Chapter 42 Preparing to Go Back
On the day Shu Yao turned one month old, Wang Yi hosted a small but elegant celebration party in the rooftop garden of her penthouse apartment. Invited guests included a few close relatives and friends, and mainly her circle of socialite sisters.
The garden was decorated in soft Morandi colors, adorned with orchids and lush greenery that echoed the name "Shuyao". Professional photographers captured the heartwarming moments without disturbing the guests, while the Michelin three-star chef team prepared exquisite desserts behind the counter.
Zhou Wei was naturally the first to arrive, and she brought her five-year-old twins—Zhou Mingxuan and Zhou Jingyao. The two children were well-behaved; they greeted Wang Yi politely, and were quickly pulled away by Lizhi to see their little sister.
“Shu Yao is the star of the show today.” Zhou Wei smiled and handed Wang Yi a beautifully wrapped gift. “It’s a longevity lock, handmade and customized, with her name and birth date engraved on it.”
"This is too precious." Wang Yi took it, opened the velvet box, and inside was an exquisite gold longevity lock with delicate carvings. The front was inscribed with the two characters "Shu Yao" and the back with "Peace and Joy, Free Growth".
"Compared to how you helped me win that media battle, this is nothing." Zhou Wei waved her hand. "Who else will come today?"
“Lin Yue, Su Qing, and Zhao Yuanyuan, these are the few close friends.” Wang Yi checked the time. “Lin Yue should be arriving soon. She’s been busy with the opening of her new gallery and said she definitely wants to come and see Shu Yao.”
Just then, the doorbell rang. Entering was an elegant woman in a Chanel suit, around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with a gentle demeanor and a unique artistic flair. She was Lin Yue, a well-known young curator in China, whose family runs a chain of galleries.
"Sorry I'm late, there was a traffic jam on the way." Lin Yue greeted Wang Yi with a cheek kiss, then handed over a long, slender gift box. "A gift for Shu Yao—a small painting that I personally chose, suitable for hanging in the nursery."
"Sister Yue is always so thoughtful." Wang Yi smiled and accepted it.
Lin Yue had already walked to the crib. Shu Yao was awake, her big, dark eyes looking around curiously. Today's little star was wearing a light purple custom-made onesie and a matching little hat, looking as cute as a little doll.
"My God, she's so beautiful," Lin Yue exclaimed softly. "Her eyebrows and eyes are like yours, but the contours of her nose and chin... are so striking. She'll definitely grow up to be a great beauty."
Zhou Wei laughed and said, "I think so too. This little guy has inherited the best features from both his parents."
Lin Yue carefully picked up Shu Yao, her movements practiced—she herself had twins. Shu Yao didn't cry or fuss in her arms, but simply gazed intently at this unfamiliar woman.
"Where is Lizhi?" Lin Yue looked around.
"I'm showing Weiwei's two kids her 'treasure collection'," Wang Yi said, pointing towards the game room.
As they were talking, Lizhi led Zhou Jingyao out, with Zhou Mingxuan following behind. The three children came up to Lin Yue, and Lizhi looked up at her with her little face and introduced them earnestly: "Aunt Yue, this is my little sister, Shuyao."
"I know she's adorable." Lin Yue crouched down so Lizhi could see her younger sister too. "Lizhi, are you happy to be a big sister now?"
"I'm so happy!" Lizhi nodded vigorously. "I will teach her to build with blocks, draw, and recognize words."
"What a wonderful older sister," Lin Yue said gently, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked up at Wang Yi, saying, "Speaking of which, your names are really interesting—Lizhi and Shuyao. They sound like names given by cultured people, and they have a very consistent style."
Zhou Wei, who was setting out tea and snacks, chimed in, "Right? I also think these two names are a perfect match. 'Beautiful by nature, graceful and free,' they possess both classical beauty and a modern feel."
Lin Yue carefully placed Shu Yao back into the crib, lost in thought: "It's not just about matching. The origins and meanings of these two names are very similar to... the style of naming children by aristocratic families. They don't just randomly pick two nice-sounding characters, but rather they have allusions and aspirations."
She turned to Wang Yi, her eyes sharp with an artist's unique insight: "Lizhi, I remember it comes from 'The Song of Everlasting Regret,' right? 'Born with natural beauty, it's hard to abandon it.' What about Shuyao? The character 'yao' should come from the Book of Songs, 'a graceful and virtuous lady,' but the combination 'Shuyao' is very rare. Did you come up with it yourself?"
Wang Yi's heart stirred slightly, but she maintained a polite smile: "It was the child's father who named it. He prefers classical literature."
“No wonder.” Lin Yue nodded. “The two names together not only sound nice, but also show the father’s expectations for his daughters—hoping that they would have both outward beauty and inner cultivation and a free spirit.”
Zhou Wei walked over with a teacup in her hand, half-jokingly saying, "Now that you mention it, I'm even more curious. What kind of person is the man who could come up with such a name?"
Wang Yi took a sip of her flower tea and downplayed the issue: "A person who... values education and family very much."
"And they should be very knowledgeable," Lin Yue added. "Generally, when men name their children, they either follow the crowd or pray for wealth and peace. A name that draws its meaning from ancient books and incorporates personal blessings requires a certain level of cultural knowledge and aesthetic taste."
She paused, then suddenly realized something: "Wait, both daughters have the surname Li?"
Wang Yi nodded readily: "Yes."
Lin Yue and Zhou Wei exchanged a glance. In their circle, it wasn't uncommon for children to take their mother's surname, especially when the woman's family was more prominent or the man's identity was not something to be publicly disclosed. But both children had their father's surname, and the mother was clearly unwilling to discuss the father's situation...
“Li is a common surname in China,” Zhou Wei said, trying to smooth things over. “Alright, let’s stop gossiping. Today is Shu Yao’s one-month celebration; the little baby should be the main character.”
Lin Yue understood and changed the subject: "By the way, my gallery has a new exhibition next month, the theme is 'Modern Women and Traditional Culture', and there are many contemporary artists' reinterpretations of classical poetry. Wang Yi, if you have time, you can bring Lizhi to see it, it will be a good influence on the child."
"Definitely," Wang Yi replied with a smile.
The tea party continued, and Su Qing and Zhao Yuanyuan arrived one after another, bringing various gifts and blessings for Shu Yao. The women chatted about art, investment, and parenting, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly. Shuyao was taken to be breastfed by the nanny, while Lizhi played with several children in the playroom. Zhou Wei and Lin Yue stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the city view outside.
“Wang Yi still refuses to talk about the child’s father,” Lin Yue said softly.
“She has her difficulties,” Zhou Wei said understandingly. “But look at her dedication to her child, and her independence and strength over the years. I think she knows what she wants.”
"I just feel it's a pity," Lin Yue sighed. "Such an outstanding woman deserves the best love and marriage. But... if her current life is her own choice, we can only respect and support it."
“Yes,” Zhou Wei nodded. “At least the children are healthy and adorable, and Wang Yi’s career is doing well. As for matters of the heart, it’s a personal matter.”
The two returned to the tea table, where Wang Yi was checking work emails on her phone. Zhou Wei patted her shoulder: "Don't think about work today, just enjoy the joy of being a mother."
Wang Yi raised her head, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by gentleness: "I was just thinking how fast time flies. It seems like Lizhi was just a baby yesterday, and today she can already take care of her little sister."
"Children grow up fast, and we age fast too," Lin Yue joked. "So we should cherish the present even more."
At the end of the tea party, each guest left with a small box of customized full-moon gifts. Wang Yi saw her friends to the door, leaving only Zhou Wei to help tidy up.
"Thank you for coming to help today," Wang Yi said sincerely.
"Don't be so polite with me." Zhou Wei looked at Shu Yao, who was already asleep, and then at Li Zhi, who was listening to a bedtime story. "Honestly, you're amazing. You can raise two children on your own and still make your career so successful."
Wang Yi smiled and said, "I have the best helper—you, and other friends. Moreover, the children have given me a lot of strength."
After Zhou Wei left, Wang Yi quietly entered the nursery. Shu Yao moved her little mouth slightly in her sleep, while Li Zhi was already fast asleep in the crib next to her, still holding the little rabbit she had given to her younger sister.
Wang Yi tucked the blankets around her two daughters and stood by the window where the moonlight streamed in, a sense of peace and contentment welling up inside her.
Lin Yue was right. The two names Li Shimin gave his daughters truly revealed his erudition, aesthetic sense, and deep expectations for them. "Lizhi" and "Shuyao"—he hoped they would possess both external beauty and inner richness and freedom.
“You have a wonderful father,” she whispered to her sleeping daughters. “Although he cannot be with you now, his love and blessings are already in your names.”
Wang Yi gently stroked her lower abdomen—although she had already given birth, she was already considering her next plan. But before that, she wanted to spend quality time with her two daughters as they grew up, laying a solid foundation for them in the modern world.
Outside the window, the city lights flowed like a galaxy, and in this warm room, a new story was quietly unfolding. No matter how many challenges and secrets the future held, at least for this moment, a mother's love, as gentle as moonlight, enveloped everything.
After Shu Yao's full-month celebration, Wang Yi's life gradually returned to its normal rhythm, but she had already begun preparing for her return to the Tang Dynasty. While giving birth to Shu Yao was important for this trip to the modern world, her more crucial task was to develop a long-term treatment plan for Empress Zhangsun and Li Yuan.
In the study, Wang Yi faced three electronic screens, which displayed detailed medical records of Empress Zhangsun and Li Yuan, an assessment of medical conditions in the Tang Dynasty, and a list of medicines she had prepared.
Empress Zhangsun's asthma and hypertension, and Li Yuan's stroke sequelae and diabetes (diabetes was detected in the blood sample brought back)—these chronic diseases, which are manageable in modern times, were fatal in the Tang Dynasty. Wang Yi needed to design a treatment plan that was both effective and sustainable under ancient conditions.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Lizhi walked into the study carrying a picture book, looking curiously at the medical images on the screen.
Wang Yi pulled her daughter onto her lap: "Mom is working. These are the plans to help the two ancient patients."
"Ancient times?" Lizhi blinked her big eyes. "Like in storybooks?"
"More or less," Wang Yi smiled. "But these are real historical figures who are sick and need help."
Lizhi nodded as if she understood, stared at the screen quietly for a while, and then suddenly asked, "Will my little sister help me when she grows up?"
"Perhaps." Wang Yi kissed his daughter's forehead. "When Shuyao grows up, if she is interested, she can study medicine and help many people."
After comforting her daughter and taking her to the playroom, Wang Yi continued working. She contacted the research and development department of her biotechnology company, which she controlled, and commissioned a batch of special drugs.
In response to Empress Zhangsun's qi stagnation, she prepared an ancient alternative to modern bronchodilators—based on traditional medicinal materials such as ephedra, apricot kernel, and licorice, but using modern extraction technology to purify the effective ingredients and make them into concentrated pills that are easy to carry and take. This was combined with a modified version of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction to help lower blood pressure.
In response to Li Yuan's stroke sequelae, in addition to continuing to use the optimized formula of Buyang Huanwu Decoction, she also prepared a nutritional supplement to promote nerve repair. The main ingredients are B vitamins, lecithin and specific amino acids, which can be obtained through plant extraction and made into powder to be mixed into the diet.
The most challenging issue was Li Yuan's diabetes. Since insulin was unavailable in the Tang Dynasty, Wang Yi opted for a natural alternative to metformin—a compound preparation of bitter melon extract, cinnamon powder, and a specific type of algae—combined with a strict dietary control plan.
“We still need testing equipment,” Wang Yi muttered to herself, opening another folder. She had designed simple blood glucose test strips (based on improved ancient chemical principles), a blood pressure monitor (a modified wrist type), and a pulmonary function assessment scale. The technical level of these items was controlled to be “slightly higher than that of the Tang Dynasty, but still understandable and replicable by the craftsmen of that time.”
After the medications were prepared, Wang Yi began organizing the medical records and nursing guidelines. She compiled two manuals in the most concise classical Chinese:
"Essentials of Nursing Care for Empress Zhangsun's Illness" details the key points of Empress Zhangsun's daily care: avoiding pollen and dust mites, maintaining indoor ventilation, regularly monitoring blood pressure, methods for emotional regulation, dietary restrictions and recommendations, and emergency treatment steps for acute attacks.
"The Complete Book of Health and Wellness for the Retired Emperor" – tailored to Li Yuan's condition, it covers illustrated exercises for limb rehabilitation, dietary guidelines for diabetes, methods for monitoring blood sugar, medication schedules, and precautions for preventing complications.
She prepared two copies of both manuals, one to keep in modern times as a backup, and one to take to the Tang Dynasty.
With the treatment plan finalized, Wang Yi began the final preparations. She categorized and packaged the medications, sealing them with specially made waterproof and moisture-proof materials, and the outer packaging imitated Tang Dynasty porcelain bottles and brocade boxes. The medical equipment was also cleverly disguised—blood glucose test strips looked like exquisite stationery, the blood pressure monitor was designed as a wristband, and the stethoscope was hidden in an embroidered sachet.
She also prepared some "small gifts": invigorating essential oil for Li Shimin (to relieve fatigue from government affairs), calming aromatherapy for Empress Zhangsun (to improve sleep quality), and massage tools for Li Yuan (to promote blood circulation in the limbs). These were both expressions of care and supplementary parts of the treatment plan.
On the eve of her departure, Wang Yi stood by the crib for a long time. Shu Yao was fast asleep, her little hands clenched into fists beside her cheeks. Li Zhi, meanwhile, was peacefully asleep in the next room, clutching her little rabbit.
"Mom has to go and do some important things again," Wang Yi murmured to herself. "But this time it won't be long, I promise."
In the early hours of the morning, Wang Yi initiated the return process. A familiar dizziness washed over her, and the modern cityscape gradually blurred, replaced by the familiar furnishings and atmosphere of Qixia Garden.
As dawn broke, she got up, changed her clothes, and checked the items she had brought with her. All the medicines and equipment were found intact in her pre-designated "secret room."
Wang Yi first took out the report she had prepared for Li Shimin. She needed to report to the emperor on the "results of her seclusion" and, taking the opportunity, propose a comprehensive treatment plan for Empress Zhangsun and Li Yuan. This would be her first step after returning to the Tang court.
As she pushed open the door to the quiet room, the fresh air of an early summer morning rushed in. The palace servants of Qixia Garden, seeing her emerge from seclusion, immediately bowed respectfully: "Master, you have emerged from seclusion. His Majesty was asking about you yesterday."
"Prepare pen and ink; I need to submit a memorial to His Majesty," Wang Yi calmly instructed. "Also, prepare hot water for a bath; I will have an audience with the Emperor in an hour."
"yes."
After bathing and changing, Wang Yi dressed neatly and, carrying carefully prepared medical records and drug samples, headed to the Liangyi Hall. She knew that her primary task upon returning was to solidify her status as a "miracle doctor" in Li Shimin's eyes, and to further deepen his reliance and trust in her by treating his close relatives.
The fact that Empress Zhangsun and Li Yuan are alive and their conditions are under control is more advantageous for Li Shimin, for the Tang Dynasty, and for her own plans. The treatment plan she brought will be crucial in maintaining their lives.
As for Shu Yao, who was just born in the modern world, Wang Yi will keep this secret buried deep in his heart for the time being. The child's name and her father's name will become another bond connecting the two timelines, waiting for the right time to be revealed.
In the morning light, Wang Yi's steps were steady and firm. She had re-entered the game of the Tang Dynasty, and now she held more chips in her hand than when she left.
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