The Five Companions Open Their Hearts
The next morning, Chen Luxian entered the guest room and saw that all four companions were already awake. Seeing the deep concern they had for Rongqi, Dr. Chen then granted them permission to watch the treatment through the glass partition. The exception was Shaochang, who was still unable to get out of bed. Luxian needed to emphasize the rule for them: no matter what they saw, they must remain silent. Because the ancient glass used wasn’t soundproof, and if the two spectators were to suddenly cry out, it could break the doctor’s concentration.
Once Shaoqi and Muwen promised to stay quiet, Luxian administered the anesthetic and began the surgery, with Lu Lu and Li Hong assisting him. Meanwhile, Qing Hai and Bai Li had separate assignments: one was tending to the restaurant while the other was keeping an eye on the Chen household.
Shaoqi and Muwen stood silently, observing Luxian’s focused movements as he operated on the leg and arm of the Fourth Prince. Despite their vast battlefield experience and familiarity with bloodshed, neither had ever witnessed such a detailed and methodical cutting of flesh layer by layer—especially on someone as significant as their prince...
Luxian spent two hours performing surgeries on Rongqi’s arm and leg. The anesthetic wasn’t overly strong, and about an hour after the procedure, Rongqi regained consciousness.
“How do you feel, Young Master Rong?” Muwen inquired respectfully, addressing the prince by his alias despite knowing it was false.
“Everything feels fine. No pain or discomfort,” Rongqi replied casually, seemingly unbothered.
At this point, the three companions, who had been anxiously waiting, finally relaxed. Whatever the outcome, they knew nothing could be worse than the prince’s prior condition.
“The reason you don’t feel anything is because the effects of the anesthetic haven’t worn off yet. You might also feel a bit groggy from it, but that should pass shortly,” Luxian explained as he saw their expressions of relief. He could empathize—it was no easy task to trust such a radical surgical approach in this ancient world, particularly when the patient was someone of great importance.
Rongqi nodded slightly before drifting back to sleep. Luxian then walked over to check on the other patient resting in the bed near the window.
“How do you feel today, Young Master Shaochang? Any chest pain or difficulty breathing?”
“There’s a slight ache and tightness when I shift to lean against the headboard,” Shaochang replied, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. To him, the man standing before him was nothing short of a lifesaver.
“That’s perfectly normal,” Luxian assured him before turning to Muwen, who was standing by Rongqi’s bed. “What about you, Young Master Muwen? How is your wound? Any pain or itching around the area?”
“There’s a slight pain,” Muwen admitted.
“Just as I suspected, your wound is inflamed,” Luxian confirmed. “Be sure to take the medicine I prepared for you—on time and without missing a dose. I’ll have Li Hong change your bandages shortly.”
“I apologize for troubling the young lady,” Muwen said, turning to Li Hong politely.
“It’s my duty, young master,” Li Hong replied, bowing slightly before going to fetch the supplies for dressing the wound.
"Young Master Shaoqi, your scrapes are beginning to scab over. Be careful not to soak in water for too long. In three more days, they should heal completely. As for the abrasions on your faces, once healed, they’ll likely leave scars that will take a long time to heal. I still had some medicine that I used to treat the scar on my own face, and now that I’m fully healed, I still have some left. You can use it to treat your scars. After all, the handsome faces of the four of you are valuable enough to bring joy to many young ladies. Don’t let these scars make them go to waste," Luxian teased with a smile.
Over the past few months, Luxian had completely healed the scars on his own face. And the reason he still wore a mask was that he was waiting for the right moment to reveal his restored appearance.
When that day arrived, the Chen household would likely become a stage for an amusing drama.
Luckily, Rongqi was already asleep, but the other three who were awake turned red in the face and ears, embarrassed by the unexpected compliment.
Though they were all men, such direct praise left them flustered. Moreover, in the kingdom of Da Qi, admiration between men was not uncommon. There were even establishments catering to wealthy individuals who preferred such things.
"I must return to my house today. I’ve been gone for several days, and those little foxes are probably bored without someone to play with. Li Hong, stay and look after the four of them. Lu Lu, you’re coming back with me. If there’s any problem, send a message immediately."
"Understood, Sir," the maids replied in unison.
"Oh, one more thing," Luxian added, turning toward Shaoqi and Muwen. "I suggest you don’t try to tail me. If we’re to be friends, trust and personal boundaries are essential, wouldn’t you agree, Young Master Muwen, Young Master Shaoqi?"
"Of course, we wouldn’t think of following you. Besides, we’re quite busy today. But if you truly want to be friends with us, perhaps you could drop the overly formal ‘Young Master’ this and that. Friends don’t need so many courtesies,” Muwen replied honestly. After all, soldiers like them disliked those kinds of courtesies the most.
"Fair enough," Luxian agreed, nodding. "In that case, I’ll take my leave. You two, be careful. If you go outside, make sure not to strain your wounds," Luxian warned them once more. Undoubtedly, the business Muwen mentioned was definitely something far from good deeds.
"Hm," Muwen and Shaoqi murmured, watching as Luxian and Lu Lu exited to hail a carriage back to the Chen manor.
That day, Chen Luxian returned to the manor through the front gate openly. After all, he had been gone for several days, and everyone knew he hadn’t been in the manor. So, there was no need for him to sneak in.
During his absence, little had changed in the Chen household. As always, the eldest young master was regarded as insignificant. Even the servants under Fang Meihua didn’t stop to bow when they saw the family’s eldest son. Yet, Chen Luxian didn’t let it bother him. In fact, he found it odd that in the three months he’d been here, no one had tried to bully him, as they had done to the body’s previous owner.
Curious, Luxian sent Bai Li to investigate. From what he understood, his prolonged absence should have been the perfect opportunity for those people to scheme against him.
Soon, Bai Li’s findings revealed that General Chen’s recent return had spurred discussions about sending his sons to serve in the army. The general wanted them to gain experience and build reputations, ensuring they could uphold the family’s legacy.
General Chen Rizhong’s three sons weren’t particularly young anymore. Even the youngest, the third son, was already several years older than most children who had begun training in martial arts in other noble households.
Initially, only Furen Fang was privy to these plans. So she busied herself whispering in her husband’s ear, claiming the third son was too young and that the eldest son’s disfigured face would bring disgrace to the family. Of course, for a matter as significant as this, General Chen didn’t heed her entirely. After all, at over forty years old, he wasn’t so naive as to let one woman sway him on such an important issue. To entrust the family’s legacy required careful thought and decision-making.
In the end, Fang Meihua, having failed to sway her husband with her words, was left with no choice but to push the second young master, who spent his days idling and playing around, to take up the sword and train in martial arts. This was in preparation for the annual examination set to take place in two months. General Chen intended for both the eldest and second young masters, who were over the age of fifteen, to start from the lowest rank, just like the sons of commoners. As for the third young master, he was only to be sent to observe and learn about life in the military camp.
Fang Meihua, placing all her hopes on her second son, tightened her discipline over him, hoping he would achieve military accomplishments that would clearly demonstrate his worthiness to inherit the family legacy over the eldest son.
General Chen Rizhong held the noble title of "Yong Hou," yet most people referred to him simply as General Chen. Nobles with the rank of Hou or higher had the right to appoint an heir to inherit their title. Furen Fang had long desired this position for her son. At the same time, her two daughters spent their days adorning themselves with cosmetics and jewelry, attending social events, yet still remained unmarried despite being of age. No young masters from any Guogong household, Hou household, or prince had sought their hand. New chapters come out on novelping dot com first.
Because of all these things, they had little time to concern themselves with Luxian. Moreover, his relocation to the Eastern Courtyard—an area full of watchful eyes—made it impossible for them to act openly. Within the manor, there were still elderly relatives from collateral branches of the family, further restricting them from bullying the eldest young master outright.
"The heir position, is it? I couldn’t care less. It’s better to support the third young master instead," Luxian murmured to himself. Even though he wouldn’t let the second young master have the position of the heir, it didn’t mean that he would be one.
"How can that be, young master? As the eldest son born of the First Furen, the heir position is rightfully yours!" The maid at his side frowned, clearly displeased.
"I was merely speaking my mind," Luxian replied lazily. "Whether I get it or not is irrelevant, but I’ll never let it fall into the second young master’s hands. If that happens, the Chen family name will surely be tarnished in this generation."
Luxian then continued listening to reports about minor happenings within the manor and the capital, all while leisurely sipping tea.
One piece of news did catch his interest. It was about the Fourth Prince, Zhao Qirong, who had been rumored to have fallen from his horse three months ago, had finally arrived in the capital. Moreover, an announcement had been made seeking skilled physicians to treat him. The imperial physicians sent by the Emperor before this had all declared themselves powerless, stating that they could find no solution. Based on reports from the military physicians who initially treated him, they concluded that the Fourth Prince was most likely permanently disabled.
This prince, since joining the military at the age of twelve, had always worn a "Tiger Encompassing the Moon" mask, leading to widespread speculation. Some said he wore the mask because he was hideously disfigured, while others believed he was so impossibly handsome that women everywhere were smitten by him, prompting him to hide his face. Either way, as a legitimate son of the empress, countless women aspired to marry him.
However, after the incident three months ago, he had become the most "useless" prince in Da Qi, both hideous and crippled.
Hearing this, Luxian thought to himself,
If his limbs are that paralyzed, it’s likely not just an inability to walk—it must be full-body paralysis. It could be a nerve issue. No wonder it took so long for him to reach the capital.
Luxian vaguely recalled General Chen mentioning during his first day back at the manor that the Fourth Prince should have arrived in the capital since two months ago. The severe nature of his injuries likely accounted for the delay.
From Dr. Chen’s perspective, falling off a horse shouldn’t pose a significant challenge to treat. However, if paralysis is involved, the current tools at his disposal would be insufficient. Even in the modern era, treating such conditions isn’t easily accomplished. How could he possibly succeed with the limited, improvised equipment he currently had? Moreover, treating a prince was no small matter; the identity of the physician would certainly be thoroughly checked. No one would allow an unknown doctor to treat royalty.
Chen Luxian wasn’t eager to invite trouble upon himself. Furthermore, he still had Rongqi and Shaochang under his care. With that in mind, he decided not to give the matter further attention.
After hearing the report, Luxian instructed Bai Li to prepare bathwater and a dinner spread.
After finishing his meal, he took a walk to aid digestion and then picked up his sword to practice martial arts. Though he had mastered light-footed techniques, he still lacked self-defense skills appropriate to this era. To address this, he had commissioned a sword to be crafted. While his previous training included disciplines like taekwondo, karate, and shooting, those modern skills didn’t seamlessly align with this world. For now, he had adapted his firearms training to use a crossbow. Later, when he had spare time, he planned to design and craft a gun. However, he knew such a task wouldn’t be easily accomplished.
Creating a gun was primarily intended as a backup for self-defense in emergencies. Guns were smaller and more easily concealed compared to crossbows or bows. He had even seen films where small knives or compact firearms were hidden in secret compartments within thick boots.
Naturally, Dr. Chen, who had rejected his father’s attempts to groom him into a mafia successor, had never taken an interest in these matters. He had only trained reluctantly to appease his father. Now, however, he found himself spending significant time brainstorming and designing while searching for suitable materials available in this era.
Even if he eventually succeeded in crafting a gun, it would still be a limited-use weapon, requiring regular reloading and best suited for long-range combat. Therefore, Luxian wanted to train with a sword for close-quarters combat. Additionally, if General Chen truly intended for him to join the military, it would be wise to have some skills to counter the second young master.
...
The next morning, the eldest young master of the Chen family visited the manor’s library to collect numerous books. He selected texts ranging from politics and governance to military strategy and even moral teachings aimed at women. Luxian read them all.
In his first days here, Luxian had struggled to read ancient Chinese characters and had spent considerable time learning. Over the past three months, he had managed to read over half of the library’s collection.
For him, reading was a familiar pastime. After resigning from the hospital in his previous life, he had filled his idle time with novels. Now, without modern distractions, he turned to the library’s books. While the material was different, it was still engaging and proved useful for countering the likes of Madame Fang and her daughters, who loved to quote lofty moral and philosophical principles to bolster their own image.
It turned out to be a productive way to pass the time. By nightfall, Luxian climbed over the walls of the general’s manor to head to the Hall of Lu Yue, taking Bai Li along to switch shifts overseeing the restaurant. Climbing out of the manor wasn’t a long-term solution, but it worked for now. As the area at the back of the manor where the eldest young master once lived was unguarded, it was easy to slip out unnoticed.
When Luxian arrived, Shaoqi and Muwen had just returned from their mission of spreading rumors about the Fourth Prince. The four of them were sitting together, eating and chatting about news and happenings in the kingdom. Luxian walked in just in time to hear them mention how, two months ago, the Third Prince Zhao Qingrong had married the daughter of Ping Hou, the Ministry of Revenue[1]. Intrigued, he couldn’t help but chime in with praise.
“You two were out for just one day and managed to gather so much information, even about something that happened two months ago. Impressive, truly impressive,” Luxian said with a laugh as he pulled up a chair to join them.
“How are things at your manor?” Shaoqi asked with genuine concern.
“Fairly peaceful, actually. Those fox mother-and-daughter pairs have their own troubles to deal with, so they’ve left me alone for the time being,” Luxian replied casually.
“And how are Shaochang and Rongqi doing?”
“Uh...” Muwen, Shaoqi, and Shaochang suddenly exchanged awkward glances, their discomfort plainly visible.
Muwen had forgotten that when telling Luxian to just use a casual, friendly speech with them, it would also include their master, the Fourth Prince. Using the prince’s name so informally, even a pseudonym like "Rongqi," felt improper. Despite being friends with the prince for over a decade, even they didn’t dare to address him without the respect his station commanded.
Noticing their strange reaction, the ever-perceptive Luxian immediately understood the source of their unease. Ah, the strict formality of feudal society.
“What’s the matter?” he asked with a teasing smile. “You told me to speak casually, like friends, but your master isn’t included in that? What do you think, Young Master Rong?” The first part of his remark was directed at the trio, while the latter was aimed at Rongqi.
“Of course, I am included,” Rongqi replied smoothly. “From now on, the five of us are friends. Speak however you like. That goes for the three of you as well,” he added, turning to address his subordinates with a slight edge of authority in his voice.
“Y-yes... Um,” the three replied hesitantly, though their expressions betrayed their lingering discomfort. It was already hard enough to switch from addressing him as "Your Highness" to "Young Master." Now, being asked to use his name directly left them feeling even more awkward. Even Shaochang and Shaoqi, who were distant relatives of the prince, found it strange.
“Alright then, let’s return to my original question,” Luxian said, steering the conversation back. “How are you both feeling? Any pain or discomfort from your wounds?”
"Continue your earlier conversation; I’m curious to know more about the news from the capital as well." Luxian was eager for additional insights beyond what his servants could gather. Experienced individuals like these were bound to have better information than what could be found in the Chen manor.
Muwen and Shaoqi then resumed recounting the events they had uncovered.
"Strange," Luxian interjected. "Everything you’ve mentioned so far is about the nobles. Why haven’t you talked about the Fourth Prince? Even I..."
“Cough, cough, cough.”
Before Luxian could finish, Rongqi choked on the soup he was sipping with his right hand, his face turning bright red. The other three also exchanged worried glances.
"What’s wrong?" Luxian asked, puzzled. Was the mere mention of the Fourth Prince enough to make someone choke?
"Nothing... It’s nothing... The soup was just a bit too hot," Rongqi stammered in response.
"Oh, drink slowly, then... So, did you not gather any news about him, or did you already talk about it before I got here? Even Bai Li at my manor knows about it," Luxian continued, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"...We talked about it before you arrived," Shaochang replied, his demeanor far from convincing.
"Earlier, you mentioned wanting to become a renowned divine doctor. We were just discussing you before you arrived. Recently, there’s a rumor about a divine doctor named ‘Xian’ saving a drowning child and performing other miraculous deeds. That wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?"
"Have you considered entering the palace to treat the prince?" Rongqi asked after recovering from his coughing fit.
"Hmm." Luxian’s eyes narrowed further, a sudden thought flashing through his mind. After deliberating for a moment, he decided to test the waters.
"Haven’t I already done so?"
"..."
The four companions who had been rescued by the eldest son of the Chen family all froze, their expressions uniformly blank. There was no shock, no laughter, only a stillness—far too still.
"I was just joking," Luxian said nonchalantly. "I heard that they have been summoning doctors from all over the kingdom to the palace, causing quite a stir. Well, it makes sense. If it weren’t him with Heavenly Dragon’s blood, the rest would’ve already transformed into ravenous demons. After all, power is sweet and intoxicating, isn’t it?"
Luxian effortlessly shifted the topic, acting as if his earlier remarks had been trivial. He then continued bantering with his new friends, seemingly carefree. However, within his mind, he had noted the matter for further thought.
“That doctor you mentioned... is me,” Chen Luxian sighed. “Even though I’d like to make a name for myself, I’m not eager to throw my life away. Think about it. If even the imperial physicians can’t treat this illness, who in the palace would believe in a rogue doctor like me? It wasn’t exactly easy convincing any of you to let me treat you either, was it? And the methods I use? They’re so unconventional that His Majesty would have to be out of his mind to let me take a knife to an imperial prince’s leg. Worse still, they might mistake me for an assassin without even knowing the truth. Most importantly, unless things change drastically, I have no intention of revealing my identity at this point. And let’s be honest, do you think anyone would let me walk into the palace wearing a face veil? To sum it up, I don’t want to risk my life unnecessarily.”
Although Chen Luxian spoke as though joking, the others in the room did not take it that way. The young man before them clearly had more depth than he let on. His intelligence and skills were undeniable, yet no one could associate the name Luxian with any significant faction or power within the capital. However, Luxian had already managed to test and gauge their standings, even if he appeared indifferent about it.
“You’re right,” Shaochang finally agreed. “Just the inspection process before entering the palace would be enough to get you executed. Your medicine pouch alone could serve as damning evidence, let alone your face veil. Not even foreign princesses are allowed to conceal their faces under court customs. What chance would you, a mere man, have?”
Shaochang deliberately shifted the conversation away from the Fourth Prince, avoiding the sensitive topic.
“We barely know anything about each other besides our names. I think we should get to know each other better, don’t you, my... friends?” Chen Luxian emphasized the word "friends" with a playful tone.
“What is it that you want to know?” Rongqi asked with a calm but curious gaze, his eyes flickering with interest.
“Well, I’m 18 this year. How old are all of you? It’d be helpful to know how to address one another properly,” Luxian replied.
“I’m 20,” Shaochang answered.
“I’m 21,” Muwen chimed in, raising an eyebrow as if to claim the role of the eldest brother.
“Same here. I’m 21 as well,” Shaoqi said, unwilling to be outdone.
“20,” Rongqi responded shortly.
“Looks like I’m the youngest, then,” Chen Luxian said with a wry smile. In reality, Chen Luxian, the renowned doctor had died at the age of 32; the ‘18 years’ he mentioned was just the age of this body, the eldest son of the Chen family. If experience in life were taken into account, this modern doctor likely surpassed the others by a wide margin. And even speaking of military experience, Luxian had already been through basic training in his own era, though it was admittedly far different from the warfare of this time.
“As friends, let’s just call each other by name. I don’t care for unnecessary formalities,” Rongqi said as he noticed the youngest preparing to use familial terms like ‘big brother’ to address them.
Chen Luxian nodded, not wanting to argue with Rongqi’s preference.
“Have any of you gotten married yet?” he asked innocently, posing whatever question came to mind.
“As soldiers, marrying during times of unrest is unfair to the women. Imagine being suddenly called to battle and never returning—our wives would be left as widows. It’s too cruel to them,” Muwen replied with what was essentially a rejection. As the Deputy General of the Eastern Army, he had no intention of ruining a woman’s life. A marriage where the husband spends most of his time in military camps would hardly be a happy one.
“Enough about us. Let’s talk about you instead,” Shaoqi interjected. “Why do you wear a face veil? Surely, it’s not just to hide your identity, right?”
[1] The Ministry of Revenue oversees financial matters, tax collection, and the national budget.