Reborn: The First Rank 'Madam” – C60

C60 – What Should I Do?

The boat had been sailing for three days under calm and sunny weather, without a single drop of rain. During the nights, attendants and their wives took turns to keep watch.

On that particular night, Luo Xiaoliu urgently knocked on Zuo Shaoyan’s door and said, “Uncle... Great Lord... Lord Third is in trouble...”

One of the maids opened the door slightly and grumbled, “You’re pushing your luck! Look at the hour; I’m already asleep!”

“Sister Qiong, could you please inform Master San that he’s unwell, suffering from severe vomiting and appears quite ill. I had no choice but to disturb him,” Luo Xiaoliu pleaded.

“Are you seasick? You can get some medicine from the boatman,” the maidservant replied impatiently.

“No...” Luo Xiaoliu’s face showed concern as he heard a low, hoarse voice from inside. He shouted into the room without hesitation, “Uncle, it’s Lil’ Six. San Ye is extremely ill. Please help.”

After a brief pause, Zuo Shaoyan emerged from his room, draped in a thick fox fur coat. Annoyed, he asked, “Explain clearly, what’s wrong with Third Brother?”

Luo Xiaoliu then recounted everything he had observed, describing the vomiting, diarrhea, pale complexion, and a red rash on Zuo Shaoqing’s body that made him appear near death.

Alarmed by the severity of the situation, Zuo Shaoyan wasted no time and followed Luo Xiaoliu into Zuo Shaoqing’s room.

Inside, they found only a charcoal brazier to stave off the cold. The dim light revealed a figure wrapped in thick blankets on the bed, with Nanny Liu wiping away tears.

Zuo Shaoyan rushed forward and lowered the blanket, revealing Zuo Shaoqing’s delicate face. He examined him closely and noticed his unusually pale complexion and the heat radiating from his forehead when he touched it.

“Third brother...” “Shao Qing...” Zuo Shaoyan called out softly, his eyelids twitching, but there was no response.

Tearfully, Nanny Liu explained, “Master San hasn’t been feeling well for days and hasn’t eaten much. The old servants assumed it was seasickness and didn’t pay much attention. But tonight, he suddenly developed a high fever and a rash. It doesn’t seem like seasickness at all.”

Since there was no doctor on board, only a boatman with some knowledge of medicine, Zuo Shaoyan wasted no time in calling the boatman for assistance.

The boatman entered respectfully and carefully examined Zuo Shaoqing’s condition. He pulled Zuo Shaoqing’s arm out of the quilt, felt his smooth, pale wrist, and began to assess his pulse with a concerned expression.

After some time, he finally released Zuo Shaoqing’s hand and raised the blanket to loosen Zuo Shaoqing’s belt.

While it wasn’t an unusual procedure for a physician, Nanny Liu, who had been observing him closely, felt the boatman’s gaze was inappropriate and instinctively slapped his hand away. “What are you doing?” she scolded. “I’ve never heard of doctors undressing patients during a pulse examination!”

The boatman remained unruffled. He rubbed his hands together and took a step back, calmly remarking, “If you don’t investigate, how will you ever know?”

The doctor spoke in a thick local dialect, but fortunately, his accompanying medicine boys were proficient in the official language and began translating.

After assessing Zuo Shaoqing’s pulse, he inquired about his symptoms and dietary habits over the past few days.

The medicine boy swiftly translated: “My master believes that this young master’s constitution is excessively frail, and his previous injuries haven’t fully healed. The long journey has taken a toll on his well-being. It’s advisable for him to rest for a few days before continuing.”

“Not smallpox, then?” Everyone breathed a sigh of relief privately. No one wished to confront such a calamity upon setting foot outside the room.

“Why would it be smallpox?” The medicine boy, with his big black eyes, asked disdainfully, “Who mentioned smallpox?”

In the room, the boatman who had taken Zuo Shaoqing’s pulse persisted, “He’s experiencing diarrhea, a high fever, and a rash. If it’s not smallpox, then what is it?”

The Old Doctor remained silent. After hearing his disciple’s translation, he shot an angry glare at the boatman and launched into a lengthy explanation.

“My master contends that the vomiting and diarrhea stem from seasickness, while the high fever results from the young master’s weak constitution. As for the rash on his body, it may have been caused by the anxious servant who attended to him.”

Nanny Liu glanced at everyone in embarrassment, as did the boatman. Her eyes welled up with tears as she reproached them and concluded, “I told you all along that I know nothing about medicine, yet you insisted on having me examine him. It’s not my fault!” With that, she fled, disheartened.

In the rear of the gathering, Zuo Shaoqing observed her departure as if he had conceived a revelation. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, tinged with relief at narrowly escaping danger.

Zuo Shaoyan waved his hand, saying, “Alright, since it’s not smallpox, there shouldn’t be a significant issue. Let’s have the doctor prescribe some medication.”

The Old Doctor stressed, after finishing the prescription, “You must rest well for a considerable period; otherwise, continuing on this path could cost you half your life.”

Zuo Shaoyan directed his men to escort the doctor and his disciple out, then sent Luo Xiaoliu to purchase the medicine. Afterwards, he furrowed his brow, lost in thought.

Zuo Shaoqing noticed his brother’s unease and suggested, “Brother, why don’t you and the others proceed? I’m afraid my recovery will take some time. I wouldn’t want to slow you down.”

Zuo Shaoyan firmly replied, “What are you saying? We’re brothers, and we embark on this journey together, so we should stay together. There’s no reason to leave our ailing little brother behind.”

Zuo Shaoqing looked at him with emotion in his eyes, tears glistening, “Brother, I know you care for me deeply, but we’re on a tight schedule to reach the capital for the examination. If my condition delays the Conference Test, I’ll forever carry the burden of guilt.”

Seeing Zuo Shaoyan’s wavering resolve, he continued, “Moreover, I’m not accustomed to life on this ship. I’d prefer to leave the mainland and rejoin you once we reach the capital. What do you think about me finding our elder brother?”

His sincere proposal seemed advantageous to both parties, so Zuo Shaoyan didn’t object. He said, “Traveling with just the three of you would be too risky. I’ll leave Senior Qin and Cheng Gui with you. Remember to be cautious on the journey.”

Though Zuo Shaoqing didn’t wish to retain the two servants, he couldn’t find a valid reason to decline, so he accepted.