Chapter 62
Ji Taoyu was half-asleep, feeling as if the world was spinning in a daze.
When he forced his eyes open, his heavy, weary lids still wanted to shut. In his drowsiness, he saw Huo Shu’s anxious face as the man hurriedly lifted him up.
“What’s wrong? Are there bandits again?”
Ji Taoyu had been thoroughly exhausted the day before, and his sleep was deep. His muddled mind could only think that if even Huo Shu was this flustered, it must be another bandit attack.
Just as he muttered those words, he instinctively touched his uncomfortable nose—only to feel something cold and sticky on his fingers.
Puzzled, he raised his hand slightly and was instantly jolted awake by the sight of red between his fingers.
“T-This is blood! Am I bleeding?!”
Ji Taoyu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Huo Shu quickly set Ji Taoyu down on the bed and lit a candle.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll fetch a physician.”
Ji Taoyu pinched his nose, fumbled for the medicine chest, and hastily pulled out some cotton to stuff into his nostrils.
Tilting his chin up slightly, he poured a bit of cold tea onto his hand and patted the back of his neck.
By the time he looked up again, Huo Shu had already rushed out.
The night was desolate, and the usually noisy inn had fallen silent. Only the howling wind outside could be heard, signaling how late it was.
Ji Taoyu wanted to call Huo Shu back, he didn’t feel particularly unwell.
But he didn’t dare move recklessly. His constitution had always been weak, though he had never experienced nosebleeds before.
Sitting quietly on the bed, alone in the room, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
He changed the cotton several times, but the blood, once blocked, began trickling into his mouth, filling it with a metallic taste.
Fortunately, Huo Shu was quick. In less than fifteen minutes, he returned, dragging an elderly physician behind him.
“Slow down, slow down! That horse nearly shook my liver and lungs out of place. Let me catch my breath first.”
The old physician leaned against the door, panting heavily, his face pale—looking even weaker than Ji Taoyu at the moment.
Seeing the blood-soaked cotton, Huo Shu’s brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly. His already intimidating face now looked downright terrifying.
“Check his pulse first.”
The physician, seemingly afraid of him, quickly complied. “Yes, yes.”
Huo Shu immediately pulled up Ji Taoyu’s sleeve and bared his wrist.
The old physician sat by the bed and took Ji Taoyu’s pulse.
Ji Taoyu didn’t dare breathe loudly, waiting quietly for the diagnosis.
If they were still in Tongzhou with his grandfather around, he wouldn’t be this nervous.
No matter what ailment he had, his grandfather could prescribe medicine on the spot. At worst, he’d just have to lie down and take his medicine.
But now, far from home and here for business, any health trouble would only cause complications.
He glanced sideways at Huo Shu beside him.
The usually stern-faced man was visibly tense, his tall frame slightly hunched as if ready to catch every word of the physician’s verdict.
Earlier, he had rushed out without even throwing on a coat. His chest was still stained with Ji Taoyu’s blood, making him look like some fearsome warrior—yet he hadn’t even bothered to wipe it off.
He seemed even more anxious than Ji Taoyu himself.
A strange warmth filled Ji Taoyu’s heart, and he quietly gripped Huo Shu’s pant leg.
Huo Shu wrapped an arm around Ji Taoyu’s shoulders, about to reassure him: “It’s fine.”
But the words came from the physician first.
Both of them turned to look at the old man as he withdrew his hand.
“The weather’s dry, and your internal heat is excessive. Have you been eating anything inflammatory lately?”
Ji Taoyu nodded quickly. “I had roasted lamb yesterday and lamb offal soup today.”
“That explains it. Summer’s heat is already intense, and you’ve been consuming warming, rich foods like lamb. This young get’s constitution isn’t strong to begin with, his body can’t handle such nourishment.”
The physician continued leisurely, “Eat lighter in the coming days to clear the heat, and it’ll be fine.”
Huo Shu let out a breath.
“No other illnesses?”
“Aside from general weakness, I don’t detect any other issues.”
The old physician was exasperated. When Huo Shu had come to fetch him, covered in blood and riding like the devil was on his heels, he’d thought it was a life-or-death emergency.
Yet it turned out to be nothing more than a nosebleed from excessive internal heat.
Young people were so reckless! A torment for an old man's bones.
Seeing that there was no real danger, Huo Shu finally escorted the physician out.
For disturbing him so late, Huo Shu compensated him with extra payment.
“No need for medicine?”
As he walked the physician out, Huo Shu still felt uneasy thinking of Ji Taoyu’s condition.
“Medicine is inherently toxic, too much isn’t good. Simple adjustments will suffice for this kind of heatiness. No need for medicine.”
Having received extra payment, the physician was uncharacteristically patient. “Since you two are married, just regulate things naturally.”
Huo Shu understood.
“However, moderation and protection are still necessary. This young ger’s body is frail, if he were to conceive, it would be harder on him than most.”
Huo Shu’s brow tightened. “Are you saying he can’t bear children?”
“Not exactly. He can have children, but childbirth would be difficult. Each pregnancy would carry greater risks.”
With a grim expression, Huo Shu sent the physician off.
When he returned, he stood at the doorway, staring at the figure inside, his emotions in turmoil.
After their business was settled, Ji Taoyu had mentioned children—asking whether he preferred a boy or a girl, saying that once they returned, he’d give him a little one.
Hearing his plans had made Huo Shu happier than anything.
But who would’ve thought…
“You’re back. Wipe yourself off—you’re still covered in blood, wandering around like this.”
Ji Taoyu wrung out a cloth, glancing over at the big man lingering at the door, and pulled him inside.
Seeing him silent, as if still shaken by what had happened, Ji Taoyu felt a pang of heartache. He softened his voice.
“I’m fine now, see? The bleeding’s stopped.”
Only then did Huo Shu respond, taking the cloth from Ji Taoyu and cleaning himself off.
He then gently wiped Ji Taoyu’s face, made him drink some cold tea, and carried him back to bed.
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