Chapter 58: Seeing Father Off from the City

Ouyang Xun's residence remained lit throughout the entire night.

To closely monitor Ouyang Tong's condition, Su Chen did not return to his medical clinic, choosing instead to rest briefly by leaning over a table at Ouyang Xun's home.

The household of Ouyang Xun was in a constant state of bustling activity.

Now that Ouyang Tong had become his disciple, Su Chen naturally paid considerable attention to the young boy.

Every single incense stick's duration, he would check the patient's temperature.

By early morning, the high fever had completely subsided.

Only then did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Ouyang Xun could finally let go of the heavy burden in his heart.

In this era, contracting malaria was practically a death sentence. As was evident from the other physicians who had come yesterday, his child's life had been hanging by a thread.

Who could have possibly imagined that a handful of wormwood combined with some ink could effect a cure?

"He truly lives up to his reputation as the junior fellow apprentice of the divine physician Sun. His methods are extraordinary indeed. For my son to become his disciple means he will surely acquire genuine skills. This is a blessing."

For Ouyang Xun, this match felt somewhat like marrying above one's station.

After all, Ouyang Xun currently served merely as a Palace Attendant, whereas Su Chen's father, Su Dan, was now the Prefect of Taizhou.

From Su Chen's perspective, however, this was akin to quietly chipping away at the foundation of the civil officials' faction. He had already established a favorable relationship with a renowned master of calligraphy; as for the others, they could be approached in due time.

Every additional ally meant an extra margin of victory.

Zhangsun Chong would undoubtedly live to regret the kind of adversary he had provoked.

"You flatter me, Uncle Ouyang. Since Tong'er is well now and dawn has broken, I have matters to attend to and will not wait for him to wake. Once he regains consciousness, prepare some thin rice porridge for him to eat. Over the next few days, minimize meat consumption, eat more green vegetables, and avoid spicy foods."

Su Chen instructed Ouyang Xun.

Ouyang Xun nodded repeatedly.

Knowing Su Chen had business to attend to, he did not dare to detain him further.

He personally escorted Su Chen out.

Before leaving, he even retrieved a few scrolls of calligraphy and paintings from his study as a gift for Su Chen.

Su Chen, however, shook his head.

"Uncle Ouyang, I am well aware of the value of these paintings and calligraphy, but I cannot accept them. You have already gifted me this box of superior pine-soot ink sticks, and that is quite enough. Nothing more is needed. In a few days, have Ouyang Tong come to my clinic to perform the formal master-disciple ceremony."

Su Chen was not a greedy person.

Acquiring these ink sticks was already a remarkably good harvest.

After all, these were high-grade medicinal materials.

He declined all other offerings.

Ouyang Xun accompanied Su Chen all the way to the front entrance.

"My dear nephew, once my son recovers further and his condition stabilizes, I shall send him to the clinic tomorrow to officially become your disciple. I must express my deepest gratitude to you once again, nephew."

Ouyang Xun repeated his profuse expressions of gratitude all the way.

This had, after all, saved his son's life.

And this was his most cherished son, still at such a tender age.

Having a master like Su Chen was an exceptional stroke of fortune. Given his son's historically frail constitution, it now seemed likely that his health would improve significantly in the future.

Without further ado, Su Chen took the ink sticks and departed.

"Let us return to the estate first. My old man is leaving today, and I must go to see him off."

Su Chen did not head back to the medical clinic.

Instead, accompanied by Su Gui, he rode toward the Su family residence.

In fact, early that morning, Su Fu had already dispatched someone to look for Su Chen.

However, Su Chen was not at the clinic; word was that he had gone out on a house call to Ouyang Xun's residence the previous night, where he had toiled through the night and had not yet returned.

Su Dan had forbidden anyone from disturbing Su Chen.

"Since my son is out on a medical call, and at the Ouyang household at that, I am entirely at ease. There is no need to search for him. We shall depart by ourselves, and there is no need to notify anyone else."

Su Dan had always maintained a low-profile approach to matters.

Since Su Chen had not returned in time, he chose not to wait, leading his household attendants and setting off on the journey.

As for those within the imperial court who might have wished to bid him farewell, Su Dan had declined them all.

He was apprehensive that making too grand a spectacle might provoke Li Shimin's displeasure.

A low profile remained the safest course.

By the time Su Chen hurried to the estate, he learned that his convenient father had already departed ahead of schedule.

"My old man certainly knows how to keep a low profile. When other people leave to take up a post as a prefect, they are invariably seen off by throngs of well-wishers. He leaves without a single soul, and anyone unaware of the facts might think he was being banished."

Su Chen shook his head.

With his father's temperament, taking up the post of Prefect in Taizhou was bound to prove troublesome.

He possessed not the slightest inclination to assert dominance over others.

It seemed he would have to plan things out carefully for his father's future.

Yet, having numerous affairs yet unresolved in Chang'an City, he could not leave just yet; such matters would have to wait.

Accompanied by Su Gui, Su Chen hastened toward the city gates of Chang'an.

Meanwhile, Cheng Chumò had pursued them halfway from behind.

"Brother, wait for me!"

Cheng Chumò had gone to the clinic early in the morning and failed to find Su Chen either. Hearing that Su Chen was off to bid farewell to his father outside the city gates of Chang'an, he had naturally spurred his horse and given chase.

"Ah, it's you, Chumò. My father is leaving Chang'an today for Taizhou. Come along with me to see him off."

Catching sight of Cheng Chumò, Su Chen invited him to join them.

The group of them, mounted on horses, rode rapidly toward the outskirts.

Seated inside his carriage, Su Dan had already arrived at the gates of Chang'an City.

He cast one final look back at the city of Chang'an.

A wave of deep emotion washed over him.

At that very moment, he spotted several fast-galloping horses rapidly closing the distance behind them.

Su Dan ordered the carriage to halt and, upon closer inspection, recognized Su Chen.

"Does my son not look dashing on horseback?"

Su Dan asked with a smile, turning to Su Fu.

Su Fu had also caught sight of Su Chen and Su Gui pursuing them.

Especially watching his own son riding closely beside Su Chen, he was struck by an air of distinction that mirrored his own younger days when he followed Su Dan.

"Master, the young master possesses an extraordinary bearing. He is destined for great achievements in the future and will undoubtedly raise the Su family to unprecedented prominence."

Seeing this scene, Su Fu felt his eyes grow moist.

Su Dan broke into a hearty laugh.

In the past, he never would have dared to imagine that his son could transform into the person he was today.

Yet circumstances had changed, and his son had truly not disappointed him.

Su Chen finally reined in his horse beside them.

"Honestly, Father, you aren't off to commit some illicit deed—why are you running away in such a hurry? You are a Prefect Lord now, yet you travel without the slightest bit of pomp."

Su Chen felt that his father bore no resemblance whatsoever to a newly appointed prefect.

Instead, he looked rather like a man fleeing for his life.

Hearing Su Chen's playful teasing, Su Dan did not take offense; rather, he felt that his child truly possessed a unique character nowadays.

"Haha, your father simply wished to avoid trouble and detested unnecessary complications. Moreover, His Majesty commanded me to assume my post with all haste, so naturally I had to leave early."

Su Dan's primary motive was to avoid excessive social entanglements.

After all, one could never be entirely certain of what Li Shimin had in mind.

For a man in his position, minimizing interactions with others was always the wisest policy.

Still, having his son ride out to see him off was a different matter entirely.

Naturally, Su Dan raised no objection to his son's presence.

Engaged in endless conversation along the road, they accompanied him all the way to a spot ten li outside the gates of Chang'an.

Reaching this point, Su Dan finally insisted that Su Chen go no further, urging them to turn back. The remainder of the journey he would undertake by himself, unwilling to put his son to any further trouble.