Chapter 1305: Chapter 1283: Overnight Stay (Additional Chapter for the Reward from the Book Friend ’Manbao’s Ideal’)
Yin Huo, lying in bed, still had energy and said, "People in the palace, whether they’re eunuchs or maids, all have old ailments. Especially the eunuchs, their bodies are incomplete, and who knows how many illnesses they suffer from."
Bai Shan nodded, "Instead of setting up free clinics outside Jishi Hall and breaking the pharmacy’s rules, why not go into the palace and perform acupuncture on them? With your guidance, not only can they learn acupuncture techniques, but the palace staff can also be treated. Wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?"
Manbao began to ponder, "This matter needs to be discussed with the Empress."
Bai Shan said, "Why bother the Empress over a small matter like this? When you go into the palace tomorrow to give acupuncture to the Crown Prince, just mention it to Eunuch Wu, or say something casually to Aunt Shang if you meet her. That would suffice."
Yin Huo also chimed in, "Sometimes, letting the servants handle such matters is better than having the masters issue direct orders."
Manbao took note of it in her mind.
When the time came, Manbao removed the needles from Yin Huo’s body. He got dressed and rose, faintly hearing voices coming from the room across the way. He asked, "Did Bai Er go looking for Young Master Xiang to hear stories again?"
Bai Shan, whose ears had grown numb from hearing them, guessed that Xiang Mingxue must be tired of retelling those stories. Yet Bai Er kept insisting on confirming certain details repeatedly.
Seeing Yin Huo’s eyes light up, Bai Shan waved his hand and said, "If you want to listen, then go ahead."
Yin Huo glanced at the sky and hesitated slightly, "It’s getting late..."
Manbao suggested, "Why don’t you stay here for dinner? We’re about to have dinner as well."
But if he stayed for dinner, night would fall.
Once night fell, the mist would thicken, and it would be much colder outside.
Yin Huo frowned in thought.
Seeing his concern, Bai Shan couldn’t help but say, "If you really want to stay and play, why not just spend the night here? You can share the room with Bai Er."
Yin Huo replied, "That wouldn’t be appropriate."
"What’s inappropriate about it?" Manbao and the others found it perfectly normal. When they were younger, Manbao and Bai Er often stayed at Bai Shan’s house just to play during the day.
Yin Huo felt a bit repulsed by Bai Er but couldn’t say so outright. His gaze fell on Bai Shan’s bed instead.
Bai Shan immediately said, "No way. I’m restless when I sleep and might kick you."
Yin Huo was skeptical, "Bai Er wouldn’t kick?"
Manbao suggested, "He has a wooden couch in his room; it’s quite large and could fit you comfortably."
That couch had originally been in the study, but Mr. Zhuang thought they shouldn’t be too lazy. He also wanted to fit three small desks in the room, so space became tight. He had the couch moved out.
It ended up staying in Bai Erlang’s room.
Yin Huo was tempted. Hesitating just a moment, he instructed Changshou to inform his household he wouldn’t be returning tonight.
Changshou didn’t dare leave him alone, so he went to the front courtyard to let the coachman know to return. Changshou stayed behind but clung closely to Daji, avoiding Yin Huo out of fear that his young master might command him to leave.
Yin Huo didn’t pay much attention to him. Feeling he’d given proper notification to his family, he headed straight to Xiang Mingxue’s room to sit with Bai Erlang and chat.
Even though at this point he knew that Bai Erlang’s version of the biography only contained fifty percent truth, with the remaining fifty percent being embellished, Yin Huo still greatly admired Xiang Mingxue.
He earnestly asked about Xiang Mingxue’s recovery progress and learned that several of his toes could now move slightly. This news made him genuinely happy.
But the atmosphere at the Yin Family wasn’t nearly as cheerful.
When Old Madam Yin learned that Yin Huo would be staying out overnight, she furrowed her brows in worry.
Yin Li received the news and calmly instructed the dishes to be served while supporting Old Madam Yin to the dining hall. "Mother, don’t worry. With Divine Doctor Zhou Junior in Changqing Alley, Huo-er is safer there than at home."
"It’s still not his own home; there are bound to be inconveniences."
Yin Li didn’t mind. When he campaigned in the army, he had slept in the wilderness and gnawed on grass roots. How could any inconvenience compare to that?
He didn’t say this out loud, maintaining a composed demeanor and resolute attitude. He wasn’t going to send anyone to bring Yin Huo back.
"Young people often stay up all night talking happily with friends; it’s only natural."
"That may be normal for others, but it’s not suitable for Huo-er," Old Madam Yin said. "His body isn’t strong enough to endure it."
Yin Li repeated his stance, "With Divine Doctor Zhou Junior in Changqing Alley, she would certainly advise against it. Huo-er listens to her advice."
Old Madam Yin: ...
In the end, the Yin Family didn’t send anyone to retrieve Yin Huo. Even the care package of food and clothing Old Madam Yin intended to send to Changqing Alley was blocked by Yin Li.
Yin Li felt it was impolite and might give the impression that their family was neglecting their son.
Thus, Yin Huo spent a quiet evening in Changqing Alley, having a simple dinner. Mr. Zhuang expressed his welcome to Yin Huo staying overnight. Later, when they studied in the bookroom after dinner, Mr. Zhuang casually guided him on his coursework.
Yin Huo raised his head to glance at Bai Shan and the others. He saw them seated and writing their assignments intently. Mr. Zhuang took turns at each desk, giving comments on their work before returning to his own spot to read.
At last, Yin Huo understood why Bai Shan had made such rapid progress at Mingxue Academy. It was because he received tutoring even after school, something his own household lacked.
Bai Shan finished his homework, submitted it to Mr. Zhuang for review and feedback, and then pulled out a recreational book to read.
Manbao was the next to finish her homework. After receiving feedback, she went back to her desk, pulled out a blank sheet of paper, and began pondering in frustration.
She was thinking about how best to teach Ms. Doctor Liu.
Until today, she hadn’t found this task difficult. She figured she would teach whatever cases she had at hand and supplement them with diagnostics practices. Over time, Ms. Doctor Liu would naturally learn medicine. That was how she herself had learned.
But after examining Ms. Doctor Liu’s acupuncture technique today, Manbao realized that such a piecemeal approach wouldn’t work. Although she had learned medicine like this in real life, the system had helped her study medicine systematically under Teacher Mo.
Reflecting further, she recalled that Mr. Zhuang had taught them the same material for the first few years, only diversifying their studies more recently.
Where exactly should she begin when teaching Ms. Doctor Liu?
Manbao was increasingly troubled.
Bai Shan made two notes and looked up to see her propping her chin on her hand, visibly distracted. Sneaking a glance at Mr. Zhuang, who was absorbed in his book and not paying attention, Bai Shan lightly kicked her and whispered disapprovingly, "I’m searching for materials for you, but you’re just daydreaming?"
Manbao said, "This isn’t daydreaming; it’s thinking."
"Stop thinking for now and focus on the materials. I’ve borrowed books from the Book Collection Tower; you should read them quickly. I’ll return them and borrow two more in a couple of days," Bai Shan said. "Next month is the year-end exam, so I need to hurry and prepare."
Manbao reluctantly set aside her aimless thoughts, pulled out the book he had brought, and began reading. However, she couldn’t help but complain, "You kicked me too hard!"
Bai Shan protested, "Impossible! I kicked lightly."
"It’s winter; everything hurts more easily."
Bai Shan said, "But you’re wearing so many layers."
Sitting beside Bai Erlang, Yin Huo stared blankly at the two of them. Bai Erlang, noticing his lack of reaction, glanced up briefly before returning to his homework. As usual, his was the last to be finished.
He nonchalantly said, "Don’t bother watching. They’ll stop arguing after a while."
Yin Huo curiously asked, "Do they fight like this often?"
Bai Erlang hummed in confirmation, "All the time. They’ve been like this since childhood, squabbling every few days. I don’t understand what there is to fight about."
He spoke as though he had never joined in their fights.