After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

When Zheng Hao returned home, the first thing that caught his eye was a red invitation with silver trim on the table. Besides him, the only other people in the house were Uncle Gu, Aunt Zhao, Uncle Zhao, and Gu An. The latter three had almost no contact with the outside world, so this invitation could not possibly be theirs.

Turning his gaze away, Zheng Hao asked calmly, "Who sent the invitations on the table? Is it for a wedding?"

Gu Lin was eating when he heard Zheng Hao's question and didn't have time to answer. It was Zhao's wife who spoke up: "That's an invitation from someone to Brother Lin, inviting him to get together when he has time."

Just now in the courtyard, Gu Lin read the contents of the invitation to Sister Zhao. Although Sister Zhao couldn't remember everything, she remembered the general meaning.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Hao's dark eyes immediately turned serious.

After swallowing the food in his mouth, Gu Lin was finally able to speak.

He had just heard Zhao's explanation, and Gu Lin said to Zheng Hao with some helplessness, "It's not what you said, sister-in-law. This invitation was sent by the Fucheng Chamber of Commerce, asking me to attend before the end of the month."

Gu Lin changed the subject: "I had heard about the Fucheng Chamber of Commerce from a few restaurant owners I knew before, but I didn't know much about it. I only heard that any merchant with a reputation in Fucheng had been invited by the Chamber of Commerce."

A thoughtful expression crossed Zheng Hao's brow.

After a moment, he said to Gu Lin, "In the past six months, Good Fortune Restaurant has been doing very well in the city. To many people, Uncle Gu is a true rising star. The Chamber of Commerce must have taken notice of Uncle Gu, which is why they sent an invitation to him."

Unfazed by Zheng Hao's praise, Gu Lin remained clear-headed and shook his head slightly, saying, "Although Good Fortune Tower is very profitable, placing it in the prefectural city..."

Gu Lin didn't finish his sentence. He and Zheng Hao exchanged a glance. Although they didn't say it out loud, they both knew that although Good Fortune Tower looked impressive, it was nothing to the wealthy merchants of the Fucheng Chamber of Commerce.

The top-tier wealthy merchants had already established connections with government officials and were no longer confined to their own local area. Their real way of making money was through smuggling between the north and south via water transport.

The items they sold were all rare and hard to find; many of them would be capital offenses, leading to confiscation of property and execution. However, there were countless high-ranking officials and nobles who needed them. These merchants were also serving their powerful backers. The higher-ups took the lion's share, while the merchants made a fortune even from the scraps.

Even if Haoyunlou sells thousands of servings of sauerkraut fish every day, it's still not as good as one of their fingers.

Thinking of this, a thought flashed through Gu Lin's mind. He looked at Zheng Hao and asked, "Is the Prefect also inside?"

Zheng Hao nodded.

Gu Lin asked with slight surprise, "Your Excellency the Prefect is always wise to protect yourself. Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"

According to the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty, those who smuggle prohibited items are subject to punishment ranging from exile to confiscation of property and execution.

This is not a joke.

After a moment of silence, Zheng Hao lowered his eyes and said, "The Prefect's surname is Zhen, and he comes from a prominent family. The smugglers in this prefecture are also from a prominent local family. Even if Prefect Zhen is unwilling to get involved in this mess, he should still give face to the people. Otherwise, he would not only offend the prominent families in this prefecture and the prominent families in the capital behind them, but even the Emperor would not let him off the hook."

Gu Lin frowned slightly. The Zhen family's power in the court was at its zenith. Prefect Zhen was a member of the Zhen family. If the other party had a conflict with other families and implicated the Zhen family, wouldn't that benefit the emperor? Why would the emperor blame him?

Gu Lin thought to himself and then asked the question.

"If Prefect Zhen offends the clans of this prefecture, and this incites other powerful families to attack the Zhen family, wouldn't that be something the royal family would be happy to see?"

A look of admiration flashed in his eyes, but with Zhao's wife and others sitting in front of him, Zheng Hao couldn't answer loudly.

He leaned closer to Gu Lin and whispered, "It's no longer the time when the powerful families were suppressed during the reign of Emperor Taizu. Rumor has it that the current emperor's maternal family played a significant role in his ascension to the throne. The Empress and the Crown Prince are also from the Zhen family. Half of the current emperor's ability to secure his throne is due to the support of these powerful families. If Prefect Zhen openly opposes these powerful families, they won't even need to lift a finger. To appease the people and secure his throne, the current emperor will deal with him first."

Logically speaking, Zheng Hao was just an ordinary student and shouldn't know so much, but he was good at seeing the big picture from small details. From most of the books on the market that glossed over the truth, as well as from the few words spoken by the Zhen brothers and Mr. Zhou, he was able to figure out the overall situation of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zheng Hao slowly and methodically explained the basics to the young man beside him, and Gu Lin gradually gained a preliminary understanding of the powerful families of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The creases between his brows grew deeper.

Gu Lin leaned close to Zheng Hao's ear and whispered, "So, the Emperor may seem to be above all others, but in reality, he is controlled by powerful families and has no real power?"

Zheng Hao first nodded and then shook his head. Looking at Uncle Gu's slightly widened eyes, Zheng Hao said, "No matter what, the emperor is still the monarch of the Great Qian Dynasty. Even a clay figure has some personality. The emperor holds military power. Although the aristocratic families are arrogant, they don't dare to really provoke the emperor."

Gu Lin pondered for a moment, then looked up at Zheng Hao and said, "So, the Emperor isn't incapable of controlling the aristocratic families, but rather unwilling to do so, right?"

Under the expectant gaze of the young man in front of him, Zheng Hao remained silent for a moment and then nodded.

Gu Lin found it absurd.

As the ruler of a country, regardless of the country's overall operation, the corruption of his officials, or the displacement of the people, as long as his own empire is not taken away and he can enjoy the offerings of the world while indulging in a life of pleasure, the person sitting on the dragon throne will never look at how corrupt the country is, nor will he care about the lives of the ants.

Seeing Uncle Gu's incredulous and suddenly distraught expression, Zheng Hao said in a low voice, "Uncle Gu is overthinking things."

“You’re right.” Gu Lin came to his senses and said, “Even a prefect has to make concessions, so I…”

"Uncle Gu."

Zheng Hao's eyes darkened, and the young man in front of him, whose face was already pale, became even paler.

Zheng Hao said, "Let me help Uncle Gu back to his room to rest."

Gu Lin was in poor health, and the doctor had long advised him not to overthink things. However, in recent days, from the floods in the south to the events brought up by the Chamber of Commerce, Uncle Gu has been sensitive and thoughtful in certain aspects, noticing things more quickly than others.

Gu Lin stood up, his once bright and clear eyes now blank. Zheng Hao stood up and reached out to hold Gu Lin's arm, and Gu Lin moved in response.

The three women, including Zhao's wife, were enjoying their meal when they were all stunned to see the young man suddenly helped up by Zheng Hao.

Sister-in-law Zhao quickly got up and asked, "What's wrong, Lin-ge'er? Why is Lin-ge'er's face so pale?"

Because of the intense emotional fluctuations just now, Gu Lin's pent-up frustration from the past few days poured out. He felt a tightness in his chest, as if he couldn't breathe, and his dry back was covered in cold sweat. His limbs gradually became weak and powerless.

Clearly sensing the specific changes in the body of the person he was supporting, Zheng Hao's calm expression changed slightly. He immediately said to Brother Zhao beside him, "Uncle Zhao, Uncle Gu is not feeling well. You should go to Tongjitang to find Doctor Li, not Doctor Hu, but Doctor Li!"

Zheng Hao emphasized this point later.

Seeing Gu Lin gradually losing his balance and slowly leaning towards Zheng Hao, leaning against the other's chest, Brother Zhao realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly turned around and ran out.

Then, Zheng Hao said to Zhao's wife, who looked panicked, "Auntie, go and make some calming soup. Uncle Gu's emotions are fluctuating too much and he needs to be calmed down."

They were eating their meal peacefully when, for some reason, Zheng and Lin talked, and suddenly one of them felt unwell. Knowing the importance of the situation, Zhao didn't ask any questions and immediately turned and ran to the kitchen, saying, "I'll go and make some calming soup right now."

Zheng Hao lowered his head slightly, watching Uncle Gu in his arms breathe heavier and heavier, his wolf-like eyes flashing with a deep color.

The other party is currently unable to move, and Uncle Gu's bedroom is some distance from the main hall, so it is obviously unrealistic to help the other party back all the way.

Zheng Hao suddenly bent down, picked up Uncle Gu and carried him into his arms, and then walked out of the hall. Gu An followed behind him step by step.

After putting the calming medicine into the pot and starting to boil it, Zhao's wife, who was worried about Gu Lin, came out of the kitchen and happened to see Zheng Hao carrying Gu Lin into the bedroom.

Lin Ge'er was unwell and unable to move, so Zheng Hao's actions were understandable. However, seeing the other party's tense expression and the way he occasionally looked down at Lin Ge'er, Zhao Saozi's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

After entering the bedroom and placing Uncle Gu on the bed, they took off his shoes and covered him with soft bedding. Gu Lin slowly regained consciousness.

Zheng Hao leaned closer and asked, "Uncle Gu, how are you feeling?"

In his past life, Gu Lin also had this problem. Whenever his emotions fluctuated violently, positive emotions such as happiness and joy were fine, but negative emotions such as fear and anger would leave Gu Lin feeling completely exhausted and confused afterward.

Having been in this world for a long time, Gu Lin was very calm when he felt this symptom again.

He raised his head slightly and said to Zheng Hao, "I scared you just now, but I'm fine. You and An'an go back to eat. I'll be fine after a nap."

This time, Zheng Hao wasn't so easy to talk to.

He said to Gu Lin, "I've already asked Uncle Zhao to fetch a doctor. Uncle Gu can go to sleep after he's seen the doctor."

Gu Lin looked somewhat helpless and said, "It's just a minor problem, there's no need to specially invite a doctor over."

Zheng Hao, his expression somber, suppressed the surging emotions within him and said restrainedly, "The doctor will be here soon. Uncle Gu, please take a look before you sleep."

Since the other party had already invited the doctor, Gu Lin had no choice but to agree.

Soon, Uncle Zhao brought Doctor Li in. Doctor Li ran in, puffing out his beard and glaring, saying, "What's all this commotion about in your house so late at night? You used to call Old Hu over every ten days or so, why did you call me over today?"

The "Old Hu" that Dr. Li mentioned was the same Dr. Hu who often treated Gu Lin's colds and fevers. Because Gu Lin would get sick easily if he caught a slight chill, Dr. Hu was a frequent visitor to the Gu family. However, Dr. Li was different from Dr. Hu; he treated people's meridians and bones.

Seeing Zheng Hao standing in front of Gu Lin's bed, Doctor Li said with a displeased expression, "Your Uncle Gu is being ridiculous. As a junior, why don't you try to persuade him?"

Seeing Zheng Hao being implicated innocently, Gu Lin opened his mouth to speak, but Zheng Hao said to Doctor Li without changing his expression, "Please treat Uncle Gu first, Doctor Li."

Seeing that the other party's expression was not as relaxed as usual, perhaps because the candlelight in the room was not bright enough, Zheng Hao's expression was gloomy. Doctor Li stepped forward to take Gu Lin's pulse, and then his bearded face became serious.

Upon seeing this, Zheng Hao's heart sank slightly. While Doctor Li was taking Gu Lin's pulse, Zheng Hao recounted to Doctor Li Gu's behavior in the main hall, in addition to his conversation with Uncle Gu.

After hearing this, Dr. Li frowned slightly, then looked up at Gu Lin and asked, "Have you ever had similar experiences before, such as a rapid heartbeat, chest tightness and difficulty breathing, weakness in the limbs and cold sweat when you are emotionally agitated?"

Seeing Dr. Li's reaction, Gu Lin guessed what was wrong with his body. He wasn't averse to practicing medicine, so he answered truthfully, "Yes, Dr. Li, what's wrong with my body?"

Dr. Li didn't keep you in suspense and said, "You have a congenital deficiency. Your heart is not as well-developed as normal people. You can't feel it when you are young, but as you get older, your heart's ability to bear the burden is much weaker than others. Once you don't get enough rest, or if you feel depressed or anxious, it will put a heavy burden on your heart."

Judging from your pulse, you must have been overthinking and feeling depressed lately. What's there to worry about at such a young age? You already have a house and money, and your child is a scholar who is very filial. You should enjoy your life, sleep well, eat well, and have fun—that's the right thing to do.

After hearing Dr. Li's diagnosis, Gu Lin finally understood his situation. It turned out that the chest tightness and heart heaviness he often felt in his previous life were not due to lack of rest, but rather because he had congenital deficiencies like the original owner of the body.

In contrast to Gu Lin's calm reaction, the others in the bedroom looked quite unwell. Even a broken bone takes more than a hundred days to heal, so a heart problem is a matter of life and death!

Zheng Hao steadied himself and calmly asked, "Doctor Li, how should Uncle Gu's condition be treated?"

Looking at the gloomy face of the boy in front of him, Doctor Li waved his hand repeatedly and said, "It's nothing serious. Although Lin-ge'er's heart is not fully developed, there is no major problem. He just needs to rest and not be overworked. The most important thing is to keep a happy mood. If he is depressed all day long, even the healthiest person will have problems."

"I'll go back to the clinic later and get some medicine. It's for nourishing the heart. Lin-ge'er can just drink two bowls of it every day to warm and nourish his heart."

Zheng Hao continued, "Uncle Gu usually drinks tonics. If he drinks a tonic soup to nourish his heart and blood vessels, does he still need to drink tonics?"

Doctor Li stroked his beard and said, "Every medicine has some toxicity. The medicine I prescribed also has a nourishing effect on the body. You just need to make sure your Uncle Gu takes it on time. You must not take it for two days and then stop for three days. Otherwise, the intermittent use will affect the efficacy of the medicine and will do more harm than good to the body."

Zheng Hao agreed and then thanked him, saying, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Doctor Li, to travel all night. I'll take you back."

Doctor Li nodded and said, "It's just in time that you're coming back to Tongjitang with me to get the medicine. We can brew a dose for Lin Ge'er tonight."

Zheng Hao lifted his leg to see Doctor Li off from his bedchamber.

[The following content will be posted once the story reaches 4,000 words: I want to reiterate that the author is a loving mother and will not mistreat the protagonist. Gu Lin's illness will gradually improve! Please add this to your bookshelf when you have time, and maybe even check out the free ads to give me a few small gifts, thank you!]