Chapter 17: Adorable and Obedient Little Sizi

Chen Yan gave up, fully aware that Sizi was gravely ill, with silver needles still embedded in her body, and even he, the doctor, hadn't passed by.

A group of people who knew nothing about medicine forced themselves forward.

He still hasn't seen Sizi awake yet.

Upon hearing that, everyone awkwardly gave up their spots for Chen Yan.

Chen Yan stepped forward and saw Sizi looking at him listlessly, her eyes full of curiosity.

"L‑little... little... who are you talking to~"

"Me..."

Just as Chen Yan was about to answer, Empress Changsun softly said, "He is the future husband of your elder sister Gao Yang; Sizi should call him brother‑in‑law."

"Brother‑in‑law?" the little milk dumpling was a bit confused about what brother‑in‑law meant, and her pronunciation was also off.

But she felt that the young man she was to call brother‑in‑law was handsome, and exuded an aura that made her want to get close.

Empress Changsun said, "Yes, he is your brother‑in‑law, here to help Sizi treat her illness. Sizi, will you obediently listen to him later?"

Upon hearing that, Sizi suddenly thought the brother‑in‑law in front of her was no longer handsome and not at all approachable.

The little milk dumpling pursed her mouth, assuming the brother‑in‑law would be like the previous Imperial Physicians, making her drink those terrible medicines, and she couldn't like this brother‑in‑law at all.

Chen Yan saw that Sizi, because of Empress Changsun's words, was a bit resistant toward him, but he wasn't angry; instead, he felt even more sympathy for the little girl before him.

The sensible little fellow must have suffered a lot before.

He sighed inwardly, and Chen Yan gave a gentle smile, "Don't be afraid; my treatment is different from others', it won't make you feel uncomfortable."

"Really?" Sizi perked up at his words, but her eyes still held some doubt.

Before, many different Imperial Physicians had treated her.

Although their methods differed, one thing was the same: they would make her drink those hard‑to‑swallow medicines.

Could it be that the brother‑in‑law before her wouldn't make her drink such medicines?

Thinking that, the little fellow couldn't help but show a hopeful expression.

She was truly terrified of taking medicine.

Chen Yan said with a smile, "Be obedient and don't move around, okay?"

"Mm‑yeah, I won't move around~" Sizi nodded her little head, very obedient.

Chen Yan asked Dong Xue to remove the icy handkerchief, then checked Sizi's temperature.

He found her temperature had dropped a lot, no longer as hot as before, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He feared Sizi's fever wouldn't subside, which would be a real trouble later.

Chen Yan gently pulled out the silver needle from Sizi's body and placed it back into the Imperial Physician's needle case.

Just as he was about to speak, a young eunuch rushed into Fengyang Pavilion, "His Majesty, General Li has arrived with a woman requesting an audience."

Li Shimin, hearing this, recalled what Chen Yan had said earlier and said, "Send word quickly!"

"Yes!" the young eunuch slowly withdrew from Fengyang Pavilion.

Li Shimin asked, "Zi An, how is Sizi's condition?"

Chen Yan replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the little princess's fever has subsided. Once my maid brings the medicine box, combined with my specially prepared medicine, the little princess will be fine."

Just then, as the saying goes, Cao Cao arrived.

Li Junxian entered Fengyang Pavilion, with Qing'er trailing behind, carrying a medicine box.

"I, your servant, pay my respects to His Majesty, the Empress, and the two princesses!"

Qing'er seemed a bit restrained; upon seeing Chen Yan, a flash of delight appeared in her eyes. Hearing Li Junxian's words, she hurriedly imitated the bow, saying, "Your servant, I pay respects to His Majesty, the Empress, and the two princesses, my lords."

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "No need for formalities. You are Qing'er, right? Quickly bring Zi An's medicine box here."

"Ah... oh oh." Qing'er hadn't expected the emperor to know her name, and was momentarily stunned; after regaining composure, she hurriedly carried the medicine box to Chen Yan.

"Young master, I have brought the medicine box for you. Are you... are you alright?"

"Don't worry, what could happen to me?" Chen Yan laughed, patted Qing'er's head, and took his own medicine box from her.

After opening it, everyone curiously looked on.

Inside were rows upon rows of many porcelain bottles, as well as numerous strange items.

There were needles polished to a shine that looked bone‑like, a short dagger glinting sharply, and some iron objects of unknown purpose that looked very odd.

Although the crowd didn't understand, none asked further.

Chen Yan selected a small white porcelain bottle, said to Qing'er, "Here, open your mouth."

"Oh oh." Qing'er was puzzled, but she was accustomed to obeying Chen Yan, so without hesitation she opened her little mouth.

Chen Yan opened the bottle's cork and carefully poured a drop of pale‑yellow liquid into Qing'er's mouth.

Qing'er smacked her lips; it tasted a little bitter, but otherwise nothing.

After completing all that, Chen Yan approached Sizi and said warmly, "Sizi, come, I'll give you a sip of something good."

Sizi pursed her lips, looking aggrieved, "Brother‑in‑law, are you really trying to trick me?"

"I heard you, brother‑in‑law; I'm going to make you drink the medicine!"

The little fellow felt he had been deceived.

He clearly said his treatment wouldn't be uncomfortable, so why still have to drink the medicine?

The little fellow thought with a hint of grievance.

Chen Yan said seriously, "But my medicine is different; it's not hard to drink. If you don't believe, ask her."

Saying that, Chen Yan pointed to Qing'er beside him.

Sizi's cute big eyes blinked, she tilted her little head toward Qing'er and asked, "Young lady, is this medicine really not hard to drink?"

Qing'er nodded vigorously, "Yes, Princess, the medicine the young master made is not hard to drink."

"Alright then~" Sizi closed her eyes, opened her little mouth, and decided to trust this brother‑in‑law once.

Seeing this, Chen Yan no longer hesitated, stepped forward, and slowly poured the three drops of liquid into Xiao Sizi's mouth.

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun did not try to stop him.

First, because they trusted Chen Yan.

Second, because Chen Yan had previously let Qing'er take this medicine.

So they had no doubts about any problem with the medicine.

Chen Yan's way of administering the medicine was particular; unlike before, he did not pour it directly into the mouth, but into Xiao Sizi's throat.

Moreover, there were only three drops total, so Xiao Sizi felt nothing at all—just a slight bitterness, and then nothing else.

"Sis, this medicine isn't hard to drink, right?"

Chen Yan said gently, "Sizi, are you sleepy? Do you want to sleep?"

The little one stared at Chen Yan with big round eyes, surprised, and said, "Sis, do you want to sleep now?"

"I guessed as such." Chen Yan smiled. Xiao Sizi had just recovered from a serious illness, her fever hadn't fully subsided, and she had just taken his medicine.

It would be strange if she weren't sleepy.

"Sis, you're so annoying." Xiao Sizi clenched her tiny fists, rubbed her eyes, and yawned: "Dad, Mom, I wanna sleep~"

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun, hearing this, turned their gazes to Chen Yan; seeing him nod, Empress Changsun immediately spoke softly: "Alright, since Sizi wants to sleep, let her sleep quickly, Mom will keep her company, okay?"

"Mm-hmm, I'm going to sleep~"

The little one could no longer resist the drowsiness, lay down straight away, turned on her side, poked her little bottom, found a comfortable position, and fell asleep.

Chen Yan stood up and said to Li Shimin and Empress Changsun, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty, let's go outside to talk."

"......"