Chapter 096
Chapter 96: Even Buddha’s Chosen Must Experience Period Pain
Xiao Man finally found the reason for her bad mood these few days: her damned “Aunt” had arrived.
In this backward, rule-heavy ancient time, there were always a few days each month when she felt like a walking troublemaker. Not only did she have to deal with the physical hassle, she also had to stay on edge, afraid she might leak in this crowded courtyard where so many eyes were watching.
She was not the only one living here. There was Shi Tou’s whole family, there was Lin Qing Xuan, and worst of all, there was that Heart Demon Cat whose nose was sharper than a police dog’s.
Of course, what she feared came right away. A shadow like a puff of black smoke shot to her feet, its nose twitching in an over-the-top way as it yelled in the tone of someone catching a thief: “Xiao Man! What is that smell on you? It’s blood! Did you sneak off to eat pig blood cake or duck blood vermicelli soup?”
The veins on Xiao Man’s temple throbbed. She dropped into a squat, lowered her voice, and forced out each word through gritted teeth: “Eat your own nonsense! I order you to stay at least three meters away from me for the next three days, starting now!”
Where in this broken ancient era could she buy pads? Ever since she woke up in this body and got her first period at sixteen, Xiao Man had relied on her tiny bit of modern memory, using her tiny stipend to buy cotton and fine linen and clumsily make knockoff “pads.” Later she noticed that Xiu He and the others in the courtyard used something called a Menstrual Cloth. It was a long cloth strip with a sewn pocket in the middle, stuffed with plant ash to absorb liquid.
At first she found the ash dirty and chose expensive cotton instead, but soon she learned her small allowance could not keep up. In the end she bowed to harsh reality and switched to the cheaper and more common plant ash. At least plant ash came from burned plants, was alkaline, and could absorb odors, which was a small comfort.
Every use still drove her crazy. She had to tie that bulky, ugly cloth band around her waist with great care and check it again and again to make sure it would not slip. Afterward, she had to sneak off, open the pocket, dump out the ash, wash the cloth clean, dry it, and wait for next month to use it again.
The one lucky thing was that the original owner of this body did not get cramps often. Otherwise, without ibuprofen to save her life, she had no idea how she would survive.
Granny Chen had sharp eyes. With one look she noticed Xiao Man’s pale face and stiff movements. She sidled over and asked in a whisper only the two of them could hear: “Xiao Man, are you inconvenient today? I have a piece of brown sugar at home. Should I make you a bowl to warm you up?”
Xiao Man was being worn down by a new, dull ache in her lower belly. She waved weakly: “Thanks, Nanny, no need. I will rest for a bit.”
But Granny Chen did not leave. In fact, she became even more interested. Lowering her voice, she asked in a secretive tone: “Xiao Man, your Aunt… usually lasts how many days?”
“Three days,” Xiao Man answered without much energy.
“And the color? Bright red or light red?” Granny Chen questioned carefully, her sharp eyes running up and down Xiao Man like she was judging a piece of merchandise.
“On the lighter side, and not much,” Xiao Man said honestly, confused by the questions.
“Oh my!” Granny Chen slapped her thigh, looking both certain and a little regretful: “Girl, your qi and blood are not strong enough. This means you are fated to bear daughters. You must fix this soon. If you build up your qi and blood like I did back then, I promise you will have a big healthy son in the future!”
Xiao Man did not know whether to laugh or cry. She said, “Nanny, I am not even married. Why are we talking about sons and daughters already? And how do I build up this qi and blood?”
Granny Chen leaned closer, eyes glinting with calculation as she whispered: “Old Granny has some ancestral food remedies that really work. But…” She drew out the word on purpose. “The recipes are not free. Make us a few more batches of those tasty pastries you made last time, and we will trade. How about it?”
Xiao Man fell silent. So that was her goal all along. A bargain, after all this circling. She said, “Nanny, once I feel better, I will definitely make you good food. When have I not kept your whole family in mind?” She was annoyed, but she had to humor this sharp Old Madam.
Right then, Shi Tou rushed out of Lin Qing Xuan’s study, shouting: “Bad news! Eldest Grandson Young Master has stomach pain! He probably ate something bad!”
Hearing this, Granny Chen forgot all about selling her secret recipes. She dragged her son off to fetch the House Physician.
Xiao Man froze. Stomach pain? She touched her own aching lower belly. A wild thought popped up. Could it be… this cursed Empathic Link was making him feel her Aunt’s pain too?
[Hahaha~]
Joy bloomed in her chest. Her earlier irritation and discomfort were instantly replaced by glee. Lifting her skirt, she hurried into Lin Qing Xuan’s study. The man who was usually cool and noble was bent over, one hand over his belly, his tall body of over six feet curled into a ball. It was honestly funny.
Xiao Man stepped closer and asked on purpose: “Stomach pain?”
Lin Qing Xuan raised his head. His pale face was covered in fine sweat. He nodded with effort.
“Lin Qing Xuan, can you find a way to break this Empathic Link between us?” Xiao Man teased. Seeing the tight line of his brows, she skipped all the master-servant politeness. “If not, my period pain does not come every month, but every few months it hits. When it does, you will suffer.”
“Are you hurting?” Even now, Lin Qing Xuan was worried about Xiao Man. His voice trembled a little. He asked, “Does menstruation hurt every month, or how?”
“Only sometimes. Usually when I get chilled, not every month,” Xiao Man said. Then she suddenly remembered that this time Aunt had come early, and it all made sense in her head: [Maybe we were too intense in the dream the other night. It messed up my hormones, so my period came early, with extra cramps.]
Lin Qing Xuan heard it. He heard every word clearly, and each one thumped against his heart. The color drained from his handsome face, but he did not dare show it. He only made a silent note: [From now on, intimacy must never be too intense. I must put Xiao Man’s body first in everything.]
Physician Wang, the house physician, arrived quickly with his medicine box. The moment he saw Xiao Man by Lin Qing Xuan’s side, his old face fell, and he spoke in a scolding tone: “Why are you serving him again? Eldest Grandson Young Master’s stomach pain must be from bad food. Girl, did you serve him poorly?”
“Physician Wang, have you even taken his pulse? How can you make a ruling without touching his wrist?” Xiao Man shot back at once.
“Oh, is that not the case? Shi Tou told me the Young Master ate something bad,” Physician Wang muttered, looking doubtful.
Lin Qing Xuan cut them off, enduring the pain: “Physician Wang, take Xiao Man’s pulse first. Her belly hurts too.”
“This double stomach pain must be food related,” Physician Wang grumbled, but he reached for Xiao Man’s wrist. His fingers rested on her pulse as he twirled his beard and closed his eyes. After a moment he opened them and announced with confidence: “It is period pain, right?” Before Xiao Man could answer, he went on: “Xiao Man, your base health is weak. In summer you must have taken too much cold. In winter your hands and feet are like ice. You lie in bed half the night and still do not warm up. Without a Bed Warmer you cannot even sleep, am I right?”
“Physician Wang, you are amazing. Truly skilled,” Xiao Man said at once, laying on the praise. She knew this was the best time to flatter him.
“Your qi and blood are not strong. You must nourish your body,” Physician Wang lectured, completely missing how Lin Qing Xuan’s face had gone from white to blue. “If not, having children later may be difficult.”
“Give Xiao Man the best medicine for building qi and blood, right away,” Lin Qing Xuan said. He only heard the words “having children may be difficult,” which hit his mind like thunder. In the future, he was going to have a whole brood of children with Xiao Man.
“Yes, yes, Eldest Grandson Young Master. I will feel your pulse, then write both prescriptions,” Physician Wang said quickly. He turned to take Lin Qing Xuan’s pulse. Before Lin Qing Xuan could refuse, the dry fingers had already settled on his wrist.
“Huh?” Physician Wang frowned. Something was off. “Young Master, your pulse is steady and strong. It does not look like food poisoning. But your symptoms… are strange.” He searched his mind and finally found a word: “Somewhat… similar to Xiao Man’s.”
As soon as he said it, he shook his head hard: “No, no, that cannot be. Men and women are built very differently. Impossible. I must have misread. Young Master, let me take it again.”
When he reached for the wrist, Lin Qing Xuan turned aside at once, moving too fast for a sick man: “Physician Wang, I must have caught a chill reading late last night. It is nothing serious. Give Xiao Man her medicine. I will drink more hot water.”
Watching him pretend to be calm, Xiao Man almost burst into a piggy snort of laughter.
“Truly no need for another check, Young Master?” Physician Wang still pressed, troubled by his own doubt.
“No need,” Lin Qing Xuan said with a set face. His tone allowed no argument. “Use the best tonics for Xiao Man.”
“Very well. I will write the prescription, have the herbs prepared, and tell Shi Tou to fetch them. Xiao Man, you must decoct the medicine yourself. And Eldest Grandson Young Master, it is deep winter and bitter cold. Do not read sutras so late every night. Staying up harms the body and makes you catch cold easily,” Physician Wang said dutifully before he left with his medicine box.
The room grew quiet. Xiao Man suddenly felt her cramps ease. After all, there was a person of rare talent and beauty helping her carry part of the pain. What a bargain.