Chapter Eighty-Five: Disinfection

“My nephew Li Yi greets Uncle Li!” Li Yi stepped into the hall, first offering his respects to Li Er, then glanced around. He noticed Li Er and Empress Zhangsun sitting properly, sipping tea, without any sign of the rumored scandal. Li Yi paused, realizing he had lost track of time amidst the killing; it seemed night had only just fallen, and some families hadn’t even had dinner yet!

Li Er was startled when Li Yi entered, covered in blood, and Empress Zhangsun covered her lips in surprise, her eyes wide with shock.

“You rascal, how did you get so badly hurt?” Li Er hurried to Li Yi’s side, astonished by the gruesome wounds. “Imperial physician, summon the imperial physician quickly!”

“Uncle Li, don’t worry, these are just superficial wounds, nothing serious.” Li Yi chuckled. He was telling the truth; all his injuries were merely flesh wounds, though the blood made them appear terrifying. The bleeding had stopped, and there was no danger.

Empress Zhangsun walked over, looking around with concern. “You rascal, wounded like this, why haven’t you sought treatment and are still running about?”

Li Yi remembered his urgent business and quickly said, “Uncle Li, there’s something suspicious, very suspicious!”

Li Er’s eyes narrowed; he considered for a moment, glanced at Li Yi’s wounds, and said, “Treat the injuries first—everything else can wait.”

Li Yi wanted to protest, but realized that without dressing his wounds, he wouldn’t accomplish much. Though the bleeding had stopped, who knew if the assassins’ blades were clean? What if the wounds became infected? So he remained silent.

Empress Zhangsun helped Li Yi to a chair and began to undress him. Li Yi jumped up, embarrassed.

Empress Zhangsun smacked him on the head. “You rascal, so young but so many thoughts! I’m old enough to be your mother, and yet you’re shy? Sit down!”

Li Yi glanced at Li Er, who showed no interest, lost in thought. Considering he was only fifteen, and in Empress Zhangsun’s eyes merely a child, he felt there was no harm in letting her see, so he sat down, no longer resisting.

Empress Zhangsun carefully removed Li Yi’s outer robe and then his inner garments. But the blood had glued the fabric to his wounds, and her tugging made him grimace in pain.

Seeing his twisted expression, Empress Zhangsun laughed and scolded, “You didn’t cry out before, but now you remember to make faces!” Though she scolded, her hands moved more gently.

Watching her cautious care, Li Yi felt a warmth in his heart. No matter the reason, for a queen to change the bandages of a minister’s son was touching. In truth, Empress Zhangsun’s actions won Li Yi’s loyalty; at least now he sincerely wished to do something for the Tang dynasty—though not at the cost of his life, money, or against his will.

Soon, the imperial physician arrived. His surname was He, as Li Er mentioned. Without unnecessary words, Physician He saw Li Yi’s injuries and knew what to do. He took over from Empress Zhangsun, retrieving a cloth from his medicine box smeared with a dark ointment, preparing to apply it to Li Yi’s wounds.

“Wait! Physician He, right? Can we disinfect first?”

Physician He looked puzzled. Disinfect? What did that mean?

Li Er glared. “Rascal, follow Physician He’s treatment. Enough nonsense!”

Li Yi laughed nervously, eyeing the ointment suspiciously. “Uncle Li, do you have any liquor? Strong liquor!”

Li Er eyed him warily. “What do you need liquor for?”

“To disinfect! Otherwise the wounds will get infected, might fester!”

Li Er’s gaze sharpened. “You mean liquor can disinfect? Prevent infection?”

Li Yi remembered that even strong liquor in Tang was his own invention; the concept of disinfection didn’t exist. In ancient times, soldiers’ wounds were roughly bandaged without care for cleanliness, which led to four out of ten wounded dying from infection after every campaign. Suddenly, he sensed a business opportunity—or rather, a chance to make trouble!

Li Yi straightened. “Uncle Li, alcohol—strong liquor—does have disinfecting properties. It can reduce the chance of infection by seventy percent, especially for external wounds!”

Li Er sprang up. “Rascal, are you telling the truth?”

“Every word is true, Uncle.”

Li Er turned to Physician He. “What do you think?”

Physician He put down the ointment and respectfully replied, “Your Majesty, strong liquor has only been around for a few days, so this old servant cannot confirm whether Young Lord Li’s claims are reliable.”

Li Er thought for a moment, went to a shelf, and brought out a jar of liquor, handing it to Li Yi. “Rascal, I’ll believe you this once. This liquor came from you; use it. Once you recover, be sure to research whether liquor can disinfect. I want to see results. Understood?”

Li Yi took the jar. “Rest assured, Uncle. Once I recover, I’ll start researching and give you an answer as soon as possible.”

After speaking, he opened the jar, took a deep breath, and poured the liquor over his wounds. With a loud cry, Li Yi howled from the pain.

Li Er was startled by Li Yi’s shout. “Rascal, what are you yelling for? Nearly scared me!”

Li Yi gritted his teeth. “It hurts!”

“Bear it!”

Li Yi pouted, humming softly, then poured more liquor onto his wounds. The sudden pain was excruciating, and he wanted to scream, but Li Er’s glare silenced him. He could only clench his fists and pound the bed.

After a few more rounds, Li Yi was numb with pain. Physician He applied the ointment and bandaged him tightly, then Empress Zhangsun gave him a fresh robe. Li Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Er, seeing Li Yi’s wounds were no longer life-threatening, relaxed. This rascal always managed to stir up trouble, even with a simple bandage.

Afterwards, Li Yi and Li Er took their seats.

“Rascal, tell me—what happened?” Li Er asked, fanning himself and frowning.

Li Yi gathered his thoughts, about to speak, but glanced at Empress Zhangsun and Li Er, and swallowed his words.

Li Er frowned. “Rascal, speak up! Don’t beat around the bush!”