Chapter 17: Xingzhi Temple (17)
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Xiao Fu sent Chen Yuanqing to bring his senior brother, Xie Laosan, to see Lin Zikui’s eyes.
Xie Laosan, a direct disciple of the Gu King from Yunnan, was known in the martial world as Third Master, a genuine Gu doctor renowned for his high medical skills and expertise in using Gu to heal people.
About ten days later, in the depths of winter, the wind and snow tangled around the Sixteen Caves Mountain.
Xie Laosan, travel-worn, was led to Xingzhi Temple.
“What’s the matter with you people? Don’t you know I should be far from the capital at this time? What if they drag me into the palace and make me cure the emperor? How could I possibly do that? If they chop off my head, are you going to take responsibility?”
Yuanqing guided him, “Third Master, this way, please.”
Xie Laosan, a man of about forty with a small frame and carrying a herbal basket on his back, greeted Xiao Fu with, “Alright, who needs treatment that’s so important?”
Xiao Fu replied, “A young gentleman, one of my people.”
Xie Laosan asked, “What kind of person is this? Why aren’t you seeking the imperial physicians or the doctors from the Changguo Gong Mansion? Why come to me?”
Xiao Fu shook his head, “There are few in this world with medical skills as high as yours, Third Brother. He has an eye condition. I’ll take you to see him. Oh, and Third Brother, when you meet my young gentleman, remember to keep my identity a secret and call me Miss Xiao.”
Third Master: “?”
Sao Fu didn’t explain, took him to the Hall of Purifying the Heart, only to find an attendant brewing medicine under the eaves.
Xie Laosan moved his nose and asked, “What medicine is this?”
Mo Liu raised his head: “The medicine that my Young Master drinks every day. And you are?”
Xiao Fu said, “He is the divine physician I invited, Third Master. Where is your young master?”
Mo Liu said, “He got dizzy from reading and went out.”
Third Master scratched his beard, lifted the lid and sniffed like a dog, and Mo Liu said, “You can’t open the lid halfway!”
“It’s all medicinal powder, Codonopsis, Atractylodes, and Elaeagnus,” Third Master’s nose was sharp, and he quickly identified a dozen herbs inside, saying, “Who prescribed this for your young master?”
Mo Liu hesitated, “It’s… Wang, the senior physician of Yong’an Pharmacy in Jinling City. Lord Tang took my young master there. Every time we go, Physician Wang grinds the herbs into powder, so we don’t actually know the prescription.”
“What a damn famous physician! How long has your young master been taking this prescription?”
“About four or five months.”
“This prescription is useless. Worse yet, drinking too much of it makes him dizzy, nauseous, and often drowsy.”
“Yes! Exactly!” Mo Liu stood up excitedly. “That’s exactly what’s been happening to my young master lately! He thought it was because he’s been reading too much. Divine physician, please come and see my young master!”
Third Master asked, “Where is the patient?”
Xiao Fu asked Moyu, “Where did he go wandering off to? I’ll go find him.”
Mo Liu shook his head, “He went left in the courtyard just now, maybe to the Qingxin Pavilion.”
Xiao Fu stepped out to find him, the Xingzhi Temple after the snowfall, snow-covered eaves, flying feathers on the treetops, and the ridged eaves. There was a small Taoist monk sweeping snow in front of the hall.
Xiao Fu went over and asked, “Little Taoist, have you seen Benefactor Lin?”
“Benefactor Lin went that way.”
“Thank you.” Xiao Fu hadn’t walked far when he saw Lin Zikui squatting on the long steps, feeding the cat.
He had seen this tabby cat before and even fed it, but it was usually aloof and not affectionate toward people. Yet, now it was actively approaching Lin Zikui, rubbing against his knee.
Lin Zikui raised his hand to prevent it from climbing on him. He said, “You can scratch me, but don’t scratch my clothes. This was given to me by my wife. If you ruin it, I won’t have anything to wear…”
Who said he didn’t?
He had just received delicious food and fun things from Duke Chang’s residence, as well as new clothes.
He wanted to hold them and give them to Lin Zikui, but he was worried that he would refuse.
Xiao Fu walked lightly.
His footsteps were only slightly audible on the snowy ground. When he felt a shadow covering him, the tabby cat ran away. Lin Zikui only then noticed something. He looked up and the sunlight was too bright for him to keep his eyes open.
Then he felt someone gently scraping his eyelashes, feeling itchy.
Xiao Fu curved his index finger and scraped off the snow from his eyelashes. He saw Lin Zikui open his eyes, Xiao Fu’s fingers fell back, and his knuckles lightly brushed against the tip of his nose.
Even more itching, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed. Lin Zikui blushed and squatted in place, unable to help scratching his head, “Second Young Miss, is there something on my face?”
“Yeah, there’s a cat hair. I’ll take it off for you.”
“Oh, thank you, Second Young Miss…” He lowered his head.
Xiao Fu reached out to him, “Lin Lang, come on, I’ve found a doctor to check your eyes.”
Lin Zikui was still embarrassed. He quietly grasped Xiao Fu’s four fingers, quickly stood up with his help, and quickly let go. Xiao Fu felt the fingertips scratch his palm quickly, like a cat scratching.
Lin Zikui spoke up, “What doctor? Isn’t my eyesight fine?”
“How fine? Even with the Ai Dai on, you still read like that.”
“I’m used to it…”
Xiao Fu said, “The doctor just said that the medicine you took before didn’t work and it’s harmful to take too much, causing dizziness and nausea.”
“Oh?” Lin Zikui was surprised, thinking about his recent symptoms. He had thought it was because he had been thinking too much about getting married.
Xiao Fu’s lips curled slightly. “I heard it was that Lord Tang who took you to the pharmacy?”
“Yeah…”
“Don’t associate with people like that. Just by their appearance, you can tell they’re not trustworthy.”
Lin Zikui: “…”
Lin Zikui: “Second Young Miss, how did you figure that out?”
“By their appearance, the way they dress,” Xiao Fu glanced over, “What, you don’t think so?”
Lin Zikui looked puzzled and a bit confused. “I didn’t know. Brother Tang actually has a liking for men?”
Xiao Fu remained expressionless. “He does. Do you find it disgusting?”
Lin Zikui was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s not disgusting, just a bit strange.”
Xiao Fu didn’t know whether to be happy or unhappy about that.
If he didn’t find it disgusting, that was good; it meant he wouldn’t be repulsed by him. But how could Lin Zikui not be disgusted by Tang Mengyang? How could he tolerate that!
Xiao Fu’s lips moved slightly. “How about you just find him disgusting?”
“Huh?” Seeing Xiao Fu’s distaste, Lin Zikui thought he minded this, and quickly explained, “I didn’t know about Brother Tang’s preference. He’s good to me actually because… he appreciates my literary talent. I once gave him advice, which he used to impress Grand Secretary Xu, and that’s how he became his adopted son. Since then, they’ve kept in touch through letters.”
“Really?” Xiao Fu looked surprised. “You gave him advice to impress Grand Secretary Xu? Then why didn’t you go to Xu’s residence yourself? Grand Secretary Xu welcomes talented individuals and anyone can present themselves.”
Lin Zikui bowed his head, as if immersed in memories.
“Lin Lang?” Xiao Fu called softly.
Lin Zikui lifted his head a bit, looked at him with a relaxed expression, and slowly said, “Three years ago, I wanted to become a student of Prime Minister Xue, but I gave up because of my eyes.”
Xiao Fu looked at him and said, “Prime Minister Xue would indeed be a more suitable mentor for you than Grand Secretary Xu. I’ll introduce you to him later.”
As they talked, they returned to the Hall of Purifying the Heart.
Xie Laosan greeted them, “This must be Young Master Lin, right? Isn’t it, Young Miss Xiao?”
“Young Miss Xiao” nodded. “Lin Lang, go ahead and let this Doctor Xie examine you.”
Lin Zikui saluted, “Doctor Xie, pleased to meet you.”
“Come here, child.” Doctor Xie looked at Lin Zikui and Xiao Fu walking shoulder to shoulder, seemingly surrounded by a spring breeze, and what was there not to understand? He knew Xiao Fu’s preferences. When Xiao Fu was about ten years old, he anxiously came to him, asking, “Third Brother, is there any poison that can cure me of liking men? I don’t want to like men.”
Xie Laosan said, “Yes, I can give you a worm to eat. After you eat it, you’ll be impotent for the rest of your life. Then you won’t have feelings for anyone, and won’t that cure you? It’s a one-time solution!”
Xiao Fu got angry, and stayed angry for a long time.
Third Master thought that Xiao Fu, even now as an adult, was still so unpromising, pretending to be a young lady and flirting with young gentleman here.
Lin Zikui sat under the sunlight, while Xie Laosan pinched his eyelids to examine them. Lin Zikui’s eyes were extremely sensitive, and as soon as they were opened, he couldn’t help but blink repeatedly.
Xie Laosan asked, “Your eyes have external injuries. Did anyone… for instance, use a needle to stab your eyes?”
Lin Zikui’s pupils contracted.
Xiao Fu’s face changed suddenly. “Who did it?”
Lin Zikui shook his head. “No one. I accidentally hurt my own eyes. Second Young Miss, you don’t need to worry.”
Xie Laosan then signaled, “Zhao Ling, step outside for a moment.”
When Xiao Fu met his gaze, he realized that Lin Zikui might not want to speak because he was present.
Xiao Fu’s expression turned terrifyingly dark, filled with murderous intent, which made Lin Zikui somewhat afraid.
After exchanging a couple of glances with Xie Laosan, Xiao Fu turned and left.
Only then did Xie Laosan ask Lin Zikui, “Good child, can you tell this old doctor?”
Lin Zikui watched Xiao Fu’s departing figure, then withdrew his gaze and firmly shook his head. “Doctor Xie, it really was just an accident. I poked my eye while doing needlework.”
“Are you afraid? Because the person who did this to you is someone you can’t afford to provoke, so you don’t dare to say anything. Because if you do, it will bring disaster?”
Lin Zikui silently shook his head.
“…Alright, it’s fine. I’ll prescribe some medicine for you. Stop taking the previous ones; they’re not good for your health. My medicine is different from ordinary ones—it’s a live worm. Your eye injury isn’t severe, so it can be treated. But when you take my medicine, you’ll occasionally feel itchy—not just itchy, but intensely itchy. Can you handle that?”
“I can,” Lin Zikui replied without any doubt upon hearing about eating the worm. “Thank you, sir.”
This response surprised Xie Laosan. No wonder Xiao Fu liked him; this young man’s character was indeed endearing.
Later, Xiao Fu pulled Xie Laosan aside and asked, “Are you sure his eye injury was caused by someone stabbing it? Did he say so?”
“I’m sure, but he wouldn’t admit it. I think there’s probably some powerful figure involved, and he’s worried about dragging you into it. Since you’re hiding your identity, he doesn’t know who you are. To protect you, he naturally won’t say anything.”
So, he was afraid of causing trouble for me.
When Xiao Fu thought of someone treating Lin Zikui that way, a strong murderous intent filled his chest. He wanted nothing more than to chop up Tang Mengyang first.
Since it happened three years ago, it must be related to the imperial examinations.
Xiao Fu instructed Yuanwu to immediately return to Jinling to verify the facts. Xie Laosan opened his backpack and revealed dozens of black jars inside.
He rummaged around and found one.
Xiao Fu: “Is this for him to eat?”
“Yes, but I don’t know if he can handle it.”
Xiao Fu: “And you have the mother worm on you?”
Xie Laosan nodded. “Of course, I’ve been carrying this treasure I’ve nurtured for over ten years with me.”
Eating live worms was indeed disgusting. Lin Zikui glanced up at Xiao Fu, who reassured him, “Don’t be afraid. Doctor Xie is a good person and won’t harm you.”
“I know…” Lin Zikui stared at the worm, swallowed hard, and finally closed his eyes. Using his sleeve to cover his face, he grimaced as he shoved the worm into his mouth and swallowed it with determination. He covered his mouth with his hand, not letting Xiao Fu see this nauseating scene.
Xiao Fu seemed to understand why he was covering his face, bent down to rub his head, and handed him a candied fruit, saying softly, “Lin Lang, once you eat this, you’ll get better.”
Lin Zikui covered his throat and couldn’t help scratching. “Itchy…”
Xie Laosan stopped him. “Don’t scratch. The intense itchiness will make you scratch your skin raw.”
He immediately stopped moving. Xie Laosan sighed. “Cover it with something warm, it will feel better.”
Lin Zikui nodded and squirmed in his seat. “It’s really itchy…”
Xiao Fu asked, “Where?”
“My calf…”
Xiao Fu bent down to take off his shoes, pulling one shoe off and setting it aside. Lin Zikui was startled. “Second Young Miss!”
“Here?” Xiao Fu placed his hand on Lin Zikui’s calf, his sharp features softening. “Left leg or right leg?”
“Left… left leg…” Lin Zikui felt embarrassed, his leg trembling. “Second Young Miss, you don’t have to… I can do it myself.”
“What’s wrong with me touching your calf? There’s not a part of you I haven’t seen.”
“Huh?” He was dumbfounded.
Xiao Fu calmly said, “I’m just kidding. When we get married, won’t you let me touch you? Now that you’re sick, just be good.”
Xiao Fu’s domineering nature, which often left Lin Zikui uneasy, made him submit this time because he felt that if he didn’t agree, Second Young Miss would be angry.
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