Chapter 53: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
**Chapter 53: Sudden Illness**
In the morning, before the children had woken up, Physician Liu habitually touched Suisui's forehead and was startled by the heat.
Physician Liu thought to himself that the diet was normal yesterday, and there was no exposure to the wind.
He had kept an eye on her while she was sunbathing in the afternoon, and she was dressed warmly enough to avoid getting cold.
Physician Liu was puzzled: “Why did she suddenly develop a fever?”
He considered the ointment he prescribed but realized it was supposed to be mild and nourishing, not overly warming. So, what else could it be?
The system was also confused.
The bedtime story had been skipped the previous night.
After chatting for a while, Suisui had fallen asleep.
The system thought: Everything seemed normal, so why is this happening?
Both the person and the system were at a loss.
But being at a loss wasn't important right now.
What mattered was brewing medicine, treating the illness, and informing Prince Qing that today’s journey would be postponed.
A sick child shouldn’t be moved around unnecessarily.
Especially with a fever like this, it was better to stay in the city where conditions were better and treatment more convenient.
Otherwise, in the wilderness, any needed supplies would require fast horses to fetch.
Physician Liu took Suisui’s pulse and found it to be a typical cold-induced fever, increasing his confusion.
Though puzzled, Physician Liu swiftly arranged for the medicine to be brewed, sending for additional supplies if necessary from the town’s medical hall or pharmacy.
Di Yu was also active, helping to physically cool Suisui down.
Feng Xuanrui, who had gone to bed early the previous night, woke up particularly refreshed.
He then discovered that his sister was ill.
Her small face was burning red, and she seemed disoriented.
In the past, when he called, his sister would respond obediently.
But today, despite calling twice, he only received a faint, cat-like voice: “Brother.”
The soft, pitiful sound almost broke Feng Xuanrui’s heart.
He was so anxious that he didn’t even manage to put on his clothes properly, spinning around on the floor.
Seeing this, Qingshan quickly helped him get dressed.
Once Physician Liu had arranged everything, he went to see Prince Qing.
By now, Prince Qing and his entourage had mostly packed up and were just waiting for the children to finish breakfast before setting off.
Hearing Physician Liu's words, Prince Qing was puzzled and surprised: “Wasn’t she fine yesterday?”
As he spoke, Prince Qing quickly walked towards Suisui’s room to check on the situation.
Physician Liu was equally baffled: “How could this happen? There was no exposure to the wind, no bath yesterday, and I monitored the food. The weather was bad, so Qingshan and his brothers didn’t even go out for snacks. Why did she get a fever?”
“And from the pulse, it’s not food-related heat.”
“It’s just a normal cold-induced fever.”
…
Children’s health is truly a mystery.
Physician Liu felt that there was still much to learn in his medical journey.
One should never be satisfied with the current state!
Otherwise, such doubts remain unresolved!
When Prince Qing arrived, Suisui had woken up.
Her little face was flushed and she looked listless.
Children of Suisui’s age don’t fake illness.
When they’re sick, their lack of energy is obvious.
Prince Qing felt a pang of sympathy seeing the little girl’s weak state.
He turned to Physician Liu and asked, “Have you started brewing the medicine?”
Physician Liu, not entirely reassured, had already gone ahead to recheck Suisui’s pulse. He promptly answered, “Yes, it’s being brewed.”
With Suisui ill, they couldn’t continue their journey today.
Prince Qing wasn’t concerned about delaying their trip by a day or two.
The important prisoners had already been sent back to the capital in advance.
He assumed that the Emperor would understand the delay given his trip with Feng Xuanrui.
In a military campaign, any delay would be unacceptable.
But since it didn’t affect the main business, Prince Qing naturally didn’t mind.
He turned to have everything packed away and decided to wait until the child recovered before setting off.
Suisui, feeling weak, was fed a bit of millet porridge by Physician Liu.
Sick children often have no appetite.
Even though Physician Liu was very gentle in coaxing her, and Suisui had never been treated with such care when ill before, she still couldn’t eat.
The porridge would go down her throat and then come back up.
She felt hot, her head was heavy, and her body ached with fever.
As Suisui cried and struggled to swallow the porridge, Feng Xuanrui couldn’t help but tear up as well: “Wuwu, sister, let’s not eat it.”
Physician Liu, both heartbroken and helpless, said: “No, she needs to drink a bit. Otherwise, the medicine will be even more uncomfortable in her stomach.”
Physician Liu’s medicine was naturally gentle, but it still had some stimulating effects.
Children’s stomachs are already very delicate when they’re sick, and any bit of stimulation can make Suisui more uncomfortable.
So, she needed to eat something to lessen the stimulation.
Hearing Physician Liu, Feng Xuanrui wiped his tears and took the porridge bowl from him, choking up: “I’ll feed my sister.”
At this time, Suisui was held by Qingshui, too weak to even lift her eyelids.
When she heard her brother wanted to feed her, she mustered up her energy and nodded obediently: “Yes, I want brother to feed me.”
Feng Xuanrui: Wuwu!
My sister is too cute.
And too pitiful!
The two children, one crying while feeding and the other crying while eating, were a touching scene.
Physician Liu, watching from the side, also felt his nose sting.
Suisui could only eat a few spoonfuls before she couldn’t take any more, and Physician Liu didn’t press her further.
Once the medicine was ready, he coaxed and persuaded her to take it.
When it came to taking medicine, Feng Xuanrui refused to let anyone else do it.
“No, I can’t feed my sister medicine. I’m a good brother!”
“In my sister’s eyes, I can’t be the bad guy who forces medicine down her throat!”
…
Physician Liu:?
So, does that mean I have to be the bad guy?
Physician Liu couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation and ended up personally taking over the task of coaxing her.
Suisui was willing to listen to Physician Liu’s words.
Moreover, she understood that taking medicine would help her get better faster.
Even though the medicine smelled unpleasant and was bitter, Suisui gritted her teeth and drank it sip by sip.
After taking the medicine, Qingshui fed Suisui some candied fruit he had prepared earlier.
Seeing the candied fruit, Suisui thought of her brother.
The little girl, mustering some courage, took an extra piece from the plate and handed it to Feng Xuanrui, whose nose was red from crying: “Brother, you eat too.”
Feng Xuanrui: Wuwuwu!
I want to cry even more!
How could my sister be so wonderful?
This outpouring of tears made his nose run uncontrollably.
The moment was awkward.
Qingshui quickly fetched a handkerchief and silently helped Feng Xuanrui wipe his nose.
Feng Xuanrui: …!
Maybe he should get sick first!
**End of Chapter**
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