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"Who are you?" Yi Xing shrank back two steps. Why did people keep popping up in the middle of the night? Wasn't it said that palace rules were strict? Once the gates were locked, palace maids and eunuchs weren't even supposed to move about, yet this person’s "It's me" carried the seasoned air of a frequent rule-breaker, along with a certain familiarity... Yi Xing thought for a moment. "You aren't Physician Xia, are you?"
As luck would have it, it was exactly him.
This time he was wearing the official robes of an inner court physician, featuring a large square rank patch on the chest and a summer hat topped with a red tassel. For some reason, his face was still covered with gauze. This distressed Yi Xing, who was desperate to see his true face. She looked around and said, "I was thinking, there are no patients here; why are you still covering your nose and mouth? Don't you find it stifling?"
Physician Xia did not remove his mask despite her words. He simply said, "I see so many illnesses in a day; it's best to be cautious. Besides, the consumption in Hanzhen might still change. Since you are close to her, you should be careful—not just for me, but for yourself."
Yi Xing gave an "oh" and said with a smile, "You physicians are certainly particular. I see her jumping around quite healthily now. As long as we're a bit careful, it shouldn't flare up again." She glanced toward the northwest. "Physician Xia, did you go to the Hall of Peace and Happiness again? You're wandering all over the palace grounds in the dead of night; you must be careful not to get caught."
Physician Xia replied, "Thank you for your concern. I’ve walked the night roads many times; I’m not afraid of being caught." He paused. "By the way, did you receive the item I had someone bring to you today?"
Yi Xing hesitated. "Bringing me something?" She immediately thought of that bottle of Supreme True Red Jade Ointment. She hurriedly pulled it from her sleeve and held it out toward him. "Is it this? You were the one who asked someone to deliver this medicine?"
Physician Xia unconsciously straightened his back and said, "Of course. This is imperial-grade medicine; ordinary physicians can't get their hands on it. It requires a physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine to prescribe it."
The gap between the outer duty physicians and the inner court physicians was vast. Outer physicians usually treated eunuchs and maids for colds, coughs, or leg ulcers, unlike the inner court where they handled refined conditions daily, focusing on aesthetics as much as utility.
Thus, the fact that she had credited the medicine to Physician Yan was truly baffling to him. What connection did that Yan Songyin have with her? Why would a stranger keep her affairs in mind?
Yi Xing also realized she had been muddled. She touched her forehead and said, "So it really was you who sent it. You truly have a healer's benevolent heart. When the cat scratched me the other day, the first person I thought of was you. I wanted to go to the Imperial Pharmacy to find you, but then I thought, how could a palace servant like me be qualified to have you look at a wound? So I gave up. I didn't expect you to know I was hurt and to specifically send medicine. Oh, how can I ever thank you?"
Hearing her words, Physician Xia gave a reserved wave of his hand, indicating it was nothing.
"Mix this medicine with clear water and apply it three times a day. After applying, let the wound air dry, then wrap your hand with gauze. For the time being, eat fewer dark-colored foods; keep your appetite light. In seven or eight days, the wound will heal, and once the scab falls off, it naturally won't leave a scar."
Yi Xing gave an "aye." "I’ve noted it all down." She smiled again. "As palace maids, every meal is light; where would we get rich, heavy foods? Sigh, thinking back to the South... that soy-braised beef, the braised pork trotters... just thinking about them makes me flush all over."
The idea of delicious food making someone "flush all over" was a strange sight indeed; she must be craving it to an extreme degree. But being a palace maid was indeed a bland existence. To keep their bodies clean, they had to suppress such urges at the source; it was common to go three to five years without touching meat.
"Do you have money?" Physician Xia suddenly asked her.
Yi Xing hesitated. "Money? This medicine costs money?"
The thought of money made her sad. The two hundred taels of silver banknotes she once had in her pocket were now filling Nanny Yan's purse, never to be recovered. His question reminded her once again of her poverty. She looked down at the medicine bottle in her hand and muttered, "I don't have money. But I can collect my monthly allowance at the start of next month. At that time, I’ll make up the medicine cost to you. Would that be alright?"
Physician Xia folded his arms and said nothing.
Yi Xing grew a bit anxious, but the upbringing she had received since childhood wouldn't allow her to be a deadbeat. She sighed, held the medicine bottle up with both hands, and said helplessly, "I don't have money right now and can't afford it. Why don't you take it back? In the future, if I get hurt again, I’ll come to buy it from you then."
She wasn't afraid of being hurt once, and was even thinking of a next time? Physician Xia did not reach for it. He looked away and said, "I won't charge you for the medicine. Didn't you mention soy-braised beef and pork trotters? If I get the chance, I’ll bring some in from outside the palace for you to satisfy your craving."
Only then did Yi Xing understand. It turned out there really were people in the world who were total strangers yet full of kindness. Though her family’s downfall was a misfortune and being oppressed everywhere was also a misfortune, meeting people who had no stakes in her life yet were good people must be her good fortune!
She reflected that this Physician Xia was also a non-conformist. Palace rules were like nothing to him—never mind wandering around after the gates were locked, he even dared to encourage her to eat soy-braised beef. Perhaps in his eyes, this predatory system had too many inhumanities and should have been abolished long ago. Finding someone to be "out of line" with him under such heavy pressure must be quite a lively thing!
However, despite his kindness, she didn't dare accept it. She gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "I appreciate your kind intentions. Look at you, young and promising—at your age, you're already on duty in the inner court. I’m different from you. I’ve just entered the palace and have no foundation. If I open my mouth and the smell of soy-braised beef comes out, I'll be lined up for a caning."
Physician Xia felt a bit melancholy hearing this. "Being a junior palace maid is truly bitter. Have you never thought of rising up a few ranks?"
Yi Xing smiled so widely her eyes crinkled. Without any shame, she said bluntly, "No one in this world doesn't hope to climb to a higher branch. But some things can't be done just because I want them to; it depends on whether the Emperor grants grace."
At the mention of the Emperor, Yi Xing paused and looked sideways at Physician Xia.
He was looking down, thinking about something. Feeling a piercing gaze directed at him, he suddenly gave a start and took a step back. "What are you doing?"
Yi Xing said she wasn't doing anything. His groundless defensiveness made her feel quite slighted.
She had merely thought of the Emperor at the Wanshou banquet. Although the clothes were different and he had been far away, he and this physician before her seemed to share some similarities in form.
But upon further reflection, she knew she was overthinking. Physician Xia was a man of noble character; how could he be the same as the Emperor who had crushed the Shang family with a heavy fist? It was likely because she had seen few men; meeting a complete one, she vaguely felt he was similar to the Emperor. In reality, the two were as different as heaven and earth—one wore the Nine-Dragon Twelve-Symbol robes, and the other had a quail pattern on his chest.
Just as Yi Xing was feeling wistful about not being able to see his true face, footsteps came from the small path behind them. Physician Xia quickly retreated into the shadows of the green trees. "I must go. Remember to apply the medicine."
To say Physician Xia’s movements were agile was an understatement; Yi Xing only looked back for a second, and he was gone.
Yin Zhu came over carrying the basket and was puzzled to see her standing there. "Guba, didn't you leave ages ago? Why are you still standing here? It's the middle of the night—did you get trapped by a ghost wall?"
Yi Xing said no and weighed the medicine bottle in her hand. "This medicine wasn't sent by Physician Yan; it's that Physician Xia from the Imperial Pharmacy. What a good person he is—we’ve only met twice, yet hearing I was injured, he had someone send the medicine to me."
Yin Zhu tutted. "What exactly is the background of this Physician Xia? Has he 'manifested' again? Not to be rude, but I’m really afraid you've attracted something unclean. Why do you always meet him at night?"
Hearing this, Yi Xing also felt a shiver. It really was every time at night, and especially to this point, she hadn't even seen his face clearly. Could it be the lingering spirit of a deceased physician? Surely not; his words clearly held a domestic warmth.
Seeing her dazed, Yin Zhu asked again, "Then what rank of official is he? Anyone serving in the Imperial Pharmacy has a rank."
Yi Xing thought for a bit. "A quail rank patch—eighth rank."
Yin Zhu felt a sense of disdain. "Only eighth rank? That's not even as high as my father's rank." As she spoke, she tucked her arm into Yi Xing’s. "Let's get back quickly. This Imperial Garden is ghostly at night; it's terrifying standing here."
The two hurried back to the row houses together.
Entering, they saw Han zhen already lying in bed. Her illness had just passed, and her body was weaker than others, requiring quiet rest.
Han zhen felt uneasy about being in bed as soon as it got dark. Smoothing her hair, she said, "I didn't wait for you and started resting first; I feel quite embarrassed. You’ve been busy until now; did you miss dinner? There are snacks on the table, and the tea is freshly brewed. Use the tea to fill your stomachs for now."
Ah, having a woman of a "Nanny" level looking after them made life quite comfortable. Han zhen had a constant supply of snacks and treats—the care of Wu Shangyi—and Yi Xing and Yin Zhu benefited from it.
Once they had finished eating and washed up, Yi Xing could finally apply the medicine under the lamp. She followed Physician Xia’s instructions, mixing the medicine evenly and applying it layer by layer to the wound. The medicine was likely made from "Eight White Powder"; once it touched the skin, there was a flash of pain and itching, but soon that discomfort faded, replaced by a cooling sensation that soothed the throbbing pain from the hot water earlier.
Han zhen leaned against the bedframe and said, "This Physician Xia must be newly arrived. In all my years in the palace, I’ve never heard of such a person."
Yin Zhu, kneeling on the edge of the bed to spread the quilts, added, "Not knowing his origin, it’s always like meeting a Weasel Immortal. Aren't you two afraid? I say we should dig up who he is; once we know his roots, we won't feel so spooked interacting with him."
But Yi Xing didn't think so. If you eat an egg, you don't need to drag the chicken out for a confrontation. Although Physician Xia’s actions were virtuous, they were also clandestine. If someone helps you out of the goodness of their heart and you end up exposing them and costing them their life, that's not something a decent person does.
In any case, the medicine was good. After one night, the swelling had subsided by the next day, and it didn't hurt to the touch.
This day turned out to be beautifully clear, and the entire palace began changing the bamboo blinds under the eaves. Yi Xing, Yin Zhu, and the others were responsible for the area around the Pavilion of Distant Calm (Danyuan Lou) and Baohua Dian. The young girls, holding rolls of golden-thread vine bamboo blinds, walked lightly through the corridors. The early summer breeze blew the corners of their robes, and the tassels on their braids swayed. The open sky reflecting the rising morning sun for a moment made them forget they were in the depths of the palace.
Nanny Qin gave orders from the front: "Be efficient! There's much more work later; don't be like that other day, dragging it out until sunset."
Everyone answered brightly and entered the Jiazhi Gate in a line, heading west. Just as they reached Chunhua Gate, they encountered several magnificently dressed concubines. The one leading had a high rank; Yi Xing had seen her at the Wanshou banquet but didn't know her title. Hearing Nanny Qin’s greeting, she called her "Lady Gong (Gong Fei)," and Yi Xing understood which "immortal" this was.
Lady Gong always had a stiff, superior air. When she looked at people, her eyes carried impatience, sweeping over the tops of their heads. The palace servants knew her background, and seeing high-ranking concubines, they all stepped aside to stand against the wall. They originally thought she wouldn't bother with them, but she stopped and exchanged a few words with Nanny Qin, asking when the blinds would be installed so they wouldn't interfere with her incense offerings.
Nanny Qin bowed and said, "In reply to Your Ladyship, the ones hung previously need to be taken down and replaced with this year’s new weaves. If we're quick, it will only take two hours. It might be too late for Your Ladyship to offer incense in the morning; perhaps wait until after your afternoon nap. By then, everything will be in order, and the hall will be peaceful and quiet, not disturbing Your Ladyship’s state of mind."
Lady Gong nodded. In truth, this was just idle talk; her interest lay elsewhere.
Sure as expected, the Noble Lady Zhen (Zhen Guiren) behind her turned the conversation toward Yi Xing. Pointing at her, she said, "I remember you. You’re the one who knocked over the tray at the Wanshou banquet, from the Shang family, right?"
Yi Xing stiffened and stepped forward to perform another bow. "This servant, Shang Yi Xing, pays respects to the Ladies."
Noble Lady Qi looked Yi Xing up and down. She was indeed a striking beauty; under the sun, she looked even clearer than under the lamps.
Then her gaze shifted to the hands holding the bamboo blinds. Seeing the left hand still wrapped in gauze, she tutted and said, "What a pity. Injuring your hand the very first time you served at a banquet. One can only blame Eternal Attendant Yong; what was she doing, playing with a cat like that?"
Yi Xing knew these masters were not to be trifled with. Regardless of their intentions, she had to answer with extreme caution. She said, "It was this servant's incompetence that startled the Ladies. After returning, the Shang仪 and Nanny punished me severely. I wouldn't dare do it again; I will certainly put my heart into my duties and serve the Ladies well."
Noble Lady Zhen smiled. "Which servant is born knowing how to serve? It doesn't matter; after some proper training, you’ll naturally get the hang of it."
Regarding a background like Yi Xing’s, among the maiden families of the concubines in the entire Daying harem, few could surpass hers. Especially for these low-ranking Noble Ladies and Attendants, whose fathers and brothers were at most officials of the fourth or fifth rank—now calling her "servant" with every breath was truly as embarrassing as a slap to the face.
Fortunately, Yi Xing kept her composure. Her hands gripped the bamboo blinds tightly as she bowed her head and said, "This servant will certainly study hard. Thank you for your instruction, Your Ladyship."
Lady Gong, leading the group, finally adjusted the kingfisher feather ornament on her head and said, "I see you have a clever look about you. How about this? Come to my Palace of Earthly Honor (Yikun Gong) to serve; I’m short-staffed. I’ve looked coldly at the new palace maids who entered the Bureau of Ceremonies this year, and not one of them suits my taste. Only you, coming from a family of scholars and officials, are better than those lowly bondservant slaves."
Lady Gong’s arrogance was ingrained in her bones. Her attempt to show favor wasn't as subtle as Noble Consort Yu’s, or perhaps she had no intention of "recruiting" at all and just wanted to see her humiliated. Her words were heavily laced with disparagement.
Yi Xing naturally heard the sharp edge in her words. After being in the palace for so long, this kind of difficulty was nothing. But the woman had a high rank; if she truly decided to demand her for the Palace of Earthly Honor, her future days would likely be a storm of "blood and wind."
Lady Gong asked with interest, as if taunting a cat or dog, "Well? Would you rather follow me, or would you rather run around this harem doing menial labor?"
Yi Xing lowered her head further. Unable to refuse directly, she thought for a moment and said, "If I could serve Your Ladyship, it would be the fortune of my past life. But I am unsteady in my work. On the day of the Wanshou banquet, it was only because the Noble Consort showed extra-legal grace that she spared my life. If I were to go to Your Ladyship’s palace, failing to do the job would be secondary; I fear I would constantly make Your Ladyship angry. Your Ladyship is a person of gold and jade; constantly being angry with someone like me would not only damage Your Ladyship’s dignity but also drain your spirit."
Since she was so humble, Lady Gong actually found it quite enjoyable. When the deposed Empress was in the palace, what a sight that had been! Even these concubines had to lower their heads and call themselves "servants" before her. Now that the Empress was gone and her own auntie had come to the palace as a maid, a person made of dough, to be squeezed flat or rolled round at will—just having her there to beat upon would be incredibly satisfying.
However, she wasn't a fool either; the girl was taking a turn to evade her. Lady Gong glanced at Noble Lady Zhen, who immediately caught her signal and said with a smile, "It’s true that someone who hasn't been trained shouldn't be sent before Her Ladyship. How about this? Come to my place; I’ll discipline you on Her Ladyship’s behalf. Once you’re capable, you can go to Her Ladyship’s palace to serve. What do you think?"
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