Chapter 68 - 68: Too Ashamed to Show One’s Face 1

Translator: 549690339

Jiang Dalang was somewhat surprised when Lady Wen came to buy a piglet. He eventually sold it to her for two hundred coins less, taking a total of six hundred coins.

Xiu Zhenniang carried the piglet and son home with her in silence the entire way.

Once inside the house, she handed the piglet to her son, saying, “Let mother teach you what it is to be a parent, what it is to be a son.”

And thus, after listening to his mother’s discourse on medicine for two hours, Wen Hengyin finally comprehended that he was not, in fact, Ahua’s child’s father.

Looking at the piglet ensconced in his embrace, he began to feel a sense of embarrassment.

However, as it was a piglet he had watched grow, he decided he would still adopt it.

It was a black and white piglet with a cute white spiral on its forehead.

“You shall be called Spiral from now on.”

Wen Hengyin patted the small pig’s head and let out a quiet sigh.

The nanny came over and smiled, “Young master, let the nanny find a place for the piglet. You just check on it when you have time.”

Wen Hengyin nodded and handed the piglet to the nanny, “Nanny, find it a warm space, spread out some straw, don’t let it get cold.”

The days and nights were cooling down now, and without its mother pig, the piglet would certainly get cold at night.

“Rest assured, I’ll create a straw nest for it placed behind the stove. During the day we’ll move it outside. How does that sound?”

“Good!” Wen Hengyin took one final look at the piglet, and then turned to go back into the house.

He must study hard, never to be foolish again.

This matter must not be known to anyone, especially that little girl Yingbao, or he would never have the face to see people again in his lifetime.

Xiu Zhenniang was so amused by her son’s antics she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Finally, she returned to writing her letter in good spirits.

Wen Shu asked, “Mother, when will father return?”

Her father Wen Yanmin was sent out to deliver some goods to Yuzhou, which concerned her.

Xiu Zhenniang gave it some thought before saying, “He’s likely to be back in two months.”

Yuzhou was far away. Even if he traveled by carriage, the daily distance covered would be around a hundred miles, and the journey of a thousand miles would take ten days or so.

If the weather was extreme, it would take even longer.

It would take at least two months for him to go there and back.

If only she knew if that golden ear mushroom medicine was any help for those suffering from lung illnesses.

In the Imperial Palace at the Capital City,

The Empress summoned Imperial Physician Wen Yanpei of the Imperial Medical Bureau to her residence in Zhaohedian.

She was adorned with a phoenix crown embedded with eight precious jewels and dressed in bright red clothes with golden dragon and phoenix patterns, complete with an eight-meter-long Ruyi skirt. This majestic attire exhibited a wealth of prosperity and pride. Her demeanor was commanding, even when she didn’t express anger.

“Doctor Wen, tell me honestly, how is the condition of my son’s illness? I won’t blame you.”

Wen Yanpei’s body shivered like a sieve as he tremuously responded, “The prescription that I, your humble subject, made for His Highness is just missing one medicinal ingredient. As long as that ingredient is delivered, His Highness will surely recover after some more time.”

The Empress became a little more reassured and said in a gentler tone, “From where are you procuring these ingredients that it has taken so long? If need be, I can get the Ministry of War to dispatch a courier to make a quick delivery.”

Wen Yanpei thought to himself that this was all his father’s doing, and he genuinely did not know where his old man had found the ingredients.

But he couldn’t say that his father was helping him find these ingredients. Otherwise, he would seem like a useless person to the Empress.

“Your Grace, the ingredient was discovered by a local hermit who frequently travels. Therefore, we can only confirm when the ingredient will arrive once the hermit has been located.”

The empress’s face darkened slightly, her voice carrying a hint of anger, “You’ll have to hurry then. Make sure your family contacts that hermit as quickly as possible to have the ingredient sent back.”

“Yes, I will dispatch more people to hurry the process as soon as I get back.

Please rest assured, Your Grace, as soon as the ingredient is delivered, His

Highness will undoubtedly recover.”

“That’s good.” The Empress picked up the tea cup on the table to her side and said lightly, “In that case, you may leave, Doctor Wen. I await your good news.”

“Yes, I shall take my leave.” Wen Yanpei bowed, took a few steps back, then turned to leave.

Once out of the Imperial City, Wen Yanpei wiped the sweat off his forehead and hastily boarded his own carriage.

Back at his mansion, he called for the chief steward.

“Has there been any news from my father?” Wen Yanpei asked.

Previously, his father Wen Jingyan had sent him two ounces of dried golden mushrooms, instructing him to simmer them with ginseng and donkey-hide gelatine to be given to the ten-year-old Prince.

After the Prince had taken it, his complexion improved. He slept deeply at night, his coughing and wheezing symptoms greatly alleviated, and he even ate half a bowl of porridge the next day.

But the dried golden mushrooms ran out in just a few days.

Wen Yanpei was anxious, repeatedly urging his father to send more.

However, his father replied that obtaining such a thing was not easy, the next batch was uncertain, and asked him to be patient.

He had been waiting for over a month now. The Prince’s condition had relapsed, and both the Emperor and Empress were furious. Wen Yanpei was on pins and needles, fearing that he might be beheaded any day now.

The chief steward bowed and reported: “Master, word has been sent over that the medicinal herbs will reach Yuzhou Prefecture in a few days. Please wait a few more days when the Eldest Master will deliver them back to the capital.” Wen Yanpei was overjoyed: “Really? My father said so?”

Chief steward: “Yes, the old Master asked you to remain calm and wait for the

Eldest Master to discuss things in detail with you upon his return.”

“Alright, you can leave.” Wen Yanpei waved him away. He paced back and forth in his study, both glad and anxious, wishing he could get the medicine now.

At that moment, his wife Lady Guo brought their daughter Yurong into the study. In her hands, the young girl held a box of freshly made pastries.

“My lord, please try this Poria cocos date paste cake that Yurong has just made,” she offered.

Wen Yanpei glanced at the tray of food in his daughter’s hand. He had no appetite and waved her off, “Put it down. I’ll try it later.”

His younger daughter Yurong was ten years old this year. She was beautiful from a young age, and her beauty was even more apparent now that she was older.

The reason Wen Yanpei volunteered to treat the Prince was partly due to personal gain.

He once thought that if he could cure the Prince, his daughter might catch the eye of the Empress, and one day she might be selected as the Prince’s principal wife. By then, he would be related to the imperial family. The future emperor would owe him a favour, and the Wen family would flourish under his generation.

But curing the young Prince’s ailment turned out to be a tremendous challenge. He exhausted all his skills but could not rid the child of his illness entirely. His only choice was to ask for assistance from his father, Wen Jingyan who had retired to their native Yuzhou.

He thought that with the deep foundation of medical knowledge of the Wen family, if he wasn’t capable, his father wouldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Once his father intervened, curing a minor lung disease would be effortless. But the Prince’s condition kept relapsing, and his body grew weaker, to the point where he couldn’t even get out of bed.

The Emperor and Empress were furious. Even the father of the Empress, the

Duke of Qi, pointed at his nose in anger, threatening that if he couldn’t cure the Prince, he would be charged with deceiving the Emperor and his entire family would be punished.

Only then did Wen Yanpei truly panic and sent another urgent letter to his father. His father was also at a loss, scouring all corners for folk remedies.

Eventually, he heard of a remote mountain village where a resident seemed to have a cure for lung diseases.

According to his father, an old disciple of his who he hadn’t seen for decades had set up a pharmacy in the rural town. An advanced case of lung disease had come to him, and the patient had actually been cured within a month…

“Father, these cakes are best when eaten hot,” his daughter said, opening the box and smiling,” I noticed that you seemed quite stressed recently with dark circles under your eyes, so I decided to learn how to make some.”

Wen Yanpei sighed softly, and took a piece of cake.

“Master! Disaster has struck! ”

A servant rushed into the study, scrambling and panting, “The Imperial Guards… They’ve broken in…!”

Wen Yanpei was startled, and the cake in his hand fell to the ground..