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Chapter 16
"I am telling you my name, but I hope you will not reveal it to others." As Physician Xia spoke, his gaze did not shift from Han Zhen’s hand. The gold needles needed to be twirled constantly to ensure sufficient therapeutic effect.
Yixing understood his meaning perfectly. Saving a life was a good deed, but palace rules were ironclad and left little room for sentiment. If she let it slip, Physician Xia’s good days would be over, forget sneaking out in the middle of the night; even staying in the Imperial Pharmacy would be a struggle.
Yixing nodded repeatedly. "I understand, please rest assured." She paused before asking, "Then in the future... will you still be able to come to the Anle Tang from time to time?"
Physician Xia’s long, clean fingertips moved back and forth across the gold needles. At times, he deliberately stimulated Han Zhen’s acupoints. Seeing her frown and let out a thin moan, he actually let out a sigh of relief. Only then did he remember to answer her: "As long as I am free, I will come."
Yixing clapped her hands in delight and checked Han Zhen’s complexion. Previously, her forehead had been clouded with a mass of sallow yellow energy, but after Physician Xia’s intervention, this yellow cloud had gradually dispersed, leaving only a feverish flush. It seemed the girl had regained some consciousness, as she knew enough to cry out in pain through her stupor.
Worried about the state of the illness, Yi xing inquired: "Knowing how to cry out in pain is a good omen, right?"
Physician Xia gave a hum of affirmation. "Only when a person loses consciousness do they fail to distinguish between pain and comfort. When I first walked in, she only had a single breath left hanging. Had she not been treated tonight, I fear she wouldn't have lived until morning."
Yixing poured out a basketful of compliments. Although this physician’s features sometimes looked aloof, "one does not strike a smiling face"—showering him with kind words was never a mistake.
She clicked her tongue. "Truly, finding a doctor is like buying goods; you have to shop around. We were so worried before, fearing we couldn't keep her alive and wouldn't be able to account for it later. Fortunately, we met you; you are the savior of her life."
Her so-called "accounting" naturally referred to giving an explanation to Wu Shangyi.
Physician Xia seemed to know some of the inside story as he responded casually, "With an illness this severe, survival is entirely up to Heaven; no one can give a guarantee. I heard she is Wu Shangyi’s goddaughter. Wu Shangyi treated you that way, yet you are still so diligent in caring for her?"
Yixing didn't hide anything. "Because Wu Shangyi promised me that as long as I let her linger for a while longer, she would let me return to the Bureau of Ceremonies for duty."
Hearing this, he finally turned his eyes to look at her. Her poetic, delicate features, still retaining a touch of childishness, always radiated a sense of pure, innate kindness.
She was young, and youth is a fine thing—it can truly tug at one's heartstrings. As she stood before the oil lamp, the orange light illuminated the fine downy hair on her cheeks; her face looked as if it were covered in a soft, warm veil, making her appear approachable and kind.
"Miss, do you dislike life in the palace?" His gaze returned to the gold needles as he asked in a quiet voice, "There are many people and many schemes in the palace. If someone holds one part of power, they often use it as if they held ten."
Yixing really wanted to act detached and say she longed for the tranquil life outside the palace, but she knew she wasn't that kind of person. Unable to say anything against her heart, she said bluntly that she liked it. "Why shouldn't I like it? This Forbidden City is like stinky tofu—it smells foul but tastes fragrant. Throwing power around is no matter, as long as it's used in the right place. Let me give you an analogy: eyelashes are good things, right? They shield you from wind and sand. But most of the time, the things scratching your eyeballs are also them. People are divided into good and evil, and things have good and bad sides. You can’t pluck them all out just because they occasionally get distracted. If a person loses their eyelashes, wouldn't they become a fish?"
Her whimsical thoughts likely stemmed from her upbringing. Her generational rank was so high that no matter what she said, others would respond with "Auntie is right to lecture us," which fostered her "wild crane" spirit—daring to think and daring to speak.
It seemed the Anle Tang was indeed a good place. Previously at the Bureau of Ceremonies, she was a "dragon trapped in the shallows," not daring to raise her head; but here, she had come back to life.
Physician Xia smiled slightly. "The talk of the Forbidden City being both stinky and fragrant—it’s fine for you to say that in private, but you mustn't tell others."
Yixing replied, "That’s for certain. I only dared to say it because I don't see you as an outsider. Look at you, wandering about aimlessly in the middle of the night in violation of regulations; you probably have some dissatisfaction with the palace as well, right?" After saying this, she gave two flattering laughs.
Physician Xia was left speechless. This "Old Auntie" looked muddled but was actually as sharp as a monkey. Her meaning was clearly: "I talk nonsense, you break palace rules; we are six of one and half a dozen of the other, so let’s not expose each other's flaws."
Fortunately, it was time to remove the needles. He pulled them out, inserting them one by one back into the cloth wrap. He checked the palace maid’s pulse again; it was much steadier than before. He tucked away the needle wrap and said, "Writing a prescription tonight is useless. I will have someone send it tomorrow; you can go to the Longevity Pharmacy to fetch the medicine."
Yi xing was extremely grateful and said, "Thank you, Physician, for making this trip specifically through such thick fog."
Physician Xia maintained his aloof manner. Once he had packed up, he said, "Miss, there is no need to be polite. After all, you are only doing your duty. I am treating them; I don't dare accept a thank you from you."
But Yi xing said, "That’s not how it works. You see me every time you come. If I’m a bit polite, we won't get annoyed with each other in our future dealings."
People who love to take responsibility onto themselves are rare in this world. Hearing her say this, Physician Xia couldn't help but steal another glance at her.
Yi xing was a sincere girl. To show her sincerity, she gave him a very earnest smile.
This smile seemed to strike a sensitive nerve in Physician Xia. He appeared startled by her, immediately avoiding her gaze in embarrassment. He hurriedly turned his body slightly and said with his head down, "I should go. She will definitely be peaceful tonight; you don't need to stay up with her." With that, he brushed past her and stepped over the threshold.
Yi xing felt a sense of defeat. She thought to herself: What is wrong with this man? Is it not even okay to smile at him? Just as she was about to chase after him to see him off, his figure had already vanished into the thick fog.
Fine then. Coming and going in the dark—perhaps one develops night vision after being a physician for so long. Yixing let out a breath and didn't dwell on it further, turning back into the room to look after Han Zhen.
Han Zhen’s breathing was no longer as hurried as before. Seeing Yi xing enter, she said softly, "This doctor is a divine physician. My body... feels much better."
Yi xing was very happy. "When you are fully recovered, make sure to thank him properly."
Han Zhen nodded with difficulty. "Miss... go and rest."
Although she had been bedridden for a long time, she had heard about the Shang family’s "Old Auntie" and felt guilty toward Yi xing because of Wu Shangyi’s actions. Yivxing did not hold a grudge. Even if caring for her was a means to return to the Bureau of Ceremonies, this "life-and-death" bond could no longer be measured by simple favors.
Yi xing responded and tucked her in. "As usual, I won't extinguish the lamp tonight. If you need anything, just call me loudly; I’ll be able to hear."
Of course, these words were pure bluster. While awake, she might be a competent palace maid, but once asleep, she reverted to being the "Old Auntie." In the past, she required servants even in the middle of the night; not even a clap of thunder from the heavens could wake her up to pour a cup of water for someone else.
The person on the bed gave a soft "Aye" and pulled her face back under the quilt. Only then did Yi xing withdraw.
Sick people have a strange odor about them. Yi xing pondered to herself that tomorrow she would ask Nanny Gu for another quilt to swap for Han Zhen. The one she was currently using needed to be taken out, washed, and dried under the bright sun.
...
The next morning, rising during the fifth watch, the fog had not yet dissipated. Standing in the courtyard, one still couldn't see anyone approaching from the opposite side.
As soon as Yi xing opened her door, she slipped into Han Zhen’s room to see how she had fared through the night.
The girl was actually able to open her eyes and say a few words. The first thing out of her mouth was: "Miss, please find me two pieces of gauze. I am gravely ill; I mustn't pass the sickness to you all."
Yi xing didn't bother finding gauze for her yet; she was just very happy for her. She smiled and said, "You can say so many words in one breath now. It seems that physician from yesterday truly has skills."
Just as she was speaking, Gao Yang came in from outside, pinching his nose and asking, "Just that Yan Songyin? Usually, I don't see any brilliant medical skills from him. How long has he been out of his apprenticeship that his abilities have grown so much that he can treat Laoqie?"
Yi xing knew Gao Yang had misunderstood. Originally, she hadn't intended to tell him, but since Physician Xia would be coming around in the future, she could hide it for a moment but not forever. So she said, "It wasn't Physician Yan; it was a physician from the Imperial Pharmacy. He was willing to treat Han Zhen and applied gold needles yesterday; it took effect immediately."
"What physician? How come I didn't hear about anyone coming?" Gao Yang asked with his hands in his sleeves.
Yi xing thought to herself: Of course you wouldn't know. If she hadn't taken on Wu Shangyi’s deal, she wouldn't have been willing to stay up at the hall to keep watch at night either.
Currently, the Anle Tang only housed Han Zhen and another old eunuch who had been sick for a long time. Once the palace gates were locked, all the staff finished their work and returned to their rooms. Manager Gao loved to drink a bit of wine; he could spend half an hour over a plate of "Half-Empties¹," so how could he know if someone had come to the front?
She wanted to explain but couldn't do so clearly, nor was it appropriate to reveal Physician Xia’s situation. Yi xing had planned to fudge an answer, but just as she was about to speak, Rong Bao came in clutching a piece of paper. He said as he walked, "Someone at the gate sent a prescription, saying to fetch medicine according to this; it can cure Laoqie."
Gao Yang craned his neck to look. Yi xing reached out to take it, murmuring as she read: "Three taels of Astragalus, three taels of Cassia Twig, three taels of Peony..."
What beautiful Zanhua small regular script! It was written with such elegance; the prescription was as neat as a calligraphy copybook.
Yixing turned to ask for Manager Gao’s instructions. "Anda, the prescription is here. Should we fetch the medicine or not?"
Gao Yang said, "If we don't, she dies. If we do, maybe there's a fighting chance. Rong Bao, take the prescription and get the medicine."
Rong Bao gave a soft "Aye" and leaped out of the room. The Longevity Pharmacy was located within the North Five Residences, not too far from the Anle Tang. One simply had to pass through the Imperial Garden, enter the Qianying Gate, and it was right across.
It was a world of medicine; the scent of herbs rampaged everywhere, even the roof beams smelled of medicine.
Because Rong Bao frequently ran back and forth to fetch medicine, the pharmacists and Sulas inside already recognized him. Seeing him trip on the threshold and nearly fall face-first, one craned his neck and teased, "Bao-er, running so fast to catch something while it’s hot? What’s the rush? No one’s competing with you."
Rong Bao said dejectedly, "Get lost! You're the ones catching things while they're hot; I'm on official business! Stop being so glib and fetch the medicine quickly; I have to go back and save a life."
But fetching medicine had a protocol. A prescription had to have a source so that a medical file could be established. The pharmacist took the prescription and read it from beginning to end. He asked suspiciously, "Where did you get this prescription? Why is the physician's name not on it?"
Rong Bao hesitated. "No name? That can't be... A little eunuch from the Palace of Celestial Purity just sent it; it's a prescription issued by the Imperial Pharmacy."
Prescriptions from the Imperial Pharmacy had to be even more rigorous. Everyone passed it around to look. It just so happened that someone from the nearby Ruyi Pavilion was visiting and took a look as well. After reading it, he said solemnly to the head master of the Longevity Pharmacy, "Stop haggling over who wrote the prescription. Isn't it for the Anle Tang? The person is so sick they're practically being greeted by the Western Paradise; are you still worried about a mistake?"
Compared to the other four residences, the Ruyi Pavilion had the broadest outlook. They specialized in housing the Emperor's private collection of fine items—antiques, calligraphy, paintings, clocks, and watches—everything imaginable was there. Since even the person from the Ruyi Pavilion had spoken, no matter how strict the rules, they couldn't bypass human sentiment. The head master then instructed a Sula to fill ten full doses of medicine for Rong Bao according to the prescription.
Rong Bao’s mission was accomplished. He gave the head master a bow. "Thank you. Next time, I definitely won't let the physician forget his name."
The head master watched Rong Bao run out the door, then turned to the manager of the Ruyi Pavilion. "You didn't finish what you were saying just now."
The other man simply smiled. "Even immortals have times when they descend to the mortal world for a stroll. There are no forbidden drugs on the prescription; since it’s been written, it’s been written. It won’t kill anyone; why bother getting to the bottom of it?" As he spoke, he strolled out, standing under the eaves and squinting at the newborn sun after the fog had cleared—a bright, large bronze mirror illuminating the vast lands and the hearts of men.
¹ Half-Empties (BĂ nkĹŤng'Ă©r): Peanut shells with shriveled or underdeveloped kernels sorted out from whole peanuts. People in Beijing call them "half-empties"; they are of lower quality than full peanuts but much cheaper.
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