Walking on a mountain road consumed more energy than traveling on flat land.