Chapter 851: Chapter 851: Nannan, Time to Get Up for School
All of them were startled, not even blinking, as they saw the person who had been in a deep sleep for days on the bed, her eyelids twitching as if struggling to awaken, yet shortly after, steady breathing could be heard.
Divine Doctor Huang paused what he was doing, checked the situation, took the pulse, and let out a long breath.
Wiping his sweat, he put away the needles, preparing to finish up.
Before he could speak, someone beside him anxiously asked, "Why not continue the needle therapy?" The person is about to wake up!
He glanced over, hah, this old lady really is ruthless and heartless; wasn’t she feeling sorry just a moment ago?
His beard twitched, eyes wide open: "This isn’t an execution, why stick so many needles!"
Nanny Qi choked, rendered speechless.
Divine Doctor Huang’s brows relaxed, his heart lightened, finally taking control of the situation.
He leisurely put the needles back in the medicine box and addressed the anxious crowd: "Alright, she’s regained consciousness. Generally speaking, a couple of needles should have woken her, but this girl has a big heart, stubborn like a lazy cat refusing to wake, slipped back into slumber, making me think more stimulation was needed, hehe. You better talk about things that scare her, frighten her a bit, that’s how she’ll wake up."
They looked at each other, somewhat baffled by the suggestion.
Nanny Qi tentatively asked: "Divine Doctor Huang, you mean the young girl is feigning sleep? Is she merely asleep now?" She just couldn’t believe it.
Divine Doctor Huang glanced and snorted: "Can’t tell the difference between fainting and sleeping? Her pulse is steady and strong, breathing smooth and even, reacts to external stimuli, moves and cries out in pain, yet won’t open her eyes — what else but feigning sleep?"
Su Ran interjected: "But Nannan she... she’s been asleep all this time..." How could she still be sleeping?
Divine Doctor Huang’s temper flared, bristling with anger, slammed the medicine box shut: "I tell you, Su Girl, you of all people shouldn’t say that. You had a long dream before, didn’t you feel it? A nightmare isn’t the same as sleeping, yet it drains one’s spirit; a dream can exhaust one more than farming does..."
He scolded bluntly, grabbing his medicine box, leaving a remark: "I already said, talk about things that scare her, frighten her a bit, she’s sure to wake up. That’s enough, I’m tired. As for the prescription, kid, yes, you, come get it with me."
After saying that, he took the reluctant Xiao Linzi away.
Those left behind started feeling excited.
The Emperor sat by the bedside, gently holding her hand, suppressing the inner joy, trusting Divine Doctor Huang’s words, willing to give it a try.
He turned his head towards Nanny Qi and Su Ran, the three of them exchanged glances, immediately understanding each other’s intentions.
Speaking of Lian Hua, she had a spirited nature, usual girls fearing rats and bugs, she treated them like toys, not scared in the slightest; those unfamiliar with her genuinely wouldn’t know what she feared.
But it’s different with the Emperor and the others, especially Su Ran, who knows crystal clear what her daughter fears since childhood.
The few of them exchanged glances.
The Emperor gave a slight nod, softly said to the person on the bed: "Nannan, it’s time for medicine."
Sure enough, upon hearing his words, the tightly shut-eyed Lian Hua frowned slightly, but that’s all; soon enough, her brows relaxed again, sleeping even more soundly.
The Emperor was stunned, wanted to add another sentence, but was stopped by Su Ran.
She asked the Emperor to rise, sat on the bedside, taking a deep breath filled with nervous excitement, steeling her heart, used a gentle yet quirky tone: "Lian Hua, what time is it, is your homework done? Get up for school!"
The Emperor and Nanny Qi were dumbfounded, could this... work?
They only knew Lian Hua was afraid of taking medicine, afraid of seeing the Imperial Physician, very afraid, usually needing coaxing and persuading.
But they weren’t aware, compared to that, she was more afraid of her mother being angry, when extremely angry, her mother would call her by her full name; don’t be fooled by the gentle and calm tone, it’s the prelude to a storm, filled with suppressed anger.
She would immediately understand she’s doomed; the consequences are inevitable like that time she copied words like a ruffian, her mother spoke to her in that gentle tone, asking whom she learned from, then brought out the family discipline—one of the rattan sticks from her collection.
That time, she received a severe beating, knelt all night, and was grounded for a month, forbidden from going out, heavily punished, making her never dare to imitate again.
Regarding her mother’s tone, Lian Hua fears it deeply; she whispered to her father, saying her mother looked terrifying, making her anxious, preferring her usual way of anger, causing less panic.
Her father told her probably not, her mother was restraining herself, controlling her anger, lest in extreme rage, harm her precious little daughter, hence that’s an act of love.
Xiao Lian Hua thought it made sense, yet still feared it, so when her mother was that angry, she didn’t dare make the same mistake; other errors, after punishment, she was then fine.
Returning to the present, the Emperor and Nanny Qi had heard some stories from Su Ran about Lian Hua’s childhood, but hadn’t seen the mother-daughter interaction, now found it a bit odd, unsure this would awaken her.
Just when they thought it wouldn’t work, the person previously asleep instinctively trembled, slowly opened her eyes, looking around at the surroundings in confusion.
Lian Hua opened her eyes, feeling weak all over, exhausted.
She looked around blankly, immediately seeing the closest person.
Seemed somewhat like her mother.
She tiredly blinked, softly and confusedly called out: "Mother?" Unsure if she was in a dream or reality.
Su Ran’s tears burst forth, quickly covering her mouth crying silently, the joy in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.
Her little daughter awoke, calling her mother; over the past seven years, amid pseudo and real scenarios, she countless times heard her daughter call her mother, but never as real as this time.
This call, she waited seven years for; her little daughter came back!
The Emperor stepped forward involuntarily, fingertips trembling slightly, hurriedly slowed his breath, afraid to startle her, in the moment clearly seen, a flood of immense joy overwhelmed him, unable to control the upward curl of his lips, smiling more and more.
His Little Concubine awoke! This isn’t a dream, she really awoke!!
Nanny Qi couldn’t stop wiping her tears: "Buddha bless, Buddha bless..."
Everyone nearby gathered around, each unable to contain their joy.
Xiao Qing feared she was dreaming, insisted Xiao Jizi pinch her, Xiao Jizi pinched hard in excitement but accidentally pinched Pang Ya, who yelped and raised a hand to hit him, he foolishly smiled letting himself be hit.
Lian Hua was utterly dazed, head muddled and empty, briefly confused.
She wondered dazily, where is she now?...