Chapter 50
Lin Qingyu was slightly startled — Just now, that wasn’t what Gu Fuzhou had said. Chu Zhengde was also at a loss as to why the general’s attitude changed so quickly. Father Lin was already used to General Gu’s inconsistencies during his ti in Yongliang; he had long since stopped seeing it as strange. “Qingyu, serve the general his dicine.”
Lin Qingyu stepped forward. Holding up the dicine bowl, he handed it to Gu Fuzhou: “General, please take this dicine.”
The two were a little too close. Gu Fuzhou glanced at him quickly and then imdiately turned his head away, his breathing becoming unsteady.
It seed to Lin Qingyu that Gu Fuzhou was a little nervous. He didn’t know what was there to be nervous about drinking his antidote, so he asked, “Is there anything the general finds improper?”
Gu Fuzhou muttered, “…You’re too close.”
Lin Qingyu heard him. He put the dicine bowl on the table and retreated.
“Ai, that’s not what I ant… Forget it.” Gu Fuzhou seed ashad of his behavior but there was nothing he could do about it. So he picked up the dicine bowl and drank it clean.
Chu Zhengde said, “The antidote must be taken once a day and any residual poison will be eliminated in one month. Every day starting from tomorrow, the Imperial dical Office will deliver the antidote to the general’s mansion. I ask that the general take it on ti.”
In other words, Gu Fuzhou could only stay in the capital for one month. After his detoxification was finished, he would need to return to the Northwest frontier.
“Then the question is, who will co to deliver the dicine to every day?” Gu Fuzhou looked around and set his eyes on Lin Qingyu, “Imperial Physician Lin, can you be the one to do it?”
Without waiting for Lin Qingyu’s answer, Chu Zhengde said, “Imperial Physician Lin was late in delivering the dicine today. Were it to happen another ti, would this not cause harm to the general’s health?”
Father Lin knew that his eldest son was not such a careless person; there must be a reason for the incident. He asked Lin Qingyu, “News of the general’s arrival in the capital today was sent to the Imperial dical Office early this morning. Why were you late?”
Lin Qingyu said, “I was told that the general would arrive tomorrow.”
Chu Zhengde furrowed his brows tightly, “By who?”
“Hong Changfeng.”
Gu Fuzhou quickly cast down his decision. “Then it’s that Hong Changfeng’s fault. What wrong has Imperial Physician Lin done? And even if he has, he is this general’s adopted brother. I am more than willing to wait for him.”
Father Lin was helpless. “Since the general has said so, Qingyu, from today on, it will be up to you to co to the general’s mansion every day to deliver his dicine.”
Lin Qingyu nodded in agreent. He didn’t have the patience to run errands, but Gu Fuzhou had been kind to him and he ought to return that kindness.
It was getting late. It was ti for most ordinary people to be going to bed. Father Lin said, “General, this official wishes to visit the Lin Residence.”
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “As it should be. I have made my adopted father work hard during this journey. Head ho and reunite with your family.”
Lin Qingyu withdrew together with his father. When he reached the door, Gu Fuzhou suddenly called him, “Qing-… Imperial Physician Lin.”
Lin Qingyu turned around. “Does the general have any other instructions?”
Gu Fuzhou hesitated to speak. Finally, he glanced at the Tianji Camp guards beside him, and said slowly, “It is nothing. I would just like to thank you for your hard work.”
Lin Qingyu said politely, “It was this official’s honor to be able to serve the general.”
Gu Fuzhou said with a smile, “It was this general who was honored.”
Lin Qingyu followed his father back ho. Mother Lin had not received any news of her husband’s return. Upon seeing her husband, she burst into tears. Father Lin and Mother Lin have been together for many years, they were a couple very much in love. At this mont, their silence surpassed even a thousand words.
“Father!” Lin Qinghe ran towards Father Lin and threw himself into his father’s arms. Father Lin leaned down to catch his youngest son. He then lifted him up high. “Qinghe has gained weight.”
After a very long ti, their family of four finally gathered together to eat. During the six months that Father Lin was away from the capital, too many things have happened. Lu Wancheng died of illness and Lin Qingyu separated from the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion; he then beca a dical officer of the Imperial Hospital. In the future, father and son would be working in the Imperial Hospital together; they could be regarded as colleagues.
Speaking of Lu Wancheng, Father Lin couldn’t help sighing. “In the end, Young Master Hou was unable to survive past weak crown. It is a pity.”
Lin Qingyu didn’t feel that it was a pity. Being able to be rid of that weak and sickly body was a good thing for that person.
When Mother Lin took the sleepy Lin Qinghe to bed, Lin Qingyu asked, “Father, do you know of that phrase — ‘If odd, change; if even remain the sa’?”
Father Lin nodded. “This phrase was widely circulated among the Zhengxi Army. It is said that it ca from a secret Xixia letter that General Gu intercepted. The general remained puzzled despite much pondering. He relayed this phrase to the Crown Prince, wishing that he would summon the masters in the capital to resolve his confusion. However, even until now that we’ve been allowed to return to the capital, still no one has figured it out.”
Lin Qingyu was lost in thought.
So, was that person really in Xixia?
Having been reunited after a long parting, they shared so wine. Father Lin told him a few more things, “General Gu is truly a wonderful person.”
Lin Qingyu asked, “Why do say this?”
Father Lin smiled and shook his head. “You’ll know after you spend a few more days with him.”
Lin Qingyu also smiled. “I was really surprised when Father recognized General Gu as his adopted son.”
“The general is an official of the highest rank serving our country. I am but a fifth-rank Yuan Pan of the Imperial Hospital. How could I possibly dare to be his adoptive father? At first, I refused in every possible way. Later, the general said, if I recognize him as my adopted son, the status of the Lin Residence in the capital will be substantially different from before. It will be very beneficial to your career. It was only then that I felt relieved.”
Lin Qingyu nodded and said, “The general truly has helped a lot.”
The next day, Father Lin returned to the Imperial Hospital. The first thing he did was to find out all the details regarding the delayed delivery of the antidote. He asked Lin Qingyu and Hong Changfeng to confront each other. Hong Changfeng insisted that he was not wrong, but that Lin Qingyu had misunderstood. They only had each other’s verbal statents to go by. There hadn’t been a third person present at the ti. Father Lin has always been fair in his dealings. Even if he believed in his eldest son, he would not make a decision without evidence. Fortunately, the general did not pursue the matter and Father Lin punished the two with a small penalty, fining the two of them of a month’s salary.
Hu Ji said, “Hong Changfeng must have been instigated by Chu Yuan Pan. Who doesn’t know that these two are blood-related master and apprentice?”
“Not necessarily. It hasn’t been just a day or two since Chu Zhengde has found disagreeable. He is pedantic and stubborn and it is clear that he is targeting .” Lin Qingyu said, “It seems that he isn’t the only one who dislikes in the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial dical Office.”
Hu Ji sighed. “They say that a tall tree attracts the wind. You ca up with the cure for the epidemic. You’re the youngest doctor in the Imperial Hospital. You’re related in so way to both the Empress and General Gu. What’s more, your father is the head Yuan Pan of the Imperial Hospital. Naturally, you would attract people’s jealousy. Regardless, they should learn to draw in their claws in normal tis.”
Lin Qingyu said coldly, “I don’t need for them to draw in their claws. I need for those idiots to provoke less.”
After the evening al, Lin Qingyu prepared the Sky Spider antidote at the Imperial dical Office and delivered it to the general’s mansion. The housekeeper of the general’s mansion was nad Yuan Yin. Gu Fuzhou was away from ho most of the year. With no parents or wife, Yuan Yin was usually left to take care of everything in the house.
Yuan Yin knew that Lin Qingyu would co to deliver dicine and was ordered to wait at the door early on. “The general is enjoying the shade in the backyard,” Yuan Yin said respectfully. “Imperial Physician Lin, please co with .”
The sumr heat was scorching and the cicadas were chirping. The handso, tall and imposing man lay on the rocking chair. His eyes were closed and he was rocking back and forth slowly. He was extrely tall of stature and there was hardly any room to stretch out his long legs; he could only let them hang where they lay. Two pages were positioned on either side of him, holding long fans and fanning the wind for him.
Gu Fuzhou’s lazy and indolent appearance seed very familiar to Lin Qingyu. Behind him stood two imperial guards with swords by their waists. Their temperant did not resemble that of a military officer used to fighting and marching; rather, their temperants were similar to Shen Huaishi’s. If he guessed correctly, these should be the people from Tianji Camp. Xiao Cheng had ordered the people from Tianji Camp to follow Gu Fuzhou. Nominally, they were there to guard the general but everyone knew what they were actually there for.
Yuan Yin stepped forward and said, “General, Imperial Physician Lin has co to deliver the dicine.”
The rocking chair stopped and Gu Fuzhou stood up. Compared to last ti, he no longer seed so nervous. He walked to face Lin Qingyu, lowered his head and said, “You’re here.”
Lin Qingyu was not short but standing in front of Gu Fuzhou, he unexpectedly seed as petite as a woman. His chin didn’t even reach Gu Fuzhou’s shoulder. They only thing that could be said was that Gu Fuzhou was certainly worthy of being the fierce general known as the Dayu’s god of war.
“General, it’s ti to drink your dicine.”
Gu Fuzhou drank the dicine, raised his head and sighed, “The moonlight is so beautiful tonight. If Imperial Physician Lin has nothing else to do, why not accompany this general to drink so wine, eat so snacks and admire the moon?”
Lin Qingyu hesitated for a mont, then nodded: “Thank you for the invitation, General.”
Gu Fuzhou revealed a smile. When he wasn’t smiling, his face appeared grave and stern. When he smiled, it seed to fit his face, making him look a lot younger. Gu Fuzhou ordered Yuan Yin to serve them a late-night snack. Lin Qingyu reminded him, “It would be better for the general to refrain from drinking alcohol.”
“I won’t drink but you should.” Gu Fuzhou poured a cup of wine for Lin Qingyu. He looked on with a smile as Lin Qingyu took a sip, his eyes seed to fill with moonlight.
Lin Qingyu frowned. He had this nagging feeling that this situation seed familiar. “Why is the general looking at like that?”
Gu Fuzhou coughed lightly and said, “I heard that Imperial Physician Lin has just recently gone through the pain of bereavent. Now, it seems that you are not particularly grieved?”
Lin Qingyu said lightly, “He has already passed away. Those left behind should learn to look forward.”
“It is only right that you should not grieve. Grieving harms the body.” Gu Fuzhou paused and said, “Has Imperial Physician Lin ever heard the phrase, “If odd, change; if even remain the sa?”
As soon as he said these words, the two guards turned to look at them.
Xiao Cheng hadn’t made this matter public. Naturally, he couldn’t reveal the cloven foot. “I have never heard of it.”
Gu Fuzhou raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, “Is that so. That’s interesting.” He glanced at the two guards and said vaguely, “Nevermind, now is not a good ti.”
Lin Qingyu asked, “What does the general an?”
Gu Fuzhou changed the subject, “By the way, were you able to get down to the bottom of the late delivery yesterday?”
Lin Qingyu briefly explained the matter. When Gu Fuzhou learned that he had been fined a month’s salary, he smiled and said, “Then you must rember this animosity and pay it back tenfold in the future.”
The subtle feeling of familiarity grew stronger. Lin Qingyu stared at Gu Fuzhou for a long ti then said simply, “I will.”
After admiring the moon for about an hour, Lin Qingyu got up to say goodbye. Gu Fuzhou rubbed his lower abdon and sighed, “I’ll get up too and move around a bit, work up a sweat.”
That sense of familiarity instantly disappeared. If it were that person, he definitely wouldn’t move about in the middle of sumr, working up a sweat.
Lin Qingyu said, “The residual poison has yet to clear form the general’s body. Please rember not to practice excessively.”
Gu Fuzhou’s face sank. “I’m older now. I’m no longer seventeen or eighteen when no matter what I ate or how much I slept, I wouldn’t gain weight. I don’t want to move, but I want to get fat in my middle years even less.” Gu Fuzhou seems to be thinking of sothing. His lips curved into a smile. “Adopted brother, would you like to see how I usually practice?”
To be honest, he didn’t really want to. But thinking of the help Gu Fuzhou had extended to him, Lin Qingyu nodded anyway.
Gu Fuzhou’s heroic manner was suddenly reaching for the clouds. “It’s ti for you to see my true strength. Let’s go, I’ll take you to the military drill grounds.”
Torches were lit around the military drill grounds. However, it still wasn’t as bright as it was during the dayti. Lin Qingyu asked, “Why doesn’t the general practice during the day?”
“It’s too sunny in the day. Only fools would train then.”
Lin Qingyu was puzzled. Were people who engaged in fighting all year round still afraid of the sun?
Gu Fuzhou walked to a stone padlock and said, “This stone lock should be about the sa weight as you.”
Lin Qingyu: “…Oh.”
“Please, watch closely.” Gu Fuzhou did so light stretches, squatted down, and lifted the stone padlock with one hand.
Lin Qingyu did him the honor of praising him, “The general is mighty.”
“Look, look.” Gu Fuzhou took a deep breath and raised the stone lock above his head again, “How about now?”
“Amazing.”
Gu Fuzhou smiled and dropped the stone padlock down with a boom. “Is this general better than your deceased husband?”
“En.”
“Compared to him, do you admire this general’s figure more?”
Lin Qingyu’s tone beca sowhat lighter. “The general has his good points but I prefer my deceased husband’s type.”
Gu Fuzhou’s smile froze. “No, what’s so good about a sick seedling like him?”
Lin Qingyu lowered his eyes and said, “If the general has no other instructions, then this official shall withdraw.”
Gu Fuzhou laughed again, “Hey, adopted brother, what are you doing? Why are you so angry? We won’t talk about him anymore. How about I show you how I chop these bricks barehanded as an apology?”
Lin Qingyu: “…”
In this way, for half a month, Lin Qingyu went to the general’s mansion to deliver dicine every day. He understood why his father said that Gu Fuzhou was a wonderful person. But he felt that the word “weird” would be more appropriate to describe him.
For the past few days, the Imperial dical Office has welcod a distinguished guest – a world-famous genius doctor from the southern border.
Doctors at the southern border were experts at the use of gu and this genius doctor could be said to be the king of gu. Most of the people in central continent regard the cultivation of gu as sorcery, but the truth of the matter was different from the stories. Drugs could be divided into dicine and poison and likewise, gu could also be divided into good gu and poisonous gu. Poisonous gu could harm people and so, good gu could save people. Father Lin knew the benefits, so he wrote to the genius doctor of the southern border many tis, finally managing to invite him to the Imperial dical Office to teach his gu technique to many of the students. Father Lin hoped that the students of the Imperial dical Office would not only learn how to use Gu to save people but also learn how to detoxify poisonous gu.
Although Lin Qingyu has read dical books, his understanding of the gu technique was limited to the theoretical. This ti, the genius doctor from the southern border was going to hold a class at the Imperial dical Office, naturally, he would not miss it.
After this day’s class, Lin Qingyu, dical books in hand, walked out of the classroom. He suddenly heard a whistle. Looking towards the sound, he saw Gu Fuzhou leaning against the railing, waving at him with a smile, still followed by the guards of the Tianji Camp.
Lin Qingyu hurriedly stepped forward and said, “Has the general co the Imperial dical Office because there has been a flare up of the Sky Spider Poison?”
“No, I went to the palace to report to the Crown Prince and have happened to pass by the Imperial dical Office. I just thought…” Gu Fuzhou gave an embarrassed smiled. He raised his hand and scratched the corner of his eye, “Well, I’ll should drop by and pick you up after your class.”
Lin Qingyu was startled – pick him up from class? He wasn’t a child on his first day at school. Does he need for soone to co pick him up? And from the general’s mansion to the Imperial Palace, how could he have possibly just passed by the Imperial dical Office?
Before Lin Qingyu could answer, he found his hands suddenly empty. Gu Fuzhou had taken the dical books he was holding. His movents are so natural, as though it was books and not the Qingyun Jiuzhou Spear that he usually held.
Lin Qingyu said: “General, there is no need for you to bother.”
“It’s alright. I’m stronger than you. The strong should work harder.” Gu Fuzhou casually flipped through his book, “So, what did Imperial Physician Lin learn in school today?”
Lin Qingyu said, “It can’t be that the general is interest in dical studies.”
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “No but I’m interested in everything Imperial Physician Lin has to say.”
“Southern Border Gu poisons.”
“Gu? Gu is good. Great beauties should use Gu.”
Lin Qingyu paused in his steps. He looked at Gu Fuzhou, a aningful and probing look in his eyes.
Gu Fuzhou didn’t notice at all or maybe he noticed it but pretended not to. “Speaking of which, I’ve always wanted to light so incense sticks for your deceased husband. It is only right as your adopted brother.”
Lin Qingyu withdrew his gaze. “The general can go to Nan’an Hou’s Mansion to pay his respects to Young Master Hou.”
“Forget going to the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion.” Gu Fuzhou said, “Why don’t we go to your residence?”
“My residence?”
“You should have a tablet enshrined in your house…” Gu Fuzhou paused, verifying uncertainly, “You do have it, yes?”
Yes, he did. But that wasn’t Lu Wancheng’s tablet.
Gu Fuzhou saw that Lin Qingyu’s expression showed a hint of complexity that could not be understood by outsiders. His mood too beca complicated. He teased, “Aren’t you ashad to say that you like his type better when you didn’t even set up a tablet for him? Actually, I can understand. It was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor and you, my adopted brother, don’t really care much about my poor brother-in-law.”
Brother-in-law, what kind of strange form of address is that?
Reason told Lin Qingyu that he ought to ignore words like these that were ant to provoke. But sohow, when Gu Fuzhou spoke to him in this tone, he couldn’t help but want to respond. “I do have one.”
“Who knows whether that is true or not?” Gu Fuzhou raised the corner of his lips, “Then take there and prove it to .”
Thinking of the words “Jiang Dazhuang” engraved on the tablet, Lin Qingyu said calmly, “It is not very convenient to do so.”
Gu Fuzhou was puzzled. “Why would it be inconvenient?”
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