Before half a moment had passed, a figure walked in from the main gate, cupping his hands in salute: “Young Master, the Prime Minister’s residence heard that Young Master has returned home and requests Young Master to come discuss a matter.” Tang Lici put down his teacup: “I know what matter the Prime Minister wants to discuss. Go tell him that if the Prime Minister’s residence doesn’t guarantee the safety of everyone in the National Uncle’s residence, I won’t talk with him.” The red-clothed servant looked embarrassed: “The one who came is Guard Captain Ma from the Prime Minister’s residence.” Tang Lici leaned back, lazily resting against the chair back, his fingertips lightly tapping the white porcelain: “Whether it’s Guard Captain Ma or Guard Captain Niu, it doesn’t matter… You tell him that by the eighteenth day of the twelfth month this year, if everyone in my entire residence including Consort Yun are all safe and sound, I’ll discuss with him that matter he very much wants to know about. If Prime Minister Zhao is unwilling, then forget it. Anyway that person doesn’t have much to do with me – whether he lives or dies, I don’t care.” The red-clothed servant submissively withdrew, clearly quite astonished in his heart.
Tang Lici watched the red-clothed servant’s retreating figure, slowly stood up, and walked toward Tang Weiqian’s room.
Looking from outside the window, he could clearly see Tang Weiqian’s back as he fiddled with something at the table. Tang Lici stood by the bed without concealing his form, looking up to see Tang Weiqian holding a bottle of pills in his hands, tremblingly about to put them in his mouth. He sighed slightly, pushed the door open, helped Tang Weiqian steady himself, and poured a cup of clear water to help him take the medicine.
“You… what are you doing here?” Tang Weiqian swallowed the pills and gasped a few breaths. “I told you to come see me after you’re dead! Anyway, in your eyes I never existed as your adoptive father! What are you doing here? Get out, get out!” Tang Lici didn’t explain. After waiting for Tang Weiqian’s angry scolding to finish, he asked softly: “I heard Consort Yun is ill?” Tang Weiqian was startled: “Where did you hear that?” Tang Lici paused slightly and sighed softly: “So it’s true then?” Tang Weiqian fell silent. After quite a while, he covered his chest and said harshly: “She’s quite ill. I went to see her once – she said nothing, only asked when you would return.” Tang Lici said nothing more, suddenly pressed his two fingers together and touched two pressure points on Tang Weiqian’s chest. Tang Weiqian was suddenly immobilized, tongue-tied, looking at this adoptive son he had pulled from a well in shock: “You—”
Tang Lici paid no attention to Tang Weiqian’s shock, gently loosening his clothing. He saw a tumor the size of an egg growing right in the center of his chest, with a terrifying appearance. Though he didn’t know medical arts, he placed his palm on Tang Weiqian’s chest and transmitted a stream of true qi, following the blood vessels’ flow. He felt that qi and blood flowed within this tumor – it wasn’t simply a flesh tumor, but seemed connected to the larger blood vessels in the body. With a light “tap” sound, he used pressure point cutting techniques to seal the blood vessels in Tang Weiqian’s chest that connected to the tumor, adding force to the true power under his palm, forcing an extremely scorching stream of true qi into the tumor. Tang Weiqian cried out loudly, instantly feeling like a raging fire burned in his chest: “You fox demon! What sorcery have you cast on me…” The skin and flesh were instantly scorched, the tumor shriveled and blackened, as if burned to death by flames, yet not a drop of blood flowed out. Tang Weiqian was tongue-tied. The scorching true qi still flowed in his body as Tang Lici closed his eyes in concentration, using inner power condensed from true essence to drive Tang Weiqian’s qi and blood circulation. After a moment, he felt his whole body warm, as if full of energy, comfortable everywhere in his limbs and bones. The severe chest pain from just now seemed like something from the distant past: “What sorcery have you cast on me?” Tang Lici raised his left hand to press against his lips: “Shh— close your eyes and sleep well.”
Without waiting for him to speak, Tang Weiqian also felt his consciousness becoming drowsy. He struggled to open his eyes but before long fell into deep sleep. The true power under Tang Lici’s palm continued to transfer endlessly. He didn’t clearly understand what exactly the tumor growing on Tang Weiqian’s chest was, but using blazing yang true power to burn it was much more direct than applying or taking medicines. However, this tumor was connected to blood vessels. The pressure point cutting technique couldn’t permanently seal off bleeding. To stop the wound from spurting blood outward, he could only transfer true qi to seal the wound while Tang Weiqian’s qi and blood circulated, until the blood vessels naturally coagulated and the wound scabbed over. Throughout this entire process he couldn’t stop transferring true qi, otherwise fresh blood would spurt from the wound and the person would die immediately.
The afternoon time gradually passed. Tang Weiqian slept deeply through the entire night. When he opened his eyes, the sun was already high, warmly shining on the corner of his bedding. Tang Lici still sat before him, only now he had been placed on the bed. His chest still hurt a bit, but the wound had been medicated and bandaged. The doctor who had come to examine him the previous day, saying his time was up, was also beside him, looking at him with a face full of joy. Tang Weiqian’s old face darkened: “What are you doing here?” The doctor bowed repeatedly: “Master, the root of trouble in your chest has been completely removed. Your life is no longer in danger. Thanks to the National Uncle’s divine medical skills and miraculous healing hands – this is far beyond my capabilities.” Tang Weiqian angrily tried to lift his body. Tang Lici held him down, saying gently: “Doctor Li, my adoptive father is now fine. Doctor Li may withdraw first.” The doctor felt as if granted amnesty and immediately hurried out.
“You get out too, I want to rest!” Tang Weiqian turned his head away, his back to Tang Lici.
“Yes.” Tang Lici always maintained a meek and obedient expression before Tang Weiqian, never contradicting him. He rose and headed for the door, pausing slightly at the doorway: “Adoptive father’s chest wound hasn’t healed yet – please don’t move rashly.”
Tang Weiqian acted as if he hadn’t heard.
“Also, today I will see Consort Yun once.” Tang Lici said softly, brushing back his right hand and walking out with sleeves behind his back.
Tang Weiqian turned his head, his old brow deeply furrowed, seeming to want to say something but ultimately saying nothing.
A’Shui walked down the street holding Fengfeng. The National Uncle’s residence was still far from here. After walking over a hundred steps, she sighed softly, bowed toward the direction of the National Uncle’s residence, and returned to Xingyang Bookshop.
An hour later.
A horse cart slowly came from East Street, with gorgeous carved flowers and decorations, hanging curtains like azure water. As the cart swayed, the curtains rippled like water with infinite beauty. The cart slowly stopped in front of Xingyang Bookshop. A person lifted the curtain and stepped down – white clothes like snow, brand new cloud shoes, mutton-fat white jade hanging lightly at the waist, his countenance even more exquisitely beautiful set off by his clothing. The person approached step by step, robes fluttering – it was Tang Lici.
A’Shui stood at the door holding Fengfeng. Seeing Tang Lici approaching slowly, she bowed in salute. She should have said something but remained silent. Tang Lici’s face held a slight smile. He seemed the same as before, no different: “It’s been a long time. Has Miss A’Shui been well?”
“Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I’ve been doing very well.” She smiled in reply. Tang Lici stepped forward and gently stroked Fengfeng’s head. She reached out to hand Fengfeng to him, and he smoothly took him in his arms. Fengfeng beamed with joy, tugging at Tang Lici’s silver hair, suddenly opening his mouth and crying “ah ah” twice, then threw both hands into Tang Lici’s embrace, biting his clothing hem and saying vaguely: “Nyu… nyu nyu…” Tang Lici was startled, A’Shui was also startled, then suddenly couldn’t help laughing: “He’s just learning to speak. I’ve been teaching him to call ‘mama’ but he can never learn it. Just now… just now he probably wanted to call out ‘mama’…” Tang Lici lifted Fengfeng up and handed him back to A’Shui’s arms: “I’m just passing through. It’s been a long time, so I came to see how the young lady is doing.” A’Shui took Fengfeng back: “Where is Young Master Tang going?”
“I’m entering the palace, taking a slight detour.” He smiled slightly and patted Fengfeng’s head: “Since the young lady seeks tranquility, I won’t disturb you further. Farewell.” He spoke plainly and formally, as if that night’s rupture at Haoyun Mountain had never happened. His words and gaze were still so gentle and caring, his bearing still elegant.
“Please go ahead, Young Master Tang.” She didn’t try to keep him, watching Tang Lici board his cart and leave. Bianjing and this place were in two different directions – she naturally understood he had made a special trip to see her. But what if he had specially come to see her? What he wanted, she was unwilling to give. What she sought was completely different from his.
Why had he suddenly returned from Haoyun Mountain? Was it specifically to enter the palace? If he had returned specifically for this, then it was to see someone particular in the palace… She gazed in the direction Tang Lici had departed, her thoughts drifting somewhat. Fengfeng in her arms made a few “yi wu” sounds. She lowered her head to see Fengfeng tugging at her clothes, quietly nestled in her embrace whimpering, secretly crying with tears covering his face. She was startled and quickly wiped away his tears, asking softly: “What’s wrong? Are you hungry?” Fengfeng pulled at her sleeve, his small finger pointing in the direction Tang Lici had departed, crying loudly: “Nyu nyu… nyu nyu… waaah waaah ahhh… nyu nyu…” Her heart felt pained as she held Fengfeng tightly. He missed Tang Lici, but Tang Lici… ultimately couldn’t forever be Fengfeng’s “nyu nyu”…
Tang Lici boarded his cart and departed, the fine horses galloping toward Bianjing. Actually, Xingyang Bookshop was far from both the National Uncle’s residence and Bianjing, but Tang Lici naturally didn’t care about such things. After the cart traveled for several hours, evening had fallen. He entered through Xihua Gate, went to Chuigong Hall to pay respects to Emperor Taizong, and requested to see Consort Yun.
When Emperor Taizong heard that Tang Lici requested to see Consort Yun, his heart held both shock and puzzlement. The rumors about Tang Lici being a “fox demon” were rampant, and he had heard them too. He was already wary of this brother-in-law by marriage, usually avoiding meetings when possible. Now that he suddenly requested to see Consort Yun, what were his intentions? After pondering for a long while, Emperor Taizong slowly replied: “Consort Yun has fallen ill recently and it’s inconvenient for her to receive guests. Uncle, please return. In a few days when Consort Yun is better, she will naturally invite you.” Tang Lici smiled slightly: “Your subject heard that Consort Yun has fallen ill with a severe condition, so I came specifically to see what’s wrong. Your subject has always possessed mystical arts – perhaps illnesses the imperial physicians cannot treat, your subject can cure.” Emperor Taizong’s heart was already wary, and hearing this he was even more shocked, thinking to himself: this… this thing cannot be offended face to face. If he truly is a fox spirit demon, I’ll quietly invite experts to eliminate him later. Right now I absolutely cannot anger him. Better to agree first – if he truly saves Consort Yun, that would also be a good thing. “Since Uncle has other methods of treating illness, I should seek them for Consort Yun. Wang Jien, report to Ciyuan Hall that Uncle requests an audience.” The grand eunuch Wang Jien received the command and departed. Tang Lici’s gaze fixed on Emperor Taizong, still with an elegant slight smile: “Your Majesty has recently been capturing bandits for the people, rewarding families of fallen soldiers, opening granaries for disaster relief, and reducing sentences by one degree for prisoners in both capitals – this has greatly won the people’s hearts. Your subject heard this all along the way and deeply rejoices for our emperor.” Emperor Taizong had indeed been quite proud of these recent affairs and couldn’t help showing a slight smile: “Do the people truly speak this way?” Tang Lici took something from his sleeve and slowly placed it on the table. Emperor Taizong looked at the object: “What is this?” Tang Lici said: “This is a radish harvested from the fields this autumn.” Emperor Taizong’s face showed joy: “This could be…” Tang Lici smiled lightly: “Your Majesty’s guess is correct. This is indeed a radish newly grown from those hundreds of li of farmland that were flooded by river water stirred up by the falling stones at the place where the flying stone fell in the seventh month.” In the seventh month, a flying stone had fallen at Fuzhou’s Fujin, causing the Longdi Gorge river to flow backward and destroying hundreds of li of farmland. Tang Lici had brought back a handful of newly grown radishes. Emperor Taizong was greatly pleased. Regarding the flying stone incident in the seventh month, he had secretly considered it heaven’s punishment, but seeing these radishes growing so rapidly, perhaps the flying stone incident wasn’t heaven’s punishment but an auspicious omen. Just as the two were looking at each other and smiling, Wang Jien respectfully reported that Consort Yun was waiting behind curtains in Ciyuan Hall for Uncle. Tang Lici took leave of Emperor Taizong and departed, his steps proper and bearing dignified.