“Come on, don’t look so stern. I’m here to apologize for what happened last time.” Mu Gesheng climbed through the window into the room. “I was out of line before. Don’t hold a grudge, little physician.”
“An apology?” Chai Shuxin’s expression remained icy. “You trespass into someone else’s home and eavesdrop on their private family affairs, and this is how Young Master Mu apologizes? The Mu household certainly has excellent manners.”
“Ah, my father is a rough man. If you can’t beat him, he probably wouldn’t even think about such etiquette…”
“Then let us leave it at that. The illustrious Mu household is far too distinguished for the Chai family to disturb.” Chai Shuxin pointed toward the main door. “Please get out.”
“Oh? Little Physician, you actually know how to insult people?” Mu Gesheng was delighted. “Do you like me that much?”
Chai Shuxin stared at him in disbelief, as though he couldn’t comprehend how such a shameless person could possibly exist in this world.
“Look at it this way. Just now, the room was full of people who despise you, yet you treated them all with impeccable courtesy. Now someone who actually means you well comes along, and you immediately start hurling insults.” Mu Gesheng poured himself a cup of tea and continued, sounding thoroughly convinced by his own reasoning. “They say that people who are close to one another don’t need to stand on ceremony. If this isn’t a sign that you like me, then what is it?”
An Ping felt that Chai Shuxin was about to beat Mu Gesheng to a pulp. Sure enough, the other man spoke.
“Young Master Mu, I am very busy tonight. If you have something to discuss, we can choose another place on another day. Whether you want to fight or wage war, I will see it through to the end.”
“I really did come here for a reason tonight, but as I said, I only came to apologize and make amends. Nothing else.” Mu Gesheng sat down without being invited and took a sip of tea. “Don’t be so tense. All the people who wanted to eat you alive have left. There’s no one here to harm you now. Relax.”
“What you just overheard concerned the private affairs of the Chai family!”
“So what? I don’t even want the General’s Residence, let alone all the trouble that comes with it. You really think anyone envies your thankless position as family head?” Seeing that Chai Shuxin was about to lose his temper, Mu Gesheng hurriedly added, “Wait, wait. I heard what you were all discussing just now. The person in Beiping who’s waiting for those medicines probably isn’t an ordinary patient, is he?”
Chai Shuxin paused while removing his gloves.
“Just as I thought.” Mu Gesheng nodded in understanding. “Physicians aren’t immortals. There are countless patients they can’t cure. If merely running short of medicinal herbs is enough to ruin the Chai family’s reputation, then the patient waiting for the medicine must be someone with considerable power and influence. And if this person can damage the standing of the Chai family, they must be more than just an ordinary noble or official.
“You also mentioned that the medicine was being urgently transported from the Northeast. Considering that Beiping was once the imperial capital, and that the Northeast is somehow involved, could the sick person… have some connection to the former imperial dynasty?”
He pieced the clues together one by one, explaining his deductions in a calm, unhurried manner. An Ping was left utterly bewildered by the time he finished.
Chai Shuxin also looked somewhat surprised. However, he quickly replied, “It has nothing to do with you.”
“Hold on, I’m not finished yet.” Mu Gesheng continued, “The Chai family of the Medicinal School is, after all, one of the Seven Great Schools. Even if people are taking advantage of your youth to bully you, your family still has generations of accumulated influence and resources behind it. But those poor relatives of yours were being so aggressive today. Don’t tell me they have some leverage over you?”
Chai Shuxin raised his eyes and glanced at him.
“No, that’s not right.” Mu Gesheng waved a hand, thinking aloud. “Those old geezers are all bark and no bite. On the surface, they’re criticizing your mistakes, but in reality, they’re using the medicinal supply issue as an excuse to pressure you. If that’s the case, then the person holding something over you must be that individual in Beiping?”
Chai Shuxin: “…”
“But what sort of leverage could they possibly have over you? You look even more detached from worldly desires than a Buddhist monk. Or has someone in the Chai family gotten into trouble?” Mu Gesheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh. “I’ve got it! You’ve fallen for someone’s daughter, haven’t you?!”
Chai Shuxin fell silent for a moment, then looked Mu Gesheng up and down before speaking.
“Prying into another person’s family affairs like this is not the behavior of a gentleman.”
“Me? A gentleman?” Mu Gesheng looked as though he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. “Are you complimenting me or insulting me?”
“You should leave now.”
“Don’t try to change the subject, little physician. You still haven’t answered my question. What exactly have you done?” Mu Gesheng seemed determined to be as tactless as possible. He took out a handful of Mountain Ghost Flower Coins. “Are you going to tell me, or should I calculate it myself?”
“Mu Gesheng!”
“Yes, yes, I’m listening.” Mu Gesheng tossed the coins backward. They scattered across the tabletop, landing in the arrangement of a divination hexagram. He was just about to reach out and turn them over when a teacup came flying toward him.
“Don’t push your luck!”
“You want to fight? I’ll gladly oblige.” Mu Gesheng raised an eyebrow. “I hope you made sure the new buildings are a little sturdier this time.”
Before he had even finished speaking, silver needles came whistling toward him. Mu Gesheng kicked a stool up to intercept them, sending it crashing straight through the carved window on the opposite side.
An Ping was speechless. If these two ever teamed up, they could practically start a demolition company.
Chai Shuxin seemed genuinely furious this time. Every move was vicious, and his attacks were even more ruthless than during their previous fight. Yet Mu Gesheng didn’t use his usual trick of running away, nor did he resort to any of the underhanded tactics of an old soldier who had seen too much. Instead, the two exchanged blows and countered one another’s moves, Mountain Ghost Flower Coins clashing against silver needles with sharp, metallic clangs.
After watching them for a while, An Ping came to the conclusion that Mu Gesheng had probably been telling the truth that day. His martial skills really were on par with Chai Shuxin’s.
However, Mu Gesheng had also admitted that he couldn’t last in a battle of attrition. An Ping had a vague idea why Mu Gesheng was behaving so provocatively tonight, and wondered whether he would choose to finish the fight quickly.
As it turned out, An Ping was wrong.
The fight lasted for more than an hour. Their techniques were so precise and controlled that, apart from the carved window smashed at the beginning, not a single other part of the building was damaged.
The two fought their way from inside the building to the rooftop. Mu Gesheng turned sideways to dodge an attack, but Chai Shuxin seized the opening. He thrust out a palm, striking Mu Gesheng squarely.
Mu Gesheng crashed straight through the roof.
A tremendous series of crashes and splintering sounds followed, and he finally landed amid a heap of shattered tables and chairs.
“What a pity. I was being careful at every turn, and this house was built from aged boxwood, too. You really don’t mind destroying it, do you?” Mu Gesheng let out a breath. “Little Physician, you really are wealthy. You win.”
“You still have one Mountain Ghost Flower Coin left, while I’ve exhausted all my silver needles.” Chai Shuxin leaped down and said coldly, “You did that on purpose.”
Mu Gesheng merely smiled without answering. He looked up at the hole in the roof.
“This place is perfect for stargazing.”
An Ping more or less understood why Mu Gesheng had been deliberately provoking him. After the fight, Chai Shuxin had clearly become much calmer.
Young people were full of restless energy. When something weighed on their minds and left them frustrated, getting into a fight really was one of the quickest ways to release the tension.
“Don’t be so tense all the time. You act like a man in his seventies or eighties every single day. What a waste of that handsome face of yours.” Mu Gesheng climbed to his feet. “All right, I’ve apologized, and we’ve had our fight. Now I should find somewhere to eat dinner. Oh, by the way, don’t send the bill for the repairs to Ginkgo Academy. I don’t have any money.”
Chai Shuxin, however, walked ahead of him and pushed open the door.
“Follow me.”
Mu Gesheng followed Chai Shuxin through several winding corridors and finally stopped in front of a two-story pavilion. Chai Shuxin knocked on the door.
“Elder Sister.”
The door opened, and a woman’s voice came from within.
“Shuxin, you’re here.”
Beneath the beaded curtain stood a woman dressed in a dark blue-green qipao, with a white magnolia hairpin tucked beside her temple. Her long eyebrows were elegant, and her eyes possessed a misty, far-reaching beauty, like ripples spreading across a vast lake.
“Who is this?” she asked.
Mu Gesheng bowed at the waist.
“Mu Gesheng, a disciple of the Heavenly Calculation School.”
Chai Shuxin turned toward him and introduced her.
“This is my elder sister.”
An Ping looked at the classical beauty standing in the doorway.
So this was Chai Rendong.
Mu Gesheng had recently done quite a bit of research into the Chai family and had learned a little about this eldest daughter, who spent most of her time secluded in the inner chambers.
The former head of the Medicinal School had died young, leaving behind only a son and a daughter. Chai Rendong suffered from a chronic illness and had always been physically frail, spending most of her time recuperating at the Chai residence. Her beauty was widely known, but she rarely left the estate or met with outsiders.
“So you’re Young Master Mu.” Chai Rendong returned his bow with a smile. “It’s rare for Shuxin to bring someone here. You’ve come at just the right time. The dishes in the small kitchen are still warm.”
Mu Gesheng froze.
“Dishes?”
“Just some home-cooked food. I wonder if they’ll suit Young Master Mu’s taste.” Chai Rendong covered her mouth with a smile. “Come inside quickly. The wind outside is cold.”
A small stove sat on the square table for eight, supporting an iron pot. Steam rose from the pot, carrying an irresistible aroma.
“So you invited me here for a late-night meal!” Mu Gesheng picked up his chopsticks and grinned. “That’s quite a rare treat.”
Chai Shuxin swallowed a mouthful of rice and said indifferently, “No talking while eating.”
Mu Gesheng ignored him and turned to Chai Rendong with a cheerful smile.
“It’s true what they say about beautiful women having skillful hands. Elder Sister, your cooking is excellent. If this pot of rice were served in a military camp, I bet the soldiers would start fighting each other just to get a taste.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Mu Gesheng was so smooth with his compliments that it didn’t take long before he had Chai Rendong laughing and chatting happily.
“Shuxin usually eats in complete silence. It’s rare to have such a lively meal today. If you like it, then eat more. The stove is still warm, and there’s plenty more if you want it.”
Chai Shuxin looked somewhat helpless. “Elder Sister.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Chai Rendong tapped him on the forehead. “Eat your food.”
This was the first time Mu Geshen had seen Chai Shuxin get the better of someone, and he struggled to suppress his laughter. “These dishes are quite distinctive. I wonder what they’re called?”
“These are a specialty of Jixi. I make them at home regularly, and the preparation is fairly simple.” Chai Rendong placed another serving of vegetables in his bowl and smiled. “It’s called Yipin Pot.”
Inside the iron pot was a medley of meat and vegetables, stacked in layers. The first layer consisted of bamboo shoot skin, the second of pan-fried duck pieces, the third of stir-fried chicken, the fourth of fried tofu puffs, and the fifth of meatballs. Egg dumplings and prawns decorated the edges, while ham and shiitake mushrooms lined the bottom. Simmered slowly over a low flame, the dish was rich in flavor and deliciously savory. An Ping watched with his mouth watering, wishing he could order takeout in his dream.
When it came to cooking, Song Wentong was also quite skilled. An Ping was often tormented by cravings for the food prepared in the small kitchen of the Ginkgo Study. The Yipin Pot looked rather small, yet even the finicky Mu Geshen praised it. Clearly, it was exceptionally delicious.
Mu Geshen was about the same age as Chai Shuxin, so Chai Rendong treated him like a younger brother. Warmth showed in every corner of her expression. As long as he wished, Mu Geshen could easily win people over. In no time at all, the two were chatting happily, while Chai Shuxin quietly ate his meal, serving as nothing more than a handsome backdrop.
“The Xulihua brand’s hair-setting lotion has changed its formula. They’ve added a new ingredient, Dahurian angelica root…”
“I’ve been to the pastry shop you mentioned, Sister. It’s one of the best in the area. Their newly made persimmon cakes are especially delicious. If I get the chance, I’ll bring some for you to try…”
“Guanshanyue’s new song! You haven’t heard it yet? I heard it’s the soundtrack for a new movie, and they’re even going to press it onto records…”
“Would you like another bowl?”
“Thank you for your hard work, Sister!”
“I’m finished eating.” Chai Shuxin put down his bowl and chopsticks. “Good night, Elder Sister.”
Mu Geshen was clearly still hungry. His eyes remained fixed on the iron pot, but Chai Shuxin looked at him expressionlessly.
“It’s late. You should leave.”
Chai Rendong wasn’t in good health, and disturbing her late into the night really was inappropriate. Mu Geshen had no choice but to stand up and bow.
“Good night, Sister.”
“No need to rush. I’ll pack some food for you to take home.” Chai Rendong stood up with a smile. “Come visit whenever you have time. Keep me company while I play dominoes.”
“Elder Sister!”
“What? Do you have time to keep me company? Even when you come, you’re as silent as a bottle gourd.”
Chai Shuxin looked thoroughly indignant, yet dared not speak out.
Mu Geshen was practically dying from holding back his laughter. He accepted the food container from Chai Rendong’s hands.
“Then I thank you, Sister. I certainly won’t disappoint your kind intentions.”
Chai Shuxin slammed the door open with a bang and strode out.
Watching her younger brother’s retreating figure, Chai Rendong sighed softly. “It’s rare for Shuxin to bring a friend home. He’s usually so busy with work that he seldom attends lectures at the study. I was worried he didn’t have anyone his own age to talk to.”
“You worry too much, Sister.” Mu Geshen hugged the food container and smiled. “Brother Chai is truly an interesting fellow. I’ll take him out to have some fun, so you can rest assured.”
Chai Shuxin wasn’t walking very quickly, and Mu Geshen soon caught up with him.
“Little Physician, how are you going to thank me?”
Chai Shuxin glanced at him, his expression seeming to ask why he was so shamelessly conceited.
“Elder Sister Chai worries that you’re always acting like a little old man, with no one to keep you company.” Mu Geshen said, “I took full responsibility and said all sorts of good things on your behalf. Don’t I at least deserve a word of thanks?”
“Silver-tongued and ingratiating. Typical tactics of a spoiled playboy.”
“That’s an outrageous accusation! First, I don’t squander money like water. Second, I don’t flirt with every pretty face I see. Third, I don’t bully people or throw my weight around in the marketplace. How exactly does that make me a spoiled playboy?” As he spoke, Mu Geshen nudged Chai Shuxin with his elbow. “Besides, I meant what I said just now. You can come to the study and find me whenever you want. I’ll be happy to keep you company anytime. Second Brother has two big roosters that crow so annoyingly every day. We could slaughter them and make soup.”
Chai Shuxin dodged to the side, looking as though he had absolutely no desire to entertain him. He simply ignored him.
The two walked all the way to the main gate of the Chai residence before Chai Shuxin finally spoke.
“Take care. I won’t see you out.”
The gate swung open, and Mu Geshen walked to the entrance. After thinking for a moment, he turned back again.
“Hey, Little Physician, let me ask you something.”
He rubbed his nose, choosing his words carefully. “Your weakness… or rather, your Achilles’ heel. Is it Elder Sister Chai’s illness?”
At those words, Chai Shuxin immediately moved to shut the gate.
“Wait, wait!” Mu Geshen hurriedly reached out to stop him. “There are very few illnesses in this world that even the medicine families can’t cure. Those people kept using the matter of medicinal ingredients to pressure you today. Could it be that Elder Sister Chai’s illness requires some crucial medicinal ingredient that you’re missing?”
Chai Shuxin’s expression remained cold. “There’s no need for you to concern yourself with it.”
As he spoke, he looked Mu Geshen up and down.
“Did you find those elders who came today particularly irritating?”
“You could say that.”
“I feel the same way.” To Mu Geshen’s surprise, Chai Shuxin actually nodded. “So I put laxatives in their tea. I prepared the mixture myself, and no one could taste a thing. Judging by the time, it should be taking effect about now.”
Mu Geshen’s expression instantly became extraordinarily colorful.
Chai Shuxin asked, “Don’t you feel a terrible pain in your stomach?”