The Crown Princess is busy fishing

"Uncle, Aunt, please don't misunderstand."

Lin Yuge and Lin Qingzhou, listening outside, were completely bewildered, anxious but unsure of what to do.

Lin Yuge shouted again:

"Uncle, Aunt, it's us. We're back from Lingnan, and we're not bad people!"

After a brief commotion inside, the uncle's weathered yet wary voice rang out:

"Are you really fishermen singing and traveling in light boats?"

Lin Qingzhou hurriedly replied, "Uncle, it's absolutely true."

Do you remember when we were little, you took us to the river to catch fish, and I accidentally fell into the water? You were the one who saved me.

After a moment of silence, the door slowly opened.

Xie Chengzhu and his wife Bai Yuzhen appeared at the door, both looking haggard, their eyes filled with exhaustion and wariness.

Upon seeing the brother and sister, the two finally relaxed.

Xie Chengzhu's voice was tinged with excitement and disbelief as he asked:

"It really is you two. What brings you back?"

"Have your mother and the others come back too?"

As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously swept past the brother and sister, searching into the distance behind them.

It seems they are hoping to see more familiar faces.

Lin Qingzhou shook his head slightly and quickly explained:

"Uncle, my mother hasn't come back."

Now we are doing business in Lingnan, and there are still many things there that my mother needs to manage personally.

We couldn't get away, so it was just us who came.

However, when we came back, my mother specifically told us to come and visit you.

I just never imagined that so many things would happen to you, Uncle. Our family has dragged you down with us.

Xie Chengzhu stepped forward, patted Lin Qingzhou on the shoulder, and interrupted:

"You child, don't say that."

Helping your family was simply what I was supposed to do; there's no question of it being a burden.

But fate is cruel, bringing such a tragedy upon our Xie family.

Bai Yuzhen chimed in from the side:

"Yes, it was all an accident. It's good that you came back to see us."

We are already very relieved.

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, as if she were recalling the hardships and grievances she had endured over the past few days.

He then sighed softly, forced a smile, and quickly turned to the side.

"Oh dear, let's not talk about this anymore, let's go inside quickly, what kind of image is it to stand outside?"

As he spoke, he gestured for everyone to come inside.

Lin Yuge and Lin Qingzhou exchanged a glance, seeing the same worry and concern in each other's eyes.

He then led the others quickly into the house.

The room was dimly lit and filled with a damp and musty smell.

Some old and worn-out junk was piled up in the corner.

A pale-faced, thin young man lay on the bed inside the room.

It was their cousin, Xie Huaiyuan.

His cheeks were deeply sunken, his cheekbones were prominent, and his lips were bloodless, dry, and cracked.

The clothes that once fit him were now hanging loosely on his body, revealing his thin, bony arms with bulging veins.

Upon seeing the crowd, his eyes trembled slightly, as if he was trying to focus his gaze.

After a long while, he slowly focused, a hint of surprise and excitement flashing in his eyes, and weakly called out:

"Fisherman's Song, Light Boat, you've returned..."

The voice was hoarse and weak, like the sound of an old bellows being pulled with difficulty.

Every word seemed to have been written with all the strength of his body.

"How could it be so serious?"

Lin Qingzhou's eyes instantly reddened, and she rushed to the bedside, gently holding Xie Huaiyuan's hand.

His hands were icy cold with prominent knuckles, and his voice was choked with emotion:

"Cousin, we're back. What happened to you?"

Xie Huaiyuan slightly twitched the corners of his mouth, trying to put on a comforting smile.

But all he managed to produce was an expression that was even uglier than crying:

"Don't worry, I'm just... a little injured and sick. I'll be fine after some rest."

Lin Yuge also stepped forward, her heart filled with pity for her cousin's condition.

"Cousin, don't worry, we will definitely find a way to help you get better and we will also help you solve your current predicament."

Xie Chengzhu sighed from the side:

"Huaiyuan was robbed by bandits while on a business trip. Not only were his goods stolen, but he was also seriously injured."

The family spent all their money on medical treatment, but the illness kept recurring and showed no signs of improvement.

Bai Yuzhen had already been secretly wiping away tears.

"Ever since the accident, this child has been holding on."

He was always afraid we'd worry, but how could we not feel sorry for him?

Xie Huaiyuan slightly twitched the corners of his mouth, trying to put on a comforting smile.

He only slightly twitched his facial muscles and slowly said:

"Don't grieve too much for me, life and death are predestined..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a violent cough.

The coughing echoed in the silent room, as if he were coughing up his heart and lungs.

"Brother, did you bring your medicine? Judging from my cousin's condition, it seems like he has tuberculosis."

Xie Chengzhu quickly replied:

"The doctor said it was caused by catching a cold, which had been lingering for a long time and had led to this severe cough."

I've been taking the medication, but it's not very effective. I don't know what to do.

His brows were furrowed, his face full of exhaustion and helplessness, and his hands hung limply at his sides.

Lin Qingzhou had already taken out the medicine packet he always carried with him.

Ever since he started learning medicine making from Master Wen, he has never been without this medicine bag.

The interior is divided into two parts: one side contains various emergency pills, and the other side contains various poisons with different effects.

He took out a bottle of pills and gently poured out one.

The pills were dark in color but emitted a unique medicinal fragrance.

Lin Qingzhou walked to the bedside, squatted down, and looked at the weak Xie Huaiyuan, saying:

"Cousin, this is a lung-moistening and cough-relieving pill specially made by an old doctor with superb medical skills whom we met in Lingnan."

While I can't guarantee it will cure your illness, it might alleviate your symptoms. Why don't you give it a try?

After saying that, he held the pill to Xie Huaiyuan's lips.

She then picked up a glass of water from the table, which had long since gone cold, and carefully fed it to him.

Everyone stared nervously at Xie Huaiyuan.

After a moment, his cough seemed to subside a little, and his breathing was no longer so rapid.

Lin Qingzhou breathed a slight sigh of relief and said:

"It seems to be having some effect, but I'm not entirely confident, given my limited knowledge."

Xie Chengzhu and Bai Yuzhen heard this.

His previously furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his eyes.

Xie Chengzhu said excitedly, "It's good to have hope, it's good to have hope."

Lin Yuge then continued:

"My eldest brother hasn't been studying for very long. It would be best if my uncle could take my cousin to Lingnan to see Grandpa Wen in person."

Furthermore, the climate there is pleasant, suitable for recuperation. Grandpa Wen is a highly skilled doctor; perhaps he can completely cure my cousin's illness.”

Lin Qingzhou nodded in agreement:

"My sister is right. The environment in Lingnan will definitely benefit my cousin's recovery."

Xie Chengzhu's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a lifeline: "Great! Then let's go to Lingnan."

But I'm worried that Huaiyuan's health won't be able to handle all this travel."

"Uncle, don't worry. We came by boat. Once this batch of goods is sold, we will return."

We can all go together then. By the way, where are Wanying and Huaiwen?