Imperial Husband Chapter 69

"Endure it a little, applying the medicine might hurt a bit." Shi Weixu began carefully applying medicine to the child. Just as Shi Weixu had said, when the ointment touched the wounds, the child couldn't help but hiss in pain.

However, this didn't last long. The child soon got used to it and stubbornly endured the pain, allowing Shi Weixu to apply the medicine.

After a short while.

Shi Weixu finished applying the medicine to the child.

It was no wonder it took Shi Weixu so long; besides the abrasions, the child's body was covered with crisscrossing bruises, both old and new. Some even looked like they were from being hit with a stick. One could imagine what kind of life this child had been living before.

"Thank you."

The child solemnly thanked Shi Weixu.

Ping'an looked at the child covered in wounds and couldn't help but ask, "How did you get so many bruises? Did your father hit you?"

"Of course not!"

The child bristled at Ping'an's question, glaring fiercely at him.

"Uh..."

Ping'an seemed to realize he had asked an inappropriate question. His expression was very awkward. He instinctively looked towards the seat where Zhou Yunting had been sitting, remembered that Zhou Yunting was still outside driving the carriage, and could only pitifully look to Li Jin for rescue.

Li Jin could clearly see Ping'an's plea for help. Understanding immediately, he lightly patted the child's shoulder. "Don't be angry. He means no harm, he just asked because he saw you're covered in injuries."

"My father loves me the most."

The child lowered his head, accepting Li Jin's explanation.

"Has something happened to your father?" Li Jin tentatively asked.

Mentioning his father, the child's eyes began to redden. "My father was taken away. Douzi's father was too, and Dashu's father... those people... as soon as they came in, they took away many... many people..."

Li Jin pointed to Shi Weixu's pale gray belt. "Were the people you mentioned wearing clothes of this color?"

"Yes."

The child admired Li Jin even more. Not to mention earlier events, just now he had only mentioned someone taking his father away, without giving details, yet Li Jin had already figured it out. It was simply amazing.

"Corvee labor?" Ying Yuan also thought of this, and guessed that the clothing color Li Jin had the child identify earlier was exactly what government runners wore. "But this child says many people were taken. That seems not right."

Normally, even for corvee labor, they wouldn't arrest people on such a large scale all at once.

"When they took your father, did your amu say anything about it?"

"Yes." The child nodded vigorously. "Amu said our family had already paid enough copper coins, but they still insisted on taking my father away."

The child had a good memory. He remembered clearly everything that happened the day his father was taken.

Ping'an said angrily, "This county magistrate is truly wicked!"

He had initially felt sorry for the Zhuzhou County Magistrate, who had been driven out by the local people. It turned out the magistrate's own actions were to blame for his misfortune.

"By the way, does your father have any relatives?"

"No." The child shook his head dejectedly. "Amu said Father came from a faraway place, and his family isn't around here."

"Whoa..." Zhou Yunting suddenly stopped the carriage, lifted the curtain, and asked, "Third Young Master, there's a village ahead. I wonder if it's the one this child lives in."

"I'll look." Before anyone else could speak, the child stuck his head out through the curtain Zhou Yunting had lifted. Overjoyed, he said, "It's my village! Thank you! I'm going to find my amu first."

The child was so worried about his amu's safety. After getting off the carriage, he immediately kowtowed to Li Jin and the others, then grabbed the waterskin and ran into the village.

"Uh..."

Ping'an was speechless.

Why did this child have to kowtow? What if he accidentally aggravated his injuries?

Seeing the child's figure disappear into the village, Li Jin also got off the carriage. "Ping'an, you and Yunting guard the carriage. We will go in with Physician Shi."

"Yes."

Shortly after, Li Jin, Ying Yuan, and Shi Weixu entered the village under the curious gazes of the villagers.

However.

Before they had gone far, a child holding a tree branch blocked Li Jin's path. "Who are you? Why are you secretly following Dongzi? Are you plotting against Dongzi?"

Several boys who were friends with the boy named Dashu quickly tried to dissuade him. "Dashu, don't be like this. Look at their clothes, we can't afford to offend them."

Dashu shook his head fiercely, refusing to move. "I don't care. Something happened to Dongzi's amu. They must have seen Dongzi's family is in trouble and want to make Dongzi's amu sell Dongzi."

"Dashu."

Dashu's friends grew anxious.

"I won't move." Dashu was stubborn. No matter what his friends said, he refused to step aside.

Li Jin calmly interrupted them. "I am a distant relative of Dongzi's family. I came to the village to visit them."

"A distant relative of Dongzi's family?" Dashu was stunned by Li Jin's words, but soon felt something was wrong. "Impossible. I know Dongzi's family's relatives better than you. There are definitely no distant relatives. Also, your clothes are so fine. If you were really Dongzi's relatives, why would you only come now when we're in trouble here?"

This kid is quite clever.

Li Jin looked meaningfully at Dashu and countered, "We are distant relatives from Dongzi's father's side. Are you sure you've even met the relatives from Dongzi's father's side?"

"Uh..."

Once it was stated they were relatives from Dongzi's father's side, Dashu couldn't refute.

After all, it was true, as Li Jin said, that Dashu only knew the relatives from Dongzi's amu's side but had never met any from Dongzi's father's side, nor had he heard Dongzi's father mention them.

A young teenager ran up to Dashu in a panic, shouting, "Dashu, Dashu, something terrible has happened! Dongzi's amu is in a critical condition..."

"What's wrong with Dongzi's amu?"

"Liu Amo says Dongzi's amu's belly is too big, he can't give birth."

"How could this be..." Dashu's face turned pale with fright. He could no longer bother with Li Jin and the others, running in the direction Dongzi had gone, afraid he would be too late and something would happen to Dongzi.

"Let's follow them."

"Okay (Yes)."

One of Dashu's companions who was walking with him asked worriedly, "Dashu, is it okay that they're still following?"

Dashu, contrary to his earlier refusal, said, "He said he's a distant relative from Dongzi's father's side. Let him try. If he's fake, we definitely won't let them off."

Dashu suddenly changed his mind and let Li Jin and the others follow because, from the moment he heard Dongzi's amu was having a difficult birth, he had an idea. If they really were distant relatives of Dongzi's father, perhaps Dongzi's amu could be saved. If not, they could still extort some silver from them to find a physician for Dongzi's amu.

Soon.

Li Jin and the others arrived at Dongzi's home.

"Liu Amo, please save my amu. I'll kowtow to you." The child, Dongzi, desperately kowtowed to Liu Amo, the wenfulang, hoping he would save his amu.

[阿麽 (āmó): a term used in some Chinese dialects, such as Hokkien and Taiwanese, to address one's paternal grandmother. But here is a term for elderly shuang'er]

"I already told you, your amu's belly is too big, a difficult birth is certain. You should find your uncle and help prepare for your amu's funeral arrangements."

Liu Amo looked gleefully at the copper coins and the full waterskin in his hands, planning to leave as soon as Liu Rong succumbed to the difficult birth.

I never thought Dongzi would be so capable. Liu Rong's condition is clearly a death sentence. I just said it casually, but Dongzi actually managed to find water.

"Liu Amo, please save my amu. If Amu can be saved, I'll do anything you want."

Dongzi refused to give up, still kowtowing incessantly to Liu Amo.

Looking at the waterskin he held in his arms, Liu Amo sighed with ill intent. "Dongzi, since you're begging me so earnestly... how about this, if you can get another full waterskin, I'll try my best later and do everything I can to save your amu."

"Really?"

Dongzi was so afraid something would happen to Liu Rong that he threw caution to the wind and wanted to run out to find Li Jin and the others for help.

"Dongzi, don't go!"

Suddenly, a voice came from inside the room, stopping Dongzi, who wanted to go find water.

"Amu!"

Dongzi ran in worriedly. Seeing Liu Rong's pitiful state, he was on the verge of tears.

Liu Rong, enduring the severe pain wracking his body, said weakly, "Dongzi, Amu knows my own body. Listen to Amu, you are not allowed to go."

Liu Rong usually doted on Dongzi. How could he not see the injuries on Dongzi's body and his dirty clothes? It was easy to imagine how hard it had been for Dongzi to get the water. This time, Liu Rong was determined not to let Dongzi take the risk again.

Liu Amo also came in, frowning displeased. "Rong fulang, you can't say that. Dongzi is only thinking of you."

[夫郎 (Fūláng): lit. Husband Gentleman. But here is a term for married shuang'er]

Damn jinx, causing trouble for me at a time like this.

Liu Rong knew exactly what Liu Amo was scheming, but for the sake of Dongzi's future life in the village, he suppressed the urge to tell him to get out and said coldly, "Liu Amo, you can go back. I can manage myself."

"Ah, how can you manage like this? You're already having contractions. If I leave, you'll... ah..." Liu Amo shook his head, pretending to be worried.

"Amu, you won't die. I'll go find water now."

"Dongzi, come back... ah..."

"Dongzi, your amu's water has broken. Quickly help your amu inside to lie down." Liu Amo was in this profession for a long time. Seeing Liu Rong's water had broken, he knew Liu Rong had to give birth now. There was no time to get more water, so he could only curse his bad luck inwardly.

"Amu, lie down quickly."

Dongzi hurriedly obeyed Liu Amo and helped Liu Rong lie down.

Liu Rong tightly grasped Dongzi's hand. "Dongzi, if you still recognize me as your amu, you are not allowed to go. Do you understand?"

Dongzi couldn't hold back his tears.

"I'll obey. Amu, please don't die... don't die..."

Just as Dongzi was at a loss, Dashu's voice suddenly sounded. "Dongzi, are you in there? It's me, Dashu. There's someone who says he's a distant relative of your father. He wants to see you."

 

A distant relative? 

Liu Rong's pupils constricted. Enduring the intense pain, he instructed Dongzi, "Dong... Dongzi, go see."