Chapter 266

Because of Yachang’s situation, their desire to continue shopping vanished, and the three of them hurried back home. Li Linshan took the prescription to seek out the Fourth Prince, while Wang Xiujin handed the medicine to the servants. He trusted the physician, who had deliberated long over the prescription, yet still couldn’t help but worry. After raising Yachang for so long, the child had become the apple of his eye; how could he not be careful? If he were to spoil him any more, he’d be afraid to let him fall from his hand or melt on his tongue. After settling his son down, he poured a cup of water for him to rinse his mouth. He also had the servants bring a basin of clear water, splashed a little around his son’s nose, and handed him a cloth to dry off. Yachang still seemed uncomfortable, listlessly draped across his father, looking weary and dispirited.

Wang Xiujin gently stroked his son’s head, his regret growing even deeper. Yachang’s health had been good lately, making it easy to forget the hardships he’d suffered before. “Be good, Yachang. As long as your little father is here, you’ll be just fine.” Yachang nodded obediently, making Wang Xiujin’s heart ache all the more. Sweets and such would have to be prepared sparingly in the future; if Yachang wished for them, he’d ask Sister Liu to think of a way to make some that wouldn’t harm his health.

Li Linshan returned quickly, instructing the servants to decoct the medicine brought back earlier before coming to the room. “The imperial physician said the prescription is sound. Take a dose first, then wait until the hottest and coldest times of the year to formally start the course. After three years, the root of the illness will be cured.” Upon hearing this, Wang Xiujin finally let out a sigh of relief—so long as it could be cured.

Li Linshan had also bought some pastries on his way back, to help take away the bitterness after Yachang drank the medicine.

Before dinner, General Li finally returned home. He hadn’t even sat down before sending someone to summon the two fathers and their great-grandson—he missed the little one. Carrying Yachang, the two fathers made their way over, walking very slowly despite the short distance, both anticipating the old man’s booming reprimands. Sure enough, as soon as they entered the room, the old master, seeing his great-grandson looking so poorly yet putting on a brave face, immediately lashed out at them with a fierce scolding.

The two men stood obediently to the side, letting the old man vent his anger. Yachang clung to his great-grandfather’s leg, trying to soothe him and speak in his parents’ defense, but his voice was nowhere near as loud as the old man’s; he couldn’t persuade him, and grew anxious. When the old master finally finished, he saw his great-grandson’s face on the verge of tears and, feeling distressed, wanted to scold a little more.

“Great-grandfather, please don’t scold little father and father.” Yachang’s voice was especially small, clearly frightened by the old master’s earlier outburst.

“My good boy, don’t be afraid, great-grandfather wasn’t shouting at you.” The old master immediately lowered his voice for fear of frightening the child. “Alright, alright, for your sake I’ll let them off this time. If it happens again, they’ll kneel before the ancestral tablets.”

Wang Xiujin finally relaxed, the last of his worries dispersing. With the old master caring for Yachang so deeply, he would have no concerns about his son’s future position in the Li household. Watching Yachang coax the old man into laughter, Wang Xiujin admired his son’s talent for soothing others, and nudged Li Linshan with his elbow. “You know, neither of us has that ability—where did our son learn it?”

Li Linshan glanced at Wang Xiujin, then at their son. “It’s a good thing. At least he won’t be bullied.”

Wang Xiujin nodded in agreement—Linshan was right. After spending some time with the old master, the servants came to invite them to the main hall for dinner. The old man, still hale and hearty, picked up his great-grandson, startling Wang Xiujin, who worried that even he found it a bit strenuous to carry Yachang now. How would his grandfather, at such an advanced age, manage to carry him all the way to the hall?

“What are you doing?” The old master glared at Wang Xiujin.

“Grandfather, Xiujin just wants to take Yachang to change his clothes—he got some medicine on them earlier,” Li Linshan said smoothly, his expression so serious that no one would guess he was fibbing.

The old master, hearing this, handed the child over at once. “Go on, go on—why didn’t you say so earlier?” He looked at Wang Xiujin with some annoyance, but when he turned to his great-grandson, his smile was gentle and loving. “Yachang, be good, go with your little father to change. We’ll wait for you before starting dinner.”

Wang Xiujin immediately took Yachang back. Since they’d given this reason, they couldn’t be caught in a lie, so Li Linshan accompanied the old master to the front courtyard. Yachang followed his little father obediently. “Little father, there’s no medicine on my clothes.”

“There isn’t, but your great-grandfather is getting old. If he carried you to the main hall, he might have gotten hurt,” Wang Xiujin explained as he efficiently changed his son’s clothes, then patted his head. “Yachang needs to keep this a secret for little father.” Yachang nodded vigorously, letting his father carry him back to the front courtyard.

When they entered the main hall, no one had yet sat at the table. Only when the old master saw that his great-grandson had truly changed his clothes did he give the order to be seated. When General Li saw his grandson, he picked him up at once. “I heard from Linshan that Yachang’s old illness has returned? He was fine before—take care in the future. While he’s young, get rid of the problem at its root.”

Wang Xiujin immediately agreed. Manager Mi then asked what medicine the doctor had prescribed and said he’d have the apothecary gather the best ingredients. Li Linfu, too, anxiously squeezed her nephew’s little hand and promised to send over some good tonics she had. The other children piped up that they had some at home as well. Wang Xiujin quickly stopped them. “It’s not rare medicine, just common herbs. The decoction isn’t even bitter—I tasted it myself. If we follow the doctor’s method, the illness will be cured after three winters.”

Manager Mi said “good, good, good” three times, and once everyone had spoken, the old master declared, “Let’s eat!”

After dinner, the old master summoned his two sons and eldest grandson to the study. Manager Mi asked Wang Xiujin to bring Yachang over as well—there was business to discuss. The old master’s topic was the division of the military camp, while Manager Mi wanted to discuss Li Nanyi’s marriage.

“I’ve spoken to Nanyi to see if someone said anything to him or if he was being pressured. But he’s made up his mind, so we’ll let him be. Still, we have to choose the right person—can’t have someone coming in and stirring up trouble.” Manager Mi was clearly worried about bringing a troublemaker into the family.

Wang Xiujin nodded. “Little father, I’m afraid this won’t be easy.”

“I’ll do the choosing. You just help me observe. Here are the candidates I’ve picked recently—take a look when you have time.” Manager Mi handed over a small booklet. “Of course, we need to make sure the other party is willing. The general’s household has a big name; I’m worried people will agree without even asking the person involved.”

Wang Xiujin took the booklet; there were plenty of candidates, and it would take some time to investigate. Fortunately, Li Linshan had many capable people under him, so Wang Xiujin agreed. “As long as our younger brother doesn’t feel wronged, that’s all that matters.”

With booklet in hand and his son in his arms, he left his father’s courtyard and saw Li Linfu waiting in the yard. “Sister, are you looking for me?”

“Brother Xiujin, I want to play with Yachang.” Li Linfu looked at her nephew in his arms. “Is he really alright?”

“When Yachang was little, he caught cold and developed a lingering illness. Before, he always showed symptoms, but now it only acts up occasionally. It’s actually a good thing—it means we can treat it while he’s still young. If it waits until he’s older, it won’t be so easy, and then it’ll truly become a chronic illness.” Wang Xiujin explained simply, though he wasn’t sure if Li Linfu understood.

Li Linfu held tightly to Yachang’s small hand, still feeling sorry for him. Even though her brother had said the medicine wasn’t bitter, she didn’t really believe it. How could medicine not be bitter? He must have said that to keep everyone from worrying. “Yachang, be good and take your medicine. When you’re well, Auntie will give you all the sweets I have.”

Wang Xiujin felt deeply comforted. He’d once worried that, since Linfu had always been doted on, she might feel neglected after Yachang arrived and everyone’s attention shifted to him. But now it was clear he’d worried too much. He really ought to reflect on himself—perhaps he’d been using a modern way of thinking to judge ancient people’s actions. Without a modern “system” to show him people’s feelings, he might have become terribly narrow-minded.

“It’s late today. Why don’t you take care of Yachang for me tomorrow? He needs to take medicine these days, so I won’t let him go out. Tomorrow I have business outside—would you mind looking after him and making sure he takes his medicine?” Wang Xiujin asked sincerely.

Li Linfu’s eyes lit up and she nodded earnestly. “I’ll take good care of him!”

Seeing her enthusiasm, Wang Xiujin felt a warm glow in his heart. “Then could you watch him for a while now? I need to visit the Wang family.”

Li Linfu readily agreed, taking Yachang by the hand and heading toward her brother’s courtyard. Wang Xiujin watched them for a while before leaving the estate. While it was still light, he wanted to visit his family and explain things to his father.

Back at the Wang residence, he was met with a round of scolding. When Lady Wang heard that Yachang’s old illness had returned, her heart ached terribly. She immediately summoned Sister Liu, instructing her to accompany the younger son to stay at the Li household for a few days—she remembered how much Yachang liked Sister Liu’s cooking. Master Wang told his son to return home first; he would send some things over the next day.

Wang Xiujin was quite curious about what his father planned to send. When he returned home and, after Li Linshan had gone to his room, discussed the matter, he still couldn’t guess. The next morning, Master Wang sent over thick stacks of paper. As Wang Xiujin looked through them, he was struck by how much more thorough his father’s teaching materials for Yachang were than those prepared for the children in his elder brother’s household.

“By the way, when I was at the Wang family yesterday, Mother mentioned asking eldest brother and sister-in-law to send Zhize to the capital to study,” Wang Xiujin said, putting away the manuscripts. The content was far better than any textbook from the academy. “Is there any military deployment from Feng’an to the capital?”

“I’ll ask at the barracks today,” Linshan replied.

Author’s note: Isn’t it exciting? Double update today!

As for the medicine applied during the hottest and coldest periods of the year, our local traditional Chinese medicine hospital does this every year—it’s a medicinal patch, and they say after three years it can cure some respiratory illnesses. This silly author hasn’t tried it, so I don’t know if it’s as effective as they say.