Once Bai Lan found things to occupy himself, his days grew busier than ever. He prepared the Xuán Líng pain-relief pills, studied old prescriptions for the husband in Xiaoxi Lane, and reviewed the two medical books his father had given him, constantly adjusting dosages and testing formulas.
Summer passed in the blink of an eye, and autumn arrived.
With the sudden drop in temperature and consecutive rainy days, the Ning household became even more bustling.
That morning, after a night of continuous rain, Bai Lan was awakened by the cold wind blowing through the open window. He fetched a thicker quilt from the cupboard, slipped back under it, but the wind chilling his body kept him from warming up, and sleep abandoned him completely.
He got up, tidied himself, ate breakfast, and returned to tinkering with his medicine jars.
“Two qian of aconite, two qian each of angelica and prepared rehmannia, glutinous rice…”
Bai Lan was crouched by the stove, preparing the An Gong powder when San Ling’s voice interrupted: “Master, the Second Young Master is here!”
Bai Lan lifted his head, wondering what Ning Zhengyu had come for.
He straightened to see Ning Zhengyu at the gate, sleeves trembling slightly, then striding into the courtyard.
“Second Young Master, what brings you here?”
Ning Zhengyu glanced around the courtyard. “Some medicine to guard against the cold—the weather’s turning.”
Bai Lan noted, “So you didn’t hire an outside doctor. You really trust my skills.”
“Since there’s a doctor in the household, and the rain makes going out inconvenient, why send servants and physicians on a trip? Besides, if you lacked skill even in this, wouldn’t the household be wasting its resources on you?”
Bai Lan entered from the rear eaves, said nothing, and went straight to the medicine cabinet to take out some standard cold-preventive herbs.
Recently, with the weather changing, Ning Muyan had allowed household members to take medicine as needed, so many servants had come for it—Bai Lan’s ledger already filled two pages.
As he packed the herbs, a food box was suddenly placed on the desk.
Bai Lan’s eyes brightened. “What’s this?”
Ning Zhengyu said nothing, instead reclining on a nearby chair.
Bai Lan opened the box. Steam rose, and inside was a large, golden, steamed crab.
“Autumn brings fat crabs. Qing Chu bought these for you,” Ning Zhengyu said.
Bai Lan’s heart leapt. “Second Young Master, your thoughtfulness is complete! Bringing medicine and a gift.”
He moved the box to the table, ready to eat, when footsteps sounded under the eaves.
Ning Muyan had arrived.
Apparently surprised to find someone besides Bai Lan at the Hellebore gate, Ning Muyan frowned at Ning Zhengyu. “Why are you here?”
Ning Zhengyu scrambled to his feet, holding the crab box behind his back. “E-Eldest Brother…”
“I came to fetch some medicine from Little Doctor Jiang,” Ning Zhengyu stammered. “I—”
Bai Lan sighed at Ning Zhengyu’s fumbling, then looked at the large crab before him. “I was just about to visit Eldest Young Master to pay respects, and with exams coming, maybe help with some study questions.”
Ning Muyan said, “Is that so?”
Bai Lan tugged at Ning Zhengyu’s sleeve. “Yes.”
Ning Muyan glanced at the food box. “And this?”
Bai Lan, thinking the elder’s eyes were sharp, hurriedly picked up the box. “Second Young Master brought this for you to try. He even asked if the crabs were fat enough.”
Not wanting to part with the crab, Bai Lan added, “I wonder if Little Doctor Jiang has had the pleasure of such food today.”
Ning Muyan sat slowly at the table. “If you want it, then eat.”
“Wonderful!” Bai Lan grabbed a crab and looked at the nervous Ning Zhengyu. “Sit, Second Young Master.”
Ning Zhengyu, still uneasy, carefully took a seat beside Ning Muyan.
Crabs were rare in the city. The rivers weren’t suitable for crab cultivation, so good ones were shipped from distant counties around Mid-Autumn. High-quality, large crabs were expensive.
Bai Lan had never eaten one before; overjoyed, he fumbled with it, tearing at the shell until a sharp edge cut his hand.
Ning Muyan took the crab from him, retrieved eating tools from the bottom of the box, and methodically began cracking the shell. His long, even fingers handled the crab deftly.
Ning Zhengyu was astonished to see his Eldest Brother cracking crabs with a physician and didn’t dare say anything, watching silently.
“What troubles you? Did you bring your written articles?” Ning Muyan asked, turning to study.
Ning Zhengyu sat upright but felt regretful. “The articles are in my study. I didn’t bring them today.”
Bai Lan’s gaze remained on the crab in Ning Muyan’s hands. “Have Qing Chu fetch them.”
Ning Zhengyu looked surprised. He hadn’t thought of that, eyes wide, waiting for his brother’s response.
“Go fetch them. It’s raining, so better not go outside. I can guide you a bit.”
Ning Muyan placed the broken crab on Bai Lan’s plate. “You failed the last exam twice, always at the final subject. I should have taken time to guide you earlier.”
Hearing this, Ning Zhengyu blushed. “I’m dull and poorly gifted, not nearly as talented as Eldest Brother. I’ve brought shame upon you.”
Ning Muyan’s brow twitched. “One cannot rely on talent alone. Success comes from diligent study. Exams are never easy; many fail multiple times. You’ve only stumbled twice—what shame is there?”
Ning Zhengyu felt a warmth in his chest. “Eldest Brother really doesn’t blame me?”
“How could I blame you?”
Bai Lan listened to the two brothers speak, savoring the crab meat. He happily finished three or four before Ning Muyan began explaining some dense, convoluted scholarly points to Ning Zhengyu. Bai Lan quietly reached for another crab, but the food box was nudged aside.
“Don’t eat too much—crab is cold in nature.”
Ning Zhengyu pressed his lips, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he watched Bai Lan’s greed for food.
“All right, all right, I won’t eat more,” Bai Lan said, cheeks reddening as he stepped away from the table. Ning Muyan watched him scamper off like a scolded rabbit and added, “If you like, tell the kitchen to buy some more. No need to eat so much at once.”
Though Bai Lan didn’t respond, his delight was obvious. “I’ll go make some ginger tea for Young Master.”
Once Bai Lan had left, Ning Zhengyu said, “Eldest Brother is magnanimous. Even with a physician, he shows such benevolence.”
Ning Muyan glanced at him. “Study the articles.”
Ginger tea steamed warmly in the room, while outside the rain fell in a thin curtain from the eaves. Both masters were gathered at the Hellebore courtyard, and servants had brought in charcoal, warming the space. Even Qing Mo and Qing Chu noted how rare such a harmonious scene was. The few attendants waited quietly outside the corridor, giving the brothers space.
When the weather cleared, though cooler than before, autumn brought a succession of social gatherings and polo matches among the city’s elite. Ning Muyan’s outings increased, sometimes in the mornings, allowing Bai Lan long hours at the Hellebore courtyard.
One day, Bai Lan finished preparing a new prescription. After two months of treatment, the husband from Xiaoxi Lane had largely recovered. Bai Lan planned to conduct a follow-up, giving advice to restore his health fully and prepare for fatherhood. Just as he packed his medicine box, someone arrived in the garden.
“Is Little Doctor Jiang here?”
It was San Ling’s day off, so no one guarded the courtyard. Bai Lan stepped out to see a woman from Bao’an Hall.
“What brings you, Madam?”
“I am Madam Kang, serving the Grandmistress at Bao’an Hall. The weather has turned quickly with autumn, and the Grandmistress has been suffering from headaches. She wishes Little Doctor Jiang to see her.”
Bai Lan recognized Madam Kang. In the previous life, he had visited the Grandmistress during festivals, and Madam Kang had always treated him courteously, unlike other senior housemaids. His impression of her was good.
Moreover, he knew the Grandmistress had a long-standing headache problem, so her request to see him was unsurprising.
With many household members recently coming to Hellebore for medicine, Bai Lan’s reputation was favorable, and it made sense that the Grandmistress would want his care.
He carefully set down his work. “Please wait a moment, Madam. I will prepare and come immediately.”
He gathered his medicines, slung the box over his shoulder, and accompanied Madam Kang to Bao’an Hall.
The Grandmistress, elderly and fond of quiet, had her hall in a secluded corner of the rear garden. The decor was simple yet elegant. Bai Lan, respecting her, moved cautiously.
“You’ve arrived?”
Inside, only the Grandmistress on the main seat and two senior attendants were present. The Grandmistress had her eyes closed, quietly chanting, and incense burned in the room, giving it the solemnity of a temple.
“Little Doctor Jiang Bai Lan, I pay my respects.”
Hearing him, the Grandmistress opened her eyes and nodded at his respectful bow.
“You may rise.”
Bai Lan complied, and the Grandmistress examined him silently. With no prompt to begin the diagnosis, he waited patiently. After a moment, she said, “You have the appearance of one born with fortune.”
The sudden compliment left Bai Lan momentarily puzzled. “Thank you for your praise, Grandmistress,” he said politely.
“Turn around a bit.”
“Pardon?”
Madam Kang smiled lightly. “The Grandmistress asks you to turn. Little Doctor, turn.”
Bai Lan smiled faintly and slowly rotated as requested.
“Proportional build, not emaciated. Very good.”
Bai Lan pressed his lips, thinking, How is this relevant to a diagnosis? What is the Grandmistress’s peculiar habit? Is she refusing treatment if the doctor is unattractive or malformed?
Then the Grandmistress asked, “Do you usually serve Muyan in the study?”
“Yes.”
“And what do you attend to there?”
Bai Lan hesitated. Could someone have reported that I was negligent with Ning Muyan? But the garden has been quiet since Qiao Rou was reassigned, and I’ve treated the staff well. Surely not…
“I mostly help with his writing,” he admitted honestly, minimizing details to avoid criticism. The Grandmistress seemed merely curious and shifted the topic.
“And the sleeping quarters—do they ask you to attend there?”
“???”
Bai Lan blinked. That is such a private matter… Isn’t Qing Mo the one who takes care of that?
Seeing his innocent expression, the Grandmistress understood and sighed in mild resignation. She gestured to Madam Kang: “Take him to the inner room and speak with him. I’m tired.”
Bai Lan’s heart thumped nervously as he followed Madam Kang into a side inner room of Bao’an Hall.
He glanced cautiously around. Aside from an elderly husband in the room, it was just a simple chamber with no instruments of any kind, allowing him to relax slightly.
Bai Lan finally asked, “Madam Kang, may I know why you’ve brought me here?”
Madam Kang smiled kindly and waved her hand. A young maid went out and closed the door, dimming the room slightly. A standing attendant added some light.
“Little Doctor Jiang, this is Master Zheng.”
Bai Lan’s heart skipped a beat at the closed door, like being introduced to an unfamiliar relative by his father. Hesitantly, he followed the elder’s cue and politely greeted, “Greetings, Master Zheng.”
Master Zheng smiled slightly. “Little Doctor Jiang, please sit.”
Bai Lan had no mind to sit. Facing the two elderly figures, his heart thumped wildly. He prepared to confess anything they asked—he would admit it all.
Then he saw Master Zheng place a sizable box on the table.
Madam Kang explained, “Our Young Master has always been proper. Many things he wishes to do but may not know how to ask. If the caretaker is inexperienced or shy, it could cause delays. Today, Little Doctor Jiang is here not for any other reason than to learn the proper etiquette of serving—this is also the Grandmistress’s wish.”
As she spoke, she opened the box. “If Little Doctor serves the Young Master well, great wealth and honor shall follow.”
Bai Lan’s eyes widened at the sight of neatly arranged items inside. He almost fell backward, stunned.
“W-What does this mean?”
Instinctively, he tried to back away from the box, but Master Zheng gently pulled him closer. From the box, he produced a delicately carved jade implement, smiling warmly. “Little Doctor Jiang, hold this.”
Bai Lan’s eyes nearly popped out. Just looking at it made him feel like his face was burning—now they wanted him to hold it? He quickly clasped his hands behind his back. “I-I couldn’t possibly…”
Madam Kang had assumed he didn’t recognize the object and was about to explain, but seeing his face red to the neck, she immediately understood. “Little Doctor Jiang is a physician; you surely know what this is.”
Bai Lan bit his lip. He really didn’t want to know!
During his medical training, his father had never shown him anything so private. But fate seemed determined: since he had been entangled with the Young Master in the previous life, the heavens made sure he would revisit the memory this life.
The two experienced elders, seeing Bai Lan’s genuine innocence, cooed in amusement. “The Grandmistress only instructs because she sees potential in you.”
“This is inevitable. If you can serve the Young Master well, your future will be boundless. Even if not, learning these skills is still valuable.”
Then they pulled out a dazzling array of items Bai Lan had never seen. Accompanying each were manuals and illustrated books.
“Little Doctor, can you read?”
Feeling a glimmer of hope, Bai Lan shook his head frantically. “I can’t read a word. I have no idea what the book says.”
“No matter,” Madam Kang replied kindly. “I shall read it to you.”
…He had seriously underestimated their determination. Their teaching rivaled Ning Muyan’s rigor.
Madam Kang read aloud the sensuous passages from the books, while Master Zheng gestured through the illustrations, occasionally taking out props for demonstration. Every so often, they would pause to ask if he understood.
Bai Lan wished he could dig a hole and vanish.
Yesterday, he had endured classes with Ning Muyan—fine. But today, just when he might have had a free moment, he was dragged here for private lessons.
“Little Doctor, now you try it yourself.”
“What?!”
Bai Lan’s pupils dilated. He waved frantically. “I-I am clumsy and inept; I can’t do it. Skills have their specialties. Perhaps a more capable person should learn this. Surely many would be willing to serve the Young Master.”
“Do not belittle yourself. Since both the Grandmistress and Young Master value you, this honor is not something others could even request.”
The implement was forced into Bai Lan’s hands. He wanted to cry. Jade was cold, yet his skin burned. The warmth seemed to awaken memories better left forgotten.
He screamed internally: why must he learn this? Shouldn’t the person who possesses it and uses it learn it themselves?
Under the patient hands-on instruction of the two seasoned elders, Bai Lan felt a million miles away from the Young Master. He desperately wanted to tell them there was no need—he had already agreed on the boundaries with the Young Master before entering the residence. All this practice was unnecessary.
Madam Kang, ever generous with praise, said, “Little Doctor, you are quick to grasp things. The Young Master will surely appreciate this.”
…Please, stop praising me! Do you even hear how ridiculous that sounds?
Master Zheng also looked pleased. “The Young Master is proper and refined. Having never done such matters, it is best for Little Doctor to take the initiative. Practice makes perfect.”
Bai Lan seethed inwardly: he may not have done it, but surely the Young Master has! He just wanted to bury his face and escape.
Fortunately, after more than an hour, the elders had imparted all they intended. No further lessons were arranged.
Master Zheng closed the box. Bai Lan, dripping sweat and drained, exhaled in relief. But before he could recover, the box was thrust into his arms.
“Take these home and practice. Consider them a gift from the Grandmistress. You’ve been diligent in attending to the Young Master.”
Bai Lan wanted to refuse immediately, but that was impossible. If Ning Muyan found out he had taken them home… he might not survive.
“No need to refuse,” Madam Kang said, patting the box. She then spoke plainly: “The Young Master is no longer young. Since Master Ning’s passing, the household’s burdens fell on him. He rises early and works late. The Grandmistress worries that without someone attending him, he might harm his health.”
“This time you’ve been brought here to receive instruction, partly because the Grandmistress esteems you, and partly because there’s something she wishes you to handle.”
Bai Lan’s instincts told him it wouldn’t be good news, but there was no room to refuse. Madam Kang continued, “You are a physician, so understand things more clearly than others. The Grandmistress wants you to see if the Young Master has any hidden ailments.”
That he could handle.
Bai Lan immediately thought to say there was nothing to worry about—robust health, perfectly capable even of a night with multiple… encounters. Of course, he’d never actually tried that many times; he usually just fell asleep halfway through. Still, he was fairly confident in his guess.
If he revealed that, everyone would know he’d already succeeded. And then he might be shuffled into some concubine-like situation in the household, disrupting the budding medical career he was carefully building. He had to be cautious.
Weakly, he said, “Even if I wished to relieve the Grandmistress’s concern, the Young Master is proper and self-controlled; he would hardly cooperate easily.”
“Methods are always more plentiful than difficulties,” Madam Kang said. “Little Doctor, you must find a way. That’s why the Grandmistress had you brought here—to enlighten you.”
Bai Lan muttered to himself: “Sounds well and good, but why not give me a clear, direct method instead of making me… climb into bed? Is that something a proper master would do?”
“Let’s end for today. Little Doctor, attend to the Grandmistress’s instructions diligently; the sooner it’s done, the sooner her worry is eased. She is advanced in years, and her health is not what it once was…”
Madam Kang dabbed at her eyes, and Bai Lan gave her a cautious glance. She had mastered the art of taking advantage of a naïve young lad.
This wouldn’t do. If he continued to be maneuvered like this, he had to find a way to adjust their perception of him.
“Then I shall at least take the pulse of the Grandmistress,” he said.
Madam Kang, ever composed, replied, “The Young Master is dutiful. Many physicians have already taken her pulse.”
She glanced at Bai Lan, and he understood the implication: being a young lad, what could he possibly contribute? Perhaps she thought his medical title was just a pretense.
Before he could protest further, Madam Kang changed tack. “Very well, take her pulse. It will also give you a chance to report back. And if the Young Master asks when you return, you’ll have an answer.”
Much obliged for your thoughtfulness, he thought.
Bai Lan returned to Bao’an Hall, still carrying the box. Distracted, he wondered if he could sell the jade implement inside—it looked valuable—but given its form, it probably wouldn’t find a buyer.
Back in the elegant main hall, the box felt even hotter in his hands. Everyone, despite clearly knowing what was inside, acted as if oblivious. The composure of wealthy households was impressive.
“Grandmistress?”
“Back already?”
Though it sounded like the Grandmistress speaking, Madam Kang answered for him: “Little Doctor Jiang is sensible and understanding.”
“That’s good.”
Madam Kang said, “The Grandmistress asks that Little Doctor take her pulse.”
The Grandmistress glanced at Bai Lan, seemingly uninterested, but after a pause, she extended her hand. Bai Lan quickly stepped forward to take her pulse.
As he had suspected, she didn’t really trust his medical skill; today’s summons was just a pretext. She didn’t even ask a single question after he finished.
Still, Bai Lan reported, “Grandmistress is healthy, though prone to headaches. During unfavorable seasons, they occur with phlegm and disturb her sleep.”
The Grandmistress looked mildly surprised.
Madam Kang’s expression was more direct. “Do you have a remedy, Little Doctor?”
Bai Lan replied, “I’ll have Sanleng prepare a prescription. I’ll dispense the medicine and deliver it to you.”
“That will do.”
The Grandmistress waved him off. “You may leave.”
Bai Lan bowed, gathered his medical kit, and prepared to depart. Madam Kang, worried he might forget the important gift, handed him the box in advance.
He accepted it, following the servants out of Bao’an Hall.
The servants escorted him only to the hall doors; Bai Lan found his own way back.
Carrying both boxes, he felt the weight on his shoulders, his steps sluggish as he made his way back to the residence. Before reaching the garden, he nearly collided with Ning Muyan, hurrying over, his face flushed with urgency, still carrying the wind from outdoors as if he’d rushed straight from arrival.