Chapter 420 Master and Junior Brother are back
In the warm spring of March, as all things on earth revive, the jujube trees in the Li family's courtyard sprouted tender, emerald-green buds.
Although it's still a bit early to wear spring clothes, one can't wear a padded jacket at noon.
Li San Niang specially requested leave from the medical clinic today, because three days ago, a message from the Imperial Guards came that Doctor Liang and the young boy from Shaoyang could leave the palace today.
Therefore, Li San Niang specially took leave from work to welcome the old physician Liang, who had not returned for more than a month and had been in the palace to detoxify Princess Taiping, as well as the young boy from Shaoyang who had been by the old physician Liang's side.
At 3:45 AM, Li San Niang stood at the entrance of the clinic and looked outside. A carriage guarded by soldiers was approaching.
Sure enough, as we got closer, the person looking out of the carriage window was none other than the young boy from Shaoyang.
"Junior Brother!"
The young boy from Shaoyang turned his head and saw Li Sanniang, whose eyes were full of joy. He smiled along with her and finally felt a real sense of returning home.
When the carriage stopped, the young boy from Shaoyang helped the old doctor Liang down from the carriage, and Li Sanniang quickly stepped forward to greet him, "Master, you've finally returned."
"Little brother, hurry home! The water's boiled, the food's ready, and your sister-in-law even made red bean porridge."
Meanwhile, Li Erxiong was exchanging pleasantries with the two Jinwu Guard soldiers who had come to see them off. Just as the group was about to head towards the Li family home, they heard a eunuch calling out from behind.
Only then did Li San Niang notice that the carriage following behind was also sent by the palace.
"Oh dear, Doctor Liang, please wait a moment. The gift from the sage is still in our carriage."
"It is a reward from the Sage for Shao Yang and me for curing the princess's illness."
After explaining to Brother Li, the old physician Liang politely bowed to the eunuch who had approached and said, "Dad Liang, thank you for your trouble."
"Take this as a token of my appreciation and have some tea."
The old doctor skillfully took out a purse from his sleeve and handed it to Liang Da Dang, who accepted it without hesitation.
After exchanging a few more polite words, Brother Li Er and Li Gui (an apprentice at the Li family's medical clinic) worked together to carry seven or eight boxes into the main hall.
Once Dr. Liang sat down in the main hall, Mr. and Mrs. Li, who had been waiting on the side, quickly came out to pay their respects. Dewdrop had a good memory and remembered that Dr. Liang should be called Grandmaster, and the young boy from Shaoyang should be called Junior Uncle.
Dewdrop greeted the two of them, and Doctor Liang casually took out a milky-white jade pendant carved in the shape of a butterfly from his sleeve. "This was a gift from the princess. When Dewdrop grows up, I will give it to her."
Without stammering, Li San Niang reached out and took it directly, saying nice things as she did so: "Thank you, Master, for still thinking of Lu Zhu'er." Turning to Lu Zhu'er, Li San Niang said, "Quickly thank your grandmaster. Your grandmaster loves you so much because of your mother."
"When you are showing filial piety to your grandmaster in the future, you must also show even greater filial piety to your mother."
Upon hearing this, Dr. Liang burst out laughing.
However, Li's mother opened her eyes wide and glared at Li San Niang, thinking that Li San Niang was still so unreliable despite being a grown woman!
After exchanging a few words, everyone could see the fatigue of Dr. Liang and the young boy from Shaoyang.
Sister-in-law Li then brought over two bowls of red bean porridge that had been simmering for a long time with added sugar. Li Erxiong and Li Erlang, who were at home, carried hot water to the courtyard where Doctor Liang and the young boy from Shaoyang lived.
After the young boy from Shaoyang helped Dr. Liang bathe, the two, master and apprentice, could finally relax after more than a month of tension.
The two slept until dusk, when Li San Niang knocked on the door to bring them food, which woke them up.
As Physician Liang sipped his tea and ate the soft, chewy pastries on the table, the oppressive and anxious feelings he had experienced during his month-long stay in the palace finally began to ease. (Appearance in Chapters 394-394: Entering the palace to treat illness.)
That's the rare poison from the Western Regions, Beauty's Intoxication.
It has a nice-sounding name, but this poison is not to be trifled with.
It can prolong the time people spend sleeping each day, until they are in a drowsy state all day long.
Furthermore, during this period, the poisoned person will gradually weaken, eventually becoming too weak to eat and starving to death.
Li San Niang's face darkened; she truly hadn't expected the poison to be so vicious.
"The current Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Wang, had some disagreements with my master, who is also your grandmaster, in their practices of treating and saving lives in his early years."
Otherwise, how could a doctor like me, who has long since retired, be constantly being watched? Apart from a few old friends, who would know where I am?
When I was brought into the palace at this time, it was because Wang Shuzheng had been keeping a close eye on me.
Sigh, it's all debt.
Dr. Liang sighed. The grudges of the past always seem to affect the future generations, a cycle that seems endless.
"How has Princess Taiping been these past month or so?"
At this moment, the young boy from Shaoyang chimed in, "Master used the Golden Needle Technique to temporarily slow the spread of the poison and also tried several formulas to detoxify it."
Fortunately, the palace pharmacy had a wide variety of rare and exotic herbs, and after several attempts, they finally found the most suitable prescription.
Now, apart from needing to sleep two hours more than usual each day, Princess Taiping is no different from any other person.
Li San Niang nodded, relieved.
"Fortunately, my master is a truly capable person, otherwise, he might not have come back." Thinking this to herself, Li San Niang felt that this doctor had no real power and was ultimately being used to shield her from disaster.
"However, every five days, Master has to go to the palace to examine Princess Taiping's pulse and adjust the prescription so that the poison can be completely detoxified."
"I guessed so, but I suppose there shouldn't be any major problems in the future, that's good."
For the past month or so, I…
Li San Niang recounted her recent situation and then spoke of the rumors and gossip circulating in Chang'an after the day Doctor Liang and the young boy from Shaoyang entered the palace, before finally withdrawing from the palace.
The next day, as Li San Niang was about to leave, she deliberately held Li Da Sao's hand and said, "Er Lang is so smart. Since he has been preparing for so long, he will surely have a good result."
Sister-in-law Li didn't say anything, but simply shook Li San Niang's hand and urged her to get on the carriage quickly.
Yes, today is the day Li Erlang goes to take the arithmetic exam.
Everyone in the Li family, from Mr. and Mrs. Li to little Lulu, knows that today is a very important day.
After eating breakfast and getting dressed, Li Erlang, who had already checked his exam basket, went up to Li Erxiong and checked it again before leaving. He then asked Li Erlang for the household registration certificate before leaving with Li Erlang.
There weren't many people who studied mathematics, but there were still a few dozen.
While waiting in line outside for the examination, Li Erxiong said to Li Erlang, "I know you have a plan in mind. You've always been the smartest kid in the family. It's not like you're going to take the imperial examination to become the top scholar. Your second uncle believes you will succeed this time."
Even so, you should still be cautious and prudent, and proceed with care in this exam.
"Go ahead, your second uncle is waiting for you in the teahouse outside."
Li Erlang didn't say much to his second brother, Li Er, but after listening to his brother's admonition, he picked up his exam basket and joined the queue.
The sound of gongs rang out, signaling the official start of the exam, and Li Erlang embarked on his journey.
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