Chen Ji silently watched the assassin die, the light gradually fading from the other's eyes.
In the moment of eye contact with the deceased, a natural sense of compassion arises within your heart, where lies regret, desperation, and reluctance in those dying eyes.
Chen Ji sat leaning against the wall, feeling that this night was exceptionally long. It had only been a few hours since Wu Yun beat the white cat, yet he felt as if he had lived through an entire deep autumn.
He got up and walked over to the assassin's body, searching through the clothes, but found no clue.
Eventually, he lowered his head and sniffed the scent on the clothes, then frowned, "Let's go, let's go home."
Holding Wu Yun in his arms, Chen Ji limped towards Taiping Medical Hall, the area where the assassin had struck him still aching.
Wu Yun climbed onto his shoulder, curling up there as if it belonged there.
The pair, man and cat, walked shakily into the pre-dawn light, Chen Ji said, "When we get to the medical hall, the breakfast stalls should be open, I'll buy you a steamed bun to eat."
Wu Yun immediately perked up, "The eight coins you asked Yun Yang for earlier were to buy me steamed buns?!"
"Yes."
"Chen Ji, you're pretty nice."
"Of course."
"Chen Ji, may you make a fortune in the future!"
"Once I've advanced in my training and become powerful, I won't take any nonsense from Yun Yang and Jiao Tu! By then, anyone who stands in my way... may my ancestors bless me!"
"Will you take revenge on Yun Yang and Jiao Tu in the future?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment, "I will."
"Hehehe."
"Hehehe."
When they returned to the medical hall, the rooster had already crowed, but Liu Quxing and She Dengke were still not up.
After eating two buns, Wu Yun returned to Late Star Garden, while Chen Ji stood in the courtyard, stripping off all his clothes, and poured scoop after scoop of cold water from a gourd over his head and body, washing away the bloodstains until his skin turned bright red, before stopping.
He put on the same torn clothes he hadn't had the chance to mend and sat in a small chair beside the apricot tree, lost in thought.
In a matter of days, he had killed three people: Wang Long, the housekeeper, and the assassin.
Even the most steadfast of minds would feel some disorientation, let alone Chen Ji who was only seventeen.
The noise of the opening door from outside interrupted Chen Ji's thoughts.
He dried his body, donned his clothes, and walked outside, only to see Old Yao strolling in, a medicine chest slung over one shoulder.
Old Yao glanced at him, and in that instant, Chen Ji's body stiffened, and his heartbeat skipped a beat, as if prey caught in a tiger's gaze!
Strange, why did he feel this way?
Before Chen Ji could react, She Dengke poked his head out from the apprentices' room, curiously asking, "Master, how come you're back so soon?"
"Why, you don't want me back?" Old Yao glanced at him sideways.
She Dengke quickly said, "Not at all, just a bit curious!"
As they spoke, Liu Quxing walked out from his room, tying his waistband while reproaching Chen Ji and She Dengke, "You two really, didn't you see the master carrying a medicine chest? You didn't even think to help him with his luggage!"
Chen Ji: "..."
She Dengke: "..."
Liu Quxing took the medicine chest, curiously asking, "Master, did you cure Old Master Liu, you said you'd be gone for ten days to half a month, but you came back in a day."
Old Yao said impatiently, "Cure what? That Mr. Liu lived in a manor outside Luocheng City. My carriage broke down halfway there, and it took half a day just to fix it. When I arrived at Liu's Manor, he was already dead, I didn't even see his face, such damn bad luck. If someone who doesn't know better hears about it, they'll think my medical skills are lacking!"
Hmm?
Chen Ji's heart skipped a beat, was it also too much of a coincidence that the carriage broke down?
That carriage was meant for high-ranking officials; could it really just break down like that?
At that moment, Liu Quxing said, "You must've arrived at Liu's Manor last night, right?"
"Uh-huh," nodded Old Yao.
"And they sent you back overnight, not fearing it would be too much for you?"
Old Yao scoffed, "Stay there for what, to contribute condolence money if I stayed a few more days... I'll go rest for a bit. Once I'm awake, I need to check the inventory and the books. Anyone who dares to be careless with my money, prepare for a beating!"
Chen Ji inwardly cursed, he hadn't bought the ginseng yet!
...
...
Before the sky lightened, the servants in Feiyun Garden were already bustling about.
They heated water in a side room, carrying copper basins with snow-white towels draped over the edges, clanging up to the second floor of the Covered Building.
Consort Yun, with Xibing by her side, got up to dress and do her makeup, saying languidly, "It's getting cooler, have Xitang bring the ledgers this morning. It's time to distribute charcoal to every room. Send someone to the East Market to ask the Cao Guild if the Silver Silk Charcoal from West Mountain Kiln has arrived. Buy a batch, and pick the best for Bai Li's room. She and the Princely Heir will be back from Donglin Academy soon."
Miss Xibing smiled as she combed her hair, "Lady is right, that Silver Silk Charcoal won't go out easily since it burns to a ash like white frost, and it's smokeless too."
"Eh, where's Bai Bore?" Consort Yun frowned, "I haven't seen it since this morning."
"It must have slipped out to play, I guess?"
During the conversation, Bai Bore hobbled up the stairs. Its pristine white fur was covered in blood, and its face was swollen in several places as if it had been beaten, with tears brimming in its eyes.
Consort Yun: "..."
Miss Xibing: "..."
Clang! A copper mirror smashed onto the wooden floor.
After a while, Consort Yun began to laugh, "Princess Consort Jing has improved, I see."
Miss Xibing spoke in a low voice, "Please calm your anger, my Lady."
Gazing at Bai Bore, after some thought, Consort Yun said, "Carry it to the Taiping Medical Hall and have the doctor look at it. Just let that apprentice called Chen Ji take care of it. The clothes promised as a reward for this little apprentice should be ready by now. Go ask at Xitang; if they're done, send them together. Don't neglect him; I have uses for this person in the future."
Miss Xibing responded in a low voice, "Yes."
In the morning, Miss Xibing carried Bai Bore, accompanied by a little maid of about twelve or thirteen, to the Medical Hall. Just as they arrived at the entrance, Liu Quxing greeted them with a smile, "Miss Xibing, what brings you to the Medical Hall today?"
"Seeking a diagnosis," said Miss Xibing as she tiptoed to look towards the back courtyard, "Where is Chen Ji? Call him out to diagnose."
Liu Quxing's smile immediately faded as he called out loudly towards the back courtyard, "Chen Ji, Chen Ji! Miss Xibing is looking for you!"
Having said that, he eyed the clothes the little maid was holding, "Miss Xibing, what are these?"
"These are the rewards from my Lady to Chen Ji," Miss Xibing said with a smile as she stroked the fabric, "This is made by the embroiderers of Jiangnan Clothing Store, with meticulous stitches.
Liu Quxing's face soured. His master had said that treating patients from the Prince Mansion was an ominous sign. How unfair the favoritism!
At this moment, Chen Ji was wiping his hands on his sleeve, curiously asking, "Miss Xibing, what is this..."
Miss Xibing said, "I don't know who the culprit is, but someone has injured my Lady's cat. It hasn't touched water since this morning and has been listless, so she sent me to have it looked at."
Chen Ji was troubled, "My master just went to sleep not long ago, why don't we wait until he wakes up?"
Miss Xibing shook her head, "My Lady specifically named you to treat Bai Bore; we don't need your master. Here, these are the clothes previously mentioned that my Lady wants to reward you with, and there's also the diagnosis fee prepared for you."
The little maid then pulled out a small silver ingot from her sleeve, weighing about one tael.
One must know that apprentices in a Medical Hall aren't entitled to receive diagnosis fees. Doctor Yao himself only charged five taels for an external consultation, and now Consort Yun was being so generous for treating a cat, obviously showing her intent to win over Chen Ji quite openly.
Once he accepted the money, he'd have to choose sides between Consort Yun and Princess Consort Jing.
After some thought, Chen Ji said, "I'll take Bai Bore's pulse first."
Miss Xibing was taken aback, "Can you take a cat's pulse?"
Chen Ji fell silent for a moment, "...Yes."
Hmm?
After a long while, Chen Ji hesitantly said, "Miss Xibing, Bai Bore's external injuries are easy to handle, but to speed up its recovery, we might need to replenish its qi and blood. I'll write a prescription for it."
As Chen Ji wrote the prescription, Old Yao pushed the door and emerged from the main house, surveying the back courtyard with his hands behind his back. Not a single fallen leaf was in sight.
He also took a turn through the kitchen, which was spotlessly clean.
Usually, these little apprentices skimped on their chores, sometimes even failing to clean the stove properly, but not today. The place was as clean as if it had been relocated.
Moreover, the water vat in the courtyard was also full.
Old Yao curled his lips and walked towards the main hall, "Unsolicited diligence is either a villain's move or a thief's work!"
Entering the main hall of the Medical Hall, Chen Ji had just packed up the medicine in the little maid's hands and sent Miss Xibing on her way.
He turned around only to see Old Yao with a gloomy face saying, "Didn't I say you're not allowed to diagnose people? Even though I, Yao Qimen, loves money, I never put lives at risk. You can't prescribe medicine without my approval before you graduate!"
Chen Ji quickly said, "Master, it's not diagnosing people, it's treating the external injuries of Consort Yun's cat."
Old Yao arched an eyebrow, "That white cat got beaten?"
"Seems like it..."
Old Yao stretched out his hand, "Let me see the prescription you wrote."
Chen Ji handed it over, somewhat hesitant, "It's just some medicine for stopping bleeding, clearing bruises... and some medicine for strengthening its body."
Old Yao took the prescription, his frown deepening as he read.
After a while, he looked up at Chen Ji in shock, "You prescribed a fifty-year-old ginseng for that cat?!"
"Yeah."
"And they agreed to put it on the account?"
"Yeah."
Old Yao took a deep breath and exclaimed, "You're a bloody genius in business... If Consort Yun needs me to visit for a diagnosis in the future, you'll come with me."
Chen Ji: "Ah?"
As if suddenly recalling something, Old Yao said, "Oh yes, I saw your father on the road yesterday; he must have just come back from the riverbank for a rest. Take a day off tomorrow as well, go home and get the tuition fee and the medicine fee."
Chen Ji was stunned, Father?