Thread by @KD_wanyin

Jiujiu and Jin Ling (A fever)
#JiangCheng #JinLing
It was a humid afternoon, when Jiang Cheng realized his nephew, who is four now, is lethargic. They had just come back from a visit to the lakes and the markets, where Jin Ling had asked for the biggest sweets he can find.

And Jiang Cheng had relented, because Jin Ling was fussy and did not eat much at breakfast today.

Jiang Cheng had purchased some pork filled buns, hoping that Jin Ling would eat them. He did not, instead he asked for the sweets. And young Jiang Cheng gave in.

He sees how his nephew's eyes has brightened at the sight of toys and sweets. And he purchased only 5 new toys this time. Granted, Jin Ling had the same drum at home, but it was a different colour.

So now, he is here, at home with a flushed Jin Ling.

Jin Ling who looked sleepy, Jiang Cheng picked him up before the poor boy could lie down on the floor.

And Jin Ling wrapped his hands around Jiang Cheng's neck. Jiang Cheng touched his forehead, warm but this maybe due to their day out. Perhaps Jin Ling was tired from going out.

"Are you that tired already?"
Jin Ling groaned in protest, refusing to answer but Jiang Cheng heard him all the same.
"Do you want to nap now? Jiujiu has work to do."
Jin Ling tightened his hold, whimpering.
"Come on, don't be stubborn." He walked towards Jin Ling's room.

He can feel Jin Ling's breath against his neck and his arms slacking, he must've been more tired than he had thought.

After placing and placating a grumpy and clingy nephew onto his bed, Jiang Cheng left to his office.

He told his attendants to ensure the food tonight is his nephew's favorite and to get snacks ready for Jin Ling when he wakes up.
---
He managed to work for some time before Jin Ling (carried by his attendant) came crying.
Holding onto Jin Ling, he found him burning hot.

They called the doctor as Jiang Cheng hurried to soothe a crying Jin Ling. His nephew was crying and calling for him and he didn't know how to help.
He felt helpless and powerless then, Jin Ling did not have his golden core yet, Jiang Cheng is starting to panic.

As soon as the doctor arrived, Jin Ling refused to leave Jiang Cheng's embrace, clinging to him and bawling louder.

Jiang Cheng held him and comforted him during the examination. The doctor told him that Jin Ling had a fever, abnormal ailment in children.

She told him to let Jin Ling sweat out the heat, and give him a bath to cool down. She also told him to eat more yin food. And that she will come again in two days if the fever has not broken.*

He thanked her even though he had felt confused.

He tried to remember when he last had a fever, his Niang would give him a bath, then wrap him in blankets and he remembers her replacing a cold compress against his head at night.

So he does that, guided by the nurse-maids. They helped him care for Jin Ling.

He undressed Jin Ling and gave him a bath in lukewarm water, as cold water may just shock the child.

His robes were wet because he had to hold a clingy Jin Ling in his bath. Making sure to not soak too long, just enough to lower his body temperature a bit.

He dressed Jin Ling in layers of robes and a blanket. Jiang Cheng held Jin Ling in his lap as he fed him. He coaxed Jin Ling to eat the soup the kitchen has prepared.*
Jiang Cheng did not eat, how could he when he felt so nauseous and afraid of losing his nephew?

He held Jin Ling and hummed a lullaby he once heard his Niang sang to him when he was younger.

Jin Ling fell asleep quickly in his arms, but when he wanted to lay him down on the bed, the child would fuss and Jiang Cheng would pick him up again.

Jiang Cheng held him, coaxing him to sleep now. Jin Ling was making small whimpering noises in his sleep and Jiang Cheng felt pain. This was the first time he saw Jin Ling have a fever, and it was with him.
Did he not take care of him enough? Where did he go wrong?

After an hour of holding and swaying Jin Ling he could finally place Jin Ling down and cover him. He placed a wet cloth on his forehead.

Jiang Cheng watched over Jin ling, his only family all night long. He did not sleep nor eat and dismissed all the attendants that night.

He watched Jin Ling sleep and every time the child whimpered or groan, he soothed him. Humming the same soft lullaby he heard, wishing his nephew would wake up well.

The fever went down that night and Jiang Cheng renewed his promise to keep Jin Ling safe again.
---

The next day saw Jin Ling wake up with a fit, still grumpy and tired but at a normal temperature. He made sure the food served this time was balanced. And gave Jin Ling some barley water to drink.*

Jiang Cheng spent his time with Jin Ling that day.

Jin Ling who refuses to let go of him, a Jin Ling who pulled and tugged on his robes. He spent his time with this clingy nephew who wouldn't let him sit down to rest.

When he laid Jin Ling down for a nap, Jiang Cheng felt tired too.

He asked for his work to be brought to him, as he watched over his nephew he can take care of Sect matters.

Jin Ling woke up in the evening refreshed but still Jiang Cheng watched over him again that night.
Jiang Cheng fell asleep at Jin Ling's bedside.

---
He woke up to small hands playing with his hair and a smiling Jin Ling.
He had never felt so happy, Jin Ling is well and he felt that everything was good again.
--
Later that day, he knelt in the ancestral hall and told his sister about the fever.
He knelt there all night.

--end--

I'll add A/N later

A/N 1:
Based on the brief Google I did and personal experience:
Aka mom swaddled me in blankets and took me to ER when I was 6 months.
The home remedy is to get as much fluid possible, cool down the child or let them sweat the fever out.
Ref: tcmherbs.eu/2018/11/19/fev…

I found a plant used to treat fever. In my defense most people will try to get the fever down first before going for medicine. If this is wrong, please inform me.
Plant is here:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia…
Additionally
euyansang.com/en_US/tcm-and-…

A/N 2: I'm good with numbers but dumb with dates and time. So I don't know if Barley was there during the time period of MDZS but I assume it was because there were potatoes in there.

I'd love a cold refreshing barley drink now.

THANK YOU FOR READING