SGEIRS -Chapter 578 Two Tagalongs

The Fourth Prince’s illness grew more severe by the day, and the imperial physicians were completely at a loss.

Emperor Jingwen scolded everyone in the Imperial Medical Academy from top to bottom. Even Director Li, the academy’s chief physician renowned for his superb medical skills, was berated harshly. In the past, whenever the Fourth Prince fell gravely ill and hovered on the brink of death, it was Director Li who had turned danger into safety with his deft hands. Yet this time, even he had no solution.

With the imperial physicians powerless, Emperor Jingwen had no choice but to order notices posted throughout the capital, seeking skilled doctors among the common people to treat the Fourth Prince.

Around this time, Meng Jinyao was chatting idly with Gu Jingxi. When the topic turned to the Fourth Prince, she suddenly thought of Physician Wen and asked, “Husband, does Physician Wen have no way to treat the Fourth Prince either?”

Gu Jingxi replied, “The Fourth Prince’s illness isn’t within Physician Wen’s area of expertise.”

Meng Jinyao exclaimed in surprise, “Huh?” In her mind, Physician Wen was a miracle doctor who could cure anything. Who in the capital didn’t praise his medical skills? With a deft hand he revived the dying; with one dose the illness was gone.

Gu Jingxi continued, “Physician Wen specializes in… men’s issues, and he’s also very good at treating women’s infertility.”

Meng Jinyao said, “But I’ve seen that Physician Wen knows so much. He even makes beauty creams for skincare.”

“If that old man knew how highly you thought of him, A-Yao, he’d be smug in front of me for ages.”

Gu Jingxi smiled faintly and went on, “He does tinker around with all sorts of things, so he knows a fair bit, but that doesn’t mean he’s good at treating every illness. He truly excels at just those two. People who seek him out are either men with… problems in that area, or women who can’t conceive after years of trying. The ladies of the inner palace mostly go to him for beauty prescriptions, or to pray for children. Of course, as long as it’s not a particularly tricky illness, he can still handle other ailments too.”

After hearing this, Meng Jinyao paused, then nodded lightly. She still held Physician Wen in very high regard. Both she and her husband were beneficiaries of his superb medical skills—she had been cold-natured and found it difficult to conceive, her husband had a hidden ailment—and it was all cured by Physician Wen. Now they had Wanwan.

As for matters of life, illness, aging, and death, they were beyond their control. Gu Jingxi changed the subject. “A-Yao, Gu Xiuheng is about to wake up. If we head out now, we won’t get stuck by him clinging to us and end up unable to leave.”

Hearing the undisguised urgency in his tone, Meng Jinyao glanced at him, both amused and exasperated. “Husband, you really are Wanwan’s good father. If Mother knew how much you dislike her precious grandson, she’d definitely scold you.”

Gu Jingxi selectively listened to only what he liked—the first half—and automatically ignored the rest. “You’re only realizing this now? When he’s awake, how many poems and verses have I recited to coax him to sleep? When he grows up and becomes a great talent, he’ll have to thank his father for cultivating him from such a young age.”

Meng Jinyao was left speechless. What kind of good father recites poetry to put a baby to sleep? Only her husband would do such a thing, claiming it nurtured temperament from an early age and would be of great benefit in the future. As if a milk-drinking baby could understand any of it—it was like chanting sutras to a monk. After listening for a while, Wanwan would grow sleepy and fall asleep.

“Let’s go, or he’ll wake up and start fussing for us,” Gu Jingxi said, standing up as he spoke, looking like he didn’t want to linger at home even a moment longer.

Meng Jinyao shot him a reproachful look. Though somewhat helpless, she still went along with him. Wanwan was still little—pick him up and coax him a bit and it would be fine. Her husband, however, was already grown; he wasn’t so easy to fool. If he started sulking later, a few soft words wouldn’t cut it—she’d be exhausted by nightfall.

“Third Aunt! Third Aunt!”

Suddenly, Gu Xuanyi’s voice rang out from outside. She hadn’t even appeared yet when her voice came rushing in. The girl was as brisk and energetic as ever, trotting in at a run. She automatically ignored her third uncle and went straight for her third aunt, hugging Meng Jinyao’s arm.

Meng Jinyao was just about to ask what had happened when Gu Xuanyi blurted out, “Third Aunt, my mother is nagging again about finding me a husband. Last time I brought two little kids—one ten, one twelve—to provoke her, and she quieted down for a while. Now she’s started again. Let me hide here for a bit. If she comes looking later, just say you didn’t see me today.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at his niece, pulled his wife’s arm free from her grasp, and said coolly, “You can stay here, then. Your third aunt and I are heading out. If we’re not around, your mother won’t barge in recklessly.”

Only then did Gu Xuanyi realize he was there. She froze, instantly a bit embarrassed, and laughed awkwardly. “Third Uncle, you’re here too? I was in such a hurry just now, I didn’t notice you.”

Gu Jingxi: “……”

Gu Xuanyi went on, “You and Third Aunt are going out? Why don’t you take me along too? Once we’re out, I promise I won’t bother you.”

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi’s mouth twitched. He had just been about to shake off that little tagalong Gu Xiuheng, and now here came a big tagalong instead? He shot his niece an unhappy look, hoping she’d take the hint and retract what she’d just said.

But at that very moment, the wet nurse came in carrying Wanwan, who was crying loudly, and bowed. “Madam, the young heir has been crying for you. This servant couldn’t soothe him.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at his wailing son, then shot another glare at his niece. If not for this girl holding them up, he’d have already ditched the little tagalong—he’d been just that close.

Gu Xuanyi belatedly realized she seemed to have done a “good deed” unintentionally. Her third uncle’s face was dark, his resentment obvious. If not for Third Aunt’s sake, he’d probably have sent someone to fetch her mother immediately to drag her home.

Meng Jinyao didn’t bother with how gloomy her husband was. She first took her crying son from the wet nurse, soothing him gently. Before long, the little fellow stopped crying. She then turned and placed him straight into her niece’s arms.

Gu Xuanyi hurriedly held her fourth younger brother securely, staring at her third uncle and third aunt in confusion.

Meng Jinyao curved her lips into a smile, lovingly patted her head, and said softly, “Xuanyi, Third Aunt knows you’re the most obedient. Your third uncle and I are busy today, so help Third Aunt take care of your fourth brother. If we’re not home and you’re busy looking after him, your mother won’t come bother you.”

As she finished speaking, she took Gu Jingxi’s hand. Her fingers discreetly scratched his palm, and her voice turned gentle, almost coaxing, “Husband, let’s go.”

In just that short moment, Gu Jingxi was placated. He glanced at the little tagalong in the arms of the big tagalong and finally showed his niece a smile. “Xuanyi, if he won’t sleep, just recite some poetry to him. In less than a quarter of an hour, he’ll be asleep.”

Gu Xuanyi: “……” Her third uncle changed his face far too quickly.

By the time she snapped out of it, her third uncle and third aunt had already left hand in hand. The room was left with only the wet nurse and her, standing there dazed, holding her fourth brother.

Once they were out in the courtyard, Meng Jinyao pressed her lips together in a smile and teased him. “Look at you, acting like a resentful wife. Wasn’t it perfect timing for Xuanyi to come over? Let her help with the baby. From now on, whenever she comes, let her look after him. She helps, we get to relax and do our own things. You can strategize and maneuver in the official court with ease—how is it that when it comes to little things like this, your brain stops working?”

Gu Jingxi said solemnly, “One pregnancy makes you stupid for three years.”

Meng Jinyao shot him a glare. “I’m the one who was pregnant.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “But I’m the one who’s stupid.”

Hearing that, Meng Jinyao couldn’t help but laugh out loud.