The room fell silent for a moment.
Zhu Changle opened her mouth, wanting to say something to ease the atmosphere, but a single glance from Zhu Changwang made her close it promptly. She turned away and lay down on Lan Ping's lap, lost in thought.
She found herself missing the days back home. Back then, her second brother wasn't married yet, and Third Sister hadn't been wed off. She could roam freely from one brother's courtyard to another, wearing light clothes and carrying her pillow to Third Sister's bed to cuddle and whisper secrets. She could be carefree without worrying about this or that. Even when there was some gossip due to Big Brother's insistence on remaining unmarried and Third Sister marrying before the second brother, it didn't affect their sibling relationships at all. She never imagined that adding one person to the family would take away so much.
Ah, now she missed not only her master but also Third Sister.
Lan Ping patted the sighing girl, lowering her gaze as she pondered how to convince her to leave home quickly and go to her master's place, where she was always happy.
Footsteps sounded, and Zhu Changle sat up to look at her father and second brother entering.
Zhu Maonian's mind was filled with the scene he had just witnessed, barely noticing the child's cry. Zhu Changning, being the child's father, frowned upon seeing his wife's tear-stained face and asked, "What's wrong?"
Madam Xu's tears fell even faster, her expression one of hesitation, as if she wanted to speak but couldn't, yet somehow saying volumes without uttering a word.
Lady Zhang gently patted the swaddled infant. "The child might have caught a chill and has a slight fever. We'll leave as soon as the rain lets up and immediately call for a doctor when we reach the county."
"Alright," Zhu Changning nodded, then turned to his younger sister as something occurred to him. "Do you have any medicine we could use?"
Not only was Zhu Changle taken aback, but the rest of the Zhu family was also surprised by his attitude. Madam Xu grew even more anxious, clutching his hand, "Husband..."
"Changle's medicine is effective."
"I do have some medicine, but none that I'd dare use on Anan," Zhu Changle replied, feeling a bit happy yet sensing it was inappropriate to be so at this moment. She explained in more detail, "Anan is too young. The Old Monk said that adult medicine shouldn't be used on children. What I gave before wasn't really medicine, but a kind of incense. When I was having trouble sleeping, the Old Monk specially prepared it for me. It's beneficial for the body."
Unable to sleep to the point of needing external aids - Zhu Changwang looked at his younger sister. There were so many things he wanted to know, yet they weren't things he necessarily needed to know.
"Don't wait for the rain to stop completely. We'll leave when it lightens up a bit," the Old Madam instructed. "Go and prepare the carriage, replace anything that's wet. We're not far now, no need to be too meticulous."
Granny Liang and Lady Li hurriedly took umbrellas and went to make preparations.
Zhu Changwang thought for a moment. "Father, could I have one of your name cards?"
Zhu Maonian didn't question it, gesturing for Lady Zhang to give one to his eldest son.
Lady Zhang always kept a small box containing important items within her sight, no matter where she was. She unlocked it and took out a prepared name card to hand over.
"Ride ahead at full speed and inquire about which doctor is skilled in treating infants. Invite them to wait for us," Zhu Changwang instructed, motioning for Xu Zheng to come forward and take it. He then turned to his younger sister, "Can you tell what Anan's symptoms are?"
Zhu Changle scratched her cheek. She was anxious too, but she had only ever rummaged through the Old Monk's medicines and various good herbs. If you asked her about medicinal herbs, she could recognize some, but beyond that, she hadn't really learned much.
But she had to take a look.
Zhu Changle stepped forward, and Madam Xu instinctively held the child tighter, wanting to avoid her. Zhu Changning held her back, giving her a warning look.
Though their actions were subtle, they didn't escape the notice of anyone present. The Zhu family members didn't even spare Madam Xu an extra glance, and the Old Madam even had a slight upturn of her lips. As long as Changning had his priorities straight, this was just a matter for their small family. It seemed that beating he took wasn't undeserved.
Qiuli, who had been acting as if he wasn't there, suddenly stood up. He approached to look at the child, then held its wrist for a moment. "Fever. Six beats per breath. Weak. Cold."
His voice was still hoarse, and his words extremely concise. Zhu Changle didn't even have time to wonder how he knew about medicine, and interpreted, "Fever, pulse rate of six beats per breath, weakness, and cold symptoms, right?"
Qiuli nodded slightly, then walked back to sit down.
Zhu Changwang asked Xu Zheng, "Did you get all that? Tell the doctor honestly so they can prepare early. Have them ready any necessary medicines in advance."
"Yes, sir." Seeing that his master had no other instructions, Xu Zheng quickly left.
The room fell silent again, with the child's faint cries becoming more distinct.
"Is Sir Qiu also skilled in medicine?" Zhu Changwang broke the silence.
Qiuli shook his head, not intending to explain further.
Madam Xu grew anxious. "If you're not skilled in medicine, then why did you just..."
"Mind your manners," Zhu Changning interrupted her sternly. He turned to Qiuli and cupped his hands. "The child's illness has made her lose her composure. Please forgive her rudeness, Sir Qiu."
Qiuli's lips curved slightly upward. He tapped his fan on Changle's shoulder, and when she looked at him, he pointed at her sleeve.
"Medicine? Something Anan can take?" Zhu Changle felt a spark of inspiration as she touched her sleeve pocket. She immediately emptied all the medicine bottles she had on her onto the ground. "Can you see which one can be used?"
Qiuli used his fan to flip through them, finally picking one up. He removed the stopper and poured out a pill. Under the gaze of everyone in the room... he put it in his mouth.
"Pfft!" Dingding burst out laughing.
Everyone had thought he was finding medicine for Anan, but it ended up in his own stomach. This unexpected turn of events made the Zhu family want to laugh too, instantly lightening the tense atmosphere.
Zhu Changle pried open his hand to look at the label on the bottle, recognizing her own messy handwriting.
"Throat?" This wasn't a medicine name, of course. Zhu Changle couldn't remember the specific name, but she had written it in a way that was immediately clear to avoid mixing up the medicines. "Is your throat uncomfortable?"
Qiuli nodded, withdrawing his hand and putting the medicine back in his own sleeve pocket, a gesture very much in Zhu Changle's style.
Zhu Changle rummaged through the pile and pulled out another bottle. "See if this one is useful?"
Qiuli removed the stopper and sniffed it, then shook his head.
"You really do know medicine?" Zhu Changle suddenly paused in her tidying of the medicine bottles and pulled Qiuli towards her Big Brother. "Can you take a look at my Big Brother?"
Qiuli rescued his sleeve from her grasp and shook his head at Zhu Changle.
"Speak, don't just shake your head. Shaking your head isn't a good thing right now."
Zhu Changwang patted his anxious younger sister.
"Not skilled in medicine," Qiuli pointed at his throat. "Know a little."
"But you can even take pulses!"
Qiuli pointed at his throat again. "Many years."
The disappointment on Zhu Changle's face was evident. She was worried about Anan, but that worry was incomparable to her concern for her Big Brother. Having been transferring energy to him every day recently, no one knew better than her how weak he currently was.
"I believe Sir Qiu means that long-term illness has made him something of a doctor, so he understands some medical matters," Zhu Changwang said, patting Changle reassuringly. Seeing Qiuli nod in confirmation, he smiled slightly. "Though I've been ill for a long time, I only have a good understanding of my own body. I'm far behind Sir Qiu in this regard."
Qiuli shook his head again, and seeing Zhu Changle staring at him, he very consciously spoke up, "Can't take pulses. Simple judgment."
Zhu Changle let out an "Oh," and went back to picking up her medicine bottles with her head hanging low.
