Chapter 296: Chapter 296

When Wen Wan returned, she happened to see her husband giving medicine to their son. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on ɴovelfire.net

Jinbao leaned weakly against his father’s arm, his little hands powerless but still clutching Song Wei’s clothes tightly, and his eyelids drooped as if in a daze.

The medicine was bitter, and every time Song Wei fed him, he had to softly comfort him.

The little one had barely taken a sip before he wrinkled his brows and wanted to spit it out, but Song Wei’s gentle voice soothed him, and in the end he didn’t cry or fuss, and obediently swallowed it down.

Standing at the door, Wen Wan watched her husband’s skilled movements in feeding the baby medicine and recalled the scene when Jinbao fell ill on the journey to Beijing.

As a new mother, she hadn’t fully learned how to care for a child, and faced with such an event, she was somewhat at a loss. After bustling about for half a day, fearing the bitterness, the little guy barely drank any, and in the end, it was her mother-in-law who helped, one holding and one feeding.

Fortunately, that illness was not severe, so even though most of the decoction was spit out and he only drank a little bit, he recovered in just a couple of days.

Song Wei sensed someone standing at the door, and he put down the small wooden spoon, fearing to disturb his drowsy son, he spoke very softly, "Did mother send someone to notify you?"

Wen Wan nodded, stepped into the room, and seeing her son like that was painful for her too, so she gently asked, "How is he?"

"I’ve already seen the doctor," Song Wei said. "We’ll observe him tonight, and if there’s no improvement by tomorrow, I’ll personally invite Doctor Li."

Wen Wan sat down next to Song Wei, and before she could speak, the little guy recognized his mother’s figure through his squinting eyes, and the suppressed grievance welled up again, as his nose twitched wanting to cry.

Wen Wan hurriedly took the child from Song Wei’s hands, probing his burning forehead, and gently said, "Don’t cry, in our family, Jinbao is the best behaved. Mommy isn’t going anywhere, I’ll stay at home with you, okay?"

Not understanding what his mother was saying, the little guy held back a bit but still started to cry softly.

The sound allowed one to feel his discomfort while the fever burned in him.

Wen Wan gently patted her son’s back, comforting him for a long time until he finally fell asleep, then fetched a basin of cold water, wrung out a towel to place on his tiny forehead.

Fortunately, the weather was warm, and the towel wasn’t too cold, so with Jinbao’s constitution, he could endure it.

After doing all this, she remained by the bedside, her gaze never leaving her son, speaking to Song Wei, "I have already requested leave from the teacher. If you are busy, go back to the government office first. I will take care of Jinbao here, it’s okay."

Song Wei stayed put, smiling, "I’ve also taken leave, so I don’t need to go back today."

Since her husband insisted on staying, Wen Wan said nothing more.

Although Jinbao was small and couldn’t speak, being so ill, he surely wished for both his parents to be by his side.

It wasn’t yet evening dismissal time, Uncle Lin wasn’t around, and Wen Wan had hired a carriage to come over. The weather was scorching hot and she was in a hurry, leaving the hair beside her cheeks a bit disheveled, with a faint sheen of sweat visible.

Song Wei glanced at her and said softly, "I’ll watch over here, you should first go and change clothes."

Wen Wan instinctively glanced down, noticing she was still wearing the Hongwen Academy uniform. Earlier, when she went out the door and rushed to hire a carriage, she sweat quite a bit, and now her back felt sticky and damp.

She left the room, asked Mrs. Jin to help boil water, and took a simple hot bath, changing into clean clothes before coming back.

Jinbao was still asleep, and the breath coming out of his nostrils remained hot.

Song Wei was bending over the basin, wringing out a towel and gently placing it on his forehead.

The little one moved his lips, letting out a faint moan, soon falling back asleep.

Wen Wan approached and touched Jinbao’s rosy little cheeks, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, "Why not, let’s have Doctor Li come over, Jinbao is so little and seriously ill, I still somehow don’t feel secure with the outside doctor."

Song Wei nodded, "You stay home and watch over our son, I’ll go personally to request him."

Wen Wan said nothing more, only urging him to be careful on the road.

Not long after Song Wei left, Granny Song came into the room, glancing at her soundly asleep little grandson on the bed, asking Wen Wan, "How is he?"

Wen Wan said he just drank medicine and fell asleep, so it’s hard to tell for now.

Granny Song’s forehead was sweaty with worry, mumbling to herself, "The child hasn’t been sick many times since the day he was born, and when he does get ill, it’s sudden, really makes one anxious."

Wen Wan reassured her, "Third Son has already gone to ask Doctor Li, you don’t need to worry too much, mother."

"What? An Imperial Physician?" Granny Song, although not familiar with these people, knew that Imperial Physicians were specialized in treating Nobles, and their medical skills were far superior to ordinary doctors outside, "Can our family invite an Imperial Physician?"

Wen Wan explained, "Doctor Li retired from the Imperial Hospital due to his age and is currently not employed, so he’s resting at home. Previously, when Third Son was studying at the Imperial College, because of Xu Shu’s connection, we invited him a few times, and gradually we got to know him. Doctor Li’s medical skills are excellent, and with him around, Jinbao will surely recover."

Granny Song could see that although her daughter-in-law was trying to comfort her verbally, her face was full of maternal worry. She lamented, "It’s all my fault for not taking good care of Jinbao, making you two run back and forth ."

"Mother, please don’t say that," Wen Wan said. "I am Jinbao’s biological mother, so it’s my responsibility to care for the child. Unfortunately, I’m so busy every day that I don’t have the time. Having you help me with childcare is already very considerate, and now, with the weather being so hot, it’s normal for young children to fall sick. If you insist on blaming yourself, then you’re actually blaming me for not fulfilling my role as a daughter-in-law."

No matter what her daughter-in-law said, Granny Song still felt it was her inadequate care that caused her grandson to become so ill.

But at the moment, worrying wouldn’t help. She softly said something and then asked Wen Wan if she was hungry.

It was almost lunchtime, but Wen Wan, worried about her son’s illness, had no appetite. She looked at her mother-in-law and said, "Let’s wait for Third Son to return, and we can eat together then."

Song Wei returned with three people.

They were Doctor Li, Xu Shu, and Song Fang and his wife.

When Wen Wan saw them, she was quite surprised, "What brings you two here?"

Song Fang said, "Doctor Li was at our mansion checking the pulse of Granny, and since Third Brother went to his house but didn’t find him, he came back to our place. Upon hearing that our nephew was ill, Xu Shu and I came to see him. Third Brother mentioned that a doctor had already been consulted; how is he now?"

Wen Wan looked at Song Wei and noticed a hint of worry in her usually calm husband’s eyes.

She shifted her gaze back to Song Fang and started talking to her while Doctor Li took Jinbao’s pulse. "He’s taken medicine, but there hasn’t been any improvement yet."

Song Fang reassured her, "It’s normal for children to have minor ailments. Sister-in-law, don’t worry too much. With Doctor Li here, Jinbao will be fine."

Xu Shu approached and gently pinched Jinbao’s chubby cheek, "Hey! This little guy, during that last birthday grab ceremony, was a stubborn little thing. Now with this illness, he’s become such a little helpless soul."

Song Fang glared at him, "Can’t you keep your hands to yourself?"

Xu Shu withdrew his hand, "What’s wrong with me showing concern for my little nephew?"

"Don’t disturb his sleep," Song Fang said, pulling him away. "Jinbao is already uncomfortable. If you wake him and he starts crying, can you manage to calm him down?"

"If I can’t, I can always learn, can’t I?" Xu Shu retorted.

Wen Wan: "..." Before marriage, they bickered, and after marriage, they still bicker. It’s hard to imagine how this couple manages their daily life.

At this time, Granny Song entered the room and, hearing Xu Shu and Song Fang arguing, immediately put on a stern face, "You two, go and sit over there!"

Hearing his mother-in-law’s voice, Xu Shu immediately became subdued and, with head down, called out to his mother-in-law respectfully.

As Xu Shu was the son-in-law, and of high family status, Granny Song couldn’t directly reprimand him, fearing he might take it out on her daughter later. So she directed her glare at Song Fang, "Why couldn’t you have your argument earlier or later but chose now when my grandson is sick? Are you bored, or what?"

Song Fang knew that they were in the wrong, so she quickly stepped forward to hug her mother’s arm, putting on a coquettish smile, "Can’t I just admit I’m wrong?"

Granny Song snorted lightly, "Why the sudden visit?"

Song Fang explained once more that Doctor Li was originally at the General Mansion diagnosing granny, and Third Brother had gone to find him. After they learned about Jinbao’s condition, they decided to come along.

After Song Fang finished speaking, she glanced at her little nephew and sighed softly, "It’s true what they say, illnesses strike suddenly and severely. That saying is indeed accurate."

When not sick, Jinbao was an active little guy, his two little hands never staying still, always wanting to touch and poke at everything he saw.

Now that he’s ill, even if he wants to eat or play, he doesn’t have the energy.

After examining him, Doctor Li diagnosed it as a wind-heat condition. It wasn’t very serious, but it needed attention, especially given the temperature differences in the Capital during mornings and evenings. Special care should be taken when bathing and changing clothes for the child.

He then looked over the previous doctor’s prescription, found it unsuitable, and revised it, instructing them to get the new medicine and give it to the little one after the afternoon.

After Doctor Li finished checking the pulse, Granny Song wanted to invite him for a meal, but he politely declined.

Xu Shu came forward and said, "Mother-in-law, there’s no need to insist. Grandpa Li has a rule not to eat at the patient’s home. You go ahead, I’ll see him off."

Unable to keep Doctor Li, Granny Song headed straight to the kitchen to instruct Mrs. Jin to set the table for the meal.