Mo Ran pokes his head out from the bushes. Looking both ways, up then down the path. Auntie spent a few hours with Wanning and when he went to go in himself got caught by auntie and shooed out. Every time he went towards the Red Lotus pavilion, even just a step in his general Chuqing would step in to stop him. She remind him of a ghost. Coming from nowhere to stop him. He swears she manifested out of thin air in front of him.
So he gave up.
Just kidding. He left it alone for the day. After talking with uncle, eating breakfast and hiding in his room until he felt he waited a good enough time he sneaks out. Doing so he felt weird. For one he has never had to sneak anywhere on the peak. He could walk around without a care in the world. And now he's sneaking for Wanning.
Mo Ran moves, getting out the bush to walk down the path towards the Red Lotus pavilion. As he's walking down the path he smooth his robes, shaking off twigs and loose leaves. He huffs not able to believe he has to go through this just to get to the Red Lotus pavilion. So what if Wanning is sick? Or hurt? As his disciple he's seen worse. All three disciples have. Mo Ran most of all.
"Ge!" Mo Ran instantly twists to turn to the voice. Seeing his cousin run up to him Mo Ran looks around, expecting auntie to pop up and tell them to turn around.
"Sshhh!" Mo Ran rushes to meet him halfway, covering his mouth. He looks around, "not so loud." he whispers. Xue Meng raises an eyebrow.
"Right... are you going to check on shizun?" Xue Meng asks, pushing Mo Ran hand away.
"Yeah." Mo Ran nods joining Xue Meng to continue their trek to Wanning. Mo Ran doesn't ask if his cousin is worried about their former teacher, he knows the answer to that. His cousin does look shocked abouthisanswer. After all this time his cousin still thinks he hates Wanning. Even after all that's happen. He's seen how Mo Ran treats Wanning, his cousin is still unconvinced. Even if he didn't see the truth of the misunderstandings, even after five years of not seeing someone feelings change. He had plenty of time to think and clear his head. Xue Meng does not seem to agree.
"Meng-er! Ran-er!" both turn around to see Chuqing glaring at them. In her hand is a cloth wrap around something. She stomps her way to them. "Wanning is not feeling well. Do not bother him." she tells them again.
"I thought you were helping Shi Mei?" Mengmeng questions. Chuqing pulls them back, making them turn back the way they came from.
"I gave him some tips. Leave Wanning alone." She says pushing them away.
"What's wrong with shizun?" Mo Ran wonders. She shakes her head.
"Shouldn't someone help shizun if he feels down?" Xue Meng says looking at his mother worried. Again Chuqing shakes her head.
"There's nothing we can do till it passes." Chuqing answers.
"It's that bad!" Xue Meng shouts in their face. Both Mo Ran and Chuqing Wang cringe at the shout.
"You'll understand once you're married. Now get back and leave your shizun alone." she stops pushing them as they walk away, watching them disappear into the distance. Then she turns as she makes her way to Red Lotus pavilion.
Mo Ran looks over his shoulder seeing they've gotten far enough and his aunt is no longer there. He hops back into the bushes. Letting his cousin walk and talk alone like a crazy person. Mo Ran leans against the tree. He frowns trying to piece together what's going on. Even uncle is unaware that Wanning sick. Auntie seems to be the only one to know.
Think about the clues and piece them together.
It's what he is trained to do.
First clue: it's a sickness no one else knows about but auntie. Though that can just be do to Wanning being extremely thin faced. Wanning thin face can be why they were turned away. He doesn't trust a lot of people.
Second clue: the sweets. He understands giving Wanning sweets to take after taking the bitter medicine so it's easy to swallow but cakes? Milk candies are understandable, they are light and easy to swallow. Cakes? That's hard to take for someone sick, their stomach won't be able to stomach something so heavy. Mo Ran had smelled them and from the way the steam came off from the cloth in auntie arms yesterday and today they are fresh.
Third clue: the cleaning materials auntie was carrying the previous day. They were all for cleaning blood, along with some other things but the main focus is the cleaning soaps and chemicals. Auntie had packed a large amount. Way more than what any man should need. Unless someone was injured but she had said sick not injured so there's a difference.
Fourth clue: what auntie had just said. What does marriage have to do with it? What would a married man understand that two young bachelors wouldn't?
Not feeling well. Sweets. Blood.
Wait...
It can't be.
A married man will be more aware of a woman's menstruation, being married to a woman. Of course two single men wouldn't. At least Xue Meng is unaware, but that dufus is more like a child so he can never be taken seriously.
It even fits with Wanning thin face. No way would he want people to see him like that, no other man. But having been born and raised a man Wanning wouldn't know what's going on. Of course the only person he would trust enough is auntie. Mo Ran highly doubts Tanlang elder knows. Mo Ran doesn't see why he should. It also explains why auntie wouldn't tell anyone, not even uncle about this sickness.
Mo Ran looks down the path. Hand clenched into a fist. He wants to go to Wanning to check on him but knows he can't, not with auntie guarding Wanning like the most loyal guard dog.
He can wait. Respect and cherish. He'll wait as he makes some cakes himself. He's sure Wanning is craving them considering auntie brought them again.
He'll wait for tonight. That's the best time, while everyone is asleep.
After helping Wanning take another hot steaming bath Chuqing spends the rest of her time with Wanning. Sitting on his bed side to side as they talk. Mostly asking more questions on what to expect now. Chuqing did not mind.
There they sat eating cakes, talking. A smile on her face. Truly like having a daughter, especially considering she is not close to many other people. Neither are.