114. Contracting an Infectious Disease

Chapter 114: Qingyu Courtyard

As soon as Le Qianxue returned, she felt somewhat uneasy. She hadn’t paid much attention at first, but the scent lingering on her hands was unmistakable. She paused, sensing something strange about the fragrance. What exactly had Zhan Lianjing used in that sachet to produce such a peculiar smell?

Anxious, Le Qianxue hurried to wash her hands to rid herself of the scent, but to her surprise, the fragrance only grew stronger with each wash. Puzzled, she had no idea what was happening. However, since it was almost mealtime, and Huatao was already preparing dinner, she didn’t dwell on it.

After dinner, while cooling off in the courtyard, she returned to the house, only for Huatao to spot her face and scream, “Ah! Who are you?”

Le Qianxue was stunned. “What do you mean, who am I? I’m your lady!” But as she spoke, her mouth felt swollen and strange. She touched her face—astonishingly, it had swollen to nearly twice its usual size.

Rushing to the mirror, she nearly fainted. Her face was puffed up like a pig’s snout, covered with numerous small, unpleasant bumps. Holding her swollen cheeks, she was nearly in tears. Though she didn’t rely on her looks to survive, becoming a hideous creature was hard to bear.

Huatao recognized Le Qianxue’s voice immediately and hurried over, anxiously asking, “Miss, what’s wrong with your face?”

Le Qianxue had never experienced anything like this—it didn’t resemble an allergic reaction or poisoning. Huatao’s eyes reddened as she lamented, “Oh no, Miss, you’re going to be disfigured! How unlucky you are!”

Seeing Huatao’s tears, Le Qianxue tried to calm her. “Don’t panic. Have you forgotten who your lady is?”

Then, eyeing her own hands, she realized they truly looked like pig trotters, also covered in those bumps. Suddenly, it all clicked—damn Zhan Lianjing’s sachet! He had played a cruel trick on her.

Fury flared, and Le Qianxue grabbed her sword, intent on cutting off Zhan Lianjing’s head. Destroying a woman’s appearance was unforgivable.

Huatao quickly grabbed her arm. “Miss, where are you going? Don’t do something rash! Didn’t you say you have a way to fix this?”

Her anger slightly tempered by Huatao’s grip, Le Qianxue calmed down. She would settle scores with Zhan Lianjing later.

Looking again at her hands, the fragrance still lingered.

“So it’s that thing,” Le Qianxue murmured.

Huatao asked, “Miss, what do you mean?”

Le Qianxue smirked mischievously, “Huatao, this is contagious. And you still grabbed me.”

Startled, Huatao quickly withdrew her hand. “Miss, you’re so mean!” She sobbed, “Oh no, no one will want to marry me now.”

Le Qianxue scoffed, “Don’t worry. Actually, this is a beauty-enhancing herb concoction. It’s very troublesome to use, but with proper care, your skin will become fairer and more delicate.”

Huatao doubted her words, staring wide-eyed. “I don’t believe it. Miss, your face looks like a pig’s head now.”

Le Qianxue twitched her lips. “Believe it or not, I have to keep like this for several days.” Unable to bear her reflection, she put away the mirror.

At this point, Huatao dared not touch Le Qianxue casually. When Le Qianxue went to the apothecary to fetch medicine, Huatao followed, gathering courage.

“Miss, you seem unconcerned. Is what you said really true? Will this really heal?”

Le Qianxue answered, “Tomorrow, those bumps will turn into pimples. If you take care of them well, there will be no problem. If not, it will really cause disfigurement.”

Huatao, terrified, clutched her face. “What do we do? Miss, you have to help me care for this!”

Le Qianxue reassured her, “Don’t worry—just take the herbal soup. You don’t know how precious this beauty herb is. No one else can get their hands on it.”

Huatao was puzzled. “Miss, how did you come to use it today? You seemed unaware.”

Le Qianxue nodded. Since the herb was non-toxic and unfamiliar to her, she hadn’t been cautious. Now, faced with the situation, she recalled a patient she had treated in her past life and felt reassured.

That patient eventually recovered, becoming radiant and youthful. Though their features remained unchanged, their skin became exquisite. Even five years later, the patient showed no signs of aging—a testament to the herb’s miraculous power.

That was why many risked disfigurement to use it.

Noticing slight signs on Huatao’s face, Le Qianxue warned, “From now on, don’t come into contact with others, or you’ll pass this on.”

Huatao was taken aback. “But it’s a beauty herb—shouldn’t it be good?”

Le Qianxue replied, “It requires careful care. Otherwise, it leads to disfigurement. I can manage to care for both of us, but if it spreads to a third person, I won’t be able to handle it. If you want to infect others, I’ll care for them and not you. Let your face be ruined then.”

“No, Miss, please don’t!” Huatao clutched Le Qianxue’s hand desperately. “I don’t want to be a pig’s head. I don’t want to be disfigured.”

Le Qianxue hummed in acknowledgment and glanced at Huatao.

Huatao understood immediately and quickly promised, “I swear I won’t infect anyone else.”

Satisfied, Le Qianxue nodded and told her to prepare the medicine.

Still, she wondered why Zhan Lianjing had used such a herb on her. What was his intention? Did he not want her to attend the imperial selection ceremony for concubines?

They had clearly severed ties—so why this?

Or was Zhan Lianjing simply playing a mean prank?

No matter how she pondered, her heart remained unsettled. She couldn’t make sense of it.

Late that night, unable to sleep, she considered confronting Zhan Lianjing for answers. But as she reached to dress, she hesitated. Why ask? It was pointless. Whatever he did now had nothing to do with her.

After scolding herself, Le Qianxue finally calmed and slept until dawn.

The next morning, barely had the sun risen when sobbing reached her ears.

“Miss, my face looks awful! What am I going to do?”

Groggy, Le Qianxue turned over, recognizing Huatao’s sobbing. She didn’t open her eyes or look in the mirror—she already knew her appearance all too well.

Softly, she said, “Stay calm. Don’t cry. If the pimples get wet, they won’t heal.”

Her words worked. Huatao stopped crying and wiped away her tears.

Le Qianxue snorted and went back to sleep.

Since neither could leave Qingyu Courtyard in this state, Huatao arranged for some ingredients to be delivered but forbade outside meals to prevent spreading the contagion.

The two, looking like pig-headed creatures, lost their appetite but mastered the art of eating rice with heads bowed low.

Le Qianxue even concocted a healing ointment to speed the pimples’ recovery. They applied medicine to each other—a scene that might stir many imaginations.

Yet, the concubine selection ceremony was imminent. According to protocol, the candidates had to enter the palace a day early to prepare.

But with Le Qianxue’s current appearance, entering the palace was out of the question. When palace attendants arrived, she claimed to have a contagious disease and couldn’t enter.

The eunuchs immediately reported this to the emperor.

The old emperor was furious. Knowing Le Qianxue was a ghost doctor, he saw through the ruse—it was too easy to fake an infectious disease.

He promptly sent imperial physicians to the general’s mansion. Escape was impossible.

Several imperial doctors arrived, entering the house to find Le Qianxue and Huatao both wearing white veils over their faces.

The doctors, wary of contagion, were reluctant to approach.

“Miss Le, please remove your veil so I can examine you,” an elderly physician requested.

Le Qianxue hesitated. “Do you really need to see? I look like a pig’s head right now.”

The doctor was duty-bound. “It’s necessary, Miss Le. Please remove it.”

Reluctantly, she lifted the veil.

Everyone was stunned. This was no longer the beautiful Le Qianxue but a grotesque monster with repulsive skin. The doctors’ faces turned grim, and none wanted to take her pulse.

Le Qianxue said, “I told you I have a contagious disease. If you touch me, you’ll catch it. My master, Tian Ci, has already prescribed medicine. Rest for a few days and you’ll be fine. I’m young, so it’s no problem, but I can’t guarantee how it will affect your age. By the way, my master has returned to Medicine King Valley. I don’t have the prescription.”

This veiled threat made them wary, and no one dared come near.

Le Qianxue put the veil back on. She no longer cared about seeing her own face; it was others who found it repulsive.

The doctors, pale-faced, left immediately.

Upon reporting back to the palace, the old emperor grew even angrier, convinced Le Qianxue was playing tricks.

Yet, after hearing the doctors’ report, he was puzzled. If she truly wanted to evade the ceremony, why damage her own face? What if she was permanently disfigured?

To uncover the truth, he sent two palace maids under the pretense of caring for Le Qianxue but in reality to watch her closely.