Chapter 62
The carriage was swaying on the road, neither fast nor slow.
Wei Yan asked him, “Did you encounter anything today?”
Lu Ze held his hand in his palm and said, “Nothing else. I spent the whole day reading in the Hanlin Academy. It’s just that I came too early this morning, and the Hanlin Academy hadn’t lit its lamps yet. When I arrived, the Zhuangyuan and Bangyan of the same year had already arrived, and they were all waiting outside the door. It wasn’t until the hour of the rabbit that we entered.”
Wei Yan couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve already said that the Hanlin Academy is leisurely, and there are no important matters. The office hours are always late. You don’t have to be in such a hurry. You can have breakfast at home before you come.”
“Thank you for inquiring about the situation, Fulang. Now I’ve learned my lesson.” Lu Ze squeezed his hand and looked up to ask, “What about you? This trip to the palace, is it for the matter of the Western Qin’s tribute?”
Wei Yan nodded. “At this juncture, what else can there be?” Wei Yan looked at him and said, “After the court meeting today, all the masters stayed in the imperial study to discuss how to deal with the matter of the Western Qin. I told them your thoughts, and His Majesty seemed to be moved. If he wants to see you in a few days, have you thought about how to respond?”
Lu Ze said, “Fulang has fought for me. How can I not seize the opportunity?”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The carriage was neither fast nor slow. The shouts on the street outside were one after another. Lu Ze lifted the curtain and looked out, and saw all kinds of vendors shuttling back and forth, looking extremely lively.
Wei Yan looked out the window, and his gaze paused on a vendor holding a stick of candied haws. Seeing this, Lu Ze had the coachman stop. He got off for a while and came back with a candied haw.
“Here.” Lu Ze handed the thing to him. Wei Yan paused, but still reached out to take it, peeled off the outer skin, and took a bite, and his brows instantly furrowed into a ball.
Lu Ze paused and couldn’t help but laugh. “Sour?”
Wei Yan took a sharp breath, hissed twice, and nodded. “I remember it was sweet… how can it be so sour?”
Lu Ze took a bite, and his face was also instantly twisted. Seeing this, Wei Yan couldn’t help but pat him. “I’ve already said it’s sour. Why did you have to try it?”
“I have to taste what the Marquis has been thinking about,” Lu Ze said.
Wei Yan was silent for a while, then said, “I was poor when I was young. I happened to be walking on the street and saw another child holding a string of candied haws and smiling happily, so I thought it was some kind of supreme delicacy, and I was very greedy. Later, a child’s candied haw accidentally fell on the ground. I picked it up and ate it, and I only felt that it was incomparably sweet, and I’ve been thinking about it for so many years. Now, when I taste it again, it’s completely different from what I imagined.”
Lu Ze’s action paused, but he bit another one into his mouth. This time, his face was unchanged, and he just said, “It’s not yet the season for hawthorns to ripen, so it’s naturally astringent to eat. When we have time, we can go to the outskirts of the city to pick some hawthorns and make them ourselves when we get back. I’m sure it will be incomparably sweet.”
As he spoke, he held the candied haw in front of Wei Yan and said, “Although the hawthorn is sour, the sugar coating on the outside is sweet, so it’s at least edible.”
Wei Yan glanced at him, opened his mouth and gently bit a mouthful of the condensed rock sugar on the outer layer. There was no sourness, only a trace of sweetness.
Lu Ze raised an eyebrow. “How does it compare to the string of candied haws in the Marquis’s memory?”
Wei Yan glanced at him and said vaguely, “It’s about the same.”
Although the sweetness was a little lacking, times had changed, and the current situation was much better than before, which could make up for the lack.
Although he didn’t say it explicitly, Lu Ze smiled. Wei Yan glanced at him again, took a bite of the sugar coating and held it in his mouth to let it melt, and lowered his eyes with a light smile, not speaking.
…
By the time they reached the gate of the house, the butler was already waiting outside. Seeing the carriage stop, he quickly went up to them. “Master, Marquis.”
Wei Yan glanced at him and asked, “What’s wrong?”
The butler followed behind the two of them and said, “Imperial Physician Xu from the palace has come. He said that he was ordered by His Majesty to come and take care of the Marquis’s body.”
Wei Yan’s steps paused, and he frowned. “My body is fine. What’s there to take care of?”
The butler stammered and tactfully advised, “The imperial physician has already come and has been waiting for a while. Why don’t you go and have a look, Marquis…”
Wei Yan strode forward. “I’m not sick. What’s there to see an imperial physician for? Even if I’m not sick, he’ll find something wrong.”
The butler walked behind him and said earnestly, “It won’t delay anything. If nothing else, it’s also good to just have a peace pulse diagnosis. It just so happens that the master is also here, so the imperial physician can also have a look at the master!”
Wei Yan’s steps paused, and he looked back at him. The butler smiled sheepishly, his gaze unconsciously falling on Lu Ze on the side, and he continued to advise, “…Even if there’s nothing wrong, you can be more at ease. It won’t take much effort. What do you think, master?”
Lu Ze was on the side. He looked at Wei Yan’s tightly furrowed brows, and his gaze paused for a moment, but he smiled. “The butler is right. It just so happens that I’ve also been feeling unwell these past few days. It’s not a bad idea to have the imperial physician have a look.”
Wei Yan was silent for a long time, then tutted, glanced at the butler, and said, “Where is he? Why aren’t you leading the way?”
The butler quickly took a small step forward and led the two of them towards the front hall of the main courtyard.
After entering the front hall, they saw an old man with half-white hair and beard sitting inside. Hearing the noise, he quickly got up, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Marquis.”
Wei Yan let out a noncommittal “hmm,” sat down on the side, and Lu Ze also sat down.
Wei Yan looked up. “Please sit down, Imperial Physician Xu.”
Imperial Physician Xu sat down gracefully. His gaze paused on Lu Ze for a moment, and he stroked his beard, and then bowed again. “I presume this is the Tanhualang. This old man pays his respects.”
Lu Ze smiled. “You don’t have to be so polite, Imperial Physician. Please sit down.”
Imperial Physician Xu did not refuse and sat down. Just as he was about to say something, Wei Yan said, “My master’s body seems to be not very well. Why don’t you have a look at him first, Imperial Physician?”
Imperial Physician Xu paused and didn’t say anything, but just turned to look at Lu Ze and said with a smile, “Please extend your hand, Master Lu.”
Lu Ze glanced at Wei Yan and obediently placed his hand on the pulse diagnosis. Imperial Physician Xu raised his hand and placed it lightly, closed his eyes in contemplation, and after a moment, he withdrew his hand and stroked his beard, and slowly said, “Master Lu’s body is not in any serious danger, but he has been working hard in his studies these past few years, so his foundation is a little weak. But it’s not a big deal. I’ll prescribe a few decoctions, and Master Lu will be fine after drinking them. You should also pay attention to moving around more on weekdays and not sit for a long time, as it is not good for your body.”
After he finished speaking, he picked up a brush and wrote a long string of medicinal herbs on the paper. After blowing it dry, he handed it to Lu Ze. “Just have someone get the medicine according to this, master. After drinking it for a period of time, you will be much better.”
Lu Ze took it. “Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Xu.”
Imperial Physician Xu nodded with a light smile, and his gaze fell on Wei Yan again. “Marquis, on this trip, His Majesty has specially instructed this old official to do his best to see you, and he will have to report to His Majesty after returning to the palace.”
Wei Yan said with some impatience, “I’ve been seen so many times. Why do you have to be so troublesome?”
Imperial Physician Xu patiently smiled. “His Majesty is also worried about you, Marquis. And it’s been so long since the last consultation. Of course, I have to take your pulse again to know your current physical condition.”
Wei Yan let out a breath and didn’t say anything more. He just looked at Lu Ze and said, “It will probably take a while on my side. Why don’t you give the prescription to the servants first, so they can go and get the medicine, and you can drink it at night.”
Lu Ze’s action paused. He knew what he was thinking, and after glancing at him, he didn’t say anything. He went out as he was told and just said to Imperial Physician Xu, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Imperial Physician Xu.”
Imperial Physician Xu lowered his head slightly. “You’re too kind, master.”
Lu Ze turned and went out. The butler was waiting outside. Lu Ze handed him the prescription. Seeing that he had carefully put it away, he asked, “How is the Marquis’s body? Is there anything wrong?”
“Uh…” The butler stammered for a moment, then said, “Actually, this servant is not clear either. I only know that the Marquis probably has some old ailments from the battlefield. His Majesty often sends imperial physicians to see the Marquis. At first, the Marquis would accept it, but after a few more times, he became impatient, and every time, he had to be coaxed with kind words before he would see anyone. This time, it was thanks to the master that the Marquis was so cooperative.”
Lu Ze thought for a moment. “Does the Marquis usually show any discomfort?”
The butler shook his head. “Not really. Even if he did, the Marquis probably wouldn’t want us to know.”
Lu Ze was silent for a moment and didn’t say anything more. He just waved his hand. “I know. You can go and arrange it first.”
The butler agreed and then went down.
Wei Yan’s words that he needed some time were not false. Lu Ze waited outside for a long time before he saw the old imperial physician walk out slowly. When he saw him, he quickly bowed. “Master Lu.”
Lu Ze nodded slightly. “You don’t have to be so polite, Imperial Physician Xu.”
He took a step forward. “Thank you for your trouble on this trip, Imperial Physician Xu. It’s getting late. Be careful on the road.”
Imperial Physician Xu had originally thought that he was waiting here to ask him about the Marquis of Weibei’s situation, but he didn’t expect him to not mention this matter at all, and just had a young maid see him out, and even gave him a tip before he left.
Imperial Physician Xu was a little surprised in his heart, but he didn’t show it on his face and just said, “Thank you, Marquis. The Marquis’s body should be fine in the future if you pay more attention to it.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician,” Lu Ze said with a warm smile. He watched as the person slowly walked away before he strode towards the front hall.
Wei Yan was looking at the prescription on the table, his face not looking good.
Lu Ze walked over and looked, and saw that it was densely packed with words, at least twice as many as on Lu Ze’s prescription.
Lu Ze’s eyelids twitched. He looked at Wei Yan and said, “So many medicines?”
Wei Yan’s face was ugly. “I don’t see any use in drinking them, and I have to drink them every day.”
Lu Ze smiled and comforted him, “The prescription prescribed by the imperial physician is naturally useful. More or less, you may not feel it obviously yourself, but in the eyes of others, your body will definitely have changed.”
He sat down on the side and asked casually, “By the way, what did the imperial physician say just now? How is your body?”
Wei Yan’s action paused. “It’s still the same old story.”
He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, and muttered, “I was injured on the battlefield before, so it’s inevitable that there are some after-effects. It’s not very serious. But His Majesty is not at ease and always has to send an imperial physician. After so long of treatment, it’s still the same. It’s nothing more than saying that I can’t be too tired, that I can’t do this and that. It’s just the same old story.”
Lu Ze smiled and said, “Is the Marquis impatient with the imperial physician’s words, or do you not want to drink such bitter medicine?”
Wei Yan glanced at him and chuckled. “Joke, am I afraid?”
Lu Ze tilted his head and thought for a moment. “That’s right. The Marquis has made outstanding military achievements. It’s just a bowl of medicine. It’s naturally not a problem.”
Wei Yan’s face paused for a moment, and he forced himself to say, “Naturally.”
Lu Ze just smiled without speaking.
After dinner, the two of them first walked in the garden for a while, then went to the study to read for a while, until the bright moon was high in the sky, and only then did they prepare to rest.
After bathing, Wei Yan’s hair was still wet. Lu Ze picked up a dry towel and wiped his hair for him, and said, “You said you have old injuries, but you’re so careless. You sleep with your hair wet. How can you blame the imperial physician for nagging?”
Wei Yan’s hair was under his control, so he tactfully didn’t say anything and just muttered a few words, and Lu Ze didn’t hear what he said.
After his hair was almost dry, a maid knocked on the door and brought the decoction.
It was just right, two servings for two people.
Wei Yan glanced at him, and his brows couldn’t help but furrow. But he saw Lu Ze tilt his head back and drink it all without any hesitation. Wei Yan’s face stiffened again.
Lu Ze turned his head to look at him and asked in confusion, “Marquis?”
“The decoction is just right to drink. It will be cold if you don’t drink it now.”
Wei Yan pursed his lips and said, “I’ll drink it.”
As he spoke, he picked up the medicine bowl, frowned, held his breath, and drank it all in one gulp like Lu Ze.
As soon as he put down the medicine bowl, before Wei Yan could savor the bitterness in his mouth, something touched his lips.
Wei Yan subconsciously opened his mouth and felt something sweet. It was a candied fruit.
Lu Ze had someone clean up the soup bowls. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but say, “If you don’t like it, you don’t like it. What’s there to pretend in front of me?”
Wei Yan subconsciously chewed a few times. Hearing this, his eyes lowered slightly, and he felt the sweetness in his mouth, and he hummed a few times. “You knew and you still teased me…”
Perhaps because he had suffered enough in his childhood, Wei Yan didn’t want to eat anything bitter when he grew up, especially this kind of decoction, and he didn’t have a good impression of it.
Lu Ze smiled and said, “How would I dare to tease you…”
He moved a little closer, lowered his head and kissed his lips, and sucked lightly. It was sweet, and it also had the sweetness of candied fruit.
He said in a muffled voice, “I just wanted to tell you that if you have anything to say, you can just tell me directly. Why do you have to hide it?”
“We are husband and wife, and we are the closest people.”
Wei Yan’s neck was raised, his lips were slightly parted, his whole body was soft, and he slowly lay down on the bed.
Lu Ze’s kiss slid down. Just as their clothes were in a mess, Wei Yan suddenly rested his forehead on his, his breathing a little panting. “No.”
Lu Ze looked up at him, his eyes filled with desire and confusion.
Wei Yan swallowed and said, “The imperial physician didn’t want to mention it to you before, so he told me that… that your body is weak, and you can’t have sex every night like the past few days. You can’t…”
Lu Ze raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face. “What?”
Wei Yan held the bed with one hand and took a step back, looking at him carefully. “You can’t indulge in lust…”
