The Good Grandson of the Red Chamber

Chapter 98: People come and go like autumn geese, leaving no trace; events vanish like spring dreams

Was what Master Jia said before true? Did he really not know who the important person was beforehand?

This discovery overturned some of Ni Er's previous speculations.

Ni Er, having experienced life in the streets, noticed in the past few days that there were many illogical aspects to this matter.

First, Jia Yun, with whom they usually had little interaction, came to visit, and then the Second Master Lian of the Rongguo Mansion contacted a powerful figure.

This gave Ni Er the feeling that someone had deliberately set a trap for him.

But when he stood before the Prince of Ping'an's residence, he overturned all his previous suspicions.

This is the mansion of a prince, while he is just a commoner. They could easily crush him with a flick of their little finger.

What merit or ability does he possess to deserve being targeted by the Prince of Qi's mansion?

Jia Lian was a frequent visitor to the Prince's mansion. The gatekeeper, upon seeing them, let them into the mansion without prior notice.

After entering the gate, they took a carriage and stopped in front of the second gate.

Since Old Madam Ni was unable to walk properly, a young eunuch carried her in a sedan chair and had her sit in it as they carried her inside.

Upon arriving at this point, Ni Er dared not look around, quickly lowered his head, tiptoed, and even slowed his breathing.

Jia Yun was slightly stronger than him, but not by much; his whole body felt stiff.

After an unknown amount of time, they entered a very spacious and luxurious courtyard.

Ni Er helped his elderly mother out of the sedan chair and followed Jia Lian into the house.

Ni Er glanced at a handsome young man dressed in gorgeous clothes and stood up with a smile.

Jia Lian bowed and said, "This humble official greets Your Highness. This humble official has brought the person here."

"Your Highness is kind-hearted and compassionate; it is their good fortune. We will have to trouble Your Highness."

"Why haven't you all paid your respects to the Prince yet?"

In a panic, Jia Yun and Ni Er hurriedly knelt down on the ground, and Ni Er's old mother also groped her way down to kneel down.

"This humble subject, Jia Yun, pays his respects to Your Highness."

"This humble subject, Ni Er, pays his respects to Your Highness."

"This old woman, Li, greets Your Highness."

Xia Chengzong stepped forward and helped them up with a smile.

"What are you doing? Get up right now!"

"Yun-ge'er, I've heard Erlang mention you before. He said you have your own rules and methods in speaking and acting. Now that I've met you, you are indeed a handsome and talented person."

"Ni Er, though from humble origins, is unlikely to understand the meaning of loyalty and righteousness, and is also a filial son."

"What I admire most are loyal ministers and filial sons, so when Jia Erlang asked me for help, I agreed."

Upon receiving praise from Prince Xia Chengzong, Ni Er felt a surge of heat in his blood and a lightness throughout his body, as if all the bones in his body had become several pounds lighter.

He knelt down again and said, "Your Highness, although I am a humble person, I still know the meaning of filial piety."

"If one cannot even respect one's own mother, how can one be considered a human being? This humble subject begs Your Highness to have someone treat my mother's eye ailment."

"Your Highness's great kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by this humble subject. If I were to even frown upon Your Highness's command, I would not be a true hero."

Xia Chengzong pulled him up and laughed, "It's irrelevant. I can't guarantee I can cure your mother."

"Furthermore, even if you are cured, it's merely due to the doctor's compassion; what more do we need from you?"

After saying that, Xia Chengzong had someone bring over a stool and led Ni Er's mother to sit down.

"Old man, please sit down and let me take a look at your eyes."

Mother Ni said tremblingly, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness."

Ni Er and Jia Yun belatedly realized that the important person Lian Erye mentioned was actually Prince Ping'an himself!

This person is indeed a benefactor.

However, this is simply too unbelievable.

This Prince Ping'an was just a boy, only about ten years old.

Besides, he is a member of the royal family, how could he possibly be a miracle doctor?

Even if one learns medicine from the womb, how much medical skill can one acquire?

Ni Er wanted to ask, but dared not question, so he could only look to Jia Lian for help.

Jia Lian smiled and said, "You can rest assured, His Highness's medical skills are extremely high. He has cured the same eye disease before."

After carefully examining Li, Xia Chengzong discovered that her eye disease was indeed cataracts.

Furthermore, her condition is suitable for acupuncture, with an extremely high cure rate.

So he asked, "Old man, I'm about 50% confident I can cure your eye ailment. If it can't be cured, it won't get any worse."

"The elderly person can go back and discuss whether or not to seek medical treatment. It's not too late to come back to me after they've thought it through."

Madam Li hurriedly said, "There's no need to discuss it. Please trouble Your Highness to treat this old woman."

Upon hearing this, Xia Chengzong nodded.

He ordered Xia Bei to bring utensils and take out the silver needles used for acupuncture, then soak them in alcohol and heat them to sterilize.

After soaking for fifteen minutes, he took out the silver needles and began to apply the acupuncture.

Xia Chengzong's hand was very steady, and Jia Lian and Jia Yun watched with great curiosity.

Ni Er was extremely nervous. He clenched his fists tightly, his heart pounding in his throat.

Xia Chengzong moved extremely fast, his hands flying. Everyone only felt a blur before their eyes, and he had already completed the cataract removal.

Next, he took out a newly polished artificial lens and quickly implanted it into Li's eye.

Then he took a specially made gauze and wrapped it around Li's eyes, one circle at a time.

Xia Chengzong instructed: "After the treatment is completed, do not remove the gauze after returning home, and do not let it come into contact with water."

"You can't eat spicy food. Go back and rest more, drink more water, and come to my palace in seven days."

Whether it can be cured or not, we'll know in time.

Is that all?

So fast?

They all felt it was a bit too frivolous.

However, they were not doctors after all, and dared not make any wild guesses.

Ni Erqian expressed his gratitude profusely, then took his leave.

Jia Lian and Jia Yun also took their leave. Xia Chengzong did not try to stop them, but instead told them to come and visit when they had time.

They readily agreed and took their leave.

……

A day later, Xia Chengzong received a letter from Yangzhou.

Without a doubt, it must have been sent by Lin Ruhai.

This letter was sent a month ago.

No wonder later songs say: In the past, things were slow, carriages and mail were slow.

It took more than a month for this letter to arrive.

Judging by the timeline, Lin Ruhai probably wrote to him only a few days after arriving in Yangzhou.

When Xia Chengzong opened the letter, he suddenly felt a little guilty.

The person wrote to him as soon as they arrived in Yangzhou, but he completely forgot about it.

He wouldn't have remembered writing a letter if he hadn't received one from the other party.

In later generations, where is the habit of writing letters to others?

The envelope was thick, but when he took out the letter, there were only two thin sheets of paper; the rest were a few fiery red leaves.

The first note was written by Lin Ruhai, saying that they had arrived in Yangzhou, where they already had a house and had settled down.

Peace and good fortune, nothing else happened, and so on, the matter was concluded hastily in just a few words.

The second one was written by Lin Daiyu; she filled an entire page with her writing.

Her handwriting was crooked and not very pretty, but you could clearly tell that she had tried her best to write it well.

Her first words were: "Third Brother Zong, you big liar!"

You promised not to let me leave, and after I fell asleep, you took me to the boat!

I've written it down in my diary for you lying to me this time, and I'll settle the score with you the next time we meet!