Chapter 136: with translation of chapter title

Mu Nan Zhao's bloodstains on his body have been wiped clean.

His mouth and nose finally stopped bleeding, but his breathing remains weak and his pulse chaotic.

At this point he is more like a living dead, one foot in the underworld, one foot in the mortal realm, and could stop breathing at any moment.

Lao Langzhong lifted his head and said, "Zhang daughter-in-law, Xixi, you two staying here and worrying is useless."

"Go rest in that room first; if you need anything, I'll call you anytime."

He then turned toward Mu Nan Zhao, placed his finger on the wrist pulse, and said, "He won't die in a short while."

"When he reaches his final moment, I will surely have time to summon all the family members to see him off."

Zhang Shen feared Gu Xixi would be hurt hearing that, and quickly scolded, "Old thing, spouting nonsense! Pah!"

"You're a doctor, you're guarding him—he can't die!"

Lao Langzhong readily agreed, "Fine, then I'll say, once he wakes up, I'll definitely call you right away."

In the main hall, Gu Xixi sat upright on the kang, continuing to flip through An Qinghe's plan, as if nothing had happened.

Zhang Shen glanced at Gu Xixi many times, sighing silently.

At first she knew the future son-in-law had a congenital weakness, and thought just taking good care of it would suffice, expecting him to improve with age; who would have thought this illness could be fatal and come on so fiercely!

Even if Zhang Shen was usually clueless, she now roughly guessed that the so-called weakness wasn't that simple.

The hardest part now must be Xixi, right?

She looked at everything without speaking, probably keeping it all bottled up inside.

Zhang Shen hesitated repeatedly, then tried to break the silence lightly, "Xixi, auntie will make something to eat."

"We still have old pumpkin; how about making pumpkin sweet soup?"

Shitou quickly echoed, "Sweet soup is good; Xixi sister said eating sweets can improve mood!"

Gu Xixi lifted her head and saw two pairs of smiling eyes that hid anxiety.

She sighed inwardly.

One old, one young! They wanted to care for her but feared overdoing it, so they used loud laughter to hide their concern.

Although Gu Xixi still didn't want to eat, she couldn't bear to reject the family's kindness.

She then smiled lightly, "All right, let's make it together, and we'll roll a few glutinous rice pearl dumplings to boil in it; my master loves this."

That day, the Gu Xixi household's gate was tightly closed; whoever came was turned away.

The reason was that Gu Xixi had recently overworked herself and fallen ill, needing medicine and rest.

The small courtyard was quiet; even the lively, playful Shitou settled down, sitting obediently indoors to read and write.

The family's lunch was sweet pumpkin soup with the little dumplings, except for Mu Nan Zhao, who was still unconscious.

In the evening, Gu Xixi went to the west wing to bring dinner to Lao Langzhong.

At this point Mu Nan Zhao could be considered to have lived an extra afternoon.

Lao Langzhong recognized who it was and first shook his head at Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi set down the tray and asked, "Has he shown even the slightest improvement?"

"No." Lao Langzhong rose, stretched his waist and legs, then walked to the table and sat down.

As a doctor, I must speak frankly: "His pulse is like a string about to snap—it could break at any moment. When that happens, even if my master or your grandmaster came back to life, they couldn't keep him."

Gu Xixi placed the bowl and chopsticks in the spot Lao Langzhong usually touches.

"Is there no room for maneuver?"

Lao Langzhong lifted the bowl and slurped the thin porridge, "There is!"

Gu Xixi lifted her eyebrows in surprise, "What? Do you still need some medicine, or some other method?"

Lao Langzhong swallowed a mouthful and said, "You already gave him the medicine, didn't you?"

"According to you, whether he lives or dies is up to him."

Gu Xixi gazed toward the wooden bed on the other side.

She could hardly sense any signs of lively life on Mu Nan Zhao's body.

Lao Langzhong then recalled something, "Oh, also, you need to prepare yourself mentally."

Gu Xixi faced Lao Langzhong and said, "Please go on."

Lao Langzhong said, "The poison he's been hit with is extremely potent and has long been corroding his five viscera and six bowels."

"Perhaps he might luckily survive, but not truly be alive—like a living dead, lying in bed unconscious and unaware."

"Such a possibility also exists."

Gu Xixi pondered, "You mean... a vegetative state?"

"'Vegetative state?' Lao Langzhong repeated with a playful tone."

"'Vegetative state'—being unaware, insensible, feelingless, heartless inside and out, truly like plants; the term is very vivid and apt."

Lao Langzhong fell back into his old habit, "I've never even had the chance to study how to treat a vegetative state."

"Xixi, if he ends up like that..."

"Master!" Gu Xixi interrupted Lao Langzhong, "Some people in a coma are merely trapped by immobile bodies, yet can still hear external sounds."

"He isn't dead yet, and you're already scheming to study him; if he happens to hear, when he wakes up, could you face him?"

Lao Langzhong, knowing he was at fault, lowered his head and said weakly, "This kid is, after all, your future husband whom you haven't married yet; I, as your master, was wrong—I shouldn't have spoken rashly."

He rubbed his hands like a child who's done wrong, looking especially pitiable.

"Xixi, don't be angry."

Gu Xixi said solemnly, "I'm not angry with you; for saving him you've toiled day and night, forsaking sleep and food—no one has contributed more than you."

Lao Langzhong's expression, however, was a bit awkward: "I know, you won't take it to heart. It's just—"

"Just... could you not tell Auntie what I said just now?"

The old man's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, until it was almost just a mosquito's hum.

Gu Xixi's slightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed.

So that's how it was.

Taking advantage of the old doctor's blindness, she gave him a few meaningful glances.

"Master, are you very afraid of my aunt?"

The old doctor muttered, "Of course I'm afraid! She once wanted to drive me back to Shitou Village to live!"

Gu Xixi naturally agreed to the old doctor's request.

That night, Zhang Shen made up an excuse to insist on sleeping in the same bed as Xixi.

In reality, she was worried that Xixi, alone, would start overthinking.

"You used to sleep like this with me when you were little."

Gu Xixi lay on the pillow and laughed, "My mother passed away early, and everyone says I'm a child you raised single‑handedly."

Zhang Shen chuckled softly, reached out from atop the blanket, and gently patted Gu Xixi repeatedly.

Just as she had done countless times to soothe Gu Xixi to sleep when she was young.

"Xixi's asleep, she's grown up so much."

"My Xixi has grown this big; at most another half year, and once Xixi gets married, we won't have many chances left to lie here and talk like this."

Gu Xixi said, "I don't want to get married at all."

One year is too short; there's too much to do, and getting married isn't on the list.

Zhang Shen gave her a light smack and chided, "Nonsense! How can a daughter not get married?"

"Once Xiao Chen recovers, the two of you…"

Zhang Shen trailed off, realizing she had misspoken.

Xiao Chen's fate is still unknown; she came to comfort Xixi, so she shouldn't bring up Xiao Chen and marriage right now.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Shen was about to say something to make amends.

Gu Xixi whispered, "Auntie, he's not the type to give up easily."