(no subject)

[shangba]

( On the way to midday and polite hours for Wei Ying, who would by now often have written a note with his Lan Liang's latest adventures, but is instead silent — )


Master Liang has exhausted his humble servant?

Comments

[emperorssmile]

Lan Zhan! It’s awful!

It’s A-Liang! He’s not okay. I don’t know what happened! He was okay last night, wasn’t he?

[shangba]

Poison? He breathes?

[emperorssmile]

I don’t know!

I woke up late on my own and when I checked on him, he was burning hot and half asleep.

He’s barely responsive, Lan Zhan! I’m taking him to the doctor right now.

[shangba]

Do so. Keep me abreast.

I fly back from Caiyi.

[emperorssmile]

I should have gotten out of bed sooner!

Poor little guy didn’t even want milk if I put it on my fingers first.

[shangba]

Does he spill his innards? Bleed?

[emperorssmile]

No, neither. His shit is really soft though and smells worse than usual.

The doctor took him and sent me out of the room.

[shangba]

Call Sizhui beside you.

[emperorssmile]

I’ll send for him.

A-Liang’s going to be okay, isn’t he?

He has to be okay.

[shangba]

He will.

Wei Ying, he will. Most likely, a turn of the season. A faintness.

He will be well. Wait on Sizhui, the doctor. Me.

[emperorssmile]

A-Yuan only got sick once when we were in the Burial Mounds and it was mostly coughing and sneezing. Wen Qing took care of it.

But A-Liang is still so little! He didn’t swat at me or anything when I picked him up. He didn’t cry. All he did was lay his head on my chest.

I’m sorry, Lan Zhan. I should have noticed it sooner but I slept in.

[shangba]

The fault is mine. I left him. .

He appeared... at ease with morning. Warm to touch, perhaps. Not yet burning.

Should have noticed.

[emperorssmile]

He wasn’t sick when you checked on him, Lan Zhan. It’s not your fault at all.

Should I tell his nursemaid?

[shangba]

Please.

The doctor re-emerged?

[emperorssmile]

Not yet.

Scratch that. I spoke too soon.

Doctor says she gave him something for his gut, throat, and fever, but she wants to keep him until he starts drinking on his own again. She got him to drink some water, but only after coaxing.

[shangba]

She suspects him in life's danger?

[emperorssmile]

She said it’s too early to think that but if he doesn’t start eating and drinking on his own today, then she’ll be worried.

[shangba]

Our poor young heart.

[emperorssmile]

Sizhui’s here now.

The doctor let me back in to check on A-Liang. He’s sleeping right now and she suggested to come back in a shi. I made her promise to send for us if there’s any update, good or bad.

You’re still coming home?

[shangba]

Do you not wish me to?

[emperorssmile]

No, no! I want you here.

We should be together so we can be strong for our little ones.

[shangba]

He is so little. Too little.

[emperorssmile]

His skin still feels hot to touch, but maybe not as hot as this morning. It’s hard to tell.

He’ll be okay, Lan Zhan. If the doctor was worried, she’d let me stay with him.

[shangba]

What fools we were, to have missed this.

[emperorssmile]

We really failed him this time. But it’ll make us more vigilant if there’s a next time.

I hope he can form a core. I don’t want to experience this again.