Chapter Forty-Four: Retribution

When the first batch of distilled liquor was produced, Chai Shao gulped audibly, swallowing a mouthful of saliva. He couldn’t help himself—he was simply craving it! Chai Shao hailed from the Chai family by the Fen River, a man of wealth and prestige. Since coming of age, he had tasted many fine wines, yet none could compare to the aroma of this particular liquor. However, it was intended for Li Shimin’s treatment; though his appetite had been stirred, Chai Shao dared not take even a sip.

Soon, half a jar of distilled liquor was made. Yun Hao dipped his finger in and tasted it, swirling it in his mouth before spitting it out. “No good, it needs to be distilled again,” he declared. The workers nearby stared hungrily, their eyes shining. Were it not for the black-clad men with sharp blades keeping watch, they would have rushed forward and drained the jar dry. A few who loved to drink eyed even Yun Hao’s spit, swallowing hard, tempted to sample the salty dregs.

While Yun Hao pondered how to determine the strength of the liquor, a maid arrived to report that Li Shimin had awakened.

Chai Shao was overjoyed and ordered strict supervision of the area. He led Yun Hao toward the room, but just as they reached the door, Yun Hao shooed him away.

“They’ve both bathed in salt water, and the room has been sprayed with alcohol. If you want to enter, you’ll need a salt water bath first,” Yun Hao said. Hospitals have sterile rooms; though the Tang Dynasty lacked such facilities, Yun Hao adhered to a principle of maximum cleanliness. He’d made both maids bathe in salt water and sprayed the room with alcohol, using up a small jar of his own distilled spirits. Yun Hao had no desire for Li Shimin to die of wound infection—his own life would be forfeit, and that was a bargain he couldn’t afford.

The two maids flushed at the mention of bathing, recalling the special equipment Yun Hao had provided. A woman’s physiology differs from a man's—when salt water enters certain places, it’s an experience both exquisite and torturous.

Seeing Yun Hao’s insistence, Chai Shao could only stand at the doorway, his eyes filled with concern. Li Shimin was a prodigy of both civil and martial prowess within the Li clan. He had risen young to the rank of captain through military merit; were it not for the court’s suspicions toward Duke Tang, he might already have made a name for himself in Chang'an. Both Li Yuan and the Li clan held this second son in high regard; within the Duke’s household, only his elder brother Li Jiancheng outranked him.

For the first time, Yun Hao studied the future Emperor up close. His square face conveyed authority, his nose prominent, his eyes shining. Though now his complexion was sallow and his lips bloodless, one could still see he was a strikingly handsome man—perhaps a shade less than Chai Shao, who was famous as one of the great beauties of Tang, a perfect candidate for a teen drama.

“Water…” Li Shimin’s voice was hoarse and faint.

This was the natural reaction to excessive blood loss. Li Shimin’s constitution was robust; an ordinary person clawed by a bear would be crippled if not killed. He had avoided vital areas at the critical moment, and his leather armor had helped. Otherwise, not only muscle but bone might have been shattered. Bear claws are sharp enough to tear open a tiger’s belly.

Yun Hao immediately brought over a bowl of honeyed salt water, cooled to a suitable temperature. Honey replenished sugars, salt balanced electrolytes. Ideally, he’d give glucose, but in these times, where could he find any?

A bowl of water revived Li Shimin’s spirits. Yun Hao poured another, but Li Shimin shook his head, indicating he’d had enough.

“Where am I?” His voice was still hoarse, but his vigor had returned; his eyes were no longer cloudy but shone with renewed light as he looked at Yun Hao and asked.

“This is Zhang’s Pharmacy. You were clawed by a bear and brought here by Changsun Wuji. I saved your life, though that fellow wanted to skin me alive. Hmph, made me almost not want to save you!” Yun Hao rambled as he spoke, seeing Li Shimin refuse more water, he pressed the honeyed salt water to his lips. “This stuff tastes fine. If you keep pushing it away, someone else would give you bitter, soy-sauce-like medicine. Drink up!”

Li Shimin wanted to leap up and slap this cheeky youth, but given his physical state, he had no choice but to let it go.

Still, since it was medicine, he drank it. The boy was right—the flavor was odd but not unpleasant, much better than the bitter Chinese medicines that made one stick out their tongue. He drained the bowl and closed his eyes. Since he was in Taiyuan, all was well—this city belonged to the Li family. Best not to look at this irksome youth too much; should he lose his temper, there’d be no one to treat him.

Seeing Li Shimin finish the salt and honey water, Yun Hao breathed a sigh of relief. His quick recovery showed his strong constitution; his life was saved. No need to fear Changsun Wuji trying to drag him down, thinking Yun Hao should accompany him to the grave. Now, Yun Hao had a chance to deal with him. Opportunities to tease the greatest heroes of the imperial court were rare; best to seize them now, for once they held power, they’d toy with him to death.

Yun Hao remembered that history had recorded how Changsun Wuji dealt with the families of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, and even caused the wrongful death of Li Ke, Prince of Shu, who carried the blood of two emperors. He’d spared neither his nephew Li Tai, Prince of Wei.

Leaving Li Shimin in the care of the two maids acting as nurses, Yun Hao strode out of the sickroom. At the door, he told Chai Shao, “It’s fine now—your Second Young Master is out of danger. But he needs rest, and given his size, he’ll need a man to attend him. The two maids can’t manage alone.”

“Right, I’ll immediately send for some young servants from the manor,” Chai Shao replied, unaware of Yun Hao’s mischief. Considering Li Shimin’s imposing stature, though not a brute able to let a horse run on his arm or stand on his fist, he weighed one hundred fifty or sixty pounds. Two young girls would indeed struggle.

“What good are young servants? If they’re clumsy and ruin the wound, your Second Young Master will die, and I’ll be the one skinned and flayed by Changsun Wuji. Oh, right—Changsun Wuji is your Second Young Master’s kin. Let him personally oversee things; I doubt he’d intentionally harm his cousin,” Yun Hao said, secretly delighted. He was eager to see how Changsun Wuji would embarrass himself.

“Ah… That makes sense!” Chai Shao agreed. Changsun Wuji was a reliable choice; after all, the Lady Changsun, known as the Lady of Guanyin, was his sister. How could a maternal uncle harm his sister’s husband?

Indeed, when the matter was put to Changsun Wuji, he accepted without question and was about to enter the room when Yun Hao stopped him.

“Master Changsun, wait! This is a sterile room, though I won’t bore you with details. You must soak in a salt water tub for the duration of one incense stick to kill any bacteria on your body before entering. If you doubt me, ask the two maids—they soaked in salt water before attending the Second Young Master,” Yun Hao said, intentionally prolonging the soaking time due to Changsun Wuji’s unpleasant attitude.

“It’s just a salt water soak—won’t kill me. Let me do it!” The young Changsun Wuji, not yet the shrewd elder he’d become, took Yun Hao’s words seriously, especially when Chai Shao said he hadn’t soaked and could only wait outside. Without suspicion, he entered the side room, removed his clothes, and climbed into the salt water tub.

Yun Hao watched Changsun Wuji’s face change from red to pale, then to green, inwardly amused. Sensitive areas stung fiercely in salt water—how could it feel pleasant? That’ll teach you for bullying me because I’m young; this time, you’ll suffer.

“Aaah…!” As Yun Hao walked away with hands behind his back, Changsun Wuji’s agonized cry echoed from the room—a lament to move hearts and bring tears to the eyes.