The Double Ninth Festival was celebrated throughout the city.
The crowd escorted the prince and princess back to the royal palace.
Some commoners brought eggs and vegetables as gifts, while young women threw flowers at the prince as he passed by.
Not only was the prince the center of attention, but the two young masters from the Chen family were also showered with petals, as if a path of flowers had been laid out for them, with magpies building a bridge in the sky.
Among the crowd, Chen Ji noticed a young monk, about thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in a pale moon-colored robe.
With red lips and white teeth, he was quite handsome.
This must be the Buddhist disciple that Wu Yun had mentioned, from the Ge Ning Sect of Yunzhou.
As the young monk rode past on his horse, he turned his head and looked at Chen Ji.
After a moment of surprise, he smiled warmly at him.
In the procession, a girl riding a white horse asked curiously, "Little monk, who were you looking at just now?"
She followed the monk's gaze, but the figure under the eaves had already disappeared.
The monk smiled and said, "Princess Bai Li, I saw a young man who seemed troubled. He has already defeated two thieves, but his heart is still burdened with obsession."
"Huh?" Zhu Bai Li was puzzled.
"Why do you always speak in riddles? What do you mean by 'two thieves'?"
"I was just speaking casually."
Chen Ji followed the crowd back to the medical clinic.
Old Man Yao stood at the threshold, watching the young men in their fine clothes and riding their horses.
He said slowly, "Aren't those your two elder brothers? Why didn't you greet them?"
Chen Ji smiled and replied, "Master, you know the answer to that. They didn't recognize me either."
Liu Quxing leaned in, surprised.
"Master, are you talking about Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao, the sons of the Luocheng magistrate? I saw them at Old Master Liu's birthday banquet... Are you saying they're Chen Ji's elder brothers?"
Old Man Yao gave a nonchalant hum.
The people in the clinic looked over and saw the two young masters from the Chen family dressed in exquisite white robes.
Even the jade pendants on their collars were of great value.
Instead of wooden or silver hairpins, they wore white jade ones.
They were indeed dazzling young men.
Liu Quxing glanced at them, then at Chen Ji, who was wearing a patched gray robe, a coarse cloth belt, and old cloth shoes.
"Chen Ji, are you really from the same family as them?" Liu Quxing asked in shock.
Chen Ji also gave a nonchalant hum.
He had expected Liu Quxing, who was not known for his high moral standards, to mock him.
Instead, Liu Quxing was indignant on his behalf.
"Your stepmother is too biased. Even though a concubine's son can't inherit the family estate, there should still be brotherly love and filial piety. Isn't she afraid of being criticized?"
Chen Ji looked at Liu Quxing in surprise.
Liu Quxing continued angrily, "You never mentioned your family background all these years. I thought you were just from a tenant family. Do you know that just the jade pendant on their collars is worth ten years of your tuition?"
Chen Ji patted Liu Quxing's shoulder and smiled.
"Senior brother, don't be angry. I didn't expect you to stand up for me."
Liu Quxing was displeased.
"What kind of talk is that? You and I are fellow disciples. They're outsiders."
With that, Liu Quxing glanced at the group's retreating backs and spat, "Look at them, surrounded by people like ants moving their nest!"
Chen Ji couldn't help but laugh.
"Senior brother, your tongue is almost as sharp as Master's."
Liu Quxing turned to Old Man Yao.
"Master, he just insulted you too."
Old Man Yao slapped the back of Liu Quxing's head.
"You're always stirring up trouble! Stop looking. That's another world, and it has nothing to do with you."
Everyone returned to the clinic.
Chen Ji smiled and said, "I passed by a roast chicken shop on the way back and bought two chickens. Master, senior brothers, let's eat together."
"Wow," Liu Quxing finally noticed the lotus leaf package in Chen Ji's hand.
He took it and opened it on the counter.
"Chen Ji, did you strike it rich?"
"I found a piece of broken silver," Chen Ji explained.
"Found silver?" Old Man Yao casually tossed six copper coins on the counter and began divining.
He teased, "You didn't find any silver. You just got two unlucky fellows thrown into prison... Tsk tsk, quite the feat!"
Chen Ji quickly looked around, relieved to see Liu Quxing and She Dengke focused on eating the chicken.
He whispered suspiciously, "Did you divine that, or did the crow tell you?"
"Never mind that," Old Man Yao said seriously.
"I ask you, was it really you who reported to the Liu family?"
Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then finally said, "It was me."
Old Man Yao chuckled lightly.
"Why are you telling me the truth now?"
"Because I feel that you mean me no harm, and I consider the clinic my home now. You're the only elder I have left."
"Don't try to butter me up," Old Man Yao brushed off the sentiment.
"Did anyone find out it was you who reported it?"
"No."
"Good," Old Man Yao stroked his beard.
"Do whatever you want. Your legs are your own, and I can't control you. But don't drag me into it!"
"Got it!"
Old Man Yao looked at him and finally added, "If you want to live a long life, don't be too flashy. Those people outside may look impressive in their fine clothes and on their horses, but it's the ones who quietly make their fortune who have the last laugh. You'll find that if you live long enough, you'll see your enemies die one by one."
Chen Ji said seriously, "Master, I understand what you're saying, and I'll try to keep a low profile. But I can't wait that long for revenge..."
At that moment, Liu Quxing, while chewing on a piece of chicken, advised with his greasy mouth, "Chen Ji, you really don't know how to manage your money. You find a bit of broken silver and immediately spend it on roast chicken. You should save it."
She Dengke scolded, "Then stop eating! You're eating someone else's food and still running your mouth!"
"I'm just giving him a friendly reminder!"
Chen Ji looked at Liu Quxing.
This senior brother was quite an interesting character.
You couldn't exactly call him a good person—his moral standards weren't high, he was gossipy, and petty.
But you couldn't call him a bad person either—he had a line he wouldn't cross, which made him better than most villains.
In this world, most people were like that—not easily categorized as simply good or bad.
Chen Ji tore off a chicken leg and held it out.
Wu Yun crawled out from his chest, grabbed the chicken leg with both paws, and started gnawing on it.
Chen Ji then tore off another chicken leg and handed it to Old Man Yao.
Old Man Yao pursed his lips and said reservedly, "I'm too old for such greasy food."
Chen Ji shoved the chicken leg into his hand.
"You were full of energy when you were whipping us with bamboo sticks. You're not old at all. Just eat it."
Old Man Yao glared at him.
"How dare you talk to your master like that! No respect!"
Outside the clinic, the crowd was bustling.
Inside, the master and his three disciples shared a roast chicken.
Chen Ji sometimes thought that if life could just stay this peaceful, it would be perfect.
But he knew that what was coming would come eventually.
...
At that moment, the girl named Xi Bing, holding her skirt with her fingers, hopped over to the clinic door.
This girl, who was usually dignified and cute in the palace, seemed to let loose outside.
Her hairpin swayed as she moved.
She peeked into the clinic and waved at Chen Ji.
"Chen Ji, Chen Ji!"
Wu Yun hid behind the counter on a chair, while Chen Ji wiped his mouth and went out to meet her.
"Xi Bing, what's the matter?"
Xi Bing said, "Madam's white Banruo is injured again. She sent me to fetch you to take a look."
Chen Ji instinctively turned to look at Wu Yun behind the counter, his mind full of questions: Did you do it?
Wu Yun's eyes were clear and confused: No!
Man and cat were not on the same page!
In that instant, Chen Ji realized that Consort Yun wanted to talk to him!
He had been speculating all along: who was the big shot connected to the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department?
Although Consort Jing, being from the Liu family, was the most likely suspect, all the clues pointed to Consort Yun.
Thinking of what the Military Intelligence Department's officer had told him, Chen Ji looked at Old Man Yao.
"Master, I'll go with Xi Bing."
Old Man Yao thought for a moment and hinted, "Should you bring a ginseng root, just in case?"
Chen Ji: "... I don't think it's necessary this time."
If he spent more ginseng on the cat, he was afraid Consort Yun would have him beaten to death.
Old Man Yao seemed a bit disappointed.
"Go ahead."
Chen Ji followed Xi Bing to the palace.
As they passed under the plaque that read "Open and Aboveboard," he couldn't help but take an extra glance.
Xi Bing showed her waist token to the guards.
"Madam has summoned the doctor from the clinic."
The guards lowered their halberds and let them pass.
Inside the palace, servants and maids were busy, likely preparing for the evening banquet to welcome the prince and princess.
Chen Ji asked curiously, "Xi Bing, who injured the white Banruo?"
"I don't know," Xi Bing said with a smile.
"I haven't seen it today. Madam told me to fetch you, so I came. Hurry up with the diagnosis. There's a literary gathering at Feibai Pond tonight, and I want to go. I heard the prince has invited many talented scholars."
The two hurried through the arched gate leading to the inner palace and stopped at the entrance of Feiyun Courtyard.
Xi Bing called out, "Madam, I've brought Chen Ji from Taiping Clinic."
Aunt Xi Tang came over and glanced at Chen Ji.
"Follow me."
Chen Ji lowered his head and followed, using the corner of his eye to observe the courtyard of Feiyun Courtyard.
It was more modest than Wanxing Courtyard, with only a persimmon tree in the center, its red fruit hanging heavily.
The persimmons were ripe, but many were left on the tree, unpicked.
Chen Ji suddenly remembered a story.
Old people often said that you shouldn't pick all the persimmons; you should leave some for the birds in winter.
He wondered if Consort Yun left the persimmons for the same reason.
They arrived at the door of the covered building in Feiyun Courtyard.
The building didn't look like a woman's residence.
There were no ornate ceilings or inlaid decorations.
Instead, it resembled a man's study, simple and somewhat dull.
Consort Yun was sitting on a grand chair, listening to a girl talk about stories from Donglin Academy.
She was dressed in a brown robe with a bright python embroidered across the shoulders.
In the Ning Dynasty's fashion, the python looked more like a dragon.
When she saw Chen Ji, she said to the girl, "Bai Li, take a break. I'm feeling a bit unwell and have called a doctor from the clinic. I'll listen to your stories later."
Zhu Bai Li was startled.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Consort Yun smiled gently.
"It's nothing, just some sweating. Go change your clothes. There's a banquet tonight."
Zhu Bai Li left the building, passing by Chen Ji.
She glanced back at him, puzzled.
The young doctor from the clinic seemed familiar, and... was he really young enough to be practicing medicine?
Consort Yun sat upright in her chair, wearing a brown robe with a bright python embroidered across the shoulders.
In the Ning Dynasty's fashion, the python looked more like a dragon.
She dismissed Xi Bing, and when they were alone, she asked sternly, "Today was the agreed-upon time for the exchange. Why didn't your people from the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Department show up?"
Chen Ji: "..."
(End of Chapter)