guess

The next morning, Wu Hezou moved into the Zhou residence with his medicine chest. Tang Feng, sitting on the bed, looked at the displeased Wu Hezou and joked, "Old sir, I'm at least a patient. Whether I live or die, I've done my best for you. The Zhou family still gives you your usual reward money, and you haven't lacked anything in terms of food, drink, or lodging. Why are you so angry?" "What do you know, you little brat?" Wu Hezou pressed down harder on Tang Feng's acupuncture needles, causing Tang Feng to gasp in pain. "I'm a renowned doctor, and I've never killed anyone in my life. I don't want to ruin my reputation because of you at the end. Don't forget to drink your medicine after the acupuncture! Not a drop less! Don't die and tarnish my reputation."

Tang Feng waited until Wu Hezou removed the needles before slowly getting up and putting on his clothes. "I don't want to die, and you won't let me die either. How about we make a bet?" "What's there to bet on a little kid?" Wu Hezou packed his medicine box with a look of disgust, then glanced at Tang Feng on the bed and asked weakly, "What are you betting on?" "What does Old Wu want to bet on?"

"Hmm... Xiling's Jade Ice Wine is always famous. If you're better, you'll have to treat me to a few jars." Seeing Wu Hezou's happy face, craving wine, Tang Feng readily agreed. "Okay, a... cough cough... it's a deal." Compared to the past two days, Tang Feng seemed to find his health fluctuating. He would feel fine in the morning, even able to go for a walk, but then start coughing again at night. However, the only thing that comforted Tang Feng was that although the coughing was more frequent, he hadn't vomited blood again. Zhang Mobai had been free these past few days. He hadn't dared to go on Tang Feng's wedding day, but now, hearing that Tang... Feng was ill, so after finishing her work, she rushed to see Tang Feng. "There's been a lot going on in the palace these past few days. I should have come to see you today," Tang Feng said, noticing the dark circles under Zhang Mobai's eyes. She knew the Ministry of Revenue must have been incredibly busy. "There's a lot to do, but it's nothing serious. You don't need to blame yourself. But you're also guilty of bringing Lin'an here so young. I'm so sick; what if he catches my illness?" Tang Feng looked at Yang Lin'an in the wet nurse's arms, sleeping peacefully and occasionally letting out a soft hum. "I was worried you'd be too idle, so I brought the child over for you to play with. I just didn't expect him to fall asleep as soon as we got to the Zhou residence, even though he was full of energy on the way here."

“It’s good for a child to sleep a little longer… cough cough cough…” Tang Feng wanted to continue, but his throat was itchy, so he picked up a handkerchief from beside his pillow and started coughing. Zhang Mobai quickly patted Tang Feng’s back and gestured for the wet nurse to take Yang Lin’an away. “What exactly is wrong with you? I asked Liu Yiwan, and he said it was due to insufficient fertility in the womb. But that’s been going on for so many years, and besides, you were perfectly healthy before.”

Tang Feng waved his hand, slowly catching his breath. "I don't know. Everyone says they can't tell, but it doesn't matter. Maybe it'll get better in a while." Zhang Mobai was skeptical but didn't want to ask too much, afraid of burdening Tang Feng. "Don't think about so many things. Just focus on getting better. According to custom, you should go back to the Tang residence for a few days." Xiling has a rule that newlyweds must stay at both homes for fifteen days during the month of their marriage. "What else can I think about?" Tang Feng smiled, pointing helplessly to the books on the bed. "I'm so bored I read every day. Ziliang almost has nowhere to sleep. If this were back in the days at Lishan Academy, I probably wouldn't have needed to beg Li Yunrui to pull some strings for me." Zhang Mobai looked at the mountain of books and sighed. "Little brother... your Ziliang is too strict! Doesn't he ever take you out for a walk?"

"You dare let me out looking like this?" But thinking about it, it's true. Tang Feng got married in the first month of the lunar calendar, and now it's almost over. Tang Feng hasn't gotten out of bed a single day, spending all his time either reading or sleeping. Zhou Ziliang is also very busy at the military camp, rarely home during the day, only returning for dinner in the evening. "Little madman... could you bring me some sweet buns from Liufuji? I'm taking medicine every day, and I have no taste at all. I want to eat sweet buns, but Ziliang won't buy them for me. Could you bring me some?"

"Oh my god, even Ziliang wouldn't agree, how could I dare? Besides, we already have plenty of candy at home!" Tang Feng pulled at the corner of the blanket, looking somewhat aggrieved. "How can I eat whatever I want? That candy is only for after taking my medicine. This is like giving someone a slap and then a treat!" Zhang Mobai, seeing Tang Feng's displeasure, tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Buying it is fine, but if Ziliang finds out you're sneaking some, don't you dare betray me."

Tang Feng nodded, then asked, "What have you been busy with these past few days? I've noticed Yang Fei has been quite busy too."

"Sigh, don't even mention it. It was all about reconciling the pawnshop's accounts! I was going through stacks of ledgers until well past midnight. Li Yunrui isn't exactly greedy, so how could the pawnshop's accounts be so inconsistent? And then there's Yang Fei... They're busy investigating the massacre of the Duan Prince's family. Everyone who used to work for Li Yunrui has been taken in for questioning." With Li Yunrui's death, his former subordinates have scattered like leaves in the wind. Because of the Princess's affair, the Emperor Yun harbors resentment towards Li Yunrui, and his treatment of his former subordinates will naturally be even more ruthless. "Is that so... Ninth Prince..." Tang Feng didn't... Suddenly, Tang Feng brought up Li Yunyu, seemingly out of nowhere. Zhang Mobai, unaware that Tang Feng had met Li Yunyu, was somewhat surprised. "You actually know the Ninth Prince? Don't mention it. He was being raised by the Crown Prince. Now that Li Yunrui's entire family has been executed, he was naturally summoned back to the palace. However, I heard he pleaded for Li Yunrui before the Emperor, asking him to overturn the verdict, and was punished with confinement. The Ninth Prince is quite a compassionate and righteous person." Tang Feng murmured thoughtfully, "Indeed... a compassionate and righteous person."

"Young man, do you know His Highness the Ninth Prince?" Tang Feng shook his head. "No, I've only heard of him."

"I've heard, I've only heard, that the Ninth Prince's mother came from a poor family. After His Majesty favored her, he abandoned her. After the Ninth Prince was born, his mother didn't compete for favor, and the child wasn't pleasing either, so he was gradually neglected. In the end, His Majesty was furious and sent him to be raised by the Crown Prince. Let me tell you, the Ninth Prince's personality is really as stubborn as a mule; not even ten oxen could pull him back. No one can persuade him." Tang Feng listened with great interest, resting his chin on his hand. It had been a long time since anyone had come to chat with him. He hadn't been feeling well lately, and he was also inexplicably irritable. Perhaps it was because he was too idle at home. Whenever he calmed down, he couldn't help but think of Qin Liuliu lying in a pool of blood that day. Although he wanted to find the murderer of Qin Liuliu and expose the true face of the Sixteen Riders of Yanshan, he had indeed promised Zhou Ziliang that he would no longer bother with other matters.

Before Zhang Mobai could finish speaking, the sound of a baby crying came from outside. "It must be Lin'an waking up. I'll go see." Zhang Mobai went out for a bit, and when he returned, he was carrying Yang Lin'an. Zhang Mobai placed Yang Lin'an in Tang Feng's arms. Tang Feng wanted to refuse, but he was afraid of dropping Yang Lin'an if he moved around, so he had no choice but to soothe the crying child in his arms. Tang Feng wasn't very good at holding babies and relied entirely on Zhang Mobai's guidance. Seeing Lin'an smiling happily in his arms, Tang Feng couldn't help but smile as well. "This child is truly destined for me. He cried for so long just now, but now he's stopped crying."

“Lin’an is naturally sensible. Maybe children recognize scents and just like yours,” Tang Feng said, unable to suppress a laugh. “What scent could I possibly have? I’m constantly soaking in medicine; what else could I smell besides the medicine?” The two were happily playing with the child when Zhou Ziliang returned from the military camp. “Oh, Ziliang’s back? Well, little brother, I won’t bother you anymore. Get some rest. I’ll come find you again in a few days when you return to the Tang residence.” Tang Feng nodded. After Zhang Mobai took the child back, Zhou Ziliang unbuttoned his coat and went over. “Don’t get so close. I just got back, and I’m still chilly. You’ll get sick again.” Although he said this, Tang Feng held his hand tightly, and Zhou Ziliang didn’t let go. “How are you feeling today? Are you feeling unwell or anything?”

"It's the same old story, nothing good or bad, just so boring staying at home... Ziliang, I want to go back to the Tang residence. I haven't seen Sister Jiu and the others in so long, they must be worried sick about me." According to custom, a married man or woman cannot return home for fifteen days after their wedding, and their family cannot visit them. Although Tang Feng is ill, Qin Jiu and the others, no matter how anxious, cannot visit him. Zhou Ziliang calculated the days and felt it wouldn't be long before he returned, so he reassured her, "Tomorrow! I'll go to the military camp early tomorrow, and after I've finished my business, I'll take you back to the Tang residence."

Although the plan was good, Tang Feng developed a low-grade fever as soon as he returned to the Tang residence, whether from the wind or something else. While Tang Feng didn't seem to care much, Zhou Ziliang was annoyed, saying, "Knowing you're not well, I still forced you to come out..." Tang Feng lay in bed, his fever not high, but he was still sick, his head spinning. He fell asleep before Zhou Ziliang finished speaking. When he opened his eyes again, he heard the ticking of hospital equipment. Looking at the IV drip in his hand, Tang Feng could clearly feel the fluid flowing into his body, but he wasn't fully conscious. He couldn't move or speak, and his eyelids grew increasingly heavy. Soon, he fell into a deep coma again.

"Ugh...cough cough cough..." Tang Feng felt like there was something in his throat, wanting to cough but unable to. A sharp pain in his chest made him instinctively try to sit up. Zhou Ziliang, seeing Tang Feng move, quickly helped him up. Seeing Tang Feng swallowing repeatedly, as if he was enduring something, Zhou Ziliang said, "Xiao Feng! Don't hold it in! Spit it out!" Tang Feng was half-asleep, but upon hearing Zhou Ziliang's voice, he opened his mouth, and blood spilled from it. "Cough cough cough...Ziliang?"

Seeing that Tang Feng was awake, Zhou Ziliang breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the blood from the corner of Tang Feng's mouth. "You were already delirious from the fever in the middle of the night, and you just vomited blood again. You seemed to be feeling better a few days ago, how did it get worse again?" Tang Feng fell into deep thought as he listened to Zhou Ziliang's words. Connecting the two previous fainting spells and coughing up blood, Tang Feng roughly understood the cause of his illness. This wasn't some kind of congenital deficiency or weak heart and lungs. It was because his modern body was about to awaken, and his soul was rejecting this body, which led to his current state.