The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0665 Diarrhoea

Momo Quan looked at the thing inside the jade box and asked, ”Yuxi, how do you eat this?” Although she had heard of Taisui before, it was so exceedingly rare that she had only ever known of it by name.

Yuxi smiled and replied, ”You can stew it in soup or soak it in water and drink it. I think soaking it in water might be better.”

Seeing that Yuxi knew what she was doing, Momo Quan didnʼt ask any more questions.

Xu Wu glanced at it a few more times in wonder, then said, ”Madam, thereʼs still a pile of things outside. Iʼll get back to work.” With this treasure, Madamʼs health would recover quickly, and she would no longer let her thoughts run wild.

Momo Quan advised, ”This thing is rare and hard to come by. You must keep it safe and donʼt tell too many people about it!” Yuxi had suffered ʼseven disasters and eight hardshipsʼ, but now she felt more confident with this treasure in her possession.

Yuxi nodded. ”Before, I kept worrying about Liu-er, but now with this, I no longer need to.” Not only did she stop worrying for herself, but with this herb, Liu-erʼs frail condition would no longer trouble her either.

Momo Quan said, ”This kind of powerful tonic is not suitable for Liu-er yet.” A child was too young to handle such potent tonics, which could do more harm than good.

Yuxi smiled lightly. ”I know.” Having studied pharmacology herself, of course, she knew full well that children couldnʼt take tonics casually.

Staring at the fleshy lingzhi, which weighed over ten jin, Momo Quan sighed. ”Yun Qing is so thoughtful. You mustnʼt let your thoughts run wild again in the future.” From this matter alone, it was clear that Yunqing held Yuxi and the children close to his heart. If he were indifferent, how could he have found such a rare treasure for Yuxi?

Yuxiʼs face reddened. ”I wonʼt do it again.” Then she added, ”Momo, you should have some too!” This thing could prolong life, and it would be just right for someone of Momo Quanʼs age.

Momo Quan shook her head. ”No need. Not everyone is meant to eat such rare things.” It wasnʼt superstition on her part, but Taisui had always been shrouded in mystery among common folk. If ordinary people ever got hold of it, they would only enshrine it without ever thinking of eating it. They feared that eating it might ʼshorten their lifespanʼ.

Seeing Momo Quanʼs firm refusal, Yuxi did not insist. Instead, she took a small knife and cut off a tiny piece of the lingzhi, placing it in a jade-green cup. Yuxi used the jade cup because Yun Qing had stored it especially in a jade box – she felt that there must be some significance.

Since the thing was so rare and its effects were not yet fully understood, Yuxi didnʼt dare use much of it. She poured in some freshly boiled water to steep it.

Once it had cooled, Yuxi took a sip and told Momo Quan, ”Just as the books said, itʼs a little bitter.” The books described the lingzhi as mild in nature, bitter in taste, non-toxic, and effective in strengthening the spleen, moistening the lungs, and nourishing the kidneys and liver.

Momo Quan said, ”Good medicine is bitter to the mouth. Now that youʼve had this, though, you shouldnʼt eat any more of those medicinal meals.” If they clashed with this herb, it wouldnʼt be good.

Yuxi nodded.

What Yuxi hadnʼt expected was that, after drinking the fleshy lingzhi infusion, she started having diarrhoea. She became so weak that she needed Hongdouʼs support just to get around.

Lying on the bed, Yuxi said, ”I didnʼt expect eating this to give me diarrhoea.”

Momo Quan was a little worried and urged, ”Weʼd better call a physician and ask about it!” Seeing Yuxi like this, she couldnʼt feel at ease.

Yuxi shook her head. ”Thereʼs no need. The physicians in Yu City probably donʼt know much about Taisui. Even if they do, itʼs nine times out of ten because theyʼve read about it in books, like me.” This rare thing was almost unheard of. Even if someone dug it up, they wouldnʼt tell anyone. So the number of physicians who had actually seen one was extremely small.

Looking at Yuxiʼs pale face, Momo Quan exclaimed, ”This wonʼt do!” If the diarrhoea continued, Yuxiʼs body would suffer even more.

Yuxi shook her head. ”This Taisui is rare; its medicinal effects must be different from those of other herbs. Having diarrhoea now might even be a good sign!” Although constantly sitting on the chamber pot was inconvenient and made her legs feel weak, she actually felt reassured. If it were like other medicines, without a reaction after taking it, that would be a cause for concern.

Before going to bed, Yuxi also drank a bowl of millet and red date porridge. She was already sick of eating so many sweet things, but couldnʼt skip them.

Consequently, Yuxi didnʼt sleep well that night, getting up four or five times. However, after using the chamber pot and lying back down each time, she quickly fell asleep again.

The next day, Momo Quan advised, ”Itʼs safer to eat it a little less today.” She was uneasy, afraid that something would go wrong if Yuxi continued eating the lingzhi like this.

Yuxi shook her head. ”I will eat it as much as yesterday.” She hadnʼt eaten much the day before either — only a piece about the size of two peanuts. Any less and it would be as if she hadnʼt taken any.

Seeing Momo Quanʼs worried face, Yuxi assured her, ”Momo, although Iʼve had diarrhoea after eating that thing, I feel like my body has become lighter and more refreshed.”

Momo Quan didnʼt believe her, so she took Yuxiʼs pulse. It was the same as it had been for the past few days — no difference.

Yuxi said, ”In any case, itʼs impossible to see results in just one day. Donʼt worry, Momo. I know my own body best.”

Momo Quan reminded her, ”If something feels wrong, then donʼt eat it again.” It was *this unknown factor that made people uneasy. She wished they had let someone else try it first. However, given how precious it was, testing it on someone else would have seemed too wasteful.

Yuxi had diarrhoea twice that morning, but it was much better than the day before.

After lunch, Yuxi summoned Xu Daniu. Xu Wu was too busy, and calling him over would have delayed things; Xu Daniuʼs duties were much lighter in comparison. Yuxi asked, ”How is the battle outside going?” Yun Qing hadnʼt been home for two days, so the situation at the front could only be deteriorating.

Xu Daniu replied, ”Madam, rest assured. With the General here, Yu City will definitely hold out.” But the casualties were far too heavy

Yuxi changed her questions. ”How many casualties were there yesterday? How many troops do we still have?” It was truly formidable of Bateʼer not to have retreated even until now.

Xu Daniu responded, ”Madam, more than nine thousand men were lost yesterday. We now have just over thirty thousand soldiers left, and forty thousand reinforcements will arrive tomorrow night. The Northern Barbarians have also lost over half of their troops, so they wonʼt be able to hold out for much longer. After the General returned, morale soared, and casualties decreased. However, after days of fierce assaults, our soldiers are utterly exhausted.”

Thinking of what she had seen that day, Yuxi asked in a low, hoarse voice, ”Have the wounded all been properly taken care of?” It was just that her body didnʼt live up to her expectations; otherwise, she could have helped too.

Xu Daniu smiled as he answered, ”Madam, donʼt worry. The wounded have all been settled properly. There are also  plenty of medicinal supplies and cloth for bandages from Xinping City and Linzhou City.”

Yuxi asked, ”Since Prefect Xu Chong of Xinping City has fled, who recruited the new soldiers? And who sent the grain and medicine?” The soldiers and supplies dispatched from Xinping City that day not only alleviated the urgent situation but also reassured the cityʼs defenders that they had support from the rear, so their hearts did not panic.

Xu Daniu replied, ”The one in charge of Xinping City right now is the former Assistant Prefect, Fu Minglang. The grain and medicine were gathered by the Eldest Old Master Zhao, who asked the wealthy merchants of Xinping City to donate.” These supplies proved extremely useful.

Yuxi knew of this Fu Minglang. He had assumed office around the same time as Tan Tuo. He was a decent man, but because he was connected to the Yu family, he wasnʼt allowed to succeed Tan Tuo as Prefect of Xinping City. She hadnʼt expected that, with Xu Chong having fled, Fu Minglang would stabilise Xinping City at such a critical moment.

Seeing Yuxiʼs calm expression, Xu Daniu gathered his courage and advised, ”Madam, your health isnʼt good right now. You shouldnʼt strain yourself. Donʼt worry about matters outside. Since the General is here in Yu City, nothing will happen.” Xu Daniu only dared mention what had just happened because he was afraid of offending Yuxi if he didnʼt do so.

Yuxi said, ”Iʼve put you in a difficult position.”

Xu Daniu scratched his head. ”Itʼs not that Iʼm troubled; I just worry about your health, Madam. If youʼre not well, General wonʼt be in a good mood either. If the General is in a bad mood, none of us will have good days. So you must recover quickly. Then the General wonʼt always look so stern, and our lives will be easier too.”

Yuxi laughed when she heard this. ”I just want to understand whatʼs happening outside. I donʼt plan to do anything.” As long as she had a clear picture, she wouldnʼt feel afraid or anxious.

After Xu Daniu left, Yuxi leaned back in her chair and lost herself in thought.

Momo Quan came over and scolded her: ”Havenʼt I told you to rest more and not strain yourself? Why wonʼt you listen, no matter how many times I say it?”

Yuxi broke off from her thoughts and smiled wryly. ”Itʼs already become a habit.”

Momo Quan was at a loss for words. She had always told Yuxi that, when things happened, she should think more, reflect more, act more and speak less. She hadnʼt expected Yuxi to truly make it a habit.

Yuxi wondered aloud, ”Momo, tell me, why canʼt the Northern Barbarians be eradicated?” So many soldiers died at their hands every year in Yu City, yet they could never be wiped out.

After a momentʼs silence, Momo Quan replied, ”The Northern Barbarians live off the grasslands. Even if the Northwest Army becomes strong in the future, it will still be impossible to destroy them. If the barbarians canʼt win, they simply retreat into the depths of the steppe.” Those people could still live well deep in the grasslands. But the Central Plains army could not—without grain and fodder, venturing deep into the grasslands would be a death sentence.

Yuxi raised her head to look at the sky and gaze at the drifting clouds. She murmured to herself: ”Five years, as long as...”

Although Momo Quan only heard the words ʼfive yearsʼ, given what Yuxi had said earlier, she could easily guess what she meant. However, Momo Quan pretended not to have heard and ushered, ʼThe wind in this courtyard is strong; letʼs go inside!ʼ Yuxi had many secrets, but Momo Quan wasnʼt a curious person and wasnʼt interested in them.

When Xu Wu saw Xu Daniu, he asked: ”You didnʼt let anything slip, did you?” Han Jianye had been seriously injured and was still unconscious. Worried that Yuxi wouldnʼt be able to cope with the news, Xu Wu kept it hidden from her.

Xu Daniu exclaimed, ”Do you take me for someone so tactless?” Never mind that Madam hasnʼt asked about Han Jianye; even if she had, he would never have told her the truth. If she became agitated and fainted, the General would beat the life out of him.

After saying this, Xu Daniu added worriedly, ”Han Jianye has been unconscious for three days now. Could he just die like this?”

Xu Wu shook his head. ”Weʼve already done everything we can. Whether he survives now depends on him.” They had brought in the best physicians and used the best medicine. If he still could not recover, it would mean that Han Jianyeʼs fate had run its course.

Although Xu Daniu hadnʼt gone onto the battlefield himself, he became emotional when he thought of his fallen comrades. ”In all these years, weʼve never fought such a brutal battle.” More than a hundred thousand had already died, yet the Northern Barbarians still had not withdrawn

Xu Wu vowed coldly, ”These blood debts will one day be repaid tenfold, even a hundredfold.” The casualties had been so heavy this time, partly because those who fought were all new recruits and partly because their weapons and equipment were poor. However, with the backing of the entire Northwest, there would surely be earth-shattering changes.