Chapter 101: The Return Date Is Uncertain, but the Heart Has Already Arrived

Chapter 101: The Heart Has Arrived Before the Return Date

Whether to speak or remain silent, the business of Ling’an Pavilion flourished in its own right.

One afternoon, hundreds of people entered its doors, among them many ailing souls in dire straits.

Yet as they came and went, their afflictions had all but eased—some had taken medicine, others had received acupuncture.

It was, in the end, certain that the physicians within held considerable skill.

But Chen Yì’s gains were greater still—

[Medical mastery deepened; the four diagnostic arts reached mastery.]

[Medical achievement realized; the art of pulse reading elevated to proficiency.]

For he had not witnessed the physicians’ treatments firsthand, his own acupuncture skills advancing slowly.

Until, at dusk, he spied Ge Lao San approaching in his cart, and then rose to move his stool aside, preparing to return home.

Yet when Ge Lao San arrived, he spoke with a lingering unease: “My lord, it was sheer luck amidst misfortune.”

“What do you mean?”

“Had you not restrained me, that little man who’d just entered the magistrate’s office—he’d been knocked unconscious by us—he would have died. He’s already dead.”

Thinking of the consequences of violence, Ge Lao San still felt a pang of regret.

Had Chen Yì not intervened, he might have killed the man.

Even as a guard of Hou Mansion, he need not have faced prison, yet bearing the stain of killing commoners was a burden no one should bear.

Chen Yì arched an eyebrow, still.

“How does the magistrate take it?”

“The magistrate, startled, had the body examined, and only then learned the man had perished from ‘toco syndrome’—a condition from which he had little time left to live.”

“Such is our luck, then.”

“My lord speaks truly…”

Chen Yì patted his shoulder, offering gentle words. Once the matter of Liu Qian and others was settled, he mounted his cart.

As the cart faded into the distance, Ling’an Pavilion’s proprietor, Qian Kuang, sighed in relief, musing on what he’d just heard and the day’s events:

“Toco syndrome…”

“Xiao family’s stepson seemed to target that small man from the start—did he already know the diagnosis?”

“Impossible! Even Ling’an Pavilion’s finest physicians would need to examine pulses and read qi to confirm such a condition.”

“A scholar like him—how could he wield such skill?”

Pondering this, Qian Kuang returned to the shop, pulling out a note to record:

“June 21st—Ji Shì Medicinal Hall nearly deserted, yet a curious incident occurred…”

Back home, news of the incident had already spread, with some claiming the hall had caused a death.

Even Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Xuanxiang, their curiosity piqued, came to inquire.

Chen Yì paid them no heed, letting Ge Lao San explain.

Having witnessed the events firsthand at the magistrate’s office and possessing a silver tongue, Ge Lao San dispelled the Xiao family’s doubts.

He was not tired of the task, but instead recounted the tale to several acquaintances.

Liu Si’er, upon hearing it, mused: “You mean the younger brother restrained the elder from striking?”

Ge Lao San straightened, boasting: “You wouldn’t believe how close it was—I was only a inch away from smashing his face.”

“Had my lord not spoken, that punch would’ve sent him straight to the afterlife.”

The exaggeration was harmless.

Liu Si’er, too, didn’t press further, merely nodding, though in his heart he harbored the same suspicion as Qian Kuang:

Was it the bird girl who sensed his destiny?

She was known to be gifted in feng shui, often poring over medical texts in the Spring Lotus Garden.

Could such talent be hereditary?

He resolved to jot these thoughts down, planning to pen a secret letter to report to higher authorities.

In the four days that followed, Chen Yì maintained his habit of rising early and retiring late.

Yet he no longer ventured to the East Market, instead roaming throughout Shu Zhou, visiting the other four Ling’an Pavilions.

One per day.

Not only did his four diagnostic arts and pulse-reading reach the pinnacle of mastery, but his acupuncture skills surged as well.

Beyond this, Chen Yì discerned Ling’an Pavilion’s broader strategies.

Or rather, its targeting of the Xiao family’s pharmacy.

For instance, at Ji Shì Medicinal Hall, Li Elder and his three colleagues possessed solid foundations, their prescriptions fitting the varied ailments of the East Market’s clientele.

Thus, Ling’an Pavilion assigned physicians adept at such cases.

The West Market, by contrast, catered to the wealthy, whose ailments were mostly of a debilitating nature—kidney deficiency, body weakness, and the like.

Hence, the physicians assigned there specialized in such treatments.

In short, Ling’an Pavilion surpassed Ji Shì Medicinal Hall in every regard, its strategies keenly precise.

After completing a circuit, he also gathered four yellow-rank intelligence reports, securing some opportunities, and returned to the Spring Lotus Garden.

There, he played Go, sipped tea, practiced martial arts, and studied medicinal formulas.

At times, he ventured out only once…

And so, June 29th passed.

By the time the third watch ended, Qian Gong, the Duke of Guang-Yue, had finally departed.

With a reluctant farewell, the elder sought Chen Yì’s autograph, requesting two calligraphy pieces—not one for a birthday, but another, a lengthy ci poem, to be kept for the family’s children to copy.

Chen Yì, of course, did not refuse, accepting a thousand taels in gold in return.

It was a standard promissory note from the imperial treasury’s bank, redeemable for a thousand taels of gold.

The elder and the child exchanged their transaction in silence, their parting marked by unspoken understanding.

The glances of the old patriarch and Sun Lao Shen suggested bewilderment, as if wondering how these two had grown so close.

Though puzzled, neither had time to dwell on it, each preoccupied with their own concerns.

The old patriarch's burdens were too numerous to recount.

Beyond keeping a watchful eye on the Dingyuan Army’s summer harvest, he remained preoccupied with Xiao Jinghong's progress in establishing mutual trade with the mountain tribes, alongside the lingering affairs of the Xiao clan's medicine hall.

Yet, he kept all these matters closely guarded, orchestrating his maneuvers in the shadows while maintaining a serene and unbothered facade, rendering him entirely unreadable to outsiders.

As for Old Master Sun, his anxieties naturally stemmed from his desire to take Xiao Wuge as his disciple.

He had previously sounded out the patriarch, only to come away with a bloody nose, rebuffed with the claim that his own learning was insufficient—an insult that nearly drove him to challenge the old man to a duel to the death.

In the end, he had no choice but to follow the course of action Chen Yi had proposed.

Once he departed for Jinling to lay the groundwork ahead of time, he refused to believe he could fail to become Xiao Wuge’s mentor.

Having seen off the old Duke of State,

Chen Yi returned to the Spring Lotus Garden, intending to engage in a game of chess with Old Master Sun, when he saw Shen Huatang approaching.

"Second Brother-in-law, the Eldest Young Mistress requests your presence."

Chen Yi glanced at the sky and noted the sun was already high, well before the hour for midday dining; he dropped his chess pieces, stood up, and inquired, "Did Eldest Sister mention what this regards?"

"The Second Young Mistress has sent a letter, and a portion of it is addressed specifically to you, Brother-in-law."

Chen Yi nodded understandingly, called out a brief word to Sun Fu, and followed Shen Huatang toward the Jiaxing Courtyard.

More than half a month had passed since he last wrote to Xiao Jinghong; for her reply to arrive now meant there must be some progress regarding the frontier trade.

Upon entering the Jiaxing Courtyard,

Xiao Wan'er was in a rare, bright mood, standing outside the pavilion as she smiled and waved to him.

Chen Yi returned the greeting and seated himself at the stone table, asking casually, "Has the matter of the medicine hall been resolved?"

Xiao Wan'er nodded with a smile. "Do you still recall the former manager of the Jishi Medicine Hall?"

Chen Yi asked, "Wang Ji?"

Xiao Wan'er confirmed, "The very same."

"Yesterday afternoon, he came to the manor to seek me out, and only then did I learn that the Baicao Hall he established has already gained significant traction."

As she spoke, a look of profound emotion crossed her face. "Previously, out of respect for his father who had shed blood in the military, I easily overlooked his past transgressions. I never expected..."

"I never expected that after returning to the righteous path, he would still be willing to turn back and rescue several of our Xiao family's medicine halls from their predicament."

"This time, not only did he introduce several renowned physicians to us, but he also brought along a compendium of medical prescriptions. I have had someone examine them, and they are none other than the legacies left by the Medical Sage of the former dynasty."

"Furthermore, he discussed with me the prospect of forming an alliance with Baicao Hall. I am still considering it and will give him my answer tomorrow."

Chen Yi offered a soft murmur of assent. "To recognize one's faults and reform is a fine thing indeed."

Hearing this, Xiao Wan'er gave him a reproachful glance. "Listen to you. Had he not come to our door, that Jishi Medicine Hall of yours would have been the first to close its gates."

Chen Yi offered a feigned, foolish smile. "Eldest Sister, as you know, I am but a scholar, truly unversed in the ways of commerce."

"I have not blamed you, so why do you speak in such a manner?"

"Even if you do not blame me, there will always be someone who reproaches me for poor management."

"Who?"

Chen Yi brushed the question aside with a vague reply and turned the conversation. "Where is my wife's letter?"

Only then did Xiao Wan'er remember the matter at hand; she drew the missive from her sleeve and slid it across the table toward him.

Chen Yi took it and scanned the pages, finding that they were indeed meant for his eyes alone.

The contents were brief, yet every stroke of the brush carried deep devotion:

To be opened by my dear husband:

Jinghong has just finalized the location for the frontier trade with the mountain tribes and is currently undertaking the survey of the terrain. The Ministry of Works will provide the blueprints for the roads and shops. As affairs remain unsettled, my return must be delayed a little longer.

Furthermore, Jinghong has already learned of Husband's recent deeds through Eldest Sister's letter.

Regarding the medicine hall, there is no need for Jinghong to say more; I trust Husband will have his own brilliant recourse.

Only the invitation from Master Yueming to lecture at the Guiyun Academy is something Jinghong hopes Husband might consider.

Yet, whether to go or to stay remains entirely for Husband to decide.

Though the date of my return is uncertain, my heart has already arrived. I crave Husband’s understanding.

Having finished reading, Chen Yi closed the envelope and tucked it into his robes. Understanding was only natural, for she was, after all, his own wife.

But for her to urge him to go to Guiyun Academy...

Ah, well. In light of how earnestly the words "my heart has already arrived" were written, he would forgive her this once.

(End of Chapter)