Chapter 39
Before dawn, Ji Taoyu was pulled out of bed.
Huang Manjing brought in a large basin of scented water and soaked Ji Taoyu’s sleep-numbed hands in it
"What’s the occasion, still lazing around? Wake up quickly!"
Ji Taoyu propped his hands in the warm water, mumbling sleepily, "Wedding, wedding—it’s not till dusk anyway. Waking up early just means waiting longer."
"Such nonsense. Don’t you need to get ready and change into your wedding robe?"
Huang Manjing urged, "I’ve fetched hot water for the bathing room. Go take a bath."
With his mother nagging like this, Ji Taoyu couldn’t stay drowsy even if he wanted to.
It was all because he’d been too excited last night, even hiding under the covers to review that little illustrated booklet, keeping himself awake until midnight. He only managed to fall asleep after lighting some sleep-inducing incense.
The consequence was that he found it even harder to wake up in the morning.
"We shouldn’t have gotten married in winter, taking a bath this early is freezing!"
Huang Manjing took out the wedding robe sent from the city, shook them out to inspect them, and chuckled at the complaints coming from the bathing room.
"Then go tell your father and Huo Shu to postpone the wedding till next summer."
Ji Taoyu huddled in the bathtub, thinking about how everyone outside was already busy preparing the feast. At this point, backing out was no longer an option.
"Don’t soak too long, you’ll catch a cold."
Huang Manjing brought in a charcoal brazier. "I’ve got another brazier for you. The room’s plenty warm now. Just come out in your undergarments and put on the wedding robe."
"Coming, coming!"
Ji Taoyu slipped on a thin underrobe, hugged his arms, and dashed back into the room, shivering as he warmed his hands and feet by the brazier.
Huang Manjing took out a dry cloth to dry his hair. Seeing Ji Taoyu’s undergarments were a festive red, she smiled.
"This red fabric really suits you, makes you look so much livelier."
Hearing this, Ji Taoyu glanced at himself in the bronze mirror. With rosy lips and white teeth, he did seem much more spirited.
He couldn’t help but preen a little: Such a delicate little ger, and he's going to be wasted on a rough man like Huo Shu.
"You look just like your little grandfather. He was famously beautiful in his time."
[Little grandfather (小阿祖, xiǎo ā zǔ): Grandfather (ger)]
Ji Taoyu snapped out of his thoughts and pursed his lips. "Mother, you never met little grandfather, did you?"
Huang Manjing’s voice suddenly carried a hint of melancholy. "I’ve seen his portrait, in your grandfather’s room."
Ji Taoyu rarely heard his mother speak of his little grandfather. It was said that his little grandfather had passed away due to complications during her birth.
Grandfather and little grandfather had been deeply devoted, and little grandfather’s death had hit Grandfather hard, leaving him depressed for a long time.
When little grandfather passed, Grandfather was only around twenty, yet he never remarried, remaining single to this day.
That his mother would bring up little grandfather today must mean she was truly happy.
He said, "Grandfather said little grandfather was a nobleman’s son back then, while Grandfather was just a wandering physician. How did they even meet? Every time I ask, he won’t tell me."
Huang Manjing said, "Your grandfather’s family had fallen from grace, so he traveled around practicing medicine. But in earlier generations, our ancestors were even imperial physicians. So, in a way, there’s still some scholarly heritage."
"When your grandfather traveled to Yuchang Prefecture, the area was mountainous and treacherous, but rich in medicinal herbs. Young and passionate about medicine, he stayed there for quite some time. Your little grandfather was from Yuchang Prefecture, he'd been frail since childhood, constantly reliant on medicine, so he’d seen all kinds of physicians."
At the time, Huang Yinsheng gathered rare herbs while also treating the sick.
On one hand, it let him encounter difficult cases to hone his skills; on the other, he needed income to sustain his travels.
By chance, he was invited to the Xiao family’s estate to treat the young master.
Back then, the Xiao family’s young master was in the prime of youth - frail and sickly, but well-read and deeply cultured. Huang Yinsheng, coming from a family of physicians, was no slouch in learning either.
Beyond being doctor and patient, the two found they got along well.
Over time, their feelings deepened into something more.
"The Xiao family was surprisingly understanding. Seeing how well-matched the two were, and how skilled your grandfather was in medicine, ensuring he could care for your little grandfather, they consented to the marriage, even though your grandfather had nothing to his name at the time."
"After marriage, their life was harmonious, and your little grandfather’s health improved greatly. But then… I came along…"
Noticing the slight tremor in his mother’s voice, Ji Taoyu gently squeezed her hand in comfort.
"Your little grandfather was too frail to travel far. He always spoke of wanting to visit Jiangnan, but never got the chance. A few years after his passing, your grandfather brought me to Tongzhou. Later, when I married your father, your grandfather never mentioned returning to Yuchang again."
Huang Manjing said, "These are things you should have known long ago. There just wasn’t a good time to tell you before. Now you’ve grown up and are getting married, it’s only right you learn about our family’s past."
With that, she pinched Ji Taoyu’s cheek. "Alright, your hair’s about done."
Just as Ji Taoyu was about to speak, a burst of noise came from outside - cousins from the Ji family had arrived.
A group of similar-aged gers and girls squeezed into the room, calling out in unison: "Sixth Aunt! Tao ger!"
It had been a long time since Ji Taoyu had seen so many cousins gathered together, and his face lit up with a smile as he greeted each of them.
Huang Manjing said, "You’re all here at just the right time, help Xiao Taozi get ready."
"Of course! Sixth Aunt, you go ahead, the Four Master Services and Six Specialty Teams are here!"
The moment Huang Manjing stepped out, the group of cousins immediately relaxed and grew livelier.
Thanks for the update!!!
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