Chapter 8: Du Ruhui's Critical Illness

From time to time, anxious voices drifted in from outside the house, mingled with sighs and soft exclamations. Amid them, Li Jing’s urgent tone could be faintly heard as he spoke with someone else. This sudden and peculiar commotion only served to deepen Li Yi’s curiosity.

“What’s happening outside?” he wondered silently.

At that moment, he no longer felt like lingering in the bath. He rose directly from the tub. Yue’er hurried forward to help dry him with a long silk towel, but before she could reach halfway, Li Yi abruptly snatched the towel from her hands.

“Yue’er, go out and see what’s going on. I’ll manage myself,” Li Yi said, frowning slightly. He spoke quickly, issuing instructions as he briskly dried himself with the towel, paying no heed to decorum.

“Uh…” Yue’er stood there, stunned, her hands frozen in midair. She was utterly taken aback. Never before had she seen Li Yi in such a hurry.

In the memories of Yue’er and everyone else in the Minister’s residence, Li Yi had always been the epitome of an idle profligate—spoiled, pampered, never lifting a finger for himself. For years, he had been waited on by maids for every daily need, never dressing himself, never performing such “lowly” tasks.

Yue’er found it hard to believe how much he had changed overnight. He seemed a different man entirely.

“Am I dreaming?” she thought in shock, blinking her delicate eyelids. If not for the lingering aura of idle arrogance about him, Yue’er would have suspected that Li Yi had been replaced by someone else.

Li Yi, of course, had no idea what she was thinking. By now, he had already dried himself off in haste. Seeing Yue’er still staring blankly, he shot her an impatient glare, his tone edged with annoyance. “Why are you still standing there? Go!”

“Y—yes, young master.” Startled by his rebuke, Yue’er snapped back to her senses, gathered her skirts, and hurried out.

Without further delay, Li Yi quickly dressed himself in a clean white robe and opened the door.

He had barely taken a few steps into the corridor when Yue’er came rushing back toward him. Her expression was tinged with helplessness and regret. Could something serious have happened?

Li Yi’s heart tightened. “What happened?” he asked urgently.

“It’s Chancellor Du,” Yue’er replied without preamble. “Chancellor Du is gravely ill. The Emperor has sent for Master to go to the Du residence immediately. I fear…” Her voice trailed off. She dared not continue, nor speculate further.

Li Yi understood at once.

Chancellor Du was none other than Du Ruhui, famed through the ages as one of the “Twin Pillars of Governance” in the Zhenguan era. Among all the men of the Du clan in the empire, he alone was worthy of the title Chancellor.

Li Yi took a deep breath, steadying himself. According to the chronicles, Du Ruhui had long been plagued by illness, though the exact cause was debated. He ultimately died in the fourth year of Zhenguan, but the precise date was unclear. After his death, Emperor Taizong, Li Shimin, even decreed three days of mourning and suspended court business to honor him.

Li Yi had not expected to encounter such a momentous event himself.

He remained silent, frowning in contemplation. Yue’er stood quietly beside him, not daring to interrupt.

At that moment, Li Yi glanced up and saw Li Jing and Lady Hongfu together.

“My lord, perhaps you should spend more time with Chancellor Du tonight,” Lady Hongfu said softly as she helped Li Jing don his outer robe. Her voice held a note of sorrow. She knew well the depth of Li Jing’s friendship with Du Ruhui and refrained from any words of ill omen.

Li Jing nodded without a word and turned toward the imperial envoy. “Eunuch Gao, let us go.”

“Please, Lord Li.” Though Gao, the eunuch, served as Emperor Taizong’s personal attendant, he showed no airs before a founding statesman such as Li Jing. He stepped aside respectfully, gesturing for Li Jing to lead the way.

Li Jing wasted no words and strode quickly toward the gate.

“Father, wait!” Li Yi called, hurrying after him. He bowed and said solemnly, “Father, may I accompany you?”

Li Yi had resolved to see if he could be of any help at the Du residence. Given the friendship between Chancellor Du and Li Jing, he felt compelled to try. After all, in a previous life, he had spent several years at Wudang Mountain, learning from a Daoist master, and had acquired a fair knowledge of medicine and health.

But Li Jing frowned and snapped angrily, “Do not make trouble! Why are you meddling? Go back to your room!”

The matter was grave, and Li Jing was already deeply anxious for Du Ruhui’s safety. Seeing Li Yi’s insistence only fueled his irritation. He shot him a fierce glare and turned to leave.

“Sanlang, do not make trouble!” Lady Hongfu called, her tone urgent. Though she had always doted on Li Yi, she understood the gravity of the situation and did not want her son to add to Li Jing’s worries.

But Li Yi would not give up. Ignoring both her admonitions and Li Jing’s anger, he called out, “Father, I have studied medicine under my teacher. Perhaps I might be of help!”

His voice was not loud, but it was resolute, striking Li Jing like a bell.

Li Jing stopped abruptly and looked back at his son. Lady Hongfu, too, stared at Li Yi in surprise.

“I almost forgot—Sanlang’s teacher is no ordinary man. Perhaps he really can help,” Lady Hongfu thought, breathing deeply as she nodded to Li Yi, no longer stopping him.

Li Jing studied Li Yi for a long moment, as if wrestling with his decision. At last, he nodded. “Come.”

“Yes, Father,” Li Yi replied, following with a composed and earnest air as they set off together for the Du residence.

Within the Minister’s mansion, many of the staff were left bewildered.

“The master didn’t scold the young lord?”

“He’s letting him go too?”

“When did the young lord have any other teacher besides the master and madam? And since when did he study medicine? How did we never know?”

Their doubts remained unspoken, mere whispers in their hearts. Yet, unnoticed, a knowing smile crept across Yue’er’s face.

Eunuch Gao, walking beside Li Jing, found it strange but said nothing. He knew what should and should not be spoken. As long as he brought Li Jing to the Du residence, his duty to the Emperor would be fulfilled—the rest was none of his concern.

Still, when he glanced at Li Yi, a friendly smile appeared on his face, signaling a desire for acquaintance.

Li Yi returned the smile with a slight nod.

“This young man is courteous, lacking the arrogance of other noble sons. He may not be as simple as the rumors say,” thought Eunuch Gao. He trusted in Li Jing’s character and judgment.