Chapter 190
Returning home with a restless mind, she ran into Jiang Mingzhe seeing the doctor out.
"You're back." Jiang Mingzhe held Ye Yunniang's hands. They were so cold.
Jiang Mingzhe held Ye Yunniang's hands to warm them up for her.
"What did the doctor say?"
"The doctor suggested we find someone more skilled. Tomorrow, I've invited two doctors from the capital's Huichun Hall." Jiang Mingzhe explained his arrangements and then asked Ye Yunniang, "Did you find Aunt Chu's family?"
"I provoked someone I shouldn't have."
Ye Yunniang told Jiang Mingzhe everything without hiding a single detail, from delivering the letter and meeting the Chu family to being stopped and spoken to by Zhong Zhaoli.
"Don't worry. The Duke of Zhong's mansion has strict family rules; they won't let Miss Zhong do anything that treats human life as dirt," Jiang Mingzhe comforted Ye Yunniang.
"Really?"
"Trust me."
Ye Yunniang nodded. She trusted Jiang Mingzhe.
"Do you regret it?" Jiang Mingzhe suddenly changed the subject.
"Regret what?"
"Marrying me and abandoning Tong Mo."
"What nonsense are you talking about? I never thought about being with Tong Mo. You are the only man in my heart. You are the father of my child."
Jiang Mingzhe embraced Ye Yunniang. This was the first time he had heard Ye Yunniang express her feelings for him with his own ears.
The two leaned against each other, enjoying this moment of warmth and tenderness.
Jiang Mingzhe went out to inquire about Imperial Physician Gu.
Ye Yunniang went to see Cai Damei.
Under Ye Yunniang's careful care, Cai Damei's complexion had become a bit rosier, and she had gained a little weight.
Ye Yunniang took the fish head and tofu soup from Qiushuang's hands.
She scooped a spoonful to feed Cai Damei, "Mother, drink some fish soup. Today's fish head and tofu soup has been stewing since morning. The fish and tofu have melted right into the broth; it's incredibly savory."
Cai Damei could now drink some liquid foods like broth, porridge, and egg custard. These weren't very filling, so she had to be fed seven or eight times a day.
After finishing a bowl of fish soup, Ye Yunniang stopped and cleaned Cai Damei's mouth.
Zisu and Qingdai, who served Cai Damei, entered the room.
"Thank you for your hard work," Ye Yunniang stood up and made room.
Zisu and Qingdai massaged Cai Damei's body to relieve the fatigue caused by lying down for so long.
Ye Yunniang watched from the side and talked to Cai Damei.
She mostly talked about the children.
Cai Damei liked hearing about the children, especially about Li Pan.
Ye Yunniang also brought essays written by Li Pan and read one to Cai Damei every day.
Ye Yunniang had observed that when Cai Damei heard Li Pan's essays, her eyelids would twitch.
This proved that Cai Damei was conscious. She could hear people talking, but just couldn't answer.
When the female physicians finished the massage, Cai Shuyi and Li An arrived.
Cai Shuyi leaned on the edge of the bed and talked to Cai Damei.
Li An talked with Ye Yunniang.
Seeing that Li An had nothing to do every day, Ye Yunniang had someone inquire about nearby academies. She planned to send Li An there to study as a guest student for a while.
"Mother, I want to study medicine." Li An didn't want to go to the academy.
"An'an, don't."
Li An grabbed Ye Yunniang's hand, "Mother, I really want to study medicine. Can you send me to study medicine, please?"
"Studying medicine is very hard work."
"Reading and learning characters is also hard work. Mother, I'm not afraid of hardship."
"You really want to learn?"
"I want to."
"Alright." Ye Yunniang agreed to Li An's request.
"Mother, you're the best." Li An hugged Ye Yunniang and rubbed affectionately against her embrace.
Since her son wanted to study medicine, as a mother, she would fully support him.
Ye Yunniang first had someone buy all the medical books available on the market and send them to Li An.
She also went to inquire about the reputations of various doctors, focusing particularly on whether they would physically punish their apprentices.
She couldn't bear to lay even a single finger on her own child, so she certainly didn't want to send him away just to be beaten.
When Jiang Mingzhe was hiring doctors, he conveniently looked into this as well.
Ye Yunniang and Li An looked over the options and discussed which doctor to study under.
Qiushuang walked in. "Madam, Chu Nian is here."
Ye Yunniang thought for a moment about who Chu Nian was.
Letting Li An read the materials, Ye Yunniang went to the reception room.
Chu Nian was looking down and drinking tea. Hearing footsteps, he put down his teacup and stood up.
Chu Nian respectfully bowed to Ye Yunniang.
"Chu Nian thanks Madam."
"Boss Chu, there's no need to be so polite. I was merely entrusted by someone else." Ye Yunniang reached out her hand to gesture for Chu Nian to sit down and talk.
Chu Nian's attitude was very good today, without the furious rage seen the day before.
After drinking a cup of tea, Chu Nian stated his purpose for coming.
His grandfather, Chu Nan, wanted to invite Ye Yunniang to visit the Chu Family Pharmacy once more.
Chu Nan originally intended to come in person, but after reading the contents of the letter, he became too emotionally agitated and fell ill.
Ye Yunniang agreed to go to the Chu Family Pharmacy tomorrow.
"Madam is looking for a doctor who can cure the Thousand-Day Sleep poison."
"Yes, does Boss Chu know who can cure it?"
"When my grandfather was young, he cured a patient who was poisoned with Thousand-Day Sleep. However," Chu Nian hesitated here.
"Boss Chu, feel free to speak your mind."
"After the poison was cured, the patient didn't even live for a year."
"How many months?"
"Eight months."
Ye Yunniang couldn't accept that Cai Damei would only live for eight months after waking up. She wanted to stay by her side forever.
After seeing Chu Nian off, Ye Yunniang went to the study to find Jiang Mingzhe.
Jiang Mingzhe was listening to Chen Xiang report on the business operations of their shops in the capital.
When Ye Yunniang entered, the two stopped talking.
"I'll come back later," Ye Yunniang said, turning to leave.
"We just finished," Jiang Mingzhe helped Ye Yunniang sit down. "What's wrong?"
Ye Yunniang told Jiang Mingzhe about Chu Nian's visit.
"Tomorrow, I'll go with you."
"Okay."
Early the next morning, Ye Yunniang and Jiang Mingzhe took a carriage to the Chu Family Pharmacy.
Chu Nian was waiting at the door and led them to the backyard.
Chu Nan was half-leaning on the bed, and a luxuriously dressed lady sat by the bedside.
"Grandfather, Madam Jiang is here."
Jiang Mingzhe and Ye Yunniang bowed in greeting.
"Sit down. I'm old and useless now. I've troubled you to make another trip while pregnant."
"You are too polite, old sir. You are an elder, and as a junior, it is only right for me to come and see you," Ye Yunniang said politely.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Chu Nan asked Ye Yunniang about Chu Yuying.
Ye Yunniang recounted everything, from meeting Chu Yuying to being entrusted with the task before they parted ways.
Ye Yunniang also gave Chu Nan the address of Chu Yuying's restaurant in Ludou.
"Girl, thank you for telling me about my younger sister's situation. It allows me to have the face to see our parents after I die." When Chu Nan mentioned his parents, his eyes turned slightly red.
After more than thirty years, he had finally found his little sister's whereabouts.
Chu Nan had a coughing fit, his entire body trembling.
"Brother Nan, now that we have Yuying's address, I will send someone to bring her back. You must take good care of yourself and wait for her to return. Our family will be reunited," the lady comforted Chu Nan.
Chu Nan waved his hand. He knew his own body; he didn't have many days left.
Chu Nan waved Chu Nian over.
Chu Nian walked to the bed holding a box.
Trembling, Chu Nan opened it, took out a thin booklet, and handed it to Ye Yunniang.
"These are some of my notes and insights regarding the Thousand-Day Sleep."
Ye Yunniang respectfully took it with both hands. "Thank you, Elder Chu."
Chu Nan waved his hand to dismiss her thanks and held Chu Nian's hand. "After I die, go and see your great-aunt in person. Come back and tell me how she's doing, alright?"
"Grandfather, I will," Chu Nian suppressed his emotions and promised.
Chu Nan then looked at the luxuriously dressed lady.
"Nian'nian, I entrust him to your care."
"Brother Nan, I will take good care of Nian'nian."
Chu Nan let out a soft sound of agreement and closed his eyes.
"Grandfather."
"Brother Nan."