Chen Ji gazed outside the dical Hall — the bun shop’s front was empty, as if no one had ever stood there watching them.
He spoke, "We need to figure out whether this person is stalking the Princely Heir or the Commandery Princess. Princely Heir, have you ever been stalked by this person alone?"
The Princely Heir shook his head, "No."
"Commandery Princess, have you encountered this person when you were out alone?"
Bai Li replied, "Yes, I rember last year’s Lantern Festival at the temple fair. My brother was drinking with friends from Jianghu, and while I was with the maid guessing lantern riddles, that person was also hidden in the crowd, secretly watching ."
"Did you ntion this to Lady Consort Yun?"
"I did. She told not to overthink it and consider it a re coincidence."
Chen Ji was slightly taken aback.
Normally, if a stranger was tracking one’s daughter, the first reaction would be to ensure her protection, not to dismiss her concerns as re imagination.
Consort Yun likely knew who that person was.
Just then, a burst of hoofbeats interrupted Chen Ji and the others’ thoughts, and a chestnut horse stopped abruptly in front of Taiping dical Hall.
The people in the dical Hall paused their conversation and looked over — both the chestnut horse and its rider seed as if they were the main characters on stage, always the most dazzling, whether playing the role of a young male lead or a female lead in a drama.
The chestnut horse was drenched in sweat, steaming in the early winter sun.
The horse’s saddle, inlaid with gold thread and jewels, carried a girl in red who dismounted, throwing her riding crop casually. The horse, as if sentient, caught the crop in its mouth.
Unbound by any tether, the horse simply stood at the entrance of the dical Hall, going nowhere.
The girl, dressed in a sharp polo outfit, strode into Taiping dical Hall and demanded loudly, "Who is Chen Ji?"
Everyone instinctively looked towards Chen Ji, who stood behind the counter and calmly responded, "I am."
The girl, paying no heed to others, moved up to the counter to scrutinize Chen Ji. She noted his wooden hairpin and the white-washed grey fabric of his clothes.
Looking across the mahogany counter at Chen Ji, she asked directly, "Have you studied?"
"I have."
She continued, "From ’University’, ’Analects’, ’ngzi’, ’Doctrine of the an’, which are you most proficient in?"
Chen Ji hesitated, "I am not proficient in any of those."
The girl’s frown deepened, then she asked, "The Five Rites, Five Archery, Six Arts, Six Arts, Six Books, Nine Numbers – which of these arts are you proficient in?"
Chen Ji pondered for a mont before answering, "Nine Numbers should be fine."
The girl’s frown tightened even more, "Can you write poetry? If you have, show ."
Chen Ji shook his head, "I can’t."
Liu Quxing, She Dengke, Bai Li, and the Princely Heir exchanged glances, still unclear about the situation.
The girl seed to have fallen from the sky, appearing with voracity.
Yet, the girl, standing before the counter and examining Chen Ji, was silent for a long while, as if struggling with so internal conflict.
Finally, she abruptly rolled up her sleeves and placed her slim wrist on the counter, "Treat ."
Chen Ji spoke softly, "Miss, I am just a humble apprentice here at Taiping dical Hall, and my skills are not yet perfected. I am not qualified to treat anyone. The old man over there is my master; he is the one to see for treatnt."
With a clang,
the girl pulled out a silver ingot from her waist pouch and slapped it on the counter, bluntly saying, "I want you to treat ."
Chen Ji was about to say sothing when he saw Old Yao already snagging the silver ingot.
Old Yao, while stuffing the ingot into his sleeve, slowly said, "When a patient makes such a request, we doctors should comply, for ntal ailnts are still ailnts."
The girl looked at Chen Ji, "Your master has spoken; don’t dawdle."
Bai Li, seeing her domineering attitude, was about to step forward to argue but was pulled back to her spot by the Princely Heir.
Chen Ji scrutinized the girl, whose head was adorned with a deep red jade hairpin, clear as the evening’s fiery clouds, her phoenix eyes full of sharpness.
Yet, what did he know about treating diseases?
When Chen Ji first ti-traveled, he considered brushing up on his dical skills. However, he soon discovered that Old Yao’s Direct Disciple taught not dical arts but the Mountain Lord Sect’s Scripture, so he quickly gave up on the idea.
Now, how was he supposed to diagnose patients?
After a mont of silence, Chen Ji said, "Miss, I need to ask you a few questions. After you answer, I will rate them based on my judgnt with these five levels: ’none,’ ’mild,’ ’moderate,’ ’severe,’ ’very severe.’ Is that okay?"
He was familiar with this.
The girl opposite the counter was initially stunned and then her expression turned serious, "Are you making fun of ?"
Chen Ji calmly responded, "It was you who started playing gas with first."
The fiery girl frowned, "When have I played you?"
Chen Ji replied, "You’re not here for a consultation. As soon as you entered, you started asking all sorts of irrelevant questions. I don’t even know who you are or what your na is. Answering those questions was already very polite of ."
The girl pursed her lips, "I just wanted to see what you have learned after spending two years in the dical hall."
Chen Ji calmly said, "What I have or haven’t learned is none of your business. I believe you are a forthright person; if you have sothing to say, you can just say it directly, without needing to probe indirectly."
The girl didn’t explode with anger; instead, she slowly cald down, "You really are as the rumors in the street describe."
"How do the rumors describe ?"
After a mont of thought, the girl said, "The street rumors say that you are dull and strange, with unpredictable moods. You gamble excessively and frequent places like Hongyi Lane. And that you joined Taiping dical Hall as an apprentice because your family kicked you out."
Chen Ji nodded, "What they say is true indeed."
The girl was taken aback, "You aren’t going to argue?"
Chen Ji smiled and replied, "If it’s the truth, there’s no need to argue... or, there’s no need to argue with you."
The girl raised an eyebrow, "I’m Zhang Xia."
"Zhang Xia?" Chen Ji looked puzzledly to the side, where Liu Quxing was frantically gesturing, his motions completely incomprehensible.
Zhang Xia questioned, "You haven’t heard of ?"
Chen Ji honestly said, "I haven’t."
Standing outside the counter, Zhang Xia continued indifferently, "You don’t have to pretend that you haven’t heard of . I ca to the dical hall today to tell you sothing: where I want to go or what I want to do in the future is my own business, and you shouldn’t interfere. Obsessing over it will only bring trouble upon yourself."
"As long as you behave properly, I will provide you with silver every month. But you must not go to the gambling house nor Hongyi Lane again. If I find out that you’ve disgraced , I will cut off your allowance."
"Also, try to limit your dealings with the Chen family. During festivals and holidays, I will arrange for gifts to be sent on your behalf, but you’d better not go back often."
The Taiping dical Hall quieted down.
She Dengke paused while weighing dicine with copper scales, Liu Quxing’s mouth hung open wide enough to fit a whole bun, and the Princely Heir’s grip on Bai Li’s arm tightened.
Old Yao slowly stroked his pure white beard, his expression complex.
Chen Ji sighed lightly, "Miss Zhang Xia, have you misunderstood sothing? I don’t understand what you’re talking about."
Zhang Xia leaned on the counter, her voice stern, "My father is currently at your Chen Mansion. Are you saying you don’t understand? I am here just to give you a heads-up on how to behave in the future."
Seeing her direct approach, Chen Ji dropped all the chess pieces into the basket and laid his cards on the table, "Second Miss Zhang, I don’t even visit the Chen Mansion; they can’t decide anything for . I can see that you look down on . In that case, why don’t you go persuade your father to abandon this absurd idea?"
Zhang Xia shook her head, "It’s the command of the parents; their decision is final. Besides, to , who my partner is doesn’t make much difference, as long as they are obedient. You shouldn’t feel mistreated; as the legitimate daughter marrying you the bastard, I’m actually enhancing your status. From now on, you won’t have to worry about food or clothing, and can live comfortably."
Chen Ji looked across the counter at Zhang Xia, "Please go back and tell Lord Zhang that I will sign a contract with Prince Jing today, and ask him not to think about the cent formula anymore. Second Miss Zhang, regardless of what you think, I currently have no plans to settle down. Please leave."
Zhang Xia was taken aback, "You don’t think highly of ? What gives you the right? You’re nothing compared to your legitimate brother Chen Wenzong; I don’t know what my father sees in you."
Bai Li finally couldn’t restrain himself and interjected, "What you just described is no different from being a marital pawn. Even if Chen Ji is a bastard, he wouldn’t lack the backbone to enter into your Zhang Family as such."
Zhang Xia glanced sideways at Bai Li, "And who are you? What does his matters have to do with you?"
Bai Li was furious, "We are his close friends, and we won’t allow you to belittle him! Additionally, you say he’s inferior to Chen Wenzong, but we firmly believe he’s a hundred tis stronger than both Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao!"
Zhang Xia confusedly exclaid, "Have you lost your mind? Chen Wenzong just topped the civil service exams today, is thoroughly versed in the Four Books and the anings, and is proficient in the Six Arts of a gentleman. You say Chen Ji is a hundred tis better than Chen Wenzong, but in what way?"
Bai Li’s veins bulged in anger, "He just is better than Chen Wenzong!"
Zhang Xia didn’t argue further with Bai Li, turning instead to Chen Ji, "If you don’t think much of , that’s fine. Go speak with your father and let him put an end to my father’s notion. If you’re afraid to speak up, then do as I just instructed."
After speaking, Zhang Xia turned and left the dical hall.
As she stepped out of the doorway and took the whip from her horse’s mouth, she mounted the horse, "Zaozao, let’s go ho!"
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