I served as Li Bai's page.

Because the carriage was going too fast, Wu Zhinan vomited after getting off. Li Bai helped him sit on a wooden bench by the street, and I took out a water bottle and handed it to him, saying, "Here, have some water to rinse your mouth."

Wu Zhinan took the kettle with one hand, and rubbed his chest with the other, saying, "I'm a little out of breath."

I went over and rubbed his back, comforting him as I said, "It's alright, we'll go into town and find an inn. I'll fetch a doctor to take a look at you in a bit."

After resting for a while, the three of us carried our luggage and entered Yueyang Ancient City through the West Gate.

This is an ancient city where merchants and travelers gather. Because it is located on the banks of the Yangtze River and at the outlet of the 800-li Dongting Lake, it has a prosperous economy and a dense population.

In a small alley not far from the city gate, we found an inn. Carrying our luggage, we entered, and the innkeeper greeted us: "Are you three guests looking for a room?"

"Yes, we need three superior rooms," I replied.

"We only have two standard guest rooms left. Would you like to stay there?" the innkeeper asked.

I turned to Li Bai: "Young Master, only ordinary rooms are available. Please stay here."

"Please stay here and let Young Master Wu get some rest," Li Bai said.

"We'd like to stay here. Take us there," I said to the innkeeper.

"Xiao Lin, take them upstairs to the two innermost rooms on the right," the shopkeeper instructed the waiter.

Xiaolin led us upstairs, and when she saw that my luggage was too heavy, she took it from me and carried it on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Brother Lin, I'm so grateful for your help." I thanked you quickly and sincerely.

Li Bai, carrying a bag in one hand and supporting Wu Zhinan with the other, entered the room. He helped Wu Zhinan to the bed, then turned to me and said, "Go and fetch a doctor to examine Young Master Wu; I think he's quite ill this time."

I put down my luggage and followed Xiao Lin out of the room. I asked, "Brother Lin, are there any doctors around here? My young master is ill, and I'd like to ask one to take a look at him."

"It's getting late. There's a pharmacy in the alley across from our inn. I wonder if it's closed? Come on, I'll go with you." After saying this, Xiao Lin followed me downstairs and said to the shopkeeper, "Boss, this brother's young master is ill. I'm going with him to fetch a doctor."

We walked out of the inn and into the alley across the street. Most of the shops were closed, except for the teahouse and tavern, where laughter and conversation could still be heard. When we reached the pharmacy, I went up to knock, but Xiaolin said to me, "The owner of this pharmacy isn't staying here. Let's go to another one."

Xiaolin led me from one alley to another.

"This alley is busier than the last one, and the businesses stay open later. That pharmacy over there still has its lights on. Let's hurry!" Xiaolin said, pulling me along as we ran.

We arrived at the pharmacy, and I hurried inside, saying to the person there, "I'd like to ask a doctor to examine my young master; he says he can't breathe."

Hearing my voice, an old man came out from the back room of the pharmacy and asked, "Where are you?"

I turned to look at Xiaolin, who replied, "Yuelai Inn."

The old man went inside, grabbed a medicine box, and then walked with us toward the Yuelai Inn.

When the doctor entered the room, Wu Zhinan was leaning weakly against the bed, with Li Bai sitting beside him.

The doctor stepped forward to take Wu Zhinan's pulse and asked, "How long have you been experiencing chest tightness?"

Wu Zhinan replied weakly, "It's been about a month. At first it only happened occasionally, but recently I often feel short of breath."

"Besides chest tightness, are there any other discomforts?" the doctor asked.

"I still have a cough," Wu Zhinan replied.

After taking the pulse, the doctor sat down at the table without saying a word and began writing a prescription.

Wu Zhinan asked anxiously, "Doctor, what illness do I have? Is it serious?"

"Don't worry, it's nothing serious. It's just shortness of breath caused by coughing. A few doses of medicine will do the trick. Come with me to get the medicine." The doctor said, picking up his medicine box and walking out. I quickly followed him.

I took the medicine box from the doctor and said, "Doctor, let me get the medicine box for you."

I followed the doctor to the pharmacy, got several doses of medicine according to the prescription, and was about to head back when the doctor stopped me and said, "Has your young master been coughing? It shouldn't have been long ago."

"Yes, before the winter of last year, he caught a cold and it lasted for a long time. Is there anything wrong with him?" I asked.

"Have you heard of tuberculosis? It's an inflammation of the lungs. Your young master has this disease, and it's incurable," the doctor said.

"Will he die?" I looked at the doctor with a horrified expression.

"It won't happen anytime soon. He needs to rest more and not overwork himself. Make sure he gets enough nutrition. However, your young master's condition is very serious. He might not be able to catch his breath at any moment and could pass away." The doctor looked at me and said truthfully.

"Thank you, doctor." I hurriedly walked back with the medicine in my arms.

Back at the inn, I brewed the medicine and brought it into the room. Li Bai helped Wu Zhinan sit up, leaning against the bed.

"The medicine is still very hot. Let it cool down a bit before drinking it," I said.

Seeing that something was wrong with my expression, Li Bai knew that Wu Zhinan's illness was not as simple as the doctor had said, and said to me, "Yuehua, go and rest. I'll keep Young Master Wu company tonight."

"Young Master, why don't you go and rest? I'll stay with Young Master Wu," I said.

"Give me the medicine, I'll be fine after I drink it, you don't need to stay with me, I'm much better now." Wu Zhinan struggled to sit up. I went over to help him and handed him the medicine.

Li Bai stood up and walked over, saying, "Yuehua, listen to me, Young Master Wu said everything's alright. You go sleep in that room, I'll sleep in this one."

I didn't know what else to say, and as I returned to my room to rest, Li Bai pushed open the door and walked in.

"What did the doctor say? Is it serious?" Li Bai asked.

"How do you know?" I asked back.

"I can tell from your expression; your face screams 'serious,'" Li Bai said.

"Young master, the doctor said he has tuberculosis, which is incurable and highly contagious," I said.

"He only coughs occasionally, how could this be?" Li Bai said, then walked to the window and looked out at the dark night.

"Young master, how about we go back to our hometown tomorrow? We can find a good doctor there and heal at home. Maybe we can get better," I said to Li Bai.

"This journey back will be another long one. Can he handle it? It would be safer for him to rest and recuperate here for a while until he is better before leaving," Li Bai said.

"That's settled then. You rest in this room, I'll go keep him company." I said, standing up and walking outside.

"Come back, I'll go keep him company." After saying that, Li Bai went to Wu Zhinan's room.

I locked the door, lay on the bed, and my mind went blank. I didn't dare tell Li Bai the truth, and I was also afraid that Wu Zhinan might suddenly pass away and leave us. How would Li Bai explain that to Yueyuan?

Just as I was in a dilemma, Li Bai knocked on the door: "Yuehua, come out for a moment."

I jumped out of bed, forgetting even to put on my shoes, and ran outside: "What's wrong?"

"Come here for a moment. Young Master Wu has been sweating a lot after taking his medicine and needs to take a hot bath," Li Bai said.

I rubbed my chest with both hands and said, "I'll go prepare right away."

I ran downstairs and found Xiao Lin: "Brother Lin, is it still possible to take a bath now? My young master wants to take a bath."

"Help him down, I'll go boil some water." Xiaolin said and walked towards the kitchen.

I went back upstairs and, together with Li Bai, helped Wu Zhinan to the bathhouse.

"Young Master, you go with him to bathe. I'll wait for you outside."