Chapter 60 – Knowledge, Etiquette, and Saving the World

The next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Gugu stood in its territory, proudly crowing coo coo coo.

Hearing the sound, Tang Chaoyang got up, intending to escort An’an to the academy. To her surprise, she was firmly stopped by her son and Nanny Wu.

Fei An’an furrowed his little brow, shaking his head like a little old man. “Mother, if you’re not feeling well, you have to stay in bed. Nanny Wu will take me to the academy.”

Nanny Wu nodded in agreement. “Miss, you should listen to Young Master.”

Tang Chaoyang laughed softly and pinched her son’s cheek. “All right, today I’ll let Nanny Wu take you.”

Fei An’an waved his small hand, carrying the cloth bag his mother had sewn for him. “Mother, you have to behave today. Rest obediently, okay?”

Tang Chaoyang nodded repeatedly.

But she really couldn’t rest today. Yesterday she was supposed to go to the Prince Cheng Manor to perform acupuncture on Qin Ruoming, but being kidnapped had delayed everything.

She also hadn’t treated Gu Yuan yesterday, and who knew whether his cravings had flared up.

And that wasn’t even the most troublesome matter. The bigger problem was that her grandmother might not allow her to go out again today.

With no other choice, Tang Chaoyang brought out a small bottle of medicinal wine, intending to bribe her grandfather into helping her conceal the fact she was leaving the house.

Old Master Su accepted the wine first, tucked it into his robes, then changed his mind and said, “You’d better stay in the manor for a couple of days to reassure your grandmother. After a few days, you can go out again.”

Tang Chaoyang said helplessly, “Then please give me back the wine.”

Old Master Su looked at her. “What wine? When did you give me wine?”

Tang Chaoyang stared. “…You’re really something.”

She had no choice but to continue coaxing him. “Grandfather, I have to go out to see patients today. Their treatment can’t wait. Please help me just this once?”

She blinked, flattering him. “Next time, I’ll brew you a different kind of medicinal wine.”

Old Master Su sighed. He truly couldn’t refuse her. “I have to go out in a while. You can leave with me, and I’ll assign a few guards to accompany you.”

In her heart, Tang Chaoyang cheered. “I’ll have the Mager brothers come with me.”

Old Master Su didn’t press the matter further. He only pretended to remind her casually, “Don’t forget about the new medicinal wine.”

Tang Chaoyang readily agreed.

She did intend to brew it—she just hadn’t said when. Hahaha.

Besides, the old master’s health still required the current wine. She couldn’t switch to another yet.

Old Master Su had no idea she’d dared to play a trick on him.

After the two left the manor, they went their separate ways.

Tang Chaoyang first ordered Mager to buy offerings, while she went to pay respects to the coachman who’d died as collateral damage yesterday.

She lit incense and knelt in mourning.

Life was long. One day, she would find the chance to take revenge on Dong Xinrui and Fei Yan.

In this life, what Tang Chaoyang had most was patience.

At this moment, Dong Xinrui—whom Tang Chaoyang was thinking about—was lying sick with a high fever caused by an infected wound.

The sword she’d taken for Fei Yan had pierced her lung, and her condition was becoming critical.

She lay motionless in bed, her face pale as paper, her breathing labored.

That sword had injured her lung. Although her life had been saved in time, the infected wound had caused a high fever that wouldn’t subside, placing her in grave danger.

In truth, Fei Yan had calculated everything in advance—if the sword had struck him, he could have dodged the most dangerous areas.

Three imperial physicians stood at the bedside, their brows tightly furrowed as they discussed treatment.

Fei Yan sat beside her, his handsome face dark.

The eldest physician spoke solemnly. “My lord, Madam Fei’s injury is in the lung. Though the external wound has been treated, the infection is severe.”

“Furthermore, Madam is constitutionally frail. The fever is difficult to bring down. If it doesn’t break soon, her life will be in danger.”

The other two physicians nodded in agreement.

Fei Yan’s expression grew even more somber. His gaze was fixed on them, his tone icy. “What medicine is needed?”

The eldest physician hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice. “Her condition is so grave we must use a powerful medicine to force the fever down and preserve her life.”

“But the medicine is extremely strong. It will severely damage her health. Even if her life is saved, she will need at least three years to recover. And…during those three years, she absolutely must not conceive.”

The physician hadn’t yet finished. There was an even graver consequence.

He continued carefully. “My lord, Madam has always had blood stasis syndrome. Now that her lung is injured, even after three years, if she conceives, she will be at high risk of a difficult labor.”

The best course would be never to bear children at all.

But he didn’t dare say that outright.

Fei Yan understood nonetheless. He looked at the woman lying near death in bed, rubbed his brow, and said quietly, “Proceed.”

Nanny Huang was standing beside them. When she heard this, her face turned deathly pale.

She stared at the physicians in disbelief.

Her mistress had always wished for a child of her own.

And now… If she survived, what would she think when she learned the truth?

Fei Yan’s gaze turned sharp as he looked at Nanny Huang. “Nanny, I do not want Xinrui to know any of this. Do you understand?”

Nanny Huang’s knees buckled, and she fell to the floor, her voice trembling with suppressed sobs. “Yes, my lord.”

But her heart was heavy with dread.

The lord could not remain childless forever.

Which meant other women would eventually enter the household. If that day came, her mistress would be heartbroken again.

If the legitimate wife had no children, she would also invite gossip and censure.

The Prime Minister’s manor was enveloped in gloom.

Meanwhile, in Prince Cheng Manor, Princess Cheng was anxiously waiting for Tang Chaoyang.

Tang Chaoyang entered with a calm smile. “I’m sorry. Something came up unexpectedly yesterday.”

How could Princess Cheng dare blame her? “As long as you’re here, that’s all that matters.”

Tang Chaoyang herself was injured, but she quickly performed acupuncture on Qin Ruoming.

Afterward, she brought up the subject of her academy. “If Young Master Qin grows too bored, he could teach at my newly opened school. You’d only need to lecture for about two quarters of an hour each day.”

Qin Ruoming was stunned. “Me?”

Ever since falling ill, he hadn’t left home in a long time.

“Yes. You can focus on recovery for now. In about two months, you should be able to go out. But you can’t stay out too long—rest remains most important.”

“I am willing to teach,” Qin Ruoming said quietly.

He hadn’t thought he’d ever have the chance to step outside again.

His health would always be frail in this life.

But as long as he could live a while longer and keep his mother company, he was content.

Tang Chaoyang glanced at him—gentle and refined as jade—and explained, “My academy only accepts children from impoverished families. Are you sure?”

“Children from poor families?”

He hadn’t expected that she had opened a school solely for them.

He clasped his hands in respect. “For destitute children to receive such benevolence—knowledge, etiquette, and a chance to serve the world—this is a great blessing.”

“Doctor Tang, you are truly admirable to establish a school to educate and uplift the poor.”

Tang Chaoyang couldn’t help smiling, her brows curving. “I’m not so noble. It’s just a small effort.”

But with this first school, there would be a second, and a third in the future.

She only hoped that these small bits of virtue and blessing would one day, eventually, all fall upon her son.