novelraw Chapter 37 : Chapter 37
Chapter 37 : Chapter 37
Chapter 37: Appointed Time
Double Ninth Festival, the whole city celebrated together.
The crowd escorted the Heir and the princesses toward the prince’s mansion. Some commoners carried eggs and vegetables as gifts, while young women tossed fresh flowers toward the Heir from the roadside.
Not only the Heir was adored; even the two young masters from the Chen Mansion were showered with petals, as if flowers paved the road and magpies built the bridge.
Among them, I even spotted a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old little monk in a moon-white robe, with red lips and white teeth, handsome in appearance. He must have been the Buddha’s Son that Dark Cloud mentioned, from the Yunzhou Gening Sect.
As this Buddha’s Son rode past, he turned to look at me. He paused in surprise, then smiled at me.
In the procession, a girl on a white horse asked curiously: “Little monk, who were you looking at just now?”
She followed his gaze, but under the eaves, no figure remained.
The little monk smiled: “Princess Baili, I saw a young man whose heart was full of bitterness, yet he had already slain two thieves, leaving only the word ‘obsession’ in his mind.”
“Ah?” Zhu Baili was puzzled: “Don’t always speak in riddles. What are the two thieves?”
“I was just saying it casually.”
I followed the crowd back to the clinic. Old Man Yao stood inside the threshold, watching the fresh-clad, high-spirited youths on the street, and said slowly: “Aren’t those your two direct elder brothers? Why didn’t you go greet them?”
I smiled: “Master, you know full well. They didn’t recognize me anyway.”
Liu Quxing poked his head over, astonished: “Master, you mean Chen Wen Zong and Chen Wen Xiao beside the Heir? They’re the sons of the Luocheng Deputy Prefect. I saw them at Old Master Liu’s birthday banquet… You’re saying they’re Chen Ji’s direct elder brothers?”
Old Man Yao hummed indifferently.
The clinic folk looked over and saw the two noble young masters of the Chen Family in fine white robes, their jade pendants on their collars alone worth a fortune, topped not with wooden or silver hairpins but white jade ones—truly dashing youths, dazzling and eye-catching.
Liu Quxing glanced at them, then at me, seeing I had changed into a newly mended gray cloth robe, tied with a coarse belt, and wore old cloth shoes…
“Chen Ji, are you family with them?” Liu Quxing asked in shock.
I hummed indifferently.
I thought Liu Quxing, this moral lowlander, would mock me, but instead, he suddenly grew indignant on my behalf: “Your direct mother is too biased. Though illegitimate sons can’t inherit, there’s still talk of brotherly harmony and maternal kindness. Doesn’t she fear the gossip behind her back?!”
I looked at Liu Quxing in surprise.
Liu Quxing continued angrily: “You never mentioned your family over the years. I thought you were from tenant farmers. Do you know that just the jade pendant on their collars could cover your tuition for ten years?”
I smiled and patted Liu Quxing’s shoulder: “Senior brother, don’t be angry. I didn’t expect you to speak up for me.”
Liu Quxing was displeased: “What kind of talk is that? After all, you and I are martial brothers; they’re outsiders.”
With that, Liu Quxing glanced at the group’s backs: “Pah, a bunch swarming like ants moving house!”
I was amused: “Senior brother, your mouth has half of Master’s skill.”
Liu Quxing turned to Old Man Yao: “Master, he’s mocking you too.”
Old Man Yao smacked the back of his head: “You’re the one who loves stirring trouble! Stop looking. That’s another world, unrelated to you all.”
Back inside the clinic, I smiled: “I passed a roast chicken shop earlier and bought two. Master, senior brothers, let’s eat together.”
“Wow,” Liu Quxing then noticed the lotus-leaf packages in my hands. He took them to the counter and unwrapped: “Chen Ji, did you strike it rich?”
“Picked up a broken silver piece,” I explained.
“Picked up silver?” Old Man Yao tossed six copper coins on the counter, divining while teasing: “You didn’t pick up silver. This trip out, you pitted two fools into prison… Tsk tsk, big move!”
I quickly scanned around, seeing Liu Quxing and She Dakang focused on the chicken, and relaxed.
I whispered suspiciously: “Did you divine this, or did the crow see it?”
“Never mind how,” Old Man Yao said gravely: “Tell me, was it really you who tipped off the Liu Family?”
I was silent for a moment, then said: “It was me.”
Old Man Yao scoffed lightly: “Now you dare tell me the truth?”
“Because I feel you mean no harm to me. From now on, I’ll treat the clinic as home, and you as my only elder.”
“Don’t get chummy with me,” Old Man Yao ignored it: “Did anyone discover it was you?”
“No.”
“Then it’s fine,” Old Man Yao stroked his beard: “Do what you want; your legs are yours, I can’t control you. But don’t drag me down!”
“Got it!”
Old Man Yao looked at me, finally adding: “To live long, don’t be flashy. Those flashy folk outside seem triumphant, but only those who quietly amass wealth laugh last. Someday you’ll see: live long enough, and you can watch your enemies die one by one.”
I said seriously: “Master, I get that, and I’ll try to stay low-key. But revenge can’t wait that long…”
At that moment, Liu Quxing, gnawing chicken with greasy lips, advised: “Chen Ji, you’re too bad at managing. Picked up broken silver and spent it on roast chicken? Should’ve saved it.”
She Dakang grumbled: “Then don’t eat it. Eat his food and complain!”
“I was reminding out of kindness!”
I looked at Liu Quxing. This senior brother was interesting: call him good, his morals were low, mouthy, petty.
Call him bad, he had a line in his heart, better than true villains.
Yet most in this world were like that—can’t judge simply as good or bad.
I tore a chicken leg and held it to my chest. Dark Cloud poked out, hugged it with paws, and gnawed. I tore another for Old Man Yao.
Old Man Yao pursed his lips, reserved: “Old age, can’t eat greasy stuff.”
I stuffed the leg into his hand: “You’re lively when whipping us with bamboo— not old at all. Eat up.”
Old Man Yao blew his beard and glared: “How to describe your master? No manners!”
Outside the clinic bustled with crowds; inside, master and disciples shared a roast chicken. Sometimes I thought, if this peace could last, it’d be good.
But I knew what was coming would come.
…
…
At that moment, Xibing, pinching her skirt hem with orchid fingers, bounced to the clinic door. This girl was dignified in the prince’s mansion but let loose outside, her hairpin swaying.
She peered inside from the door, waving at me: “Chen Ji, Chen Ji!”
Dark Cloud hid on the chair behind the counter. I wiped my mouth and went out: “Miss Xibing, what’s up?”
Xibing said: “My lady’s White Prajna is injured again. She sent me to fetch you for a look.”
I instinctively glanced at Dark Cloud behind the counter, mind full of questions: You did it?
Dark Cloud’s eyes were clear and puzzled: No!
Man and cat didn’t match accounts!
In that instant, I realized clearly: Consort Yun wanted to talk to me!
I’d been pondering: Who was the big figure colluding with the Jing Dynasty’s Military Intelligence Division?
Clearly Consort Jing, as a Liu Family member, was most likely, but all clues pointed to Consort Yun.
Thinking of the Division Officer’s assignment, I looked at Old Man Yao: “Master, I’ll go with Miss Xibing.”
Old Man Yao pondered, hinting: “Need to bring some ginseng? Might come in handy.”
I said: “…Probably not this time.”
Another ginseng bill for the cat, and I feared Consort Yun would have me beaten to death.
Old Man Yao seemed regretful: “Go on.”
I followed Xibing to the prince’s mansion, pausing to glance at the “Upright and Radiant” plaque.
Xibing showed her waist badge to the guards: “My lady summons the clinic doctor.”
The guards lowered spears and let us pass.
In the mansion, sturdy servants and maids bustled, likely preparing the evening banquet for the Heir and princesses’ return.
I asked curiously: “Miss Xibing, who injured White Prajna?”
“Don’t know,” Xibing said smilingly: “I haven’t seen it today. Lady sent me for you, so I came. Diagnose quick; tonight there’s an elegant gathering of Luocheng literati at Flying White Pond. I want to see—the Heir invited many talents.”
We hurried through the archway to the rear residences and stopped at Flying Cloud Courtyard’s door.
Xibing called loudly: “Lady, I’ve brought Chen Ji from Taiping Clinic.”
Nurse Xitang came, glanced at me: “Follow me in.”
I lowered my head and followed, using sidelong glances to survey Flying Cloud Courtyard. It was plainer than Evening Star Courtyard, with only a persimmon tree in the center, red fruits hanging.
The persimmons were ripe but left unharvested on the branches.
I suddenly recalled a story: Elders said not to pick all persimmons; leave some for winter birds. Wonder if Consort Yun left them for that reason.
At the covered tower door of Flying Cloud Courtyard, it didn’t seem a woman’s space—no ornate caissons or mother-of-pearl inlays, more like a man’s study, simple and somber.
Consort Yun sat smiling, listening to a girl speak of Donglin Academy tales.
Seeing me, she said to the girl: “Baili, rest first. Mother feels unwell and called a doctor from the imperial clinic. I’ll hear more academy stories later.”
Zhu Baili paused: “Mother, where do you feel unwell?”
Consort Yun smiled gently: “It’s nothing, just sweats easily. Go change; there’s a banquet tonight.”
Zhu Baili emerged from the tower, brushing past me. She looked back, puzzled—this young clinic doctor seemed familiar, and so young to diagnose?
Consort Yun sat primly on the grand master chair, in a brown cross-collar jacket embroidered with a vivid over-shoulder python, feet in green wave-embroidered shoes.
Called a python, but in Ning Dynasty style, it resembled a dragon.
Consort Yun dismissed Xibing. Once alone, she asked gravely: “Today was the appointed delivery time. Why hasn’t your Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Division shown?”
I: “…”