"Could you tell the origin of this dicine?" the old doctor asked eagerly as soon as he stepped outside.
"...The apothecary." ’Guo Yurong has caused us trouble ti and again, so borrowing his na for this should even the score a little.’
The old doctor imdiately looked at Ancient Wen Heng with envy. "Young Master, you have a connection to the apothecary? I wonder, do you have any other dicines on hand?"
Afraid Ancient Wen Heng might misunderstand, he quickly added, "I won’t ask for it for free. I’m willing to purchase it from you."
Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "It’s a rare item. I only ca across a small amount by chance, and I just gave it all to that boy."
The old doctor imdiately slapped his chest in frustration. "What a terrible waste! If that dicine was truly from the apothecary, even half the dose would have been more than enough to easily cure such a minor ailnt."
Ancient Wen Heng said, "...Is there anything else?"
"Alas, it seems we were not fated to cross paths," the old doctor lanted with a wave of his hand. "If the patient is stable, you can take him ho."
"I haven’t had a chance to ask, Doctor," Ancient Wen Heng said. "What exactly caused my nephew’s fever and fainting spell?"
The old doctor stroked his beard. "He’s caught a chill. If I’m not mistaken, it was caused by soaking in cold water for a prolonged period. During my examination, I noticed so of the skin on his hands and feet had peeled from being subrged."
Ancient Wen Heng glanced at the dazzling sun outside. "In this weather, a little cold water shouldn’t have caused this, should it?"
The old doctor shook his head. "While an occasional dip in cold water isn’t harmful—provided one has a strong constitution—it’s not an issue.
However, your nephew is not soone with a robust constitution. On the contrary, he’s rather frail. For him to soak in cold water on a winter night... isn’t that just asking for trouble?
Moreover, this condition didn’t just develop today. I’d estimate it began yesterday, but he let it drag on, which is why it beca so severe."
A suspicion flashed through Ancient Wen Heng’s mind, but his expression remained impassive. He sincerely thanked the old doctor. "In your opinion, Doctor, could you prescribe a few more doses of dicine to help him recuperate?"
"I’ll prescribe so restorative dicine. Have him take it after the fever has completely broken." Being in business, the old doctor naturally wasn’t going to turn down a custor. He dashed off a prescription right in front of Ancient Wen Heng.
After paying for the dicine, Ancient Wen Heng instructed Hong Tianbao to wait until the patient woke up before returning. He didn’t spare Song Xiuyang a single glance.
＆
"How is he now?" Jin Qianqian frowned. ’We’re supposed to leave the day after tomorrow. This is really causing problems.’
Ancient Wen Heng understood her concern. "It’s not a major issue. Thankfully, I got that fever reducer and anti-inflammatory from you earlier. He should be fine now, but he hasn’t woken up yet.
Have you finished packing up our things at ho?"
Jin Qianqian glanced at the few belongings left in the room, all of which they planned to leave behind. "Almost. Tomorrow I’ll prepare one more day’s worth of dry rations, then a quick tidy-up is all we’ll need."
Ancient Wen Heng noticed there were fewer servants in the courtyard today and couldn’t help but ask, "Where has everyone gone?"
Jin Qianqian smiled. "Since we’re leaving soon, I told them they could go out and buy anything they wanted to take with them today."
"That’s good," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Who knows when we’ll be back this way again.
What about you? Is there anything you’d like to buy? How about I take you out for a stroll?"
Jin Qianqian shook her head. Having lived here for several months, she had already restocked her personal "space." It was piled high with local specialties, along with plenty of seafood and other dried goods she had stored away.
"Looking at Lejia’s condition, do you think he’ll leave with us the day after tomorrow?" Jin Qianqian was actually willing to take them back. It would just make the journey more difficult, but at least they wouldn’t face complaints later on.
"He’s going, whether he wants to or not," Ancient Wen Heng said through gritted teeth. "I suspect he was trying to play the victim, but didn’t expect to actually get himself into this ss."
’Seeing that we were preparing to return ho, Gu Lejia must have been hesitating for a long ti; otherwise, he wouldn’t have delayed giving us an answer.’
’Causing such a scene now is just a gamble on my sympathy, as his own uncle. If I soften up, perhaps I’d entrust this estate to their care.’
’The distance is so great that we’d rarely be able to stay here in the future. It would be equivalent to making them the masters of this house.’
’Even if I didn’t let them live in the house, I’d still have to leave them so money to get settled, seeing him so ill. No matter how you look at it, they’d co out ahead.’
’He just didn’t expect to overdo it. Before he could even play the part of the pitiful victim, he’d already dug his own grave.’
"...?" Jin Qianqian looked at him curiously.
Ancient Wen Heng shared his suspicion. "He was probably trying to make us feel sorry for him, waiting for us to soften up."
Jin Qianqian said, "So Xiuxiang was in on it too."
Ancient Wen Heng took a deep breath. "Bringing these two back with us ans we probably won’t have any peace at ho."
Jin Qianqian patted his back. "Let’s just let things take their course. We have a clear conscience. If Sister-in-law wants to cause a scene, she won’t have reason on her side.
Leaving this ticking ti bomb here is worse than taking it with us. Your decision is the right one.
I’ll have Housekeeper Fu rent another carriage. You should send two more servants to stand guard, just to make sure there are no more ’accidents.’"
Ancient Wen Heng nodded. "That’s a good idea."
＆
Gu Lejia woke up much earlier than expected. Not long after Ancient Wen Heng had left, he opened his eyes.
"Young Master Le, you’re awake," Hong Tianbao said, being the first to notice. He imdiately walked over.
"Water," Gu Lejia rasped, his throat feeling like it was on fire. He managed to get the one word out before shutting his eyes again in exhaustion.
"Lejia!" Song Xiuyang cried, rushing over and grabbing Gu Lejia’s hand. "You scared to death! If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn’t want to live anymore."
Hong Tianbao stood there holding the water, unsure whether to step forward or back. He could only remind her, "Lady Song, Young Master Le asked for water. Will you give it to him, or shall I?"
Gu Lejia gave her a weak look, his mouth opening as if to say sothing comforting, but no words ca out. He turned his head and stared intently at the cup of water in Hong Tianbao’s hands.
Xiuxiang wiped away her tears and took the water from Hong Tianbao. "Could you please help sit him up? I can feed him."
Hong Tianbao didn’t argue. He went over and gently helped the man sit up. "Young Master Le, here’s so water. Drink up."
After watching him drink the water and fall back into a deep sleep, Hong Tianbao instructed the two servants who had co along to stand guard. He himself hurried back to deliver the news.
"Lejia, what do you think your Seventh Uncle is up to?" Xiuxiang whispered, eyeing the two servants standing a short distance away. "He’s having people watch us now. He isn’t planning sothing bad, is he?"
After drinking so more water, Gu Lejia felt a bit more clear-headed. "Seventh Uncle isn’t that kind of person. Don’t worry. He probably just left them here to help take care of us."
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