The bustling long street was crowded with people coming and going. Commoners carrying goods on carrying poles or driving ox carts trod through the snow to leave the city. They needed to hurry and leave Luo City before sunset to return to their farmsteads in the suburbs.
The smell of ox dung and the sound of shouting intertwined, finally bringing Luo City's winter day to life.
Chen Ji stood amidst the endless stream of people, silently retracting his hand into his sleeve to hide the slip of paper Xi Feng had delivered.
A trace of a chill rose on his back: the Secret Spy Division consisted of the inner court's personal imperial guards. Usually, the Twelve Zodiacs strutted about unimpeded, holding tokens of royal authority. Why would they need to conceal their identities and secretly pass notes?
But just now, Xi Feng had pressed down his bamboo hat and left in a hurry, which meant the Secret Spy Division had shifted to the dark and concealed their identities—they had to be careful of the Liu Family taking a desperate risk and killing everyone to silence them.
However, by doing this, in Mister Feng's eyes, only Chen Ji remained in the open, and the Liu Family could only vent their anger on him.
Chen Ji had originally thought that after annihilating the Longwang Village military garrison, the Secret Spy Division would possess evidence of the Liu Family's treason. As long as they sent the evidence to the Capital City, the Liu Family's property would be confiscated, and they would be beheaded.
Once the Ten-Thousand-Year Army arrived, the Liu Family would naturally be turned to ash and smoke.
However, the Liu Family had no intention of waiting for death. The Secret Spy Division's secret memorial simply couldn't leave Yuzhou.
No wonder Mister Feng was so arrogant... The Liu Family was going to tear off all pretense!
Chen Ji turned his head, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the crowd to look at the quiet carriage outside the city gates.
Why was Elder Liu looking for Prince Jing so urgently? What was he plotting?
Seeing him dazed, Bai Li asked curiously, "Chen Ji, what's wrong? Your complexion doesn't look very good."
Chen Ji snapped back to reality and smiled at Bai Li. "Commandery Princess, I'm fine."
Bai Li pulled his sleeve and walked forward. "Up ahead is the southern storefront of Li's Tailor Shop.
I'll take you there to get your measurements taken for some clothes. We can wait for my father in the shop and then return to Anxi Street together later."
Zhang Xia looked at Bai Li's hand and subconsciously glanced at the Prince Heir's expression.
The Prince Heir pretended not to notice and looked away.
Zhang Xia asked curiously, "Does the Prince Heir plan to turn a blind eye?"
The Prince Heir said helplessly, "Including this time, Chen Ji has saved our lives twice already, and every time was perilous with a narrow escape. I, as her older brother, am pretending not to see it; why should you, Second Miss Zhang, an outsider, try to get to the bottom of it?"
Zhang Xia smiled. "True."
Inside Li's Tailor Shop, the shopkeeper personally held a roll of soft leather measuring tape and set to work taking Chen Ji's measurements.
Chen Ji stood in front of the counter with his arms spread wide, but his gaze was fixed outside the door. Bai Li sat on a chair nearby,
her white chin propped on her hand, looking on with interest.
Two maidservants brought tea and preserved fruits, eagerly placing them on the small table next to Bai Li. Immediately after, they were about to kneel on the floor to massage Bai Li's legs.
Bai Li was startled. "No, no, no! What are you doing?"
The shopkeeper chuckled. "Commandery Princess, you might not know this, but taking measurements and making clothes is a time-consuming and meticulous process. If it's off by even a fraction of an inch, the clothes won't be comfortable or fit properly when worn. In order to allow our guests to wait patiently, my Li's shop specifically hired maidservants to relieve our esteemed guests' boredom."
Bai Li hurriedly waved her hands. "No need, no need. I'm ticklish."
The shopkeeper smiled at the maidservants. "Since the Commandery Princess says there is no need, you two may step down."
The maidservants curtseyed and said in soft voices, "Yes."
The shopkeeper added, "There is also a place to play Pai Gow in the courtyard at the back. If the Commandery Princess gets bored waiting, you can call the maidservants to play a couple of rounds with you."
Bai Li didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "There really is no need; I can wait."
"Alrighty then!" The shopkeeper carefully measured Chen Ji for his clothes, missing not a single spot—cuffs, collar, and waistline. It was no wonder Li's shop was famous in Luo City; there was a reason for its fame.
In the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the shopkeeper finished taking Chen Ji's measurements and asked with a chuckle, "What items does the Commandery Princess plan to custom order for this young gentleman?"
Bai Li counted on her fingers. "Two traditional tunics with stand-up collars and side fastenings, two pairs of padded cotton trousers for winter, two pairs of black official boots, and one corrugated black gauze hat. You guys can make overcoats here, right? Make a black overcoat for him to keep out the cold using fox fur. But don't put the fox fur on the outside; make it the inner lining. He doesn't like to be flashy—"
Chen Ji was stunned. He withdrew his gaze from outside the door. "Commandery Princess, there is no need to make so much, right?"
Bai Li's eyes curved into crescent moons as she said with a smile, "You're very busy normally, so since we're finally getting you clothes made, we definitely have to make a few more. I'm doing this to thank you for saving my life; could it be my life isn't worth this much silver?"
Chen Ji also smiled. "It's worth it."
Bai Li waved her hand. "Then that's good! Step outside and wait for me for a bit; I'll be out after exchanging a few words with the shopkeeper."
Chen Ji turned and left the shop to chat with the Prince Heir and Zhang Xia.
Bai Li poked her head out and, seeing they weren't paying attention to this side, got up, walked to the counter, and took out six melon seed gold nuggets from her sleeve. "Shopkeeper, when making his clothes, sew these melon seed gold nuggets into the hem."
The shopkeeper was startled.
Officials and nobles had always liked to sew thin silver discs the size of fingernails into the hems of their clothes. The silver discs had enough weight to pull the hem down, making the clothing look more draped and structured.
There were also some who sewed auspicious copper coins with words like 'Attracting Wealth and Treasures' or
'Promotion and Wealth' on them for good luck.
But sewing melon seed gold nuggets was a first.
Seeing the shopkeeper's confusion, Bai Li smiled and explained, "It's for his emergency use. Shopkeeper, just sew the melon seed gold nuggets in."
The shopkeeper didn't ask any more questions and agreed with a smile, "Alrighty then!"
Right at this moment, Prince Jing lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. However, they saw him mount a horse and hurriedly gallop toward the city center.
Chen Ji saw his figure from afar, turned around, and immediately said to Bai Li, "Commandery Princess, we should go."
Bai Li replied from inside the shop, "Coming!"
But as soon as her voice fell, Prince Jing's body swayed unsteadily on horseback. Before he even reached the front of Li's Tailor Shop, he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood and fell skewed from his horse.
The Prince Heir exclaimed in shock, "Father!?"
Chen Ji was quick on his feet and sharp of eye; he sprinted two steps and caught Prince Jing before he crashed to the ground.
He looked up toward the outside of the city gate. Mister Feng was sitting in the coachman's seat, his whip raised high, driving the carriage south as if there was no one else around.
No one had expected the Liu Family to actually lay such a vicious hand on a powerful regional prince right in the middle of a bustling market.
The Prince Heir's eyes almost split with rage. He glared hatefully at the Liu Family carriage but did not give chase. He turned his head and said to Chen Ji in a low voice, "First, return to Anxi Street and find your master to save him!"
Without hesitation, Chen Ji hoisted Prince Jing onto his back and sprinted wildly toward Anxi Street. Amidst the endless stream of people, Zhang Xia and the others chased after him on horseback but surprisingly failed to catch up for a while.
Chen Ji's expression was heavy.
If the Liu Family really was the one behind this vicious attack, it meant the other party was already acting without any scruples and had gone completely mad.
But no matter how he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out what the significance of the Liu Family killing Prince Jing was.
The setting sun sank beyond the city walls, and heaven and earth grew dim.
Taiping Medical Clinic had already closed for the day. Chen Ji crashed through the door and shouted loudly, "Master, Master!"
The long-unseen Old Yao was standing behind the counter, clicking his abacus under the light of a kerosene lamp. He looked up, shot a glance at Chen Ji and Prince Jing, then looked at his precarious doorboards, and said indifferently, "Has the sky fallen?"
The Prince Heir rushed in from outside and said urgently, "Physician Yao, quickly, save my father! He was viciously attacked by the Liu family!"
Old Yao asked casually, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"
The Prince Heir was exasperated. "At a time like this, you're still taking your time."
Old Yao walked around from behind the counter. His left hand stroked his white beard while three fingers of his right hand gently rested on Prince Jing's wrist. Chen Ji held his breath in rapt attention, terrified of disturbing the pulse diagnosis.
A moment later, Old Yao said calmly, "His Highness was not harmed by anyone; rather, he left the city before his previous illness of wind and cold had fully recovered, and now it is merely a relapse of his old ailment."
Chen Ji suddenly let out a sigh of relief. At the very least, the Liu Family hadn't reached the point of being utterly deranged and completely immoral.
Old Yao walked toward the backyard with his hands behind his back and calmly arranged, "Chen Ji, carry His Highness into the main room. She Dengke, light the furnace fire inside to warm His Highness up a bit. Liu Quxing, fetch my silver needles. Prince Heir, Commandery Princess, close the door tightly and don't let outsiders barge in—not even the people from the prince's estate."
Inside the main room, Old Yao ultimately only left Chen Ji alone to help. He gently placed Prince Jing onto Old Yao's bed and removed his armor.
Old Yao sat by the furnace fire and methodically heated the silver needles one by one before applying them to Prince Jing's body. In the blink of an eye, Prince Jing's chest was covered in silver needles.
Chen Ji asked softly, "Master, is Prince Jing really suffering from an illness of wind and cold?"
Old Yao threw him a glance and asked back while continuing to apply the needles, "You've also studied the pathology of wind and cold.
What do you think?"
Chen Ji didn't answer.
By the time all the silver needles had been applied, Prince Jing suddenly coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Chen Ji asked in shock and doubt, "Master?"
Prince Jing slowly opened his eyes, smiled at Old Yao, and said weakly, "You've saved me once again."
Old Yao stood up, walked over to the wooden washbasin stand, washed his hands, and said with a smile while drying them with a white kerchief, "Your Highness should avoid sneaking out behind everyone's backs in the future. I am a physician, not a Daoist master; I don't possess the ability to cross names off the Book of Life and Death."
Prince Jing chuckled, seemingly long accustomed to Old Yao's biting sarcasm. He turned his head to look at Chen Ji. "Young man, please trouble yourself to call Yunxi in for me. I have some matters to instruct him on. Also, please help guard the door; definitely do not let anyone enter."
Chen Ji acknowledged with a 'Mhm,' lifted the door curtain, and stepped outside.
In the courtyard, Bai Li stood under the apricot tree clutching the Whale Blade, her lips pursed tightly. The Prince Heir paced about anxiously.
She Dengke, Liu Quxing, Liang Mao'er, and the others squatted to the side, at their wits' end.
Seeing Chen Ji come out, the Prince Heir immediately stepped forward. "Chen Ji, how's my father?"
Chen Ji replied in a low voice, "Prince Heir, His Highness is calling you inside."
The Prince Heir ducked into the main room. Just as the door curtain swayed, a bout of pounding on the door rang out from outside the clinic's main entrance.
Consort Jing's cold voice came from outside. "Open the door!"
Chen Ji said calmly, "Big Brother Mao'er, brace the door. Don't let anyone enter the clinic for now."
Liang Mao'er grunted an acknowledgment and walked toward the outside. Before he even reached the doorway, Consort Jing forcefully pushed the door open and barged in, aggressively leading a dozen or so robust servants.
Chen Ji took the Whale Blade from Bai Li and stood outside the main room, leaning on the blade. "Madam Consort Jing, His Highness gave instructions that he is speaking with the Prince Heir and no one is allowed to enter."
Consort Jing stared straight at him fixedly. "Did His Highness personally say that, or are you delivering a fake edict? Move aside!"
Chen Ji slightly twisted the hilt of the blade, aiming the sharp edge toward Consort Jing and the others. "I cannot do that."
Consort Jing walked forward step by step, not putting Chen Ji or the Whale Blade in her eyes at all across the entire time. "Young man, don't bring ruin upon yourself. You are merely an apprentice of a medical clinic. Drawing a blade against the imperial clan is a capital offense no matter how you look at it. Step aside now, and I can let bygones be bygones."
Chen Ji remained completely motionless.
Just at this moment, the door curtain behind him was lifted by someone.
Chen Ji looked back to see the Prince Heir walking out with red-rimmed eyes. Wiping the tears away with the back of his hand, he looked at Consort Jing. "Auntie, Father is calling for you to go inside."
In the quiet, small courtyard, Chen Ji stepped aside while holding the Whale Blade. Consort Jing raised her head proudly and stubbornly and brushed past him.
Chen Ji watched the Prince Heir endlessly shed tears as he pulled Bai Li to leave the medical clinic. He turned his head to look at the silent main room again... What exactly did Prince Jing say to the Prince Heir?