Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Fellow Patients
"Servant Qin An greets Lin Changzai and the Second Prince."
"Mr. Qin, no need for such formalities. What brings you here?"
Qin An looked at Lin Wanyi with a smile and then deepened his gaze when he saw the Second Prince sitting beside her.
"The Emperor sent me to see how the rear courtyard should be furnished. Since the Second Prince will be staying at Huifang Courtyard, it naturally cannot be just casually prepared."
Lin Wanyi nodded.
"Indeed. Yesterday, His Majesty and the Second Prince arrived in haste, and the rear courtyard wasn’t properly tidied up. Today, it should be carefully arranged so that the Second Prince and Nanny Du can live comfortably and freely."
Nanny Du?
Qin An frowned. Wasn’t Nanny Chai supposed to take care of the Second Prince?
Has there been a replacement?
Just then, Nanny Du returned from the backyard, and as she entered the room, she bumped right into Mr. Qin.
Mr. Qin was quite surprised to see her.
"What brings you here?"
"Don’t speak such nonsense. In front of the master and the Second Prince, how can a mere servant like me be worthy of your words?"
"Oh dear, I misspoke. I ask for the master and the Second Prince’s forgiveness."
Lin Wanyi smiled, realizing that this Nanny Du was indeed someone who adhered strictly to the rules.
She could catch you even if you didn’t pay attention.
On the positive side, the Second Prince would be well-mannered in the future.
There would no longer be any case of a crafty servant bullying the master.
However, the troublesome part was that the Second Prince would find it hard to slack off in the future.
With such a stern nanny serving him, days of sitting upright and proper would be plenty.
Thinking this in her heart, her face showed great respect towards Nanny Du.
"Nanny, after you’ve looked around, what do you think we need to add?"
"In response to the master, the backyard is not large, and since the Second Prince will only stay here for a few months, simplicity should be prioritized. I think if we provide for the essential needs of daily life, it should be sufficient."
Nanny Du then spoke to the Second Prince with a slightly warmer tone.
"What does the Second Prince think? If there is anything else you’d like to add, please feel free to tell me."
The Second Prince, with a small face, had only known this Nanny Du for less than an hour.
Who knows what sort of person she is?
When Princess Consort Lan sent Nanny Chai before, wasn’t she also praised to the heavens?
So he did not say much easily.
He just replied lightly.
"Nanny can decide."
These words were perfunctory, and Nanny Du gave the Second Prince a deep look.
Then she nodded.
She said to Lin Wanyi.
"In that case, I’ll take Mr. Qin to take a look, make a list, and get the supplies ready early so the Second Prince can have a nap."
"What Nanny says makes sense, go ahead."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave."
"The servant shall take leave as well."
After everyone left, the Second Prince, who had been sitting upright on the stool, finally relaxed.
His eyes seemed calm and unperturbed, but they were full of confusion.
"What’s wrong?"
Lin Wanyi reached out and patted his shoulder, asking curiously.
The Second Prince seemed about to speak, then stopped but eventually shook his head without saying anything.
Lin Wanyi glanced at Xia An, who immediately understood that the master wanted to speak with the Second Prince alone.
So she withdrew and closed the door of the room before leaving.
Hearing the sound, the Second Prince looked up.
Then he saw that Lin Wanyi’s expression towards him was filled with concern.
He took a deep breath and then slowly said.
"I am somewhat afraid of this Nanny Du."
Lin Wanyi chuckled softly upon hearing this.
Then she leaned close to his ear as if sharing a little secret and whispered.
"To be honest, I’m also afraid."
The Second Prince widened his eyes, looking incredulous.
"I’ve been used to being free and easy at home, and Mother seldom restrained me. But this Nanny Du appears to be a person of strict rules, so I’m quite fearful as well."
When Lin Wanyi said these words, she did not treat the Second Prince as a child.
It was as if she was sharing a secret with a friend.
This immediately brought her closer to the Second Prince.
"Rules are not what I’m afraid of. I’ve been learning them every day since I was a child. I just fear Nanny Du forcing me to take medicine and porridge. It’s awful."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanyi suddenly recalled what the Emperor had told her last night.
The poor child did not yet know he was poisoned.
If, upon determining the toxin and a cure was available, not taking medicine would be impossible.
So she spread her hands and said to the Second Prince.
"Coincidentally, I grew up drinking medicine too. Especially after entering the palace, it has never really stopped."
"Really?"
"If you don’t believe me, you can ask Chunqi and Xia An if they see the small kitchen preparing medicine for me every day."
With that, Lin Wanyi sniffed her arm slightly below her nose.
In a somewhat "disdainful" tone, she said.
"I feel like my body is about to reek of medicine. Smell it yourself."
The Second Prince actually leaned in and took a sniff.
"No way, Lady Lin only has a fragrant scent; where is there a stench?"
Lin Wanyi smiled warmly and said to the Second Prince.
"That’s because my clothes are scented daily, so you can’t smell it."
The Second Prince pursed his lips, unable to argue.
"How about this: if you take your medicine well, I’ll have Xiao Luzi scent your clothes too. When your clothes smell good, you naturally feel more comfortable, right?"
The Second Prince was full of doubts. He hadn’t thought of such a method before.
"Is it workable?"
Obviously, taking medicine makes your mouth bitter; what does it have to do with clothes?
Lin Wanyi didn’t think so.
"Of course, it’s workable. We patients are most afraid of carrying a sickly smell. Wherever we go, bringing the scent of medicine with us, even flowers, fruits, insects, and fish won’t associate with us, let alone humans. So having fragrant clothes, not only makes us feel good, but others also feel comfortable. Over time, naturally, we won’t be seen as patients, right?"
Upon hearing this, the Second Prince found it quite reasonable.
He immediately nodded in response.
"No wonder Father likes to come here. I like it too."
One sentence left Lin Wanyi suddenly speechless.
Redness gradually crept onto her cheeks, adding a blush of shyness.
"So young, yet always mentioning likes and dislikes. Watch out, Nanny Du will teach you about manners!"
With those words, both of them burst into laughter.
This was the first time the Second Prince laughed so joyfully since Empress Xu passed away.
Outside the door, Xia An faintly heard the laughter.
A smile also appeared on her lips.
The master indeed had a talent for making people happy.
In this treacherous and ever-changing harem, such a scene was truly rare.
In the back hall, Nanny Du and Mr. Qin were seriously making a list.
Even in simplicity, the essentials should not be missed.
Especially since the resident is a Prince, which is the most noble status in the world apart from the Emperor and Empress, so naturally, no carelessness is allowed.