Chapter 57: Is Grandpa Hua An Immortal?
In the moment Xu He disappeared without explanation, Du Yu was so furious his lungs nearly exploded.
He had never imagined that this Xu fellow would become so bold. When he mustered all his strength to force himself to stay and wait, Xu He finally returned.
Du Yu slammed the table fiercely: “Xu He, you’re refusing the toast only to drink a forfeit!”
Xu He said nothing, gritted his teeth, snatched the document from his subordinate’s hand, then took the Four Treasures of the Study from the servant behind him, tremblingly gripped the brush with his right hand, shook as he did so, but signed his name in one go!
Du Yu was stunned in place.
“Heir Apparent, are you satisfied now?” Xu He stuffed the document into his arms. “From now on, you and I share honor and disgrace. If Xu makes any mistakes outside, please ask foster father and foster brother to be more forgiving!”
The goal achieved too quickly, Du Yu didn’t know what to say for a moment.
After a long while, he stuffed the document into his own arms, gritted his teeth and glanced at Xu He, then turned and left.
Xu He slumped into the chair, the Top Scholar’s sharp spirit already completely gone.
……
On the day Hua Lin arrived at the Prince’s Mansion, he carefully examined A Li’s little body from top to bottom, and seriously asked Yan Bei about the child’s condition when he was found.
He also meticulously reviewed all the medicines the Imperial Physicians had used on the child in recent years, and all the treatment strategies they had implemented.
On the morning of the third day, he began to perform acupuncture on A Li.
First things first, improve this child’s constitution.
In the past, every time the Imperial Physicians wanted to do something to A Li, they had to report to Yan Bei in advance. Only if Yan Bei approved the method as safe would it be allowed.
Hua Lin started right away upon arrival, and all the onlookers strongly objected.
The first to lose composure was Yun Niang.
Back then, upon hearing of the sudden arrival of the little grandson, the Imperial Concubine Dowager decisively selected servants from the Mobei Prince’s Mansion and sent them to the Capital City. As a houseborn servant, Yun Niang was the first to enter the Prince’s Mansion to take over caring for A Li as his wet nurse.
Yun Niang had received a pledge of military service back then. For this, she even left her own nursing child with her husband and mother-in-law. Those days, Yan Bei stayed with A Li day and night, and she was on call at all times, without sleep or rest.
Later, Yan Bei added several more wet nurses in succession, but none had as much seniority as Yun Niang, nor had they invested as much thought into A Li.
This new doctor, the Prince hadn’t explained his background, only saying he was a hidden master physician.
Since he was someone their Prince trusted, Yun Niang naturally trusted his medical skill.
But this master physician was too brutal. He actually had the heart to stick needles into such an adorable Young Heir Apparent!
He actually had the nerve to do it.
Yun Niang was extremely worried.
“Our Young Heir Apparent is treated like gold and jade, not a single mishap can be allowed. Doctor, why don’t you write down the prescription first, and wait until the Prince asks the Imperial Hospital before implementing it.”
What Mongolian doctor? A Li was the lifeblood of everyone in their entire Prince’s Mansion. Sticking so many such fine, long needles into the child—could he endure it?
“Are you the doctor or am I the doctor?”
Hua Lin unceremoniously glanced at her.
Yun Niang was speechless.
Just then Gao An arrived and asked what happened, so Yun Niang hurriedly explained everything in detail.
Gao An looked at the gleaming silver needles on the child’s body, his heart aching.
Hadn’t the child suffered enough in swaddling clothes back then?
That long scar was a thorn in everyone’s heart in the Prince’s Mansion.
These years, everyone had protected this precious treasure like the apple of their eye, but now Hua Lin came and started acupuncture on him—sigh, after all, he wasn’t raised by this cousin-in-law.
Gao An forced a smile and stepped forward: “Doctor Hua, how about we prescribe some medicine first and take it slow? The child might not be able to endure it.”
Hua Lin pulled a long face, unhurriedly applying the paste to A Li’s navel: “Did your Prince send you?”
Gao An paused: “No.”
Their Prince was currently facing the monumental problem of how to restore harmony with his former wife as a divorced husband. These past few days, his mind probably hadn’t stopped, unable to spare any attention.
At this moment, A Li tugged at Gao An’s clothes.
Because he was Grandpa Hua, as instructed by Mother before she left, A Li was especially affectionate toward Hua Lin.
Plus, from childhood to now, he was used to being tormented by doctors, so even though the needles hurt a bit, he endured without crying.
Grandpa Gao and Mama Yun were both criticizing Grandpa Hua—what to do?
If Grandpa Hua left, would Mother not come to see A Li anymore?
At this time, he said softly: “Grandpa Gao, Mama Yun, don’t worry. A Li doesn’t hurt at all. Mother said Grandpa Hua is here to treat A Li.”
Gao An and Yun Niang, already heartbroken, felt their hearts shatter upon hearing this.
The child was already so sensible—what more could the adults say?
Gao An sighed: “Then Grandpa Gao will go to the kitchen and make you something delicious.”
“No need.”
With grandfather and grandson in the midst of deep emotion, Hua Lin suddenly interjected: “I’ve already prescribed a full month’s worth of medicinal cuisine at once. From now on, no braised goose or duck feet or anything like that—none of it is allowed.”
Gao An grew a bit anxious: “Not even occasionally? Our A Li loves Grandpa Gao’s signature dish the most. Right?”
Hua Lin snorted, slowly wiping the medicine pestle: “I said we shouldn’t let the child live in this monk’s temple.
“Signature dish? Why not prepare two taels of wine for him too?”
Gao An suddenly fell silent.
Yun Niang burst into tears with a wail: “My poor Young Heir Apparent!”
A Li quietly felt a bit disappointed too.
After all, Grandpa Gao’s braised goose was really delicious.
Hua Lin glanced at him, set down the medicine pestle in his right hand, covered his fist with the handkerchief in his left, then extended it toward him.
A Li was puzzled when the handkerchief suddenly flipped open, revealing a candy underneath!
“Wow!”
A Li, who had hardly ever gone out since childhood, had never seen such a trick. His two little hands untouched by needles immediately clapped, his eyes turning to stars: “Grandpa Hua is so amazing!”
Hua Lin smilingly placed the candy in his palm.
A Li sucked on it and was even more delighted: “It’s real candy! Osmanthus flavor too. Is Grandpa Hua an immortal? ……”
Gao An’s heart was filled with sourness.
He really couldn’t stand there any longer.
He walked out.
He ran into the guard under the side gate: “Someone outside is asking to see you, saying they are Doctor Hua’s acquaintance, here to deliver things to Doctor Hua.”
Gao An didn’t dare neglect: “Man or woman?”
“Woman. Surname Lan.”
Gao An immediately understood, turned to glance toward Yangrong Zhai, saw Yan Bei receiving a guard, and ordered: “Quickly open the gate and welcome her in!”
……
As a key minister in the Imperial Court and A Li’s birth father, Yan Bei felt he should do something for Prince Duan’s Mansion both emotionally and rationally, but he also understood the principle of not rushing things.
At this juncture, volunteering rashly would only annoy her.
Thus, he who never advocated passive action had no choice but to hold back for now.
But the process of endurance began to feel endless.
Apart from occasionally going to Hua Lin to inquire about the details of her injury treatment over these three years, there was only sending people to keep watch on the Du Family side.
The guard he was receiving was an expert at detecting poisons.
“The residual incense in that incense burner is full of dragon bone, cinnabar, albizia bark, and other calming substances. Prolonged exposure can cause drowsiness. But the dosage isn’t enough to poison, and the Du Family placed it in the Prince’s open pavilion, likely with intent to detain.”
Yan Bei put the incense burner back on the table: “Poisonous incense, they couldn’t prepare that on short notice.”
But Yue Tang noticed it the moment she entered, showing she had become her own doctor from long illness, and had learned quite a bit of medical skill from Hua Lin these years.
He suddenly looked at the guard: “Take a look for me. Is the Bone-Eroding Powder in my body serious?”
The guard and the Prince’s Mansion guard commander Jiang Shao, standing by, were both stunned: “Prince, you—when were you poisoned?”
Yan Bei looked at them, calmly picked up his tea: “It’s nothing serious. I was just asking. If you can’t tell, forget it.”
“How can that be forgotten?!” Jiang Shao hurriedly pushed the guard. “Hurry up!”
The guard quickly took out a silver needle from his sachet to draw blood.
But Yan Bei said: “No need. I was just saying it casually. Who would dare poison this Prince?”
Jiang Shao looked at him suspiciously, seeing his calm expression and ruddy complexion— these two days he even seemed to have regained some vitality compared to before. He thought to himself, indeed, there weren’t many in the world who would dare use such a scheme against Prince Jingyang.
And those few who wanted to play schemes were fine with mind games for now, but they couldn’t afford real schemes.
Jiang Shao relaxed: “Then this subordinate will withdraw first. I heard the Young Heir Apparent is getting acupuncture today; I’ll go see him.”
Yan Bei had just taken a sip of water when Gao An brought someone in: “Prince, Miss Lan has arrived.”
Lan Qin curtsied to Yan Bei but was stopped halfway: “Why are you here? And she—?”
Yan Bei sat back down, maintaining a dignified demeanor.
Lan Qin said: “This servant is here on orders from our Princess to visit the Young Heir Apparent.”
Yan Bei grunted.
As expected, she only remembered the child.
Men? Purely used and discarded.
He rallied his spirits: “Then why didn’t she come herself?”
Lan Qin smiled faintly: “The Princess said, if the Prince is convenient, she will visit the mansion tomorrow.”
Still “visit”—a child had already been born, yet so distant.
Ah no!
She was coming tomorrow?
Finally thought to come?
“Alright,” he suddenly straightened up, grunted, “What time?”
“She will try to come as early as possible.”
Yan Bei grunted again, then looked at Gao An: “Have someone fetch two tokens. They can use them to pass through the Prince’s Mansion in the future.”
He then took another jade token from beside him and gave it to Lan Qin: “Give this to your master. With it, she can find me directly.”
Lan Qin received the token with both hands and glanced at him again.
Back in the village, when the Princess called A Qi to feed the child water, wipe his bottom, and change diapers, A Qi would put on the same stern face but do it silently.
Now on this Prince Jingyang, traces of the old A Qi could still be seen.
Lan Qin withdrew to see A Li.
Gao An arranged for the little eunuch to handle things and then returned.
Yan Bei had already stood up from the chair he had sat in for two days, like a tree freshly watered, full of vigor.
“She is coming tomorrow, and A Li has suffered these days from Hua Lin’s treatments.
“Though she ruthlessly gave me the divorce letter, and I could never shamelessly bring up the past.
“But she is after all A Li’s mother, so it’s not too much to have her stay for a meal with the child, right?”
Gao An clasped his hands: “Absolutely not too much.”
Yan Bei nodded: “The child is so young and lost his mother—truly pitiable. Now that she has finally come, it’s only right for her to play with him a bit, right?”
“Completely reasonable!”
Yan Bei hummed: “Then go instruct the kitchen to prepare well, can’t lose decorum.
“Also have people prepare the pleasure boat in the back lake, the waterside pavilion, the swings—all properly. Check the garden too.
“She grew up in the luxury of the Capital City from childhood, unlike us from Mobei, living coarsely.
“Even back in the village, I noticed her pillow had to be patted loose every night by someone before she could sleep—really too hard to serve!
“In short, be careful, lest she think Prince Jingyang’s Mansion has no one who handles things meticulously. Don’t lose the mansion’s face!”
Gao An smiled: “Rest assured, Prince.”
Yan Bei straightened his back ramrod straight and took a sip of tea, but halfway through swallowing, he turned around again: “Right, she is after all a Princess. When she comes to visit, the mansion should have proper reception etiquette.
“She definitely won’t agree to us following protocol now, but we can’t neglect her either.”
He glanced around and pointed to a few places: “Have the works department tidy up inside the rooms. Change the gauze curtains to a brighter color. Hang a few paintings.
“When the time comes, as host, I should at least invite her to sit for tea and chat to make it proper.
“Keep the welcome at the gate low-key, but be meticulous in all other matters.”
Gao An smiled: “Yes.”
Yan Bei thought a bit more, then waved his sleeve: “Go. Tell me if you think of anything.”
……
A Li usually lived with Yan Bei in Yangrong Zhai, but after Hua Lin arrived, he moved back to his own courtyard nearby.
When Lan Qin was led in, Hua Lin had finished the acupuncture, and the little one was asleep. There were still teardrops at the corners of his eyes—he must have really felt some pain.
Lan Qin gently wiped his tears, suppressed her churning emotions, carefully asked Hua Lin about his condition and noted it all down. Thinking Yue Tang was short on help, she didn’t linger, sat by the bed for a bit, then returned.
By now it was night, and Yue Tang was writing under the lamp.
Hearing Lan Qin describe how A Li endured the pain for acupuncture, Yue Tang wiped at the corners of her eyes again and again.
When she heard the amusing stories about A Li retold from Hua Lin’s mouth and how the mansion’s people doted on him, she smiled through tears and sighed.
Back then, the child had suffered a lifetime’s worth of hardship in swaddling clothes with his mother. Fortunately, these three years by his father’s side, he hadn’t been wronged again.
This showed that the heart-wrenching decision that day to leave A Li in the Prince’s Mansion wasn’t wrong.
Her heart tossed and turned like this, making her increasingly eager to fly to her child’s side.
Lan Qin saw her frequently gazing outside the window and knew she was worried, so she said: “The Young Heir Apparent is still small, not yet four years old. For Mother to suddenly appear, it’s already good that he believed it on the spot.
“To truly accept from the heart that he has a mother will take time.
“Take it slow. Let the child be happy first.”
Yue Tang smiled faintly, took the handkerchief Lan Qin offered, and wiped her tears.
Lan Qin handed over the jade token from Yan Bei: “This servant saw that the token is carved with the mansion’s emblem—likely one he uses himself or gives to close associates. To give this token shows frankness.”
Yue Tang looked at it several times and nodded: “He is devoted to A Li.
“But we are two separate families now. Go prepare a gift. We can’t visit empty-handed.”
Lan Qin assented.
At this moment, a sound came from the courtyard gate. Looking up, she composed herself: “Wei Zhang accompanied Xu He back from the Du Family.”
Thinking about it, combining two chapters for an update is more efficient than separate ones, so starting today, updates will be 4000+ word big chapters^ω^
