Bai Lan held his bundles, turning his face away from Ning Muyan. The two sat in the carriage, the air stiff with silence.
Ning Muyan suddenly rose, moving from the main seat to sit beside him. Bai Lan scooted over nervously. “What are you doing?”
“Why did you choose to place the clinic in the west city?”
Bai Lan hugged his bundles tighter. “It’s more affordable there.”
Ning Muyan nodded. “Clever as always—just a bit farther, that’s all.”
“It’s not far,” Bai Lan said. “Father and I live in the clinic; anywhere isn’t far.”
Ning Muyan glanced at him knowingly. He understood Bai Lan’s defiance but chose not to push—it wasn’t the time to force the matter.
To avoid further chatter, Bai Lan closed his eyes. “I was so excited moving here last night, I barely slept two hours. Let me nap a bit.”
After a few words, Ning Muyan sighed, watching his lashes twitch. “Then lean on me while you rest.”
Bai Lan shivered, subtly moving away.
“I’ve leaned on you before.”
“You were naive then,” Ning Muyan said. “I know you dislike the Bian family. I’ll handle it during the trip to the capital.”
Bai Lan blinked. “Don’t say that—I never said I dislike them.”
Before Ning Muyan could speak, Bai Lan jumped up. “We’re here!”
He dashed out with his bundles.
The clinic had only been open for two days, few knew of Doctor Jiang Zichun, and hardly any patients had arrived. The place was quiet.
Jiang Zichun was weighing medicine at the counter, wondering why Bai Lan hadn’t come, when a splendid, spacious carriage pulled up outside. The curtains lifted, and Bai Lan leapt down gracefully.
“I’m back!”
Jiang Zichun quickly put down the scale and rushed out to greet him, about to remark on the grandeur of the Ning family’s carriage—then noticed a tall, upright man stepping down behind him.
“Has Young Master Ning come as well?”
Jiang Zichun quickly stood and bowed politely.
“Doctor Jiang, no need for such formality. Bai Lan told me he’s opened the clinic. I’ve come partly to see him off, and partly to take a look at the clinic.”
Ning Muyan’s eyes opened, and he began to praise: “Bai Lan has been caring for everyone in the residence these past days. His medical skill is truly remarkable, having fully inherited Doctor Jiang’s teachings—he truly has the Midas touch for healing. Moreover, his temperament is excellent—humble and courteous. Even my grandmother and younger brother speak highly of him. Everyone in the residence is grateful. Hearing he’s leaving, they feel reluctant to part with him.”
Then Ning Muyan slightly lifted his chin and had the carriage attendants bring down two boxes from the carriage. “These are a small token from my grandmother and me. If Bai Lan is to go out to help people with his skills, the residence certainly doesn’t wish to lose such a fine doctor.”
Bai Lan followed behind, clutching his small bundle, lips pressed tight. Even he felt his face warming at the praise—but Ning Muyan’s sincerity made it feel genuine.
Jiang Zichun had never expected Ning Muyan to speak so highly of Bai Lan. The old physician felt honored, saying, “Many thanks to Young Master Ning for your care. Please do not mind Bai Lan’s roughness and naivety.”
Ning Muyan continued, showering more praise. When they reached the clinic entrance, he paused to examine the signboard. “You chose this location well. Excellent feng shui, surrounded by residential lanes—a perfect spot to help the sick.”
With praise for the clinic itself, Jiang Zichun felt slightly embarrassed.
Bai Lan, unable to hold back, gritted his teeth. “Young Master, enough standing outside. Please, come inside.”
Ning Muyan smiled faintly. “Very well.”
Jiang Zichun hurried to escort him in, cheerfully adding, “Bai Lan, take care of Young Master Ning. I’ll go fetch some tea.”
“Oh.”
Seeing his father enter the back courtyard, Bai Lan shot Ning Muyan a glance, then placed his bundle under his consultation table.
“Please, Young Master, sit.”
Ning Muyan didn’t sit, instead scanning the clinic quietly. “The medicine cabinets along the wall, the separate consultation table…”
He looked around, murmuring to himself, then turned to Bai Lan: “Congratulations on achieving your old dream.”
Bai Lan paused in arranging the table. During their exile, he and Ning Muyan had imagined life in Lingnan, talking about him eventually becoming a physician, saving up to open a clinic, and how it would be set up. He hadn’t expected Ning Muyan to remember.
“The clinic’s layout is really nothing extraordinary—same principles as always,” Bai Lan said modestly.
“You once said that if you opened a clinic, you’d have me write the signboard. I didn’t know you were already preparing it. By the time I heard, it was a bit late. I wrote the characters and sent them to the carpenter. They should arrive in a few days. I regret not delivering them myself, but whether you use it or not, it’s just my small token of goodwill,” Ning Muyan said.
Bai Lan felt he could barely stand. Luckily, Jiang Zichun emerged with tea: “Young Master Ning, just some simple tea, snow water collected last year. Please try it.”
“Thank you, Doctor Jiang.”
Ning Muyan sat and sipped the tea. Just as Jiang Zichun wanted to converse more, a woman rushed in. “Doctor, are you available?”
“Are you here for medicine or a consultation?” Bai Lan popped his head out from behind the counter.
“My husband injured his back at the dock. I heard Doctor Jiang is skilled in orthopedics, so I came to request your assistance.”
Jiang Zichun was about to sit but immediately stood. “I can go, I can go.”
“My apologies, Young Master Ning,” she said.
Ning Muyan quickly waved her off. “Saving patients is most important. Doctor Jiang, please go ahead.”
“Wishing Young Master Ning success in the capital exams. When you return, you must visit the clinic. We apologize for the humble reception today.”
Ning Muyan smiled at the suggestion of returning. “Certainly. I’ll visit again when back in the residence.”
Jiang Zichun then hurried out with his medicine kit to accompany the woman.
Afterward, Ning Muyan sat a while longer, both falling silent.
“I should be going now,” he said, standing and looking at Bai Lan.
“Mm.”
Seeing Bai Lan made no move to stop him, Ning Muyan paused at the door. “I may not return until the summer. Take care of yourself in the city.”
Bai Lan remained silent. Ning Muyan lowered his gaze, turned, and left.
“Wait.”
Ning Muyan turned back to see Bai Lan holding some items. “Though it’s not far to the capital, the seasons are changing. Take some remedies for colds. Also, this—warm-bone ointment. Long journeys can be cold; it will help drive it off. Useful even at the academy.”
Ning Muyan took the ointment, warmth spreading through him—it was something Bai Lan had once given him back in the prison.
“Thank you.”
He reached out to take Bai Lan’s hand, but seeing his resistance, he patted his head instead.
Bai Lan watched the carriage depart, standing at the clinic entrance for a long while. The early spring wind was still biting. Hugging his arms around himself, he finally returned inside.
Though the street was bustling, Bai Lan’s heart felt empty, a strange, unspeakable melancholy.
He rested his face in his hands, sighing softly. Leaving the Ning residence had gone smoother than expected; he should have been happy, yet he couldn’t quite feel it.
Judging by Ning Muyan’s words, he would return to see him.
Bai Lan pressed his lips together. If he came back, what would he want? In the previous life, he had aced the metropolitan exam, been appointed by the emperor, and now, this life, he might not fail again. By then, with high rank, wealth, and beautiful companions, even if Ning Muyan’s affection were sincere, the gap in status would be too great. When the time came, Bai Lan might not even be worthy to approach him.
The events of the past two days, Bai Lan tried not to dwell on too much, focusing on leaving the Ning residence and tending to his own clinic. But now, with nothing pressing, his mind wandered through all the messy, tangled thoughts.
He rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. Ning Muyan now knew the true nature of the Bian family, so presumably he would never consider marrying into them again. But how would he refuse the Bians?
The Bian family enjoyed imperial favor; the emperor’s son was clever and beloved, and thus there was nothing the emperor would deny Consort Ling.
Previously, Bai Lan had thought Ning Muyan and Bian Daiyun’s marriage was born of mutual affection. When Consort Ling petitioned the emperor for the union, he had assumed it was simply an honor or reward.
But judging from Ning Muyan’s attitude now, either he had grown cold upon learning that in the past life Bian Daiyun abandoned the Ning family during their time of trouble, or the two had never been as close as outsiders claimed.
Which of these was true, Bai Lan could not verify. In the past, he had not thought to ask Ning Muyan and did not feel it appropriate to do so now. If he asked, it would only confirm his jealousy of Bian Daiyun and make it seem he still harbored feelings.
So many things had always been unclear. Frustrated, he ruffled his hair.
Just then, his eyes caught a familiar figure by the weeping willow at the lakeside. Bai Lan, with his sharp eyesight, noticed the person’s shoulders trembling—likely crying.
Tilting his head, Bai Lan crept closer.
The western city streets were not as bustling as the east, less affluent and quieter, though the roads were wider. To the left ran a street, to the right a river and lake.
By the lakeside, willows swayed gently and a few old locust trees stood. In summer, it was a popular place to rest. Now, early spring made the area chilly; the new greenery was sparse, and many of the winter’s dead weeds and fallen leaves remained. Few people walked there.
Seeing someone crying in such cold, Bai Lan worried—it might be serious. Perhaps they were contemplating jumping into the lake. A doctor doesn’t only save patients who come knocking; seeing someone in danger and intervening was also a good deed.
Approaching the lake’s steps, Bai Lan discovered the one sobbing was none other than Bian Daiyun!
He froze. Suddenly, he wanted to retract the thoughts he’d had earlier.
“It’s my fault… there’s no reason for Uncle and Aunt to look down on me.”
“And now, saying this is of what use!”
Bai Lan was startled to hear a refined male voice from under a large flowering crabapple tree.
“Come with me. We’ll leave the city and live somewhere no one knows us.” The man suddenly reached out, taking Bian Daiyun’s hand. “I can give up everything—will you come with me?”
Bai Lan almost stumbled at the shocking words.