With the help of the slaves, the herbs were quickly gathered, but Wei Wei was worried that there might be other patients, so the more medicinal materials they prepared, the better.
Moreover, these herbs weren't just for treating chickenpox; they were effective for many illnesses, especially those that could treat fevers and colds. There was no such thing as having too much of these herbs.
She gave the slaves a task: to stay outside and continue gathering herbs over the next few days, focusing on finding a few rare herbs. Meanwhile, she took the collected herbs back to process them.
One slave timidly offered, "Miss, let me carry the herbs back for you."
"No need, I can manage this much," Wei Wei said as she hoisted the woven basket onto her back, testing its weight to ensure she could handle it, and declined his help.
They had come out to gather herbs, walking and collecting along the way, even venturing into the woods. Wei Wei hadn't ridden a horse, so she had to walk back.
Fortunately, Wei Wei's stamina was good, and she carried the basket of herbs with ease, making it back to the castle in no time.
The guards at the gate, seeing her return alone, quickly stepped forward to help carry the basket into the castle.
She directed the masked servants to process the herbs, laying them out to dry in the open air. She took some to the kitchen to brew an itch-relieving medicinal soup, which she then brought to Dolores and Caroline's rooms.
Chickenpox patients couldn't touch water, so to relieve the itching, they had to use cotton swabs dipped in the medicinal soup to gently dab the affected areas. Wei Wei didn't have cotton swabs, but she had plenty of cotton left over from making dolls for Dolores. After boiling it to sterilize it, it could be used as a makeshift solution.
The two children with chickenpox were doing well. Dolores' rash had fully erupted, and though it itched, she remembered Wei Wei's warning not to scratch. She could only pat the areas lightly, and for spots, she couldn't reach, the maids helped. When Wei Wei had the maids apply the medicinal soup, Dolores cooperated fully, not making a fuss.
Caroline, however, was different. She was too young to communicate effectively, and Mrs. Nancy, who was responsible for her care, tended to indulge her every whim. This had made Caroline quite temperamental, crying and throwing tantrums at the slightest discomfort. Her cries were soft, which only made Mrs. Nancy's heart ache more, making her even more indulgent.
The more she was indulged, the more Caroline cried. If this wasn't corrected, she might grow up to be a spoiled brat.
So now, with her fever gone but her body still unbearably itchy, the little girl cried pitifully, scratching at herself with her tiny hands. Unable to reason with her, Mrs. Nancy could only hold her hands to prevent her from scratching, not knowing exactly where Caroline was uncomfortable. She couldn't calm the child down and was on the verge of tears herself.
When Wei Wei arrived, Mrs. Nancy looked at her as if she were a savior.
Compared to Dolores, Caroline's rash was slower to develop, but fortunately, it had been caught early, and there were no complications like encephalitis or pneumonia. With proper rest, her recovery wouldn't have a significant impact on her health.
However, because Caroline kept struggling and had managed to scratch herself a few times when the adults weren't looking, some of the blisters had broken. Luckily, it wasn't on her face but on her arm, so any scars could be covered by clothing.
Mrs. Nancy remembered Wei Wei's instructions and didn't clean the broken blisters directly. Instead, she used cotton balls to wipe away the pus and immediately threw the used cotton into the fire.
The maids applied the medicinal soup, which had an excellent itch-relieving effect. The cool sensation quickly soothed Caroline's skin, and her crying gradually subsided. Though she was still sniffling, at least there was no longer a risk of her crying herself hoarse.
Mrs. Nancy sighed in relief and couldn't help but say to Wei Wei, "The little miss cries nonstop, and we never know what she wants. We can't calm her down, and we're worried she'll make herself sick from crying."
"Can't she talk yet?"
"She only knows a few words."
Mrs. Nancy explained that Caroline could express simple needs, like when she was hungry or sleepy, but that was about it. She couldn't form longer sentences.
Moreover, since her parents had passed away, the servants didn't dare to teach her to call anyone "Mommy" or "Daddy." The first word she learned to say was "Nancy," which was why Mrs. Nancy doted on her so much.
Additionally, Caroline, who was almost two, couldn't walk yet and wasn't very steady on her feet. This wasn't due to any developmental issues but rather because she had been so overprotected that she had hardly ever been put down, leaving her no opportunity to learn to walk.
The servants didn't think it unusual for a two-year-old not to walk. After all, wasn't that how all noble children were raised? Even the now tall and sturdy Felix had been carried around until he was over two before he started learning to walk.
The child mortality rate was simply too high. If the servants weren't careful and something happened, who would take responsibility?
In this regard, the wealthy families of the East and West probably had a lot of experience to share.
"Children need to be active for their health, especially at this age when their bones are growing. They need to get some sun every day to grow strong bones, or they might develop rickets."
Mrs. Nancy didn't know what rickets was, but it didn't sound good. Coming from Wei Wei, who could even treat chickenpox, the words carried extra weight, so she took them to heart and promised to take Caroline out for more sun once she recovered.
"Could you join us for a walk then, Miss Wei Wei?"
With Wei Wei around, any issues could be addressed immediately, ensuring Caroline wouldn't fall ill from being outdoors.
"Of course."
Wei Wei was worried that others in the castle might have been infected with chickenpox, but the situation was better than she had expected. Aside from an eight-year-old maid who had recently been brought to the castle to serve Caroline and had unfortunately been infected, no one else fell ill.
This little maid also received Wei Wei's treatment and, with no shortage of medicine, recovered well.
A week later, the isolated servants were allowed to leave their rooms. While there was still a small chance of infection, it was now minimal.
The atmosphere in the castle also improved as the young masters and mistresses recovered day by day, unlike the initial days of widespread fear.
The five slaves responsible for gathering herbs were no longer needed. Except for Kama, the other four returned to their previous tasks, while Kama was kept by Wei Wei.
Kama was in her early twenties but looked like she was in her thirties or older. However, she hadn't been a slave for long. After inquiring with Butler Barton, Wei Wei learned that Kama's husband had failed to cure the ill Eric Williams and, fearing execution by the old count, had fled overnight, leaving Kama and their five-year-old daughter behind.
No one had expected the seemingly honest and skilled doctor to suddenly flee. The day after his escape, Eric's condition worsened, and there wasn't even time to find another doctor before he passed away that night.
The old count, devastated by the loss of his son, fainted on the spot. When he woke up, he immediately sent men to capture the runaway doctor. The soldiers found that the man had already fled, so they brought back his wife and daughter.
Fortunately, the old count wasn't a cruel man. Although he eventually caught and executed the runaway doctor, Kama, and her daughter were spared, though they were reduced from freemen to slaves.
—This was likely another reason why the doctor who had been summoned earlier didn't dare to treat Dolores' chickenpox. Not only was he afraid of infection, but he also feared that failing to cure her might cost him his head.
Because she had been married to a doctor, Kama knew many medicinal herbs and had considerable experience gathering them. Of course, knowing them didn't mean she understood their uses. Her selfish husband hadn't been generous enough to teach his wife the secrets of his trade.
After learning her story, Wei Wei couldn't help but ask, "Do you hate your husband?"
"Yes."
When Kama said this, her face was calm, but Wei Wei noticed a fire burning in her eyes—a fire of hatred.
Kama believed that she and her husband had shared genuine affection. Perhaps there had been some, but that affection hadn't been enough to outweigh his own life.
What she hated most was that the man, in his bid to escape, hadn't even thought to warn his wife, let alone take her and their daughter with him. Instead, he had used them as a distraction to cover his escape.
Had he not considered what would happen to his wife and daughter if he fled?
Fortunately, he was eventually caught, or the enraged old count would surely have killed them in his fury.
So Kama hated him deeply, so much so that she hadn't shed a single tear when he was executed.
Wei Wei took Kama under her wing. She remained a slave, living with her daughter and the other slaves in the stables, but her work was no longer backbreaking labor. Instead, she roamed the hills with her daughter, collecting various plants for Wei Wei to examine for potential uses. More often, she helped Wei Wei process the medicinal herbs.
This work was much lighter, and because of Wei Wei's favor, she often received small rewards—a piece of bread, an old blanket—and the overseer in charge of the slaves would give them extra food. Her daughter, who was too young to work, finally had enough to eat.
Kama was content with this. Though still a slave, she could provide for her child and even prepare a warm coat for the winter.
The chickenpox scabs on the three young patients began to crust over in the second week. Wei Wei paid special attention during this period. The entire third floor, where the patients were staying, was completely isolated. The rooms and hallways were disinfected daily with vinegar fumes. Only the maids responsible for their care were allowed in. Food and medicine were left at the door and only brought in after the carriers had left. After meals, the utensils were boiled in a pot of hot water on the hearth before being taken out for the kitchen staff to wash. The maids also had to thoroughly clean themselves when entering or exiting, as the crusting stage was the most contagious. Wei Wei had to be extra cautious.
This caution paid off. By the time the three children fully recovered, no one else in the castle had fallen ill.
Everyone was overjoyed. This was the first time they had witnessed and experienced someone in their midst having chickenpox without a widespread outbreak or any fatalities. It felt like escaping the clutches of a demon—thrilling and exhilarating. And the one who had saved them all was Wei Wei.
If before, people respected Wei Wei merely because she was Felix's beloved and the future countess, now it was more because of her own abilities. A future countess who possessed miraculous medical skills sounded incredibly reassuring.
After the patients recovered, the castle's lockdown was lifted. With the freedom to come and go, the news of Wei Wei's ability to treat chickenpox quickly spread among the villagers, and even other nobles heard about it.
However, by the time the news reached them, it had been distorted into "Wei Wei is a beautiful fairy with magical powers. With a wave of her hand, she can cure chickenpox patients." It sounded too fantastical to be true, so aside from the villagers within the Sardinson Castle estate who knew the truth, even the surrounding towns didn't believe the rumor, and other nobles dismissed it outright.
Thus, the rumor was taken with a grain of salt, and no one who mattered paid it any real attention.
After being confined for two weeks, Dolores was finally allowed to leave her room, but the little girl didn't want to go out. The scabs on her body had all fallen off, leaving faint pockmarks. Although Wei Wei assured her they would fade, the beauty-conscious girl declared that she wouldn't leave her room until the marks were completely gone.
Felix, surprisingly, allowed her this rare indulgence, agreeing that she could stay in her room but insisting that her lessons must continue.
However, one of her teachers had resigned.
When Dolores contracted chickenpox, Mrs. Bates had resigned upon hearing the news. She likely didn't believe the little girl would recover and was afraid of being infected if she went to the castle. Her resignation was abrupt—she sent a letter to Felix and didn't even collect her remaining wages, quickly finding new employment.
Felix didn't make things difficult for her. He accepted her resignation and even had someone deliver her unpaid wages. However, with Dolores still ill, no new teacher had been sought.
Now that the little girl was ready to resume her studies, there was no suitable teacher to be found.
Wei Wei took over Dolores' math and embroidery lessons for a few days, noticing that Felix didn't seem to be in a hurry to find a new teacher, so she went to talk to him.
"I plan to hire a good teacher for her from the capital," Felix revealed his plan.
He had already sent a letter to an acquaintance in the capital, asking them to help find a suitable tutor. Given the distance and the time it would take to find someone, Dolores and Wei Wei would have to go without etiquette lessons for a while.
Dolores, of course, was delighted. She had developed a bit of an aversion to the subjects she disliked, and not having to attend class was a blessing. She could devote more time to the things she enjoyed.
Wei Wei, however, felt that the girl shouldn't be allowed to slack off and decided to take over her music lessons as well.
It was then that everyone discovered Wei Wei could play the harp—and at a professional level at that. Felix, comparing her playing to the noble ladies he had heard perform, objectively concluded that her skill was superior.
Moreover, the music she played was unique, completely different from what they were used to, yet incredibly beautiful.
However, when Wei Wei brought out a konghou from her room—an instrument similar to a harp—everyone was stunned, especially her two personal maids, who had no idea she had been hiding such an instrument under her bed.
No one suspected anything, though. Everyone knew Wei Wei had brought back many things when she first arrived, and they assumed the konghou had been among them, unnoticed.
Wei Wei's konghou was a vertical type, similar in size and shape to a harp, but the black base with gilded phoenix heads gave it a more majestic and luxurious aura. Placed side by side with a harp, it was like comparing a queen to a princess.
Wei Wei had brought out the konghou mainly to prove she could play it, and also because she was worried about it getting damaged under her bed. So the instrument was moved to the music room to be stored alongside the harp. When teaching Dolores to play the harp, Wei Wei didn't touch the konghou, only playing it occasionally when the mood struck, sometimes duetting with Dolores.
Under professional guidance, Dolores' harp skills improved significantly, but the little girl didn't develop a love for music. Her greatest passion remained embroidery—oh, and now, dressmaking.
It was only when she saw the finished product that Wei Wei realized Dolores had secretly used the doll dress patterns to make herself a dress.
Moreover, her aesthetic sense was remarkably aligned with the development of European fashion centuries later. Among all the little dresses Wei Wei had drawn for her, Dolores had chosen to make the most extravagant Rococo-style court dress.
The dress featured a fitted bodice, a voluminous skirt, and was adorned with lace, ribbons, embroidery, and intricate pleats—a riot of patterns and textures that was both ostentatious and stunningly beautiful.
In other words, Dolores had turned herself into a walking gift box.
When Dolores, wearing the dress she had made herself, came to Wei Wei for advice, Wei Wei was nearly speechless.
Thankfully, she hadn't drawn the design with a plunging neckline but had opted for a modest round collar instead.
Fortunately, the fabrics available to the little girl were limited. She had chosen white cotton as the base, paired with pink ribbons and lace, and the only embroidery was a ring of pink roses around the hem. Thus, the overall color scheme was quite understated.
However, the original design of the dress required a hoop skirt to achieve its full shape. When making the doll version, the stiffness of the fabric and the pleats had been enough to give the skirt volume, so Wei Wei hadn't included the hoop skirt in the design. As a result, when Dolores wore the dress, the large skirt dragged on the ground, forcing her to lift it as she walked, and the carefully embroidered roses were trampled underfoot.
Dolores looked at Wei Wei helplessly. "I followed the proportions on the drawing when I made it, but why doesn't it look as good on me as it does on Amy? Her dresses are all big and full, like blooming flowers."
This was why Dolores had worn the unfinished dress out in the first place.
"This kind of dress needs a hoop skirt underneath to give it shape."
The designs Wei Wei had drawn weren't entirely accurate, and the Rococo-style court dress's skirt wasn't excessively large. Without the hoop skirt, Dolores' dress just dragged longer, making her look like she was wearing an adult's clothes.
Dolores asked, "So how do I make it stand out?"
Wei Wei sighed. "You've stumped me there." Although she loved these beautiful dresses—what girl didn't go through a phase of adoring extravagant court dresses?—she had never studied how hoop skirts were made.
Dolores, now well-practiced in the art of acting cute, threw herself into Wei Wei's arms, wrapping her arms around her waist. "But you must know how to make one, right? You're the one who drew it. Please, dear Wei Wei."
"Dear Wei Wei?" A voice suddenly interrupted.
Both girls turned to see Felix standing nearby, raising an eyebrow at them.
"Throwing yourself at someone and behaving in a spoiled manner isn't very ladylike."
Dolores, still somewhat afraid of Felix, immediately sat up straight and moved away from Wei Wei. "Yes, brother. I'm sorry, Miss Wei Wei. I shouldn't have been so willful."
Wei Wei gave Felix a pointed look. No doubt the man was jealous again.
"It's fine. Go back to your room, and I'll figure something out for you."
"Thank you, Miss Wei Wei." Dolores obediently stood up, lifted her skirt, and headed for the door.
"Wait."
Felix, standing at the door, stopped his sister and eyed her dress suspiciously. "What are you wearing?"
He wasn't blind. Although he didn't usually pay attention to women's fashion, Dolores' dress was so "unique" that he couldn't help but notice it was completely different from the current style.
Look at all those ribbons and bows. He had never seen any woman decorate herself so extravagantly. It looked...
"I taught her how to make a new dress. What do you think?"
Given that Wei Wei was the one asking, Felix had to lie through his teeth. "...It looks great." If it didn't look good, it was because his sister's craftsmanship was lacking, not because Wei Wei's design was bad!
Wei Wei could tell he was lying but didn't call him out on it. As she gestured for Dolores to go change, she said to Felix, "The dress isn't finished yet, so it doesn't fit well. Once it's done, it'll look much better."
Felix didn't press the issue, but he did offer a reminder. "The Church has been advocating for women to dress more modestly. Her dress might not be appropriate."
Hearing him mention the Church, Wei Wei couldn't help but snort in disdain. "It's a ball gown. It's supposed to be extravagant. Besides, Dolores' dress isn't that extravagant. She just didn't get the proportions right." The dresses made for dolls and those for real people were different. Wei Wei wouldn't hang so many frilly things on her dress, but the little girl's aesthetic loved that style.
If Felix could see the court dresses of a few centuries later, he would know what true extravagance looked like. Back then, dresses were made entirely of silk, and adorned with feathers, flowers, and gemstones, making them look like walking flower baskets.
Felix keenly noticed: "You don't like the Church."
"Of course not," Wei Wei nodded. "My homeland has its myths and legends. It wasn't until I came to Europe that I heard about your God. I don't lack respect for deities, but some of the actions of the Church truly disgust me."
It was only after arriving in this world that she learned the medieval Church ran brothels!