Chapter 34: Chapter Thirty-Four Third Brother Is Just Pregnant

Chapter 34: Third Brother Is Just Pregnant

August, the hottest month of summer, found Wei San feeling perpetually drowsy for several days, likely due to heatstroke. His appetite waned, and even the scent of fish triggered nausea. Yet, this level of discomfort seemed tolerable, so he refrained from alarming Wei Zheng. Instead, he simply instructed his servants to prepare some cooling and fever-reducing medicine, which he took without further ado.

He never once considered consulting Imperial Physician Liu for a diagnosis or treatment. Imperial Physician Liu was Wei Zheng’s confidant; if the physician knew, Wei Zheng would inevitably know too. With the final imperial examination approaching, Wei Zheng had been increasingly preoccupied. Wei San wished not to burden him with his minor ailments.

Today marked the final palace examination, and as the Right Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Wei Zheng’s presence was required. He did not return to the residence until late that night.

Travel-weary, Wei Zheng entered the residence, immediately catching the bitter scent of medicine. His young assassin stood calmly, unflinching, drinking from a medicine bowl.

Wei Zheng instinctively frowned. "Why are you taking medicine? Are you unwell?"

Wei San had already heard his footsteps and was unsurprised by his sudden appearance. He set down the empty bowl, suppressing the bitter taste in his mouth. "My lord, your humble subordinate is not ill. I merely have a touch of heatstroke, so I asked the servants to prepare some heat-relieving medicine."

As he spoke, he couldn't suppress it any longer. His stomach cramped and churned with acidity, and he nearly vomited the medicine he had just consumed.

Covering his mouth, tears welled in his eyes reflexively.

"You don’t look like you have ordinary heatstroke. Have you seen Imperial Physician Liu?"

The young assassin’s complexion was quite poor. Wei Zheng quickly stepped forward, standing beside him and gently rubbing his back to soothe him, his tone laced with concern.

He knew Wei San well—Wei San would never lie to him. He worried that Wei San might have a strange illness but was dismissing it as minor, which could lead to it worsening over time.

The stomach discomfort came and went quickly. After a moment, Wei San felt somewhat better, though still weak. He shook his head and replied, "Your humble subordinate thought it was just ordinary heatstroke and didn’t dare disturb Imperial Physician Liu at his age."

Imperial Physician Liu was displeased upon hearing this. He scowled and chided, "How can you, young assassin, avoid seeing a doctor just because you fear the diagnosis? If I hadn’t happened to catch you drinking medicine today, would you have kept it hidden?"

Wei San, who had already hidden it for several days: "..."

He dared not let Wei Zheng know the symptoms had persisted for several days, though they hadn’t been as severe as now.

Wei Zheng was irritated by his guilty expression but didn’t press further. Instead, he sighed helplessly and instructed, "I’ll have someone send for Imperial Physician Liu right away."

Wei San hadn’t expected him to care more about his illness than he did himself. He felt both touched and flattered. Seeing Wei Zheng about to call for a servant, he quickly grabbed Wei Zheng’s hand and said softly, "My lord, it’s already late at night. Imperial Physician Liu must have retired for the evening. Let’s not disturb him at his age."

The assassin’s initiative, even his coy behavior, greatly pleased Wei Zheng, but he didn’t let Wei San evade the issue.

He deliberately adopted a cold expression and said, "An illness is nothing to take lightly. How can you delay treatment?"

Wei San thought his words made sense. Recalling his symptoms over the past few days, they seemed to be getting worse. Since his lord had already discovered he was ill and taking medicine, it was indeed time to see a doctor properly.

He nodded in agreement. "It’s too late tonight. Tomorrow, your humble subordinate will seek out Imperial Physician Liu for a proper examination."

Wei Zheng wasn’t fully satisfied but was at least glad he had persuaded him to see the physician. He didn’t force him to go immediately.

Considering his discomfort, Wei Zheng unusually left him undisturbed. After bathing and changing, he held him and they slept.

Wei San woke up late again. By the time he roused, it was already the hour of Chen (7-9 a.m.), and Wei Zheng had long since left for court.

He sat up, his head still foggy and drowsy. Even after a full night’s sleep, he felt extremely tired.

This was unlike anything he'd experienced before. In the past, he would have already finished his morning training by this hour.

He wondered what illness he had. It wasn’t particularly painful, just exhausting.

Though Wei San longed to lie back down and sleep, he hadn’t forgotten his promise to Wei Zheng. Mustering his energy, he got out of bed.

The sun was already high, and the maids were still waiting dutifully outside. He didn’t summon them to help him wash or dress, merely asking for a basin of water to wash up. After dismissing the maids and attendants, he slowly made his way to Imperial Physician Liu’s courtyard.

To facilitate examinations for Wei Zheng, Imperial Physician Liu’s courtyard wasn’t far. It took about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to walk there.

When Wei San arrived, the courtyard gate was closed. He raised his hand and knocked. "Imperial Physician Liu, are you there?"

After knocking two or three times, the door creaked open. However, it wasn’t Imperial Physician Liu who emerged but a cleaning attendant from his courtyard.

The attendant said, "Imperial Physician Liu left the residence not long ago. He said he was going into the capital to buy some medicinal herbs."

Wei San thought, "What bad timing." He could only ask, "When will Imperial Physician Liu return approximately?"

The cleaning servant glanced at the sky. "Usually, when Imperial Physician Liu leaves the residence, he doesn’t return until dusk. Today should be about the same."

After dusk, his lord would have returned. Wei San couldn’t go into the city to fetch him, so he had to leave and find another solution.

With Imperial Physician Liu unavailable and no other physicians in the prince's residence, true to his word, Wei San was determined to fulfill his promise. Instead of returning to his side chamber, he turned and headed for the main gate of the estate.

"Wei San, where are you going?"

No sooner had he stepped out of the rear courtyard than Wei Er, whom Wei Zheng had specifically ordered to stay behind and protect him, stepped out of hiding.

Wei San was quite surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

It was Wei Er’s turn on guard duty today. Shouldn’t he be accompanying their lord instead of following him?

Wei Er explained casually before repeating his question, "You still haven’t told me where you’re going."

Their lord had instructed him to keep a close watch on Wei San to ensure nothing happened to him. Though he didn’t understand what accidents could befall someone of Wei San’s martial prowess within the prince's residence, fortified by hidden guards and assassins, it wasn’t his place to question. He merely followed orders.

Wei San didn’t think much of it, assuming Wei Er was sent by their lord to ensure he saw the physician. He explained helplessly, "I haven’t been feeling well these past few days. I intended to see Imperial Physician Liu, but he’s not here. I thought I’d go into the city to see a physician."

"Find a physician?"

Wei Er said with a hiss. "Why not ask Little Nine? Didn’t he work undercover in a medical clinic for two years and learn quite a bit? For minor illnesses and pains, wouldn’t he suffice? Why bother going all the way into the city?"

If Wei Er hadn’t mentioned it, Wei San would have completely forgotten that Wei Jiu knew some medicine. Mainly because Wei Jiu was usually too frivolous and unreliable, rarely showing off his medical skills, so Wei San had subconsciously overlooked this ability of his.

"You’re right. I’ll go find Little Nine now."

Wei San’s eyes lit up, and he turned to head for the assassins' quarters. But Wei Er stopped him again.

"Don’t go. If you’re not feeling well, go back and rest. I’ll call him for you."

As if afraid he might refuse, Wei Er personally saw him back to his chamber before leaving reassured.

Before long, Wei Jiu arrived. His first act was to plop down on the soft couch and grab the pastries on the small table.

Wei San frowned slightly, growing more convinced by the moment of his unreliability.

Wei Jiu gulped down the last pastry, took a sip of tea, wiped his mouth, and then said to him, "What’s wrong, Third Brother? Let me check your pulse."

Even more unreliable.

Wei San sighed. Since he was already here, he couldn’t just turn him away without being examined. He extended his hand. Just as Wei Jiu was about to place his fingers on it, he suddenly remembered something, turned to fetch a silk handkerchief, and draped it over Wei San’s wrist. With a mischievous grin, he teased, "Now that Third Brother belongs to our lord, we must remember to avoid any impropriety, in case our lord finds out and becomes jealous."

Wei San: "........"

"Forget it, I should just go find a doctor."

"Hey, hey, hey, wait! I won’t say another word, alright?"

After Wei San's scolding, Wei Jiu finally became serious. He placed his fingers on Wei San’s wrist. Before long, his smile froze.

Wei San also held his breath anxiously. "Do I have some strange illness?"

Wei Jiu looked at him with an expression of incredulous disbelief. "No, Third Brother is just..."

He paused for a long moment, swallowed, and continued, "Just pregnant."