Chapter 46

In the winter of the sixth year of Wude, the cold north wind brought several heavy snowfalls, turning the city of Chang'an into a snowy white landscape. Every morning, the people living in the city had to start their day by clearing the snow from in front of their doors. Neighbors helped each other, and the entire city of Chang'an became a pattern of white and black. The white was the snow, and the black was the road surface revealed after the snow was cleared. From a bird's-eye view, the entire city of Chang'an looked like a giant chessboard, with black lines dividing the city into small squares.

Li Er stood in the courtyard of Li Kuan's small house, urging Li Kuan. He had already delivered the Black Stone Mountain to the scientists, but the things the scientists had promised were still nowhere to be seen. It wasn't that Li Er was too trusting, but he believed in his son, and this was also a sign of his broad-mindedness.

"Father, don't worry. Last night, someone from my master's sect came and brought the things you need, along with some gifts for you, Mother, and the other ladies. I'll leave it to you to deliver them!" Li Kuan was too lazy to deliver them one by one, so he handed them directly to Li Er, which was much more convenient.

"Oh! There are gifts too? Master Kuan is really thoughtful!" Li Er didn't expect the so-called scientists to send him gifts. It seemed they were quite sincere!

"However, these things are quite large, so it would be better if you called a few servants to help." Indeed, a dozen quilts were quite a large volume. Although Li Er could carry them, it wouldn't look good. A prince pushing a large ball of manure like a dung beetle would be...

Li Er immediately called a few servants. Under Li Kuan's lead, they came to the room where Li Kuan had stored the quilts and quickly carried them away, two or three at a time.

Li Er was quite satisfied with this gift. In the cold winter, even three or four silk quilts didn't feel warm enough. These cotton quilts were a timely solution. Although white mulberry was grown in Gaochang, it was also planted in Chang'an, but only as an ornamental plant. Who would have thought it could be used for this purpose? So, for a while, no one in the Tang Dynasty could make cotton quilts. Changsun's health had always been poor, and she suffered even more in the winter. Previously, only two cotton quilts were given to the two children who needed them most. Now, with so many, each person could have one!

As Li Er left with the quilts, his face was a mix of shock and joy. The two different expressions on his face made him look quite peculiar. It was like he had finally had a comfortable bowel movement after three days of constipation, but then realized he had forgotten to bring toilet paper!

It wasn't his fault. Who could blame him for the shock and joy he felt from the two books in his arms? Li Kuan had spent a lot of money to buy these two books last night, kept the part about brewing wine, and gave the rest to Li Er. When he saw the three large characters on one of the books, his mind went blank: "Qing Nang Jing" (The Green Satchel Classic), the medical book said to be written by the legendary doctor Hua Tuo? How could it be? Wasn't it lost?

Back in the day, when Hua Tuo treated Cao Cao's headache and suggested trepanation, the suspicious Cao Cao thought Hua Tuo was trying to harm him and had him killed. Although there were rumors that Hua Tuo had passed on his medical knowledge and the "Qing Nang Jing" to a prisoner in jail, there was never any concrete evidence. So the book was lost. Li Er was very surprised that Li Kuan had this book. Hua Tuo had cured countless patients, some with injuries even more severe than Li Xiu'ning's. Now, with his medical book in hand, and with Sun Simiao soon arriving in Chang'an, the situation was almost foolproof.

However, Li Er still needed to verify whether the book was genuine. He decided to show it to Sun Simiao when he arrived, not because he didn't trust the imperial physicians, but because he didn't want the book to spread too widely. This was a common trait among the Chinese: to keep things close to the chest. They always kept something in reserve, as teaching a student everything could lead to the teacher's downfall.

After the morning hour, the roads were mostly cleared. Li Er decided to visit Li Xiu'ning at the Imperial Medical Institute to share this good news and give her hope. Since the imperial physicians had examined Li Xiu'ning's injuries two days ago and given their conclusion, his third sister had been silent, even when he visited her, she didn't smile. She was worried about her children, her husband, and her second brother. Li Xiu'ning had always supported Li Er, from a young age. This was one of the points of conflict between Li Jiancheng and Li Er. Li Jiancheng tried to win over his sister in every way, but he could never get her to support him.

Just as Li Er was about to leave, he suddenly thought about whether to bring the two children to see their aunt. However, Li Chenggan and the others were already in the palace for their classes, and the younger ones, including Li Kuan and Li Lizhi, were left at home. The younger ones were too small to be of any use.

"Then I'll bring Kuan and Lizhi!" Li Er decided and sent someone to fetch Li Kuan, while he personally went to Li Lizhi's small building to pull the little girl out of bed.

Li Er took the two children onto the carriage and slowly headed towards the Imperial Medical Institute. The road was slippery, so the carriage moved slowly, but the small stove in the carriage kept them warm.

The little girl yawned and fell asleep in her second brother's arms. Children are always sleepy, and the little girl, who had been woken up by Li Er, was quite resentful. She didn't want to sleep in Li Er's arms, so she ended up in Li Kuan's arms.

Li Lizhi slept like a little cat, her face pressed against her second brother's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and slept soundly. However, Li Kuan was uncomfortable. He felt out of place sitting in the carriage with Li Er, and now with the little girl snoring and blowing bubbles, it made him even more uncomfortable.

Li Kuan tried a few times to wake Li Lizhi, but seeing her smiling face in her sleep, he couldn't bring himself to do it. His face showed only hesitation. Li Er, on the other hand, watched his children with interest, smiling but saying nothing.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Imperial Medical Institute. Li Lizhi had woken up from her nap and gave Li Kuan a big smile before jumping out of the carriage and skipping ahead. The little girl had been to this place twice before, although the imperial physicians usually came to the house to treat her, there were two times when Changsun had taken her here because the respected old physician, Dr. Xue, was on duty at the institute.

Although the little girl was young, her memory was good. Even though she had only been there twice, she clearly remembered where the imperial physicians treated patients and where the patients rested. Knowing they were there to visit her aunt, the little girl knew where to go.

Li Er was quite surprised by Li Lizhi's lively behavior, which he had never seen before. He noticed that the two children he had brought had changed a lot since he returned. He had already accepted Li Kuan's changes, but Li Lizhi's transformation was unexpected.

This wasn't Li Er's fault. Li Lizhi was usually a little lady, and only when she was with Li Kuan did she show her lively side. In front of others, even a wrong walking posture would be criticized, but with Li Kuan, the little girl could truly relax and do as she pleased. Her second brother never told her how to walk, sit, or eat. The little girl was used to being lively when Li Kuan was around, so even with Li Er following behind, she didn't change her habit.

"Auntie, Lizhi has come to see you!" The little girl pushed open a door and called out. If no one was inside, she would go to another room. At this time, Li Xiu'ning was the only patient in the Imperial Medical Institute.

The little girl was lucky. There were two rows of eight rooms each, totaling sixteen rooms, and she found Li Xiu'ning after only opening three doors. She laughed and ran into the room, coming to the bed and whispering to Li Xiu'ning.

Li Kuan followed behind and entered the room. He saw the woman lying on the bed, with regular features, not particularly beautiful, but rather plain. He didn't expect the legendary Princess Pingyang to look like this. Despite her injuries and pale face, she still exuded a commanding presence, a result of her long experience leading armies. A general must have authority. Without it, they cannot command their troops and lead them to victory.

"Li Kuan pays his respects to Auntie!" Li Kuan bowed to Li Xiu'ning. Although he had seen her before, he had never greeted her, always keeping his distance, perhaps for some other reason.

"Hey! You're not afraid of me anymore? Why did you come to see me this time?" Li Xiu'ning seemed surprised.

This made Li Kuan even more curious. Li Xiu'ning's reaction suggested there was something he didn't know.

Actually, this was a long story: Li Xiu'ning and Li Kuan's mother, Yin Shaohua, were good friends. After Yin Kaishan joined Li Yuan, the two young girls became close friends. However, when Yin Shaohua decided to marry Li Er, Li Xiu'ning opposed it. She knew her brother was a great man, an excellent general, a qualified prince, and even a wise emperor. But he would not be a good husband. His heart was filled with too many things, and he carried too many burdens. These would dilute his love for his wife and children. So, for her friend's happiness, she opposed the marriage.

But Yin Shaohua insisted on marrying Li Er, and for a while, Li Xiu'ning cut off contact with her. This made Yin Shaohua very sad. It wasn't until Li Kuan was born that Li Xiu'ning reappeared before her friend, but by then, she was already a general leading an army.