Chapter 183 The Truth Behind the Drowning, A Taoist Priest Arrives...
The baby woke up. He drank a bowl of ginger soup and went back to sleep.
In the still of the night, the candles crackled softly, their flickering shadows casting reflections on the furniture and ornaments that resembled a monstrous beast devouring its prey.
In his sleep, his two short eyebrows furrowed uneasily, as if he were having a nightmare, and his lips pursed as if he were about to cry.
Zhang Ting held her in her arms, gently patting the child's back, and comforting her softly, "Mommy's here, don't be afraid."
Wrapped in her mother's warm embrace, Shile gradually relaxed her brow and drifted peacefully into a sweet dream.
Zong Suyi subconsciously brought back some porridge and side dishes, and said blankly, "My lady, please have some..."
His mouth opened and closed, but he didn't even know what he was saying. Everything that had happened today was like a terrifying nightmare, and he was still gripped by fear.
Zhang Ting gave a soft sigh and lowered her voice: "Shi Le just fell asleep, keep your voice down so you don't wake her up."
Upon hearing this, he immediately put down the food and rushed over, anxiously looking at the baby in her arms. "How is Shile?" The little one nestled comfortably in his mother's arms, smacking his lips contentedly.
He clutched her sleeve tightly, unable to contain his joy as he wept, "My baby is awake! My baby is awake!!"
He stared intently at the child, half nervous and half fearful.
Zhang Ting stuffed Shi Le into his arms; he felt uneasy without the boy in his arms.
"Our child is alright." She gently reassured her husband, who had nearly gone mad from the chaos of the day.
Their eyes were bloodshot, and they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Zhang Ting sat down and raised her hand to eat, only then noticing that her entire hand was trembling. She was extremely hungry.
She turned around nonchalantly, facing away from her father and son, and continued eating.
While eating, she asked, "How did Shile fall into the water? Was it because the servants weren't watching her properly? Or... did someone deliberately push her?"
His tone was calm, revealing no emotion.
Holding her lost and found treasure, Zong Suyi felt her body warm and felt as if she had come back to life.
He felt much better, and upon hearing his wife's questions, he sat down next to her, holding the child.
He turned his head wearily, his eyes dark and swollen. "It's strange today. Shile was playing happily in the yard, everyone was watching, but somehow he ran to the pond."
"My usually obedient child is like she's under a spell; no matter how I call her, she won't turn around."
He couldn't help but start sobbing, wanting to beat the ignorant child in his arms, but he couldn't bear to.
"Thank goodness I woke up, otherwise how would I live?"
Zhang Ting pulled his hands under the table, finding the whole thing increasingly strange. Why would a perfectly healthy child want to run to the water's edge? Besides, both he and Zong Suyi had often warned her about dangerous places like the water's edge and well in the courtyard. Shile was very obedient and would never listen to her father and rush forward recklessly.
Her eyes darkened, a turbulent undercurrent stirring beneath her calm surface. If she were to find out who was behind this... her fists clenched.
"I have a day off tomorrow, so I'll go and interrogate the servants in the manor." She touched his haggard face, her voice as light as a feather. "Go and rest with the child. I'll take care of everything."
Looking down at the child's soft, chubby face, so adorable, I wanted to pinch it. But I pulled my hand back halfway.
She turned and left.
The night was pitch black, and the Zhang residence was brightly lit and heavily guarded.
She sat in the central armchair, closing her eyes for a short rest.
The courtyard was deathly silent, held down by a chilling and domineering atmosphere. The timid servants trembled uncontrollably, but dared not utter a sound, while the others were drenched in cold sweat.
She is waiting for the results.
A series of footsteps sounded from behind; Zheng Er had returned.
"How so?"
Zheng Er: "After interrogating the young lady's servants, we found that they were distracted while watching over her, which caused the young lady to suffer."
Distracted? That wasn't the answer Zhang Ting wanted. What she wanted to know was what had drawn Shi Le to the water's edge? Or perhaps, was it a carefully orchestrated scheme?
Nothing will be found out tonight.
She slowly stood up. "Those servants who failed in their duties, give them ten lashes and deduct half a year's salary as a warning to others." She wanted to lure the snake out of its hole and see what the person behind the scenes would do.
Back inside, the husband and child fell into a deep sleep.
Zhang Ting's eyes also showed signs of sleepiness. She lay down on the outer side and fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.
Please ask that doctor to come and examine Shile again tomorrow.
The next morning, before the doctor even arrived, the little boy's fever returned. His whole body was burning hot and red, like a burning furnace. He sobbed like a cub, and tears streamed down his face.
The little child cried out weakly, "Mother, Mother, Shile is in so much pain..."
The two were so panicked that they almost did something terrible.
Fortunately, the doctor arrived shortly afterward.
Within the city, this man was renowned for his medical skills and reputation. He quickly administered acupuncture to Shile and then prescribed medicine for others to brew.
Once the child's high fever subsided slightly, she removed the acupuncture needles and turned to Zhang Ting, saying, "Sir, once your daughter has taken one dose of herbal medicine, her temperature should stabilize."
It was good news, and the two felt relieved.
But the doctor said, "If your daughter's fever breaks and then comes back, no amount of herbal medicine will help." He turned his head to look at the little one sleeping peacefully on the bed, and couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "If she's lucky, she might become mentally disabled; if she's unlucky, we'll probably have to meet again in the next life."
Zong Suyi nearly fainted, his eyes rolling back in his head. Zhang Ting supported him and asked urgently, "Do you have a good remedy?"
The doctor shook his head. "I have practiced medicine for decades, but my skills are shallow. Although I am eager to save your daughter, I am helpless."
Zhang Ting refused to let her go, offering her a high price to stay at his residence and wait for her to make house calls.
As she walked back with her husband, she saw her child huddled listlessly in the blankets, her little face ashen and lifeless, her lips cyanotic. It was clear to the naked eye that life was slowly draining from her tiny body.
It felt as if a piece of her heart had been ripped out.
The two of them stayed by the child's side almost day and night, doing everything themselves, fearing that the servants would not do their best.
Zong Suyi's eyes were vacant, as if his soul had been ripped out. He said in a low, hoarse voice, "Go and rest. You haven't slept for two days. You haven't been on duty either."
Zhang Ting twitched the corner of her mouth and squeezed his hand. "I won't be able to sleep even if I go. I've already asked someone to let me know I'm not going to the government office for the next few days."
Zong Suyi lowered his head and said nothing.
The room fell silent once more.
Suddenly, a servant rushed in.
"My lord, my lord. There's a madwoman outside with a Taoist priest, insisting that there's evil spirits in the manor."
Zhang Ting immediately stood up. Coming to her door at this critical juncture? She was filled with doubt and surprise.
Desperate, he ordered his servant, "Quickly, bring the person in." Then he added, "Never mind, I'll go myself."
The servant was stunned, then immediately chased after him.
During this time, Zong Suyi ignored everything, staring blankly at the child without moving, like a wooden stake.
As Zhang Ting arrived at the gate, a maid was about to apprehend a woman who attempted to force her way in. "This is the residence of the Prefect, not a place for two people like you to enter!"
"Stop!" she gasped, trying to stop them.
The maid's face turned pale.
The Taoist priest snorted coldly and broke free from the maid's restraints. "I have cultivated for many years. I saw the menacing aura emanating from your mansion and heard that the Prefect loves the people like his own children and protects the common people. That's why I kindly came to your door to help you out. Yet I have been treated like this!"
The crazy woman moved her twisted arm, grimacing, "Young people these days are really strong."
Was she really a Taoist priest or a madwoman? Zhang Ting felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, but she had no other choice and had to grasp at every sliver of hope.
She forced a stiff smile, which looked worse than crying. "This junior has failed in managing her subordinates and has been rude to her guests. I apologize to the two seniors on her behalf." She bowed and then stood up to invite the person inside.
"To be honest, my son has a persistent fever, and I earnestly request a wise person to help him."
The Taoist priest was quite pleased with her respect, and the slight discomfort in his heart dissipated. "Lead the way then."
On the way, the crazy woman brushed aside the strands of hair covering her face and poked Zhang Ting.
Zhang Ting turned around in surprise, "What advice do you have, sir?"
The madwoman grinned, her teeth gleaming white: "Nephew Zhang, it's been years. Do you still recognize this old woman?"
Zhang Ting scrutinized her closely, his pupils shrinking. "Are you the Junior Chamberlain Xu?" He was the one who was disliked by Emperor Chengtai and exiled because of his status as an official under the Crown Princess.
"Exactly."
Now was not the time for reminiscing. Zhang Ting apologized to her and first invited the Taoist priest in to examine her.
The Taoist squinted, flicked his whisk, and took in the surroundings before striding into the house.
He first walked around the hall, then suddenly became serious, his brow furrowed.
He stepped back into the room and stared at the little figure on the tatami mat for a long time.
She muttered to herself, "How strange!"
Zhang Ting stood beside her, "Why do you say such a thing, sir? Is there any way to save my child?"
The Taoist priest remained silent for a while, then raised his whisk again.
She turned around, her face full of confusion: "Your daughter's destiny seems to exist only in a vague way. I have traveled for many years and have never seen anything like it." She hesitated, describing her feelings: "It's as if she shouldn't exist at all."
It shouldn't exist... It shouldn't exist...
Zhang Ting looked shocked and staggered back two steps. Was it because she and Zong Suyi had conceived a child that shouldn't exist?
She braced herself against a pillar to steady herself, then eagerly stepped forward and asked, "Does the master have a way to break this? I will certainly give him ten thousand pieces of gold."
The Taoist priest said, "I am ashamed to accept such a gift as I am avoiding wealth. The prefect's benevolent actions are the greatest reward for me." He then asked, "What is your name, daughter?"
Zong Suyi grasped at a lifeline, calling out, "Call Zhang Shile, Zhang Shile."
The Taoist priest suddenly realized, "No wonder, no wonder."
He solemnly told the couple, "When things reach their extreme, they reverse; when something is extremely valuable, it becomes cheap. This is the balance of Yin and Yang. If you want to avoid evil and disaster, you need to give your child a humble nickname to deceive the heavens."
"That's all I have to say. I'll take my leave now."
With a flick of his whisk, he departed gracefully.
"Give me a humble name?" Zong Suyi murmured to himself, looking up at the only woman he could rely on.
Zhang Ting's mind was a complete mess. The Taoist priest hadn't given the child any talisman water, so giving him a humble name was perfectly acceptable. "Let's call him Tun Tun."
Looking at the baby whose breathing was gradually stabilizing, his cheeks were chubby.
I hope she grows up safely like a little pig.
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