Xiao Yuanqi didn’t doubt what Xiao Jinyi had said. He knew that if Xiao Jinyi dared to say it, he would certainly do it. The two brothers had never been ones to simply accommodate each other, they genuinely cared for one another.
“I know, but how could I, your big brother, ever bear to send you through fire and blades?”
Just as the two brothers were pouring their hearts out to each other, the imperial physician arrived. Xiao Jinyi, thinking nothing was seriously wrong with him, wanted to simply send the physician away, but Xiao Yuanqi reached out and stopped him.
“No rush. Since the physician is already here, why not have him take both our pulses before he leaves? We can’t let him make the trip for nothing.”
So the two brothers had Imperial Physician Feng take their pulses. Both were in good health, though Xiao Jinyi seemed somewhat restless and unsettled.
“Your Highnesses the Crown Prince and Prince Jing are both in good health. Only Prince Jing seems a bit unsettled. Shall this old servant prescribe a calming decoction?”
Imperial Physician Feng put away the pulse pillow on the table and bowed to ask Xiao Jinyi. With any other master, he might have simply prescribed the calming decoction outright, but with Xiao Jinyi, he didn’t dare act on his own initiative.
At this, Xiao Jinyi waved his hand. “No need. I’ve already settled my mind. I don’t need medicine.”
Imperial Physician Feng nodded, took his leave of the Crown Prince and Prince Jing, and carried his medicine chest back to the Imperial Medical Academy.
For Xiao Jinyi, the enormous weight hanging over his heart could finally be set down. Meanwhile, Shen Shixu was being pestered by his older brother to the point of a headache. After so many years as brothers, he could tell at a glance that Shen Zexi had something to say to him but simply couldn’t get it out.
Shen Zexi desperately wanted to tell Shen Shixu that he and Xiao Jinyi and the others could hear his inner thoughts, but his mouth felt as if it were glued shut no matter what, he couldn’t open it.
He was so anxious he was practically steaming. Seeing how miserable he looked, Shen Shixu consoled him: “Brother, if you really can’t say it, you don’t have to. As long as it’s not a matter of life and death, everything else is a small matter.”
Seeing that he truly couldn’t get the words out, Shen Zexi was already planning to give up, and Shen Shixu’s words only sped up that process.
After giving up, he recalled the expressions on Xiao Jinyi’s face and Duke An’s. They had both looked perfectly composed, as if they had expected it all along.
It seemed they had either heard it before, or someone had mentioned it to them.
If that was the case, then it couldn’t be just the three of them who could hear it, there must be many others who could as well. Most likely the people at court, and perhaps even the Emperor himself.
With so many people having heard it and his younger brother still fine, it presumably posed no danger to his life. Just as his brother had said as long as it wasn’t a matter of life and death, it was all a small matter.
So he didn’t need to worry too much. Besides, judging from Duke An’s dark expression before he left, his brother’s inner thoughts were most likely all true.
This made Shen Zexi, who had always loved listening to gossip and household matters, absolutely envious. Just sitting at home, without having to ask around, he could learn all sorts of interesting things. He wondered if 011 had any other siblings who could give him one too?
Shen Shixu was just about to return to the Court of Judicial Review for his shift when the courtyard gate was knocked on again. Little Shi hurried over to open it, and the moment the door swung open, he saw a young man in a plain dark-blue brocade robe standing outside, laden with bags and bundles.
“Sir, who might you be looking for?”
Jiang Bin was carrying the gifts he and the Grand Princess had picked out as tokens for the apprenticeship. As soon as he had found out where Shen Shixu lived, he had rushed over without delay. Seeing a servant come to answer the door, the old arrogant Young Master Jiang would never have given Little Shi a pleasant face, he would have snarled at him to fetch his master at once. But today he had come to ask a favor. What’s more, he genuinely wanted to turn over a new leaf, to shed the title of wastrel young lord and become a good, upstanding young man who worked hard every day.
So he spoke in a very amiable tone: “Excuse me, young brother. Is this the residence of Lord Shen, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?”
Little Shi saw that he was carrying gifts and had come looking for his master. Remembering what had happened earlier, his mouth ran ahead of him and he blurted out, “Are you also here to become an apprentice?”
Jiang Bin froze for a moment at those words, then understood what was going on someone had come to seek apprenticeship before him. “Yes, I’m here to become an apprentice. Is Lord Shen in?”
Little Shi had simply spoken without thinking, never expecting that this richly dressed young lord really was here to seek apprenticeship. He quickly called toward the house, “Young Master! Another one’s here to become an apprentice! Come out and take a look!”
Hearing Little Shi’s shout, Shen Shixu hurried out of the house. Shen Zexi ran out after him, burning with curiosity, who else had come seeking apprenticeship?
When Shen Shixu saw Jiang Bin standing there with gifts in hand, he frowned, wondering if the man had something wrong with his head. He had just sent the man’s own father to prison that morning, and by noon the man was showing up to become his apprentice.
“You want to take me as your master?” Shen Shixu pointed at himself in disbelief. “Have you forgotten that this very morning I sent your own father to prison? Before long, he’ll be sent to the executioner’s block. By that measure, I’m practically your father’s killer, yet you say you want to take me as your master? Is something wrong with my ears, or have you gone mad?”
Shen Zexi had never imagined that this would-be apprentice had such a connection with his younger brother. Now, forget Shen Shixu doubting Jiang Bin’s true motives, even he had grown suspicious.
Jiang Bin knew very well how suspicious his actions looked. He set the gifts down on the ground, clasped his hands into fists, and performed a formal bow to Shen Shixu. “I know you suspect me, that you think I want to stay by your side for revenge. But in truth, my mother and I bear you no grudge. On the contrary, the two of us are deeply grateful to you.
If you hadn’t exposed Jiang Xingbang’s true face this time, who knows how he would have harmed my mother and me in the future. This time he wanted me to take the fall for him; next time, his wicked schemes might well have turned on my mother. By sending him to prison, you indirectly saved the two of us. Of course we couldn’t hate you for it.
As for the apprenticeship, that was my own decision. I’ve always leaned on my mother, and on Jiang Xingbang. Now that Jiang Xingbang is finished, I can hardly keep leaning on my mother forever.
I want to become my mother’s pillar of support instead. After much thought, the only person in the entire court who could teach me is you.”
“First, I admire you, and second, your skill at solving cases is exceptional. Even if I only learned four or five tenths of it, that would be more than enough for me.
So, I beg you, Lord Shen please take me as your disciple.”
Shen Shixu could see that he seemed truly sincere, but he still wanted to test him a little further, so he posed him a question.
“I could take you on, but you would only be my second disciple. Before you, there’s a senior brother who is just five years old. Knowing that, are you still willing?”