Chapter 100: Chapter 101: The Return Date is Unset, but My Heart Has Arrived

One had to hand it to Linglan Pavilion; their booming business was a testament to their skill.

In a single afternoon, hundreds of people came through their doors, including many with severe and difficult-to-treat conditions.

Yet in the short time between entering and leaving, most of them showed signs of relief. Some had taken medicine, while others had received acupuncture.

All in all, it was clear the physicians holding consultations inside were quite skilled.

Of course, Chen Yi had gained even more—

[Medical Dao has advanced. Four Diagnostic Skills upgraded to Mastery Level.]

[Progress in the Medical Dao. Qi Observation Skill upgraded to Proficient.]

Because he hadn’t been able to observe the physicians’ treatment methods, his Acupuncture Skill had progressed slowly.

He stayed until dusk. Only when he saw Ge the Third approaching in the distance with the carriage did Chen Yi finally stand up, put away his stool, and prepare to return to the mansion.

But when Ge the Third arrived, he spoke with lingering fear, "Young Master, it was a true blessing in disguise."

"What?"

"It’s a good thing you stopped me. That short fellow you knocked out? He had just entered the Government Office and was only being questioned by Prefect Liu when... he just died."

Ge the Third still felt a pang of fear when he thought about what could have happened.

If Chen Yi hadn’t stopped him, he might have actually killed the man.

Even as a Personal Guard of the Marquis’s Mansion, he wouldn’t have ended up in prison, but earning a reputation for beating a commoner to death was never a good thing.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. ’So he died anyway.’

"What did Lord Prefect say?"

"Prefect Liu was shocked. After ordering an autopsy, they found out the man actually had Detachment Syndrome and only had a few days left to live anyway."

"Is that so? Then we were quite lucky."

"You’re right, Young Master..."

Chen Yi patted his shoulder and offered a few comforting words with a smile. After giving instructions to Liu Quan and the others, he boarded the carriage.

He watched as the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance.

At Linglan Pavilion, Qian Kuan breathed a small sigh of relief. Recalling what he had just overheard and the scene from earlier that afternoon, he couldn’t help but wonder:

’Detachment Syndrome...’

’The Xiao Family’s son-in-law seemed to only target that short guy from the very start. Don’t tell me he saw it coming?’

’That can’t be right. Even the renowned doctors at Linglan Pavilion need to take a pulse and observe the patient’s qi to diagnose Detachment Syndrome.’

’How could a mere scholar like him possess such Medical Skill?’

With this, Qian Kuan returned to the shop, took out a notepad, and continued his record:

"Twenty-first of the sixth month. Jishi Medicine Hall was almost deserted, but a peculiar incident occurred..."

「Back at the mansion.」

News of the incident at Jishi Medicine Hall had already spread. There were even some, ignorant of the facts, who claimed the medicine hall had killed someone.

Even Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Xuanshuo sent people to inquire about the details.

Chen Yi paid them no mind, letting Ge the Third explain the situation.

Having witnessed everything firsthand at the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office, and being a decent talker, Ge the Third’s explanation managed to dispel the doubts of some in the Xiao Family.

Far from finding it tiresome, he even ran off to tell a few of his acquaintances about it.

After listening, Liu Si’er asked thoughtfully, "You’re saying it was the Young Master who stopped you from making a move?"

Ge the Third puffed out his chest and chuckled. "You have no idea how close it was. My fist was just an inch from his face."

"Thankfully, the Young Master spoke up. Otherwise, that punch would’ve sent him straight to the afterlife."

’A little exaggeration never hurt anyone,’ he thought.

Liu Si’er didn’t challenge the story. He simply nodded and asked no more, but the same suspicion that had crossed Qian Kuan’s mind now occurred to him.

’Was the Fledgling just lucky, or did he actually diagnose the man’s condition?’

’He knew, after all, that the Fledgling often pored over medical texts in Spring Lotus Garden.’

’Perhaps he was just exceptionally gifted?’

After some silent speculation, Liu Si’er filed these thoughts away, planning to include them in his next secret report.

For the next four days, Chen Yi continued his routine of leaving early and returning late.

However, he didn’t return to the East Market. Instead, he traveled all over Shu State City, visiting the other four branches of Linglan Pavilion.

One branch a day.

Not only did he raise his Four Diagnostic Skills and Qi Observation Skill to the peak of Mastery Level, but his Acupuncture Skill also broke through to Mastery Level.

In addition, Chen Yi also began to see Linglan Pavilion’s strategy more clearly.

Or rather, how they were specifically targeting the Xiao Family’s medicine halls.

Take Jishi Medicine Hall, for instance. Elder Li and the other three physicians there had a solid foundation, prescribing appropriate remedies for common ailments, which suited the diverse population of the East Market.

Therefore, Linglan Pavilion had stationed renowned doctors who specialized in those very same illnesses.

The West Market, on the other hand, was surrounded by wealthy households, whose ailments were typically deficiency-related syndromes like kidney weakness or constitutional frailness.

Consequently, the physicians Linglan Pavilion assigned there were experts in treating precisely these conditions.

In short, Linglan Pavilion outclassed the Xiao Family’s medicine halls in every respect.

Their strategy was undeniably targeted and effective.

After completing his tour, during which he also finished four Yellow-Level intelligence tasks and gained some Opportunities, Chen Yi felt he had a solid grasp of the situation. He then returned to Spring Lotus Garden to bide his time.

He played chess, drank tea, practiced his Martial Arts, and researched medicinal formulas.

During that time, he only went out once.

...

「In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-ninth of the sixth month.」

Just after the Hour of the Tiger, Duke Qian, Zhang Xuan, who had long been clamoring to return to Guangyue Prefecture, was finally seen off.

Amid the show of reluctant farewells, the old man had shamelessly asked Chen Yi for two pieces of his calligraphy.

One piece of birthday well-wishes wasn’t enough; he also requested a lengthy Yuefu-style poem, claiming it was for the children of his household to use for copy practice.

Chen Yi naturally obliged and, in secret, accepted a bank note for one thousand taels of gold.

It was a standard note from the Great Wei Dynasty’s state-run bank, directly exchangeable for one thousand taels of gold.

Once the old man and the young one completed their secret transaction, they shared a reluctant farewell, a tacit understanding passing between them.

This earned them a few odd looks from the Old Master and Mr. Sun the Elder, who both wondered when the two had gotten on such good terms.

But puzzlement aside, both the Old Master and Mr. Sun the Elder had their own troubles and couldn’t spare much thought for anything else.

The Old Master’s worries, of course, were numerous.

He was concerned about the Dingyuan Army’s summer harvest, the progress of Xiao Jinghong’s mutual market with the Mountain Race, and the troubles with the family’s medicine halls.

He kept all these matters to himself, however, managing them from the shadows. His surface demeanor remained placid and unreadable.

Mr. Sun the Elder, meanwhile, was naturally preoccupied with the matter of taking Xiao Wuge as his disciple.

He had previously sounded out the Old Master on the subject, only to be rebuffed and told his scholarship was insufficient—a slight that nearly drove him to come to blows with the patriarch.

In the end, he had no choice but to follow the method Chen Yi had suggested.

’Once I get to Jinling and set everything up in advance,’ he thought, ’I refuse to believe I won’t be able to become Xiao Wuge’s teacher.’

After seeing off the Old Duke, Chen Yi returned to Spring Lotus Garden. He was just about to start a game of chess with Mr. Sun the Elder when Shen Huatang approached.

"Second Young Master, the Eldest Miss requests your presence."

Chen Yi glanced at the sky. The sun was already high, but it was nowhere near time for the midday meal. He set down his chess piece, stood, and asked, "Did my sister-in-law say what it’s about?"

"A letter has arrived from the Second Miss. Part of it is addressed to you, Young Master."

Chen Yi nodded in understanding. He excused himself to Sun Fu, then followed Shen Huatang toward Jiaxing Garden.

’It’s been over half a month since I last wrote to Xiao Jinghong,’ he thought. ’For a reply to arrive now, there must have been some progress with the mutual market.’

Upon arriving at Jiaxing Garden, he found Xiao Wan’er in a rare good mood, standing outside a pavilion and waving to him with a smile.

Chen Yi returned the gesture, then sat at the stone table and asked casually, "Has the matter with the medicine halls been resolved?"

Xiao Wan’er smiled and nodded. "Do you remember the former shopkeeper of Jishi Medicine Hall?"

Chen Yi: "Wang Ji?"

Xiao Wan’er nodded. "That’s him."

"He came to the mansion to see me yesterday afternoon. It was only then that I learned his Hundred Herbs Hall has become quite successful."

As she spoke, her expression grew wistful. "Previously, out of consideration for his father who shed blood in the army, I let his past transgressions slide. I never thought..."

"...I never thought that after getting back on the right path, he would willingly return to help the Xiao Family’s medicine halls in our time of need."

"This time, he not only introduced several renowned doctors, but he also brought a book of prescriptions. I had someone look it over—they’re all recipes left behind by a Medical Master from a former dynasty!"

"He also proposed a partnership with his Hundred Herbs Hall. I’m still thinking it over and will give him my answer tomorrow."

Chen Yi simply said, "Oh. It’s good that he can recognize his mistakes and change."

Hearing that, Xiao Wan’er chided, "And you! If he hadn’t shown up, your Jishi Medicine Hall would have been the first to go out of business."

Chen Yi gave a sheepish smile. "Sister-in-law, you know I’m just a scholar. I’m truly not cut out for the world of commerce."

"I’m not blaming you, so why say such things?"

"Even if you don’t blame me, someone else will blame me for poor management."

"Who?"

Chen Yi gave a noncommittal "no one" and changed the subject. "Where is my wife’s letter?"

Only then did Xiao Wan’er remember. She drew the letter from her sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward him.

Chen Yi picked it up and began to read. The contents were, indeed, all for him.

The message wasn’t long, but every word was clearly written with care:

[My Dearest Husband,

Jinghong has just settled on a location for the mutual market with the Mountain Race and am now surveying the terrain. The Ministry of Works is to provide the blueprints for roads and shops. With so much still undecided, my return must be delayed a little longer.

Also, I have learned of your recent activities from my sister’s letters.

Regarding the medicine halls, I need not say more; I trust that you have your own ideas.

There is only one thing: regarding Mr. Yue Ming’s invitation for you to become an instructor at Guiyun Academy, I hope you will give it some thought.

However, the decision to go or not is entirely yours.

Though my return is not yet set, my heart is already there with you. I hope you understand.]

After reading, Chen Yi folded the letter and tucked it away. ’Of course I have to be understanding,’ he thought. ’She is my wife, after all.’

’But for her to urge me to go to Guiyun Academy...’

’Ah, well. For the sake of that sincere line, ’my heart is already there with you,’ I’ll forgive her this time.’