Chapter 116: The Li Clan Relatives (Part One)

Page (1/3)

Outside, the biting cold wind howled fiercely as snowflakes, no larger than fingernails, swirled through the sky. Snow had begun to fall, and the once bustling and lively streets now lay quiet and deserted. The snow blanketed the entire county, blurring familiar houses into indistinct shapes. Towering eaves loomed like the jagged fangs of a fearsome beast, exuding an eerie, chilling aura.

Amidst this vast expanse of white, a procession of a dozen or so horse-drawn carriages sped along the official road. These carriages, adorned with intricately carved beams and painted pillars, were clearly no ordinary conveyances. The drivers were stalwart, muscular men, each dressed in fine garments and mounted on spirited horses, though the heavy snowfall left them somewhat bedraggled.

The urgent clatter of hooves drew near and then receded. A squad of fully armed soldiers darted around the carriages. One soldier clad in gleaming armor leaned forward while on horseback and addressed the carriage: “My lord, the storm is fierce and relentless. It may be difficult to proceed. Three miles ahead lies the county town of Luquan. Perhaps it’s best to take shelter from the storm and continue tomorrow.”

A voice from within the carriage, tinged with authority, answered, “Tonight, we shall rest at the official inn in Luquan county. Tomorrow, we will resume our journey. Once in town, seek out the renowned physicians to treat the princess’s illness!”

“Understood!” The soldier prepared to leave but then turned his horse back. “My lord, upon entering the town, shall we notify the county magistrate of Luquan?”

There was a pause from within the carriage. Clearly, if not for the sudden blizzard, the convoy would not have halted in Luquan county. Perhaps fate had forced the occupants into an awkward predicament.

“Do not disturb the magistrate immediately. Once everything is settled, inform the county office.”

The wheels ground against the snow with a creaking sound.

“Move on!” The wheels rolled relentlessly toward Luquan county.

The unexpected snowfall chilled the county gate clerks to the bone. They hunched their shoulders, hands tucked into their sleeves, clutching their quarterstaffs, their usual imposing demeanor vanished. All they wished now was to lock the gates early and return home to rest.

Thud, thud, thud—the sound of approaching hooves grew louder. The clerks craned their necks as a shadowy figure emerged from the storm. A gaze colder than the winter wind swept over the clerks’ faces. The figure pointed a spear and commanded, “Listen well! The governor of Hengzhou is arriving shortly. Disperse all idlers at the city gate and notify the official inn to prepare for the reception. What are you standing there for? Hurry!”

At the sight of the dark silhouette, several clerks felt an urge to flee, yet in these peaceful times, no bandit dared assault the county town—at least none were known to do so since the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.

The clerks gathered courage but then heard “Governor of Hengzhou.” One fainted in fright; the rest quickly recovered and began dispersing the nearby vagrants and onlookers.

Before long, the convoy slowly entered Luquan county. The clerks at the gate were as silent as mice, caught off guard and unsure of what to do, even forgetting to notify the county office.

Page (2/3)

The carriages made their way slowly toward the official inn. The streets were deserted, attracting no particular attention.

Inside one carriage, a middle-aged man furrowed his brow deeply, anxiety plainly etched on his face. Impatiently, he lifted the curtain and looked outside. “How much longer until we reach the inn? Have messengers been sent to find a skilled physician?”

“My lord... we are nearly there. Messengers have been dispatched. The princess’s illness will soon be treated.”

The middle-aged man sighed deeply. This was the worst possible timing! When the Princess of Jinyuan set out, she was well. How did the snowstorm cause her to fall ill? It must be the fault of those servants and maids who failed to care for her properly. They should all be punished!

As his gaze swept across the street, it suddenly caught on something. A modest carriage stood outside an unremarkable doorway amidst the snow. A few warriors stood beside it. The man’s pupils contracted sharply. “Wokou! How could they appear in Luquan county?”

“Send someone to inquire about the owner of that household. Why are Wokou here?”

A guard promptly obeyed.

Luquan county was small; the swift horse ride from south to north took no more than half an incense stick’s time. The convoy soon arrived at the inn’s gate. The innkeeper nearly soiled himself with fright upon hearing the governor had arrived. Such an unexpected visit should have been announced beforehand. In the ensuing chaos, the inn was thrown into turmoil, with staff forcibly ejecting all outsiders.

The inn was a clean government establishment and seldom housed many guests. Relying on the principle of living off the land and water, it occasionally accommodated merchants to earn extra income. Now, those merchants huddled in their rooms, bewildered by the commotion as the staff flung people and goods out into the street.

Several well-known physicians, pulled from their beds, stood silently at the inn’s entrance, clueless about what was happening. A cold wind swept through, and before the patients could be seen, the physicians themselves seemed to falter.

The middle-aged man stepped down from the carriage, and the physicians were immediately forced to kneel in the snow.

“The princess has caught a chill by chance. If you can cure her, I shall reward you handsomely! Hurry...!”

The physicians, as if granted a great pardon, hurried off. Yet after a few steps, one trembled violently and collapsed into the snow. The surrounding guards paid no heed to the physicians’ plight; two seized the fallen man and carried him away.

One physician cried out, “I am a gynecologist. The princess suffers from typhoid mixed with other ailments. I am powerless to help. Please, let me return!”

Another shouted, “I am a veterinarian. I cannot treat the princess’s typhoid. My lord, please seek someone more competent!”

The middle-aged man’s brows furrowed deeply, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes. “If you cannot cure the princess, you shall all accompany her to the grave!”

The physicians were instantly stricken with despair. Typhoid in winter was not the same as in summer. Traditional medicine categorized typhoid into five types: windstroke, typhoid, damp-warmth, heat disease, and warm disease, each associated with six pathogenic factors—wind, cold, heat, dampness, dryness, and fire. The princess’s illness was clearly caused by cold invading the body, compounded by her weak constitution and poor adaptation to cold and warmth. It was almost a fatal malady. Even if she survived, she would likely be permanently debilitated. How could they possibly cure her?

Moreover, these physicians were fearful. They were not imperial doctors, and the patient was a princess. Before even attempting treatment, their courage had failed.

The middle-aged man’s displeasure grew, but he was powerless. Hengzhou did have a renowned physician, but he was well into his seventies. Traveling back and forth could take an uncertain length of time. He wondered if Wan’er could hold on.

As he hesitated whether to send for help, a guard reported, “My lord, inquiries have been made. The Wokou are envoys who recently left the capital. The household’s master is named Zhen Qian, from the Zhen family of Zhending…”

The man nodded. It was not unusual for envoys from Wokou to come to the Tang dynasty to study, a practice dating back to the Sui dynasty. Since the founding of the Tang dynasty, the first official mission had arrived in the fourth year of the Zhenguan era. This was now the tenth. Rumor had it they were preparing to return to Wokou, so why had they appeared here in Hengzhou’s Luquan county?

The Zhending Zhen family naturally knew of this, but this Zhen Qian... a vague memory stirred.

The guard hurriedly added, “He is the very Zhen Qian who wrote ‘On the Love of the Lotus’!”

“Ah, so it is him!” The essay was well known throughout Hengzhou. It was not strange that Zhen Qian was unfamiliar before, but now his fame was indisputable.

“My lord! There is more to the story. In the tenth year of the Tianbao era, Zhen Qian passed the Ming Suan and Ming Jing examinations consecutively. On his way home, his startled horse threw him off at the city gate, causing him to lose his memory. Half a year later, he regained consciousness but was said to have changed in temperament and behavior, seen by many as mad. After conflicts with the Zhen family, he left home and established himself anew in Luquan county. Within a year, he earned a reputation as a local benefactor, often helping orphans and the elderly, repairing walls and paving roads. The Drunken Immortal Tavern in Zhending city also belongs to the Zhen family…” The guard swallowed nervously before continuing.

Page (3/3)