Chapter 98 Recuperation

First, he was shot with an arrow, then he developed a low-grade fever and remained in a daze for two days. The taste of the Chinese medicine was so bitter that it seemed to seep into Zhuang Dongqing's very core. After enduring this for four or five days, his illness finally subsided slowly, and Zhuang Dongqing gradually regained his energy and began to recover.

"Ugh~~~"

Cen An'an's face scrunched up, almost bulging out, while Zhuang Dongqing laughed so hard he fell backward.

He gave a sip of his tonic to the curious little boy.

Thus, this scene unfolded.

Zhuang Dongqing was overjoyed.

For a moment, Cen An'an wanted to swallow, but Liu Fu reacted quickly, placing an empty teacup in front of the little one and saying, "An'an, spit it out."

Zhuang Dongqing: "Spit it out."

Even though it won't do any harm, we still shouldn't lie to children like that.

Cen An'an, who had been trying to swallow the pills, finally felt relieved and spat them out with tears in her eyes.

After vomiting, she rinsed her mouth several times, her little face still scrunched up and couldn't relax.

Zhuang Dongqing pinched her son's cheek with her right hand and asked him cheekily, "Doesn't it taste good?"

"It's so hard, Dad."

Her lips trembled, she looked extremely aggrieved, and she hugged Zhuang Dongqing tightly.

Zhuang Dongqing, being rather unkind, would laugh and comfort his son, laughing back and forth between each word of comfort. He couldn't help it.

This was the scene that greeted Cen Yan as he stepped into the main courtyard.

Zhuang Dongqing's face lit up with joy. The little boy's face was all scrunched up, his little eyes were wet, and he hugged Zhuang Dongqing tightly, his head drooping on his shoulder.

Cen Yan: "Cen An, get down. You promised you wouldn't climb on Daddy!"

The voice was serious, and the little brat jumped in surprise and immediately released Zhuang Dongqing.

Zhuang Dongqing: "It's okay. He's clinging to my right shoulder. An'an knows not to touch my left shoulder. He's a good boy."

Cen Yan looked at it carefully, and his expression softened slightly.

Zhuang Dongqing gave the little boy a wink, and the little boy followed up with a promise, saying earnestly in his childish voice, "Daddy, I know. Tell me, it's okay, then I'll hug you."

I was in a bit of a rush, and my sentences are all jumbled up.

The entire weight of the recliner rests on the chair, so Zhuang Dongqing doesn't need to exert any effort. Plus, he's short, so it's actually quite comfortable.

Cen Yan reached out and picked up Cen An himself. As soon as he picked him up, the little brat grabbed his neck and pitifully leaned his head on his shoulder.

Holding the little cub's soft body, Cen Yanxin's heart softened as well.

She softened her voice: "We can hug each other after Daddy is better, okay?"

Okay.

Feeling wronged and unhappy.

After thinking for a moment, Cen Yan asked what had happened before, and received a very cheerful description from Zhuang Dongqing.

Cen Yan: "..."

Cen Yan glanced at Cen An'an.

The little brat complained, "It's so bitter, Daddy."

Cen Yan didn't indulge him either, "Didn't you insist on trying it?"

Zhuang Dongqing drank his medicine while Cen An'an accompanied him. Every day, she was curious and asked what it tasted like. Today, Zhuang Dongqing couldn't resist. After thinking about the prescription and knowing that nothing bad would happen if he drank it, he personally fed Cen An'an a mouthful.

The little brat wiggled his butt and buried his face in Cen Yan's body, like an ostrich.

Cen Yan patted the child's head and said privately, "Let the kitchen make you a skewer of candied hawthorns today?"

Cen An'an looked up, her eyes lighting up.

The child was very honest; wanting to eat, he still reported, "But An'an ate two just the day before yesterday."

Zhuang Dongqing was very strict about his intake of sweets, and Cen An'an was aware of this and would report it proactively.

Saying it doesn't guarantee it won't happen, but not saying it guarantees it won't happen.

The habit has already been formed.

Cen Yan: "Then ask your father if he can eat more today?"

Cen An'an looked at Zhuang Dongqing expectantly. Zhuang Dongqing pretended to hesitate and teased the little one for a moment before agreeing, "How about eating one more? Brush your teeth properly after you finish eating."

"good!"

The response was loud and clear.

After saying that, she became anxious and struggled to get down from Cen Yan's arms. She took her grandmother's hand and wanted to go to the kitchen to order food immediately, afraid that if she was late, her grandfather Zhu would start making lunch and she wouldn't get a turn.

The little rascal skipped away from the main courtyard, very happy.

After Cen An'an walked away, Zhuang Dongqing thought about the scene just now and laughed again.

He laughed and shamelessly repeated the story to Cen Yan.

He laughed heartily, and Cen Yan listened quietly, his eyebrows relaxing and a faint smile appearing on his face.

The little brat had been there for quite a while, and Zhuang Dongqing had been playing with him and talking for a while, so he couldn't help but yawn.

Cen Yan saw this and knew it was because of lack of energy and that her body was still recovering.

"Is today's medicine still bitter?"

He pressed the person down on the recliner, covered their belly with a thin blanket, and asked Zhuang Dongqing.

Zhuang Dongqing muttered, "There's no medicine that isn't bitter."

Thinking of something, she took the initiative to say, "Don't ask Master Zhao to adjust the prescription for me anymore. Let's leave it as it is. Some of the ingredients are particularly bitter, and Master Zhao has too many things to do all day long."

Cen Yan didn't answer whether it was good or bad, but only said, "If it tastes good, then it tastes good. Everything else is a small matter."

Master Zhao was first a doctor in the Prince's mansion, and then he was a doctor for other people.

For example, the governor who was on his deathbed.

Just as the governor's current situation flashed through his mind, he heard Zhuang Dongqing's voice ask, "Haven't you found out yet?"

"What?"

Zhuang Dongqing: "Is it really that hard to get confessions from the governor and the prefect?"

Cen Yan lowered his eyes and pondered, his expression revealing nothing.

Liu Qi, standing behind him, nervously broke out in a cold sweat.

He didn't know if it was difficult to get a confession, because Cen Yan hadn't asked at all in the past few days.

After being rescued that day, the governor developed a high fever overnight. He was given ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms, but fortunately the arrowhead was not poisoned, which barely saved his life. After that, he was subjected to another round of torture. Just like the first time, his mouth was gagged, and there was only torture without a single question.

The second one seemed milder.

The acupuncture was administered by Master Zhao.

The prefect, who had recovered slightly, was invited to observe. After watching the whole thing, the prefect was sweating profusely and voluntarily told Hao Sanlu everything he knew in detail. During the testimony, Cen Yan just listened without saying much.

However, since the prefect had spoken and the bandit leader had spoken, it was indeed not very important whether the governor would speak or not.

By piecing together the two testimonies, one can almost see the entire sequence of events: when the officials and merchants of Hangzhou pledged allegiance to the Eighth Prince, when they began recruiting soldiers, and how many wealthy families in Hangzhou were involved—all of this is crystal clear.

Cen Yan replied, "Keeping a private army is no small matter; it's a crime that can implicate nine generations of one's family. We must always verify the details carefully."

"oh."

That's true, but it's irrelevant to what Zhuang Dongqing asked.

Zhuang Dongqing interpreted this as a sign of difficult interrogation, and simply said, "Then ask me slowly, you can't escape anyway."

Cen Yan nodded: "Yes, the list of participating merchants has been compiled. Later today, an official from Suzhou will come to temporarily assume the position of prefect, along with Suzhou troops, to be stationed temporarily at the camp outside Hangzhou, in case there are any disloyal people under the governor and any unusual activities."

The arrangements were quite appropriate.

Zhuang Dongqing didn't care much about these things; he was used to just listening to whatever Cen Yan said.

As Cen Yan spoke, he nodded repeatedly and then yawned.

Cen Yan stopped talking, "That's all. The situation has been submitted to the capital, and an imperial envoy should come to Hangzhou again soon to verify the situation."

"good."

Cen Yan: "Take a nap, then get up for lunch. I had the kitchen prepare a small amount of meat today, I'm sure you'll love it."

Zhuang Dongqing subconsciously smacked her lips, "Okay."

With my eyes closed and nothing on my mind, I immediately fell asleep.

Cen Yan pulled the thin blanket up for Zhuang Dongqing and then personally put a hairband over his eyes to block out the light.

Once everyone was sound asleep, Liu Qi spoke up, "The Third Prince has come again, wanting to see you."

Cen Yan gave the same answer: "No."

"Official duties are paramount; I'm busy with interrogations and the search for the antidote, so I don't have time."

Liu Qi: "Understood."

Someone was sent to report back to Li Zhuo.

Li Zhuo had been coming for several days, but he hadn't seen Cen Yan again that day, so he decided to refuse to leave. Cen Yan ignored him and let him sit in the Prince's mansion until noon, only letting the servants refill his cup of tea. He didn't care about food or anything else. In the end, Li Zhuo got so hungry that he threw up his sleeves and left angrily.

Later that evening, Master Zhao came to ask, "Should we increase the dosage of the antidote for the Sixth Prince?"

Cen Yan asked coldly, "What's wrong?"

Master Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "The reaction seems a bit strong; I'm afraid he might catch a fever too."

"Can't a fever be treated?"

Master Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Of course."

It's just that people suffer.

Cen Yan: "That's settled then."

“In a few days, the palace might send someone out. If he is still ill at that time, it would be more convincing to have someone see him in person.”

With a cold snort, Cen Yan continued, "It's just a dispute between the brothers. How can you win without paying a price? We can't just let outsiders suffer losses, can we?"

Master Zhao understood.

Cen Yan was indignant.

It was unclear what his true intentions were, but there was a vague sense that a storm was brewing. Master Zhao didn't say much. Since Li Yang had willingly taken the poison and no one had forced him, he would simply follow Cen Yan's instructions to detoxify him daily.

Master Zhao had a feeling that those directly and indirectly involved in causing Zhuang Dongqing's injury would pay the price.

Later that evening, after having lunch and feeling better, Zhuang Dongqing took a walk in the garden and finally learned from the gardeners' conversation that Li Yang had been poisoned.

Zhuang Dongqing exclaimed in disbelief, "Is this for real? He was perfectly fine when he came down from the mountain!"

At that moment, Cen Yan was peeling lychees for Zhuang Dongqing.

Zhuang Dongqing disliked bland food. Except for the first few days when she couldn't eat much, she could still drink porridge. After that, she had little appetite and ate very little.

Watermelon and other cooling fruits are not suitable for him to eat right now.

In order to change Zhuang Dongqing's address, Hao San went out for half a day and picked a basket of lychees from a farmer's tree and brought them back.

Cen Yan tasted one; it was very sweet.

This is just right for Zhuang Dongqing to satisfy his craving.

Upon hearing this, Cen Yan's hands didn't tremble at all as he continued peeling lychees, replying only, "Perhaps he was in a hurry."

"Open your mouth."

Zhuang Dongqing: "Ah—"

A pitted lychee bursts with juice with every bite, offering a refreshing and sweet flavor.

Zhuang Dongqing's eyes narrowed as she savored the delicious food.

Cen Yan: "The Eighth Prince has already pushed us to this point. If he has any interest in..., he should at least make some moves."

"If there's still no reaction, then they probably don't want that chair anymore."

Chew, chew, chew.

Zhuang Dongqing pondered for a moment and nodded, "That's true."

"So he poisoned himself?"

Cen Yan: "Maybe, but I haven't seen him."

The poison was given to me by him, but I didn't take it in his presence.

"Is it sweet? Do you want more?"

Zhuang Dongqing immediately exclaimed, "Sweet! Two more, please! Ah—!"

Cen Yan laughed, "It's just a change of pace. Master Zhao said you can't eat too much."

Zhuang Dongqing pleaded, "Just one more, just one more."

Cen Yan: "An'an learned to ask for favors from you, didn't she?"

Zhuang Dongqing looked pitiful and said, "Ayan, you're the best."

Cen Yan's smile widened as he looked down. "Just one more!"

"Ayan, you're the best!!"

Staring intently at the plump lychees in Cen Yan's hand, Zhuang Dongqing was completely absorbed and couldn't think of anything else.